Silent Environment Research Articles

Vocal parameters, muscle palpation, self-perception of voice symptoms, pain, and vocal fatigue in women with muscle tension dysphonia.

To identify muscle tension dysphonia (MTD) signs and symptoms, as well as to analyze the results of vocal parameters, the physical clinical examination of muscle palpation, the self-perception of vocal symptoms, vocal pain, and fatigue of women with MTD and compare them with women with healthy voices. a cross-sectional study with 45 women (23 with MTD and 22 controls), similar median age between groups. The speech-language and otorhinolaryngological evaluation determined the diagnosis of MTD. All participants responded to the Voice Symptoms Scale (VoiSS), Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI), and Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) protocols. They were also assessed by a palpatory evaluation of the perilaryngeal musculature, auditory-perceptual evaluation, and acoustic analysis of the voice fundamental frequency. The speech sample included sustained vowels "a", "i" and "e" and connected speech, recorded in a silent environment, and submitted to auditory-perceptual evaluation by three judges. In the acoustic analysis, the fundamental frequency and maximum phonation times were extracted. The MTD group had worse results in VoiSS, VFI, and NMQ, in addition to greater resistance to palpation and a high vertical position of the larynx. The vocal parameters also showed greater deviation in the MTD group, except for the fundamental frequency. There was no relationship between vocal symptoms, fatigue, or pain with the general degree of dysphonia in the MTD group, indicating important symptoms in mild or moderate vocal deviations. women with MTD presented vocal symptoms, vocal fatigue, muscle pain, resistance to palpation and deviated vocal parameters when compared to vocally healthy women.

Males adjust their manipulation of female remating in response to sperm competition risk.

To reduce the potential for sperm competition, male insects are thought to inhibit the post-mating reproductive behaviour of females through receptivity-inhibiting compounds transferred in the ejaculate. Selection is expected to favour phenotypic plasticity in male post-copulatory expenditure, with males investing strategically in response to their perceived risk of sperm competition. However, the impact that socially cued strategic allocation might have on female post-mating behaviour has rarely been assessed. Here, we varied male perception of sperm competition risk, both prior to and during mating, to determine if a male's competitive environment impacts the extent to which he manipulates female remating behaviour. We found that female Australian field crickets (Teleogryllus oceanicus) mated to males that were reared under sperm competition risk emerged from a shelter in search of male song sooner than did females mated to males reared without risk, but only when mating occurred in a risk-free environment. We also found that females reared in a silent environment where potential mates were scarce emerged from the shelter sooner than females exposed to male calls during development. Collectively, our findings suggest complex interacting effects of male and female sociosexual environments on female post-mating sexual receptivity.

Immersion, Absorption, and Spiritual Experience: Some Preliminary Findings.

Many traditions have utilized silent environments to induce altered states of consciousness and spiritual experiences. Neurocognitive explorations of spiritual experience can aid in understanding the underlying mechanism, but these are surprisingly rare. We present the verbal report and the electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha profile of a female participant scoring a maximal 34 on the Absorption Scale, recorded before and while she was immersed in a whole-body perceptual deprivation (WBPD) tank. We analyze her trancelike experience in terms of the imagery reported: a spaceship, corridors, doors, a man dressed in white, speaking to God, the sun, supernova, concentric images, and an out-of-body experience. Her report is indicative of a spiritual experience, given that she felt that she was “meeting God” in the laboratory. She exhibited both frontal and parietal left > right alpha power asymmetry at baseline, whereas in the WBPD condition, there was a global increase in alpha power and especially a sharp increase in right-frontal alpha power. Her verbal report and EEG alpha profile were compared to those of another female participant, also scoring high on absorption, whose verbal report was also indicative of a trancelike experience. For further comparison, we present the data for two participants scoring low on absorption. Spiritual experience that can be verbalized might be associated with a marked increase in right-frontal alpha power, as reported here. In contrast, a mystical experience characterized by ineffability would be indicated by a marked increase in left-frontal alpha power.

