scholarly journals Are attractive female voices really best characterized by feminine fundamental and formant frequencies?

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Schild ◽  
David R. Feinberg ◽  
David Puts ◽  
Julia Jünger ◽  
Vanessa Fasolt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Small Sample ◽  
Acoustic Characteristics ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Women's Voices ◽  
Formant Frequencies ◽  
Female Voices ◽  
Attractive Female ◽  
Larger Sample ◽  
Vocal Attractiveness

Research into the characteristics of attractive women’s voices has focused almost exclusively on associations with fundamental or formant frequencies. A recent study of a small sample of voices used a bottom-up approach to identify acoustic characteristics associated with women’s vocal attractiveness, finding that many acoustic characteristics other than fundamental or formant frequencies predicted women’s vocal attractiveness. Here we will replicate their methodology with a much larger sample of voices (N = 450) in order to identify vocal characteristics that reliably predict women’s vocal attractiveness. Identifying such traits will provide new insights into and avenues for study of the possible function of vocal attractiveness.

TEMPORARY REMOVAL: Are attractive female voices really best characterized by feminine fundamental and formant frequencies?

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Schild ◽  
David R. Feinberg ◽  
David A. Puts ◽  
Julia Jünger ◽  
Vanessa Fasolt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Formant Frequencies ◽  
Female Voices ◽  
Attractive Female

scholarly journals Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine could be an Available Weapons to Treat COVID-19 Associated Pneumonia

2020 ◽  
pp. 52-60
Author(s):  
Nehad J. Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme ◽  
Sample Size ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Google Scholar ◽  
Converting Enzyme ◽  
Larger Sample

Aims: This study aims to review the efficacy of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) associated pneumonia. Methodology: This review includes searching Google scholar for publications about the use of hydroxychloroquinein the treatment of COVID-19 using the words of (Covid-19) AND hydroxychloroquine. Results: Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have proven effective in treating coronavirus in China in vitro, but till now only few clinical trials are available and these trials were conducted on a small sample size of the patients. The efficacy of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine is mainly due to its effect on angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2). Conclusion: The use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine could be very promising but more trials are needed that include larger sample size and more data are required about the comparison between chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine with other antivirals.

Abstract W P20: A Model to Calculate the Expected Treatment Effect in Acute Endovascular Stroke Trials

Stroke ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maarten G Lansberg ◽  
Robin Lemmens ◽  
Soren Christensen ◽  
Nishant K Mishra ◽  
Gregory W Albers
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Sample Size ◽  
Endovascular Therapy ◽  
Treatment Effect ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Absolute Difference ◽  
Sample Size Calculations ◽  
And Control ◽  
Larger Sample

Background: Recent trials have shown no benefit of endovascular therapy. This may, in part, be explained by inaccurate estimates of the treatment effect used in the sample size calculations of these trials. A predictive model which includes variables that modify the expected treatment effect might yield more accurate estimates, and could be valuable in the design of future acute stroke trials. Methods: We conducted a literature review to obtain estimates of parameters that are associated with good functional outcome (GFO) following recanalization. We developed a model to estimate the treatment effect in endovascular stroke trials and applied this model to two recently published endovascular stroke trials. Results: We estimated a 40% absolute difference in the proportion of GFO (mRS 0-2 at 90 days) associated with reperfusion in patients with ICA or M1 occlusions who have a substantial ischemic penumbra at baseline. To estimate the effect size in trials, this value was multiplied by: 1) the proportion of patients undergoing endovascular therapy in the active treatment arm; 2) the proportion of patients with occlusions of the ICA or MCA-M1; 3) the proportion of patients with a substantial penumbra and a DWI lesion <50mL; and 4) the absolute difference in the proportion of patients with reperfusion, defined as TICI 2B-3, between the endovascular treatment and control arms. Based on literature review we assumed a reperfusion rate of 20% in the control arms of IMS III and MR Rescue, a 50% prevalence of patients with substantial penumbra and DWI lesions<50 mL in IMS III, and a 75% prevalence in the penumbral arms of MR Rescue. Based on these model inputs, a 2.2% increase in GFO with endovascular therapy was expected in IMS III, which closely matches the observed 2.1% increase. For MR Rescue, the model predicted a 1.5% increase in GFO with endovascular therapy. Considering the small sample size, this equates to 0.5 additional patients with GFO which closely matches the observed result of 3 fewer patients with GFO. Conclusion: A simple model shows promise for estimating the treatment effect of endovascular stroke trials. It may be useful for the design of future trials and could lead to different inclusion criteria or larger sample sizes compared to the recently conducted studies.

