Modeling spectral changes in singing voice for pitch modification

We present an advanced method to achieve natural modifications when applying a pitch shifting process to singing voice by modifying the spectral envelope of the audio ex- cerpt. To this end, an all-pole spectral envelope model has been selected to describe the global variations of the spectral envelope with the changes of the pitch. We performed a pitch shifting process of some sustained vowels with the envelope processing and without it, and compared both by means of a survey open to volunteers in our website.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. This work has been funded by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of the Spanish Government under Project No. TIN2013-47276-C6-2-R and by the Junta de Andalucía under Project No. P11-TIC-7154

Detection Of Fracture Orientation Using Azimuthal Variation Of P-Wave Avo Responses

Azimuthally-dependent P-wave AVO (amplitude variation with offset) responses can be related to open fracture orientation and have been suggested as a geophysical tool to identify fracture orientation in fractured oil and gas reservoirs. A field experiment recently conducted over a fractured reservoir in the Barinas Basin (Venezuela) provides data for an excellent test of this approach. Three lines of data were collected in three different azimuths, and three component receivers were used. The distribution of fractures in this reservoir was previously obtained using measurements of shear wave splitting from P-S converted waves from the same dataset (Ata and Michelena, 1995). In this work, we use P-wave data to see if the data can yield the same information using azimuthal variation of P-wave AVO responses. Results obtained from the azimuthal P-wave AVO analysis corroborate the results previously obtained using P-S converted waves. This analysis with field data is an example of the high potential of P-waves to detect fracture effects on seismic wave propagation.Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Earth Resources Laboratory. Reservoir Delineation Consortiu

Genome-wide analyses of cassava Pathogenesis-related (PR) gene families reveal core transcriptome responses to whitefly infestation, salicylic acid and jasmonic acid.

BACKGROUND:Whiteflies are a threat to cassava (Manihot esculenta), an important staple food in many tropical/subtropical regions. Understanding the molecular mechanisms regulating cassava's responses against this pest is crucial for developing control strategies. Pathogenesis-related (PR) protein families are an integral part of plant immunity. With the availability of whole genome sequences, the annotation and expression programs of the full complement of PR genes in an organism can now be achieved. An understanding of the responses of the entire complement of PR genes during biotic stress and to the defense hormones, salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA), is lacking. Here, we analyze the responses of cassava PR genes to whiteflies, SA, JA, and other biotic aggressors. RESULTS:The cassava genome possesses 14 of the 17 plant PR families, with a total of 447 PR genes. A cassava PR gene nomenclature is proposed. Phylogenetic relatedness of cassava PR proteins to each other and to homologs in poplar, rice and Arabidopsis identified cassava-specific PR gene family expansions. The temporal programs of PR gene expression in response to the whitefly (Aleurotrachelus socialis) in four whitefly-susceptible cassava genotypes showed that 167 of the 447 PR genes were regulated after whitefly infestation. While the timing of PR gene expression varied, over 37% of whitefly-regulated PR genes were downregulated in all four genotypes. Notably, whitefly-responsive PR genes were largely coordinately regulated by SA and JA. The analysis of cassava PR gene expression in response to five other biotic stresses revealed a strong positive correlation between whitefly and Xanthomonas axonopodis and Cassava Brown Streak Virus responses and negative correlations between whitefly and Cassava Mosaic Virus responses. Finally, certain associations between PR genes in cassava expansions and response to biotic stresses were observed among PR families. CONCLUSIONS:This study represents the first genome-wide characterization of PR genes in cassava. PR gene responses to six biotic stresses and to SA and JA are demonstrably different to other angiosperms. We propose that our approach could be applied in other species to fully understand PR gene regulation by pathogens, pests and the canonical defense hormones SA and JA

On the product of two π-decomposable groups

[EN] The aim of this paper is to prove the following result: let π be a set of odd primes. If the finite group G = AB is a product of two π-decomposable subgroups A = Oπ(A)×Oπ (A) and B = Oπ(B)×Oπ (B), then Oπ(A)Oπ(B)=Oπ(B)Oπ(A) and this is a Hall π-subgroup of G.The second and third authors were supported by Proyecto MTM2010-19938-C03-02, Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad, Spain. The first author would like to thank the Universitat de Valencia and the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia for their warm hospitality during the preparation of this paper and the RFBR Project 13-01-00469 for its support. The authors are also grateful to A. S. Kondratiev for helpful comments and suggestions during his visit to Valencia.Kazarin, LS.; Martínez Pastor, A.; Perez Ramos, MD. (2015). On the product of two π-decomposable groups. Revista Matemática Iberoamericana. 31(1):51-68. https://doi.org/10.4171/rmi/826S516831

Estudio faunístico del macizo de Quinto Real. I. Acaros Oribátidos (Acari, Oribatei)

Se han estudiado 3.995 ejemplares de ácaros oribátidos (Acari, Òribatei) de 65 muestras pertenecientes a dos hayedos de Quinto Real (Pirineos Occidentales), correspondientes a 69 especies de 43 géneros. Diez especies son nuevas para la Fauna de España Damaeus verticillipes (Nicolet) , Cepheus tuberoulosus Strenzke, Liaoarus tremella (Linneo), Cara bodes femoralis (Nicolet) , Carabodes retioulatus Berlese, Oppia translamellata~ (Willmann) , Oribella paolii Oudemans, Phauloppia luoorum (Linneo) , Bdwardzetes edwardsii (Nicolet) y Ophidiotrichus aonexus borussica (Sellnick) . Se dan las características climatológicas, geológicas, edafológicas y florísticas del biotopo