Taylor‐AMS features and deep convolutional neural network for converting nonaudible murmur to normal speech

AbstractCommunication becomes effective when the speech signal arrives with the profound characteristics. This insisted the researchers to develop an automatic system of recognizing the speech signals from the murmurs. Some of the traditional automatic recognition systems are unfit for the silent environments imposing a need for an effective recognition system. Also, the traditional automatic recognition methods, like Neural Networks, render poor performance in the presence of the murmurs. Thus, this article proposes a method for automatic whisper recognition using the Deep Convolutional Neural Network (DCNN). The training of the DCNN is performed using the proposed Stochastic‐Whale Optimization Algorithm (Stochastic‐WOA), which is designed by the integration of Stochastic Gradient Descent algorithm with WOA. The input to the classifier is the features that include pitch chroma, spectral centroid, spectral skewness, and Taylor‐Amplitude Modulation Spectrogram (Taylor‐AMS), which is obtained by combining Taylor series and Amplitude Modulation Spectrogram (AMS) features, of the preprocessed input speech signal. The experimentation of the method is performed using the real database and the analysis proves that the proposed method acquired a maximal accuracy of 0.9723, minimal False Positive Rate of 0.0257, and maximal True Positive Rate of 0.9981, respectively.

Effect of Indian classical music and pop music on heart rate variability: A comparative study

Background: Indian Classical Music (ICM) has a structured and combinational classification basis. It has a time tasted philosophy of different notes for different time and mood called, ‘Raaga’. Each ‘Raaga’ has unique combinational rules of notes, and it is associated with different essence, feeling, and emotions. Aim & Objective: The aim of the present study is to explore the effect of one popular ICM Raaga ‘Bhairavi’ on heart rate variability (HRV) as compared to the results with pop music of their choice. Settings & Design: HRV analysis was carried out in three cases; in silent environment, with classical music and with pop music for each subject on same time but different days. Methods & Material: Fifty three young adults participated in the non-invasive and benign study. Electrocardiogram (ECG) was recorded in silent environment and with classical and pop music and HRV parameters were extracted. Statistical analysis used: Student paired t test was used to compare the difference between HRV parameters during silent and music states. Results: The parasympathetic activity was increased whereas sympathetic activity decreased with classical music. Conclusions: Raaga ‘Bhairavi’ has been long considered as soft and soothing composition and thereby reducing stress, better compared to other popular music, like pop. The same study can be extended with other ‘Raagas’ using HRV parameters.

Comparing Tactile to Auditory Guidance for Blind Individuals.

The ability to travel independently is crucial to an individual’s quality of life but compromised by visual impairment. Several navigational aids have been developed for blind people to address this limitation. These devices typically employ auditory instructions to guide users to desired waypoints. Unfortunately, auditory instructions may interfere with users’ awareness of environmental sounds that signal dangers or provide cues for spatial orientation. Accordingly, there is a need to explore the use of non-auditory modalities to convey information for safe and independent travel. Here, we explored the efficacy of a tactile navigational aid that provides turn signals via vibrations on a hip-worn belt. We compared the performance of 12 blind participants as they navigated a series of paths under the direction of the tactile belt or conventional auditory turn commands; furthermore, we assessed the effect of repeated testing, both in the presence and absence of simulated street sounds. A computer-controlled system triggered each turn command, measured participants’ time-to-path-completion, and detected major navigational errors. When participants navigated in a silent environment, they performed somewhat worse with the tactile belt than the auditory device, taking longer to complete each trial and committing more errors. When participants navigated in the presence of simulated street noises, the difference in completion time between auditory and tactile navigation diminished. These results suggest that tactile navigation holds promise as an effective method in everyday environments characterized by ambient noise such as street sounds.

