bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Relation between Phonetics and Phonology
Authors: Blumstein Sheila E.
Published: November 2009

It is the goal of this paper to consider how phonetics may interface with phonology. The role phonetics plays in phonological analysis is considered with respect to features, segments, phonological processes, and the abstractness of phonological solutions. Phonetic evidence is reviewed concerning the feature [strident] that questions the defining properties of this feature, its place in the distinctive feature framework, and its role in the analysis of natural classes for fricatives. The extent to which a sound segment is analyzed as a single unit or a cluster is considered with reference to prenasalized stops in Moru. The phonetic data are neutral with respect to the unitary or complex status of such segments, suggesting that the decision is more properly a phonological one. Phonetic evidence for the phonological process of neutralization is reviewed. Acoustic analysis of word-final devoicing in German, Polish and Catalan provides support for the reality of the process of neutralization in phonological solutions. Finally, phonetics helps provide a set of constraints or limiting conditions on the abstractness of phonological solutions. While phonetics cannot inform phonology about the appropriateness of a particular underlying form, there should be some phonetic transparency between the underlying form and its ultimate phonetic instantiation.
Phonetics and Phonology: A Sociopsycholinguistic Framework
Authors: Dressler Wolfgang U. , Moosmüller Sylvia
Published: November 2009

Our aim is to present a sociopragmatic framework for phonological behavior and to comprehend phonology as part of a social action (in the sense of Schütz). This approach enables us to connect sociology, psychology, phonology and phonetics. Phonological variation is no longer seen as a secondary parameter, but can be analyzed as an integral part of language behavior. First we present Natural Phonology, then results of our investigations: phonological and phonetic variation due to psychological parameters on the one hand, steps of analysis in predominantly sociophonological work on the other hand.
Testing the Universality of Phonological Generalizations with a Phonetically Specified Segment Database: Results and Limitations
Authors: Maddieson Ian
Published: November 2009

Linguistic universals are prevalent patterns attributed to natural factors, either arising directly from human biology or from the ecology of language use. Phonological universals relating to segments can be studied using the UCLA Phonological Segment Inventory Database (UPSID). The nature of the data in this resource is described and some issues in interpreting cross-language uniformities and areal disparities are discussed. As an illustration, the modal number of vowel qualities in language inventories is shown to differ for the set of African languages in UPSID from those of other continents. This difference might be explicable as resulting from different ways of balancing various properties of phonological systems. But the correlation of this distribution with likely patterns of dispersion of ‘modern’ humans leaves open the possibility that the modal number of vowels in non-African languages reflects an inherited property of the parent of these languages.
Perception of Assimilation in Consonants Clusters:A Gestural Model
Authors: Byrd Dani
Published: November 2009

The goal of this experiment was to examine the perceptual effects of gestural overlap or coproduction on the first consonant in a cluster. The experiment was conducted using synthetic speech stimuli containing [b#d] and [d#b] consonant clusters in two word phrases. The stimuli were synthesized using an articulatory speech synthesizer according to the linguistic gestural model of Browman and Goldstein. The influence of the relative places of constriction in the cluster and the complexity of the presentation environment are discussed. Two asymmetries with respect to gestural overlap were found. First, assimilation was more readily perceived when C1 was an alveolar consonant than when C1 was bilabial. Second, a two-word context encouraged the perception of anticipatory assimilation to a greater degree than an environment in which the second word had been truncated leaving only the acoustic effects of consonantal coproduction on the vowel offset. The results are discussed in terms of the linguistic gestural model with special reference to the application of this framework to the description of assimilation, multiply articulated consonants, and secondary articulations.
Speaking Fundamental Frequency Patterns of Japanese Women
Authors: Yamazawa Hideko , Hollien Harry
Published: November 2009

The purpose of this research was to obtain information on the speaking fundamental frequency (SFF) mean levels, variability and patterns of Japanese females and contrast them with those of Caucasian speakers of American English. To this end, 56 young women – 32 Japanese and 24 Americans – read standard passages in either or both the Japanese and English languages. It was found that the Japanese exhibited higher fundamental frequencies than did the Americans for all speaking conditions, and this contrast was statistically significant. Additionally -and unlike the American speakers – most Japanese women exhibited bimodal SFF distribution patterns. It is judged that the observed differences in level and distribution result primarily from differences in the structure of the two languages.
Phonological Primes: Features or Gestures?
Authors: Clements George N.
Published: November 2009

This paper addresses Browman and Goldstein’s claim that articulatory phonology is as adequate for capturing lexical contrasts and phonological patterns as it is for modeling articulator movements in speech production. It points out several respects in which articulatory phonology fails to express well-established phonological generalizations, such as the discrete nature of lexical contrasts and the hierarchical organization of features. It suggests than in some of these, at least, articulatory phonology could be revised in the direction of closer integration with phonological models without sacrificing its ability to account for phonetic data. Other problems may go deeper, reflecting Browman and Goldstein’s emphasis upon motor rather than cognitive aspects of phonological organization. However, they have offered strong support for the view that phonological and phonetic representations may be essentially congruent in structure.
Articulatory Actions within a Phonological System and the Resulting Complexity of Speech Signals
Authors: Scully Celia
Published: November 2009