How Strong Is the Evidence for the Effectiveness of Working Memory Training?

2019 ◽  
pp. 58-76
Author(s):  
Claudia C. von Bastian ◽  
Sabrina Guye ◽  
Carla De Simoni
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Sound Studies ◽  
Working Memory Training ◽  
Memory Training ◽  
Sample Sizes ◽  
Small Sample Sizes ◽  
Transfer Tasks ◽  
Larger Sample

This chapter argues that the question of whether working memory training can induce cognitive plasticity in terms of transfer effects cannot be conclusively answered yet due to persisting methodological issues across the literature. The shortcomings discussed include the lack of theoretically motivated selection of training and transfer tasks, the lack of active control groups, and small sample sizes. These problems call into question the strength of the existing evidence. Indeed, reevaluating published findings with Bayesian inference indicated that only a subset of published studies contributed interpretable evidence. The chapter concludes that the current body of literature cannot conclusively support claims that WM training does or does not improve cognitive abilities and stresses the need for theory-driven, methodologically sound studies with larger sample sizes.

scholarly journals Variation and Change of the Phrae Pwo Karen Vowels and Tones Induced by Language Contact with the Tai Languages

MANUSYA ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Chommanad Intajamornrak
Keyword(s):  
Language Contact ◽  
Acoustic Characteristics ◽  
Formant Frequencies ◽  
Three Generations ◽  
Fundamental Frequencies

This paper aims to analyze and compare the acoustic characteristics of the vowels and tones in the Phrae Pwo Karen spoken by three generations. The data was collected at Khangchai Village in Wang Chin District, Phrae Province. A wordlist of Pwo Karen vowels and tones was recorded directly on to computer using Adobe Audition version 2. Fifteen female informants were divided into three groups: those over 60 years old, those 35-50 years old and those under 25 years old. The total number of test tokens was 405 for vowel analysis, and 810 for tone analysis. The fundamental frequencies and formant frequencies were measured using Praat version 5.1.43.

scholarly journals What Role Does the Prefrontal Cortex Play in the Processing of Negative and Positive Stimuli in Adolescent Depression?

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siyabend Kaya ◽  
Ciara McCabe
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Adolescent Depression ◽  
Region Of Interest ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Small Sample Sizes ◽  
Positive Stimuli ◽  
Larger Sample ◽  
Negative Stimuli

This perspective describes the contribution of the prefrontal cortex to the symptoms of depression in adolescents and specifically the processing of positive and negative information. We also discuss how the prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity and connectivity during tasks and at rest might be a biomarker for risk for depression onset in adolescents. We include some of our recent work examining not only the anticipation and consummation of positive and negative stimuli, but also effort to gain positive and avoid negative stimuli in adolescents with depression. We find, using region of interest analyses, that the PFC is blunted in those with depression compared to controls across the different phases but in a larger sample the PFC is blunted in the anticipatory phase of the study only. Taken together, in adolescents with depression there is evidence for dysfunctional PFC activity across different studies and tasks. However, the data are limited with small sample sizes and inconsistent findings. Larger longitudinal studies with more detailed assessments of symptoms across the spectrum are needed to further evaluate the role of the PFC in adolescent depression.

scholarly journals The articulatory and acoustic characteristics of Polish sibilants and their consequences for diachronic change

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 311-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Véronique Bukmaier ◽  
Jonathan Harrington
Keyword(s):  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
First Language ◽  
Gaussian Model ◽  
Complete Separation ◽  
Tongue Movement ◽  
Acoustic Characteristics ◽  
Formant Frequencies ◽  
Movement Data ◽  
Diachronic Change ◽  
Physiological Analysis

