Defining vocal quality in female classical singers: pedagogical, acoustical and perceptual studies

The technique of 'open throat' is a pedagogical concept transmitted through the oral tradition of singing. This thesis explored the pedagogical perceptions and practices of 'open throat' using empirical methodologies to assess technical skill and associated vocal quality. In the first study (Mitchell, Kenny, Ryan, & Davis, 2003), we assessed the degree of consensus amongst singing pedagogues regarding the definition of, and use in the singing studio of the technique called 'open throat.' Results indicated that all fifteen pedagogues described 'open throat' technique as fundamental to singing training and were positive about the sound quality it achieved, especially in classical singing. It was described as a way of maximising pharyngeal space or abducting the false vocal folds. Hypotheses generated from pedagogical beliefs expressed in this first study were then tested acoustically (Mitchell & Kenny, 2004a, 2004b). Six advanced singing students sang in two conditions: 'optimal' (O), using maximal open throat, 'sub-optimal' (SO), using reduced open throat and loud sub-optimal (LSO) to control for the effect of loudness. From these recordings, acoustic characteristics of vibrato (Mitchell & Kenny, 2004b) and energy distribution (Mitchell & Kenny, 2004a) were examined. Subsequent investigations of the vibrato parameters of rate, extent and onset, revealed that extent was significantly reduced and onset increased when singers did not use the technique. As inconsistent vibrato is considered indicative of poor singing, it was hypothesized that testing the energy distribution in these singers' voices in each condition would identify the timbral changes associated with open throat. Visual inspection of long term average spectra (LTAS) confirmed differences between O and SO, but conventional measures applied to long term average spectra (LTAS), comparing energy peak height [singing power ratio (SPR)] and peak area [energy ratio (ER)] were not sensitive to the changes identified through visual inspection of the LTAS. These results were not consistent with the vibrato findings and suggest that conventional measures of SPR and ER are not sufficiently sensitive to evaluate LTAS. In the fourth study, fifteen expert listeners consistently and reliably identified the presence of open throat technique with 87% accuracy (Mitchell & Kenny, in press). In the fifth study, LTAS measurements were examined with respect to the perceptual ratings of singers. There was no relationship between perceptual rankings of vocal beauty and acoustic rankings of vocal quality (Kenny & Mitchell, 2004, in press). There is a vast literature of spectral energy definitions of good voice but the studies in this thesis have indicated that current acoustic methods are limited in defining vocal quality. They also suggest that current work in singing has not sufficiently incorporated perceptual ratings and descriptions of sound quality or the relationship between acoustic and perceptual factors with pedagogical practices

Sex Differences in the Disease Progression of FTD vs AD

Abigail Mitchell, Danielle Frances, Chase Metzger Sex Differences in the Disease Progression of FTD vs AD. Abstract Neurodegenerative diseases are on the rise in aging populations due to the upper tier of the population getting larger in that age group (Zheng & Chen, 2022). Knowing this, there is great benefit in more accurate and early diagnosis of conditions like frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Particularly, it is important to understand which variables may contribute to differences in disease burden and progression of associated sequalae, with one of those variables being biological sex. The current study investigated sex differences in the disease progression of Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) verses Alzheimer’s (AD) over time. All data for this study was extracted from open datasets provided by the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC). Disease progression is quantified by deficits in cognitive ability as well as volumetric loss in the brain. In particular, voxel-based morphometry analyses on high-resolution T1 MRI scans extracted whole grey matter volumes (GM) at 2 timepoints, separated by years, as well as regionally-specific volumetric measures of the insula for FTD, hippocampus for AD and the cingulate cortex for both conditions. Coping ability outcomes, measured by traditional clinical assessments at matching timepoints to the MRI acquisitions include the Clinical Dementia Rating scale sum of boxes (CDRsb), Mini-mental state exam (MMSE), and Montreal cognitive assessment (MOCA). The current study expects to replicate existing findings in the field, with FTD and AD female patients revealing faster disease progression than males, as measure by volumetric analyses. However, it is expected that FTD females will reveal better coping abilities compared to males, and that AD females will have worse coping abilities in a similar sex comparison. The data is currently being analyzed and the results will be presented a

Chronic cough: An exploration of impact and an evaluation of non-pharmacological management in adults

Chronic cough is defined as a cough that lasts for greater than 8 weeks in duration and has been estimated to have a prevalence of 11-13% of the population. Limited research has been conducted exploring its impact on the wider community. In up to 42% of chronic cough cases, the cough persists despite medical management, these cases tend to be labelled as refractory chronic cough. Pharmacological treatments are limited often with undesirable side effects. Research into non-pharmacological treatments for refractory chronic cough has been limited. An internet based European survey explored the impact of chronic cough (January 2012 - April 2013). A systematic review investigated the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for refractory chronic cough. A single blinded multi-centre randomised controlled trial (RCT) investigated the efficacy of a non-pharmacological intervention (Physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapy Interventions, - PSALTI) on cough related quality of life (QoL), cough frequency, severity, sensitivity, vocal performance, anxiety and depression alongside a control intervention. In total 1120 responses were collected and analysed from the European survey. Findings identified that cough impacted upon QoL, mood and ability to undertake activities and limited/ no effectiveness of medication; also a wish for more patient information to be available. PSALTI trial showed statistically significant differences between groups for the outcomes; QoL, cough frequency and urge to cough, improvements were significantly greater in the PSALTI group compared with control. There were no significant changes in outcomes from 4 weeks to 3 months suggesting that observed improvements were maintained. This thesis has identified the impact of chronic cough in Europe. It identified the need to improve the management of chronic cough and the information available for patients. This thesis also provides the first evidence within a single blinded multi-centre RCT that PSALTI is an effective treatment option for people with refractory chronic cough

