Classification of acoustic events using SVM-based clustering schemes

Acoustic events produced in controlled environments may carry information useful for perceptually aware interfaces. In this paper we focus on the problem of classifying 16 types of meeting-room acoustic events. First of all, we have defined the events and gathered a sound database. Then, several classifiers based on support vector machines (SVM) are developed using confusion matrix based clustering schemes to deal with the multi-class problem. Also, several sets of acoustic features are defined and used in the classification tests. In the experiments, the developed SVM-based classifiers are compared with an already reported binary tree scheme and with their correlative. Gaussian mixture model (GMM) classifiers. The best results are obtained with a tree SVM-based classifier that may use a different feature set at each node. With it, a 31.5% relative average error reduction is obtained with respect to the best result from a conventional binary tree scheme.Peer Reviewe

Estudios de interacción in vitro entre el hongo formador de micorrizas arbusculares Glomus intraradices y el hongo patógeno Armillaria mellea en vid

An interaction study was performed with mycorrhizal plants of the grapevine rootstock Richter 110 (Vitis berlandieri Planch × Vitis rupestris Scheele) and the root pathogenic fungus Armillaria mellea (Vahl:Fr.) P. Kumm using an autotrophic in vitro culture system. Micropropagated plantlets were transferred to Petri plates with MSR medium lacking sugar and vitamins. Inocula of Glomus intraradices (BEG 72) and of Armillaria mellea obtained from a root organ culture and from a mycelium colony grown in malt agar respectively, were added to the plates according to each treatment: non-inoculated, inoculated with G. intraradices, inoculated with A. mellea, and dual-inoculated plants. There were ten replicates per treatment. Fourteen weeks later, the pathogen's mycelium occupied most of the surface/volume of the plate and had produced rhizomorphs. In dual inoculated plates, A. mellea's growth was not affected by the presence of G. intraradices, but the latter produced a lower number of spores and its extraradical phase showed granulation, vacuolation and tip swelling. The pathogen induced necrosis and growth decrease in the root. Glomus intraradices alleviated these symptoms and there were no differences in root biomass between non-inoculated plants and plants inoculated with both fungi. There were no symptoms of the disease in shoots and G. intraradices stimulated shoot growth both, although mycorrhizal colonization was lower when A. mellea was present. No direct antagonism or antibiosis against the pathogen was observed, thus the protective effect exerted by the symbiotic fungus in grapevines must be indirect, mediated through the host plant physiology.Se estudió la interacción entre plantas micorrizadas del portainjerto de vid 110 Richter (Vitis berlandieri Planch × Vitis rupestris Scheele) y Armillaria mellea (Vahl:Fr.) P. Kumm en cultivo autotrófico in vitro. Plantas micropropagadas fueron transferidas a placas de Petri con medio MSR sin azúcar ni vitaminas. Inóculo de Glomus intraradices Schenck and Smith (BEG 72) obtenido a partir de un cultivo axénico de raíces transformadas micorrizadas, e inóculo de A. mellea obtenido en medio agar-malta, se añadieron a las placas según tratamiento: no inoculado, inoculación con G. intraradices, inoculación con A. mellea e inoculación combinada, estableciéndose 10 réplicas por tratamiento. Catorce semanas después, el micelio del hongo patógeno ocupaba casi la totalidad de la superficie/volumen de la placa y había producido rizomorfos. En placas con inoculación mixta, el desarrollo de A. mellea no se vio afectado por la presencia de G. intraradices, mientras que éste produjo menos esporas, y su fase extraradical presentaba granulaciones, vacuolaciones y engrosamientos en las terminaciones. El patógeno indujo necrosis y menor desarrollo radical. Glomus intraradices alivió estos síntomas, y no se observaron diferencias entre la biomasa radical de plantas no inoculadas y de plantas inoculadas con ambos hongos. No aparecieron síntomas de la enfermedad en la parte aérea y G. intraradices estimuló en cualquier caso el crecimiento, pero la colonización micorrícica fue menor en presencia del patógeno. No se observó antagonismo directo o antibiosis, el efecto de protección de la simbiosis micorrícica en vid frente a A. mellea debe ser indirecto, a través de la fisiología del hospedador

CFD simulation of a reversible solid oxide microtubular cell

Trabajo presentado al 10th European Solid Oxide Fuell Cell Forum celebrado en Lucerna (Suiza) del 26 al 29 de Junio de 2012.In this work, the authors introduce a comprehensive model and the corresponding 3D numerical tool for the simulation of reversible micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cells. It is based on a previous in-house model for SOFC [1], to which some new features has been added to extend its applicability to SOEC. The model considers the following physical phenomena: (i) fluid flow through channels and porous media; (ii) multicomponent mass transfer within channels and electrodes; (iii) heat transfer due to conduction, convection and radiation; (iv) charge motion; and (v) electrochemical reaction. The numerical algorithm to solve this mathematical model is implemented in OpenFOAM, an open source CFD toolbox based on the finite-volume method.Peer reviewe

