Expert Voices Research Articles

Voice Quality in Telephone Interviews: A preliminary Acoustic Investigation

To investigate the impact of standardized mobile phone recordings passed through a telecom channel on acoustic markers of voice quality and on its perception by voice experts in normophonic speakers. Continuous speech and a sustained vowel were recorded for fourteen female and ten male normophonic speakers. The recordings were done simultaneously with a head-mounted high-quality microphone and through the telephone network on a receiving smartphone. Twenty-two acoustic voice quality, breathiness and pitch-related measures were extracted from the recordings. Nine vocologists perceptually rated the G, R and B parameters of the GRBAS scale on each voice sample. The reproducibility, the recording type, the stimulus type and the gender effects, as well as the correlation between acoustic and perceptual measures were investigated. The sustained vowel samples are damped after one second. Only the frequencies between 100 and 3700Hz are passed through the telecom channel and the frequency response is characterized by peaks and troughs. The acoustic measures show a good reproducibility over the three repetitions. All measures significantly differ between the recording types, except for the local jitter, the harmonics-to-noise ratio by Dejonckere and Lebacq, the period standard deviation and all six pitch measures. The AVQI score is higher in telephone recordings, while the ABI score is lower. Significant differences between genders are also found for most of the measures; while the AVQI is similar in men and women, the ABI is higher in women in both recording types. For the perceptual assessment, the interrater agreement is rather low, while the reproducibility over the three repetitions is good. Few significant differences between recording types are observed, except for lower breathiness ratings on telephone recordings. G ratings are significantly more severe on the sustained vowel on both recording types, R ratings only on telephone recordings. While roughness is rated higher in men on telephone recordings by most experts, no gender effect is observed for breathiness on either recording types. Finally, neither the AVQI nor the ABI yield strong correlations with any of the perceptual parameters. Our results show that passing a voice signal through a telecom channel induces filter and noise effects that limit the use of common acoustic voice quality measures and indexes. The AVQI and ABI are both significantly impacted by the recording type. The most reliable acoustic measures seem to be pitch perturbation (local jitter and period standard deviation) as well as the harmonics-to-noise ratio from Dejonckere and Lebacq. Our results also underline that raters are not equally sensitive to the various factors, including the recording type, the stimulus type and the gender effects. Neither of the three perceptual parameters G, R and B seem to be reliably measurable on telephone recordings using the two investigated acoustic indexes. Future studies investigating the impact of voice quality in telephone conversations should thus focus on acoustic measures on continuous speech samples that are limited to the frequency response of the telecom channel and that are not too sensitive to environmental and additive noise.

"How can you advocate for something that is nonexistent?" (CM16-17) Power of community in a pandemic and the evolution of community-led response within a COVID-19 CICT and testing context.

Formal and informal bilingual/bicultural organizations and networks form the backbone of support for refugee, immigrant, and migrant (RIM) communities in the United States. They are pivotal in mitigating barriers and inequities in social and structural determinants of health. These organizations and networks are situated within the communities they serve, and often are established and run by members of a community, to serve the community. In the United States, the COVID-19 pandemic surfaced and widened existing health inequities for some racial and ethnic communities. Our primary objectives were to: (1) describe the processes that underpinned the pivotal role of immigrant-serving community structures in developing and implementing culturally sustaining programming in the context of pandemic response, and (2) amplify the voices of community experts, as they shared experiences and perspectives around these humanistic and community-centered approaches. We applied a community case study approach to a national sample of RIM-serving community structures representing broad country/region-of-origin, cultural, and linguistic identities. Community engagement strategies utilized in the project period included engaging community partners to identify and facilitate connections, and consult on analysis and dissemination. The project team conducted 20 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of community experts/community organizations. Sampling strategy was further informed by immigrant identity (i.e., characterization of status) and geography (i.e., United States Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs Regions). Through thematic analysis, results identified key contextual, process-, and impact-oriented themes inherent to community-led COVID-19 responses, that were situated within and around the public and health system response to the pandemic. As public health and health systems scrambled to address acute and unprecedented barriers to access, distribution of COVID-19-related health resources and services, and disparate health outcomes, community structures diligently and intentionally reimagined and reconceptualized their response to COVID-19, frequently in the setting of scarce resources. The grassroots response evolved as a counter-narrative to top–down equity processes, historically defined by systems and applied to the community.

