Deep Learning for Environmentally Robust Speech Recognition: An Overview of Recent Developments

Eliminating the negative effect of non-stationary environmental noise is a long-standing research topic for automatic speech recognition that stills remains an important challenge. Data-driven supervised approaches, including ones based on deep neural networks, have recently emerged as potential alternatives to traditional unsupervised approaches and with sufficient training, can alleviate the shortcomings of the unsupervised methods in various real-life acoustic environments. In this light, we review recently developed, representative deep learning approaches for tackling non-stationary additive and convolutional degradation of speech with the aim of providing guidelines for those involved in the development of environmentally robust speech recognition systems. We separately discuss single- and multi-channel techniques developed for the front-end and back-end of speech recognition systems, as well as joint front-end and back-end training frameworks

Exploring the Effect of In-plane Tensile Forces on the Two-way Shear Strength: review, comparative study and future works

Two-way shear failure of slabs is a sudden one, which has catastrophic outcomes. Slabs with large spans may be subjected to in-plane tensile forces due to thermal or earthquake loading. There is a lack of agreement between various design codes regarding the significance of in-plane tensile forces on the two-way shear strength. Two-way shear failure of slabs is a sudden one, which has catastrophic outcomes. Slabs with large dimensions may be subjected to in-plane tensile forces due to restraint or earthquake loading. There is a lack of agreement between various design codes regarding the significance of in-plane tensile forces on the two-way shear strength. The purpose of this study is to explore, propose a simplified two-way shear strength model, which includes the effect of in-plane tensile forces on the strength. A review for the experimental investigations, existing models, design codes for two-way shear of slabs is presented, with emphasis on in-plane tensile forces. The loading method used in the current experimental testing is misleading, where the two-way shear and the in-plane forces are independent. A comparative study was conducted between the existing formula and design codes for this case. The comparison between different codes with the experimental results show that the new proposed Eurocode design code was found to be the most accurate one. However, it did not include the effect of the in-plane tensile forces in a physically sound manner. In addition, more full testing of concrete slabs under combined two-way shear and tensile forces are required to refine this existing two-way shear design code provisions or develop new formulas or mechanical models

Effect of Functionally Graded Material of Disc Spacer with Presence of Multi-Contaminating Particles on Electric Field inside Gas Insulated Bus Duct

Solid insulators play a crucial role of electrical insulation in gas insulated power equipment. In order to improve the insulation performance of the solid insulators, two technical points should be considered, the first is the improvement of the insulation performance and the second is the control of the electric field distribution in and around the solid insulating spacers. Practically the insulation performance around the spacer can be improved by various techniques, such as; controlling the spacer shape, adding shield electrodes for electric field relaxation, the introduction of an embedded electrode, etc. These techniques lead to a more complicated structure of the equipment and increase the manufacturing cost. Thus, it is necessary to propose a new concept on solid spacers with keeping their simple structure and configuration. In this paper, a functionally graded material (FGM) is proposed to minimize the electric field distribution around the spacer, specially, on triple junction point, which was one of the important factors dominating a long-term insulating property of solid delectric. Finite Element Method (FEM) has been used throughout this work, for its favorable accuracy, to calculate the electric field distribution inside the bus duct. The Electric field distribution around earthed particle contamination which adhered to uniform and FGM of disc-spacer is presented. The effect of distance between particle and spacer on the electric field values is investigated. The effect of hemi-spherical radius and length of particle on maximum electric field at triple junction point is also discussed. Electric field relaxation effect (EFGM/Euniform) by introduction of the U-shape FGM spacer is also presented. The electric field distribution along the surface of FGM of disc spacer with presence of multi-contaminating particles at various positions is presented.DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.11591/ijece.v3i6.435

Effect of Coating of Earthed Enclosure and Multi-Contaminating Particles on Breakdown Voltage inside Gas Insulated Bus Duct

Metallic particle contamination is one of the areas of insulation design that are considered critical. This paper demonstrates the control of metallic particles in gas insulated bus duct (GIBD) by using dielectric coating on the inside surface of the outer enclosure of a coaxial electrode system. Several models of GIBD with single and multi-contaminating particles will be studied. In this paper, the Finite Elements Method (FEM) is used to evaluate the electric field distribution on and around single and multi-contaminating wire particles which in contact with dielectric coating of earthed enclosure inside GIBD. The effect of changing the length and the radius of middle particle for multi-contaminating particles on the electric field values are studied. Breakdown Voltage calculations for gas mixtures with single and multi-contaminating wire particles are studied. The effects of gas pressure on the breakdown voltage for various fractional concentrations of SF6-gas mixtures with and without particle contamination and also with and without coating of earthed enclosure are studied. The optimum gas mixture which gives higher dielectric strength with lower cost is also determined. The effect of coating thickness of earthed enclosure on the breakdown voltage for various fractional concentrations of SF6-gas mixtures is also studied. Finally, the effect of length and hemi-spherical radius of multi-contaminating particles on the breakdown voltage with various SF6-gas mixtures and varying gas pressure one time and another time with fixed pressure are studied.DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.11591/ijece.v4i4.569

