Multidimensional analysis of male and female voices

This paper is a sequel to a study which showed that the dominant dimension for perceptual discrimination among normal voices was the male-female categorization and which also suggested that discrimination within the male-female categories utilized distinct dimenisons. The present study eliminates the male-female axis by treating the gender groups separately and making the within-category dimensions available for more sensitive analysis. The purpose was to determine the number and nature of perceptual parameters needed to explain judgments of voice similarity depending on talker sex and whether the stimulus sample was a sustained vowel or a short phrase. The similarity judgments were submitted to multidimensional analysis via INDSCAL and the resulting dimenisons were interpreted in terms of available acoustic measures and unidimensional voice-quality ratings of pitch, breathiness, hoarseness, nasality, and effort. The decisions of the listerners appeared to be influenced by both the sex of the speaker and the stimulus sample, although fundamental frequency (fo), was important for all judgments. Aside from the fo dimensions, judgments concerning male voices were related to vocal tract parameters, while similarity judgments of female voices were related to perceived glottal/vocal tranct differences. Formant structure was apparently important in judging the similarity of vowels for both sexes while perceptual glottal/temporal attributes may have been used as cues in the judgments of phrases.     

Lordosis behaviour in male, female and androgenized female rats

Sex differences in the lordodis response of adult rats to ovarian hormones were studied in a series of experiments. Male rats were less sensitive to oestradiol benzoate (OB, a single injection of 10, 100 or 1000 mug/kg or seven daily injections of 2, 10, or 50mglkg)then were female rats. Oestradiol benzoate-primed (10 mglkg)female, but not male, rats showed dose-dependent responses to progesterone (0-4, 2-0 or 10-0 mg/kg/. male rats responded clearly to progesterone (2 mg/rat) only when primed with a high dose of OB (100 mug/rat). Display of the whole pattern of female sexual behaviour was induced in male rats by treatment with 100 mug OB and 2 mg progesterone. Female rats treated with 1 mg testosterone propionate (TP) on day 4 of life, ovariectomized as adults and tested under the same endocrine conditions as the rats described above, retained behavioural OB sensitivity but responded poorly to progesterone. Evidence is presented that ovarian secretions during development significantly modify the response of neonatally TP-treated and normal female rats to OB in adulthood.     

Osteoporosis in male and female leprosy patients

We measured the bone mineral density (BMD) of 353 leprosy patients (197 males 50-89 years old, average age 70.2; and 156 females 53-90 years old, average age 72.9) and serum levels of free testosterone (FT) in 81 males. The BMD of the lumbar vertebrae (L2-L4), diaphysis of the radius (1/3 radius), and the neck of the femur (neck) was measured using DXA (QDR 4500). The BMD of -2.5 SD YAM (young adult mean) in Japanese men and women was used as the cutoff value for osteoporosis in the respective genders: BMD of L2-L4, 0.751 g/cm2 (male), 0.747 g/cm2 (female); 1/3 radius, 0.655 g/cm2 (male), 0.550 g/cm2 (female); neck, 0.581 g/cm2 (female). The percentages of males with osteoporosis were 31.3% in the 50th, 32.9% in the 60th, 44.9% in the 70th, and 40.7% in the 80th decade at L2-L4. Similarly, the percentages were 33.3%, 58.3%, 74.3%, and 75.0%, respectively, at 1/3 radius. Among females, the percentages were 22.2%, 41.3%, 44.9%, and 68.8%, respectively, at L2-L4; 0%, 42.9%, 89.5%, and 78.6%, respectively, at 1/3 radius; and 11.1%, 38.6%, 67.7%, and 84.6% respectively, at neck. FT in men ranged from almost 0 to normal at each decade and BMD levels were significantly correlated with FT in all three regions of the skeleton (P < 0.0001). More than 30% of osteoporosis was found at each decade and FT may be one of the main factors affecting BMD in male leprosy patients.     

Plasma apolipoprotein profiles of male and female rats

To determine if sex differences exist in the apolipoprotein profile of the rat, the concentrations of the major apolipoproteins and lipids of 12-week-old male and female rats were measured in the plasma as well as in the individual lipoprotein fractions. Plasma apo B, triglyceride, and cholesterol concentrations were significantly higher in male rats than in female rats. Plasma concentrations of apo A-I, apo E, apo A-IV, and apo C-III did not differ between the sexes. Male rats had higher concentrations of apo B in the very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), intermediate density lipoproteins (IDL), and the low density lipoproteins (LDL). These results further support the evidence that sex hormones influence lipoprotein metabolism in the rat.     