문화예술분야 4차산업혁명 기술 수용성 연구

This study starts with the premise that the emergence of all new technologies, including the 4IR technology, inevitably brings changes to the culture and arts field experts and organizations. The conclusions of the study are as follows. Firstly, the experience and technical capabilities of general technologies increase the level of preparation for the 4IR technology or the direct experience value of technology. Secondly, artistic and cultural companies or organizations with high strategic orientation have been showing higher readiness for the 4IR technology. Thirdly, the more positive the contribution to the 4IR technology, the higher the perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of the 4IR technology. Finally, the higher the experience of direct use of the 4IR technology, the higher the acceptability of the 4IR technology, but the perception of the 4IR technology contribution shows negative. It is to be hoped that this paper will be used as initial data to present direction in the meeting and convergence between the 4IR technology and arts and culture also to capture the voices of field experts of contemporary arts and culture.

Closing the GAP in Antimicrobial Resistance Policy in Benin and Burkina Faso.

ABSTRACTAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global concern that is geographically unevenly distributed, with low- and middle-income countries and African countries suffering in particular. The World Health Organization (WHO) Global Action Plan (GAP) for antimicrobial resistance identified five key objectives that aim to ensure the continued treatment and prevention of infectious diseases with the use of antibiotics. Countries signatory to the WHO GAP are expected to develop their own national action plans (NAPs) based on the global model. How low-income countries are able to achieve the GAP objectives is not well understood. This paper analyzes the progress of two West African countries in achieving the GAP targets, Benin and Burkina Faso, countries among the lowest bracket in the World Development Index. We present qualitative data from interviews and focus group discussions with local policy-makers, nurses, doctors, animal breeders, veterinarians, and laboratory researchers, supported by participant observations and surveys within rural communities. The analysis is organized according to the five WHO GAP objectives to show the countries’ challenges in fulfilling them. The analysis shows that there are shortcomings in all of the WHO GAP areas in the two countries, making it a compounded and multifactorial problem—a stacking of lacks. In such contexts, calibrating a society toward AMR resilience/prevention requires overall development and attention to interdependencies. Active local research and policy communities with international, sustained financial support are essential for achieving the targets.IMPORTANCE The burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is unequally distributed across the globe. Low-income countries face a more severe AMR situation and have fewer means to solve the problem. This paper brings out the voices of local experts, policy-makers, and members of the community in Benin and Burkina Faso across human health, animal health, and food production sectors, where the majority of antibiotic use is concentrated. We describe the difficulties that they face in implementing global action plans, targets set by the World Health Organization, for securing antibiotics and preventing the spread of antimicrobial resistance. This paper argues that the various deficits in implementation are stacked, multisectoral, and compounded. We highlight the role of active local scientists and policy-maker networks in setting priorities to address the AMR problem; however, their activities need technical and financial support from international partners.

Acute effects of singing on cardiovascular biomarkers.

BackgroundSinging is a physical activity involving components of the vagal nerves manifested as changes in cardiac autonomic regulation.AimsThe aim of this pilot study is to investigate the acute effects of singing on biomarkers of cardiovascular health.MethodsAdult subjects were recruited from cardiology clinics to participate in a single 90-min study visit. Vascular function was measured at the fingertips with peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) before and after singing to a 14-min video led by a voice expert. Heart rate variability (HRV) was measured with a chest strap sensor at baseline, during, and after singing. PAT measurements were expressed as reactive hyperemia index (RHI) and Framingham reactive hyperemia index (fRHI). Measures of HRV included root mean square of successive RR interval differences (RMSSD) and standard deviation of NN (or RR) intervals (SDNN).ResultsSixty subjects completed the study (68% female, mean age 61 ±13 years, mean BMI 32 ± 8). There was a significant increase in fRHI (1.88 ± 0.14 to 2.10 ± 0.14, p = 0.02) after singing with no significant change in the RHI (1.99 ± 0.10 to 2.12 ± 0.09, p = 0.22). There was a reduction in HRV during singing (compared to baseline) (RMSSD: 42.0 ± 5 to 32.6 ± 4, p = 0.004 and SDNN: 54 ± 4 to 33.5 ± 3, p = 0.009). HRV measures trended back toward baseline after singing.ConclusionsA short duration of singing improved vascular function acutely. Improvements were more substantial in subjects with abnormal baseline endothelial function. HRV patterns were similar to that of light-intensity exercise. Future studies should confirm favorable vascular adaptation to more sustained singing interventions.Clinical trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, identifer: NCT03805529.

