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This paper proposes a scalable speech coding scheme using the embedded matrix quantization of the LSFs in the LPC model. For an efficient quantization of the spectral parameters, two types of codebooks of different sizes are designed and used to encode unvoiced and mixed voicing segments separately. The tree-like structured codebooks of our embedded quantizer, constructed through a cell merging process, help to make a fine-grain scalable speech coder. Using an efficient adaptive dual-band approximation of the LPC excitation, where voicing transition frequency is determined based on the concept of instantaneous frequency in the frequency domain, near natural sounding synthesized speech is... 

This paper introduces a novel scalable speech coding scheme based on embedded matrix quantization of LSF parameters in an LPC model. In the proposed quantizer, codewords are organized based on a tree structure through a cell-merging process, which leads to a fine-grain scalable coder at rates below 900 bps. Near natural sounding is achieved at very low rates by employing an efficient adaptive dual-band scheme to approximate the LPC excitation signals. Evaluation results, obtained from both overall quality measurement and intelligibility assessment, show that the proposed coder could be a reasonable choice for improving the bottom-line speech quality in low bit rates. © 2008 IEEE  

One of the main issues with data hiding algorithms is capacity of data embedding. Most of data hiding methods suffer from low capacity that could make them inappropriate in certain hiding applications. This paper presents a high capacity data hiding method that uses encryption and the multi-band speech synthesis paradigm. In this method, an encrypted covert message is embedded in the unvoiced bands of the speech signal that leads to a high data hiding capacity of tens of kbps in a typical digital voice file transmission scheme. The proposed method yields a new standpoint in design of data hiding systems in the sense of three major, basically conflicting requirements in steganography, i.e.... 

This paper analytically studies the effect of functionally graded materials (FGMs) on the primary resonances of large amplitude flexural vibration of in-extensional rotating shafts with nonlinear curvature as well as nonlinear inertia. The constituent material is assumed to vary along the radial direction according to a power-law gradation. The governing differential equations and the corresponding boundary conditions are derived employing the variational approach. Then, the Galerkin method and the multiple scales perturbation method are utilized to obtain the frequency–response equation. In a numerical case study, the effects of the power-law index on the steady-state responses and locus of... 

This paper addresses a new approach to data hiding that leads to a high data embedding rate of tens of kbps in a typical digital voice file transmission scheme. The purpose of the proposed method is restricted to offline voice transmission that uses stego speech files in wave format. The basic idea of the algorithm is to embed encrypted covert message in the unvoiced bands of spectrum of the cover speech. Inaudibility of the proposed hiding scheme is investigated through both support vector machines (SVM)-based steganalysis and the ITU-T P.862 PESQ standard speech quality assessment. The results assure imperceptibility and transparency of the stego speech  

The powerful non-classical continuum theory of strain gradient elasticity is capable of effectively capturing small-scale effects in micro-structures. Based on this theory, a formulation is developed to investigate the coupled torsional-flexural vibrations of micro-rotors in the presence of inertia nonlinearities arising from the eccentricity and gyroscopic motion of the rotors. With the aid of a weighted-residual technique, coupled nonlinear partial differential equations of motion are truncated into a discrete model. Then, the resonance of the fundamental mode of the torsional vibration excited by the flexural vibration is investigated by utilizing the perturbation method of multiple... 

Reliability assessment is of primary importance in designing and planning distribution systems that operate in an economical manner with minimal interruption of customer loads. Distributed generation (DG) is expected to play an increasing role in emerging power systems because they use different type of resources and technologies to serve energy to power systems. DG is expected to improve the system reliability as its backup generation. Since DG units are subject to failures as all other generation units, the random behavior of these units must be taken into account in the analysis. Existence of DG units in a distribution system will effect on restoration time of load points. In this paper,... 

In this research, the small-scale effects in the torsional vibration of the micro-rotors with eccentric micro-disks are investigated based on the modified couple stress theory. The torsional deformation of the micro-shaft described by function φ(x,t) is considered to be independent of the flexural deformation described by functions v(x,t) and w(x,t). Using Hamilton's principle, the system of coupled nonlinear governing partial differential equations of motion and the associated boundary conditions are derived. The system of equations includes one corresponding to the torsional deformation and two others corresponding to the flexural deformation. By employing the Galerkin method, the system... 

The overall success in launching discovered drugs is tightly restricted to the high rate of late-stage failures, which ultimately inhibits the distribution of medicines in markets. As a result, it is imperative that methods reliably predict the effectiveness and, more critically, the toxicity of medicine early in the drug development process before clinical trials be continuously innovated. We must stay up to date with the fast appearance of new infections and diseases by rapidly developing the requisite vaccinations and medicines. Modern in vitro models of disease may be used as an alternative to traditional disease models, and advanced technology can be used for the creation of... 

Efficient strategies to promote microvascularization in vascular tissue engineering, a central priority in regenerative medicine, are still scarce; nano- and micro-sized aggregates and spheres or beads harboring primitive microvascular beds are promising methods in vascular tissue engineering. Capillaries are the smallest type and in numerous blood vessels, which are distributed densely in cardiovascular system. To mimic this microvascular network, specific cell components and proangiogenic factors are required. Herein, advanced biofabrication methods in microvascular engineering, including extrusion-based and droplet-based bioprinting, Kenzan, and biogripper approaches, are deliberated with... 

The present experimental study investigated the behavior of hot-mix asphalt (HMA) under repetitive creep and recovery loading. Cylindrical samples of HMA were subjected to trapezoidal and haversine loading followed by unloading. Different amounts of unloading (stress reduction) and relaxation periods (rest periods in complete unloading) were tested. The measured vertical deformation was decomposed into viscoelastic and viscoplastic components. It was observed for cyclic loading that an increase in unloading and/or relaxation period increased the recovery of viscoelastic strain, which in turn increased the accumulated viscoplastic strain in subsequent loading cycles. It appears that... 

The efficiency of an acidizing operation is usually assessed through ordinary well testing methods. These methods are performed only after the acidizing operation, and it is difficult to monitor and evaluate real-time efficiency of acidizing operation. Understanding the performance of the acidizing during the service, by analysis of the acidizing data is a viable approach to this costly and challenging process. The estimation of the skin changes needs an appropriate mathematical method that can handle the main aspects of an acidizing operation. It is tedious to model a real acidizing operation due to the heterogeneity of the reservoir, an unknown reaction rate of acid in reservoir condition,... 

An improved incompressible smoothed particle hydrodynamics (ISPH) method is presented, which employs first-order consistent discretization schemes both for the first-order and second-order spatial derivatives. A recently introduced wall boundary condition is implemented in the context of ISPH method, which does not rely on using dummy particles and, as a result, can be applied more efficiently and with less computational complexity. To assess the accuracy and computational efficiency of this improved ISPH method, a number of two-dimensional incompressible laminar internal flow benchmark problems are solved and the results are compared with available analytical solutions and numerical data....