Voice field measurements—a new method of examination: the influence of hearing on the human voice

There are various methods to evaluate voice parameters. Original software was used to assess the voice quality by the staff of AUDIO-Fon centr Brno, Czech Republic. A group of hereditary deaf persons was examined. Deaf persons have all of the biological conditions to make voice except for the possibility of acoustic feedback. We examined the voices of 35 persons (20 men and 15 women) with hereditary profound hearing impairments, and we compared voice parameters with the voice of intact persons. To measure we used special software called voice field measurements (VFMs). The program graphically records voice frequency and intensity. VFM is an objective method that enables the assessment of basic physical voice characteristics. It is suitable for the examination of both intact and disturbed voice. The voice of the deaf has a higher basic voice frequency in men as well as in women. This type of voice production, ie, childlike voice, which is fixed only by a motor stereotype, is much more demanding for a mature larynx. Hearing influences both the voice development and speech production. The voice of persons with hearing impairments has a higher basic voice frequency regardless of their sex. This type of voice production, which is fixed only by a motor stereotype, ie, child voice, is much more demanding for a larynx of an adult. Thus, phonation of deaf people is more demanding and their voice production needs greater effort. Deaf people, despite an intact phonic apparatus, cannot produce more than one type of voice. They cannot modulate their voices concerning the frequency and dynamics. They cannot change their voices continually. The voice is limited in both of these parameters (frequency and dynamics). If a deaf person wants to change a voice characteristic, it is possible only by discontinuous changes-"skipping."     

Bayesian Multiscale Smoothing for Making Inferences About Features in Scatterplots

A rather common problem of data analysis is to find interesting features, such as local minima, maxima, and trends in a scatterplot. Variance in the data can then be a problem and inferences about features must be made at some selected level of significance. The recently introduced SiZer technique uses a family of nonparametric smooths of the data to uncover features in a whole range of scales. To aid the analysis, a color map is generated that visualizes the inferences made about the significance of the features. The purpose of this article is to present Bayesian versions of SiZer methodology. Both an analytically solvable regression model and a fully Bayesian approach that uses Gibbs sampling are presented. The prior distributions of the smooths are based on a roughness penalty. Simulation based algorithms are proposed for making simultaneous inferences about the features in the data.     

The time dependent Ginzburg-Landau equation in fractal space-time

We use the hydrodynamic formulation of Scale Relativity Theory to analyze the TDGL equation. As a result, London equations come naturally from the system, when equating to zero the real velocity, the imaginary one turns real, the superconducting fluid act as a subquantum medium energy accumulator, the vector potential, the real and the imaginary velocity are all written in terms of the elliptic function. When solving the resulted system by means of WKBJ method, we get tunneling and quantization. In other words, scale transformation laws produce, on the motion equation of particles governed by the TDGL equation, under some peculiar assumptions, effects which are analogous to those of a “macroscopic quantum mechanics”.     

Construction and development of a new single-column simulated moving bed system on the laboratory scale

Simulated moving bed (SMB) chromatography combines high productivity and high purities with reduced buffer consumption. We have developed a laboratory scale single column SMB (SC-SMB) unit with all four separation zones in one column. Distributors embedded within the chromatographic medium allow introduction and withdrawal of liquid between the zones. This single column unit exhibits homogenous packing in all zones, reduced headspace, less complex tubing, fewer valves, and almost undisturbed plug flow between the separation zones. The separation performance of the column was investigated with two different binary model mixtures. Furthermore, the SC-SMB unit is operated with a modified AKTA Explorer workstation, which has been specifically developed for the handling of biological fluids.     

A comment on “Returns to scale and scale elasticity in data envelopment analysis”

Fukuyama [Fukuyama, H., 2000. Returns to scale and scale elasticity in data envelopment analysis. European Journal of Operational Research 125, 93–112] provided some characterizations of scale elasticity and returns to scale in DEA. In this paper, we present some counterexamples and comments to the main lemma of the afore-mentioned paper, based on which Fukuyama’s idea has been built.     

