Evolutionary speech quality estimation in VoIP

Estimating the quality of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) as perceived by humans is considered a formidable task. This is partly due to the relatively large number of variables that are involved as determinants of quality. Moreover, discerning the significance of one variable over the other is difficult. In this paper a novel approach based on genetic programming (GP) is presented. It maps the effect of network traffic parameters on listeners’ perception of speech quality. The ITU-T Recommendation P.862 (PESQ) algorithm is used as a reference model in this research. The GP discovered models that provide effective VoIP quality estimation are highly correlated to ITU-T Recommendation P.862 (PESQ). They also outperform the ITU-T Recommendation P.563 in estimating the effect that packet loss has on speech quality. The GP discovered models prove suited to real-time and in vivo evaluation of VoIP calls. Additionally, they are deployable on a wide variety of hardware platforms.     

Modification of bean starch by γ-irradiation: Effect on functional and morphological properties

Starches isolated from Red, White, Yellow and Black Kidney beans were treated by γ-irradiation doses of 5, 10 and 20 kGy. Physicochemical, morphological and pasting properties of irradiated bean starches were investigated. Microscopic observation under scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed that some of the bean starch granules were destroyed by γ-irradiation and the breakage was greater at a higher dose (20 kGy). Physicochemical properties differed significantly and showed strong dose-dependent relationship. Carboxyl content, solubility, water absorption capacity and transmittance increased, whereas swelling power, apparent amylose content, syneresis and pasting properties decreased upon the irradiation of kidney bean starch. Radiation doses were positively correlated with water absorption capacity and solubility index and negatively correlated with swelling index, peak viscosity, trough viscosity, breakdown and final viscosity. There were high positive correlations between pasting properties. X-ray diffraction pattern remained same upon irradiation but a decrease in crystallinity was observed with increasing irradiation dose.     

Influence of different pulsed electric field strengths on the quality of the grapefruit juice

Grapefruit juice was investigated using pulsed electric fields (PEF) with (electric field strengths: 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 kV cm^?1; flow rate: 80 mL min^?1; pulse frequency: 1 kHz at 40 °C for 600 μs). Total phenolics, DPPH, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total anthocyanins, total carotenoids, sugars and physicochemical properties of grapefruit juice were studied. In addition, the effect of PEF treatment on micro‐organisms was also observed. Results indicated that no significant change was observed in pH, Brix, titratable acidity, sugars, total anthocyanins and colour attributes with the increase in pulsed electric strength as compared to control treatment. However, significant decrease in nonenzymatic browning (NEB) and viscosity while an increase in cloud value, DPPH, TAC, total phenolics and total carotenoids, while reduction in the activity of micro‐organisms, was also observed with the increase in pulsed electric strength as compared to control treatment. This study suggested that PEF at 25 kV cm^?1 could improve the quality of grapefruit juice.     

Monosize magnetic hydrophobic beads for lysozyme purification under magnetic field

Monosize and magnetic poly(glycidyl methacrylate-N-methacryloyl-(l)-tryptophan) [mPGMATrp] beads (1.6 µm in diameter) were used for hydrophobic affinity capture of lysozyme from chicken egg-white. N-methacryloyl-(l)-tryptophan (MATrp), which gives hydrophobicity to the resulting polymer, was synthesized by reacting methacryloyl chloride and l-tryptophan methyl ester then characterized by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). mPGMATrp beads were produced by dispersion polymerization in the presence of magnetite nano-powder. mPGMATrp beads were characterized by means of swelling studies, elemental analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Lysozyme adsorption experiments were performed under different experimental conditions (i.e., lysozyme concentration, temperature, and ionic strength) in magnetically stabilized fluidized bed system, (MSFB). Maximum adsorption capacity was 263.9 mg/g. It was observed that mPGMATrp beads can be used without significant loss in lysozyme adsorption capacity after 25 adsorption-elution cycle.     

Investigating mix proportions of high strength self compacting concrete by using Taguchi method

In this study, mix proportion parameters of high strength self compacting concrete (HSSCC) are analyzed by using the Taguchi’s experiment design methodology for optimal design. For that purpose, mixtures are designed in a L₁₈ orthogonal array with six factors, namely, “water/cementitious material (W/C) ratio”, “water content (W)”, “fine aggregate to total aggregate (s/a) percent”, “fly ash content (FA)”, “air entraining agent (AE) content”, and “superplasticizer content (SP)”. The mixtures are extensively tested, both in fresh and hardened states and to meet all of the practical and technical requirements of HSSCC. The experimental results are analyzed by using the Taguchi experimental design methodology. The best possible levels for mix proportions are determined for maximization of ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and for the minimization of air content, water permeability, and water absorption values.     

Electrical and optical properties of diketopyrrolopyrrole-based copolymer interfaces in thin film devices

Two donor-acceptor diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-based copolymers (PDPP-BBT and TDPP-BBT) have been synthesized for their application in organic devices such as metal-insulator semiconductor (MIS) diodes and field-effect transistors (FETs). The semiconductor-dielectric interface was characterized by capacitance-voltage and conductance-voltage methods. These measurements yield an interface trap density of 4.2 × 10(12) eV?1 cm?2 in TDPP-BBT and 3.5 × 1012 eV?1 cm?2 in PDPP-BBT at the flat-band voltage. The FETs based on these spincoated DPP copolymers display p-channel behavior with hole mobilities of the order 10?3 cm2/(Vs). Light scattering studies from PDPP-BBT FETs show almost no change in the Raman spectrum after the devices are allowed to operate at a gate voltage, indicating that the FETs suffer minimal damage due to the metal-polymer contact or the application of an electric field. As a comparison Raman intensity profile from the channel-Au contact layer in pentacene FETs are presented, which show a distinct change before and after biasing.     

Formulation and evaluation of thymoquinone niosomes: application of developed and validated RP-HPLC method in delivery system

Abstract

A rapid, accurate, and sensitive reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method was developed and validated for the estimation of Thymoquinone (TMQ) in API as well as in noisome. The chromatograms were developed with the mobile phase – water: 2-propanol: methanol (50:45:5 v/v/v) as a solvent system at 254?nm. The method was validated as per ICH guidelines for different parameters and the recovery of TMQ was calculated in developed niosomes. Further, TMQ loaded niosomes (TMQNIOS) were prepared and evaluated for different parameters. The optimized TMQNIOS (F3) was further evaluated for surface morphology, in vitro drug release, permeation study, and confocal laser scanning microscopic (CLSM) study. The method showed linearity range between 6.25 and 100?µg/ml with low detection limit and quantitation limit with a value of 2.08 and 6.25?µg/ml. The developed formulations showed the vesicle size and encapsulation efficiency in the range of 157.32?±?3.15 to 211.44?±?5.23?nm and 59.32?±?4.87 to 83.21?±?3.55%, respectively. The drug release result showed the significant higher release from TMQNIOS in compared to TMQDIS, and the release kinetics data showed Higuchi's equation with highest regression coefficient values. The permeation study and the confocal laser microscopy study further confirmed the enhancement in permeation of TMQ in the intestinal mucosa.