Mandarin speech emotion recognition based on high dimensional geometry theory

In this paper, a novel approach for mandarin speech emotion recognition, that is mandarin speech emotion recognition based on high dimensional geometry theory, is proposed. The human emotions are classified into 6 archetypal classes: fear, anger, happiness, sadness, surprise and disgust. According to the characteristics of these emotional speech signals, the amplitude, pitch frequency and formant are used as the feature parameters for speech emotion recognition. The new method called high dimensional geometry theory is applied for recognition. Compared with traditional GSVM model, the new method has some advantages. It is noted that this method has significant values for researches and applications henceforth

Specifying Hardware Timing Characteristics with ET-LOTOS

Abstract. It is explained how DILL (Digital Logic in LOTOS) can be used to specify and analyse hardware timing characteristics using ET-LOTOS (Enhanced Timed LOTOS), a timed extension of the ISO standard formal language LOTOS (Language of Temporal Ordering Specification). Hardware component functionality and timing characteristics are rigorously specified and then validated. As will be seen, subtle timing problems can be found by using this approach

Formally-Based Design Evaluation

Abstract. This paper investigates specification, verification and test generation for synchronous and asynchronous circuits. The approach is called DILL (Digital Logic in LOTOS). DILL models are discussed for synchronous and asynchronous circuits. Relations for (strong) conformance are defined for verifying a design specification against a high-level specification. An algorithm is also outlined for generating and applying implementation tests based on a specification. Tools have been developed for automated test generation and verification of conformance between an implementation and its specification. The approach is illustrated with various benchmark circuits as case studies

Protocol-inspired hardware testing

Keywords: The relevance of protocol conformance testing techniques to hardware testing is discussed. It is shown that the ioconf (input-output conformance) approach used in protocol testing can be applied to generate tests for a synchronous hardware design using its formal specification. The generated tests are automatically applied to a circuit by a VHDL testbench, thus giving confidence that the hardware design meets its high-level formal specification. Case studies illustrate how the ideas can be applied to standard hardware verification benchmarks such as the Single Pulser and Black-Jack Dealer

A metabolomic study on the responses of daphnia magna exposed to silver nitrate and coated silver nanoparticles

We examined the short-term toxicity of AgNPs and AgNO3 to Daphnia magna at sublethal levels using H-1 NMR-based metabolomics. Two sizes of polyvinylpyrrolidone-coated AgNPs (10 and 40 nm) were synthesized and characterized and their Ag+ release was studied using centrifugal ultrafiltration and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Multivariate statistical analysis of the H-1 NMR spectra showed significant changes in the D. magna metabolic profiles following 48 h exposure to both AgNP particle sizes and Ag+ exposure. Most of the metabolic biomarkers for AgNP exposure, including 3-hydroxybutyrate, arginine, lysine and phosphocholine, were identical to those of the Ag+-exposed groups, suggesting that the dominant effects of both AgNPs were due to released Ag+. The observed metabolic changes implied that the released Ag+ induced disturbance in energy metabolism and oxidative stress, a proposed mechanism of AgNP toxicity. Elevated levels of lactate in all AgNP-treated but not in Ag+-treated groups provided evidence for Ag-NP enhanced anaerobic metabolism. These findings show that H-1 NMR-based metabolomics provides a sensitive measure of D. magna response to AgNPs and that further targeted assays are needed to elucidate mechanisms of action of nanoparticle-induced toxicity. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

An experimental study of deformation mechanism and microstructure evolution during hot deformation of Ti-6Al-2Zr-1Mo-1V alloy

Isothermal tensile tests have been performed to study the deformation mechanisms and microstructure evolution of Ti-6Al-2Zr-1Mo-1V titanium alloy in the temperature range 750-850 degrees C and strain rate range 0.001-0.1 s(-1). The deformation activations have been calculated based on kinetics rate equation to investigate the hot deformation mechanism. Microstructures of deformed samples have been analyzed by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) to evaluate the influences of hot deformation parameters on the microstructure evolution and recrystallization mechanism. The results indicate that deformation mechanisms vary with deformation conditions: at medium (800 degrees C) and high (850 degrees C) temperature, the deformation is mainly controlled by the mechanisms of dislocation creep and self-diffusion, respectively. The microstructure globularization mechanisms also depend on deformation temperature: in the temperature range from 750 to 800 degrees C, the high angle grain boundaries are mainly formed via dislocation accumulation or subgrain boundaries sliding and subgrains rotation; while at high temperature of 850 degrees C, recrystallization is the dominant mechanism. Especially, the evolution of the recrystallization mechanism with the deformation temperature is first observed and investigated in TA15 titanium alloy

Paper-based microfluidic sampling and separation of analytes for potentiometric ion sensing

This work demonstrates a paper-based microfluidic sampling and separation platform that allows potentiometric sensing of chloride ions in presence of strongly interfering salicylate ions using a solid-contact ion-selective electrode as a detector. The device was composed of two pieces of paper with different shapes and pore sizes. A "T" shaped filter paper with a pore size of 12-25 was used as the detection zone. A filter paper with a pore size of 2.0 mu m was modified with a complexing agent (Fe3+ and served as the separation zone. The two pieces of the paper were joined together just like a jigsaw. A solid-contact Cl--selective electrode and a reference electrode were gently pressed onto the detection zone to create a direct contact between the electrodes and the solution absorbed in the paper. Utilizing the possibility to form stable complexes between Fe3+ and salicylate, the proposed platform enables the separation of salicylate and detection of chloride. This system offers a convenient platform for both sampling and separation of ions, in which sample pretreatment procedures can be simplified or avoided.&nbsp

Distributions and sources of petroleum, aliphatic hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediments from Bohai Bay and its adjacent river, China

Surface sediment samples from Bohai Bay and its adjacent river, China, were analyzed for aliphatic hydrocarbon, PAHs and biomarkers in order to determine the distribution, composition and source of organic matter in a coastal environment. Results suggested that the input of organic matter from anthropogenic activities has a more significant influence on its distribution than that from natural processes. Petroleum contamination, mainly from offshore oil exploration and discharge of pollutants from rivers, was the main source of n-alkanes. PAHs were mostly of pyrogenic origin; while some sites in Yellow River Estuary were derived mainly from the petrogenic sources. The toxic assessment suggested that the PAHs in surface sediments will not cause immediately adverse biological effects in sediments from Bohai Bay and its adjacent river, China. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved