| 1. |
- Forouzanfar, Mohammad H, et al.
(författare)
-
Global, regional, and national comparative risk assessment of 79 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks in 188 countries, 1990-2013 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013.
- 2015
-
Ingår i: The Lancet. - 0140-6736 .- 1474-547X. ; 386:10010, s. 2287-2323
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor study 2013 (GBD 2013) is the first of a series of annual updates of the GBD. Risk factor quantification, particularly of modifiable risk factors, can help to identify emerging threats to population health and opportunities for prevention. The GBD 2013 provides a timely opportunity to update the comparative risk assessment with new data for exposure, relative risks, and evidence on the appropriate counterfactual risk distribution.METHODS: Attributable deaths, years of life lost, years lived with disability, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) have been estimated for 79 risks or clusters of risks using the GBD 2010 methods. Risk-outcome pairs meeting explicit evidence criteria were assessed for 188 countries for the period 1990-2013 by age and sex using three inputs: risk exposure, relative risks, and the theoretical minimum risk exposure level (TMREL). Risks are organised into a hierarchy with blocks of behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks at the first level of the hierarchy. The next level in the hierarchy includes nine clusters of related risks and two individual risks, with more detail provided at levels 3 and 4 of the hierarchy. Compared with GBD 2010, six new risk factors have been added: handwashing practices, occupational exposure to trichloroethylene, childhood wasting, childhood stunting, unsafe sex, and low glomerular filtration rate. For most risks, data for exposure were synthesised with a Bayesian meta-regression method, DisMod-MR 2.0, or spatial-temporal Gaussian process regression. Relative risks were based on meta-regressions of published cohort and intervention studies. Attributable burden for clusters of risks and all risks combined took into account evidence on the mediation of some risks such as high body-mass index (BMI) through other risks such as high systolic blood pressure and high cholesterol.FINDINGS: All risks combined account for 57·2% (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 55·8-58·5) of deaths and 41·6% (40·1-43·0) of DALYs. Risks quantified account for 87·9% (86·5-89·3) of cardiovascular disease DALYs, ranging to a low of 0% for neonatal disorders and neglected tropical diseases and malaria. In terms of global DALYs in 2013, six risks or clusters of risks each caused more than 5% of DALYs: dietary risks accounting for 11·3 million deaths and 241·4 million DALYs, high systolic blood pressure for 10·4 million deaths and 208·1 million DALYs, child and maternal malnutrition for 1·7 million deaths and 176·9 million DALYs, tobacco smoke for 6·1 million deaths and 143·5 million DALYs, air pollution for 5·5 million deaths and 141·5 million DALYs, and high BMI for 4·4 million deaths and 134·0 million DALYs. Risk factor patterns vary across regions and countries and with time. In sub-Saharan Africa, the leading risk factors are child and maternal malnutrition, unsafe sex, and unsafe water, sanitation, and handwashing. In women, in nearly all countries in the Americas, north Africa, and the Middle East, and in many other high-income countries, high BMI is the leading risk factor, with high systolic blood pressure as the leading risk in most of Central and Eastern Europe and south and east Asia. For men, high systolic blood pressure or tobacco use are the leading risks in nearly all high-income countries, in north Africa and the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. For men and women, unsafe sex is the leading risk in a corridor from Kenya to South Africa.INTERPRETATION: Behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks can explain half of global mortality and more than one-third of global DALYs providing many opportunities for prevention. Of the larger risks, the attributable burden of high BMI has increased in the past 23 years. In view of the prominence of behavioural risk factors, behavioural and social science research on interventions for these risks should be strengthened. Many prevention and primary care policy options are available now to act on key risks.FUNDING: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
|
|
| 2. |
- La, Filipa M. B., et al.