The importance of overlapping coordinated gestures in achieving the auditory goals of speech is considered. Articulatory synthesis can help our understanding of the coordination problems and the variety of solutions found by real speakers. The time required to perform specific essential gestures, such as abduction-adduction of the vocal folds for fricatives, imposes strong timing constraints. In different speech sequences different articulators act as the duration-determining factor (DDF). Timing variability needs to be modelled also. Further experimentation is needed to determine whether increased speaking rate more nearly retains constant phase or constant absolute durational separation of articulatory events and whether or not some gestures can disappear under the relaxed auditory criteria of a casual style of speech. Two examples are presented, from the Leeds articulatory modelling, of the ways in which the phonological system of the language interacts with the processes and constraints of the speech production system to yield context-dependent variation for individual phonemes.
A Multidimensional Scaling Study of Voice Quality in Females
Authors: Pausewang Gelfer Marylou
Published: November 2009

In this study, a multidimensional scaling (MDS) analysis was performed to investigate perceptual discrimination by listeners among normal female voices. Speech pathologists and untrained listeners rated the similarity of all possible pairings of 20 female voices presented in sentences. MDS analyses were performed on these data. To interpret the resulting dimensions, listeners additionally evaluated each voice on each of 17 rating scales. For each listener group, the normalized and averaged perceptual ratings were correlated with MDS stimulus coordinates for the 20 voices. This procedure resulted in a five-dimensional solution which best explained the speech pathologists’ similarity-dissimilarity judgements, with the following perceptual correlates for each dimension: (1) perceived pitch, (2) perceived loudness, (3) perceived age and duration of the speakers’ stimulus sentence, (4) perceived variability, and (5) perceived quality. The untrained listeners’ judgements were best explained by a two-dimensional solution. Comparisons with other MDS studies were made, and the need for new acoustic measures was discussed.
The Effects of Semantic Context on Voicing Neutralization
Authors: Charles-Luce Jan
Published: November 2009

The present study examined regressive voice assimilation in Catalan in an attempt to determine a systematic explanation of complete versus incomplete voicing neutralization. Two types of contexts were constructed. In one type, semantic information was present to bias the meaning of target words. In the other type, no semantic information was present. The results showed that vowel duration distinguished underlying voicing in the neutral context only. The results suggest that neutralization occurs when semantic information is present, but that a voicing contrast is realized when it is absent.
The Durations of Syllable-Final Nasals and the Mora Hypothesis in Japanese
Authors: Sato Yumiko
Published: November 2009

This study investigates durational differences in syllable-final nasals in Japanese, English, and Korean, and examines the mora hypothesis in Japanese. The phenomenon that syllable-final nasals are longer when followed by a voiced consonant than when followed by a voiceless consonant was observed in languages of different timing categories, i. e. Japanese (moratimed), Korean (syllable-timed), and English (stress-timed). However, syllable-final nasals in Japanese (the mora nasal /n/) are set apart with respect to the moraic status: syllable-final nasals (moraic) are clearly differentiated in duration from syllable-initial nasals (non-moraic).
The Phonetic Interpretation of Tone in Igbo
Authors: Liberman Mark , Schultz Michael , Hong Soonhyun , Okeke Vincent
Published: November 2009

This article presents a preliminary study of the phonetic interpretation of tone in Igbo, a Kwa language of southeastern Nigeria. The experimental method varies the speaker’s pitch range orthogonally with variation in tonal material, and fits a model to measurements of maxima and minima in the resulting Fo contour. A new interpretation of downstep is proposed as a result.
‘Speaker’ and ‘Speech’ Characteristics: A Deductive Approach
Authors: Carré René
Published: November 2009

In this paper, a deductive approach to the study of vocal tract characteristics, vowel, vowel-to-vowel and vowel-consonant-vowel productions is presented. The distinctive region model, deduced from acoustic theory, is used to develop this approach. The model is characterized by simplicity and efficiency in its handling of the articulatory-acoustic relation. Vowel systems can be explained by means of this approach. A tentative study on the predictability of vowel-to-vowel characteristics is also presented. The obtained results suggest that the human communication system is driven by physical laws of the real world.
Glottal Stops and Glottalization in German
Authors: Kohler K.J.
Published: November 2009

This paper presents the results of an auditory and instrumental investigation into glottal stops and glottalization as boundary markers in German colloquial read speech of a North German non-dialect variety. It also reports on the occurrence of glottal stops and glottalization, outside the domain of word and morpheme boundaries, as reduction phenomena of supraglottal stop articulations. Finally, these sound features are discussed as elements in an articulatory phonology of connected speech in German, providing insights into the general theory of human speech production.
The Phonological Reality of Locus Equations across Manner Class Distinctions: Preliminary Observations
Authors: Sussman Harvey M.
Published: November 2009