Fuzzy integral based information fusion for classification of highly confusable non-speech sounds

Acoustic event classification may help to describe acoustic scenes and contribute to improve the robustness of speech technologies. In this work, fusion of different information sources with the fuzzy integral (FI), and the associated fuzzy measure (FM), are applied to the problem of classifying a small set of highly confusable human non-speech sounds. As FI is a meaningful formalism for combining classifier outputs that can capture interactions among the various sources of information, it shows in our experiments a significantly better performance than that of any single classifier entering the FI fusion module. Actually, that FI decision-level fusion approach shows comparable results to the high-performing SVM feature-level fusion and thus it seems to be a good choice when feature-level fusion is not an option. We have also observed that the importance and the degree of interaction among the various feature types given by the FM can be used for feature selection, and gives a valuable insight into the problem.Peer Reviewe

Acoustic event detection: SVM-based system and evaluation setup in CLEAR’07

In this paper, the Acoustic Event Detection (AED) system developed at the UPC is described, and its results in the CLEAR evaluations carried out in March 2007 are reported. The system uses a set of features composed of frequency-filtered band energies and perceptual features, and it is based on SVM classifiers and multi-microphone decision fusion. Also, the current evaluation setup and, in particular, the two new metrics used in this evaluation are presented.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author’s final draft

Fluorescent PLGA Nanocarriers for Pulmonary Administration: Influence of the Surface Charge

Nearly four million yearly deaths can be attributed to respiratory diseases, prompting a huge worldwide health emergency. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic’s death toll has surpassed six million, significantly increasing respiratory disease morbidity and mortality rates. Despite recent advances, it is still challenging for many drugs to be homogeneously distributed throughout the lungs, and specifically to reach the lower respiratory tract with an accurate sustained dose and minimal systemic side effects. Engineered nanocarriers can provide increased therapeutic efficacy while lessening potential biochemical adverse reactions. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), a biodegradable polymer, has attracted significant interest as an inhalable drug delivery system. However, the influence of the nanocarrier surface charge and its intratracheal instillation has not been addressed so far. In this study, we fabricated red fluorescent PLGA nanocapsules (NCs)—Cy5/PLGA—with either positive (Cy5/PLGA+) or negative surface charge (Cy5/PLGA-). We report here on their excellent colloidal stability in culture and biological media, and after cryo-storage. Their lack of cytotoxicity in two relevant lung cell types, even for concentrations as high as 10 mg/mL, is also reported. More importantly, differences in the NCs’ cell uptake rates and internalization capacity were identified. The uptake of the anionic system was faster and in much higher amounts—10-fold and 2.5-fold in macrophages and epithelial alveolar cells, respectively. The in vivo study demonstrated that anionic PLGA NCs were retained in all lung lobules after 1 h of being intratracheally instilled, and were found to accumulate in lung macrophages after 24 h, making those nanocarriers especially suitable as a pulmonary immunomodulatory delivery system with a marked translational character. © 2022 by the authors

Learning and memory disabilities in IUGR babies: Functional and molecular analysis in a rat model

Introduction: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is the failure of the fetus to achieve its inherent growth potential, and it has frequently been associated with neurodevelopmental problems in childhood. Neurological disorders are mostly associated with IUGR babies with an abnormally high cephalization index (CI) and a brain sparing effect. However, a similar correlation has never been demonstrated in an animal model. The aim of this study was to determine the correlations between CI, functional deficits in learning and memory and alterations in synaptic proteins in a rat model of IUGR. Methods: Utero-placental insufficiency was induced by meso-ovarian vessel cauterization (CMO) in pregnant rats at embryonic day 17 (E17). Learning performance in an aquatic learning test was evaluated 25 days after birth and during 10 days. Some synaptic proteins were analyzed (PSD95, Synaptophysin) by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Results: Placental insufficiency in CMO pups was associated with spatial memory deficits, which are correlated with a CI above the normal range. CMO pups presented altered levels of synaptic proteins PSD95 and synaptophysin in the hippocampus. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that learning disabilities may be associated with altered development of excitatory neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity. Although interspecific differences in fetal response to placental insufficiency should be taken into account, the translation of these data to humans suggest that both IUGR babies and babies with a normal birth weight but with intrauterine Doppler alterations and abnormal CI should be closely followed to detect neurodevelopmental alterations during the postnatal periodEuropean Regional Development Fund BFU2014-55373-RMinisterio de Economía y Competitividad MAT2011-29778-C02-02Generalitat de Catalunya 2014 SGR 117

