Voice Conversion Using K-Histograms and Residual Averaging

The main goal of a voice conversion system is to modify the voice of a source speaker, in order to be perceived as if it had been uttered by another specific speaker.   Many approaches found in the literature convert only the features related to the vocal tract of the speaker. Our proposal is to convert those characteristics of the vocal tract, and also to process the signal passing through the vocal chords. Thus, the goal of this work is to obtain better scores in the voice conversion results.Fil: Uriz, Alejandro José. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingenieria. Departamento de Electronica. Laboratorio de Comunicaciones; ArgentinaFil: Pablo D. Agüero. Consejo Nacional de Invest.cientif.y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnol.conicet - Mar del Plata;Fil: Castiñeira Moreira; Jorge. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingenieria. Departamento de Electronica. Laboratorio de Comunicaciones;Fil: Tulli, J. C.. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingenieria. Departamento de Electronica. Laboratorio de Comunicaciones; ArgentinaFil: González, Esteban Lucio. Consejo Nacional de Invest.cientif.y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnol.conicet - Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Bonafonte, A.. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingenieria. Departamento de Electronica. Laboratorio de Comunicaciones; Argentin

An Encryption and Error-Control Coding scheme based on Non binary LDPC codes

In this paper we present a combined error-control coding and encryption scheme that provides to a given system with both high levels of reliability of the transmission and security. These two aims are usually present in wireless data transmission systems. The scheme is based on efficient Non Binary Low Density Parity Check codes which were selected for this design because they outer perform their binary counterparts. By means of a set of operations over the parity check matrix of the code, encryption capabilities are added to the scheme, without producing any degradation in the corresponding Bit Error Rate performance, as usually happens when encryption and error control coding are applied separately.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativ

Two Stage Decoding of the Nordstrom-Robinson Code Based On The Twisted Squaring Construction

A two stage decoding scheme for use with the Nordstrom Robinson code is proposed which partitions the code into a number of subsets. The subset containing the codeword can be found using a simple Reed Muller decoder. Soft decision decoding can be performed at both stages with near maximum likelihood performance but decoding complexity of about one third of that of a full decoding. The performance of the decoder is also compared to that the 15,7,5 BCH and is found to be comparable but with approximately half the capacity

Signal Set for Ring-BCM

A new signal set is constructed using 4QAM and Walsh-Hadamard functions and is applied in ring-block coded modulation (ring-BCM) schemes. These 4QAM (M/2)-dimensional signal set ring-BCM schemes show better performance than equivalent MPSK ring-BCM schemes. Asymptotic coding gains of 7 to 8 dB are obtained, in comparison to uncoded BPSK

Trellis-hopping Turbo Coding

We present a turbo coding scheme whose constituent codes are designed using convolutional encoders with time-varying coefficients. These encoders are finite state sequence machines that operate over the Galois field GF(q). The scheme includes an encryption polynomial whose coefficients are changed periodically by means of a user key. The trellis coding procedure thus hops from one trellis to another, following a random sequence taken over a set of subtrellises which correspond to different convolutional encoders. The proposed scheme is introduced as a turbo code with encryption properties, and is presented in two forms, the systematic and the nonsystematic schemes

Vitality and detoxification ability of yeasts in naturally As-rich musts

Considering the carcinogenic risk to human health, it is necessary to carry out research into arsenic (As) content in agro-food products and the impact of food processing on the final content. Yeast fermentation may represent a strategy for detoxifying some widespread beverages such as wine, beer and rice wine. A preliminary study of some commercial yeast species showed different viability responses to the presence of As. Yeasts had a noteworthy detoxification capability during fermentation, reducing the initial As content by about 75 % on average (minimum–maximum: 45–92 %), making it possible to produce wines with a considerably reduced content as compared to the corresponding grape juices from naturally As-rich soils. Nevertheless, significant differences between strains were observed in relation to resistance to arsenic toxicity and As removal capability. The choice of yeast strain can determine a difference of 40 % on the As content remaining in the wine after fermentation. Arsenic content of up to 1000 µg/L did not significantly worsen the fermentation of some wine yeasts, suggesting that the use of specific yeasts may represent an effective tool for reducing As in fermented beverage