Accuracy of Speech Recognition System’s Medical Report and Physicians' Experience in Hospitals

Introduction: Speech recognition(SR) technology has been existing for more than two decades. But, it has been rarely used in health care institutions and not applied uniformly in all the clinical domains. The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy of speech recognition system in four different situations in the real environment of health services. We also report physicians' experience of using speech recognition technology.Method:. To do this study, NEVISA SR software professional v.3 was installed on the computers of expert physicians. The pre-designated medical report was tested by the physicians in four different modes including slow expression in a silent environment, slow expression in crowded environments, rapid expression in a silent environment and rapid expression in a busy environment. After using the speech recognition software by 15 physicians in hospitals, a designed questionnaire was distributed among them. .Results: The results showed that the highest average accuracy of speech recognition software was in the silent environment by slow expression and the minimum average accuracy was in the busy environment by rapid expression. Of all the participants in the study, 53.3% of the physicians believed that the use of speech recognition system promoted the workflow.Conclusion: We found that software accuracy was generally higher than the expectation and its use required to upgrade the system and its operation. In order to achieve the highest level of recognition rate and error reduction by speech recognition, influential factors such as environmental noise, type of software or hardware, training and experience of participants can be also considered.

ANALISIS TINGKAT KEBISINGAN TERHADAP AKTIVITAS BELAJAR MENGAJAR DI FAKULTAS TEKNIK UNIVERSITAS SEMARANG

<p><em>Optimal teaching or learning activities require a conducive and quiet environment because the high concentration required on its’ process. Campus area requires a quiet and silent environment. It is difficult for the urban areas to get a quiet campus environment. The study tries to reveal the evaluation on how the noise factors that occur during teaching and learning process. The study was conducted at Semarang University. The research method used is descriptive analytic method.</em><em> </em><em>Research shows that the building of engineering faculty (the A building) at Semarang University shows the proper noise level in line with the standard (School Acoustic Quality Standards). Besides, Semarang University must establish rules and policies to control the noise levels, to intensify the comfort of the lecture process.</em><em> </em><em>Based on the research results, the noise level on the Engineering faculty building of Semarang University has not been in line with the predetermined standard, which is more than (55 dB).</em></p><p><strong><em>Keywords:</em></strong><em> noise, lecture activities, acoustic quality standards of school buildings</em></p>

Social cues affect quantitative genetic variation and covariation in animal personality traits.

The social environment is expected to have substantial effects on behavior, and as a consequence, its heritability and evolvability. We investigated these effects by exposing Australian field crickets (Teleogryllus oceanicus) to either silence or recordings of male acoustic sexual signals. We used a combined pedigree and full-sib/half-sib breeding design to estimate the repeatability, heritability, and evolvability of behaviors related to boldness, exploration, and activity. All behaviors measured were significantly repeatable in both social environments. Additionally, most behaviors showed significant heritabilities in the two environments. We found no difference in repeatabilities between the silent and the acoustic environment but did find significant differences in the heritabilities and evolvabilities between these environments. There was a high degree of similarity between the phenotypic covariance matrices across the two environments, while the genotypic covariance matrices were highly dissimilar. Reflecting this, we found significant genotype-by-environment interactions for most of the behaviors. Lastly, we found that the repeatable aspect of behavior ("personality") was significantly heritable for most behaviors, but that these heritabilities were higher in the acoustic than in the silent environment. We conclude that the social environment can have a significant impact on the heritability and evolvability of behavior, and argue that evolutionary inferences from phenotypic studies should be made with caution.

Sound Change Integration Error: An Explanatory Model of Tinnitus.

A growing body of research is focused on identifying and understanding the neurophysiological mechanisms that underlie tinnitus. Unfortunately, however, most current models cannot adequately explain the majority of tinnitus features. For instance, although tinnitus generally appears within minutes after entering a silent environment, most models postulate that tinnitus emerges over a much larger timescale (days). Similarly, there is a limited understanding of how the severity of tinnitus can differ in patients with a similar degree of hearing loss. To address this critical knowledge gap, we have formulated a novel explanatory model of tinnitus, the perception-update (PU) model, which rests on a theory of information processing and can explain several key characteristics of tinnitus onset. The PU model posits that the brain continuously updates the information received from the inner ear by comparing it to the received information immediately before. That is, the auditory system processes the relative change in sensory input, as opposed to the absolute value of the auditory input. This is analogous to the functioning of data compression technology used for music and images called differential pulse code modulation (differential PCM). The PU model proposes that the inner ear transmits sound change to the auditory cortex via an auditory N1 response, an event-related potential component that constitutes is a prime signaler of auditory input change. In cases of hearing impairment, the PU model posits that the auditory system finds itself in a state of uncertainty where perception has to be predicted based on previous stimulation parameters, which can lead to the emergence of tinnitus.

