Convolutional Neural Networks for Accent Classification

Speech recognition systems have been extensively improved over the years. However, accent classification remains a highly challenging task. Accent classification technology can be a great benefit to automatic speech recognition applications, telephony based service centres, immigration offices and in military operations. The application of con-volutional neural networks has been an efficient and effective way to solve the accent recognition problem. In this thesis the accent classification task is approached by the application of two con-volutional neural networks. The difference between them can be seen at their activation functions. The work includes a dataset of native speakers of four different languages (Chinese, Spanish, English, Arabic) who read a certain elicitation paragraph in English. The chosen paragraph contains common English words which cover in majority the sounds of English language. The feature extraction is based on the Mel-Frequency Cep-stral Coefficients, in particular the first 13 coefficients are used. The MFCC has proved to be one of the best representations of human voice in terms of audio signal processing. The convolutional neural networks manipulate the audio signals of the speakers in the form of 2 dimensional images, making them an effective approach for accent classifica-tion. The thesis contains an extensive presentation of the accuracy, validation loss and confusion matrices of each cases between training and test samples and the results of each model for the reader to compare and decide which model to apply for a similar ap-plication. Appendix 1 contains the original and modified source code for the implemen-tation of the proposed convolutional neural networks in order to solve the accent classi-fication problem.fi=Opinnäytetyö kokotekstinä PDF-muodossa.|en=Thesis fulltext in PDF format.|sv=Lärdomsprov tillgängligt som fulltext i PDF-format

Cyber Security Certification Programmes

Although a large and fast-growing workforce for qualified cybersecurity professionals exists, developing a cybersecurity certification framework has to overcome many challenges. Towards this end, an extended review of the cybersecurity certifications offered currently on the market from 9 major issuing companies is conducted. Moreover, the guidelines for the definition of a cybersecurity certification framework as they are provided from the recent Cyber Security Act and framework of ENISA, NIST and ISO/IEC 17024 are covered. A vast comparison among the presented cybersecurity certifications is given, based not only on the cybersecurity domain covered but also the required level of candidate's experience. A proposed certification program has been also analyzed based on the learning pathways and the knowledge areas described in FORESIGHT

WormBase 2024: status and transitioning to Alliance infrastructure

WormBase has been the major repository and knowledgebase of information about the genome and genetics of Caenorhabditis elegans and other nematodes of experimental interest for over 2 decades. We have 3 goals: to keep current with the fast-paced C. elegans research, to provide better integration with other resources, and to be sustainable. Here, we discuss the current state of WormBase as well as progress and plans for moving core WormBase infrastructure to the Alliance of Genome Resources (the Alliance). As an Alliance member, WormBase will continue to interact with the C. elegans community, develop new features as needed, and curate key information from the literature and large-scale projects

Τυχαιοποιημένη προοπτική μελέτη της διαδερμικής νευρόλυσης για μείωση καρκινικού πόνου σε ογκολογικούς ασθενείς

Η διαδερμική νευρόλυση με ραδιοσυχνότητες εχεί ως σκοπό την ανακούφιση του χρόνιου-ανθεκτικού πόνου για τους ογκολογικούς ασθενείς , οτάν οι υπόλοιπες θεραπείες δεν αποδίδουν . Σε περίπτωση θετικών αποτελεσμάτων η συγκεκριμένη μέθοδος οχι μόνο θα ανακουφίσει τον πόνο της ευαίσθητης αυτής ομάδας των ασθενών βελτιώνοντας της καθημερινότητα τους, αλλά θα αποτρέψει την πιθανή τοξικότητα από την υπερκατανάλωση των αναλγητικών και πιθανότατα θα μειώσει και το υψηλό κόστος προμήθειας τους.Therapeutic armamentarium for abdominal pain in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma includes pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy, chemotherapy, analgesic therapy according to the WHO analgesic ladder and neurolytic techniques . Neurolytic techniques include chemical ones by means of ethanol or phenol injection as well as thermal ones by means of radiofrequency or cryoablation application . Neurolysis targets in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma include celiac plexus or splanchnic nerves either solely performed or in single session combined approaches . Furthermore neurolysis of splanchnic nerves can be performed in patients not responsive to celiac plexus neurolysi

