Affective State and Voice: Reproducibility and Sensitivity of Speech Parameters

1988 ◽  
Vol 27 (02) ◽  
pp. 87-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. H. Stassen ◽  
G. Bomben

SummaryIn 1986, we started an extensive investigation into the nonverbal information transmitted in human speech. As part of this investigation, we had designed a study of healthy subjects -stratified according to sex, age and education - in order to gain valuable insights into the “typical” nonverbal activities of a speaker. The specific design of this study with 3 different types of texts and 2 repeated measurements at an interval of 14 days was used to test the stability of speech parameters over time as well as their sensitivity to form and content of text. In a first approach, we directed our efforts towards a set of major scalar quantities which earlier investigators had described as playing a key role in modelling affect in terms of directly measurable speech parameters.Based on a sample of 97 persons and with the help of a fully computerized digital approach to speech processing, we found that the four major speech parameters “mean vocal pitch”, “time duration of pauses”, “time duration of utterances”, and “energy” are sufficiently reproducible under constant experimental conditions, whereas some significant differences showed up with regard to the sensitivity of these parameters to form and content of the spoken text. No substantial impact originated from the external factors sex, age and education, except for the tonal shift of one octave between males and females.On the other hand, the overwhelming variety of individual voice patterns obviously excludes any simple model (which applies in general) of the nonverbal component of human speech. However, our analyses offered some important clues as to how appropriate models may be derived by means of adaptive procedures.

2009 ◽  
Vol 2009 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Vergara ◽  
Eugenio Martinelli ◽  
Eduard Llobet ◽  
Arnaldo D'Amico ◽  
Corrado Di Natale

One of the most serious limitations to the practical utilization of solid-state gas sensors is the drift of their signal. Even if drift is rooted in the chemical and physical processes occurring in the sensor, improved signal processing is generally considered as a methodology to increase sensors stability. Several studies evidenced the augmented stability of time variable signals elicited by the modulation of either the gas concentration or the operating temperature. Furthermore, when time-variable signals are used, the extraction of features can be accomplished in shorter time with respect to the time necessary to calculate the usual features defined in steady-state conditions. In this paper, we discuss the stability properties of distinct dynamic features using an array of metal oxide semiconductors gas sensors whose working temperature is modulated with optimized multisinusoidal signals. Experiments were aimed at measuring the dispersion of sensors features in repeated sequences of a limited number of experimental conditions. Results evidenced that the features extracted during the temperature modulation reduce the multidimensional data dispersion among repeated measurements. In particular, the Energy Signal Vector provided an almost constant classification rate along the time with respect to the temperature modulation.


1975 ◽  
Vol 34 (02) ◽  
pp. 426-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Kahan ◽  
I Nohén

SummaryIn 4 collaborative trials, involving a varying number of hospital laboratories in the Stockholm area, the coagulation activity of different test materials was estimated with the one-stage prothrombin tests routinely used in the laboratories, viz. Normotest, Simplastin-A and Thrombotest. The test materials included different batches of a lyophilized reference plasma, deep-frozen specimens of diluted and undiluted normal plasmas, and fresh and deep-frozen specimens from patients on long-term oral anticoagulant therapy.Although a close relationship was found between different methods, Simplastin-A gave consistently lower values than Normotest, the difference being proportional to the estimated activity. The discrepancy was of about the same magnitude on all the test materials, and was probably due to a divergence between the manufacturers’ procedures used to set “normal percentage activity”, as well as to a varying ratio of measured activity to plasma concentration. The extent of discrepancy may vary with the batch-to-batch variation of thromboplastin reagents.The close agreement between results obtained on different test materials suggests that the investigated reference plasma could be used to calibrate the examined thromboplastin reagents, and to compare the degree of hypocoagulability estimated by the examined PIVKA-insensitive thromboplastin reagents.The assigned coagulation activity of different batches of the reference plasma agreed closely with experimentally obtained values. The stability of supplied batches was satisfactory as judged from the reproducibility of repeated measurements. The variability of test procedures was approximately the same on different test materials.