Competitive behavior in male, female, and pseudohermaphroditic female dogs.

Tested 36 male, spayed female, and pseudohermaphroditic female dogs in pairs for competition over a large bone. Pseudohermaphrodites had been exposed to testosterone propionate before and immediately after birth. In equal opportunity (EO) tests, both members of a pair had equal chance to seize the bone. Each EO test was followed by an established possession (EP) test. During an EP test, the loser of the preceding EO test was given possession of the bone before the former winner was returned to the test arena. Every S was tested against all other members of its own and the other groups. Males won 78 of 100 EO tests against normal females but only 61 of 100 against pseudohermaphrodites. Pseudohermaphrodites won 70 of 100 EO tests against normal females. When either normal or pseudohermaphroditic females were given possession of the bone in EP tests they were equally ineffective in defense against male challengers, losing 75 and 71% of their tests, respectively. Both types of females were more successful in defending possession during EP tests against each other. When normal and pseudohermaphroditic females were treated with testosterone, their performance in competition tests was not altered. Androgenic stimulation before and immediately after birth permanently modified the social behavior of pseudohermaphrodites as well as the behavior of males and normal females toward experimental Ss. (6 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Stimuli for male mouse (Mus musculus) ultrasonic courtship vocalizations: Presence of female chemosignals and/or absence of male chemosignals.

In research on animal chemocommunication, biological odors are sometimes presented by being applied to a "neutral" animal (e.g., castrated or ovariectomized conspecific). This technique is typically utilized when the behavioral response to the odor requires the presence of a conspecific. In 5 experiments, DBA/2J and 2 F? hybrid strains of mice that might be expected to be neutral stimuli were examined for their abilities to elicit ultrasonic courtship vocalizations from male mice. Paradoxically, adult castrated males, adult males that were neonatally castrated, hypophysectomized males, prepubertal females, and hypophysectomized females all elicited more vocalizations than would have been predicted from previous research in which their urine alone was used as the stimulus. These and previous results are consistent with courtship vocalizations being promoted by chemosignals from females and/or by an absence of cues from males. Thus, a truly neutral conspecific for presenting female sex odors may not exist in mice. (19 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Changes in preferences for male and female counselors

Past studies have indicated a preference for male therapists among both client and nonclient samples. To test for possible changes in preferences since the time of these studies, 53 male and 76 female applicants for counseling and 140 male and 150 female nonclient undergraduates completed a university counseling service application form that included a question regarding preference for sex of therapist. Although more clients than nonclients expressed preferences, results from both groups indicate a decrease in male counselor preferences. (4 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Marital interactions of male versus female alcoholics

This study assessed the interactions of 131 alcoholic and nonalcoholic couples as they engaged in discussions of personally relevant problems. For 50 couples, the husband was alcoholic; for 15 couples, the wife was alcoholic; for 16 couples, both spouses were alcoholics; and for 50 couples, neither spouse was alcoholic. Observations were conducted during sessions when alcohol was consumed and in nondrinking sessions. Female alcoholic couples (with nonalcoholic spouses) demonstrated high negativity in the "no-drink" session, which was normalized in the drink session, suggesting an adaptive function to alcohol use. Concordant couples (both members were alcoholic) also demonstrated high negativity in the no-drink session, but exhibited increased negativity in the drink session, suggesting that concordance has a maladaptive impact on marital interaction. All alcoholic groups demonstrated greater negativity and lower positivity and congeniality in their marital interactions compared to nonalcoholic couples. Couples with male alcoholics were the least divergent from normal control couples. Unique female patterns in alcoholism are discussed in terms of adaptive and reinforcing patterns and spousal influences.     

Body-figure preferences in male and female adolescents.

Previous research has examined body dissatisfaction and pressures toward thinness among college-age and adult women, demonstrating greater dissatisfaction among women than men. Little is known about when such sex differences arise. The present study replicated the procedure used by Fallon and Rozin (1985) to assess body-size preferences in a sample of 288 female and 283 male adolescents aged 10.5 to 15 years. Both sexes revealed a small degree of body-figure dissatisfaction relative to their chosen ideal, but neither sex rated their own figure as significantly different from the size considered most attractive to the opposite sex. Both male and female adolescents held distorted perceptions of opposite-sex preferences. Girls showed a bias toward thinness; boys revealed a bias toward larger figures. The latter bias was associated with pubertal development. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Correction of total incontinence in male and female epispadias

Between 1946 and 1980, 54 patients with epispadias and total urinary incontinence were evaluated at our institution. Factors critical to the achievement of complete continence include deferral of surgery until at least 3 yr of age, the patient having a well-developed bladder with adequate capacity and musculature, and maturation of the prostate at puberty in males. Complete continence was obtained in 9 of 11 female patients (82%). Fourteen of 35 male patients obtained complete urinary continence in the initial postoperative period. Complete urinary control was delayed until puberty in 11 additional patients, for an overall success rate of 25 of 35 males (71%). The significant increase in continence with the onset of puberty in males demonstrates the importance of expectant management of the child's progress in relation to the potential contribution of prostatic maturation in the development of urinary control.     

