Screening Voice Disorders: Acoustic Voice Quality Index, Cepstral Peak Prominence, and Machine Learning.

Introduction: The Acoustic Voice Quality Index (AVQI) and smoothed Cepstral Peak Prominence (CPPs) have been reported to effectively support the assessing of voice quality in persons seeking voice care across many languages. This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of these two measures in detecting voice disorders in American English speakers, comparing their performance to machine learning (ML) models.

Methods: This retrospective study included a cohort of 187 participants: 138 patients with clinically diagnosed voice disorders and 49 vocally healthy individuals.

Heightened expression of type I interferon signaling genes in CD4 T cells from acutely HIV-1-infected women is associated with lower viral loads.

Sex differences play a role in the pathogenesis of a number of viral diseases. In HIV-1, several studies have reported that chronically infected women have significantly lower plasma viremia than men, although the exact mechanism by which this occurs has yet to be identified. We have performed bulk RNA-seq experiments comparing gene expression between CD4 T cells from acutely HIV-1-infected men and women in Zambia, because we observe lower viral load (VL) despite higher CD4 T-cell activation in these women during acute/early infection.

Measuring Talker Age Estimates Through Crowdsourced Listeners' Ratings: A Pilot Study for Voice Research.

Purpose: Most auditory-perceptual voice research utilizes the judgments of trained listeners rather than everyday listeners with no previous training in speech pathology. Online crowdsourcing of behavioral data from untrained participants is rapidly increasing in popularity but has yet to be a common procedure for auditory-perceptual studies of the voice. The objective of this pilot study was to assess the functionality of this model for judgments of voice by using an online experiment platform to replicate a lab-based, voice-specific age estimation study.

Voice Meets Swallowing: A Scoping Review of Therapeutic Connections.

Purpose: This scoping review aimed to explore the use of volitional voice tasks in assessing swallowing-related outcomes and to evaluate their therapeutic impact on swallowing disorders, including their effects on swallowing biomechanics.

Method: This scoping review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. A literature search was performed across multiple databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus), and additional records were identified through manual searches.

Induction of Tier 2 HIV-Neutralizing IgA Antibodies in Rhesus Macaques Vaccinated with BG505.664 SOSIP.

Background: A goal of mucosal human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vaccines is to generate mucosal plasma cells producing polymeric IgA (pIgA)-neutralizing antibodies at sites of viral entry. However, vaccine immunogens capable of eliciting IgA neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) that recognize tier 2 viral isolates have not yet been identified.

Methods: To determine if stabilized native-like HIV-1 envelope (Env) trimers could generate IgA nAbs, we purified total IgA and IgG from the banked sera of six rhesus macaques that had been found in a previous study to develop serum nAbs after subcutaneous immunization with BG505.

Sensitivity of Acoustic Voice Quality Measures in Simulated Reverberation Conditions.

Room reverberation can affect oral/aural communication and is especially critical in computer analysis of voice. High levels of reverberation can distort voice recordings, impacting the accuracy of quantifying voice production quality and vocal health evaluations. This study quantifies the impact of additive simulated reverberation on otherwise clean voice recordings as reflected in voice metrics commonly used for voice quality evaluation.

Techniques, Models, and Variables of Interest in Studies of Intrinsic Laryngeal Muscle Fiber Types: A Bibliometric Analysis.

Introduction: Laryngeal muscle physiology is integral to many speech, voice, swallowing, and respiratory functions. A key determinant of a muscle's contractile properties, including its fatigue profile and capacity for force production, is the myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoform that predominates in the muscle. This study surveys literature on the MyHC compositions of mammalian intrinsic laryngeal skeletal muscle to illustrate trends and gaps in laryngeal muscle fiber typing techniques, models, and concepts.

Dynamics of the blood plasma proteome during hyperacute HIV-1 infection.

The complex dynamics of protein expression in plasma during hyperacute HIV-1 infection and its relation to acute retroviral syndrome, viral control, and disease progression are largely unknown. Here, we quantify 1293 blood plasma proteins from 157 longitudinally linked plasma samples collected before, during, and after hyperacute HIV-1 infection of 54 participants from four sub-Saharan African countries. Six distinct longitudinal expression profiles are identified, of which four demonstrate a consistent decrease in protein levels following HIV-1 infection.

Phenotypic Characterization of Subtype A and Recombinant AC Transmitted/Founder Viruses from a Rwandan HIV-1 Heterosexual Transmission Cohort.

HIV-1 subtypes have distinct geographical distributions, with subtypes A, C, and D and inter-subtype recombinants circulating in sub-Saharan Africa. Historically, individuals living with subtype A viruses exhibit slower CD4 decline and progression to AIDS diagnosis. Despite this, there are few authentic infectious molecular clones (IMCs) of subtype A or AC recombinant transmitted founder (TF) viruses with which to investigate viral impacts on pathogenesis.

Vocal Effort in Clinical Settings of North and South American Countries: Characterization From Argentinian, Chilean, Colombian, and the United States Clinician's Reports.

