Voice low tone to high tone ratio: a potential quantitative index for vowel [a:] and its nasalization

Hypernasality is associated with various diseases and interferes with speech intelligibility. A recently developed quantitative index called voice low tone to high tone ratio (VLHR) was used to estimate nasalization. The voice spectrum is divided into low-frequency power (LFP) and high-frequency power (HFP) by a specific cutoff frequency (600 Hz). VLHR is defined as the division of LFP into HFP and is expressed in decibels. Voice signals of the sustained vowel [a :] and its nasalization in eight subjects with hypernasality were collected for analysis of nasalance and VLHR. The correlation of VLHR with nasalance scores was significant (r = 0.76, p < 0.01), and so was the correlation between VLHR and perceptual hypernasality scores (r = 0.80, p < 0.01). Simultaneous recordings of nasal airflow temperature with a thermistor and voice signals in another 8 healthy subjects showed a significant correlation between temperature rate of nasal airflow and VLHR (r = 0.76, p < 0.01), as well. We conclude that VLHR may become a potential quantitative index of hypernasal speech and can be applied in either basic or clinical studies.     

Exercise duration and mood state: How much is enough to feel better?

The effects of exercise duration on mood state were examined. In a repeated-measures design, the Profile of Mood States inventory (D. M. McNair, M. Lorr, & L. F. Droppleman, 1971) was administered before and after 1 quiet resting trial and 3 exercise trials of 10, 20, and 30 min on a bicycle ergometer. Heart rate levels were controlled at 60% of the participant's estimated V02max level. An overall analysis of variance found improved levels of vigor with reduced levels of confusion, fatigue, and total negative mood. Planned analyses revealed that the improvements in vigor, fatigue, and total mood occurred after 10 min of exercise, with progressive improvements in confusion over 20 min and with no additional improvement over longer periods. These results complement current recommendations, which suggest that to experience positive fitness and health benefits, healthy adults should participate in a total of 30 min of moderate physical exercise daily, accumulated in short bouts throughout the day. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Clinician attributions associated with the diagnosis of schizophrenia in African American and non-African American patients.

The authors examined the schizophrenia diagnosis in 292 psychiatric inpatients in a largely African American community. Clinicians completed a free-response questionnaire that described their diagnostic decisions. Psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, which were attributed to African American and non-African American patients at different rates, did not necessarily correspond to differences in diagnostic rates. Rather, symptoms not differentially attributed between groups often corresponded with higher rates of schizophrenia for African American patients. Attributions of negative symptoms showed the largest differences between African American and non-African American patients in rates of schizophrenia diagnosis; thought disorder equalized rates of the diagnosis between the 2 groups of patients. Logistic regression analyses suggested that different aggregate decision models were applied to patients of differing race. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Tobacco withdrawal signs and symptoms among women with and without a history of depression.

A past history of depression is associated with a decreased likelihood of quitting smoking. Tobacco withdrawal may be a mechanism through which depression history impedes smoking cessation. This research examined the influence of depression history on unmedicated tobacco withdrawal signs (polysomnographic measures of sleep) and symptoms (self-reported urge, negative affect, hunger, and sleep) among women (N/& =/&13). Depression history was associated with differential withdrawal-induced changes in several REM sleep parameters. Self-report and other polysomnography (sleep fragmentation, slow-wave sleep) measures displayed statistically significant withdrawal effects but did not discriminate between depression history groups. These results suggest that REM sleep parameters may be sensitive to differential tobacco withdrawal responses that are not readily apparent through self-reported symptoms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Parent–child attitude congruence on type and intensity of physical activity: Testing multiple mediators of sedentary behavior in older children.