Episiotomy and perineal repair practices among obstetricians in Greece

Objective: To assess current preferences regarding episiotomy and management of obstetric perineal injuries used by obstetricians in Greece, and to assess the impact of evidence-based information on everyday practices. Methods: A questionnaire survey of obstetricians regarding episiotomy use and the management of obstetric perineal injuries. Results: Fifty-one percent of obstetricians reported routinely performing an episiotomy during a normal vaginal delivery in primiparous women and 89% reported performing an episiotomy during vacuum-assisted deliveries. Forty-two percent of the respondents performed lateral, 44% mediolateral, and 14% midline episiotomies. Following an obstetric anal sphincter tear, half of the respondents recommended a vaginal delivery, regardless of bowel symptoms. There was significant heterogeneity of practices regarding the repair techniques of all obstetric perineal injuries. Conclusion: The majority of obstetricians prefer to perform routine mediolateral and lateral episiotomies, for both normal and operative vaginal deliveries. The adoption of evidence-based information should be implemented while considering working and cultural backgrounds. (C) 2009 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Biodegradable Microspheres for Transarterial Chemoembolization in Malignant Liver Disease

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has revolutionized the treatment landscape for malignant liver disease, offering localized therapy with reduced systemic toxicity. This manuscript delves into the use of degradable microspheres (DMS) in TACE, exploring its potential advantages and clinical applications. DMS-TACE emerges as a promising strategy, offering temporary vessel occlusion and optimized drug delivery. The manuscript reviews the existing literature on DMS-TACE, emphasizing its tolerability, toxicity, and efficacy. Notably, DMS-TACE demonstrates versatility in patient selection, being suitable for both intermediate and advanced stages. The unique properties of DMS provide advantages over traditional embolic agents. The manuscript discusses the DMS-TACE procedure, adverse events, and tumor response rates in HCC, ICC, and metastases

Turbulent effects of liquid metal flow under strong fringing magnetic fields

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

The validation of international consultation on incontinence questionnaires in the Greek language

Aims The objective of this study was to validate four specific International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaires (ICIQ) modules in the Greek language: (i) the ICIQ-FLUTS long form (ICIQ-FLUTS-LF), (ii) the ICIQ-FLUTS, (iii) the ICIQ-FLUTS-SEX, and (iv) the ICIQ-Vaginal Symptoms Questionnaire (ICIQ-VS), originally validated in English. Methods The English questionnaires were initially translated into Greek, then back-translated into English and final modifications were made after testing the questionnaires on a sample of patients. To validate the translated questionnaires, the following tests were undertaken: Content/face validity, internal consistency (reliability) and stability (testretest reliability). Results A total of 122 women participated in the study. Eighty-nine presented with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and/or urinary incontinece (UI) symptoms and 33 attended an outpatient gynecological clinic without POP/UI symptoms. All modules showed excellent content/face validity (missing values 02.5%). Cronbach’s alpha test for internal consistency showed satisfactory to excellent reliability (0.876 for ICIQ-FLUTS-LF, 0.85 for ICIQ-FLUTS, and 0.83 for ICIQ-VS), with the exception ICIQ-FLUTS-SEX which was 0.69. The testretest reliability showed moderate to near-perfect agreement (weighted kappa value 0.520.99). Conclusions The Greek versions of the ICIQ-FLUTS-LF, ICIQ-FLUTS, and ICIQ-VS questionnaires were successfully validated. Our data showed that the ICIQ FLUTS-SEX questionnaire, as it stands in its current English version, cannot be reliably used to assess sex symptoms in the Greek female population. Neurourol. Urodynam. 31:11411144, 2012. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

The Use of Platelet-rich Plasma as a Novel Nonsurgical Treatment of the Female Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Prospective Pilot Study

Objectives The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Methods This was a prospective observational pilot study conducted in a tertiary referral unit, enrolling women with SUI booked for SUI surgery. A total of 20 consecutive women met the inclusion criteria and attended all follow-ups. All participants underwent 2 PRP injections into the lower one third of the anterior vaginal wall at 4- to 6-week intervals. At baseline, they underwent urodynamic studies, a 1-hour pad test, and completed the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and King’s Health Questionnaire. At follow-up visits (1, 3, and 6 months), patients underwent the 1-hour pad test and completed the King’s Health Questionnaire, International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms, and Patient Global Impression Scale of Improvement. Primary outcome was to evaluate posttreatment SUI. Secondary outcomes included assessment of patient-reported questionnaires, assessment of urine loss (1-hour pad test), and the level of discomfort during injections (visual analog scale score). Statistical analysis was performed before PRP and 1, 3, and 6 months after the last treatment. Results A significant improvement in SUI symptoms was observed 3 months after treatment with a further improvement at 6 months. A mean reduction of 50.2% in urine loss was observed in the 1-hour pad test. At the 6-month follow-up, 80.0% of women reported to be at least improved. No adverse effects were observed. Conclusions Platelet-rich plasma injections were both effective and safe at least in the short term and could be offered as an alternative outpatient procedure for the treatment of SUI. However, these encouraging findings warrant further investigation with randomized controlled trials