Vocal Fatigue and Recovery Patterns Among Call Center Operators: A Workday Progression Study.

Objective: Call centers in India, rely heavily on call center operators' (CCO) vocal abilities, putting them on a high vocal demand and the related risk of voice-related problems. This study investigated vocal changes among CCOs during a workday.

Method: Fifty CCOs from various sectors participated undergoing evaluation, including acoustical, perceptual, aerodynamic, and self-perceptual measures.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Tamil Version of Evaluation of the Ability to Sing Easily in Carnatic Singers.

Aim: This study aimed to (i) culturally adapt and linguistically translate the Evaluation of the Ability to Sing Easily (EASE) in Tamil (EASE-T), (ii) validate EASE-T in Tamil-speaking Carnatic singers, and (iii) compare the scores of EASE-T with the original EASE (English) and EASE-K (Kannada).

Method: The original EASE (English) consisting of twenty-two statements in the three subscales-vocal fatigue, pathological risk factors, and vocal concerns, was adapted and translated to Tamil by professional translators. After incorporating the modifications, EASE preliminary version was given to eight Carnatic singers and four speech language pathologists for content validation.

Videostrobokymographic Analysis of Stroboscopic Footage With Unsteady Laryngeal Positions From Phononormals.

Aim: This study aimed (i) to extract videostrobokymograms (VSK) and measure the objective metrics of vocal fold vibration from stroboscopic footage with unsteady laryngeal positions using a customized approach that utilized the Lucas-Kanade optical flow method-alongside other preprocessing methods and kymogram extraction techniques and (ii) to juxtapose the readings of Electroglottography (EGG) with the extracted VSK metrics.

Method: Sixty-three tokens of videostroboscopy and EGG were obtained from 21 phononormals. The videostroboscopic samples were then subjected to pre-processing for optimization.

Overexpression of an NF-YB gene family member, EaNF-YB2, enhances drought tolerance in sugarcane (Saccharum Spp. Hybrid).

Background: Drought is one of main critical factors that limits sugarcane productivity and juice quality in tropical regions. The unprecedented changes in climate such as monsoon failure, increase in temperature and other factors warrant the need for development of stress tolerant cultivars to sustain sugar production. Plant Nuclear factor (NF-Y) is one of the major classes of transcription factors that have a major role in plant development and abiotic stress response.

Ectopic expression of choline oxidase () gene from confers drought stress tolerance in transgenic sugarcane.

Unlabelled: Drought is a serious problem that impacts sugarcane production and productivity worldwide. In this current investigation, a codon-optimized choline oxidase () gene was transformed into hybrid cultivar Co 86032 through -mediated transformation. The transgenic events with the gene driven by the portubi882 (PD2) promoter accumulated elevated levels of glycine betaine (5 - 10µg/g) whereas untransformed control plants accumulated less than 1.

Barriers to Voice Therapy: A Report From Beginners, Performers, and Teachers of Carnatic Music.

Aim: The study aimed to understand awareness, perceptions, and barriers to voice therapy among beginners, performers, and teachers of Carnatic music.

Method: Barriers from the literature were obtained, and the guide for the semistructured interview was developed. Twelve Carnatic singers (four each identified as beginners, performers, and teachers) were contacted and interviewed on an online platform.

Item Hierarchy of Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI) in School Teachers-A Study from South India.

Aim: The study aimed to identify the item hierarchy of the Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI) in school teachers using Mokken Scaling Analysis (MSA).

Method: A total of 362 school teachers from five zones in Chennai city, southern part of India, participated in the study. All subjects completed a subject-information form that had details such as age, sex, duration of vocal demand per day, number of classes taken, grades taught, and years of experience and VFI.

Improving Crop Yield through Increasing Carbon Gain and Reducing Carbon Loss.

Photosynthesis is a process where solar energy is utilized to convert atmospheric CO into carbohydrates, which forms the basis for plant productivity. The increasing demand for food has created a global urge to enhance yield. Earlier, the plant breeding program was targeting the yield and yield-associated traits to enhance the crop yield.

Home Remedies ("Paati Vaidyam") for Voice Disorders: Some Common Practices Among School Teachers.

Aim: The study aimed to document the practices followed as home remedies to treat voice-related symptoms among school teachers.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Method: A total of 385 school teachers from Chennai, India, participated in the study.

Joint Engagement in Mother-Child Dyads of Autistic and Non-Autistic Children Among Asian Indian Tamil Speaking Families.

This study profiled various levels of engagement and related communication behaviours among 50 Asian Indian Tamil autistic children (AUT) and their mothers. The interaction was compared with two groups of mother-child dyads of non-autistic (NA) children, 50 in each group, matched for chronological age (CA), and for language level (LL). Results indicated that despite mother's efforts to engage with their children, autistic children were often 'engaged with objects' or remained 'unengaged' due to children's preference for solitary play, while NA children were often engaged in 'co-ordinated' and 'people engagement'.

Performance of a Closed Set Picture Identification Test in Tamil for Children with Cochlear Implant.

The study attempted to assess the closed set word identification abilities in children with cochlear implant (CI) with a picture identification test developed in Tamil. The test was validated on typically developing children with normal hearing (NH) to build a reference for comparison. Participants for the study included 205 children with NH between the age range of 3-6 years and 45 children with cochlear implant within the age range of 3-11 years.

