Creation of speech corpus for emotion analysis in Gujarati language and its evaluation by various speech parameters

In the last couple of years emotion recognition has proven its significance in the area of artificial intelligence and man machine communication. Emotion recognition can be done using speech and image (facial expression), this paper deals with SER (speech emotion recognition) only. For emotion recognition emotional speech database is essential. In this paper we have proposed emotional database which is developed in Gujarati language, one of the official’s language of India. The proposed speech corpus bifurcate six emotional states as: sadness, surprise, anger, disgust, fear, happiness. To observe effect of different emotions, analysis of proposed Gujarati speech database is carried out using efficient speech parameters like pitch, energy and MFCC using MATLAB Software

Developing the MTO Formalism

We review the simple linear muffin-tin orbital method in the atomic-spheres approximation and a tight-binding representation (TB-LMTO-ASA method), and show how it can be generalized to an accurate and robust Nth order muffin-tin orbital (NMTO) method without increasing the size of the basis set and without complicating the formalism. On the contrary, downfolding is now more efficient and the formalism is simpler and closer to that of screened multiple-scattering theory. The NMTO method allows one to solve the single-electron Schroedinger equation for a MT-potential -in which the MT-wells may overlap- using basis sets which are arbitrarily minimal. The substantial increase in accuracy over the LMTO-ASA method is achieved by substitution of the energy-dependent partial waves by so-called kinked partial waves, which have tails attached to them, and by using these kinked partial waves at N+1 arbitrary energies to construct the set of NMTOs. For N=1 and the two energies chosen infinitesimally close, the NMTOs are simply the 3rd-generation LMTOs. Increasing N, widens the energy window, inside which accurate results are obtained, and increases the range of the orbitals, but it does not increase the size of the basis set and therefore does not change the number of bands obtained. The price for reducing the size of the basis set through downfolding, is a reduction in the number of bands accounted for and -unless N is increased- a narrowing of the energy window inside which these bands are accurate. A method for obtaining orthonormal NMTO sets is given and several applications are presented.Comment: 85 pages, Latex2e, Springer style, to be published in: Lecture notes in Physics, edited by H. Dreysse, (Springer Verlag

Third-Generation TB-LMTO

We describe the screened Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker (KKR) method and the third-generation linear muffin-tin orbital (LMTO) method for solving the single-particle Schroedinger equation for a MT potential. The simple and popular formalism which previously resulted from the atomic-spheres approximation (ASA) now holds in general, that is, it includes downfolding and the combined correction. Downfolding to few-orbital, possibly short-ranged, low-energy, and possibly orthonormal Hamiltonians now works exceedingly well, as is demonstrated for a high-temperature superconductor. First-principles sp3 and sp3d5 TB Hamiltonians for the valence and lowest conduction bands of silicon are derived. Finally, we prove that the new method treats overlap of the potential wells correctly to leading order and we demonstrate how this can be exploited to get rid of the empty spheres in the diamond structure.Comment: latex2e, 32 printed pages, Postscript figs, to be published in: Tight-Binding Approach to Computational Materials Science, MRS Symposia Proceedings No. 491 (MRS, Pittsburgh, 1998

DETERMINATION AND QUANTIFICATION OF PACLITAXEL IN HUMAN PLASMA BY LC-MS/MS: APPLIED METHOD TO THERAPEUTIC DRUG MONITORING

A high throughput liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method for the determination and quantification of anti-cancer drug Paclitaxel in human plasma is described for the application to therapeutic drug monitoring. It is rapid and sensitive binary phase reversed phase LC-MS/MS method equipped with electro spray ionization (ESI) source and C18 column (100 mm x 4.6mm, 5μm), operating in the positive ion and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The extraction of Paclitaxel and Carbamazepine (Internal standard) from the human plasma was carried out by two phase liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) method using methyl tert butyl ether (MTBE) as an extractive solvent giving extracts free from endogenous interferences. The retention time of Paclitaxel is 1.44 minutes with the flow rate of 0.5 mL/minutes. Sample preparation by this method yielded very good and consistent mean recoveries of Paclitaxel and IS. The method was linear over the dynamic range 5.00 to 3000.00 ng/mL (r2 0.997). The lower limit of detection and quantification for Paclitaxel on mass was found to be 5 ng/mL. This method was fully validated as per USFDA and EMEA guidelines. Conclusion: The proposed LCMS/MS method has better performance in terms of simplicity, sensitivity, stability and specificity than the previously reported methods. Moreover, there is rapid sample preparation, adequate retention and better extraction efficiency with less matrix interferences. Therefore, it can be considered as a suited bio-analytical tool for therapeutic drug monitoring and pharmacokinetic analysis during chemotherapy

Functional outcome of intra-articular tongue type of calcaneus fractures treated with percutaneous technique

Background: Intra-articular calcaneus fracture is relatively rare and morbidity correlates with displacement and relative alignment of fragments. The treatment should address both components to maintain mechanics of foot. Among the available options open reduction and internal fixation is associated with major soft tissue complications and wound healing problems. As an alternative percutaneous fixation offer fewer complications yet good results for less severe calcaneus fractures. Our study aimed to contribute paucity of data available for these rare fractures and help to propose a preferred method of treatment.Methods: A hospital based study carried out on 20 patients over period of 2 year with closed displaced intra-articular tongue type of calcaneal fracture treated with percutaneous fixation and outcome was evaluated using clinical, radiological criteria and American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score. All patients were followed up for minimum 9 months with mean follow up of 13.5 month.Results: All patients had evidence of union within 2 month follow up. Mean correction in Bohler angle and Gissane angle was 23.2° and 25.4° respectively at final follow up. Mean change in heel height was 3.15 mm and width change was 2.75 mm compare to opposite side. Mean eversion inversion arch was 28° and near normal ankle range of motion. Functional outcome calculated on bases of AOFAS score revealed 18 patients (90%) had good results and 2 patients (10%) had fair results. Mean AOFAS score was 81.25. Complications were reported in three patients, one had signs of peroneal tendinitis and two had persistent pain and heel widening. Conclusions: We believe percutaneous fixation should be considered as a preferred method for mild to moderately displaced tongue type of intraarticular calcaneus fractures. It potentially allows anatomical fracture reduction with lesser complications and good functional outcome

Wave reflection, assessed by use of the ARCSolver Algorithm for pulse wave separation, is reduced under acute µg conditions in parabolic flight

Weightlessness during long-term space flight over 6-12 months leads to complex individual cardiovascular adaptation. The initial central blood volume expansion followed by a loss of plasma volume is accompanied by changes in vascular mechanoreceptor loads and responsive-ness, altered autonomic reflex control of heart rate and blood pressure, and hormonal changes in the long run. Hence, function and structure of the heart and blood vessels may change. Hemodynamic data obtained during short- and long-term space flight may indicate that the adaptation process resembles ageing of the cardiovascular system characterized by decreased diastolic blood pressure, increased central sympathetic nerve traffic and increased arterial pulse wave velocity. Experiments during parabolic flights in supine position suggest, that stroke volume does not change during transitions between µ-g and 1-g. We tested a novel method of pulse wave separation based on simple oscillometric brachial cuff waveform reading to investigate pulse wave reflection during acute weightlessness in healthy subjects. We hypothesized that the wave reflection magnitude (RM) remains unaltered during parabolic flights in supine position