Objective: This study examined parent–child attitudes on value of specific types and intensities of physical activity, which may explain gender differences in child activity, and evaluated physical activity as a mechanism to reduce time spent in sedentary behaviors. Design: A community sample of 681 parents and 433 children (mean age 9.9 years) reported attitudes on importance of vigorous and moderate intensity team and individually performed sports/activities, as well as household chores. Separate structural models (LISREL 8.7) for girls and boys tested whether parental attitudes were related to child TV and computer via child attitudes, sport team participation, and physical activity, controlling for demographic factors. Main Outcome Measures: Child 7-day physical activity, sport teams, weekly TV, computer. Results: Parent–child attitude congruence was more prevalent among boys, and attitudes varied by ethnicity, parent education, and number of children. Positive parent–child attitudes for vigorous team sports were related to increased team participation and physical activity, as well as reduced TV and computer in boys and girls. Value of moderate intensity household chores, such as cleaning house and doing laundry, was related to decreased team participation and increased TV in boys. Only organized team sports, not general physical activity, was related to reduced TV and computer. Conclusion: Results support parents’ role in socializing children’s achievement task values, affecting child activity by transferring specific attitudes. Value of vigorous intensity sports provided the most benefits to activity and reduction of sedentary behavior, while valuing household chores had unexpected negative effects. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Generation of hydrogen cyanide from flexible polyurethane foam decomposed under different combustion conditions

Experimental thermal conditions conducive to the production of high levels of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) from flexible polyurethane foam were determined. In these experiments the material was exposed to relatively low-temperature non-flaming oxidative conditions for a short time period, during which a char was formed. Further heating of the char to temperature above 500°C generated the increased HCN levels. Upon exposure to this same two-step decomposition process, a fire-retarded flexible polyurethane foam produced twice as much char and twice as much HCN. Elemental analyses indicated that the HCN concentration was directly related to the amount of char formed and its nitrogen content. Room burns of slabs of flexible polyurethane foam and chairs containing flexible polyurethane foam indicated that this same phenomenon occurs in large-scale experiments. In these NBS tests, increased concentrations of HCN were produced when the material underwent flaming combustion following a period of smoldering, presumably from heating the char that was formed during smoldering. Investigation of the molecular mechanisms responsible for the increased HCN concentrations was attempted using ion chromatography, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), pyrolysis/mass spectrometry and ₁₃C solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. While the molecular structures of the nitrogen-containing compounds in the char were not elucidated, these analyses provided evidence of multiple compounds containing amine, amide, imine and nitrile functional groups as the most likely sources of the observed HCN.     

Effects of dietary restraint, obesity, and gender on holiday eating behavior and weight gain.

This investigation evaluated the impact of dietary restraint, relative weight, and gender on holiday eating behavior and weight gain. 65 Ss (31 men and 34 women) completed detailed food records for the 2 days before, the 4 days during, and the 2 days after the Thanksgiving weekend. Results indicated increased eating during the Thanksgiving holiday, with men eating more than women and the obese eating less than the nonobese. There was also a significant Total Restraint?×?Weight?×?Time interaction, with unrestrained normal-weight subjects behaving similarly to high-restrained overweight subjects over time. There was also a highly reliable Total Restraint?×?Sex?×?Time interaction. The most striking finding from this interaction was that high-restrained women displayed decreases in their dietary intake over time. Correlational analyses revealed that restraint scores were negatively associated with dietary intake over the 8-day period but were positively associated with weight gain. The implications for dieting, eating behavior, and energy balance are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Causal models of publishing productivity in psychology.

Six theoretical models of academic publishing productivity (PUP) were distilled from the literature in sociology, economics, and psychology. Although all theory-based models identify ability as a causal antecedent of PUP, it is rarely introduced in empirical studies. A measure of ability is operationalized and 6 causal models of PUP are estimated by path analysis, using data on 162 academic psychologists. Results support key theoretical propositions of most models. Several models fit the data according to the chi-square criterion, but none include all the important determinants of PUP. A theory-based best-fit model shows that ability affects PUP directly and indirectly, by providing access to training in prestigious graduate programs. Attending a prestigious graduate program increases PUP by providing access to academic appointments in other prestigious programs. Sex of the researcher has a large direct effect on publishing quantity but not quality. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)