Increased diphone recognition for an Afrikaans TTS system

In this paper we discuss the implementation of an Afrikaans TTS system that is based on diphones. Using diphones makes the system flexible but presents other challenges. A previous effort to design an Afrikaans TTS system was done by SUN. They implemented a TTS system based on full words. A full word based TTS system produces more natural sounding speech than when the system is designed using other techniques. The disadvantage of using full words is that it lacks flexibility. The baseline system was build using the Festival Speech Synthesis System. Problems occurred in the baseline due to the mislabeling of diphones and the diphone index. The system was improved by manually labeling the diphones using Wavesurfer, and by changing the diphone index. Wavelength comparison tests were done on the diphone index to show how much of the diphones are recognized during synthesis. For the diphones tested results show an average improvement of 38% in the recognition of diphones compared to the baseline. These improvements improve the overall quality of the system

Bayesian nonparametrics for Sparse Dynamic Networks

We propose a Bayesian nonparametric prior for time-varying networks. To each node of the network is associated a positive parameter, modeling the sociability of that node. Sociabilities are assumed to evolve over time, and are modeled via a dynamic point process model. The model is able to (a) capture smooth evolution of the interaction between nodes, allowing edges to appear/disappear over time (b) capture long term evolution of the sociabilities of the nodes (c) and yield sparse graphs, where the number of edges grows subquadratically with the number of nodes. The evolution of the sociabilities is described by a tractable time-varying gamma process. We provide some theoretical insights into the model and apply it to three real world datasets.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figure

The effects of maize cobs and supplemental rumen-protected conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on production efficiency and meat quality characteristics of South African mutton merinos

