A Convolutional Neural Network model based on Neutrosophy for Noisy Speech Recognition

Convolutional neural networks are sensitive to unknown noisy condition in the test phase and so their performance degrades for the noisy data classification task including noisy speech recognition. In this research, a new convolutional neural network (CNN) model with data uncertainty handling; referred as NCNN (Neutrosophic Convolutional Neural Network); is proposed for classification task. Here, speech signals are used as input data and their noise is modeled as uncertainty. In this task, using speech spectrogram, a definition of uncertainty is proposed in neutrosophic (NS) domain. Uncertainty is computed for each Time-frequency point of speech spectrogram as like a pixel. Therefore, uncertainty matrix with the same size of spectrogram is created in NS domain. In the next step, a two parallel paths CNN classification model is proposed. Speech spectrogram is used as input of the first path and uncertainty matrix for the second path. The outputs of two paths are combined to compute the final output of the classifier. To show the effectiveness of the proposed method, it has been compared with conventional CNN on the isolated words of Aurora2 dataset. The proposed method achieves the average accuracy of 85.96 in noisy train data. It is more robust against Car, Airport and Subway noises with accuracies 90, 88 and 81 in test sets A, B and C, respectively. Results show that the proposed method outperforms conventional CNN with the improvement of 6, 5 and 2 percentage in test set A, test set B and test sets C, respectively. It means that the proposed method is more robust against noisy data and handle these data effectively.Comment: International conference on Pattern Recognition and Image Analysis (IPRIA 2019

Improvement of a method for the characterization of ultrafiltration membranes by measurements of tracers retention

The aim of this study is to improve protocols for assessing accurate characteristic retention curve and cut-off of membranes, thus enabling the manufacture and performance of the membrane to be monitored. Different data treatments are considered in order to determine membrane retention for fractions of tracer filtered (PEGs in the molar mass range of 1–100 kg mol−1). In the most advanced method of treatment, the observed retention is expressed as a combination of solute transfer coefficients in the boundary layer (kBL) and porous structure (kpore), and the asymptotic retention (Rinf ), which is an intrinsic characteristic of the membrane to solute as it is independent of operating conditions. The developed method has proved to be accurate and reproducible in two cases: (i) monitoring of UF membrane integrity during accelerated aging; (ii) for quantification of cut-off change due to UF membrane modification by UV grafting. We propose a simplified procedure that allows a reduction in experimental workload, without loss of sensitivity, for the most advanced method

Numerical simulation of a UV photografting process for hollow-fiber membranes

A numerical model has been developed to represent the process by which hollow-fiber membranes can undergo continuous surface modification by UV photografting. The model takes into account the coupled effects of radiation, mass transfer with polymerization reaction and heat transfer with evaporation. It gives approximately correct values for the mass of polymer grafted, but no attempt is made to relate this quantity with permeability or retention. The behavior of this complex model is used to explain how operating conditions can influence the result of the grafting process

Malaria elimination in Iran, importance and challenges

Background: The aim of study is to assess the importance and challenges of Malaria elimination (ME) in Iran's health system. Material: Opinion of experts from Ministry of Health and Medical Education and the chancellors of medical universities affected by malaria were gathered using Focus Group Discussions and in­depth interviews. We asked them about the importance and main challenges of ME in Iran. Results: Main factors on importance of ME were: it's a struggle to reach to equity in the poorest regions of county, prevention of emerging disease in susceptible regions, lowering the cost of control and its effects on the region's socioeconomic condition. Main challenges were Iran's long border with malaria­endemic countries Pakistan and Afghanistan and illegal immigrants, underdevelopment in rural areas, system's insensitivity and diagnosis problem due to reduction of cases. Conclusion: Quantitative and holistic researches are needed for assessing the consequences of ME

FORMULASI NANOEKAPSULASI EKSTRAK DAUN KELOR (Moringa oleifera) /KITOSAN-NATRIUM TRIPOLIPOSFAT (NaTPP)

Moringa (Moringa oliefera) contains several antioxidant compounds such as quercetin and chlorogenic acid. However, antioxidants have weaknesses, namely that they are easily damaged by exposure to oxygen, light, high temperatures, and drying. One way to maintain and increase the stability of antioxidants is by encapsulation. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimum formulation of quercetin nanoencapsulation of moringa leaf extract using chitosan and sodium tripolyphosphate (Na-TPP) using the ultrasonication method. Moringa leaf extract was obtained by repeated ultrasonication 1x 15, 3x15, and 5x15 minutes, frequency 24 kHz, and using alcohol 96%. The encapsulation process was carried out with three variable ratios of the amount of chitosan: Na-TPP added to 10 mL of Moringa leaf extract solution (F0), namely 5:1 (F1), 2:1 (F2), and 1:1 (F3). Test results for flavonoids as quercetin using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer showed that the Quercetin content in Moringa leaf extract ultrasonicated 5x15 minutes was 12.146%, the characterization of the Particle Size Analyzer (PSA) showed encapsulated particle sizes of 170.3 and 209.7 nm with polydisperse index <0 .5, the antioxidant activity test using the DPPH method showed that F0 was 61.4% and F2 had the highest antioxidant activity, namely 81.2%. Analysis of the morphology of nanoparticles using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showed that the particles were spherically distributed evenly. Nanoencapsulation of Moringa leaf extract has resulted and an increase in the antioxidant activity of Moringa leaf extract after encapsulation using Chitosan-NaTPP, from 61.4% to 81.2% (F2)

