The Singer's Formant and Speaker's Ring Resonance: A Long-Term Average Spectrum Analysis

ObjectivesWe previously showed that a trained tenor's voice has the conventional singer's formant at the region of 3 kHz and another energy peak at 8-9 kHz. Singers in other operatic voice ranges are assumed to have the same peak in their singing and speaking voice. However, to date, no specific measurement of this has been made.MethodsTenors, baritones, sopranos and mezzo sopranos were chosen to participate in this study of the singer's formant and the speaker's ring resonance. Untrained males (n=15) and females (n=15) were included in the control group. Each subject was asked to produce successive /a/ vowel sounds in their singing and speaking voice. For singing, the low pitch was produced in the chest register and the high notes in the head register. We collected the data on the long-term average spectra of the speaking and singing voices of the trained singers and the control groups.ResultsFor the sounds produced from the head register, a significant energy concentration was seen in both 2.2-3.4 kHz and 7.5-8.4 kHz regions (except for the voices of the mezzo sopranos) in the trained singer group when compared to the control groups. Also, the chest register had a significant energy concentration in the 4 trained singer groups at the 2.2-3.1 kHz and 7.8-8.4 kHz. For speaking sound, all trained singers had a significant energy concentration at 2.2-5.3 kHz and sopranos had another energy concentration at 9-10 kHz.ConclusionThe results of this study suggest that opera singers have more energy concentration in the singer's formant/speaker's ring region, in both singing and speaking voices. Furthermore, another region of energy concentration was identified in opera singer's singing sound and in sopranos' speaking sound at 8-9 kHz. The authors believe that these energy concentrations may contribute to the rich voice of trained singers

Mesenchymal stem cells and platelet-rich plasma-impregnated polycaprolactone-β tricalcium phosphate bio-scaffold enhanced bone regeneration around dental implants

Background Finding a material that supports bone regeneration is the concern for many investigators. We supposed that a composite scaffold of poly(ε) caprolactone and β-tricalcium phosphate (PCL-TCP) would entail desirable characteristics of biocompatibility, bioresorbability, rigidity, and osteoconductivity for a proper guided bone regeneration. Furthermore, the incorporation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) would boost the bone regeneration. We conducted this study to evaluate the bone regeneration capacity of PCL-TCP scaffold that is loaded with MSCs and PRP. Materials and methods Five miniature pigs received 6 implants in 6 created-mandibular bony defects in the right and left lower premolar areas. The bony defects were managed according to the following three groups: the PCL-TCP scaffold loaded with MSCs and PRP (MSCs+PRP+PCL-TCP) group (n = 10), PCL-TCP scaffold loaded with PRP (PRP+PCL-TCP) group (n = 10), and PCL-TCP scaffold group (n = 10). After 12 weeks, the bone regeneration was assessed using fluorochrome bone labeling, μCT bone morphogenic analysis, and histomorphometric analysis. Results All of the three groups supported the bone regeneration around the dental implants. However, the PCL-TCP scaffold loaded with MSCs and PRP (MSCs+PRP+PCL-TCP) group showed non-significant higher bone surface, bone specific surface, and bone surface density than the other two groups as revealed by the μCT bone morphogenic analysis. Histologically, the same group revealed higher bone-implant contact ratio (BIC) (p = 0.017) and new bone height formation (NBH, mm) (p = 0.0097) with statistically significant difference compared to the PCL-TCP scaffold group. Conclusions PCL-TCP scaffold is compatible for bone regeneration in bone defects surrounding dental implants. Moreover, the incorporation of MSCs and PRP optimized the bone regeneration process with respect to the rate of scaffold replacement, the height of the regenerated bone, and implant stability.This research was supported by a grant from the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea (grant number HI20C2114)