The present study extends the phonological realm of locus equations to include nasals, fricatives, approximants and unas-pirated voiceless stops. The question of interest was to determine if locus equation slopes and y-intercepts could serve as phonetic descriptors for place of articulation across varied manner classes. Fourteen speakers, 7 male and 7 female, produced CVC tokens with 10 medial vowels and initial consonants varying across manner classes. F2 onset and F2 vowel frequencies were acoustically determined and plotted as locus equations. Fairly distinct clustering of slope and y-intercept coordinates were found for labial, dental/alveolar and velar places of articulation. Approximants (/w, j, r, l/) formed a unique cluster of points characterized by slope = 0 and contrasted solely by y-intercepts – correlates of steady-state onset frequencies of approximant productions. The consistent linearity observed in all locus equation plots across all consonant-vowel tokens is discussed according to the orderly-output constraint that hypothesizes that the robust linearity of the acoustic F2 transition onset-to-offset relationship exists to best serve neural encoding and perception of the speech signal.
Musical Significance of Musicians’ Syllable Choice in Improvised Nonsense Text Singing: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Sundberg Johan
Published: November 2009

When informally singing memorized instrumental or vocal themes, we tend to invent nonsense texts, e.g. duda duda dudaa. This article presents a first attempt to test the assumption that in this type of singing the choice of syllables is guided by certain principles which reflect musical structure. In one experiment, 11 members of a professional orchestra sang 6 melodical excerpts, and their choice of syllables was analyzed. With regard to the phonetic properties, this choice showed a certain coherence. In a second experiment, one of the subjects showed by articulatory markings such as slurs, dots and dashes his preferred performance of the same 6 excerpts. Comparisons with his syllable choice suggested that the syllables are musically meaningful. In a third experiment, this subject’s performance suggestions were compared with the occurrence of micropauses in rule-generated performances of the same 6 excerpts; the result suggested that the phonetic characteristics of the syllables in this kind of singing are used for conveying information about grouping.
Cross-Language Differences in Phonological Acquisition: Swedish and American /t/
Authors: Stoel-Gammon Carol , Williams Karen , Buder Eugene
Published: November 2009

Our understanding of phonological acquisition has benefited immensely from cross-linguistic investigations which allow researchers to separate biological and learned factors. To date, most cross-linguistic studies have focused either on differences in phonetic inventories or on differences in frequency of occurrence of particular phonetic and phonological properties in the adult language. This paper describes a third type of study: comparisons of segments that occur in two (or more) languages but differ in their phonetic properties. We present perceptual and acoustic analyses of adult and child productions of word-initial alveolar /t/ in American English and dental /t/ in Swedish. Results showed that listeners’ perception of place of articulation was strongly associated with language (alveolar: American English, dental: Swedish) for both adult and child tokens, and was effective in assigning individual speakers to language groups. Three acoustic measures, voice onset time, burst intensity and burst spectral diffuseness correlated with language for both child and adult tokens; the latter two measures correlated with perception as well. The findings suggest that American and Swedish children at 30 months of age have acquired some language-specific phonetic aspects of/t/ phonemes.
The Nature and Origins of Ambient Language Influence on Infant Vocal Production and Early Words
Authors: Vihman Marilyn May , de Boysson-Bardies Bénédicte
Published: November 2009

Phonological structure may be seen as emerging in ontogeny from the combined effects of performance constraints rooted in the neuromotor and perceptual systems, individual lexical development and the influence of the particular ambient language. We review here the nature and origins of the earliest ambient language influences. Global effects within the first year of life include both (1) loss of early appearing phonetic gestures not supported by the ambient language and (2) positive effects, reflecting infant attention to prosody and to cues available in the visual as well as the auditory modality. In the course of early lexical development more specific effects become manifest as individual children pursue less common phonetic paths to which the ambient language provides ‘sufficient exposure’.
Automaticity in Speech Perception: Some Speech/Nonspeech Comparisons
Authors: Johnson Keith , Ralston James V.
Published: November 2009

Three experiments used sine-wave replicas of speech sounds to explore some differences between speech perception and general auditory perception. The experiments compared patterns of behavior in categorization and discrimination tasks for listeners reporting either speech or nonspeech percepts of sine-wave replicas of speech. We hypothesized that the perception of speech sounds is automatized, while the perception of less familiar sounds is not. The first experiment was designed to investigate the perception of relatively long initial consonant transitions using a synthetic /wa/-/ya/ sine-wave analog continuum. Speech listeners perceived the continuum categorically, but nonspeech listeners could not consistently categorize the items in the continuum. In the second experiment, both speech and nonspeech listeners could consistently categorize stimuli having final glides (an /ay/-/aw/ sine-wave replica continuum), but differences between speech and nonspeech listeners were found in the slopes of the identification functions, in reaction times, and in the effect of context. These differences are consistent with the hypothesis that speech perception is automatized. In the third experiment, nonspeech listeners’ discrimination sensitivity was greater than speech listeners’. The observed pattern of results suggests that speech perception is accomplished by a fast, obligatory, and thus automatic perceptual mechanism.
Aerodynamic Evidence for Articulatory Overlap in Korean
Authors: Silverman Daniel , Jun Jongho
Published: November 2009

Aerodynamic evidence indicates the existence of overlapped labial//velar sequences in Korean. Oral pressure readings for [ipku] show a brief rarefaction in oral pressure during the consonantal sequence, indicating that tongue retraction during a front-back vowel sequence occurs simultaneously with full closures at the labial and velar places of articulation. This confluence of phenomena results in the observed pressure rarefaction due to expansion of the sealed oral cavity. Similarly, pressure readings for [upki] show a brief, marked increase during the consonantal sequence, indicating that tongue advancement during a back-front vowel sequence temporally overlaps with full closures at both the labial and velar places of articulation. This results in a pressure increase due to contraction of the sealed oral cavity. To our knowledge, the present study is the first to demonstrate consonant coproduction in terms of oral pressure, and to report on coarticulatory effects involving four sequenced segments.
Phonetic Explanations for Cross-Linguistic Prosodic Similarities
Authors: Vaissière Jacqueline
Published: November 2009

A relatively wide range of cross-language similarities in prosodic patterns, i.e. not only in the final fall of statements and the like, but also the treatment of compound words, the marking of phonetic integrity of underlying semantic blocks and their hierarchy may be explained if the typical prosodic configurations are hypothesised to arise from a common archetypal, biologically related (rise-fall) contour, and from a few derived contrastive (rise-nonfall) patterns, whose characteristics may be motivated on psychological and/or ethological grounds. The rise-fall contour seems to be recursively implemented on different sizes of constituents; a rise appears to be mainly associated with the notion of beginning and uncompleteness, a fall with the notion of end, and the valley (fall-rise) with the notion of disjuncture.
Feature, Phoneme, Syllable or Word: How Is Speech Mentally Represented?
Authors: Sendlmeier Walter F.
Published: November 2009

Four experimental approaches frequently used in speech perception research are discussed with respect to their impact on word recognition models and their implicit assumptions on the mental representation of speech. These approaches are (1) reaction time experiments; (2) the procedure of click localisation; (3) the method of selective adaptation, and (4) the assessment of word similarities. The results of the studies vary as a function of the experimental procedure chosen. Phonetic features, single sounds, syllables and words as entities are alternatively favoured as primary perceptual units. A critical evaluation and an attempt at integrating the data lead to the assumption that the adult speaker/listener has different kinds of mental representation of speech at his/her disposal. Depending on the focus of perception, units of different sizes are primarily focused in the recognition process. This implies that the listener is able to modify his/her temporal analysis window to a certain extent. Nonetheless, as a default case, the syllable serves as the primary perceptual unit.
Phonetic Interpretation of the Word Accent Contrast in Swedish
Authors: Engstrand Olle
Published: November 2009

This paper reports an experimental phonetic study of the acute and grave word accents in Central Standard Swedish. The hypothesis was that the fall in fundamental frequency (F₀) observed on the primary stressed syllable in grave words is a direct consequence of the word accent, while the corresponding fall in F₀ in acute words reflects sentence level intonation. Three male subjects read speech material designed to illustrate how these falls in F₀ are influenced by intonational context. The main finding was that the grave fall was substantial and consistent, whereas an acute fall appeared only in certain contexts. The results indicated that an F₀ fall is a positive acousticperceptual requirement for the grave accent, while the acute accent constitutes the unmarked member of the contrast, i.e., ‘acute’ equals ‘non-grave’.
Effect of Fundamental Frequency on Medial [+Voice] / [–Voice] Judgments
Authors: Diehl Randy L. , Molis Michelle R.
Published: November 2009

Previous research has suggested that the direction of short-duration fundamental frequency (F₀) perturbations following consonants helps to signal consonant [+voice]/[––voice] (abbreviated as [voice]) status. It has been proposed that the [voice] cue corresponds to the direction and extent of F₀ perturbations relative to the overall intonation contour. A competing view, the low-frequency hypothesis, suggests that F₀ participates in a more general way whereby low-frequency energy near the consonant contributes to [+voice] judgments. Listeners identified multiple stimulus series, each varying in voice onset time and ranging from /aga/ to /aka/. The series differed in overall intonation contour as well as in the direction of F₀ perturbation relative to that contour. Consistent with one version of the low-frequency hypothesis, the F₀ value at voicing onset, rather than the relative direction of the F₀ perturbation, was the best predictor of [voice] judgments.
Explaining the Dispersion of the Single-Vowel Occurrences in an F1/F2 Space
Authors: Iivonen Antti
Published: November 2009

The variability of the Finnish vowel occurrences on the F1/F2 chart was studied. Repetitions (n = 8 x 10 + 10 = 160) of two syllable types, /hVh/ and /tVt/, produced by a male speaker were analysed. The F1/F2 variability in both contexts was estimated. In the /hVh/ context, the phoneme targets were considerably more peripheral than in the /tVt/ contexts. In the /tVt/ context, the phoneme placements were nearer the upper left corner of the F1/F2 space in /u/, /o/, /a/, and /æ/. That is understandable on the basis of the alveolar tongue blade position: the tongue holds its position nearer the alveolar area during its movement from [t] to [V] and back to [t] compared to the [hVh] articulation. In the latter articulation, the tongue is free to move and the vowel reaches its ideal position. This interpretation was corroborated by means of the test items with an open syllable (/tVV/). In order to explain the variability of the repetitions in one context, the notion of auditory critical band window (CBW) was used. A CBW covers an area on the psycho-acoustical F1/F2 plot that comprises 1 bark on the F1 and F2 scales. Its modification CBW-F1 implies that a critical band is presented as a circle comprising the diameter of 1 bark according to the F1 scale. Practically all single F1/F2 points occur within the CBW-F1 circle. In most cases, the variability is smaller than one CBW-F1 circle, but we can consider that a greater amount of repetions would yield a greater dispersion. The auditorily motivated CBW-F1 circle might appear to be a good prediction for the articulation precision.
Schwa vs. Schwa + /r/ in German
Authors: Barry William J.
Published: November 2009