Considerations for Specialty Education in Voice and Upper Airway Disorders

Purpose: The purpose of this article was to describe the development and contributions of a voice and upper airway disorders (VUAD) grassroots committee of experts toward defining core features of a VUAD-focused clinical fellowship (CF). This group grew over 3 years to include more than 35 clinical experts representing multiple VUAD clinic sites across varied regions of the United States. This group proposed entry- and exit-level knowledge and skills and expectations for successful VUAD CF training outcomes at the 2021 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention. In addition, this group formulated resources and educational support networks for VUAD CF trainees and their supervisors. Future work by this group will define the criteria by which VUAD CFs will be included as part of clinical expertise experiences evaluated by the VUAD board. Conclusions: A collaborative group of grassroots experts in VUAD defined core entry- and exit-level expectations for clinical competency upon completion of a VUAD CF. Future research and efforts by this group will further characterize the current VUAD CF settings, populations served, and ranges of assessment and treatment services provided. Pilot programs were conducted offering educational and supervisory resources with positive outcomes that endorse the need for these critical mechanisms for supporting VUAD trainees and colleagues.

Selected by expertise? Scientific experts in German news coverage of COVID-19 compared to other pandemics.

At the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific expertise was and is more in demand than perhaps ever before. Scientific "experts" serve as an important source of information for journalists and for society. Our study analyzes, which experts get a chance to speak in German news coverage of COVID-19 compared to other pandemics, how diverse the spectrum of selected experts is and how their scientific expertise is to be assessed. Our findings show that the COVID-19 coverage is dominated by actors from the political executive and less than in previous pandemics by scientific experts. In addition, the coronavirus debate is characterized by a greater diversity of expert voices and the journalistic selection of scientific experts is biased in favor of those who have a high scientific expertise. On average, COVID-19 coverage seems to be biased more pronouncedly in favor of reputable scientific experts compared to previous debates on pandemics.

Expert voices in South African mass media during the COVID-19 pandemic

Scientists increasingly recognise that media visibility allows them to gain influence in public and policy spheres. However, some scientists shy away from publicity and journalists are purposefully selective when they seek out experts to interview. This may result in a skewed representation of scientists in the mass media. In this study, we explored which South African scientific experts at the academic rank of ‘professor’ were quoted in the local mass media during the initial 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our analysis of 1164 media articles related to COVID-19 showed that, as far as gender is concerned, men dominated as expert sources, with women accounting for only 30% of quoted professors. In terms of research field, most experts were from the broad field of health and medicine, with an under-representation of social scientists. We reflect on the implications and consequences of a skewed media representation of scientific expertise, as well as some of the options to remedy these imbalances. Significance: This is the first study to identify the most visible science experts in the mass media in South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic. We recommend options for institutions, researchers, media editors and journalists to help diversify expert sources that are featured or quoted in the mass media.

