Glottal Source Cepstrum Coefficients Applied to NIST SRE 2010

Through the present paper, a novel feature set for speaker recognition based on glottal estimate information is presented. An iterative algorithm is used to derive the vocal tract and glottal source estimations from speech signal. In order to test the importance of glottal source information in speaker characterization, the novel feature set has been tested in the 2010 NIST Speaker Recognition Evaluation (NIST SRE10). The proposed system uses glottal estimate parameter templates and classical cepstral information to build a model for each speaker involved in the recognition process. ALIZE [1] open-source software has been used to create the GMM models for both background and target speakers. Compared to using mel-frequency cepstrum coefficients (MFCC), the misclassification rate for the NIST SRE 2010 reduced from 29.43% to 27.15% when glottal source features are use

Estudio sobre la satisfacción de los usuarios de una biblioteca hospitalaria

To know the opinion of the users of the Hospital Puerta de Hierro Library with regard to services offered. Development: Observational, cross-sectional study performed in 2002, with a 28 questions questionnaire: 5 closed queries, 3 open queries and 20 general questions, following Likert scale with a scoring from 1 (very poor) to 6 (very satisfactory). 106 questionnaires were collected. Professionalism and staff good manners are the more valued by the library users. The worst are the dimensions of the reading room scarce collection of journals and books on specialities and furniture. Physicians and other medical staff are the less satisfied professionals Conclusions: Library users have expressed a medium-high degree of satisfaction in regard to facilities while they expressed a low degree of satisfaction in regard to infrastructure, furniture and dimensions of the reading room. [ESCUDERO GÓMEZ, C. 2007. [Satisfaction of users in a University Hospital Library]. Revista General de información y documentació

Genome-Wide Analysis of microRNA Expression Profile in Roots and Leaves of Three Wheat Cultivars under Water and Drought Conditions

The following are available online at https://www.mdpi.com/article/ 10.3390/biom13030440/s1. Figure S1: Fraction of different RNA species. Figure S2: Read length distribution of all genome mapped reads (a) from total reads (redundant reads) and (b) from unique reads (non-redundant reads. Figure S3: Library normalized RPM values distribution per sample of novel miRNAs. Figure S4: qRT-PCR analysis of the expression of novel miRNA Tae-mir-novel54-5p and known miRNA Tae-miR827c in 10 samples. Figure S5: Network analysis of (a) target genes by drought downregulated miRNAs and (b) drought upregulated miRNAs in leaves. Table S1: Quality and read mapping report. Table S2: Fraction of different RNA species. Table S3: Read length distribution of all genome mapped reads from total reads (redundant reads). Table S4: Read length distribution of all genome mapped reads from unique reads (non-redundant reads. Table S5: All miRNAs expression matrix. Table S6: Expression matrix of all the miRNAs in the SRA datasets. Table S7: miRNA expression matrix of all miRNAs in the Zea mays SRA datasets. Table S8: Degradome based target-gene predicted interactions. Table S9: qRT-PCR assay information. Table S10: Enrichment of functional annotations in miRNA target genes. Table S11: Mature and hairpin sequences of predicted miRNAs. Table S12: Degradome miRNA-target interaction predictions using CleaveLand4.Wheat is one of the most important food sources on Earth. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in wheat productivity. To identify wheat miRNAs as well as their expression profiles under drought condition, we constructed and sequenced small RNA (sRNA) libraries from the leaves and roots of three wheat cultivars (Kukri, RAC875 and Excalibur) under water and drought conditions. A total of 636 known miRNAs and 294 novel miRNAs were identified, of which 34 miRNAs were tissue- or cultivar-specific. Among these, 314 were significantly regulated under drought conditions. miRNAs that were drought-regulated in all cultivars displayed notably higher expression than those that responded in a cultivar-specific manner. Cultivar-specific drought response miRNAs were mainly detected in roots and showed significantly different drought regulations between cultivars. By using wheat degradome library, 6619 target genes were identified. Many target genes were strongly enriched for protein domains, such as MEKHLA, that play roles in drought response. Targeting analysis showed that drought-downregulated miRNAs targeted more genes than drought- upregulated miRNAs. Furthermore, such genes had more important functions. Additionally, the genes targeted by drought-downregulated miRNAs had multiple interactions with each other, while the genes targeted by drought-upregulated miRNAs had no interactions. Our data provide valuable information on wheat miRNA expression profiles and potential functions in different tissues, cultivars and drought conditions

El estímulo de los textos en vivo: Dramatización y recitado en el aula

En el presente trabajo se muestra la labor de los dos roles ejercidos durante el Máster de profesorado, como estudiante y como docente de prácticas. En él se recoge una relación de las asignaturas cursadas, la Unidad Didáctica impartida en el aula (Theatrum mundi, un recorrido por la historia del teatro), el proyecto de investigación e innovación (un acercamiento a autores clásicos a través de canciones de rap) y por último conclusiones y propuestas de futuro

Bio-inspired broad-class phonetic labelling

Recent studies have shown that the correct labeling of phonetic classes may help current Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) when combined with classical parsing automata based on Hidden Markov Models (HMM).Through the present paper a method for Phonetic Class Labeling (PCL) based on bio-inspired speech processing is described. The methodology is based in the automatic detection of formants and formant trajectories after a careful separation of the vocal and glottal components of speech and in the operation of CF (Characteristic Frequency) neurons in the cochlear nucleus and cortical complex of the human auditory apparatus. Examples of phonetic class labeling are given and the applicability of the method to Speech Processing is discussed

Sensitization profiles to purified plant food allergens among pediatric patients with allergy to banana.