Thesis (MScAgric) -- University of Stellenbosch, 2006.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The objective of this investigation was to determine the effect of incremental inclusion of maize cobs, as well as supplemental rumen-protected conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on the production efficiency and meat quality characteristics of South African Mutton Merino lambs. Prior to this trial, an in situ rumen degradability trial was conducted to determine the dry matter, protein and fibre degradability of maize cobs. Five ruminally cannulated Dohne Merino wethers were used to compare ruminal degradability of luceme and oat hay with that of maize cobs, using the in situ nylon bag technique. The samples were incubated in the rumen for varying time intervals. Both postincubated and original samples were analysed for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF). The percentage disappearance at each incubation time was calculated from the proportion remaining after rumen incubation. Results obtained clearly established that, on average, the degradability of maize cobs is comparable with that of oat hay. Twenty four South African Mutton Merino (SAMM) lambs were used in a feedlot finishing study to evaluate the effect of maize cobs at incremental inclusion levels (4, 8 and 12%) on individual feed intake, average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion efficiency (FCE). The apparent digestibilities of the three diets were also determined. The three pelleted diets were formulated, on an isonitrogenous and isoenergetic basis. The lambs were slaughtered after the trial had finished and the longissimus dorsi and biceps femoris muscles were removed from each carcass for the determination of proximate chemical composition and physical quality characteristics. Neither ADG nor FCE of the lambs was influenced by dietary treatment. Lambs fed the diet containing 4% maize cobs had the higher nitrogen retention, while diet did not affect energy retention. The proximate chemical composition of both muscles was not significantly affected by diet. Diet only had a significant effect on the cooking loss and the colour measurements of the M. longissimus dorsi. Sixteen South African Mutton Merino (SAMM) lambs were used in a second feedlot finishing study to evaluate the effect of feeding a diet containing supplemental rumen-protected CLA. The procedure followed was the same as in the first feedlot finishing study, except for an additional sensory and fatty acid analysis. No significant differences occurred in the ADG, FCE and dressing percentage of the lambs. Both energy and nitrogen retention of the lambs were not affected by dietary treatment. The proximate chemical composition of both muscles was similar, but diet had a significant effect on the cooking loss and the colour measurements of the M. longissimus dorsi. Diet had no significant effect on any of the five sensory attributes measured. Fatty acid composition was significantly affected by dietary CLA. Palmitic (Cl6:0), stearic (C18:0) and oleic (18:ln-9) acid were the major fatty acids in both muscles, as well as in the three adipose tissue types. The rumen-protected CLA increased the CLA (Cl 8:2n-6) contents of both muscles, although the increase was only significant for the M. longissimus dorsi and not for the biceps femoris muscle.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doe! van die ondersoek was om die invloed van toenemende insluitingsvlakke van mieliestronke, asook aanvullende rumen-beskermde gekonjugeerde linole"iensuur (CLA), op die produksie doeltreffendheid en vleis kwaliteitseienskappe van Suid-Afrikaanse Vleismerino (SAVM) lammers, te bepaal. Voorafgaande die proef, is 'n in situ degradeerbaarheidstudie uitgevoer om die droe materiaal-, protelen- en vesel degradeerbaarheid van mieliestronke te bepaal. Vyf Dohne Merino hamels met rumenkannulas is gebruik om, met behulp van die in situ nylon sakkie tegniek, die degradeerbaarheid van lusem en hawerhooi met die van mieliestronke te vergelyk. Sakkies met die monsters is by verskillende tydsintervalle in die rumen gelnkubeer. Monsters is voor en na inkubering ontleed vir droe materiaal (DM), ruprotelen (RP), neutraal bestande vesel (NBV), asook suur bestande vesel (SBV). Die persentasie verdwyning is by elke inkubasie tydperk bereken vanaf die oorblywende proporsie van die monster na inkubering in die rumen. Dit is bevind dat die gemiddelde degradeerbaarheid van mieliestronke vergelykbaar is met die degradeerbaarheid van hawerhooi. Vier en twintig Suid-Afrikaanse Vleismerino (SA VM) lammers is vir 'n voerkraalafrondings studie gebruik. Die effek van toenemende insluitingsvlakke (4, 8 en 12%) van mieliestronke op individuele voerinname, gemiddelde daaglikse toename (GDT) en voeromsettingsdoeltreffendheid (VOD) is gemonitor. Die skynbare verteerbaarheid van die rantsoene is ook bepaal. Die drie diete was geformuleer op 'n gelyke stikstof en energie basis. Na afloop van die proef is die lammers geslag en die longissimus dorsi, asook biceps femoris spiere van elke karkas is verwyder vir die bepaling van chemiese samestelling en fisiese kwaliteits eienskappe. Dieet het geen betekenisvolle effek op GDT of VOD van die lammers gehad nie. Die dieet met 'n mieliestronk insluitingsvlak van 4% het aanleiding gegee tot lammers met die hoogste stikstofretensie, terwyl energieretensie nie deur dieet belnvloed is nie. Die chemiese samestelling van beide spiere is nie betekenisvol deur die dieet belnvloed, maar wel slegs die kookverlies en kleur van die M. longissimus dorsi. Sestien Suid-Afrikaanse Vleismerino (SA VM) lammers is vir 'n tweede voerkraalafrondings studie gebruik om die effek van 'n dieet wat aangevul is met 'n rumen-beskermde CLA, te evalueer. Dieselfde proefprosedure as tydens die eerste afrondingsproef is gevolg, behalwe vir die addisionele/bykomende sensoriese, sowel as vetsuur analises. Geen betekenisvolle verskille het voorgekom vir GDT, VOD en uitslag persentasie van die lammers nie. Beide energie en stikstofretensies is ook nie deur die dieet be1nvloed nie. Cherniese samestelling van beide spiere was soortgelyk, maar dieet het wel 'n betekenisvolle effek op kookverlies en kleur van die M. longissimus dorsi gehad. Dieet het geen betekenisvolle effek op enige van die vyf sensoriese eienskappe van die vleis teweeg gebring nie. Vetsuursamestelling van die vleis was betekenisvol be"invloed as gevolg van die CLA aanvulling in die dieet. Palmitiensuur (C16:0), steariensuur (Cl8:0) en ole"iensuur (18:1n-9) het die grootste proporsie van die vetsure in beide spiere uitgemaak, asook in al drie die vetdepots. Die rumenbeskermde CLA het die CLA (Cl8:2n-6) inhoud van beide die spier tipes verhoog, alhoewel die verhoging slegs betekenisvol vir die M. longissimus dorsi was