German has two functionally distinctive vowels that only occur in unstressed position, one being schwa, the other stemming from schwa + vocalized /r/. Although traditionally acknowledged, with an established IPA symbolic representation [e] vs. [a], little attention has been paid to the phonetic basis of their functional distinction. This paper addresses their contextual variability, and discusses some of the implications for production models found in the literature.
Generalizability of Current Models of Vowel Duration
Authors: Gopal H.S.
Published: November 2009

This paper assesses the generalizability and scope of the three main models of vowel duration: the incompressibility, multiplicative, and additive models. Combinations of vowel tensity with speaking rate, postvocalic consonantal voicing with rate, and tensity with voicing were studied in a database consisting of vowels in a CVC context in sentence frames. Combinations of four pairs of long and short vowels in four different postvocalic consonantal conditions were spoken by 7 speakers of American English across a wide variation in rate. Acoustic analysis of vowel durations revealed only partial support for each of the three models, as none of them adequately captured the combined influences of these three factors. Further, there were observed instances of combinations of effects that were not predicted by any of the models, even instances that were the exact opposite of predictions of the models. A general approach of representing and studying duration behavior is suggested by using simple regression analysis and making slope comparisons of the effects of various factors. This approach provides a framework for describing all of the outcomes in the study, representing all of the three existing models of duration and accounting for outcomes not predicted by any of the models. Within this approach, attaching special importance to interpretations of incompressibility, constant ratios and facilitation is shown to be unnecessary.
Durée acoustique des semi-consonnes et de leur voyelle correspondante en français du Québec
Authors: Martin Pierre
Published: November 2009

Le present article fait la synthèse d’une recherche ayant porté sur l’analyse acoustique de la durée des semi-consonnes et de leur voyelle correspondante en français actuel du Québec. Trois classes de sons ont été considérées: [u] et [y], [w] et [u], puis [j]-[jj] et [i]-[ij]-[ji]-[ijι]. Les formes soumises à l’analyse proviennent d’enregistrements effectués auprès de jeunes étudiants d’université. Seuls les segments ayant fait l’objet d’une unanimité perceptive de la part des transcripteurs ont été examinés. La durée totale et la durée de chacune des phases (attaque, tenue, transition) de chaque son ont été étudiées. Tout en reconnaissant que plusieurs autres paramètres peuvent aussi intervenir, nous montrons que la durée est un facteur essentiel dans la différenciation entre les semi-consonnes et la voyelle correspondante, en français. En effet, non seulement la durée totale des segments est un facteur indispensable dans cette différenciation, mais la proportion qu’occupe chaque phase par rapport à la durée totale des segments l’est également.
Acoustic Correlates of Stress in Thai
Authors: Potisuk Siripong , Gandour Jack , Harper Mary P.
Published: November 2009

Acoustic correlates of stress [duration, fundamental frequency (F₀), and intensity] were investigated in a language (Thai) in which both duration and F₀ are employed to signal lexical contrasts. Stimuli consisted of 25 pairs of segmentally/tonally identical, syntactically ambiguous sentences. The first member of each sentence pair contained a two-syllable noun-verb sequence exhibiting a strong-strong (– –) stress pattern, the second member a two-syllable noun compound exhibiting a weak-strong (˘ –)stress pattern. Measures were taken of five prosodic dimensions of the rhyme portion of the target syllable: duration, average F₀, F₀ standard deviation, average intensity, and intensity standard deviation. Results of linear regression indicated that duration is the predominant cue in signaling the distinction between stressed and unstressed syllables in Thai. Discriminant analysis showed a stress classification accuracy rate of over 99%. Findings are discussed in relation to the varying roles that F₀, intensity, and duration have in different languages given their phonological structure.
A Study of Kono Tone Spacing
Authors: Hogan John T. , Manyeh Morie
Published: November 2009

Measurements were made of the fundamental frequency of a register two-tone language, Kono, a Northern Mande language from the Niger-Congo group. This language has the tonal feature of downstep which conveys linguistic information in specific contexts and introduces a terracing effect on successive high tones. The physical values were converted into their musical scale equivalents and comparisons were made with a three-tone system. They were found to be different. Observations of local and global tone ranges were made and were discussed in terms of tone spacing.
Internal Structure of Phonetic Categories: Effects of Speaking Rate
Authors: Miller Joanne L. , O’Rourke Timothy B. , Volaitis Lydia E.
Published: November 2009