The First Baby Born After Polygenic Embryo Screening

The First Baby Born After Polygenic Embryo Screening

Determining the Likelihood Ratio From Perceptual Attributes of Voice

To provide voice experts with a method for determining the likelihood ratio (LR) from the perceptual evaluation of distinctive voice attribute scores. The proposed method aims to obtain the similarity and typicality judgments made by forensic voice experts (FVEs) during the comparison of attributes in voice pairs. It is based on the scoring method for LR calculation. In the first stage, 17 perceptual attributes grouped into six vocalic categories are specified. A novel graphical interface is used to obtain discriminative responses both globally and for each attribute from ten pairs of test sentences produced by the same and different speakers. The FVEs should discriminate whether the attributes are similar or different in each pair and should indicate the degree to which the attributes are present. In addition, for six specific attributes, the FVEs must decide whether the attribute is typical or atypical in the reference population. In the second stage, the mean score obtained in the first stage is converted to LR using probability density functions of listeners' responses to 1680 same/different speaker pairs discriminated for female and male speakers. The responses of the FVEs to the test pairs show the discriminatory power of the attributes, the incidence of the typicality factor on the final score and the performance of each FVE. With the application of the probability density functions obtained for the responses to pairs of the same or different origin taken from the reference population, the final scores are converted into LRs that are compared with the true conditions of each pair. The application of the developed system allows the global and discriminated evaluation of the perceptual attributes with high agreement in the comparison of pairs of voices. Obtaining the LRs allows associating the perceptual evaluation method with the automatic methods that are used nowadays. The responses of the FVEs taken as a reference, will allow training and evaluating the performance of young FVEs.

Multi-level modeling: cornerstones of a rationale

This expert voice paper presents a comprehensive rationale of multi-level modeling. It aims not only at a systematic assessment of its prospects, but also at encouraging applications of multi-level modeling in business information systems and at providing a motivation for future research. The assessment is developed from a comparison of multi-level modeling with object-oriented, general-purpose modeling languages (GPMLs) and domain-specific modeling languages (DSMLs). To foster a differentiated evaluation, we propose a multi-perspective framework that accounts, among others, for essential design conflicts, different types of users, as well as economic aspects. Besides the assessment of the additional abstraction offered by multi-level modeling, the evaluation also identifies specific drawbacks and remaining challenges. Based on the results of the comparative assessment, in order to foster the adoption and further development of multi-level modeling, we discuss the prospects of supplementing multi-level modeling languages with multi-level programming languages and suggest possible dissemination strategies customized for different groups of users. The paper concludes with an outline of future research.

Art Communities at Risk: On Slovenia

Abstract “Art Communities At Risk: Slovenia” talks about how it is somehow easier to take a moral than a political position in times of crisis today—and how political manipulations often hide under seemingly moral attitudes. The author analyzes these issues against the background of growing authoritarian forces in Central and Eastern Europe, especially Slovenia, which saw the rise of covid-19 and Janez Janša as prime minister at the same time. Janša's government systematically ignores professional competencies in cultural institutions as well as in science, especially in relation to the epidemic.The voice of experts in the field of culture is ignored, and this is precisely because their specialized knowledge is not neutral. In a time when the space for free speech is shrinking, the need for a clear positioning becomes even more pressing. The author discusses the exhibition Bigger than Myself / Heroic Voices from Ex-Yugoslavia, which she curated for Rome's MAXXI museum last summer. The work shown there addressed Yugoslav emancipatory histories in relation to the issues of particular urgency today: global capitalism, the posthuman condition, and the return of authoritarianism, in particular. The Slovenian authorities took a hostile attitude towards the exhibition, not only because it presented critical voices from the region but also because artists from the former Yugoslavia were presented there, who, according to Slovenian right-wingers, are no longer worthy of participating in national cultural projects. Concerning the example of what is happening in Slovenia today, the essay asks why there has been such a strong turn to the right in Central and Eastern Europe, which is reviving “traditional” morality, patriarchy, and nationalism and engaging in political interference in cultural institutions. The current governments of Slovenia and other countries in the region want to get rid of the critical voices of left-wing experts in culture by favoring ostensibly neutral experts. It removes from important positions all those it considers to be leftists and replaces them with its own people in order to seemingly strike a balance between the various political options. This balancing act and new “neutrality,” however, are just one of the modern disguises of acute authoritarianism in Eastern Europe.

