Automatic speaker recognition may achieve remarkable performance in matched training and test conditions. Conversely, results drop significantly in incompatible noisy conditions. Furthermore, feature extraction significantly affects performance. Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients MFCCs are most commonly used in this field of study. The literature has reported that the conditions for training and testing are highly correlated. Taken together, these facts support strong recommendations for using MFCC features in similar environmental conditions (train/test) for speaker recognition. However, with noise and reverberation present, MFCC performance is not reliable. To address this, we propose a new feature 'entrocy' for accurate and robust speaker recognition, which we mainly employ to support MFCC coefficients in noisy environments. Entrocy is the fourier transform of the entropy, a measure of the fluctuation of the information in sound segments over time. Entrocy features are combined with MFCCs to generate a composite feature set which is tested using the gaussian mixture model (GMM) speaker recognition method. The proposed method shows improved recognition accuracy over a range of signal-to-noise ratios.
Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) is a North American natural fruit. consumed as food and used for health promotion and prevention of various diseases. Aim. The present study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of cranberry fruit extract on nephrotoxicity induced by cisplatin in mice by measuring selected oxidative stress markers. Methods. Twenty-eight male albino mice were used in this study. The animals were divided into 4 groups as follows: Group I [Negative Control]/orally-administered normal saline for 7 successive days; Group II [Orally-administered cranberry fruit extract alone (200 mg/kg) for 7 successive days; Group III/Mice IP injection with cisplatin (12mg/kg) on day 7 and; Group IV [Orally-administered cr
... Show MoreNathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) has been widely known for his special interest in the female characters. In many of his novels, he narrates the conditions, values, and the institutions that surround and control the life of women, leading them to be victims. In “Rappaccini’s Daughter” (1844), the heroine, Beatrice is created to be victimized by her loved ones (her father and lover). This paper focuses on the term “victim,” it shows its aspects through the development of Beatrice’s character. The paper also studies a female character in the male-dominated society, to show the cruelty done to her, and how she is considered to be a second rate person, who is unable to live normally, or at least to save herself from dea
... Show MoreAbstract: Colloidal gold nanoparticles (ringworm Palm or in the form of paper willow) have been prepared from HAuCl4 containing aqueous solution by hot chemical reduction method. The colloidal gold nanoparticles were characterized by SEM, EDX, and UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy. It was found that the variation of reduction time from boiling point affects the size of the nanoparticles and also in chemical reduction approach the size of nanoparticles can be controlled by varying the amount of variation the volume of reductant material with respect to the volume of HAuCL4.
Background: Dental implants provide a unique treatment modality for the replacement of a lost dentition .This is accomplished by the insertion of relatively an inert material (a biomaterial) into the soft and hard tissue of the jaws, there by providing support and retention for dental prostheses. Low level laser therapy (LLLT) is an effective tool used to prompt bone repair and remodeling, this has referred to the biostimulation effect of LLLT. The Aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of inflammatory cells on osseointegration of CpTi implant irradiated by low level laser. Materials and Methods: thirty two adult New Zealand white rabbits, received titanium implants were inserted in the tibia. The right side is considered as experime
... Show MoreBiotreatment using immobilized cells (IC) technology has proved to be the most promising and most economical approach for the removal of many toxic organic pollutants found in petroleum-refinery wastewater (PRW) such as phenol. This study was undertaken to evaluate the degradation of phenol by Pseudomonas cells individually immobilized in two different bio-carrier matrices including polyvinyl alcohol-guar gum (PVA-GG) and polyvinyl alcohol-agar agar (PVA-AA). Results of batch experiments revealed that complete removal of phenol was attained in the first cycle after 150 min using immobilized cells (IC) in both PVA-GG and PVA-AA. Additional cycles were confirmed to evaluate the validity of recycling beads of immob
... Show MoreBackground: Bacterial DNA released upon bacterial autolysis or killed by antibiotics, hence, many inflammatogenic reactions will be established leading to serious tissue damage. Aim: the present work aimed to elucidate the histopathological changes caused by prokaryotic (bacterial) DNA and eukaryotic (candidal) DNA. Materials and methods: twenty one Staphylococcus aureus and 36 Candida albicans isolates were isolated from UTI patients. Viable cells and DNA of the highest antibiotic sensitive isolates were injected, intraurethraly, in mice. Results were evaluated via histopathological examination. Results: Mildest reactions were obtained from mice challenged with viable C. albicans compared with those challenged with viable S. aureus. Dos
... Show MoreBackground: The irradiation of teeth with a laser results in an interaction between the light and the biological constituents of the dental hard substance, which is converted directly into heat.This thermal effect is the cause of the structural and chemical enamel changes.The combined treatment of topical fluoride agent with laser may increase fluoride uptake, and reduce progression of caries-like lesions. The aim of this study was to measure the uptake of the acidulated phosphate fluoride and sodium fluoride to the buccal and lingual caries-like lesion enamel surfaces before and after irradiated by Nd-YAG laser in comparison with matching control group. Materials and methods: The sample consisted of 30 human healthy upper premolar teeth wh
... Show MoreThis study was conducted in the College of Agriculture fields /University of Baghdad, during Autumn 2013. This study was aimed to examine the mortality rate on the all black fly stages of Acaudalerodes rachipora Singh) by the biotic fungus Beuveria bassiana. The results of a preliminary survey showed that the samples of Ziziphus spaina christi were infested by blakflies in Agriculture collage during Autumn seasons of 2013 , the presence of species of black flies A. rachipora on the lower surface of the leaf, the study aimed to study and research the effects of fungus B. bassiana on black fly A. rachipora. After six days of treatment results showed the continued superiority 106 spore / ml trends in the western, southern and
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