Banana fruit allergy is well known, but neither immunoglobulin E recognition patterns to purified plant food allergens nor true prevalences of putative banana allergens have been established. This study aimed to characterize β-1,3-glucanase and thaumatin-like protein (TLP) as banana allergens, testing them, together with other plant food allergens, in 51 children with allergic reactions after banana ingestion and both positive specific IgE and skin prick test (SPT) to banana. Banana β-1,3-glucanase and TLP were isolated and characterized. Both banana allergens, together with kiwifruit TLP Act d 2, avocado class I chitinase Pers a 1, palm pollen profilin Pho d 2 and peach fruit lipid transfer protein (LTP) Pru p 3, were tested by in vitro and in vivo assays. Banana β-1,3-glucanase (Mus a 5) was glycosylated, whereas banana TLP (Mus a 4) was not, in contrast with its homologous kiwi allergen Act d 2. Specific IgE to both banana allergens, as well as to peach Pru p 3, was found in over 70% of sera from banana-allergic children, and Mus a 4 and Pru p 3 provoked positive SPT responses in 6 of the 12 tested patients, whereas Mus a 5 in only one of them. Both peptidic epitopes and cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants were involved in the IgE-binding to Mus a 5, whereas cross-reactivity between Mus a 4 and Act d 2 was only based on common IgE protein epitopes. Profilin Pho d 2 elicited a relevant proportion of positive responses on in vitro (41%) and in vivo (58%) tests. Therefore, Mus a 4 and LTP behave as major banana allergens in the study population, and profilin seems to be also a relevant allergen. Mus a 5 is an equivocal allergenic protein, showing high IgE-binding to its attached complex glycan, and low in vivo potency

Reprint of: The dark side of the moon : global challenges in the distribution of vaccines and implementation of vaccination plans against COVID-19

Simultáneamente con el inicio de la pandemia, la búsqueda de vacunas efectivas comenzó y se desarrolló con gran éxito, y las campañas de vacunación masiva comenzaron a fines de 2020. En el primer trimestre de 2021, países como Israel, el Reino Unido y los Estados Unidos avanzaron a gran ritmo en los programas de vacunación, mientras que otros países, principalmente en el hemisferio sur, recién comenzaban. A principios de abril, 30 países no habían recibido una sola dosis y solo el 0,57 % de la población africana estaba vacunada [1]. El retraso en la introducción de nuevas estrategias de inmunización entre países no es nuevo. Por ejemplo, en 2016, solo el 14 % de los países de ingresos bajos y medios (PIMB) habían introducido la vacuna contra el VPH en sus planes nacionales de inmunización, mientras que el 55 % de los países de ingresos altos (PIA) ya lo habían hecho [2]. De hecho, algunas vacunas se introdujeron en los LMIC años más tarde que en los HIC [3] . A pesar de los desafíos que plantea el impacto desigual y la larga duración de la pandemia, la introducción de una vacuna para la prevención de la COVID-19 ha despertado sentimientos de esperanza en la población mundial. En este contexto, nació el acuerdo Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) como una iniciativa para asegurar la distribución global equitativa de vacunas [4] . Pero aún con este mecanismo, existen múltiples riesgos por la administración desigual de las vacunas, por lo que el mayor desafío ahora será cerrar las brechas y mitigar las inequidades en el acceso a la salud que se han presentado [ 3 , 5 , 6 ].Q1Concomitantly with the start of the pandemic, the pursuit of effective vaccines began and developed with great success, and mass vaccination campaigns commenced by the end of 2020. The first quarter of 2021 saw countries such as Israel, the United Kingdom and the United States advancing at great pace in the vaccination programs, while other countries, mainly in the southern hemisphere, were just starting. By the beginning of April, 30 countries had not received a single dose and only 0.57% of the African population was vaccinated [1]. The lag in the introduction of new immunization strategies between countries is not new. For example, in 2016, only 14% of the low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) had introduced the HPV vaccine in their national immunization plans, while 55% of high-income countries (HICs) had done so already [2]. Indeed, some vaccines have been introduced in LMICs years later than in HICs [3]. Despite the challenges posed by the unequal impact and the long duration of the pandemic, the introduction of a vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 has awakened feelings of hope in the global population. In this context, the Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) agreement was born as an initiative to ensure equitable global distribution of vaccines [4]. But even with this mechanism, there are multiple risks for unequal administration of the vaccines, so the greatest challenge now will be closing the gaps and mitigating the inequities in access to healthcare that have arisen [3,5,6].Revista Internacional - Indexad

Glottal-Source Spectral Biometry for Voice Characterization

The biometric signature derived from the estimation of the power spectral density singularities of a speaker’s glottal source is described in the present work. This consists in the collection of peak-trough profiles found in the spectral density, as related to the biomechanics of the vocal folds. Samples of parameter estimations from a set of 100 normophonic (pathology-free) speakers are produced. Mapping the set of speaker’s samples to a manifold defined by Principal Component Analysis and clustering them by k-means in terms of the most relevant principal components shows the separation of speakers by gender. This means that the proposed signature conveys relevant speaker’s metainformation, which may be useful in security and forensic applications for which contextual side information is considered relevant

Bio-inspired Dynamic Formant Tracking for Phonetic Labelling

It is a known fact that phonetic labeling may be relevant in helping current Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) when combined with classical parsing systems as HMM's by reducing the search space. Through the present paper a method for Phonetic Broad-Class Labeling (PCL) based on speech perception in the high auditory centers is described. The methodology is based in the operation of CF (Characteristic Frequency) and FM (Frequency Modulation) neurons in the cochlear nucleus and cortical complex of the human auditory apparatus in the automatic detection of formants and formant dynamics on speech. Results obtained informant detection and dynamic formant tracking are given and the applicability of the method to Speech Processing is discussed