ANALISIS TINGKAT KEBISINGAN DI UNIVERSITAS SEMARANG DENGAN PETA KONTUR MENGGUNAKAN SOFTWARE GOLDEN 1

<p>Campus is a place which is teaching and learning process occur. One factor that support a good learning environment is to avoid noise problems. The object of the research is the campus of Semarang University located on Jalan Arteri Soekarno-Hatta, it is located on the edge of the Kaligawe-Gayamsari toll road. Both roads includes the most crowded transportation routes in Semarang City.Campus area requires a quiet and silent environment. It is difficult for the urban areas to get a quiet campus environment. The study tries to reveal the evaluation on how the noise factors that occur during teaching and learning process. The study was conducted at Semarang University. The research method used is descriptive analytic method. The research was conducted by measuring the noise level using Sound Level Meter (KRISBOW) type KW08-291, several data collection points was taken at Semarang University, both open and closed environments around campus. The results of noise measurements would be carried out in noise mapping to know the noise distribution map in the campus area. The noise level in the campus is still above 55 dB on average. It shows that the noise level in the environment of Semarang University has not been in line with the predetermined standard that is still greater than (40 - 50 dBA) in accordance to the decree of the State Minister of the Environment number 48 of 1996.</p><p>Keywords: noise, sound level meter, noise threshold value, decree of the State Minister of the Environment number 48 of 1996</p>

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy study of the neural correlates between auditory environments and intellectual work performance.

IntroductionMany people spend a considerable amount of time performing intellectual activities within auditory environments that affect work efficiency. To investigate auditory environments that improve working efficiency, we investigated the relationship between brain activity and performance of the number memory task in environments with and without white noise using functional near‐infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).MethodsTwenty‐nine healthy subjects (aged 21.9 ± 1.4 years) performed the number memory task in both the white noise and silent environments. Cerebral blood flow changes during the task were measured using an ETG‐7100 fNIRS system (Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan). The psychological states of the subjects were also estimated by subjective ratings of the pleasantness of the auditory environment. Then, they were divided into three groups based on their task scores. The differences in the cerebral blood flow (CBF) changes, functional connection strength, and the subjects’ feelings of pleasantness to the noise between the subject groups were analyzed and discussed.ResultsThe first group felt that the white noise was pleasant, which strengthened the bilateral functional connections between the brain regions related to the memory task. Therefore, the subjects’ task performance improved in the white noise environment. Although the second group felt that the white noise was uncomfortable, the frontal regions related to attention control were more activated in the white noise environment to sustain the task performance in the noisy environment. The third group felt that the white noise was unpleasant, and their CBF decreased in that environment, which was associated with deteriorated task performance.ConclusionsTask performance was closely related to the subjects’ feelings of pleasantness to the noise. The results of the analysis of the CBF changes and functional connectivity suggested that the effects of the white noise on brain activity differed among the three groups.

ANALISIS TINGKAT KEBISINGAN TERHADAP AKTIVITAS BELAJAR MENGAJAR DI FAKULTAS TEKNIK UNIVERSITAS SEMARANG

<p>Optimal teaching or learning activities require a conducive and quiet environment because the high concentration required on its process. Campus area requires a quiet and silent environment. It is difficult for the urban areas to get a quiet campus environment. The study tries to reveal the evaluation on how the noise factors that occur during teaching and learning process. The study was conducted at Semarang University. The research method used is descriptive analytic method. Research shows that the building of engineering faculty (the A building) at Semarang University shows the proper noise level in line with the standard (School Acoustic Quality Standards). Besides, Semarang University must establish rules and policies to control the noise levels, to intensify the comfort of the lecture process. Based on the research results, the noise level on the Engineering faculty building of Semarang University has not been in line with the predetermined standard, which is more than (55 dB).</p><p>Keywords: noise, lecture activities, acoustic quality standards of school buildings</p>

