Semi-supervised and Active-learning Scenarios: Efficient Acoustic Model Refinement for a Low Resource Indian Language

We address the problem of efficient acoustic-model refinement (continuous retraining) using semi-supervised and active learning for a low resource Indian language, wherein the low resource constraints are having i) a small labeled corpus from which to train a baseline `seed' acoustic model and ii) a large training corpus without orthographic labeling or from which to perform a data selection for manual labeling at low costs. The proposed semi-supervised learning decodes the unlabeled large training corpus using the seed model and through various protocols, selects the decoded utterances with high reliability using confidence levels (that correlate to the WER of the decoded utterances) and iterative bootstrapping. The proposed active learning protocol uses confidence level based metric to select the decoded utterances from the large unlabeled corpus for further labeling. The semi-supervised learning protocols can offer a WER reduction, from a poorly trained seed model, by as much as 50% of the best WER-reduction realizable from the seed model's WER, if the large corpus were labeled and used for acoustic-model training. The active learning protocols allow that only 60% of the entire training corpus be manually labeled, to reach the same performance as the entire data

Food spectrum and dietary preferences of the Indian anchovy Stolephorus indicus (van Hasselt, 1823) from Thiruvananthapuram coast, Kerala

The food preferences of the Indian anchovy Stolephorus indicus (van Hasselt, 1823) along the Thiruvananthapuram coast of Kerala was studied for a period of one year from June 2013 to May 2014, dividing the entire period into three seasons as pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon. A total of 141 samples were collected and the gut contents were analysed. The principal food item was the crustaceans which included copepods, lucifers, mysids, Acetes and amphipods. The other preferred prey items were molluscs (bivalves and gastropods), small fishes, tintinnids and dinoflagellates. The gastrosomatic and stomach fullness indices revealed almost uniform feeding preferences with copepods being the preferred food item throughout the three seasons. Analysis of variance showed significant (p0.05) seasonal variation was observed in the gut contents of S. indicus. Analyses of the different prey indices [prey diversity index (H), niche width indices (B) and prey evenness indices (e)] of S. indicus for the three seasons indicated an almost uniform distribution of prey species throughout the study period which directly indicate the abundance of the prey items and indirectly indicate a stable potential fishery and ecosystem

Robust parameters for automatic segmentation of speech

Automatic segmentation of speech ir on important problem that is useful in speed recognition, synthesis and coding. We explore in this paper: the robust parameter set, weightingfunction and distance measure for reliable segmentation of noisy speech. It is found that the MFCC parometers, successful in speech recognition. holds the best promise far robust segmentation also. We also explored a variery of symmetric and asymmetric weighting lifter, from which it is found that a symmetric lifter of the form $1+{Asin^{1/2}}{(\pi n/L)}$, ${0}\leq{n}\leq{L-1}$, for MFCC dimension L, is most effective. With regard to distance measure. the direct $L_2$ norm is found adequate

Entrepreneurship based empowerment among fisherwomen self help groups of Kerala

The present study was conducted to analyse the extent of empowerment achieved by fisherwomen through participation in the entrepreneurial activities of self help groups (SHGs) functioning in the fisheries sector. Data were collected from 180 SHG members in the Kollam, Ernakulam and Kasargod districts of Kerala. Aquaculture (55.5%) and value addition of fish (45.5%) were the entrepreneurial activities adopted by fisherwomen SHGs. Empowerment level of each SHG member was quantified by modifying the existing empowerment dimensions into an Empowerment Index (EI), consisting of 8 sub-dimensions. Extent of empowerment was found out by taking the difference of empowerment index before and after joining the SHG. Among the eight empowerment dimensions, higher difference was observed in confidence building (0.43) followed by economic empowerment (0.42) and decision making pattern (0.41). The study revealed that the level of involvement in entrepreneurial activity has increased the empowerment in terms of confidence building, self-esteem, decision making pattern, psychological and economic empowerment. However, the existing fisheries extension interventions through extension contact and training were found to be associated with only self esteem and psychological empowerment. Therefore, new and innovative extension interventions are suggested in the paper to influence other sub-dimensions like economic empowerment, confidence building and decision making pattern

Entrepreneurship based empowerment among fisherwomen self help groups of Kerala

The present study was conducted to analyse the extent of empowerment achieved by fisherwomen through participation in the entrepreneurial activities of self help groups (SHGs) functioning in the fisheries sector. Data were collected from 180 SHG members in the Kollam, Ernakulam and Kasargod districts of Kerala. Aquaculture (55.5%) and value addition of fish (45.5%) were the entrepreneurial activities adopted by fisherwomen SHGs. Empowerment level of each SHG member was quantified by modifying the existing empowerment dimensions into an Empowerment Index (EI), consisting of 8 sub-dimensions. Extent of empowerment was found out by taking the difference of empowerment index before and after joining the SHG. Among the eight empowerment dimensions, higher difference was observed in confidence building (0.43) followed by economic empowerment (0.42) and decision making pattern (0.41). The study revealed that the level of involvement in entrepreneurial activity has increased the empowerment in terms of confidence building, self-esteem, decision making pattern, psychological and economic empowerment. However, the existing fisheries extension interventions through extension contact and training were found to be associated with only self esteem and psychological empowerment. Therefore, new and innovative extension interventions are suggested in the paper to influence other sub-dimensions like economic empowerment, confidence building and decision making pattern

Antiproteinuric effects of cilnidipine and amlodipine as add on therapy in hypertensive patients with chronic renal disease: a comparative study

