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

Fatal congenital Chagas' disease in a non-endemic area: a case report

The early diagnosis of congenital Chagas' disease is very important if infected newborns, whether symptomatic or not, are to receive adequate treatment. This paper describes the complications arising in the diagnosis of a newborn with fatal congenital Chagas' disease in Spain, a non-endemic area where visceral leishmaniasis is present

Promoting Circular Economy around Plastic Waste: A New Design of Recycled Plastic Shredder

The development and construction of the plastic shredder presented here is part of the MAREA Plastic project, which aims to be a meeting point between the university community and society, through science and technology. The project’s main goal consists in developing a circular economy environment that reduces both, the input of raw materials and the output of waste, closing the ecological and economic flows of resources. Thereby, this machine becomes essential for the continuation and proper development of such a research and social awareness project. The new version of the plastic shredder entails a solid design that meets the needs and requirements of the task assigned in its working environment, focusing on its design and manufacture from a sustainable point of view, reusing parts of the prototype itself, as well as other disused resources, mostly provided by the University of Malaga. This concept of sustainability even extends to its operation, controlling the consumption of the engine and paying special attention to durability, reliability and, above all, the safety of both, users and the shredder itself. Among other design priorities, the possibility to visualise and perfectly understand how and why the reused plastic passes through the shredder is one of the most important due to the educational purpose of the project towards a younger audience about circular economy. To achieve this, the machine should not only be able to show the process in an illustrative way, but also the interaction with the machine should be simple and fluid, without the need for previous knowledge or experience operating industrial machinery.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Comparison of the design and methodology of Phase 3 clinical trials of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (BIC/FTC/TAF) and dolutegravir-based dual therapy (DTG) in HIV: a systematic review of the literature

Introduction: Current recommended antiretroviral regimens include a combination of two (dual; DT) or three (triple; TT) antiretroviral drugs. This study aims to determine whether the quality of evidence from clinical trials of dolutegravir (dolutegravir/lamivudine [DTG/3TC] or dolutegravir/rilpivirine [DTG/RPV]) is methodologically comparable to that of clinical trials conducted with bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (BIC/FTC/TAF). Areas covered: A systematic review of the medical literature was carried out in PubMed without date or language restrictions, following the PRISMA guidelines. All aspects of the methodological design of phase 3 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of DT and TT, evaluated by the European Medicines Agency (registration trials), were reviewed. The quality of clinical trials was assessed using the Jadad scale. Expert opinion: The search identified 5, 3 and 2 phase 3 RCTs with BIC/FTC/TAF, DTG/3TC and DTG/RPV, respectively, that met the inclusion criteria. The designs would not be comparable due to differences in pre-randomization losses, blinding, patient recruitment, as well as differences in methodological quality, with the average score of the RCTs conducted with BIC/FTC/TAF, DTG/3TC and DTG/RPV being 4.2 (high quality), 3.0 (medium quality) and 3.0 (medium quality), respectively. Due to methodological differences between the BIC/FTC/TAF, DTG/3TC and DTG/RPV RCTs, the results of these are not comparable

Evaluating changes in the moisture sources for tropical cyclones precipitation in the North Atlantic that underwent extratropical transition

In this study, we investigated the changes in the origin of moisture for the precipitation associated with tropical cyclones (TCs) after extratropical transition (ET) over the North Atlantic Ocean basin from 1980 to 2018. We analyzed the 24 hr before and after the occurrence of ET events. By applying a TC-centric methodology we found that the moisture uptake (MU) occurred predominantly in the south and southwest sectors within ∼2,000 km of TC center before ET and from the southwest and west sectors after ET. In addition, the development of the cold front and the warm conveyor belt after ET induces changes in the moisture transport pattern. Overall, the secondary circulation of TCs favored the moisture flux inward for TCs precipitation, while the large-scale baroclinic environment controlled the MU after ET.Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481A‐2020/193Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C 2021/44Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. PID2021‐122314OB‐I0

Climatological variations of moisture sources for precipitation of North Atlantic tropical cyclones linked to their tracks

Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade de Vigo/CISUGThe tropical cyclones (TCs) trajectories are mainly controlled by the large-scale parameters related with the steering flow. We used the HURDAT2 database from 1980 to 2018 for grouping the tracks of TCs formed in the North Atlantic (NATL) main development region into straight moving (SM), recurving landfall (RCL) and recurving ocean (RCO). Based on this classification, we investigated the changes in the moisture sources' contributions to the precipitation along the TCs trajectories for each track category by applying a Lagrangian moisture source diagnostic method to the air parcels pathways from the FLEXPART model. The highest moisture contribution occurred within 3-5° from the average TCs trajectories. The moisture supplied from the Gulf of Mexico represented 19.1% of humidity gained by SM but was negligible for recurving TCs. Likewise, the Caribbean Sea contributed 31.8% for SM, and its humidity support notably decreased for recurving storms to 0.9–8.3%. In addition, the moisture uptake from the tropical NATL was similar for all track types. The western NATL increased the moisture supply from 15.3% for SM to 31.1% for RCO and 42.6% for RCL, while the eastern subtropical NATL provided 3.1% of moisture to SM, 12.5% to RCL and 45.4% to RCO. It was also notable the moisture support from the terrestrial source southeastern United States (5.3%) for RCL tracks. Furthermore, we found that El Niño–Southern Oscillation, the North Atlantic Oscillation, the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation and the Atlantic Meridional Mode influence the moisture contributions variability from sources for each track typeXunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481A2020/193Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades | Ref. PID2021-122314OB-I00Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C 2021/44Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481A2022/12

The rare case of Hurricane Catarina (2004) over the South Atlantic Ocean: The origin of its precipitation through a Lagrangian approach

Tropical cyclones (TCs) are extremely rare over the South Atlantic Ocean (SATL) due to predominantly unfavourable conditions, that is, cool sea-surface temperature and strong vertical wind shear. Nevertheless, unusual conditions over SATL associated with a blocking system promoted the formation of Hurricane Catarina from an extratropical precursor in late March 2004, which produced heavy rainfall over the states of Santa Catarina and the Rio Grande do Sul in south Brazil. This work identifies the moisture sources for the precipitation produced by Catarina along its 6-hourly trajectory, through a Lagrangian moisture-tracking method. We extracted the pathways of precipitating air parcels within the cyclone’s outer radius from the global outputs of the FLEXPART model forced with the ERA-Interim reanalysis. Our findings revealed the terrestrial source in south-southeastern Brazil (SEB) and the oceanic source limited by the box between 20-40◦S and 30–50◦W over SATL (WSATL) as the principal moisture sources, with the overall support of ∼27% and ∼66%, respectively. However, their contribution varied according to the development phase of Catarina. While the moisture uptake from SEB decreased from ∼75% during the extratropical phase to ∼8% during the hybrid stage, the moisture contribution from WSATL notable increased from ∼20% to 87%, respectively. Likewise, the contributions from SEB and WSATL during the tropical phase of the cyclone accounted for ∼13% and ∼85%, respectively. The tracked air parcels achieved the high water content in a short period before the precipitation, leading to a reduction of the mean water vapour residence time to ∼3.1 days. Additionally, the precipitating moisture uptake along the Catarina trajectory was noticeably higher than the climatological value.Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481A2020/193Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481A2022/128Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C 2021/44Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades | Ref. PID2021‐122314OB‐I00Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. JPIOCEANS/0001/201

Influence of the electric field on the latent heat of the ferroelectric phase transition in KDP

The specific heat, heat flux (DTA trace) and dielectric constant of KDP ferroelectric crystal have been measured simultaneously for various electric fields with a conduction calorimeter. The specific heat presents a strong anomaly but these simultaneous measurements allow us to evaluate the latent heat accurately. Latent heat decreases with field and the value of critical electric field --that where latent heat disappears-- is estimated to be (0.44\pm0.03) kV/cm. Incidentally, we have measured simultaneously the dielectric permittivity which suggests that latent heat is developed as domains are growing.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures, ReVTeX, twocolumn format, to appear in J. Phys. Cond. Matte

How much of precipitation over the Euroregion Galicia - Northern Portugal is due to tropical-origin cyclones?: A Lagrangian approach

Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C 2021/44Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. PID2021-122314OB-I00Universidade de Vigo/CISU