Robust Speech Features based on synchrony spectrum determination using PLLs

In this work we propose to include synchrony effects, known to exist in the auditory system, to represent speech signal information in a robust way. The system decomposes the signal in a number of simpler signals, and utilizes a bank of Phase Locked Loops (PLLs) to obtain information of the frequencies present at each time. This information is interpolated in order to obtain a spectral-like representation based in synchrony effects, measured by the PLLs. Noisy speech recognition experiments are performed using this synchrony-based spectrum, which is transformed into a small set of coefficients by using a similar transformation as the one utilized for the Mel cepstrum features. We show their recognition performance compared to Mel cepstrum features obtained from the standard power spectrum. Some recognition improvements are obtained for the case of vocalic sounds for this approach, especially in the case of severe noise conditions.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativ

Sistema de reconocimiento de habla en español con adaptación al discurso

Este trabajo presenta un sistema de reconocimiento automático de habla en idioma español de alto desempeño diseñado para cumplir con dos objetivos. En primer lugar, lograr tasas de reconocimiento que sean comparables a los sistemas que son estado del arte en su tipo. En segundo lugar, evaluar el desempeño de un nuevo método de estimación de modelos de lenguaje propuesto en un trabajo anterior por nuestro grupo. Los resultados muestran un porcentaje de reconocimiento cercano al 90% para un vocabulario de 5000 palabras, lo cual es del mismo orden que otros resultados reportados para sistemas de similares características pero en idioma inglés. También se verificó que el modelo de lenguaje basado en el estimador propuesto por nosotros mejora significativamente el desempeño del sistema comparado con otros dos modelos de lenguaje implementados con los mejores algoritmos conocidos.Eje: Workshop Agentes y sistemas inteligentes (WASI)Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Electrically evoked compound action potentials are different depending on the site of cochlear stimulation.

One of the many parameters that can affect cochlear implant (CI) users' performance is the site of presentation of electrical stimulation, from the CI, to the auditory nerve. Evoked compound action potential (ECAP) measurements are commonly used to verify nerve function by stimulating one electrode contact in the cochlea and recording the resulting action potentials on the other contacts of the electrode array. The present study aimed to determine if the ECAP amplitude differs between the apical, middle, and basal region of the cochlea, if double peak potentials were more likely in the apex than the basal region of the cochlea, and if there were differences in the ECAP threshold and recovery function across the cochlea. ECAP measurements were performed in the apical, middle, and basal region of the cochlea at fixed sites of stimulation with varying recording electrodes. One hundred and forty one adult subjects with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss fitted with a Standard or FLEX(SOFT) electrode were included in this study. ECAP responses were captured using MAESTRO System Software (MED-EL). The ECAP amplitude, threshold, and slope were determined using amplitude growth sequences. The 50% recovery rate was assessed using independent single sequences that have two stimulation pulses (a masker and a probe pulse) separated by a variable inter-pulse interval. For all recordings, ECAP peaks were annotated semi-automatically. ECAP amplitudes were greater upon stimulation of the apical region compared to the basal region of the cochlea. ECAP slopes were steeper in the apical region compared to the basal region of the cochlea and ECAP thresholds were lower in the middle region compared to the basal region of the cochlea. The incidence of double peaks was greater upon stimulation of the apical region compared to the basal region of the cochlea. This data indicates that the site and intensity of cochlear stimulation affect ECAP properties

Electrically evoked compound action potentials are different depending on the site of cochlear stimulation

