bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Two Methods of Voice Activity Detection in Field Studies
Authors: Lindstrom Fredric , Ren Keni , Li Haibo , Waye Kerstin Persson 
Published: December 2009

Purpose
To evaluate and compare the performance of 2 methods of voice activity detection (neck-attached accelerometer vs. binaural recordings) in field studies in environments where voice activity normally occurs.

Method
A group of 11 healthy adults wore recording equipment during their lunch break. We used binary classification to analyze the results from the 2 methods. The output was compared to a gold standard, obtained through listening tests, and the probability for sensitivity (Ps) and false positive (Pf) was rated. The binary classifiers were set for consistent sensitivity of 99%; thus, the lower false positive rate would indicate the method with the better performance.

Results

The neck-attached accelerometer (Pf = 0.5%) performed significantly (
p
< .001) better than the binaural method (Pf = 7%).

Conclusion
The neck-attached accelerometer is more suitable than the binaural method for voice assessments in environments where people are speaking in close proximity to each other and where the signal-to-noise ratio is moderate to low.
Formant Centralization Ratio: A Proposal for a New Acoustic Measure of Dysarthric Speech
Authors: Sapir Shimon , Ramig Lorraine O. , Spielman Jennifer L. , Fox Cynthia 
Published: December 2009

Purpose

The vowel space area (VSA) has been used as an acoustic metric of dysarthric speech, but with varying degrees of success. In this study, the authors aimed to test an alternative metric to the VSA—the
formant centralization ratio
(FCR), which is hypothesized to more effectively differentiate dysarthric from healthy speech and register treatment effects.

Method
Speech recordings of 38 individuals with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease and dysarthria (19 of whom received 1 month of intensive speech therapy [Lee Silverman Voice Treatment; LSVT LOUD]) and 14 healthy control participants were acoustically analyzed. Vowels were extracted from short phrases. The same vowel-formant elements were used to construct the FCR, expressed as (F2u + F2ɑ + F1i + F1u) / (F2i + F1ɑ), the VSA, expressed as ABS([F1i × (F2ɑ – F2u) + F1ɑ × (F2u – F2i) + F1u × (F2i – F2ɑ)] / 2), a logarithmically scaled version of the VSA (LnVSA), and the F2i/F2u ratio.

Results
Unlike the VSA and the LnVSA, the FCR and F2
i/F2
u ratio robustly differentiated dysarthric from healthy speech and were not gender sensitive. All metrics effectively registered treatment effects and were strongly correlated with each other.

Conclusion
Albeit preliminary, the present findings indicate that the FCR is a sensitive, valid, and reliable acoustic metric for distinguishing dysarthric from unimpaired speech and for monitoring treatment effects, probably because of reduced sensitivity to interspeaker variability and enhanced sensitivity to vowel centralization.
Using Laryngeal Electromyography to Differentiate Presbylarynges From Paresis
Authors: Stager Sheila V. , Bielamowicz Steven A. 
Published: December 2009

PurposeDifferential diagnosis of patients over 64 years of age reporting hoarseness is challenging. Laryngeal electromyography (LEMG) was used to determine the status of the recurrent and superior laryngeal nerves. The authors hypothesized that individuals with hoarseness but normal LEMG would have measures similar to those of patients from previous studies with presbylarynges and significantly different from those of patients with abnormal LEMG.MethodA retrospective chart review of acoustic, aerodynamic, endoscopic, and self-rating measures was completed for 52 individuals over 64 years of age reporting moderate to severe hoarseness.ResultsIndividuals with normal LEMG had measures similar to those of patients from previous studies diagnosed with presbylarynges. The group with LEMG abnormalities was subcategorized by specific nerve(s) affected. Significant differences were found for measures between presbylarynges and unilateral but not bilateral paresis groups. Several endoscopic findings were observed more often than expected in the presbylarynges group. Using electromyography as a gold standard, the presence of any impairment in arytenoid movement had the most sensitivity (77%) in making the diagnosis of paresis, and the absence of any impairment had the most specificity (67%) in making the diagnosis of presbylarynges.ConclusionLEMG may be useful in differentially diagnosing hoarseness in older patients, especially to distinguish between bilateral paresis and presbylarynges.
The Effect of Delayed Auditory Feedback on Activity in the Temporal Lobe While Speaking: A Positron Emission Tomography Study
Authors: Takaso Hideki , Eisner Frank , Wise Richard J. S. , Scott Sophie K. 
Published: December 2009

Purpose
Delayed auditory feedback is a technique that can improve fluency in stutterers, while disrupting fluency in many nonstuttering individuals. The aim of this study was to determine the neural basis for the detection of and compensation for such a delay, and the effects of increases in the delay duration.

Method
Positron emission tomography was used to image regional cerebral blood flow changes, an index of neural activity, and to assess the influence of increasing amounts of delay.