Future regenerative medicine developments and their therapeutic applications

: Although the currently available pharmacological assays can cure most pathological disorders, they have limited therapeutic value in relieving certain disorders like myocardial infarct, peripheral vascular disease, amputated limbs, or organ failure (e.g. renal failure). Pilot studies to overcome such problems using regenerative medicine (RM) delivered promising data. Comprehensive investigations of RM in zebrafish or reptilians are necessary for better understanding. However, the precise mechanisms remain poorly understood despite the tremendous amount of data obtained using the zebrafish model investigating the exact mechanisms behind their regenerative capability. Indeed, understanding such mechanisms and their application to humans can save millions of lives from dying due to potentially life-threatening events. Recent studies have launched a revolution in replacing damaged human organs via different approaches in the last few decades. The newly established branch of medicine (known as Regenerative Medicine aims to enhance natural repair mechanisms. This can be done through the application of several advanced broad-spectrum technologies such as organ transplantation, tissue engineering, and application of Scaffolds technology (support vascularization using an extracellular matrix), stem cell therapy, miRNA treatment, development of 3D mini-organs (organoids), and the construction of artificial tissues using nanomedicine and 3D bio-printers. Moreover, in the next few decades, revolutionary approaches in regenerative medicine will be applied based on artificial intelligence and wireless data exchange, soft intelligence biomaterials, nanorobotics, and even living robotics capable of self-repair. The present work presents a comprehensive overview that summarizes the new and future advances in the field of RM

PRIKAZ UNUTRAŠNJEG SFINKTERA URETRE I VAGINE U ZDRAVIH ŽENA I OBOLJELIH OD STRES INKONTINENCIJE MOKRAĆE I PROLAPSA VAGINE

Introduction. The internal urethral sphincter (IUS) is a cylinder formation that extends from the urinary bladder neck to the urogenital diaphragm. It is composed of a strong collagen sheet with muscle fibers that intermingle with the collagen in the middle of the cylinder’s thickness. The strong collagen sheet gives the IUS the high wall tension necessary to create the high urethral pressure. The muscle fibers, innervated by alpha sympathetic nerves (T10-L2) are responsible for closure and opening the urethra. Urinary continence depends on the presence of an intact and strong IUS and of an acquired behavior, gained by learning and training in early childhood, how to maintain a high alpha sympathetic tone at the IUS keeping it closed until there is a need. Normal vagina is a cylinder of collageno-elastic-muscular tissues. Its strong collagen sheet is responsible for keeping it in its normal upward position. Labors cause redundancy and weakness of the vaginal walls with subsequent prolapse and lacerations of the IUS which is intimately overlying the anterior vaginal wall resulting in stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Objectives. To image by 3D-US and MRI the IUS and the vagina; and to examine their histopathology. Methods. Histopathology as well as 3D-US and MR imaging are done. Results. Images show the IUS as a compact tissue cylinder that extends from the bladder neck to the urogenital diaphragm in continent women; IUS is torn in women with SUI. Conclusion. The anterior vaginal wall and the IUS are torn in patients with SUI and with vaginal prolapse. They are intact in continent women.Uvod. Unutrašnji uretralni sfinkter (IUS) je cilindričnog oblika, proteže se od vrata mokraćnog mjegura do urogenitalne dijafragme. Sastoji se od čvrstog kolagenog sloja s mišićnim vlaknima koja su izmiješana s kolagenom u sredini debljine cilindra. Jaki kolageni sloj daje IUS-u snažnu napetost stijenke potrebnu da stvori visoki intrauretralni tlak. Mišićna vlakna, inervirana alfa simpatičnim živcima (Th10-L2) su odgovorna za zatvaranje i otvaranje uretre. Kontinencija mokraće ovisi o postojanju intaktnog i jakog IUS-a te o stečenom ponašanju, učeći i vježbajući u ranom djetinjstvu kako održati visoki alfa simpatički tonus IUS-a, držeći ga zatvorenim dok je potrebno. Normalna vagina je cilindrična cijev kolageno-elastično-mišićnog tkiva. Njen jaki kolageni sloj je odgovoran za njen uspravni položaj. Porod uzrokuje suvišak i slabost vaginalne stijenke s posljedičnim prolapsom i laceracijom IUS-a, koji intimno prileži prednjoj vaginalnoj stijenci, što rezultira stresnom mokraćnom inkontinencijom (SUI). Cilj istraživanja. Prikazati trodimenzionalnim ultrazvukom (3D-UZ) i magnetskom rezonancijom (MR) te histopatološkim pregledom intrauretralni sfinkter i vaginu. Metode. Histopatološka tehnika te 3D-UZ i MR prikazi. Rezultati. Prikazi pokazuju IUS kao kompaktni tkivni cilindar koji se proteže od vrata mokraćnog mjehura do urogenitalne dijafragme u kontinentnih žena; IUS je oštećen u žena sa SUI. Zaključak. Prednja vaginalna stijenka i IUS bivaju oštećeni (prsnuti) u pacijentica sa SUI i s vaginalnim prolapsom. Oni su intaktni u kontinentnih žena