Vocational interests of male and female social workers.

For a sample of 496 male social workers, a key was constructed for the Strong VIB that differentiated them from a Men-in-General group with only 16% overlap. A key for female social workers (N = 464) differentiated them from Women-in-General with only 29% overlap. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Research productivity and impact of male and female psychologists.

Investigated whether the marked underrepresentation of females in lists of highly cited psychologists reflected differences in the quality or the quantity of research produced by males and females. Citation counts were established for 396 papers reporting dissertation research published by male and female psychologists in 14 journals between 1967 and 1972. Females attracted as many citations as males for dissertation research over the 6 yrs following publication. Although females had by 1978 published significantly fewer papers than males, there was no difference between sexes in the number of citations gained/published paper. However, more males than females were prolific researchers with heavy outputs of highly cited papers. Sex differences in productivity, impact, and recognition are discussed in the context of factors that facilitate or hinder research achievement. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Personal adjustment of male and female homosexuals and heterosexuals.

Compared the personal adjustment and psychological well-being of 127 male and 84 female homosexuals with 123 male and 94 female heterosexuals. Ss were matched for sex, age, and education. Homosexuals did not differ in important ways from heterosexuals in defensiveness, personal adjustment, or self-confidence as measured by the adjective check list; or in self-evaluation as measured by a semantic differential. Male homosexuals were less defensive and less self-confident (p     

In utero and lactational exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-rho-dioxin: effects on development of the male and female reproductive system of the mouse

To evaluate effects of in utero and lactational 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-rho-dioxin (TCDD) exposure on male and female reproductive system development of the mouse, the offspring of pregnant ICR mice administered 0, 15, 30, or 60 microg TCDD/kg on Gestation Day (GD) 14 were examined at the postweanling, pubertal, young adult, and adult stages of development. Dam and offspring body weights and prenatal and postnatal mortality were unaffected by TCDD exposure. The most sensitive endpoints in male offspring were decreased ventral prostate, coagulating gland, and thymus weights, accelerated eye opening, and hydronephrosis. Decreases in pituitary gland weight and epididymal sperm numbers were also found in TCDD-exposed male offspring. Testis, epididymis, and dorsolateral prostate weights, anogenital distance, latencies to testis descent and to preputial separation, and serum testosterone concentrations were unaffected. At the highest maternal TCDD dose uterus weights were decreased in female offspring evaluated during estrus and diestrus. No morphologic changes in the external genitalia of female offspring were found, nor were there alterations in ovary or pituitary gland weights. Cross-species comparisons showed that the mouse was not as sensitive to TCDD-induced developmental reproductive toxicity as the rat and hamster. Many endpoints affected by TCDD in rat and hamster offspring were either not affected or were less sensitive in mouse offspring. Endpoints of androgenic status were not affected in the mouse, decreases in accessory sex organ weights were restricted to fewer organs in the mouse, and decreases in daily sperm production were not found in the mouse. The only developmental reproductive endpoint observed in all three species was a reduction in epididymal sperm numbers.     

Kindling-induced emotional behavior in male and female rats.

Modeling fear in animals is a critical approach for identifying the neural mechanisms involved in human disorders such as generalized anxiety and panic. Amygdala kindling has proven useful in this regard because it produces dramatic increases in fearful behavior. The purpose of this experiment was to compare the behavioral effects of kindling in male and female rats. Compared with the sham-stimulated rats, the kindled male and female rats showed similar increases in fearful behavior, with some sex differences in fear-related open-field activity. They also showed decreased immobility in the forced-swim test and increased sucrose consumption. These results suggest that kindling-induced fear is generally similar in male and female rats and that kindling does not appear to induce depression-like behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Differential responses to male and female depressive reactions.