Results
Delayed auditory feedback led to increased activation in the bilateral superior temporal lobes, extending into posterior-medial auditory areas. Similar peaks in the temporal lobe were sensitive to increases in the amount of delay. A single peak in the temporal parietal junction responded to the amount of delay but not to the presence of a delay (relative to no delay).

Conclusions
This study permitted distinctions to be made between the neural response to hearing one’s voice at a delay and the neural activity that correlates with this delay. Notably, all the peaks showed some influence of the amount of delay. This result confirms a role for the posterior, sensorimotor “how” system in the production of speech under conditions of delayed auditory feedback.
Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration: Characterizing Semantic Binding and Abstracted Meaning Abilities
Authors: Anand Raksha , Hart John , Moore Patricia S. , Chapman Sandra B. 
Published: December 2009

Abstract
Purpose: Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) encompasses a group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by gradual and progressive decline in behavior and/or language. Identifying the subtypes of FTLD can be challenging with traditional assessment tools. Growing empirical evidence suggests that language measures might be useful in differentiating FTLD subtypes.
Method: In this paper, we examined the performance of five individuals with FTLD (two with frontotemporal dementia, two with semantic dementia, and one with progressive nonfluent aphasia) and 10 cognitively normal older adults on measures of semantic binding (Semantic Object Retrieval Test and semantic problem solving) and abstracted meaning (generation of interpretive statement and proverb interpretation).
Results and Conclusion: A differential profile of impairment was observed in the three FTLD subtypes on these four measures. Further examination of these measures in larger groups will establish their clinical utility in differentiating the FTLD subtypes.
The Effects of Question Type on Conversational Discourse in Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Petryk Megan , Hopper Tammy 
Published: December 2009

Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of asking open-ended episodic memory questions versus open-ended semantic memory questions on the conversational discourse of individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Methods: Four females diagnosed with probable AD participated in the study. A within-subjects experimental design was employed to assess the effects of the different question types on participants’ spoken language. Transcripts were analyzed using specific discourse measures used in previous research involving individuals with AD.
Results: Participants in this study produced more meaningful and relevant statements, as measured by ratios of on-topic utterances, when responding to the semantic memory questions as compared to episodic memory questions. Participants made few negative comments overall; however, more negative self-evaluative statements were made in the episodic memory condition. When considered in conjunction with previous research, the results support the use of multiple question types in conversation with individuals with mild and moderate AD. However, communication partners should limit their use of open-ended questions that primarily tax episodic memory.
The Communication Attitude Test (CAT‐S): normative values for 220 Swedish children
Authors: Johannisson Tove B. , Wennerfeldt Susanna , Havstam Christina , Naeslund Maria , Jacobson Kajsa , Lohmander Anette 
Published: December 2009

Background: The risk of developing a negative attitude to communication as a consequence of having a speech disorder has been in focus for decades in research concerning fluency disorders in relation to both children and adults. The Communication Attitude Test (CAT), which was created to measure children's attitudes towards their own communication, has been widely used. Research has shown that children who stutter have a significantly more negative attitude to their own communication than normal‐speaking children and preliminary results show a similar picture in children with other types of speech disorders. However, the setting for obtaining data on normal‐speaking children often differs from that on children with speech disorders. In order to make a significant interpretation of results from children with a speech disorder, comparable data on normal‐speaking children are needed.Aims: The main purpose of this study was to obtain norm values for the Swedish version of the test (CAT‐S) and examine possible differences related to age, sex or small town/big city. A second aim was to investigate some aspects of reliability, such as internal consistency, and validity in terms of item analysis as well as a qualitative analysis of the answers to the different items. In addition, group setting was compared with individual setting for the test procedure.Methods & Procedures: CAT‐S was completed in a group setting by 220 normal‐speaking children aged 7–15 years and by an additional group of 35 normal‐speaking 10‐year‐old children who completed the test individually.Outcomes & Results: The 220 Swedish children had a mean score of 6.05 (a slightly higher mean score have been found in other countries, i.e. Belgium = 7.05 and USA = 8.24). The 7‐year‐olds had a significantly higher mean score than children at the other ages, except for the 15‐year‐olds. No other differences were found related to age, sex or size of community. The aspects of reliability and validity investigated for the CAT‐S were satisfactory. Furthermore, there was no significant difference between the groups of 10‐year‐olds objected to different test procedures.Conclusions & Implications: The norm values of CAT‐S could be used for comparison of scores from Swedish children with speech disorders. The CAT‐S is easy to administer and could be used either in a group setting for research purpose or individually at the clinic.
Perceived social support from team‐mates: Direct and stress‐buffering effects on self‐confidence
Authors: Freeman Paul , Rees Tim 
Published: December 2009