(författare)
-
Effects of the Menstrual Cycle and Oral Contraception on Singers' Pitch Control
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research. - : American Speech Language Hearing Association. - 1092-4388 .- 1558-9102. ; 55:1, s. 247-261
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: Difficulties with intonation and vibrato control during the menstrual cycle have been reported by singers; however, this phenomenon has not yet been systematically investigated. Method: A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial assessing effects of the menstrual cycle and use of a combined oral contraceptive pill (OCP) on pitch control in singing is presented. Audio-electrolaryngograph recordings were made and blood samples were taken from 9 singers in each of the 3 phases of the menstrual cycle both under the placebo and the OCP conditions for a total of 6 months. Participants sang an exercise consisting of an ascending octave followed by a descending major triad, starting on pitches F4 and B4. Pitch control was assessed in terms of the octave's deviations from pure intonation and of the vibrato rate and extent. Results: Significant differences were found between the 3 phases of the cycle regarding octave size only for pitch F5 during OCP use. Significant vibrato rate differences between placebo and OCP conditions were found only for pitch F5. Conclusion: OCP use may have an effect on pitch control in singers. Possible explanations point to a complex interaction between hormonal milieu and pitch control, enhancing the need for longitudinal studies.
|
|
| 3. |
- Gill, Brian P., et al.
(författare)
-
Spectrum Effects of a Velopharyngeal Opening in Singing
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Journal of Voice. - : Elsevier BV. - 0892-1997 .- 1873-4588. ; 34:3, s. 346-351
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The question whether or not a velopharyngeal opening is advantageous in singing has been discussed for a very long time among teachers of singing. The present investigation analyzes the acoustic consequences of a large, a narrow, and a nonexistent velopharyngeal opening (VPO). A divided flow mask (nasal and oral) connected to flow transducers recorded the nasal and oral DC flows in four female and four male classically trained singers while they sang vowel sequences at different pitches under these three experimental conditions. Acoustic effects were analyzed in three long-term average spectra parameters: (i) the sound level at the fundamental frequency, (ii) the level of the highest peak below 1 kHz, and (iii) the level of the highest peak in the 2–4 kHz region. For a narrow VPO, an increase in the level of the highest peak in the 2–4 kHz region was observed. As this peak is an essential voice component in the classical singing tradition, a narrow VPO seems beneficial in this type of singing.
|
|
| 4. |
- Hallqvist, Hanna, et al.
(författare)
-
Soul and Musical Theater : A Comparison of Two Vocal Styles
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Journal of Voice. - : MOSBY-ELSEVIER. - 0892-1997 .- 1873-4588. ; 31:2, s. 229-235
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The phonatory and resonatory characteristics of nonclassical styles of singing have been rarely analyzed in voice research. Six professional singers volunteered to sing excerpts from two songs pertaining to the musical theater and to the soul styles of singing. Voice source parameters and formant frequencies were analyzed by inverse filtering tones, sung at the same fundamental frequencies in both excerpts. As compared with musical theater, the soul style was characterized by significantly higher subglottal pressure and maximum flow declination rate. Yet sound pressure level was lower, suggesting higher glottal resistance. The differences would be the effects of firmer glottal adduction and a greater frequency separation between the first formant and its closest spectrum partial in soul than in musical theater.
|
|
| 5. |
- La, Filipa M. B., et al.
(författare)
-
Contact Quotient Versus Closed Quotient : A Comparative Study on Professional Male Singers
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Journal of Voice. - : Elsevier BV. - 0892-1997 .- 1873-4588. ; 29:2, s. 148-154
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives. The term "closed quotient'' is frequently used for data derived both from inverse filtering and from electroglottography. In the former case, it is defined as the ratio between the closed phase and the period, as measured in flow glottograms (FLOGG), whereas in the latter case, it is defined as the time interval between the falling and rising parts of the electroglottogram (EGG), measured at some percentage of the peak-to-peak amplitude. The study aims at analyzing differences between EGG-and FLOGG-based closed quotients and their relationships with voice source parameters. Study Design. Comparative study. Methods. FLOGG- and EGG-based measures collected from five professional male singers were compared, under different pitch and loudness conditions. Results. Compared with the FLOGG-based quotient, the EGG-based quotient (i) varied more between subjects, (ii) presented greater values, (iii) varied less with subglottal pressure, (iv) varied less with the normalized amplitude quotient (ie, the ratio between the flow pulse amplitude and the product of period and maximum flow declination rate), and (v) varied less with the relative amplitude of the voice source fundamental. Conclusions. Although positively related, FLOGG- and EGG-based closed quotients differ and must not be confused.
|
|
| 6. |
- Lã, Filipa M.B. 1975-, et al.