Developmental regulation of GLUT-1 (Erytroid/HepG2) and GLUT-4 (Muscle/Fat) glucose transporter expression in rat heart, skeletal muscle, and brown adipose tissue

The expression of GLUT-1 (erythroid/Hep G2) and GLUT-4 (muscle/fat) glucose transporters was assessed during development in rat heart, skeletal muscle, and brown adipose tissue. GLUT-4 protein expression was detectable in fetal heart by day 21 of pregnancy; it increased progressively after birth. attaining levels close to those of adults at day 15 post natal.'In contrast, GLUT-4 messenger RNA (mRNA)was already present in hearts from 17 day-old fetuses. GLUT-4 mRNA stayed low during early postnatal life in heart and brown adipose tissue and only increased after day 10 post natal. The expression pattern for GLUT-4 protein in skeletal muscle during development was comparable to that observed in heart. In contrast to heart and skeletal muscle, GLUT-4 protein in brown adipose tissue was detected in high levels (30% of adult) during late fetal life. During fetal life, GLUT-l presented a very high expression level in brown adipose tissue, heart, and skeletal muscle. Soon after birth, GLUT-1 protein diminished progressively, attaining adult levels at day 10 in heart and skeletal muscle. GLUT-1 mRNA levels in heart followed a similar pattern to the GLUT- 1 protein, being very high during fetal life and decreasing early in post natal life. GLUT-1 protein showed a complex pattern in brown adipose tissue: fetal levels were high, decreased after birth, and increased subsequently in post natal life, reaching a peak by day 9. Progesterone-induced postmaturity protected against the decrease in GLUT-1 protein associated with post natal life in skeletal muscle and brown adipose tissue. However, GLUT-4 induction was not blocked by postmaturity in any of the tissues subjected to study. These results indicate that: 1) during fetal and early post natal life, GLUT-1 is a predominant glucose transporter isotype expressed in heart, skeletal muscle, and brown adipose tissue; 2) during early post natal life there is a generalized GLUT-1 repression; 3) during development, there is a close correlation between protein and mRNA levels for GLUT-l, and therefore regulation at a pretranslational level plays a major regulatory role; 4) the onset of GLUT-4 protein induction occurs between days 20-21 of fetal life; based on data obtained in rat heart and brown adipose tissue, there is a dissociation during development between mRNA and protein levels for GLUT-4, suggesting modifications at translational or posttranslational steps; and 5) postmaturity blocks the decrease in GLUT-l expression but not the induction of GLUT-4. observed soon after birth. All these findings suggest that GLUT-1 repression and GLUT-4 induction are mediated by different mechanisms

Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial: Treatment of early intrauterine growth restriction with low molecular weight heparin (TRACIP)

Introduction The incidence of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is estimated at about 3% of pregnancies, and it is associated with 30% of all perinatal mortality and severe morbidity with adverse neurodevelopmental and cardiovascular health consequences in adult life. Early onset IUGR represents 20%-30% of all cases and is highly associated with severe placental insufficiency. The existing evidence suggests that low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) has effects beyond its antithrombotic action, improving placental microvessel structure and function of pregnant women with vascular obstetric complications by normalising proangiogenic and antiapoptotic protein levels, cytokines and inflammatory factors. The objective of our study is to demonstrate the effectiveness of LMWH in prolonging gestation in pregnancies with early-onset IUGR. Methods and analysis This is a multicentre, triple-blind, parallel-arm randomised clinical trial. Singleton pregnancies qualifying for early (20-32 weeks at diagnosis) placental IUGR (according to Delphi criteria) will be randomised to subcutaneous treatment with bemiparin 3500 IU/0.2 mL/day or placebo from inclusion at diagnosis to the time of delivery. Analyses will be based on originally assigned groups (intention-to-treat). The primary objective will be analysed by comparing gestational age and prolongation of pregnancy (days) in each group with Student''s t-tests for independent samples and by comparing Kaplan-Maier survival curves (from inclusion to delivery, log-rank test). A linear regression model for gestational age at birth will consider the following covariates: Gestational age at inclusion (continuous) and pre-eclampsia (binary). Ethics and dissemination The study will be conducted in accordance with the principles of Good Clinical Practice. This study was approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee (CEIC) of Sant Joan de Déu Hospital, on 13 July 2017. The trial is registered in the public registry www.clinicaltrial.gov. according to Science Law 14/2011, and the results will be published in an open access journal