Regulatory Framework for Renewable Energy Sources in Ecuador Case Study Province of Manabi

The purpose of the research is to expose the nature that, in matters of law and social policy, justifies promoting the elaboration and adoption of a regulatory framework that favors the use of renewable energy sources, for the generation of electricity through case analysis in the Province of Manabí. For the accomplishment of the research study has taken into account a brief theoretical analysis on the fundamentals of the regulatory doctrine, where it exposes the conceptual framework of the law and its necessity for the good development of the social relations that derive from the use of the Renewable sources of energy. A study was carried out of the specific regulatory work carried out at the International level, in order to promote the adequate use of renewable energies, as well as a national study presenting an initial vision for the study and establishment of a specific regulatory framework for the case study of the province of Manabí, as well as a group of policies and support measures that could be adopted to promote the integrated use of renewable energy sources and their contribution to the national energy matrix

Characterization of Sex-Based Dna Methylation Signatures in the Airways During Early Life.

Human respiratory conditions are largely influenced by the individual\u27s sex resulting in overall higher risk for males. Sex-based respiratory differences are present at birth suggesting a strong genetic component. Our objective was to characterize early life sex-based genomic signatures determined by variable X-chromosome methylation in the airways. We compared male versus female genome-wide DNA methylation in nasal airway samples from newborns and infants aged 1-6 months (N = 12). We analyzed methylation signals across CpG sites mapped to each X-linked gene using an unsupervised classifier (principal components) followed by an internal evaluation and an exhaustive cross-validation. Results were validated in an independent population of children (N = 72) following the same algorithm. X-linked genes with significant sex-based differential methylation in the nasal airway of infants represented only about 50% of the unique protein coding transcripts. X-linked genes without significant sex-based differential methylation included genes with evidence of escaping X-inactivation and female-biased airway expression. These genes showed similar methylation patterns in males and females suggesting unbalanced X-chromosome dosage. In conclusion, we identified that the human airways have already sex-based DNA methylation signatures at birth. These early airway epigenomic marks may determine sex-based respiratory phenotypes and overall predisposition to develop respiratory disorders later in life

Demotivation and Academic Performance on First Year in University

This research is oriented in a theoretical debate on scientific studies related to demotivation and academic performance, where the main causes are evidenced that lead the student to school failure, in addition to a study on education as the real evolutionary mechanism used by the human species, and on academic performance as an indicator of it, emphasizing the causes that interfere in the teaching process learning highlighting as a main factor "the demotivation" of university students. The research work was based on a methodology of applied descriptive study and field, as the most relevant results were that the main causes of demotivation are: classroom climate not adequate, lack of concentration, absence of techniques that facilitate the study and others such as low self-esteem and preferences by teachers towards students, causes that are also mentioned by some authors in their studies, coinciding with the results of research conducted with teachers and students of the school of psychology. The objective of this research is focused on describing the causes and level of demotivation that interfere in the academic performance of students in the first years of university careers

Changes in whole body bone mineral composition in a community-based pilot study designed for Mexican-American women at risk for type II diabetes

Changes in whole body bone mineral composition in a community-based pilot study designed for Mexican-American women at risk for type II diabetes David C. Castillo, B.S., Maria G. Placeres, B.S., Arely Perez, M.S., Danielle M. Bravo, B.S., Donovan L. Fogt, Ph.D., Zenong Yin, Ph.D. Mobile Health Laboratory, Department of Health and Kinesiology The University of Texas at San Antonio Classification of First Author (Master’s) Background: Osteoporosis is a serious public health concern in the United States that is expected to increase over the next several years, especially in women. The US Surgeon General’s Report on Bone Health states that individuals can decrease the risk of developing osteoporosis with proper combinations of nutrition and physical activity. Diet and exercise are two important factors that have been shown to prevent or delay the onset of type II diabetes, another national top health concern. Intensive lifestyle interventions, such as The Diabetes Prevention Program have shown that type II diabetes can be delayed or prevented by losing moderate amounts of weight through dietary changes and increased physical activity. It is not clear if a lifestyle intervention can impact bone health. Purpose: This pilot study examined the effects of lifestyle intervention (dietary and physical activity behavior modification) on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC). The intervention was a 14-week community-based pilot study, based on The Diabetes Prevention Program, designed to reduce risk for type II diabetes in high-risk Mexican American women. The research questions were: Did the lifestyle intervention affect the outcome measures (BMC and BMD)? Were there differences in BMC and BMD between age groups (low-age ≤45 yrs. vs. high-age \u3e45 yrs.)? Were there differences in BMC and BMD between body weight groups (≤78 kg vs. \u3e78.1 kg)? Methods: The study used a one-group pre- and post-test design. Twenty-five non-diabetic Mexican-American females (average age = 45, SD = 10.9; BMI 25-40) participated in a 14-week lifestyle intervention pilot study. Changes in BMD (g/cm2) and BMC (g) were measured at baseline and 14 weeks after baseline using whole body dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Results: results of paired t-test showed a significant increase in whole body BMC (p\u3c .0001) and a marginally significant increase in whole body BMD (p\u3c .06). Results of Analysis of Covariance revealed no significant difference in BMC between age groups and a marginally significant increase of BMD (p\u3c .07) in younger participants compared to older participants, after controlling pretest measure. There was a significant increase in BMC (p\u3c .01) and a marginally significant increase in BMD (p\u3c .08) in the high-body weight group compared to the low weight group after controlling for pretest measure. Conclusions: A lifestyle intervention that utilized a combination of physical activity and dietary modification showed great promise toward preventing the onset of osteoporosis, especially in heavier Mexican-American women