The study is concerned with the relative synchronic stability of three contrastive sibilant fricatives /sʂ ɕ/ in Polish. Tongue movement data were collected from nine first-language Polish speakers producing symmetrical real and non-word CVCV sequences in three vowel contexts. A Gaussian model was used to classify the sibilants from spectral information in the noise and from formant frequencies at vowel onset. The physiological analysis showed an almost complete separation between /sʂ ɕ/ on tongue-tip parameters. The acoustic analysis showed that the greater energy at higher frequencies distinguished /s/ in the fricative noise from the other two sibilant categories. The most salient information at vowel onset was for /ɕ/, which also had a strong palatalizing effect on the following vowel. Whereas either the noise or vowel onset was largely sufficient for the identification of /sɕ/ respectively, both sets of cues were necessary to separate /ʂ/ from /sɕ/. The greater synchronic instability of /ʂ/ may derive from its high articulatory complexity coupled with its comparatively low acoustic salience. The data also suggest that the relatively late stage of /ʂ/ acquisition by children may come about because of the weak acoustic information in the vowel for its distinction from /s/.

scholarly journals A correction to the exact test based on the Ewens sampling distribution

1996 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Montgomery Slatkin
Keyword(s):  
Small Sample ◽  
Sampling Distribution ◽  
Sample Sizes ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Small Sample Sizes ◽  
Larger Sample

SummaryThe exact test for neutrality based on the Ewens sampling distribution described previously (Slatkin, 1994) is not correct. The problem is that the test as described is based on the probability of the ordered configuration of numbers of alleles, while it should be based on the probability of the unordered configuration. The correctly implemented exact test leads to results that are similar to those from the homozygosity test proposed by Watterson (1977) for relatively small sample sizes but can still differ substantially for larger sample sizes. Programs to perform the exact test are available from the author.

The challenge of building a favourable reputation for social businesses

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Avidar
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Model ◽  
Graduate Students ◽  
Identity Formation ◽  
Research Strategy ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Hybrid Identity ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Organisational Identity ◽  
Complex Process

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to better understand the challenge of building and managing a favourable organisational reputation for social businesses in light of the complex relations between organisational identity, paradoxical tensions and organisational reputation.Design/Methodology/Approach: This paper combines deductive and inductive approaches. Deductively, the categorisation of Smith and Lewis (2011) was used to identify various types of paradoxical tensions in social businesses. An inductive bottom-up research strategy was also applied, collecting data from a 90-minute ‘open fishbowl’ with six managers and advisers of Israeli social businesses (and approximately 40 undergraduate and graduate students serving as ‘observers’), and 8 interviews with managers and communication professionals of social businesses.Findings: Managers of social businesses that are hybrid-identity organisations face a challenge when trying to build a consistent hybrid identity, thus managing reputation and paradoxical tensions using holistic and dynamic ‘both-and’ or ‘more-than’ approaches.Limitations: The small sample used in this study (an open fishbowl method consisting of only six participants, in addition to 8 interviews) doesn’t enable generalisability, and therefore should be seen as a benchmark for future studies that are larger and include additional methods. In addition, this study might well be culturally biased, because it takes place in only one country.Implications and Contribution: Referring to the theoretical model of Huang-Horowitz (2015) that stresses the importance of achieving consistency in identity in order for an organisation to succeed and have a favourable reputation, the findings reveal that social businesses experience a more complex process of identity formation when trying to build a consistent hybrid identity, using various holistic and dynamic approaches. From a practical perspective managers of hybrid-identity organisations might find it useful to explore how various holistic and dynamic approaches might help them to overcome internal and external paradoxical tensions and manage organisational reputation.

scholarly journals Designing computer-based cognitive tools to assist learners to interpret graphs and tables

1999 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Ferry ◽  
John Hedberg ◽  
Barry Harper
Keyword(s):  
Preservice Teachers ◽  
Cognitive Load ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Cognitive Tools ◽  
Sample Data ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
Audit Trails ◽  
Journal Entries ◽  
Larger Sample

<span>This paper reports on the development and evaluation of cognitive tools used to interpret graphs and tables. The development of these tools was informed by research about how learners interpreted graphs and tables. A prototype of the cognitive tools was trialed with a small sample of preservice teachers. This prototype was then improved and used again with a larger sample. Data from individual audit trails of software use, journal entries and interviews with a small sample of preservice teachers were used to evaluate the cognitive tools. The findings showed that the simple, context-specific cognitive tools developed helped to reduce the cognitive load associated with the interpretation of graphs and tables.</span>

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