Study of the relationships between physical activity levels, experienced bodily changes, age-stereotyped interpretations of changes, and motivation to exercise in older adults

In this study, the relationships between physical activity levels, experienced changes, interpretations of bodily states, and motivation towards physical exercise were examined in a sample of older adults (n = 151). Males who reported low levels of physical exercise, who experienced negative physical changes, and who attributed the changes to aging reported lower levels of self-determined motivation for physical exercise. However, there were no such effects for females. Surprisingly, additional findings indicated possible benefits of attributing negative physical changes to aging among more active individuals. It was also found that participants with low levels of physical exercise, but high levels of self-determined motivation, were more likely to intend to increase their level of physical exercise in the future. The implications for promoting physical exercise in older adults are discussed

Overland flow modelling with the Shallow Water Equation using a well balanced numerical scheme: Adding efficiency or just more complexity?

In the last decades, more or less complex physically-based hydrological models, have been developed that solve the shallow water equations or their approximations using various numerical methods. Model users may not necessarily know the different hypothesis lying behind these development and simplifications, and it might therefore be difficult to judge if a code is well adapted to their objectives and test case configurations. This paper aims at comparing the predictive abilities of different models and evaluating potential gain by using advanced numerical scheme for modelling runoff. We present four different codes, each one based on either shallow water or kinematic waves equations, and using either finite volume or finite difference method. We compare these four numerical codes on different test cases allowing to emphasize their main strengths and weaknesses. Results show that, for relatively simple configurations, kinematic waves equations solved with finite volume method represent an interesting option. Nevertheless, as it appears to be limited in case of discontinuous topography or strong spatial heterogeneities, for these cases we advise the use of shallow water equations solved with the finite volume method

The FoldX web server: an online force field

FoldX is an empirical force field that was developed for the rapid evaluation of the effect of mutations on the stability, folding and dynamics of proteins and nucleic acids. The core functionality of FoldX, namely the calculation of the free energy of a macromolecule based on its high-resolution 3D structure, is now publicly available through a web server at . The current release allows the calculation of the stability of a protein, calculation of the positions of the protons and the prediction of water bridges, prediction of metal binding sites and the analysis of the free energy of complex formation. Alanine scanning, the systematic truncation of side chains to alanine, is also included. In addition, some reporting functions have been added, and it is now possible to print both the atomic interaction networks that constitute the protein, print the structural and energetic details of the interactions per atom or per residue, as well as generate a general quality report of the pdb structure. This core functionality will be further extended as more FoldX applications are developed

SNPeffect: a database mapping molecular phenotypic effects of human non-synonymous coding SNPs

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are an increasingly important tool for genetic and biomedical research. However, the accumulated sequence information on allelic variation is not matched by an understanding of the effect of SNPs on the functional attributes or ‘molecular phenotype’ of a protein. Towards this aim we developed SNPeffect, an online resource of human non-synonymous coding SNPs (nsSNPs) mapping phenotypic effects of allelic variation in human genes. SNPeffect contains 31 659 nsSNPs from 12 480 human proteins. The current release of SNPeffect incorporates data on protein stability, integrity of functional sites, protein phosphorylation and glycosylation, subcellular localization, protein turnover rates, protein aggregation, amyloidosis and chaperone interaction. The SNP entries are accessible through both a search and browse interface and are linked to most major biological databases. The data can be displayed as detailed descriptions of individual SNPs or as an overview of all SNPs for a given protein. SNPeffect will be regularly updated and can be accessed at http://snpeffect.vib.be/