Determination of inorganic and methylmercury in fish by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

Simple and rapid analytical procedures for the determination of Hg²⁺ and methylmercury in fish were proposed after careful optimization of chemical and instrumental parameters for Hg measurement by cold vapor (CV)/hydride generation (HG) atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and CV/HG inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Quantitative extraction of Hg species avoiding any inter-species conversion was achieved by fast microwave assisted solubilization of fish tissue with relatively low amount of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) or 6 mol L^− 1 HCl. After careful optimization of chemical parameters selective determination of Hg²⁺ in the presence of excess of methylmercury is attained by using continuous flow CV AAS, 1% m/V SnCl₂ as reductant and 0.1 mol L^− 1 HCl as reaction medium. Simple calibration curve prepared with aqueous standard of Hg²⁺ is recommended for its quantification. Both Hg²⁺ and methylmercury could be determined simultaneously with equal sensitivity by CV/HG ICP-AES directly in the diluted TMAH solution obtained after extraction with 1% m/V NaBH₄ as reductant. Quantification of the sum of Hg²⁺ and methylmercury against calibration curve prepared with aqueous standard of methylmercury is suggested. It should be mentioned that batch hydride generation system with quartz tube heated in air/acetylene flame could also be used for simultaneous determination of both Hg species in fish extracts, with standard additions calibration. The validity of the developed analytical procedures for selective determination of Hg²⁺ and methylmercury (by difference between the total Hg and Hg²⁺) is confirmed by the analyses of certified reference material DOLT-1 and reference material IMEP-20. Very close agreement between certified values and analytical results was found.     

Determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in fish tissues by matrix solid-phase dispersion and gas chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry: Case study on European eel (Anguilla anguilla) from Mediterranean coastal lagoons

This paper describes the development and validation of an analytical methodology to determine 28 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in European eel (Anguilla anguilla) tissues using matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) and gas chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-QQQ-MS/MS). A total of 28 PBDEs were targeted, including tri- to deca-brominated congeners.The robustness and effectiveness of the proposed sample preparation procedure was demonstrated in lipid-rich eel tissues. The use of batch MSPD with activated silica gel and H₂SO₄-impregnated silica gel, followed by H₂SO₄ digestion and multilayer cartridge clean-up allowed for complete lipid removal and eliminated matrix effects during GC-QQQ-MS/MS analysis. The average PBDE recoveries from eel muscle samples spiked with PBDEs at two levels were in the range 56.2-119.0%. Precision was satisfactory since relative standard deviations were lower than 19.6%, regardless of spike level, and method quantification limits ranged between 1 and 170 pg g⁻¹ (wet weight).The method demonstrated its successful application for the analysis of eel samples from two coastal lagoons located on the western French Mediterranean coast. All samples tested positive, but for tri- to hexa-brominated congeners only and total PBDE levels observed in this study were in the range 0.08-1.80 ng g⁻¹ wet weight.     

The characteristics of acoustic line array prototypes for scale model experiments

The sound fields created by three different settings of a 5 m long linear loudspeaker array were studied experimentally in the present investigation in an attempt to find out a method to produce a reasonable sound field for scaled down model experiments. The first setting was with all the loudspeakers facing vertically upward, while the second setting was with all the loudspeakers facing the horizontal. The last one resembled the first setting but the loudspeakers were put inside a small partial enclosure whose opening was facing vertically upward. Results show that the last setting can produce a sound field with characteristics close to those of a two-dimensional sound field. The second setting results in a sound directivity pattern relevant to that of the measured A-weighted traffic noise.     

多模跟踪技术在轮式侦察车图像处理器的应用

为解决目标旋转形变、遮挡、光照变化等目标跟踪的难题,对粒子滤波和尺度不变特征变换（SIFT）算法进行了改进,结合两种算法提出了决策主导模式的多模跟踪技术。该技术采用粒子滤波预测目标位置进行粗定位,SIFT特征匹配进行精定位的方法,在解决上述难题上有很好的鲁棒性。将该技术应用于轮式侦察车图像处理器,并进行了各种实验验证,结果证明了提出算法的有效性。