Acoustic Predictors of Gender Attribution, Masculinity–Femininity, and Vocal Naturalness Ratings Amongst Transgender and Cisgender Speakers

Publication date: Available online 28 November 2018

Source: Journal of Voice

Author(s): Teresa L.D. Hardy, Jana M. Rieger, Kristopher Wells, Carol A. Boliek

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to identify the most salient set of acoustic predictors of (1) gender attribution; (2) perceived masculinity–femininity; and (3) perceived vocal naturalness amongst a group of transgender and cisgender speakers to inform voice and communication feminization training programs. This study used a unique set of acoustic variables and included a third, androgynous, choice for gender attribution ratings.

Method

Data were collected across two phases and involved two separate groups of participants: communicators and raters. In the first phase, audio recordings were captured of communicators (n = 40) during cartoon retell, sustained vowel, and carrier phrase tasks. Acoustic measures were obtained from these recordings. In the second phase, raters (n = 20) provided ratings of gender attribution, perceived masculinity–femininity, and vocal naturalness based on a sample of the cartoon description recording.

Results

Results of a multinomial logistic regression analysis identified mean fundamental frequency (f_o) as the sole acoustic measure that changed the odds of being attributed as a woman or ambiguous in gender rather than as a man. Multiple linear regression analyses identified mean f_o, average formant frequency of /i/, and mean sound pressure level as predictors of masculinity–femininity ratings and mean f_o, average formant frequency, and rate of speech as predictors of vocal naturalness ratings.

Conclusion

The results of this study support the continued targeting of f_o and vocal tract resonance in voice and communication feminization/masculinization training programs and provide preliminary evidence for more emphasis being placed on vocal intensity and rate of speech. Modification of these voice parameters may help clients to achieve a natural-sounding voice that satisfactorily represents their affirmed gender.

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Multivariate Analysis of Radiologists’ Usage of Phrases that Convey Diagnostic Certainty

Publication date: Available online 28 November 2018

Source: Academic Radiology

Author(s): Ronilda Lacson, Eseosa Odigie, Aijia Wang, Neena Kapoor, Atul Shinagare, Giles Boland, Ramin Khorasani

Rationale and Objectives

To quantify the use of Diagnostic Certainty Phrases (DCP) in radiology reports, including DCPs with good agreement (including "diagnostic of," "unlikely" and "represents") in connoting degree of certainty between providers based on previous studies; and to assess whether modality, presence of a trainee, radiologic subspecialty, and individual radiologists are associated with the usage of DCPs with good agreement.

Materials and Methods

This retrospective, IRB-approved study was conducted at an academic medical center. Radiology reports that contain DCPs were identified using information retrieval from all reports generated in 2016, excluding mammograms, obstetrical ultrasound, bone densitometry, and interventional studies. DCPs connoting good agreement were further noted. Of the reports that contained DCPs, a two-level hierarchical generalized linear model with attending as the level-two variable was performed comparing the use of DCP with good agreement while considering trainee involvement, modality, and subspecialty.

Results

A total of 159,151 reports out of 370,881 were found to have at least one DCP (43%). Reports of CT scans had the most number of DCP (68% of all CT reports). Breast and abdomen subspecialties were associated with use of DCP with good agreement. There was significant variation in use of DCP with good agreement between physicians that could not be explained by modality, trainee presence, and subspecialty.

Conclusion

Phrases to convey diagnostic certainty were commonly used in radiology reports. There is wide variation in usage of DCP with good agreement. Future interventions to reduce variation in use of DCPs may reduce ambiguity and improve quality of radiology reports.

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Editorial Board

Publication date: December 2018

Source: Dental Materials, Volume 34, Issue 12

Author(s):

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Effect of exposure time and pre-heating on the conversion degree of conventional, bulk-fill, fiber reinforced and polyacid-modified resin composites

Publication date: Available online 28 November 2018

Source: Dental Materials

Author(s): Edina Lempel, Zsuzsanna Őri, József Szalma, Bálint Viktor Lovász, Adél Kiss, Ákos Tóth, Sándor Kunsági-Máté

Abstract

Objective

To determine the degree of conversion (DC) of different type of resin-based composites (RBC) in eight-millimeter-deep clinically relevant molds, and investigate the influence of exposure time and pre-heating on DC.

Methods

Two-millimeter-thick samples of conventional sculptable [FiltekZ250 (FZ)], flowable [Filtek Ultimate Flow (FUF)] and polyacid-modified [Twinky Star Flow (TS)] RBCs, and four-millimeter-thick samples of flowable bulk-fill [Filtek Bulk Fill Flow (FBF), Surefil SDR (SDR)] and sculptable fibre-reinforced [EverX Posterior (EX)] RBCs were prepared in an eight-millimeter-deep mold. The RBCs temperature was pre-set to 25, 35 and 55 °C. The RBCs were photopolymerized with the recommended and its double exposure time. The DC at the top and bottom was measured with micro-Raman spectroscopy. Data were analyzed with ANOVA and Scheffe post-hoc test (p < 0.05).