The effects of the social environment and physical disturbance on personality traits

The environment can have a considerable impact on behaviour. The social environment is predicted to be a particularly important driver of behavioural variation and evolution through the indirect genetic effects that arise whenever individuals interact with conspecifics. We used male Australian field crickets, Teleogryllus oceanicus, to examine the effects of changes in the social environment (recorded acoustic sexual signals of other males) on the expression and consistency of boldness, activity and exploration, and their between-individual covariation. Switching from a silent environment to being exposed to male acoustic sexual signals resulted in crickets becoming less bold, active and explorative. Switching from an acoustic to a silent environment resulted in increased boldness and activity. We also looked at the effects of changes in the nonsocial environment via a physical disturbance that mimicked the presence of a potential predator (mechanical shaking). The effects of physical disturbance (and changes thereof) on behaviour were far less pronounced than the effects of changes in the social environment. Neither the repeatability of nor correlations between behaviours were affected by changes in physical disturbance. Only the average level of exploration was affected significantly when crickets were moved from an undisturbed to a disturbed environment, with crickets becoming less explorative. Although changes in the social and the nonsocial environment affected the repeatability of and correlations between some of the behaviours measured, changes in the social environment had the greater effect. We discuss the ecological and evolutionary implications of our findings and how they relate to our current understanding of social and nonsocial environmental effects on behaviour.

Complicating Silence: A Case Study Investigation of Optimal Student Writing Ecologies

In this article, the authors report on a study designed to explore college students’ experiences in two writing environments, or ecologies: a media-free, silent zone and a media-saturated zone. Participants shared varying reactions to both environments. Some individuals found media distracting while writing, and others found it to be an energy boost or reward. And, where some participants initially indicated a preference for a silent environment, they discovered that pure silence caused an overload of mental activity. This variability of reactions to media multitasking suggests that educators need to facilitate this process and help students to reflect metacognitively regarding their optimal writing environment.

Quiet Zone for the patient in an Ambulance: Active Noise Control Technology for Siren Noise Reduction

This paper proposes an active noise control (ANC) application to attenuate siren noise for the patient lying inside ambulance with no sound proofing. From the point of cost effectiveness, a local ANC system based on feedforward scheme is considered. Further, to handle the limitation of limited Zone of Silence (ZoS), the ANC based on virtual sensing is explored. The simulations are done in MATLAB for the recorded ambulance siren noise signal. The results indicate that ANC can be an effective solution for creating a silent environment for the patient.

Two research on the effect of interior acoustics on the number of user in library architecture: Metu and Atilim University libraries

The library's readership services can be likened to the generosity of the ice mountain. A source goes through many stages until you reach the reader. Therefore, when the library activities and sections are examined, it is seen that different acoustical environments require different functions and spaces. These places include direct or indirect connections and transitions. Acoustic control should be solved by architectural methods in areas where there are continuous, direct connections, and transitions, while the absence of distinct acoustical features in areas with indirect transients does not create a problem. The librarian, the reader, or the user can experience the problem of adapting in transitions between different places, or it can be noisy due to the fact that there are no interrupters between the spaces. Acoustic comfort also does not just mean quiet as it is generally known. It should be able to serve different activities of users and readers and provide psychological acoustic comfort. In interviews conducted with many readers, it has been observed that the complete silent environment creates distrust due to insecurity in mass and wide areas, and thus prevents the desire to stay in the space for a long time. Comfort can be quantified and measured in terms of Articulation Index (AI) or other metrics based on signal-to-noise ratio. In highly reverberant library spaces, Speech Transmission Index (STI) may be more correlative to subjective impression of acoustic comfort.