Barriers and facilitators to asthma self-management in adolescents:a systematic review of qualitative and quantitative studies

BACKGROUND: Many adolescents have poor asthma control and impaired quality of life despite the availability of modern pharmacotherapy. Research suggests that poor adherence to treatment and limited engagement in self-management could be contributing factors. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a systematic review of the barriers and facilitators to self-management of asthma reported by adolescents using a narrative synthesis approach to integrate the findings. DESIGN: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO were searched for all types of study design. Full papers were retrieved for study abstracts that included data from participants aged 12-18 years referring to barriers or facilitators of asthma self-management behaviors. RESULTS: Sixteen studies (5 quantitative and 11 qualitative) underwent data extraction, quality appraisal, and thematic analysis. Six key themes were generated that encompassed barriers and/or facilitators to self-management of asthma in adolescents: Knowledge, Lifestyle, Beliefs and Attitudes, Relationships, Intrapersonal Characteristics, and Communication. CONCLUSIONS: There is a pressing need to prepare adolescents for self-management, using age-appropriate strategies that draw on the evidence we have synthesized. Current clinical practice should focus on ensuring adolescents have the correct knowledge, beliefs, and positive attitude to self-manage their illness. This needs to be delivered in a supportive environment that facilitates two-way communication, fosters adolescents' self-efficacy to manage their disease, and considers the wider social influences that impinge on self-management. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2016; 9999:XX-XX. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Fur removal promotes an earlier expression of involution-related genes in mammary gland of lactating mice

Open Access via the Springer Compact Agreement We greatly benefited from discussing our work with Drs Torsten Stein, Wendy Woodward (who shared her raw data with us), and Sally Ward. We thank Catherine Hambly and Peter Thomson for assistance with isotope analyses. Acknowledgements We greatly benefited from discussing our work with Drs Torsten Stein, Wendy Woodward (who shared her raw data with us), and Sally Ward. We thank Catherine Hambly and Peter Thomson for assistance with isotope analyses. Funding The study was funded by Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) grants BB/G009953/1, BB/P009875/1 and BB/J020029/1, awarded to JRS. EK was supported by BBSRC grants BB/C504794/1 and BB/R018812/1.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance:Diagnostic utility and specific considerations in the pediatric population

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance is a non-invasive imaging modality which is emerging as important tool for the investigation and management of pediatric cardiovascular disease. In this review we describe the key technical and practical differences between scanning children and adults, and highlight some important considerations that must be taken into account for this patient population. Using case examples commonly seen in clinical practice, we discuss the important clinical applications of cardiovascular magnetic resonance, and briefly highlight key future developments in this field

Reimagining Teacher Education through Design Thinking Principles: Curriculum in the Key of Life

Inspired by Arendt’s (2009) “task of renewing a common world” (p. 193), a team of ten instructors took on the challenge of reimagining a teacher preparation course entitled Curriculum II - Arts & Humanities. Through the dominant discourses of management, accountability and technique-driven preparation, the act of teaching is interpreted as a “service rendered” (Pinar, 2012, p. 36), measured “objectively” by demonstrable deliverables and pre-determined outcomes. Our team provoked these discourses by asserting that human beings are inherently attuned to deeper learning through wonderment, interpretation, ideation and experimentation (Whitehead, 1929). The principles of design thinking – a problem-based process which, through curiosity, empathy and interdisciplinary thinking, generates playful and collaborative creative experimentation – offered a space within which to open up deeper educational conversations with pre-service teachers. Invoking the metaphor of a choral performance, this series of miniature musical movements “in the key of life” express the challenging, enlivening and multivocal nature of curriculum and pedagogy enacted through Design Thinking principles. From contemplating the power of self-reflection and collective action, to meeting challenges and resistance with courage, to listening with heart to people and places, and to responding with joy and hope in the face of our place and circumstances, each individual movement gives voice to the echoes that linger long after the official coursework is complete. Together, these voices join together in a chorus of authentic and responsive curriculum renewal

e-Assessment for Learning in Higher Education: Is it a wolf in sheep's clothing?

As an extensive body of research demonstrates, Assessment for Learning (AfL) practices can have a significant impact on student achievement in the schooling sector and over the last decade these practices have gained currency in higher education settings. Digital technologies are increasingly being embedded into university programmes, therefore it is important that the issue of quality learning as socio-political engagement in online higher education settings be carefully examined. In this article the authors, a group of pre-service teacher educators who work with students undertaking initial teacher training, explore key discourses that underpin the application of AfL in higher education digital contexts - eAfL (e-Assessment for Learning). In particular, we critique discourses of 'learnification', 'responsibilisation' and 'performativity' in relation to eAfL. We pose possibilities to be considered for the development of robust practices that promote agency and engage with students' funds of knowledge, as the socially and culturally located knowledge, skills and dispositions that learners bring to higher education contexts.Charteris et al. e-Assessment for Learning (eAfL) in higher education: is it a wolf in sheep's clothing