Project Review: SwampScapes

Project Review: <i>SwampScapes</i>

Dementia‐inclusive radio series ‘Talkin’ About Neurodegeneration'—A look under the dementia umbrella and a follow‐on series to award‐winning ‘Voyage Around My Brain’ on NearFM

AbstractBackground‘Talkin’ About Neurodegeneration’ a ground‐breaking radio series sharing voices of Brain Health Experts, with people living with different neurodegenerative diseases, their caregivers and other experts working in the arts – a four‐way conversation about living with dementia. The aim is to spotlight lesser‐known diseases in particular LBD which is the most common dementia that nobody knows about and educate listeners that Alzheimer’s Disease is not the only one associated with dementia. Radio producer, researcher, broadcaster and GBHI Fellow, Karen Meenan was awarded CRAOL National Gold Award for ‘Voyage Around My Brain’ which introduced listeners to people living with dementia, their caregivers and Brain Health Experts from GBHI over 17 weeks with 50+ guests, half of whom were living with dementia. CRAOL stated ‘congratulations for sharing the voices of people living with dementia, we need to hear these stories, great twist to have experts on the same programme’. Listenership on NearFM on Monday 7‐8pm has almost doubled v same period last year with regular emails saying how listeners enjoy learning new aspects about dementia. ‘Thank you for this programme, I look forward to it eagerly each week’ ‘My Dad has Parkinson’s disease, I didn’t realise that dancing was an important part of his care, thanks for letting me know’ ‘Thanks for the spotlight on insomnia, I have had trouble sleeping for years, I’m going to put into practice some of the suggestions by your guests last week’ … as samples of the correspondence. ‘Talkin’ About Neurodegeneration’ will tell the story of these diseases in an engaging, educational and entertaining way – how did Lewy Body Dementia get its name, how is Huntington’s disease in South Africa traced back to one individual, why is dancing good for people living with Parkinson’s disease and how can reminiscence theatre spark memories for people living with Alzheimer’s Disease. Karen Meenan is designing and building a new website for people in Ireland living with Lewy Body Disease – there is nothing in place for these estimated 6,000 people at present. ‘Talkin’ About Neurodegeneration’ is a component of this new website. This is her GBHI Pilot Project.

Resonant Voice: Perceptual and Acoustic Analysis After an Intensive Lessac Kinesensic Training Workshop

ObjectiveTo investigate whether actors’ and actresses’ voices post an Intensive Lessac Kinesensic Training Workshop – ILKTW can be perceptually identified as more resonant, and to assess if the Acoustic Voice Quality Index (AVQI), the Acoustic Breathing Index (ABI), and their acoustic measures are able to indicate the classified voices as more resonant. MethodsEight vocally healthy English first-language actors and actresses, participants of the same ILKTW, were asked to sustain the vowel /a/ and to read a piece of the Rainbow Passage, pre and postworkshop, at a self-selected habitual frequency and intensity. The readings were divided into initial and final parts, both with 34 syllables, and combined with the vowel /a/ (3s). The pre and postworkshop recordings (pairs of the initial and final parts followed by the /a/ vowel) of each participant were randomly presented to a voice expert who rated the samples as more resonant or similar. The same samples were analyzed using the AVQI and ABI scripts. Results87,5% of the initial parts and 100% of the final in postworkshop were rated by the voice expert as more resonant. Tilt was higher for the postworkshop initial parts (P = 0.036), but a correlation with the perceptual rating wasn't found. HNR was higher (P = 0.018) and jitter was lower (P = 0.017) for the postworkshop final parts. The statistical analysis comparing the perceptive and acoustic data for the final samples couldn't be applied. ConclusionIt seems that the ILKTW has a positive impact on the development of a resonant voice and that the perceptual auditory rating was more effective to describe resonant voices than the AVQI, ABI, and its acoustic measures.