AbstractIn this study, we wished to determine whether the perceived support available from team‐mates predicts levels of self‐confidence. Four dimensions of support were examined: emotional, esteem, informational, and tangible. The sample consisted of 152 university athletes (74 females, 78 males) with a mean age of 20.1 years (s=1.4). Participants completed measures of perceived support, stressors, and self‐confidence at the training session before an important match. Moderated hierarchical regression analyses revealed that all four dimensions of support had direct effects on self‐confidence (ΔR 2=0.13–0.17, all P<0.01), with support positively predicting self‐confidence. Perceived emotional (ΔR 2=0.05, P<0.05), esteem (ΔR 2=0.02, P<0.05), and informational (ΔR 2=0.03, P <0.05) support also had stress‐buffering effects on self‐confidence. The findings suggest that although university athletes perceived different levels of emotional, esteem, informational, and tangible support to be available from their team‐mates, all four dimensions of support positively predicted self‐confidence.
Physiological and psychological responses to lead and top rope climbing for intermediate rock climbers
Authors: Draper Nick , Jones Glenys A. , Fryer Simon , Hodgson Christopher I. , Blackwell Gavin 
Published: December 2009

AbstractRock climbing is a popular adventure sport with an increasing research base. Early studies in the field did not make comparisons of ascents using different styles of climbing. More recently, differences in the physiological responses for an on‐sight lead climb and subsequent lead climb have been reported. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of style of climb (lead climb or top rope climb) on the physiological and psychological responses to rock climbing. Nine intermediate climbers volunteered for, and completed, two randomly assigned climbing trials and a maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) test on a separate occasion. The climbers ascended the same 6a (sport grade) climb for both trials. Before climbing, heart rate, perception of anxiety (Revised Competitive State Anxiety Inventory‐2), and blood lactate concentration were measured. Climb time, heart rate, VO2, lactate concentrations, and task load (National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index) in response to each trial were also recorded. Results indicated significant differences (P<0.05) between the trials for climb time, blood lactate concentration immediately after and 15 min after climbing, and heart rate 1 min after climbing. During lead and top rope climbing, mean VO2 and represented 44% and 42% of treadmill VO2max and mean heart rate represented 81% and 77% of maximum heart rate, respectively. There were no significant differences in feelings of anxiety before either climb, although climbers reported the lead climb to be physically and mentally more demanding, requiring more effort and resulting in greater frustration (P<0.05) than the top rope climb. Our results indicate that the physiological and psychological responses of intermediate climbers are different for a lead climb and top rope climb.
Risk Factors for Endometritis after Low Transverse Cesarean Delivery
Authors: Olsen Margaret A. , Butler Anne M. , Willers Denise M. , Gross Gilad A. , Devkota Preetishma , Fraser Victoria J. 
Published: December 2009

Objective.To determine independent risk factors for endometritis after low transverse cesarean delivery.Study Design.We performed a retrospective case-control study during the period from July 1999 through June 2001 in a large tertiary care academic hospital. Endometritis was defined as fever beginning more than 24 hours or continuing for at least 24 hours after delivery plus fundal tenderness in the absence of other causes for fever. Independent risk factors for endometritis were determined by means of multivariable logistic regression. A fractional polynomial method was used to examine risk of endometritis associated with the continuous variable, duration of rupture of membranes.Results.Endometritis was identified in 124 (7.7%) of 1,605 women within 30 days after low transverse cesarean delivery. Independent risk factors for endometritis included younger age (odds ratio [OR], 0.93 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.90-0.97]) and anemia or perioperative blood transfusion (OR, 2.18 [CI, 1.30-3.68] ). Risk of endometritis was marginally associated with a proxy for low socioeconomic status, lack of private health insurance (OR, 1.72 [CI, 0.99-3.00]); with amniotomy (OR, 1.69 [CI, 0.97-2.95]); and with longer duration of rupture of membranes.Conclusion.Risk of endometritis was independently associated with younger age and anemia and was marginally associated with lack of private health insurance and amniotomy. The odds of endometritis increased approximately 1.7-fold within 1 hour after rupture of membranes, but increased duration of rupture was only marginally associated with increased risk. Knowledge of these risk factors can guide selective use of prophylactic antibiotics during labor and heighten awareness of the risk in subgroups at highest risk of infection.
Attributable Costs of Enterococcal Bloodstream Infections in a Nonsurgical Hospital Cohort
Authors: Butler Anne M. , Olsen Margaret A. , Merz Liana R. , Guth Rebecca M. , Woeltje Keith F. , Camins Bernard C. , Fraser Victoria J. 
Published: December 2009