Management of Extremity Venous Thrombosis in Neonates and Infants: An Experience From a Resource Challenged Setting

We aimed to evaluate the outcome of different treatment modalities for extremity venous thrombosis (VT) in neonates and infants, highlighting the current debate on their best tool of management. This retrospective study took place over a 9-year period from January 2009 to December 2017. All treated patients were referred to the vascular and pediatric surgery departments from the neonatal intensive care unit. All patients underwent a thorough history-taking as well as general clinical and local examination of the affected limb. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group I included those who underwent a conservative treated with the sole administration of unfractionated heparin (UFH), whereas group II included those who were treated with UFH plus warfarin. Sixty-three patients were included in this study. They were 36 males and 27 females. Their age ranged from 3 to 302 days. Forty-one (65%) patients had VT in the upper limb, whereas the remaining 22 (35%) had lower extremity VT. The success rate of the nonsurgical treatment was accomplished in 81% of patients. The remaining 19% underwent limb severing, due to established gangrene. The Kaplan-Meier survival method revealed a highly significant increase in both mean and median survival times in those groups treated with heparin and warfarin compared to heparin-only group (P < .001). Nonoperative treatment with anticoagulation or observation (ie, wait-and-see policy) alone may be an easily applicable, effective, and a safe modality for management of VT in neonates and infants, especially in developing countries with poor or highly challenged resource settings

Hepatobiliary manifestations following two-stages elective laparoscopic restorative proctocolectomy for patients with ulcerative colitis: A prospective observational study

BACKGROUNDHepatobiliary manifestations occur in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. The effect of laparoscopic restorative proctocolectomy (LRP) with ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) on hepatobiliary manifestations is debated.AIMTo evaluate hepatobiliary changes after two-stages elective laparoscopic restorative proctocolectomy for patients with UC.METHODSBetween June 2013 and June 2018, 167 patients with hepatobiliary symptoms underwent two-stage elective LRP for UC in a prospective observational study. Patients with UC and having at least one hepatobiliary manifestation who underwent LRP with IPAA were included in the study. The patients were followed up for four years to assess the outcomes of hepatobiliary manifestations.RESULTSThe patients' mean age was 36 +/- 8 years, and males predominated (67.1%). The most common hepatobiliary diagnostic method was liver biopsy (85.6%), followed by Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (63.5%), Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (62.5%), abdominal ultrasonography (35.9%), and Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (6%). The most common hepatobiliary symptom was Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) (62.3%), followed by fatty liver (16.8%) and gallbladder stone (10.2%). 66.4% of patients showed a stable course after surgery. Progressive or regressive courses occurred in 16.8% of each. Mortality was 6%, and recurrence or progression of symptoms required surgery for 15%. Most PSC patients (87.5%) had a stable course, and only 12.5% became worse. Two-thirds (64.3%) of fatty liver patients showed a regressive course, while one-third (35.7%) showed a stable course. Survival rates were 98.8%, 97%, 95.8%, and 94% at 12 mo, 24 mo, 36 mo, and at the end of the follow-up.CONCLUSIONIn patients with UC who had LRP, there is a positive impact on hepatobiliary disease. It caused an improvement in PSC and fatty liver disease. The most prevalent unchanged course was PSC, while the most common improvement was fatty liver disease

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London