Global Inventory and Similarity Rating of Singing Voice Assessment Terms Used at English Speaking Academic Institutions

The choice of terms to describe and assess the singing voice is an essential part of vocal pedagogy. However, previous work suggested that singing terminology used in academia may be somewhat ambiguous. To address this issue, the authors a) compiled a comprehensive inventory of singing voice assessment terms used by English-speaking academic institutions worldwide and b) with the help of 22 highly experienced singing voice teachers, grouped the most prevalent terms based on their conceptual similarity. Only about a fifth of all targeted institutions provided materials and information online. Overall, a total of 292 different terms were found in the 64 available sources. This surprisingly large number of terms could be reduced by approximately 61% through lexical grouping. In the resulting data set, only 24 of the 114 terms occurred in at least 20% of the online sources, suggesting a rather low current density of information as well as little to no systematic and coordinated use of terms across institutions. The singing voice expert's similarity rating of the 24 most prevalent terms revealed a non-uniform distribution, suggesting that only some of these terms can be used interchangeably. Overall, these findings hint at the underlying complexity of voice assessment on a descriptive and qualitative level, highlighting the need for further research in this area.

Child Poverty and Health in the United States: Introduction and Executive Summary.

Child Poverty and Health in the United States: Introduction and Executive Summary.

An Open Access Standardised Voice Evaluation Protocol

PurposeA comprehensive protocol to evaluate voice quality can support a full characterisation of voice disorders and be used to plan voice interventions. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a standardised protocol for voice assessment, contributing with a comprehensive and valuable tool for clinician practice and research. MethodThe initial structure and content of the protocol was based on an extensive literature review of existing voice assessment tools. The content validity was then assessed by a panel of voice specialist, using a modified Bland and Altman graphical method and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). A group of participants with vocal pathology was finally assessed by two voice specialists on the same day (inter-rater reliability), and, on a second day, by a single evaluator (intra-rater reliability). Inter and intra-reliability were evaluated through Cohen's kappa (k) for nominal variables, and Spearman's Correlation Coefficient (ρ) for quantitative and ordinal variables. ResultsThe Bland and Altman analysis, revealed a reasonable agreement between the experts and the ICC values were lower than expected, but the confidence intervals were very wide. The intra-rater reliability of the protocol's nominal variables was almost perfect, with a mean k of 0.977; inter-rater reliability of nominal variables was also almost perfect, with a mean k of 0.893. The ordinal and quantitative variables revealed a very good to excellent relationship, with a mean ρ of 0.912. ConclusionsEvidence of content validity, high intra and inter-rater reliability of a standardised protocol for voice assessment, have been shown. This protocol can be used to assess and collect data from patients, to train voice specialists and to develop reference voice databases. It has been designed to serve voice experts with diverse backgrounds and assessment needs.

Building Global Indigenous Media Networks: Envisioning Sustainable and Regenerative Futures around Indigenous Peoples’ Meaningful Representation

Asserting the right to meaningful representation, challenging the epistemological and methodological expansion of global corporate capitalism and its impacts on Indigenous Peoples’ territories and cultures, aligns with the implementation of global treaties and conventions that are part of key international laws regarding issues of climate change, biodiversity conservation, education, global health, human rights, and sustainable development. Indigenous Peoples have been consistently excluded from nation state visions of modernity and development, which continues to limit their full participation in global sustainable development initiatives and their meaningful representation therein. Increasing the visibility of this struggle is imperative for Indigenous Peoples, particularly around the strategic areas in which the implementation of global sustainable development treaties, policies, and goals continues to affect their rights. This article inquires whether Indigenous Peoples’ emancipatory appropriation of media means from a transnational perspective that breaks their regional enclosure can contribute to decolonize the world. More specifically, it questions how a new Indigenous global media network would contribute to decolonize the relations between Indigenous Peoples and nation states. A wider mapping of Indigeneity that decolonizes sustainable development becomes critical in order to formally document the efforts of Indigenous Peoples to reconstruct and restore their epistemic and material relations. This article questions how an Indigenous global media network around new nexus research can benefit Indigenous Peoples, and make visible the incorporation of the recommendations and principles from international law emanated from the self-determined voices of Indigenous leaders, experts, and policy makers to decolonize global sustainable development goals.

Quality of life in cancer care

While new therapies and techniques offer improved outcomes for individuals with cancer, it is equally important to preserve their physical, social, functional, and emotional well-being. Here, a series of expert Voices highlight the need for a multi-layered approach to address quality of life issues in cancer therapy.