Acoustic Description of .

Unlabelled: The study's aim was (1) To describe the acoustic characteristics of and (2) to compare the acoustic features of nasal consonant /m/ and the sound of produced by yoga trainers. Cross-sectional study design. Thirty-three adult male yoga trainers performed five repeats of nasal consonant /m/ and .

An E-Survey of Current Voice Therapy Practices Amongst Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs) in India.

In India, Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs) generally work with ENT surgeons and use a variety of treatment approaches, service delivery methods, feedback modes, and outcome measures in clinical practice while dealing with voice disorders. The practice preferences of the SLPs are based on theoretical and practical exposure during their graduate course, guidance from professional bodies, evidence-based practices, etc. The facilities in the work setting also determine the practice style of the SLP.

Development and Validation of Sentences in Tamil for Psychoacoustic Evaluation of Voice Using the Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice.

Purpose: The Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V) is a standardized instrument used in voice assessment to assess voice quality. It has been translated and culturally adapted in several languages. This study aimed at developing and validating a Tamil version of CAPE-V through auditory perceptual evaluation of remotely recorded voice samples.

Trends in Performance Using Early Speech Perception Test in Typically Developing Tamil-Speaking Children.

Background And Objectives: The study attempted to trace age-related changes in speech perception in typically developing children (≥3 to ≤6 years) using the "Early Speech Perception (ESP)" in Tamil. The test was developed in line with the original English version of ESP but adapted to suit the linguistic requirement of the Tamil language.

Subjects And Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, the test was administered to 205 children with normal hearing who were classified into three age groups (≥3 to ≤4, >4 to ≤5, and >5 to ≤6 years).

Comparison of Client-Led Asynchronous and Clinician-Led Synchronous Online Methods for Evaluation of Subjective Vocal Measures in Teachers: A Feasibility Study.

Background: COVID-19 has transformed face to face teaching in classrooms to online and hybrid modes. Increased vocal intensity/ pitch to call attention of students and transact in the online class, inappropriate posture (head, neck & upper trunk) while using the laptop and other online tools cause vocal loading leading to voice related concerns in teachers. Tele voice assessment is a feasible alternative means to seek professional help in the current situation and possibly in the future too.

Glucocorticoid minimizes local anesthetic infusion requirement through adductor canal block and improves perioperative prosthetic joint range of motion in total knee arthroplasty.

Introduction: The use of glucocorticoid as local anesthetic adjuvant in single-injection adductor canal block (ACB) is well-documented but its effects in the presence of an indwelling catheter is unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the impacts of one-time perineural glucocorticoid injection on continuous adductor canal block in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty.

Methods: A single center retrospective study of 95 patients undergoing unilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) was performed.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of Consensus Auditory Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V): A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Consensus Auditory Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V) is a widely used perceptual evaluation scale for voice assessment. It is adapted in many regional languages worldwide. This systematic review will help critically evaluate the methodologies used to adapt and establish CAPE-V as a valid and reliable tool.

Relationship between parental report of language skills and children's performance among 3-year-olds: Implications for screening language among preschoolers.

Aim: The study compared parental ratings of children's language abilities at 3-years of age with observations of children's language performance by Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs).

Method: Children (n=85) around 3-years of age were recruited from a child development clinic. Detailed speech and language assessments were completed during a one-hour semi-structured clinician-child interactive session.

An eclectic Voice Therapy Program for the Treatment of Hyperfunctional Voice Disorders (HFVD).

Purpose: An eclectic voice therapy program includes sequenced and structured set of exercises combining direct and indirect intervention methods. Tailor-made exercise prescription with specific cultural adaptations are needed to provide a holistic change to voice quality. This study detailed the construction of an exercise prescription for participants with hyperfunctional voice disorder [HFVD] in the Indian context.

Distortion product otoacoustic emissions in very preterm infants: A longitudinal study.

Background: Very preterm infants are at a greater risk of developing neurodevelopmental impairments such as neuro-motor delays, vision and hearing deficits (Roze and Breart, 2004; Saigal and Doyle, 2008) [1,2]. The hearing difficulties in preterm infants vary depending on the co-morbid conditions. However, prematurity itself is considered as a risk factor that influence the functioning of auditory system.

Outcomes of Vocal Hygiene Program in Facilitating Vocal Health in Female School Teachers With Voice Problems.

Background: Teachers suffer greater impacts of voice problems due inappropriate voice use and other contributing factors such as physiological, environmental, and individual & work related issues. Structured vocal hygiene programs (VHP) prevent/reduce the risk of vocal trauma and promote vocal health in teachers. This study aimed to estimate the outcome of instituting a sociocultural relevant vocal hygiene program in facilitating vocal health among female school teachers using a comprehensive voice assessment protocol.

Frequency Range Measures in Carnatic Singers.

Background: Frequency range measures in singers reflect their physiological capacity, vocal flexibility, training effects, strengths, and limitations in singing. Since this information is vital for pedagogic and clinical purposes, this study aimed to measure the frequency range in Carnatic singers while singing different aspects of the vocal music.

Method: Practice task (gliding from lowest to highest note) and performance task (singing a song with vocal ornaments) were recorded from 55 trained Carnatic singers (40 females and 15 males).