Background: Cilnidipine is a dual blocker of L type and N type calcium channel and dilates both afferent and efferent arterioles. Hence it increases renal blood flow and reduces glomerular pressure ultimately reducing proteinuria. Thus, it may exert renoprotective effects. The present study was designed to compare the antiproteinuric effects of cilnidipine and amlodipine in hypertensive patients with chronic kidney disease as add on therapy to patients on losartan.Methods: This is a randomized, open label, prospective, parallel group study conducted in the out patient Department of Nephrology. The trial enrolled Diabetic CKD patients with hypertension and with spot urine protein creatinine ratio (PCR) ≥0.2 who were being treated with T. Losartan 50mg/day for >2 months. The subjects were then randomly assigned to 2 groups to receive either cilnidipine 10-20mg/day (Group A-46) or amlodipine 5-10mg/day (Group B- 50). The drugs were given for a duration of 6 months for each patient. The dose of losartan (50mg/day) was not adjusted throughout the study.Results: After 6 months, a significant reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure was seen in both the groups. The decrease in urinary protein creatinine ratio was significantly higher in cilnidipine group rather than amlodipine group. Thus, cilnidipine exerted greater antiproteinuric effect than amlodipine.Conclusions: Cilnidipine has antihypertensive effect equivalent to amlodipine but addition of cilnidipine rather than amlodipine to losartan decreased urine protein excretion in diabetic chronic kidney disease patients

Soil organic carbon stock in natural and restored mangrove forests in Pichavaram south-east coast of India

801-808Mangrove ecosystem is one of the important coastal ecosystems providing ecological security of the coastal area and livelihood security to the coastal fishermen.  Besides it plays an important role in carbon sequestration as large amount of carbon is stored in the below ground biomass. The role of mangrove restoration in carbon stocking has not been studied comprehensively either globally or nationally. The aim of the present study is to quantify the soil organic carbon stock and carbon sequestration rate of the different age groups of restored and natural stands of Pichavaram mangroves forest. The soil organic carbon stock of the upper soil layer (0–90 cm) of six different sites from natural mangrove stands, 21years, 17 years, 16 years, 15 years and 12 years old stands were 146.1(Mg C ha-1), 99.29 (Mg C ha-1), 93.18 (Mg C ha-1), 57.41 (Mg C ha-1), 95.54 (Mg C ha-1) and 84.84 (Mg C ha-1), respectively. Carbon sequestration rate of Pichavaram mangrove forests ranged from 2.33 to 4.44 g C m-2 year-1. The result of the study reveals that soil organic carbon stock and burial rate were high in natural mangrove area than the restored areas. In this regard, restoration and rehabilitation of mangroves is required for preserving the ecologically important mangroves ecosystem to mitigate the impacts of climate change

Isoeffect calculations based on linear quadratic equations for head and neck cancers

BackgroundThe linear quadratic model has led to various methods for the calculation of isoeffect relationships in radiotherapy. In this model, the tissue sensitive parameters α and β usually appear as a ratio, α/β. These parameters are used to describe the response of normal tissues to radiation insult. Different radiation induced biological end points in specific tissues and organs are associated with the characteristics of the α/β ratio. The linear quadratic model has been used clinically to address questions relating to changes in fractions in treatment schedules.AimThe process of treating cancer with ionizing radiation is complex and subject to dosimetric errors which may potentially result in early or late complications. Our objective was to correct such errors through the application of the incomplete repair linear quadratic model.Materials/MethodsRepair mechanisms are affected if, owing to dosimetric error, excess dose is delivered in single or multiple fractions. Corrections for such errors were simulated, for different clinical situations, in order to avoid late fibrosis in head and neck cancers.ResultsNSD, CRE, and TDF approach could not predict, onset of proliferation, overall treatment time, late and early complications, but linear quadratic model calculations predicts isoeffective schedules successfully with above parameters.ConclusionsIn head and neck cancers, a number of parameters influence the results of treatment. Isoeffect calculations show the risk factors responsible for fibrosis and spinal cord damage and therefore may be used to calculate dose reductions for all remaining fractions, rather than applying shielding

Reproductive biology and diet of the grey sharpnose shark Rhizoprionodon oligolinx Springer, 1964 (Chondrichthyes: Carcharhinidae) from the north-eastern Arabian Sea

Information on reproductive biology is presented for the grey sharpnose shark Rhizoprionodon oligolinx Springer, 1964 (Chondrichthyes: Carcharhiniformes), collected off the north-west coast of India in the Arabian Sea. A total of 711 individuals, of 27.0 to 93.0 cm total length (TL), 180 to 2600 g total weight (TW) were used for the study. The length-weight relationships were significantly different between the sexes. The size-at-maturity (Lm50) for females and males was estimated to be 62.3 and 59.5 cm TL respectively. Number of embryos ranged from 1 to 7 and the size at birth was estimated between 25 to 30 cm TL. Overall sex ratio favoured the females slightly at the rate of 1.27:1. There was significant positive correlation between maternal TL and number of embryos (p<0.001). Dietary analysis of stomach contents (%IRI) revealed that R. oligolinx feeds primarily on teleosts (95.5%), cephalopods (3.2%) and crustaceans (1.2%). This study presents the first detailed biological observation on size, sex composition, size-at-maturity (Lm50) and length-weight relationship of R. oligolinx from the northern Arabian Sea

Forecasting technological needs and prioritizing factors in agriculture from a plant breeding and genetics domain perspective: A review

Future technologies in the domain of Indian agriculture are expected to be different from what these are now. The subject of Technology Forecasting (TF) can be resorted to identify the needs to fill the gaps in the present technological trends. As a TF exercise, Brainstorming and Questionnaire approaches were employed to envision future technological needs for one of the subdomains of agriculture, i e Plant Breeding and Genetics (PB&G). Information obtained from experts was subjected to linear combination weighted scoring method for prioritizing key factors leading to future technological needs and were analyzed using multi-dimensional scaling for identifying key agricultural dimensions