Neural network-based estimation of biomechanical vocal fold parameters.

Vocal fold (VF) vibrations are the primary source of human phonation. High-speed video (HSV) endoscopy enables the computation of descriptive VF parameters for assessment of physiological properties of laryngeal dynamics, i.e.

Boys Choirs in the Pandemic: Effects of Distance and Other Factors on Spectral and Temporal Accuracy.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, choral singing has been either completely prohibited or regulated with safety measures due to increased transmission risks. However, the impact of larger inter-singer spacings on the performance and educational process in boys' choirs is unclear. This study analyzed recordings of six groups of five singers each from two boys' choirs aged 7-16 who sang Beethoven's Ode to Joy while standing on an arc with a 4 m radius and an inter-subject spacing of 0.

Effect of Ligament Fibers on Dynamics of Synthetic, Self-Oscillating Vocal Folds in a Biomimetic Larynx Model.

Synthetic silicone larynx models are essential for understanding the biomechanics of physiological and pathological vocal fold vibrations. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of artificial ligament fibers on vocal fold vibrations in a synthetic larynx model, which is capable of replicating physiological laryngeal functions such as elongation, abduction, and adduction. A multi-layer silicone model with different mechanical properties for the musculus vocalis and the lamina propria consisting of ligament and mucosa was used.

Boys Choirs in the Pandemic: Exploring Qualitative Aspects of Safety Measures.

Introduction: During the Covid-19 pandemic, choirs had to apply safety measures such as distances and wearing masks. For children's choirs, there is no knowledge of their reaction to these measures, regarding their age and experience. This study aimed to investigate boys choir singers' perceptions of the measures, regarding wellbeing and feasibility, as well as the quality of the performance outcomes.

Impulse dispersion of aerosols during playing the recorder and evaluation of safety measures.

Introduction: Group musical activities using wind instruments have been restricted during the CoVID19 pandemic due to suspected higher risk of virus transmission. It was presumed that the aerosols exhaled through the tubes while playing would be ejected over larger distances and spread into the room due to jet stream effects. In particular, the soprano recorder is widely used as an instrument in school classes, for beginners of all age groups in their musical education, in the context of leisure activities and in professional concert performances.

The Effect of Water Resistance Therapy on the Impulse Dispersion of Aerosols During Sustained Phonation.

Introduction: Group singing has been associated with higher transmission risks via exhaled and spread aerosols in the CoVID19 pandemic. For this reason, many musical activities, such as rehearsals and lessons, but also voice therapy sessions, have been restricted in many countries. Consequently, transmission risks and pathways have been studied, such as aerosol amounts generated by exhalation tasks, convectional flows in rooms, or the impulse dispersion of different kinds of phonation.

Aerosol Dispersion During Different Phonatory Tasks in Amateur Singers.

Introduction: Due to increased aerosol generation during singing, choir rehearsals were widely prohibited in the course of the CoVID-19 pandemic. Most studies on aerosol generation and dispersion focus on professional singers. However, it has not been clarified if these data are also representative for amateur singers.

The Effect of Singers' Masks on the Impulse Dispersion of Aerosols During Singing.

Background: During the Covid-19 pandemic, singing activities were restricted due to several super-spreading events that have been observed during rehearsals and vocal performances. However, it has not been clarified how the aerosol dispersion, which has been assumed to be the leading transmission factor, could be reduced by masks which are specially designed for singers.

Material And Methods: Twelve professional singers (10 of the Bavarian Radio-Chorus and two freelancers, seven females and five males) were asked to sing the melody of the ode of joy of Beethoven's 9th symphony "Freude schöner Götterfunken, Tochter aus Elisium" in D-major without masks and afterwards with five different singers' masks, all distinctive in their material and proportions.