Results

The differences in DC% between the top/bottom and the recommended/extended exposure time were significant for the materials, except SDR (64.5/63.0% and 67.4/63.0%). FUF (69.0% and 53.4%) and TS (64.9% and 60.9%) in 2 mm provided higher DC% at the top and bottom with the recommended curing time, compared to the other materials, except SDR. Pre-heating had negative effect on DC at the bottom in flowable RBCs (FUF: 48.9%, FBF: 36.7%, SDR: 43%, TS: 54.7%). Pre-heating to 55 °C significantly increased the DC% in fibre-reinforced RBC (75.0% at the top, 64.7% at the bottom).

Significance

Increased exposure time improves the DC for each material. Among bulk-fills, only SDR performed similarly, compared to the two-millimeter-thick flowable RBCs. Pre-heating of low-viscosity RBCs decreased the DC% at the bottom. Pre-heating of fibre-reinforced RBC to 55 °C increased the DC% at a higher rate than the extended curing time.

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Effects of anterior tongue strengthening exercises on posterior tongue strength in healthy young adults

Publication date: Available online 28 November 2018

Source: Archives of Oral Biology

Author(s): Jitsuro Yano, Sayako Yamamoto-Shimizu, Tomonori Yokoyama, Isami Kumakura, Kozo Hanayama, Akio Tsubahara

Abstract

Objective

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether anterior tongue muscle strengthening exercises can affect the strength of posterior tongue muscles.

Design

Eleven healthy subjects (20.6 ± 1.2 years) were included. The subjects exercised by pushing the anterior tongue to the palate 30 times, three times a day, 3 days a weekfor 8 weeks. The exercise intensity was set at 60% of maximum tongue pressure (MTP) in the first week and 80% of MTP for the remainder of training. After the completion of training, MTP measurements were continued every month for another 3 months to evaluate whether training effects were sustained.

Results

MTP was significantly increased after 8 weeks of training compared with before training. No significant differences were seen between MTP immediately after completion of training and MTP 1-3 months after completion of training. However, MTP was significantly higher 1-3 months after completion of training than before training.

Conclusions

The present study showed significant increases in both anterior and posterior MTPs by anterior tongue muscle strengthening exercises. In the future, a database on tongue muscle strengthening exercises in elderly persons,patients with dysphagia, etc. will need to be generated, with the aim of preventing frailty.

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Horizontal alveolar transport distraction osteogenesis followed by implant placement

Publication date: Available online 28 November 2018

Source: International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Author(s): S. Uckan, G. Senol, E. Ogut, G. Muftuoglu

Abstract

Alveolar transport distraction osteogenesis (ATDO) is an alternative treatment method to vertical alveolar distraction osteogenesis in cases of large bony defects, especially when the bone is limited in size. ATDO was performed in 10 patients with 12 defects. The mean age of the patients was 39.1 years. The average bone length gain was 18.2 mm. Implants were inserted following a 3-month consolidation period. Three patients needed additional bone grafting for horizontal widening. Final prosthetic rehabilitation was performed at least 3 months following implant insertion. The mean follow-up period was 63 months and the survival rate of the 25 implants placed was 92%. All failures (n = 2) occurred during the early healing period. Although the results are not totally predictable, it can be concluded that ATDO can be effective in the reconstruction of the alveolar crest prior to implant placement.

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Influence of the anatomical form of the posterior maxilla on the reliability of superior maxillary repositioning by Le Fort I osteotomy

Publication date: Available online 28 November 2018

Source: International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Author(s): N. Tomomatsu, K. Kurohara, K. Nakakuki, H. Yoshitake, T. Kanemaru, S. Yamaguchi, T. Yoda

Abstract

Certain patients with facial deformities require superior repositioning of the maxilla via Le Fort I osteotomy; however, the magnitude of superior repositioning of the maxilla is often less than expected. In this study, the correlation between the accuracy of superior repositioning of the maxilla and the anatomical form of the maxillary posterior region was examined. Seventy-five patients who underwent Le Fort I osteotomy without forward movement of the maxilla but with superior repositioning of the maxilla were included in this study. The bone volume around the descending palatine artery (DPA), the angle of the junction between the pterygoid process and the tuberosity, and the distance between the upper second molar and the pterygoid process were measured via three-dimensional analysis. A significant negative correlation (r = −0.566) was found between the bone volume around the DPA and the ratio of repositioning (actual movement divided by expected movement). It is possible that the superior repositioning of the maxilla expected prior to surgery was not sufficiently attained because of the large volume of bone around the DPA. The results of this study show that in some patients, superior repositioning was not achieved at the expected level because of bone interference attributable to the anatomical form of the maxillary posterior region.

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