Background.Vancomycin-resistantEnterococcus(VRE) bloodstream infections (BSIs) are associated with increased morbidity and mortality.Objective.To determine the hospital costs and length of stay attributable to VRE BSI and vancomycin-sensitiveEnterococcus(VSE) BSI and the independent effect of vancomycin resistance on hospital costs.Methods.A retrospective cohort study was conducted of 21,154 nonsurgical patients admitted to an academic medical center during the period from 2002 through 2003. Using administrative data, attributable hospital costs (adjusted for inflation to 2007 US dollars) and length of stay were estimated with multivariate generalized least-squares (GLS) models and propensity score-matched pairs.Results.The cohort included 94 patients with VRE BSI and 182 patients with VSE BSI. After adjustment for demographics, comorbidities, procedures, nonenterococcal BSI, and early mortality, the costs attributable to VRE BSI were $4,479 (95% confidence interval [CI], $3,500-$5,732) in the standard GLS model and $4,036 (95% CI, $3,170-$5,140) in the propensity score-weighted GLS model, and the costs attributable to VSE BSI were $2,250 (95% CI, $l,758-$2,880) in the standard GLS model and $2,023 (95% CI, $1,588-$2,575) in the propensity score-weighted GLS model. The median values of the difference in costs between matched pairs were $9,949 (95% CI, $1,579-$24,693) for VRE BSI and $5,282 (95% CI, $2,042-$8,043) for VSE BSI. The costs attributable to vancomycin resistance were $1,713 (95% CI, $1,338-$2,192) in the standard GLS model and $1,546 (95% CI, $1,214-$1,968) in the propensity score-weighted GLS model. Depending on the statistical method used, attributable length of stay estimates ranged from 2.2 to 3.5 days for patients with VRE BSI and from 1.1 to 2.2 days for patients with VSE BSI.Conclusions.VRE BSI and VSE BSI were independently associated with increased hospital costs and increased length of stay. Vancomycin resistance was associated with increased costs.
Four Years of Surveillance Cultures at a Long-Term Acute Care Hospital
Authors: Munoz-Price L. Silvia , Sterner Alexander 
Published: December 2009

Objective.To characterize the degree of colonization with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) among patients admitted to a long-term acute care hospital.Design.Ecologie Study.Setting.A 70-bed long-term acute care hospital (a hospital within a hospital) in the greater Chicago area.Methods.As part of an infection control initiative, specimens were collected from all consecutively admitted patients for culture of MDROs within 72 hours of admission. Cultures from July 28, 2005, through November 1, 2008, were analyzed on the basis of the bodily site from which the isolate was recovered and the organisms identified. If MDROs were yielded by culture of specimens that were obtained from 24 hours to 30 days after collection of the patient's original set of specimens, these MDROs were removed from the analysis. In addition, repeat rectal swab samples were collected for culture at 2 weeks after admission for all consecutive patients admitted from January 1 through March 31, 2007.Results.A total of 1,739 patients with a total of 5,198 specimens met entry criteria. Of the corresponding 5,198 surveillance cultures, 1,580 (30%) were positive for MDROs. Of the 1,739 patients, 947 (54%) had a culture-positive specimen recovered from any site. Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus was the organism most commonly isolated in cultures of rectal swab samples (in 38% of such cultures) and wounds (in 18% of such cultures). The rate of rectal carriage of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus increased from 29% in 2005 to 44% in 2008.
Slave to the rhythm: how large-scale climate cycles trigger herring (Clupea harengus) regeneration in the North Sea
Authors: Gröger Joachim P. , Kruse Gordon H. , Rohlf Norbert 
Published: December 2009

AbstractGröger, J. P., Kruse, G. H., and Rohlf, N. 2010. Slave to the rhythm: how large-scale climate cycles trigger herring (Clupea harengus) regeneration in the North Sea. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 67: 454–465. Understanding the causes of variability in the recruitment of marine fish stocks has been the “holy grail” of fisheries scientists for more than 100 years. Currently, debate is ongoing about the functionality and performance of traditional stock–recruitment functions used during stock assessments. Additionally, the European Commission requires European fishery scientists to apply the ecosystem approach to fisheries in part by integrating environmental knowledge into stock assessments and forecasts. Motivated to understand better the recent years of reproductive failures of commercially valuable North Sea herring, we studied large-scale climate changes in the North Atlantic Ocean and their potential effects on stock regeneration. Applying traffic light plots and time-series (TS) analyses, it was possible not only to explain the most recent reproductive failures, but also to reconstruct the full TS of recruitment from climate cycles, indexed by the North Atlantic Oscillation and the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation. A prognostic model was developed to provide predictions of herring stock changes several years in advance, allowing recruitment forecasts to be incorporated easily into risk assessments and management strategy evaluations, to promote a sustainable herring fishery in the North Sea. Insights gained from the analysis permit reinterpretation of the sharp decline in the North Sea herring stocks in the 1970s.