Gender Difference in the Prodromal Symptoms of First-episode Schizophrenia

To investigate the gender difference of early symptoms appearing before the onset of the psychotic symptoms in patients with first-episode schizophrenia, we reviewed the medical records of 63 patients (38 males, 25 females), who were hospitalized for first-episode schizophrenia. The frequency and duration of prodromal and psychotic symptoms, Clinical Global Impression scale scores, Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale scores at admission, and other clinical characteristics were recorded for all patients. Overall, the most common prodromal symptoms were attenuated positive symptoms (89%), followed by mood symptoms (86%). Negative symptoms were the most common in male patients (97.4%), whereas attenuated positive symptoms were the most common in female patients (84%). Male patients demonstrated more frequent negative, cognitive, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms than female patients did and also showed a tendency of having negative symptoms for the longer period. Correlational analysis showed a significant negative correlation between the duration of negative symptoms and GAF scores at admission in male patients. Our findings suggest that different patterns of prodromal symptoms between male and female begin before the onset of the psychosis. Further prospective studies should be needed.This paper was supported by a grant (M103KV010012- 08K2201-01210) from Brain Research Center of the 21st Century Frontier Research Program funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Republic of Korea.Jeppesen P, 2008, PSYCHOL MED, V38, P1157, DOI 10.1017/S0033291708003449Cannon TD, 2008, ARCH GEN PSYCHIAT, V65, P28WILLHITE RK, 2008, SCHIZOPHR RES, V104, P237LAPPIN JM, 2007, BR J PSYCHIAT S, V51, pS123Goldstein JM, 2006, HORM BEHAV, V50, P612, DOI 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2006.06.029Rosen JL, 2006, SCHIZOPHR RES, V85, P124, DOI 10.1016/j.schres.2006.03.034Amminger GP, 2006, SCHIZOPHR RES, V84, P67, DOI 10.1016/j.schres.2006.02.018Barbui C, 2005, J CLIN PSYCHOPHARM, V25, P521, DOI 10.1097/01.jcp.0000185423.15891.02Perkins DO, 2005, AM J PSYCHIAT, V162, P1785Svirskis T, 2005, SCHIZOPHR RES, V75, P439, DOI 10.1016/j.schres.2004.11.002Norman RMG, 2005, J NERV MENT DIS, V193, P17, DOI 10.1097/01.nmd.0000149214.17924.d9Yung AR, 2004, SCHIZOPHR RES, V67, P131, DOI 10.1016/S0920-9964(03)00192-0Lieberman JA, 2003, AM J PSYCHIAT, V160, P1396McGlashan TH, 2003, SCHIZOPHR RES, V61, P7, DOI 10.1016/S0920-9964(02)00439-5Kinon BJ, 2003, PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINO, V28, P55, DOI 10.1016/S0306-4530(02)00127-0McGorry PD, 2002, ARCH GEN PSYCHIAT, V59, P921Gourzis P, 2002, SCHIZOPHRENIA BULL, V28, P415Norman RMG, 2001, PSYCHOL MED, V31, P381Bottlender R, 2000, SCHIZOPHR RES, V44, P145Cohen RZ, 2000, CAN J PSYCHIAT, V45, P544LEUNG A, 2000, ACTA PSYCHIAT SCAN S, V401, P3GOLDSTEIN JM, 2000, WOMEN SCHIZOPHRENIA, P111Hafner H, 1999, ACTA PSYCHIAT SCAND, V100, P105Pohjalainen T, 1998, MOL PSYCHIATR, V3, P256Behl C, 1997, MOL PHARMACOL, V51, P535Yung AR, 1996, AUST NZ J PSYCHIAT, V30, P587Larsen TK, 1996, SCHIZOPHRENIA BULL, V22, P241FOLNEGOVIC Z, 1994, SCHIZOPHR RES, V14, P83HAFNER H, 1993, BRIT J PSYCHIAT, V162, P80HAFNER H, 1992, SCHIZOPHR RES, V6, P209

Demonstration of P-Type Stack-Channel Ternary Logic Device Using Scalable Dntt Patterning Process