(författare)
-
Flow ball-assisted training : immediate effects on vocal fold contacting
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Pan-European Voice Conference 2019. - : University of Copenhagen. ; , s. 50-51
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The flow ball is a device that creates a static backpressure in the vocal tract while providing real-time visual feedback of airflow. A ball height of 0 to 10 cm corresponds to airflows of 0.2 to 0.4. L/s. These high airflows with low transglottal pressure correspond to low flow resistances, similar to the ones obtained when phonating into straws with 3.7 mm diameter and of 2.8 cm length. Objectives: To investigate whether there are immediate effects of flow ball-assisted training on vocal fold contact. Methods: Ten singers (five males and five females) performed a messa di voce at different pitches over one octave in three different conditions: before, during and after phonating with a flow ball. For all conditions, both audio and electrolaryngographic (ELG) signals were simultaneously recorded using a Laryngograph microprocessor. The vocal fold contact quotient Qci (the area under the normalized EGG cycle) and dEGGmaxN (the normalized maximum rate of change of vocal fold contact area) were obtained for all EGG cycles, using the FonaDyn system. We introduce also a compound metric Ic ,the ‘index of contact’ [Qci × log10(dEGGmaxN)], with the properties that it goes to zero at no contact. It combines information from both Qci and dEGGmaxN and thus it is comparable across subjects. The intra-subject means of all three metrics were computed and visualized by colour-coding over the fo-SPL plane, in cells of 1 semitone × 1 dB. Results: Overall, the use of flow ball-assisted phonation had a small yet significant effect on overall vocal fold contact across the whole messa di voce exercise. Larger effects were evident locally, i.e., in parts of the voice range. Comparing the pre-post flow-ball conditions, there were differences in Qci and/or dEGGmaxN. These differences were generally larger in male than in female voices. Ic typically decreased after flow ball use, for males but not for females. Conclusion: Flow ball-assisted training seems to modify vocal fold contacting gestures, especially in male singers.
|
|
| 7. |
- Lã, Filipa M.B. 1975-, et al.
(författare)
-
Flow ball-assisted voice training : Immediate effects on vocal fold contacting
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Biomedical Signal Processing and Control. - : Elsevier. - 1746-8094 .- 1746-8108. ; 62
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: Effects of exercises using a tool that promotes a semi-occluded artificially elongated vocal tract with real-time visual feedback of airflow – the flow ball – were tested using voice maps of EGG time-domain metrics. Methods: Ten classically trained singers (5 males and 5 females) were asked to sing messa di voce exercises on eight scale tones, performed in three consecutive conditions: baseline (‘before’), flow ball phonation (‘during’), and again without the flow ball (‘after’). These conditions were repeated eight times in a row: one scale tone at a time, on an ascending whole tone scale. Audio and electroglottographic signals were recorded using a Laryngograph microprocessor. Vocal fold contacting was assessed using three time-domain metrics of the EGG waveform, using FonaDyn. The quotient of contact by integration, Qci, the normalized peak derivative, QΔ, and the index of contacting Ic, were quantified and compared between ‘before’ and ‘after’ conditions. Results: Effects of flow ball exercises depended on singers’ habitual phonatory behaviours and on the position in the voice range. As computed over the entire range of the task, Qci was reduced by about 2% in five of ten singers. QΔ was 2–6% lower in six of the singers, and 3–4% higher only in the two bass-baritones. Ic decreased by almost 4% in all singers. Conclusion: Overall, vocal adduction was reduced and a gentler vocal fold collision was observed for the ‘after’ conditions. Significance: Flow ball exercises may contribute to the modification of phonatory behaviours of vocal pressedness.
|
|
| 8. |
- La, Filipa M. B., et al.