Suggests that the commonly reported preponderance of female over male depression in incidence and prevalence studies requires further analysis. One explanation is that the social consequences of expression of depressive symptomatology are different for males and females. A comparison of 157 male and 189 female undergraduates' reactions to male and female case histories of common reactions to stress confirmed the hypothesis. Depression elicited more rejection of males than of females, and the sex difference in rejection of depression was more pronounced than for anxiety or flat affect-detached responses. A discriminant analysis suggested that depressed males are especially likely to be perceived as impaired in role functioning as compared with depressed females. Results suggest that depressed males are not rejected for expression of emotionality as such. Speculations about the causes and consequences of differential rejection of depression are noted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dextromethorphan affects ventilation differently in male and female rats

Subcutaneous administration of aspartic acid results in a long-lasting but reversible depression of ventilation in male but not in female rats. Aspartic acid acts on N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. The present study tested the hypothesis that a noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptor antagonist, dextromethorphan (Dex), would depress ventilation in female rats and stimulate it in male rats. Moreover, Dex administered prior to aspartic acid should prevent the aspartic acid-induced depression of ventilation in male rats. In female rats, Dex caused a 30% depression of ventilation relative to saline at 5 and 10 mg/kg (P < 0.01) but not at the highest dose (20 mg/kg). In male rats, Dex had no effect on ventilation. At a dose of 20 mg/kg, Dex depressed oxygen consumption to 50% of the saline value at all time points in female rats (P < 0.001) and in male rats 45 and 60 min after administration. The time points when Dex depressed ventilation and oxygen consumption were different in female rats, suggesting that the depression of ventilation was not the result of a depression in oxygen consumption. During a hypercapnic challenge (7% CO2), female rats treated with 5 and 10 mg/kg of Dex exhibited a smaller increase in ventilatory response relative to saline treatment. At a dose of 20 mg/kg, the hypercapnic responsiveness of male rats was markedly stimulated (85.8 +/- 8.95 ml/min) relative to saline (50.6 +/- 9.14 ml/min; P < 0.001). Finally, Dex administered before aspartic acid prevented the aspartic acid-induced depression of ventilation in male rats. Thus, in rats, Dex has gender-specific effects on ventilation and these effects are not associated with changes in oxygen consumption.     

Spatial learning in male and female Long-Evans rats.

Male and female Long-Evans rats were tested in the Morris water maze at age 6 mo. A place training procedure, in which rats learned the position of a camouflaged platform, was followed by cue training, in which rats escaped to a visible platform. No sex difference was found in place learning ability. Search accuracy on probe trials, when the platform was unavailable, was also equivalent for the male and female groups. These results contrast with previous studies of rodents at younger ages, which have reported a male advantage in spatial learning. It is suggested that the age at which rats are assessed may be an important factor, possibly reflecting a different course in the relatively protracted maturation of the hippocampus in male and female rats. The results of this investigation are also discussed with reference to studies of sex differences for spatial abilities in humans. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Concussion history in elite male and female soccer players

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recent studies in primary biliary cirrhosis have reported the detection of serum antibodies against Mycobacterium gordonae and of mycobacterial DNA in liver sections. The aim of this study was to investigate whether mycobacterial DNA is present in liver biopsy material in primary biliary cirrhosis. METHODS: Archival liver biopsy specimens from 11 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (10 female, mean age 52 years) and 11 patients with autoimmune hepatitis (10 female, mean age 53 years) were identified. Positive control tissue comprised five archival lymph node specimens from patients with tuberculous lymphadenopathy, three of which had stained positive on ZN staining, and also a liver biopsy specimen from a patient with tuberculous hepatitis (ZN positive). Fixed sections were deparaffinised and DNA was extracted by mechanical disruption with glass beads. DNA was purified by use of diatoms and lysis in guanidinium thiocyanate in a technique previously validated for archival DNA. Primers were directed to amplify a partial 16S ribosomal RNA gene yielding the species-specific character for mycobacteria, and also to amplify the constitutively-expressed human gene GAPDH. RESULTS: The polymerase chain reaction was shown to be capable of detecting 1 fg of M. gordonae DNA in 'spiked' samples, equivalent to 1-5 bacterial cells. No mycobacterial DNA was detected in liver biopsy samples from either the primary biliary cirrhosis or autoimmune hepatitis groups. Of the tuberculous control sections, mycobacterial DNA was detected in four of five lymph nodes and the liver biopsy specimen. GAPDH amplification was detected in all tested samples from liver disease and tuberculous control samples. CONCLUSION: These data do not support a role for mycobacteria in the aetiology of primary biliary cirrhosis.