A p-type ternary logic device with a stack-channel structure is demonstrated using an organic p-type semiconductor, dinaphtho[2,3-b:2\u27,3\u27-f]thieno[3,2-b]thiophene (DNTT). A photolithography-based patterning process is developed to fabricate scaled electronic devices with complex organic semiconductor channel structures. Two layers of thin DNTT with a separation layer are fabricated via the low-temperature deposition process, and for the first time, p-type ternary logic switching characteristics exhibiting zero differential conductance in the intermediate current state are demonstrated. The stability of the DNTT stack-channel ternary logic switch device is confirmed by implementing a resistive-load ternary logic inverter circuit

Heterosporis anguillarum infections in farm cultured eels (Anguilla japonica) in Korea

Ten eels (Anguilla japonica) from a fish farm in Korea were examined and diagnosed with a Heterosporis infection. The gross lesions on the trunk were uneven and the concave parts were pasty. Histopathologically, lyses of the trunk muscles, degenerative muscle fibers and the scattered spores were observed. The sporophorocyst (SPC) contained several spores with a variety of shapes. Some SPC were disrupted and the spores in the SPC were scattered in the muscle tissues. Macrophages existed near the scattered spores. Electron microscopy revealed special structures such as sporophorocyst containing various developmental parasitic stages such as meronts, sporonts, sporophorous vesicles and spores

Adenomatous Hyperplasia Arising from Dual Ectopic Thyroid

Ectopic thyroid tissue is an uncommon embryologic aberration characterized by the presence of thyroid tissue in a site other than its usual pre-tracheal location. Single ectopic thyroid tissue is the most common variant, and the base of the tongue is the most frequent ectopic location. Dual ectopic thyroid is extremely rare, and only eleven cases have been reported in the English literature. Furthermore, adenomatous hyperplasia has never been reported to arise from dual ectopic thyroid. There has been only one reported case of adenomatous hyperplasia arising from a single intratracheal ectopic thyroid. We report a case of adenomatous hyperplasia arising from dual ectopic thyroid tissue that presented as a sublingual mass in a 37-yr-old woman. The diagnosis was made through pathologic examination after surgical resection. We also discuss the diagnosis and treatment of ectopic thyroid, along with a review of the literature

Photodynamic Therapy for Subretinal New Vessels

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) involves the induction of endothelial cell death or occlusion of blood vessels. On the basis of this mechanism of action, PDT is used in the treatment of predominant classic choroidal neovascularization (CNV), if the classic component is over 50%, and in myopic CNV. This study describes 2 cases of distinctive, abnormal, large, subretinal new vessels that are thought to have originated from the choroids. Diminishment of the new vessels was observed following treatment with PDT

Altered resting-state connectivity in subjects at ultra-high risk for psychosis: an fMRI study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Individuals at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis have self-disturbances and deficits in social cognition and functioning. Midline default network areas, including the medial prefrontal cortex and posterior cingulate cortex, are implicated in self-referential and social cognitive tasks. Thus, the neural substrates within the default mode network (DMN) have the potential to mediate self-referential and social cognitive information processing in UHR subjects.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study utilized functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate resting-state DMN and task-related network (TRN) functional connectivity in 19 UHR subjects and 20 matched healthy controls. The bilateral posterior cingulate cortex was selected as a seed region, and the intrinsic organization for all subjects was reconstructed on the basis of fMRI time series correlation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Default mode areas included the posterior/anterior cingulate cortices, the medial prefrontal cortex, the lateral parietal cortex, and the inferior temporal region. Task-related network areas included the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, supplementary motor area, the inferior parietal lobule, and middle temporal cortex. Compared to healthy controls, UHR subjects exhibit hyperconnectivity within the default network regions and reduced anti-correlations (or negative correlations nearer to zero) between the posterior cingulate cortex and task-related areas.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These findings suggest that abnormal resting-state network activity may be related with the clinical features of UHR subjects. Neurodevelopmental and anatomical alterations of cortical midline structure might underlie altered intrinsic networks in UHR subjects.</p