One of the many parameters that can affect cochlear implant (CI) users' performance is the site of presentation of electrical stimulation, from the CI, to the auditory nerve. Evoked compound action potential (ECAP) measurements are commonly used to verify nerve function by stimulating one electrode contact in the cochlea and recording the resulting action potentials on the other contacts of the electrode array. The present study aimed to determine if the ECAP amplitude differs between the apical, middle, and basal region of the cochlea, if double peak potentials were more likely in the apex than the basal region of the cochlea, and if there were differences in the ECAP threshold and recovery function across the cochlea. ECAP measurements were performed in the apical, middle, and basal region of the cochlea at fixed sites of stimulation with varying recording electrodes. One hundred and forty one adult subjects with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss fitted with a Standard or FLEX(SOFT) electrode were included in this study. ECAP responses were captured using MAESTRO System Software (MED-EL). The ECAP amplitude, threshold, and slope were determined using amplitude growth sequences. The 50% recovery rate was assessed using independent single sequences that have two stimulation pulses (a masker and a probe pulse) separated by a variable inter-pulse interval. For all recordings, ECAP peaks were annotated semi-automatically. ECAP amplitudes were greater upon stimulation of the apical region compared to the basal region of the cochlea. ECAP slopes were steeper in the apical region compared to the basal region of the cochlea and ECAP thresholds were lower in the middle region compared to the basal region of the cochlea. The incidence of double peaks was greater upon stimulation of the apical region compared to the basal region of the cochlea. This data indicates that the site and intensity of cochlear stimulation affect ECAP properties

Responsible scientific research at Inserm: a field study

In France, Inserm (National Institute of Health And Medical Research) puts considerable effort into scientific integrity and quality management since more than 10 yr. Quality managers are present in about one hundred of the three hundred Inserm Units (the “Unit” at Inserm is an individualized research laboratory, with a head which is nominated by the President of Inserm and a defined life span. Usually, Units are the result of partnerships of Inserm with universities, university hospitals and other research organizations). When Quality management audits are performed, various dysfunctions are noted. Some of these are related to scientific integrity and Questionable Research Practice. Since an increasing number of Inserm Units disposes of Quality management systems according to the ISO 9001 standard, Inserm promotes since several years ISO 9001 management concepts and tools to improve scientific integrity. “Scientific integrity” as used in the missions of the (American) Office of Research Integrity (ORI, https://ori.hhs.gov/policies-ori-missio

Pasture v. standard dairy cream in high-fat diet-fed mice: improved metabolic outcomes and stronger intestinal barrier

International audienc

Empagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Background The effects of empagliflozin in patients with chronic kidney disease who are at risk for disease progression are not well understood. The EMPA-KIDNEY trial was designed to assess the effects of treatment with empagliflozin in a broad range of such patients. Methods We enrolled patients with chronic kidney disease who had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of at least 20 but less than 45 ml per minute per 1.73 m(2) of body-surface area, or who had an eGFR of at least 45 but less than 90 ml per minute per 1.73 m(2) with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (with albumin measured in milligrams and creatinine measured in grams) of at least 200. Patients were randomly assigned to receive empagliflozin (10 mg once daily) or matching placebo. The primary outcome was a composite of progression of kidney disease (defined as end-stage kidney disease, a sustained decrease in eGFR to < 10 ml per minute per 1.73 m(2), a sustained decrease in eGFR of & GE;40% from baseline, or death from renal causes) or death from cardiovascular causes. Results A total of 6609 patients underwent randomization. During a median of 2.0 years of follow-up, progression of kidney disease or death from cardiovascular causes occurred in 432 of 3304 patients (13.1%) in the empagliflozin group and in 558 of 3305 patients (16.9%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.64 to 0.82; P < 0.001). Results were consistent among patients with or without diabetes and across subgroups defined according to eGFR ranges. The rate of hospitalization from any cause was lower in the empagliflozin group than in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.78 to 0.95; P=0.003), but there were no significant between-group differences with respect to the composite outcome of hospitalization for heart failure or death from cardiovascular causes (which occurred in 4.0% in the empagliflozin group and 4.6% in the placebo group) or death from any cause (in 4.5% and 5.1%, respectively). The rates of serious adverse events were similar in the two groups. Conclusions Among a wide range of patients with chronic kidney disease who were at risk for disease progression, empagliflozin therapy led to a lower risk of progression of kidney disease or death from cardiovascular causes than placebo