Many studies have shown that listeners process speech in a rate-dependent manner, altering the location of phonetic category boundaries in accord with the acoustic consequences of a change in rate during speech production. In a recent series of papers that focused on a voicing contrast, we reported that the perceptual adjustment for rate is not limited to the region of the category boundary, but extends to well within the category, producing a change in which stimuli are perceived to be the best category exemplars. In the current paper, we provide evidence for the generality of this effect by showing analogous results for a /b/––/w/ contrast, specified by transition duration. The implications of these findings for models of rate-dependent processing are discussed.
Locus Equations and the Degree of Coarticulation of Arabic Consonants
Authors: Yeou Mohamed
Published: November 2009

The intent of the present study is to investigate the information for place of articulation provided by locus equations, using Moroccan speakers of Modern Standard Arabic. Locus equations are straight-line regression function fits to co-ordinates derived by relating onsets of F2 transitions of different vowels to their corresponding steady states. Ten subjects produced CVCVC(VC) tokens, the first consonant of each was one of the following list: (/f/, /b/, / bx/, /s/, /sx/, /d/, /dx/, /t/, /tx/, /σ/, /h/, /χ). Each initial consonant was followed by one of the six vowels (/i/, /æ/, /u/, /i:/, /æ:/, /u:/). The present study attempted to explore to what extent locus equations can distinguish between different consonants varying in place and manner of articulation. The findings are of two kinds. On the one hand, locus equations do not reflect certain place-of-articulation distinctions when many consonants varying both in place and manner of articulation are taken into consideration. On the other hand, locus equations are successful in distinguishing place between pharyngealized and non-pharyngealized consonants. Pharyngealized consonants (/bx, dx, sx, tx/) emerged as a totally distinct class, having the flattest locus equation slopes of all consonants.
William Liley and Fetal Transfusion: A Perspective in Fetal Medicine
Authors: Green G.H.
Published: November 2009

The circumstances under which Sir William Liley, KCMG, first conceived the idea of blood transfusion to mitigate temporarily the effects of severe haemolytic disease in an affected fetus, and carried it to a successful conclusion, all in a former war-time American army hospital, are presented. The significance of his achievement is estimated as being, not so much a major advance in the management of a serious fetal disease (which if left to itself would eventually disappear, albeit in millennia), but a first real demonstration that the fetus is accessible to skilled diagnosis and treatment, and thus has the inalienable right to be as much regarded as a patient as anybody else.
Fetal Surgery: It Has a Past, Has It a Future?
Authors: Pringle Kevin C.
Published: November 2009

The past history of fetal surgery is briefly reviewed. The current controversies revolving around the fetal treatment of hydrocephalus and obstructive uropathies (posterior urethral valves, prune belly syndrome, hydronephrosis) are compared and contrasted with the remarkably similar controversies that raged when fetal transfusions were first introduced. The future of fetal surgery is discussed in the light of the ethical issues raised by the prospect of fetal surgery and the rather disturbing medicolegal climate. There are already important legal precedents which will affect the field of fetal surgery. The strong opinion is expressed that fetal surgery must only remain an option offered to the mother and never forced upon her.
Fetal Tissue Biopsy: Techniques and Indications
Authors: Rodeck C.H. , Nicolaides K.H.
Published: November 2009

A considerable variety of invasive intrauterine procedures has been developed in the last 15 years. This article describes techniques for obtaining fetal blood, skin, liver, tumour specimens and chorionic villi, and discusses their indications and risks.
Prenatal Diagnosis of Central Nervous System Abnormalities
Authors: Pilu Gianluigi
Published: November 2009

The ultrasound diagnosis of normal and abnormal development of the fetal central nervous system (CNS) is briefly reviewed. Seventy-nine cases of CNS anomalies seen between 1982 and 1985 are also tabulated. The importance of an accurate diagnosis and its relevance to obstetric management is stressed.
Prenatal Diagnosis of Cardiac Structural Abnormalities
Authors: Pilu Gianluigi , Baccarani Giovanna
Published: November 2009

The history of antenatal diagnosis of congenital cardiac defects using ultrasound is briefly reviewed. A series of 277 pregnancies were prospectively examined; 203 were normal and 19 diagnoses of congenital heart disease were made. A correct diagnosis of the anomaly was made in 14 cases and the diagnosis was partially correct in 4 cases. There was 1 false-positive.
Abdominal Wall Defects: Neonatal Surgical Problems
Authors: Cacciari A.
Published: November 2009

The advantages accruing from the prenatal diagnosis of gastroschisis and omphalocele are outlined. The surgical management of each defect is discussed, including details of the various surgical options available at the time of the repair. Seventy-five cases with abdominal wall defects born between 1970 and 1984 without an antenatal diagnosis having been made are compared with 8 recent cases in whom an antenatal diagnosis was made. The early results suggest that antenatal diagnosis improves survival.
Prenatal Diagnosis of Genitourinary Tract Malformations
Authors: Rizzo Nicola
Published: November 2009