(författare)
-
Real-Time Visual Feedback of Airflow in Voice Training : Aerodynamic Properties of Two Flow Ball Devices
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Journal of Voice. - : MOSBY-ELSEVIER. - 0892-1997 .- 1873-4588. ; 31:3
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives. Flow ball devices have been used as teaching tools to provide visual real-time feedback of airflow during singing. This study aims at exploring static back pressure and ball height as function of flow for two devices, marketed as flow ball and floating ball game. Study Design. This is a comparative descriptive study. Methods. A flow-driven vocal tract simulator was used to investigate the aerodynamic properties of these two devices, testing them for four different ball sizes. The flow range investigated was between 0 and 0.5 L/s. Audio, flow, pressure, and ball height were recorded. Results. The flow pressure profiles for both tested devices were similar to those observed in previous studies on narrow tubes. For lifting the ball, both devices had a flow and a pressure threshold. The tested floating ball game required considerably higher back pressure for a given flow as compared with the flow ball. Conclusions. Both tested devices have similar effects on back pressure as straws of 3.7 and 3.0 mm in diameter for the flow ball and the floating ball game, respectively. One might argue that both devices could be used as tools for practicing semi-occluded vocal tract exercises, with the additional benefit of providing real-time visual feedback of airflow during phonation. The flow threshold, combined with the flow feedback, would increase awareness of flow, rather than of pressure, during exercises using a flow ball device.
|
|
| 9. |
- Sundberg, Johan, et al.
(författare)
-
Formant Tuning Strategies in Professional Male Opera Singers
- 2013
-
Ingår i: Journal of Voice. - : Elsevier BV. - 0892-1997 .- 1873-4588. ; 27:3, s. 278-288
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The term "formant tuning" is generally used for the case that one of the lowest formant frequencies coincides with the frequency of a source spectrum partial. Some authors claim that such coincidence is favorable and belongs to the goals of classical opera voice training, whereas other authors have found evidence for advising against it. This investigation analyzes the relationships between formant frequencies and partials in professional singers, who sang scales on the vowels /a/, /u/, /i/, and /ae/ in a pitch range including the passaggio, that is, the fundamental frequency range of approximately 300-400 Hz, applying either of the two singing strategies that are typically used (1) in classical and (2) in nonclassical singing, respectively. Formant frequencies of each note in the scales were measured by inverse-filtering the acoustic signal. In the classical style, the first formant tended to be lower than in the nonclassical style. Neither the first nor the second formant tended to change systematically between scale tones, such that on some scale tones either or both formants was just below, just above, or right on a spectrum partial. In many cases, singers produced similar spectrum characteristics of the top tones of the scales with different first and second formant frequencies. Regardless of whether the first formant was slightly lower, slightly higher, or right on a partial, the properties of the voice source did not seem to be affected.
|
|
| 10. |
- Sundberg, Johan, et al.
(författare)
-
Intonation and Expressivity : A Single Case Study of Classical Western Singing
- 2013
-
Ingår i: Journal of Voice. - : Elsevier BV. - 0892-1997 .- 1873-4588. ; 27:3, s. 391-
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Previous studies have shown that singers tend to sharpen phrase-peak tones as compared with equally tempered tuning ( ETT). Here we test the hypothesis that this can serve the purpose of musical expressivity. Data were drawn from earlier recordings, where a professional baritone sang excerpts as void of musical expression as he could (Neutral) and as expressive as in a concert (Concert). Fundamental frequency averaged over tones was examined and compared with ETT. Phrase-peak tones were sharper in excited examples, particularly in the Concert versions. These tones were flattened to ETT using the Melodyne software. The manipulated and original versions were presented pairwise to a musician panel that was asked to choose the more expressive version. By and large, the original versions were perceived as more expressive, thus supporting the common claim that intonation is a means for adding expressivity to a performance.
|
|
