A Review of Audio Features and Statistical Models Exploited for Voice Pattern Design

Audio fingerprinting, also named as audio hashing, has been well-known as a powerful technique to perform audio identification and synchronization. It basically involves two major steps: fingerprint (voice pattern) design and matching search. While the first step concerns the derivation of a robust and compact audio signature, the second step usually requires knowledge about database and quick-search algorithms. Though this technique offers a wide range of real-world applications, to the best of the authors' knowledge, a comprehensive survey of existing algorithms appeared more than eight years ago. Thus, in this paper, we present a more up-to-date review and, for emphasizing on the audio signal processing aspect, we focus our state-of-the-art survey on the fingerprint design step for which various audio features and their tractable statistical models are discussed.Comment: http://www.iaria.org/conferences2015/PATTERNS15.html ; Seventh International Conferences on Pervasive Patterns and Applications (PATTERNS 2015), Mar 2015, Nice, Franc

Preparation of some new benzo[d]thiazole derivatives

In this work, four new benzo[d]thiazole derivatives were synthesized successfully from vanillin. Nitration of vanillin gave nitrovanillin followed by cyclization reaction with o-aminothiophenol under microwave irradiation in 4 minutes to give nitroaromatic compound 3. The reduction to convert the nitro group to amino group was optimized. It was found that Fe/ con. HCl in ethanol was the best condition for this case about both yield (~95 %) and simple procedure to give compound 4 as a salt. Acetylation occurs at both phenolic hydroxyl group and amino group of the salt 4 to form N,O-acetyl compound 5. Under mild hydrolysis 5 produces N-acetyl compound 6. The structures of these compounds were established by IR, 1H and 13C NMR and mass spectral analyses. Keywords. benzo[d]thiazole, vanillin, reduction, microwave

A quantum chemical study on the use of complexes between Hg(II) ions and fluorescent ligands for detection of cysteine

A benzothiazolium derivative as a fluorescent ligand was studied by the quantum chemical calculations, including research on the synthesis process, characteristics and applications. The calculated results showed that its complex with Hg(II) ions can be used as a fluorescent sensor for detection of cysteine. These findings have opened up opportunities for the use of previously reported complexes as well as new complexes between Hg(II) and fluorescent ligands for detection of cysteine. Keywords. Fluorescence, chemosensor, mercury, complexation, cysteine

Cation distribution in CuFe₂O₄ nanoparticles: Effects of Ni doping on magnetic properties

he Cu₁_ₓNiₓFe₂O₄ nanoparticles (with x = 0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, and 1) were synthesized by using spray co-precipitation method at annealing temperature Tₐ = 900 °C in air for 5 h. The crystal structure, microstructure, oxidation state, and magnetic properties of the samples were characterized by using X-ray diffraction, synchrotron X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer. It was shown that all the samples have cubic structure. Lattice constant and grain size decrease, while the Curie temperature TC increases with increasing of Ni²⁺ content. A small amount of Fe²⁺ was found in all the samples. Cation distribution was determined by using a combination of magnetization measurements, extended X-ray absorption fine structure analysis, and Rietveld refinement from synchrotron X-ray diffraction data. It was indicated that Ni²⁺ ions occupy in octahedral site only, while Cu²⁺ ions distribute in both tetrahedral and octahedral sites. The variation of magnetic parameters is discussed based on Ni²⁺ concentration, grain size, the cation distribution, surface effect, and the presence of Fe²⁺ ion in the samples

Classification Methods for Mapping Mangrove Extents and Drivers of Change in Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam during 2005-2018

Mangrove forests have been globally recognised as their vital functions in preventing coastal erosion, mitigating effects of wave actions and protecting coastal habitats and adjacent shoreline land-uses from extreme coastal events. However, these functions are under severe threats due to the rapid growth of population, intensive shrimp farming and the increased intensity of severe storms in Hau Loc and Nga Son districts, Thanh Hoa province. This research was conducted to monitor spatial-temporal changes in mangrove extents using Landsat and Sentinel imageries from 2005 to 2018. Unsupervised and supervised classification methods and vegetation indices were tested to select the most suitable classification method for study sites, then to quantify mangrove extents and their changes in selected years. The findings show that supervised classification was the most suitable in study sites compared to vegetation indices and unsupervised classification. Mangrove forest extents increased by 7.5 %, 38.6 %, and 47.8 % during periods of 2005 - 2010, 2010 - 2015 and 2015 - 2018, respectively. An increase of mangrove extents resulted from national programs of mangrove rehabilitation and restoration during 2005- 2018, increased by 278.0 ha (123.0 %)