Ninety cases of genitourinary tract anomalies diagnosed before birth are reviewed. Factors stressed are the relationship between the site of the anomaly and the time of the diagnosis. Low level urinary tract obstructions tend to be diagnosed early, high level lesions late. Overall, the diagnostic accuracy was 88% with urethral obstruction being most often accurately diagnosed (19 of 20 cases). The frequency with which associated anomalies are found is stressed as is the lack of correlation between amniotic fluid volume and high or mid level obstructions. Ovarian cysts are usually diagnosed late in gestation and are seldom associated with other anomalies.
Management of a Fetus Affected by a Genitourinary Tract Anomaly (Excluding Obstructive Uropathies)
Authors: D’Addario Vincenzo
Published: November 2009

The author’s personal series of 23 cases of genitourinary tract anomalies is presented. The management of each lesion is briefly discussed. The importance of recognizing uniformly fatal lesions and allowing termination (or at least avoiding an unnecessary cesarean section) is stressed. Most lesions of the genital tract can safely await delivery before any intervention is required.
Biometric Diagnosis of Intrauterine Growth Retardation
Authors: Gagliardi Leone , Todros Tullia
Published: November 2009

The history of the use of ultrasound for the detection of abnormal fetal growth is briefly reviewed. The problems associated with the two most commonly used parameters (biparietal diameter and abdominal circumference) are briefly reviewed. These problems are often compounded by uncertainty surrounding the gestational age. The many other parameters that have been used to assess fetal growth are briefly reviewed. A prospective study utilized two ultrasound examinations: the first at 16–20 weeks predicted the correct estimated date of confinement and the second at 32–34 weeks reliably demonstrated intrauterine growth retardation. The need for further clinical trials is stressed.
Effect of Gestational Age on Fetal and Intervillous Blood Gas and Acid-Base Values in Human Pregnancy
Authors: Soothill Peter W. , Nicolaides Kypros H. , Rodeck Charles H. , Campbell Stuart
Published: November 2009

Intervillous, umbilical venous and umbilical arterial blood samples were obtained by cordocentesis or fetoscopically from 200 pregnancies at 16–38 weeks gestation. The fetuses were either not affected by the condition under investigation or it was one which would not affect blood gas and acid-base status. Blood pH, pO2 pCO2, bicarbonate, base excess and plasma lactate concentration were determined and ranges for each parameter are presented. Samples obtained fetoscopically were more acidotic, hypercapnic and had a greater base deficit than those obtained by cordocentesis. In the umbilical venous samples, the pCO2 decreased, while the bicarbonate, base excess and lactate increased with gestation. In the umbilical arterial samples the pO2 decreased and pCO2 increased; there were no other significant changes with gestation. Similarly, in the intervillous samples the only significant change with gestation was that of a ecrease in pO2·
Rh Disease: Intravascular Fetal Blood Transfusion by Cordocentesis
Authors: Nicolaides K.H. , Soothill P.W. , Rodeck C.H. , Clewell W.
Published: November 2009

A total of 130 cordocenteses, including 96 intravascular fetal blood transfusions, were performed in 21 pregnancies complicated by red cell isoimmunization. Transfusions were commenced at 18–34 weeks’ gestation and repeated up to 7 times, at 1- to 4-week intervals. The volumes of transfused blood were 5–150 ml, the haematocrits 62–88 % and the rate of transfusions 1–15 ml/min. The pretransfusion fetal haematocrits were 5–34% and the posttransfusion ones 28–60%. Final transfusions were given at 32–36 weeks’ gestation. Of the 21 pregnancies, 18 delivered at 31–39 weeks and 3 are continuing; 1 baby was stillborn and 17 are alive and well.
Fetal Hydrothorax in the Second Trimester of Pregnancy: Successful Intra-Uterine Treatment at 24 Weeks Gestation
Authors: Roberts A.B. , Clarkson P.M. , Pattison N.S. , Jamieson M.G. , Mok P.M.
Published: November 2009

Two cases of fetal hydrothorax were diagnosed during ultrasound examination in asymptomatic women in the second trimester of pregnancy. One recognized at 19 weeks gestation increased in size. Thoracentesis at 24 weeks followed by continuous drainage for 7 days relieved the condition. The other diagnosed at 15 weeks resolved over the next month without interference. Each pregnancy resulted in a normal term infant. Aspiration of fetal hydrothorax should be performed when the condition appears progressive and is not associated with a major structural abnormality.
Prenatal Diagnosis and Outcome of Congenital Complete Heart Block: The Role of Fetal Echocardiography
Authors: Truccone Nestor J. , Mariona Federico G.
Published: November 2009

