Timbre features with MEDIAN values for compensating intra-speaker variability in speaker identification of whispering sound

International Journal of Speech Technology - Because voiced phonations are absent in the whisper, distinguishing among the speakers with whispered voice is a difficult task. The selection...     

Analysis for preliminary design of a class of torsionally coupled buildings with horizontal setbacks

Simplified method of analysis of a special class of torsionally coupled buildings with horizontal setbacks is developed that can be executed with a plane frame analysis by means of a personal computer. Since most buildings may not exactly satisfy all the classification criteria, it is shown that an averaging technique may be used in such cases up to a certain limit. Perturbation analysis is carried out in determining such a limit, and numerical examples are presented to validate this. As a whole, the proposed simplified analysis may be used as a convenient and offhand tool at the preliminary stage of design.     

Estimation of cutting forces and surface roughness for hard turning using neural networks

Metal cutting mechanics is quite complicated and it is very difficult to develop a comprehensive model which involves all cutting parameters affecting machining variables. In this study, machining variables such as cutting forces and surface roughness are measured during turning at different cutting parameters such as approaching angle, speed, feed and depth of cut. The data obtained by experimentation is analyzed and used to construct model using neural networks. The model obtained is then tested with the experimental data and results are indicated.     

Efficiency of Urban Water Supply Utilities in India

The two parameters of services output of water utilities are the per capita water available for consumption and the hours for which water is supplied per day. However, water utilities in India differ on the level of these outputs substantially. This paper uses the data for water utilities in 31 cities to analyse their performance in delivery of services. Using data envelopment analysis, a measure of technical efficiency for various utilities is calculated. The results indicate that water utilities can increase the delivery of water on a per capita basis and increase the hours of supply per day by about 18%. Nearly 37% of the increase in services could result from changing the scale of operation. This paper also discusses if the institutional framework within which these utilities operate has implications on their efficiency.     

Current-mode circuit-level technique to design variation-aware nanoscale summing circuit for ultra-low power applications

Prodigious demand for fast performance-ultra low power electronic devices has insinuated the discovery of circuit style that promises reduced propagation delay (t _p ), as well as low power dissipation (PWR). MOS current mode logic (MCML) style has emerged as a promising logic style that offers high speed of operation at the expense of acceptable power dissipation. This paper proposes a MCML full adder which employs a load controller circuit. It compares MCML full adder with hybrid-CMOS full adder in terms of various design metrics in superthreshold as well as subthreshold regions. MCML topology with load controller offers a high speed of operation and low power dissipation in superthreshold region. Same circuit arrangement, when operated in subthreshold region also delivers higher operating speed with ultralow power dissipation compared to its hybrid-CMOS counterpart. Power dissipation analysis established MCML based full adder more robust compared to its hybrid-CMOS counterpart. In particular, MCML full adder design achieves 3.77× (2.38×) improvement in propagation delay, 10.43× (3.45×) improvement in average power dissipation, 39.43× (8.21×) lower power-delay product (PDP) and 149.07× (19.55×) improvement in energy-delay product (EDP) in superthreshold (subthreshold) regions of operation at 16-nm technology node. The above results are also validated using TSMC’s industry standard 0.18-μm technology model parameters and a similar trend is observed in the design metrics of the MCML and hybrid-CMOS full adder circuits. In addition, noise performance of the above mentioned circuits is also carried out. It is observed that the noise induced by the hybrid-CMOS full adder is about 14× to that of the MCML full adder.

     

Will capacity building training interventions given to street food vendors give us safer food?: A cross-sectional study from India

Successful food hygiene training and the consent of safe food handling practices learnt during training are critical elements in the control of food-borne illnesses throughout the world. It is true for food handlers and vendors belonging to all sectors. But, it is all the more urgent for street vendors because they are more exposed to environmental hazards and are predominantly from much weaker socio-economic backgrounds and yet cater to the general mass. Using a cross-sectional study design a sample of 80 street food vendors were selected and provided with training to evaluate the existing Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) regarding food safety and hygiene and the change of the same after training interventions. Responses regarding KAP on food safety and hygiene before and after training revealed that there was a significant change in their perception to food safety knowledge and also practices. The knowledge level of the food vendors increased from an average 24.35%–66.2% after training interventions. The overall performance rating of full adoption of good hygiene practices by the vendors ranged from 37.5% to 50.8% in post-training period.     

Thermal optimisation of a built-in storage solar water heater

A simple transient analysis of a built-in storage solar water heater is presented; the results obtained by the present theory are in close agreement with experimental observations as well as with predictions obtained by a more rigorous theory. The water heater consits of an insulated rectangular tank whose top surface is suitably blackened by blackboard paint and then glazed. The unit is exposed to solar radiation during sunshine hours and is covered by adequate insulation at night. The effect of insulation thicknesses (top and bottom insulation) and water mass in the tank is discussed. The importance of using a reflecting sheet instead of insulation is emphasised.     

Synthesis and characterization of highly acetylated sago starch

This study was carried out to understand and establish the changes in physicochemical parameters of sago starch after acetylation. Highly substituted starch acetate was prepared by reaction with native sago starch and acetic anhydride in organic solvent. Their formation was confirmed by the titrimetric analysis and FT‐IR. The presence of absorption band in FT‐IR at 1748 cm⁻¹ confirmed the carbonyl group attachment. The thermal behavior of native and acetyl substituted sago starch was investigated using thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) and DSC. The results reveal that highly substituted starch acetate was more thermally stable as compared to native form. The XRD patterns showed loss of crystalline nature and its transformation into amorphous form. The SEM study suggested that the smooth surfaces of starch granules were changed into fibrous form after acetylation.