Monitoring Changes in Coastal Mangrove Extents Using Multi-Temporal Satellite Data in Selected Communes, Hai Phong City, Vietnam

Mangrove forests are important and known as one of the most productive ecosystems in the tropics. They reduce the impacts of extreme events, provide important breeding grounds for aquatic species and build the resilience of ecosystem-dependent coastal communities. On the contrary, they are also known as one of the most threatened and vulnerable ecosystems worldwide, which have experienced a dramatic decline due to extensive coastal development during the last half-century. Remote sensing techniques have demonstrated a high potential to detect, identify, map, and monitor mangrove conditions and its changes, which is reflected by a large number of scientific papers published on this topic. The aim of this study was to investigate the multi-decadal changes of mangrove forests selected communes in Hai Phong city, North Vietnam, based on using Landsat and Sentinel 2 data from 2000 to 2018. The study used these continuous steps: 1) data pre-processing; 2) image classification using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index; 3) accuracy assessments; and 4) multi-temporal change detection and spatial analysis of mangrove forests. The classification maps in comparison with the ground reference data showed the satisfactory agreement with the overall accuracy was higher than 80.0%. From 2000 to 2018, the areas of mangrove forests in the study regions  increased by 584.2 ha in Dai Hop and Bang La communes (Region 1) and by 124.2 ha in Tan Thanh, Ngoc Xuyen and Ngoc Hai communes (Region 2), mainly due to the boom of mangrove planting projects and good mangrove management at the local community level

EFFECT OF MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE PACKAGING (MAP) AND POSTHARVEST TREATMENTS ON QUALITY OF LITCHI FRUITS DURING STORAGE

In this article, effect of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and different postharvest treatments on quality of litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) fruit was investigated. Quality indexes of litchi during cold storage at 4 ± 1 oC were measured in terms of decay, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, color, anthocyanin content and incidence of microbiological infection. These indexes were determined at harvest and 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days after storage. The results suggested that after 35 days of storage, the pericarp browning and fruit quality deterioration can be improved compared to the control by dipping fruit is hot water at 47 oC in 7 min., followed by oxalic acid solution (pH = 3 in 6 min.) and finally packed in MAP bag (LDPE, thickness of 30 µm incorporated 3-5 % silica additive) and stored at 4 ± 10C and relative humidity of 90 %

Thirty years of vaccination in Vietnam: Impact and cost-effectiveness of the national Expanded Programme on Immunization.

INTRODUCTION: Countries like Vietnam transitioning to middle-income status increasingly bear the cost of both existing and new vaccines. However, the impact and cost-effectiveness of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) as a whole has never been assessed on a country level. METHODS: Data on vaccine-preventable disease incidence and mortality from Vietnam's national surveillance was analysed to estimate the likely impact that vaccination in 1980-2010 may have had. Adjustment for under-reporting was made by examining trends in reported mumps incidence and in case-fatality risks for each disease. The same data were separately analysed using the Lives Saved Tool (LiST) to give an alternative estimate of impact. The financial cost of EPI in 1996-2010 was also estimated from the perspective of service provider. RESULTS: National surveillance data suggests that up to 5.7 million diseases cases and 26,000 deaths may have been prevented by EPI. Analysis using LiST suggests that even more deaths (370,000) may have been prevented by measles and pertussis vaccination alone. The cost-effectiveness of EPI is estimated to be around $1000-$27,000 per death prevented. CONCLUSION: Two separate approaches to assessing EPI impact in Vietnam give different quantitative results but a common conclusion: that EPI has made a substantial impact on mortality and represents good value for money