Between January 1, 1980, and March 1, 1986, congenital complete heart block (CCHB) was diagnosed in 11 fetuses utilizing 2-dimensional and M-mode fetal echocardiography. Four of the eleven cases (36.4%) had otherwise structurally normal hearts; 3 survived the perinatal and neonatal period and 1 patient died at 22 days of age. All mothers in this group had systemic lupus erythematosus. Seven of the eleven fetuses (63.6%) presented with CCHB and associated cardiac malformations. All patients in this group died either in utero or shortly after birth. The discovery of CCHB with associated structural malformations of the heart carries an ominous prognosis for fetal and neonatal survival. The diagnosis of CCHB without associated cardiac malformations carries a more favorable outlook. Accurate prenatal diagnosis of CCHB and underlying cardiac status facilitates parental counseling and patient management planning.
Prevention of Cardiac Dysfunction in Acute Coxsackievirus B3 Cardiomyopathy by Inducible Expression of a Soluble Coxsackievirus-Adenovirus Receptor
Authors: Pinkert Sandra , Westermann Dirk , Wang Xiaomin , Klingel Karin , Dörner Andrea , Savvatis Konstantinos , Größl Tobias , Krohn Stefanie , Tschöpe Carsten , Zeichhardt Heinz , Kotsch Katja , Weitmann Kerstin , Hoffmann Wolfgang , Schultheiss Heinz-Peter , Spiller O. Brad , Poller Wolfgang , Fechner Henry
Published: November 2009

Background—

Group B coxsackieviruses (CVBs) are the prototypical agents of acute myocarditis and chronic dilated cardiomyopathy, but an effective targeted therapy is still not available. Here, we analyze the therapeutic potential of a soluble (s) virus receptor molecule against CVB3 myocarditis using a gene therapy approach.

Methods and Results—

We generated an inducible adenoviral vector (AdG12) for strict drug-dependent delivery of sCAR-Fc, a fusion protein composed of the coxsackievirus-adenovirus receptor (CAR) extracellular domains and the carboxyl terminus of human IgG1-Fc. Decoy receptor expression was strictly doxycycline dependent, with no expression in the absence of an inducer. CVB3 infection of HeLa cells was efficiently blocked by supernatant from AdG12-transduced cells, but only in the presence of doxycycline. After liver-specific transfer, AdG12 (plus doxycycline) significantly improved cardiac contractility and diastolic relaxation compared with a control vector in CVB3-infected mice if sCAR-Fc was induced before infection (left ventricular pressure 59±3.8 versus 45.4±2.7 mm Hg, median 59 versus 45.8 mm Hg,
P
<0.01; dP/dt
max
3645.1±443.6 versus 2057.9±490.2 mm Hg/s, median 3526.6 versus 2072 mm Hg/s,
P
<0.01; and dP/dt
min
−2125.5±330.5 versus −1310.2±330.3 mm Hg/s, median −2083.7 versus −1295.9 mm Hg/s,
P
<0.01) and improved contractility if induced concomitantly with infection (left ventricular pressure 76.4±19.2 versus 56.8±10.3 mm Hg, median 74.8 versus 54.4 mm Hg,
P
<0.05; dP/dt
max
5214.2±1786.2 versus 3011.6±918.3 mm Hg/s, median 5182.1 versus 3106.6 mm Hg/s,
P
<0.05), respectively. Importantly, hemodynamics of animals treated with AdG12 (plus doxycycline) were similar to uninfected controls. Preinfection induction of sCAR-Fc completely blocked and concomitant induction strongly reduced cardiac CVB3 infection, myocardial injury, and inflammation.

Conclusion—

AdG12-mediated sCAR-Fc delivery prevents cardiac dysfunction in CVB3 myocarditis under prophylactic and therapeutic conditions.
Relations of Lipid Concentrations to Heart Failure Incidence
Authors: Velagaleti Raghava S. , Massaro Joseph , Vasan Ramachandran S. , Robins Sander J. , Kannel William B. , Levy Daniel
Published: November 2009

Background—

The relations of lipid concentrations to heart failure (HF) risk have not been elucidated comprehensively.

Methods and Results—

In 6860 Framingham Heart Study participants (mean age, 44 years; 54% women) free of baseline coronary heart disease, we related high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and non-HDL-C to HF incidence during long-term follow-up, adjusting for clinical covariates and myocardial infarction at baseline and updating these at follow-up examinations. We evaluated dyslipidemia-specific population burden of HF by calculating population attributable risks. During follow-up (mean of 26 years), 680 participants (49% women) developed HF. Unadjusted HF incidence in the low (<160 mg/dL) versus high (≥190 mg/dL) non-HDL-C groups was 7.9% and 13.8%, respectively, whereas incidence in the high (≥55 [men], ≥65 [women] mg/dL) versus low (<40 [men], <50 [women] mg/dL) HDL-C groups was 6.1% and 12.8%, respectively. In multivariable models, baseline non-HDL-C and HDL-C, modeled as continuous measures, carried HF hazards (confidence intervals) of 1.19 (1.11 to 1.27) and 0.82 (0.75 to 0.90), respectively, per SD increment. In models updating lipid concentrations every 8 years, the corresponding hazards (confidence intervals) were 1.23 (1.16 to 1.31) and 0.77 (0.70 to 0.85). Participants with high baseline non-HDL-C and those with low HDL-C experienced a 29% and 40% higher HF risk, respectively, compared with those in the desirable categories; the population attributable risks for high non-HDL-C and low HDL-C were 7.5% and 15%, respectively. Hazards associated with non-HDL-C and HDL-C remained statistically significant after additional adjustment for interim myocardial infarction.

Conclusions—

Dyslipidemia carries HF risk independent of its association with myocardial infarction, suggesting that lipid modification may be a means for reducing HF risk.