Background: In voice clinics, vocal effort is a prevalent complaint, with around 25% of clinicians citing it as the primary issue.

Aim: This study had two objectives. First, it sought to establish the prevalence of vocal effort, both as the primary and the only symptom, among patients receiving treatment from clinicians specializing in voice disorders in various countries across South and North America.

Behind the Headset: Predictive Accuracy of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures for Voice Symptoms in Call Centers.

Objective: This study examines factors predicting self-reported voice symptoms in call center workers.

Methods: Multivariate analysis and predictive modeling assess personal, work-related, acoustic, and behavioral factors. Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves are employed.

Evaluation of elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor treatment in individuals with cystic fibrosis and CFTR in the USA: a prospective, multicentre, open-label, single-arm trial.

Background: CFTR modulators are approved for approximately 90% of people with cystic fibrosis in the USA and provide substantial clinical benefit. N1303K (Asn1303Lys), one of the most common class 2 CFTR defects, has not been approved for these therapies by any regulatory agency. Preclinical investigation by our laboratories showed N1303K CFTR activation with elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor (ETI).

Persuasion Through Focus Groups: Helping Teachers Maintain Healthy Voices.

This study was designed to determine whether participation in a single, 1-hour focus group would spur a change in health-related behavior. All the respondents were teachers who had participated in a focus group designed to learn about teachers' understanding that voice is a working tool. In the discussions, health-related behaviors were discussed as ways to deal with possible vocal strain or injury.

HLA-A*23 Is Associated With Lower Odds of Acute Retroviral Syndrome in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infection: A Multicenter Sub-Saharan African Study.

The role of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and killer immunoglobulin-like receptor molecules in mediating acute retroviral syndrome (ARS) during human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection is unclear. Among 72 sub-Saharan African adults, HLA-A*23 was associated with lower odds of ARS (adjusted odds ratio, 0.10 [95% confidence interval, .

Within-talker and within-session stability of acoustic characteristics of conversational and clear speaking stylesa).

In speech production research, talkers often perform a speech task several times per recording session with different speaking styles or in different environments. For example, Lombard speech studies typically have talkers speak in several different noise conditions. However, it is unknown to what degree simple repetition of a speech task affects speech acoustic characteristics or whether repetition effects might offset or exaggerate effects of speaking style or environment.

Immediate Effects of Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract Exercises on Acoustic, Auditory-Perceptual, and Self-Perceptual Measures of Voice Production.

Introduction: This study examined the immediate acoustic, auditory-perceptual, and self-perceptual effects of two semi-occluded vocal tract exercises (SOVTs): straw phonation and straw phonation into a cup of water, delivered in a remote setting.

Method: Thirty-six participants (19 females and 17 males) completed a baseline battery of acoustic recordings, followed by one of two SOVTs, and an identical post-task battery. The procedure repeated itself to include the other SOVT.

Raising the volume on teacher vocal wellness: Perspectives from Practicing School Administrators.

Teacher voice health is an important but overlooked issue with consequences for educators, students, and schools. This qualitative study examined administrators' perspectives of teachers' vocal complaints and relevant policies. Focus groups made up of 18 administrators yielded key insights: 1) Reliance on voice amplification, 2) Administrators' attitudes and responses 3) Perceived impacts on learning, and 4) Proposed interventions.

Screening of Voice Pathologies: Identifying the Predictive Value of Voice Acoustic Parameters for Common Voice Pathologies.

Background: Voice acoustic analysis is important for objectively assessing voice production and diagnosing voice disorders.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the sensitivity of various voice acoustic parameters in differentiating common voice pathology types.

Methods: Data from the publicly available Perceptual Voice Qualities Database were analyzed; the database includes recordings of participants with and without voice disorders.

Clinical Utility and Validation of the Acoustic Voice Quality and Acoustic Breathiness Indexes for Voice Disorder Assessment in English Speakers.

Background: While several acoustic voice metrics are available for clinical voice assessment, there remains a significant need for reliable and ecologically valid tools. The Acoustic Voice Quality Index version 03.01 (AVQI-3) and Acoustic Breathiness Index (ABI) hold potential due to their comprehensive assessment approach, incorporating diverse voice aspects.

Association Between Bilingualism, Vocal Effort, and Background Noise With Voice Fundamental Frequency and LTAS Among Spanish-English Bilingual Teachers.

Background: As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, the demand for bilingual teachers has grown exponentially. However, the unique combination of being a bilingual occupational voice user establishes challenges that warrant careful examination.

Objective: To investigate the association between bilingualism, vocal effort, and background noise with fundamental frequency and long-term spectrum average among Spanish-English bilingual teachers.

Mapping the Landscape of Voice Complaints among Teachers: A Bibliometric Investigation.

Purpose: With the significant and growing interest in voice disorders among teachers over the last several decades, there is value in having a comprehensive overview of the current state of the field and its related research productivity. This study aims to provide an updated and comprehensive mapping of the intellectual structure and research evolution in the field of occupational voice complaints among teachers.

Methods: A systematic review of scientific articles on occupational voice complaints among teachers published in the last two decades was conducted using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses statements.