Modifikasi Perencanaan Rumah Susun Pasar Rebo dengan Base Isolation Tipe Friction Pendulum System pada Daerah Rawan Gempa

Tingginya aktivitas seismik dan potensi gempa menuntut perencanaan struktur gedung dengan kinerja yang baik saat gempa terjadi. Tipe penahan gempa konvensional seperti sistem rangka pemikul momen dan shearwall pada struktur bangunan dapat menyebabkan kerusakan elemen struktural maupun non-struktural yang signifikan akibat adanya plastifikasi dan tingginya percepatan lantai. Oleh karena itu diperlukan suatu sistem penahan gempa yang lebih efektif dalam mencegah dampak kerusakan tersebut. Inovasi yang dikembangkan untuk mengurangi dampak tersebut adalah base isolation. Konsep dasar base isolation yaitu memisahkan pergerakan struktur dari pergerakan horizontal tanah dengan memasang elemen fleksibel didasar bangunan sehingga gaya gempa yang masuk pada struktur tereduksi. Dalam tugas akhir ini akan dilakukan modifikasi perencanaan gedung Rumah Susun Pasar Rebo dengan menggunakan base isolation tipe friction pendulum system (FPS). Perencanaan tersebut mengacu beberapa peraturan yaitu SNI 2847:2019, SNI 1726:2019, SNI 1727:2020, PPIUG 1983 dan peraturan lainnya. Dari analisis perhitungan didapatkan: tebal pelat lantai terbesar 13cm, dimensi balok anak 25x40cm, dimensi balok induk terbesar 45x70cm, dimensi kolom terbesar 60x80cm, dan pondasi direncanakan dengan spun pile 40x40 dan D60 dengan kedalaman masing-masing 14 dan 11m. Friction pendulum yang digunakan pada gedung ini ada dua tipe yaitu SIP-D-HF-325 (5000) dan SIP-D-HF-326 (5000) yang merupakan produk dari Maurer. Selain itu dari analisis didapatkan struktur base isolation memiliki periode 3,17 kali lebih besar dari periode struktur fixed based. Struktur base isolation memiliki gaya geser dasar yang lebih kecil dari struktur fixed based dengan sistem SRPMM (R=5), SRPMB (R=3), SRPMB (R=2) dengan selisih masing-masing sebesar 6,23% , 43,4%, dan 62,49%. Akan tetapi struktur base isolation memiliki gaya geser yang lebih besar dari struktur SRPMK dengan selisih sebesar 50,03%. Struktur dengan base isolation memiliki perpindahan atap yang lebih besar dari struktur fixed based. Penggunaan base isolation pada struktur mereduksi drift rasio dengan selisih rata-rata 68,2% diarah X dan 47,35% diarah Y

On the Pull-Out Behavior of Hooked-End Shape Memory Alloys Fibers Embedded in Ultra-High Performance Concrete

This study presents a three-dimensional non-linear finite element investigation on the pull-out behavior of straight and hooked-end Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) and steel fibers embedded in Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) using a single fiber pull-out model. A bilinear cohesive zone model is used to characterize the interfacial traction separation relationships. The Concrete Damage Plasticity (CDP) model is used to simulate UHPC, and the mechanical behavior is obtained through experimental tests. Parametric studies are conducted to evaluate the effects of fiber materials, fiber diameters, and hook angles on the load-displacement behavior. A good agreement between the numerical and experimental results is obtained. It is found that the hooked-end fibers with a smaller diameter and a hook angle of 40° can be a better choice for structural application. Furthermore, it is observed that the use of SMA fibers significantly improves the pull-out performance between fibers and UHPC

The Etiology and Clinical Evaluations of Neonatal Seizures in Kashan, IRAN

How to Cite This Article: Talebian A, Jahangiri M, Rabiee M, Masoudi Alavi N, Akbari H, Sadat Z. The Etiology and Clinical Evaluations ofNeonatal Seizures in Kashan, IRAN. Iran J Child Neurol. Spring 2015;9(2):29-41. AbstractObjectiveDetection of seizure, its etiology, and clinical types is important for guiding therapy. This study was designed to evaluate the etiology and clinical evaluations of neonatal seizures in Kashan, Iran.Materials and MethodsThe data of 100 hospitalized neonates with a complaint of seizures in Kashan City, from January 2006 to January 2011 were evaluated. The pediatric neurologist made the final diagnosis. The gestational age, neonate admission age, type of delivery, and laboratory and radiological investigations were reviewed   from the medical records. The relation of seizure etiology and other variables were compared using the Chi-square test. All the statistical analyses were performed using SPSS (ver 11.5).ResultsA total of 100 neonates were hospitalized with a diagnosis of seizures. The overall incidence rate of seizures was 2.6 per 1,000 live births. A total of 59% of seizures happened in the first three days of life. The etiologies of seizures were hypoxicischemic encephalopathy (HIE) (36%), hyponatremia (12%), hypoglycemia (11%), intracranial hemorrhage (11%), infections (10%), hypocalcemia (8%), metabolic disorders (7%), the structural anomalies (5%), and hypomagnesaemia (4%). In 23% of neonates, no specific etiology was found and 23% had multiple etiologies. In 45% of neonates, the EEG was not recorded. The type of the seizures were focal-clonic (26%), tonic (25%), multifocal clonic (34%), subtle(11%), and myoclonic (4%). The types of the seizure were unrelated to the paraclinical findings.ConclusionNeonatal seizures are common and HIE was the main cause of seizures in this study. The clinical evaluation of neonatal seizures needs improvement