Recently mated males of a lek-mating insect intensify precopulatory mate guarding under male competition

Precopulatory mate guarding is often observed when the availability of female gametes is limited. However, in the lek-mating lesser wax moth, Achroia grisella , this behaviour would result from a constraint on the release of male ejaculate. After a recent mating, males can quickly take hold of, and thereby monopolize, a female until they are able to transfer a new spermatophore. In the present study, we investigated how perceived male competition and female mass affected precopulatory mate guarding as well as eupyrene sperm allocation in this species. In our first experiment, both males and females of a pair were exposed to the playback of either a courtship song (competitive environment) or a silent environment (control) prior to and during the second mating of the male with a virgin female of varying body mass. To disentangle male versus female contributions to the observed behaviours, we conducted a second experiment where either the male only or the female only was exposed to the playback. In both experiments, pairs involving males exposed to playback showed shorter mating latencies and longer copulation durations than control pairs, while the sum of both durations was statistically indistinguishable between groups. Differential mating latencies in both experiments demonstrate a male, not a female, response to perceived male competition. Similar total durations across treatments suggest similar spermatophore production times and the differences in copulation durations probably represent a by-product of differential mating latencies. We found no difference in the number or proportion of sperm transferred during second copulations between treatments or according to female size. Together, these results suggest that plastic precopulatory mate guarding may be adaptive, as it allows males to maximize their reproductive success by securing mates under intense male competition and simultaneous sperm depletion, a combination particularly prevalent in lek mating systems.

Weak Broadband Electromagnetic Fields are More Disruptive to Magnetic Compass Orientation in a Night-Migratory Songbird (Erithacus rubecula) than Strong Narrow-Band Fields.

Magnetic compass orientation in night-migratory songbirds is embedded in the visual system and seems to be based on a light-dependent radical pair mechanism. Recent findings suggest that both broadband electromagnetic fields ranging from ~2 kHz to ~9 MHz and narrow-band fields at the so-called Larmor frequency for a free electron in the Earth’s magnetic field can disrupt this mechanism. However, due to local magnetic fields generated by nuclear spins, effects specific to the Larmor frequency are difficult to understand considering that the primary sensory molecule should be organic and probably a protein. We therefore constructed a purpose-built laboratory and tested the orientation capabilities of European robins in an electromagnetically silent environment, under the specific influence of four different oscillating narrow-band electromagnetic fields, at the Larmor frequency, double the Larmor frequency, 1.315 MHz or 50 Hz, and in the presence of broadband electromagnetic noise covering the range from ~2 kHz to ~9 MHz. Our results indicated that the magnetic compass orientation of European robins could not be disrupted by any of the relatively strong narrow-band electromagnetic fields employed here, but that the weak broadband field very efficiently disrupted their orientation.

과제수행을 통한 비우세손 훈련이 손 기능에 미치는 영향

Purpose : We described how the training of non-dominant hand that applicates the activity effects on dominant hand. Method : From November 6th to December 2nd 2013, We randomly selected 18 people that don't have a damage of hand function and are in college of K in Busan. (cross stitch training group 9 people, control group 9 people) All participants agreed on the research after fully being aware of training procedures and spontaneously conducted. Each training was practiced for 40 minutes in once every second day. One researcher deals with three participants at silent environment. We used the study measurement, Purdue pegboard, to investigate the sharpness of hand. To investigate the advancement of hand function caused by cross stitch training, we practiced three times estimations of primary one before training, middle one after 2 weeks training, last one after four weeks training and obtained the following results. Result : First of all, We found that the group of hand training appeared to be advanced of dominant hand's sharpness depending on the training period more than the control group. Second, We found that the group of hand training appeared to be advanced of non-dominant hand's sharpness depending on the training period more than the control group. Third, We found that the group of hand training appeared to be advanced of both hand's sharpness depending on the training period more than the control group. Fourth, We found that the group of hand training appeared to be advanced of the assembling function sharpness depending on the training period more than the control group. Conclusion : Put the results of this research together, we found that non-dominant hand training that used the activity was of help to advance the function of dominant hand. So, we thinks that hand training might help the recovery of affected hand function to the person that have a problem of hand function like hemiplegia patient. It will be required to practice the further study targeting the person that have a problem of hand function like hemiplegia patient. We hope that this research will be apply to clinical occupational therapy.