Classification of Malaysian vowels using formant based features

Automatic speech recognition (ASR) has made great strides with the development of digital signal processing hardware and software, especially using English as the language of choice. Despite of all these advances, machines cannot match the performance of their human counterparts in terms of accuracy and speed, especially in case of speaker independent speech recognition. In this paper, a new feature based on formant is presented and evaluated on Malaysian spoken vowels. These features were classified and used to identify vowels recorded from 80 Malaysian speakers. A back propagation neural network (BPNN) model was developed to classify the vowels. Six formant features were evaluated, which were the first three formant frequencies and the distances between each of them. Results, showed that overall vowel classification rate of these three formant combinations are comparatively the same but differs in terms of individual vowel classification

Decision making using modified s-curve membership function in fuzzy linear programming problem

In order to develop approaches to solve a fuzzy linear programming problem, it is necessary to study first the formulation of membership functions and then the methodology for applying the solution to real life problems. A S-curve membership function is proposed in this paper. It is important to note that the S-curve membership function has to be flexible to describe the fuzziness in the problem. Fuzziness may occur in several levels of an industrial production management such as manpower requirements, resource availability such as software and the demand to be met. In order to show that the S-curve membership function works well for fuzzy problems, a numerical example is demonstrated. A thorough study on how the non linear membership function used in dealing with fuzzy parameters and fuzzy constraints is also presented. Only one case where all three coefficients (such as objective coefficients, technical coefficients and resource variables) that normally occur in production planning problem, are considered and fuzzified. However, there are several other cases. The result obtained from this paper is to provide confidence in using the proposed S-curve membership function in a real life production planning industrial problem

Studies on the antioxidant properties of Tualang honey of Malaysia

Honey has been used since ancient times for its nutritional as well as curative properties. Tualang honey is collected from wild honey bees’ hives on Tualang trees found in the Malaysian rain forest. It has been used traditionally for the treatment of various diseases, where its therapeutic value has partly been related to its antioxidant properties. This study therefore assessed the colour intensity, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and antiradical activity of gamma irradiated Tualang Honey. The colour intensity at ABS45O was 489.5 ± 1.7 mAU, total phenolic content was 251.7±7.9 mg gallic acid /Kg honey, total antioxidant activity by FRAP assay was 322.1±9.7 (μM Fe(II)) and the antiradical activity by DPPH assay was 41.30 ± 0.78 (% inhibition). The data confirms that the antioxidant properties of gamma irradiated Tualang honey are similar to other types of honeys reported in the literature.Key words: Tualang honey, Malaysia, Total antioxidant activity, Gamma radiation, Phenolic content, DPPH assa

User friendly system for the visually impaired in learning Al-Quran

This study presents a method to enable the visually impaired Muslim to learn and read the Al-Quran using Braille Display with software help. The system reads the database which contains all verses of Al-Quran and user will need to select the verse and ayah to read. Besides that, this system can be used in a class to teach visually impaired students to learn Al-Quran. Every word or character typed by the instructor in the main Braille Panel will be transmitted to the sub Braille Panel that is connected to the main Braille Panel. The selected verse of Al-Quran and ayah will also generate an index before being transmitted to the Braille Panel. The index will be transmitted to the Braille Display for people to touch and read the display. A user friendly Graphical User Interface (GUI) will be used to fulfill the ergonomics for the visually impaired user's physical capabilities. Several approaches are used to design and implement the interface for the visually impaired like speech or sound output and Braille display. The Braille codes can be displayed using the Braille panel. The design interface and structure of the system for the visually impaired users in learning Al-Quran is presented

Importance of Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve in the Klang Valley and the Multimedia Super Corridor

The location of the Air Hitam Forest Reserve within the Klang Valley and the Multimedia Super Corridor is highlighted and compared to the state and extent of other forested areas in the Klang Valley and the Multimedia Super Corridor. As insufficient detailed information was available the estimates for the all forested area were based on the forest resources map (FS6 from 1991). Population of the areas were also estimated from the 1990 census. Some projections to the respective conditions in 2000 was also made and discussed

Dumbbells and ankle-wrist weight training leads to changes in body composition and anthropometric parameters with potential cardiovascular disease risk reduction

AbstractObjectivesPromoting physical activity is a global strategy to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to determine and compare the effect of light resistance training using either dumbbells or ankle-wrist weights on the anthropometric parameters and body composition of adults in Kelantan, Malaysia.MethodsThis randomized community trial was conducted in Kelantan, Malaysia, from March through August 2012. Adults with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 23 kg/m2 were randomized into dumbbell (N = 69) and ankle-wrist (N = 69) weight groups. Participants in the dumbbell group performed structured group exercises three times per week using a pair of one-kilogram dumbbells. Participants in the ankle-wrist weight group were given one pair of 500 gm ankle weights and one pair of 500 gm wrist weights to be worn during the activities of daily living three days per week for at least 20 min. BMI, waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), body fat percentage (BF%) and skeletal muscle percentage (SM%) were measured at baseline, week 6, month 3 and month 6.ResultsEighty-nine participants completed this study. There were significant reductions in BMI only at week six for the dumbbell group. No significant BMI changes were observed for the ankle-wrist weight group. Significant improvements of WC, WHR, BF%, and SM% were observed in both intervention groups from baseline at week 6, month 3, and month 6.ConclusionResistance exercise using either dumbbells or ankle-wrist weights produced significant improvements in certain components of body composition and anthropometric parameters

Spontaneous pregnancy in a patient with premature ovarian insufficiency after a failed attempt of ovulation induction

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is defined as intermittent or permanent gonadal insufficiency before age of 40 years. POI causes female infertility hence pregnancies are uncommon but not impossible. Ovarian failure is not permanent, unlike menopause. There could be intermittent ovulation and spontaneous pregnancy. Many protocols aimed to restore ovarian functions have been described in the recent years. This is a case of POI women who conceived spontaneously in the immediate menstrual cycle after a failed attempt at ovarian stimulation following many years on hormone replacement therapy (HRT). She had an unremarkable pregnancy and delivered a healthy baby via caesarean section

Excitation of surface plasmons in thin noble metallic film of copper, silver and gold paper

The formation of surface plasmons in a different type of noble metallic film was successfully simulated using MATLAB program software. The thicknesses of copper, silver and gold metal films were varied between 20 nm to 80 nm. The narrowness and depth of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) curves were observed to determine the excitation of surface plasmons. The simulation results indicate that the maximum excitation of surface plasmons can be achieved by using silver thin film with thicknesses of 50 nm at the minimum reflectivity of 0.0038 a.u and full width at half maximum value of 0.2592°. The silver film that produces a deeper and sharper SPR curve has potential in the development of a low cost and high sensitivity of SPR sensing device