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 339-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dilani G. Gamage ◽  
Ajith Gunaratne ◽  
Gopal R. Periyannan ◽  
Timothy G. Russell

Background: The dipeptide composition-based Instability Index (II) is one of the protein primary structure-dependent methods available for in vivo protein stability predictions. As per this method, proteins with II value below 40 are stable proteins. Intracellular protein stability principles guided the original development of the II method. However, the use of the II method for in vitro protein stability predictions raises questions about the validity of applying the II method under experimental conditions that are different from the in vivo setting. Objective: The aim of this study is to experimentally test the validity of the use of II as an in vitro protein stability predictor. Methods: A representative protein CCM (CCM - Caulobacter crescentus metalloprotein) that rapidly degrades under in vitro conditions was used to probe the dipeptide sequence-dependent degradation properties of CCM by generating CCM mutants to represent stable and unstable II values. A comparative degradation analysis was carried out under in vitro conditions using wildtype CCM, CCM mutants and two other candidate proteins: metallo-β-lactamase L1 and α -S1- casein representing stable, borderline stable/unstable, and unstable proteins as per the II predictions. The effect of temperature and a protein stabilizing agent on CCM degradation was also tested. Results: Data support the dipeptide composition-dependent protein stability/instability in wt-CCM and mutants as predicted by the II method under in vitro conditions. However, the II failed to accurately represent the stability of other tested proteins. Data indicate the influence of protein environmental factors on the autoproteolysis of proteins. Conclusion: Broader application of the II method for the prediction of protein stability under in vitro conditions is questionable as the stability of the protein may be dependent not only on the intrinsic nature of the protein but also on the conditions of the protein milieu.


Catalysts ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 510
Author(s):  
Majeda Khraisheh ◽  
Fares. Almomani ◽  
Gavin Walker

The separation of C3H4/C3H6 is one of the most energy intensive and challenging operations, requiring up to 100 theoretical stages, in traditional cryogenic distillation. In this investigation, the potential application of two MOFs (SIFSIX-3-Ni and NbOFFIVE-1-Ni) was tested by studying the adsorption–desorption behaviors at a range of operational temperatures (300–360 K) and pressures (1–100 kPa). Dynamic adsorption breakthrough tests were conducted and the stability and regeneration ability of the MOFs were established after eight consecutive cycles. In order to establish the engineering key parameters, the experimental data were fitted to four isotherm models (Langmuir, Freundlich, Sips and Toth) in addition to the estimation of the thermodynamic properties such as the isosteric heats of adsorption. The selectivity of the separation was tested by applying ideal adsorbed solution theory (IAST). The results revealed that SIFSIX-3-Ni is an effective adsorbent for the separation of 10/90 v/v C3H4/C3H6 under the range of experimental conditions used in this study. The maximum adsorption reported for the same combination was 3.2 mmolg−1. Breakthrough curves confirmed the suitability of this material for the separation with a 10-min gab before the lighter C3H4 is eluted from the column. The separated C3H6 was obtained with a 99.98% purity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Kuhlmann ◽  
Melanie Cieselski ◽  
Julia Schumann

Abstract Background In the present study, two distinct PCR methods were used for the quantification of genetic material and their results were compared: real-time-PCR (qPCR; relative quantification) and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR; absolute quantification). The comparison of the qPCR and the ddPCR was based on a stimulation approach of microvascular endothelial cells in which the effect of a pro-inflammatory milieu on the expression of vasoactive receptors was investigated. Results There was consistency in directions of effects for the majority of genes tested. With regard to the indicated dimension of the effects, the overall picture was more differentiated. It was striking that deviations were more pronounced if the measured values were on the extreme edges of the dynamic range of the test procedures. Conclusions To obtain valid and reliable results, dilution series are recommended, which should be carried out initially. In case of ddPCR the number of copies per µl should be adjusted to the low three-digit range. With regard to qPCR it is essential that the stability and reliability of the reference genes used is guaranteed. Here, ddPCR offers the advantage that housekeeping genes are not required. Furthermore, an absolute quantification of the sample can be easily performed by means of ddPCR. Before using ddPCR, however, care should be taken to optimize the experimental conditions. Strict indications for this methodology should also be made with regard to economic and timing factors.


Nanoscale ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 658-668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael del Caño ◽  
Jose M. Gisbert-González ◽  
Jose González-Rodríguez ◽  
Guadalupe Sánchez-Obrero ◽  
Rafael Madueño ◽  
...  

The highly packed cetyltrimethylammonium bromide bilayer on the surface of gold nanorods synthesized by the seed-mediated procedure hampers the complete ligand exchange under experimental conditions that preserves the stability of the dispersions.


2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dariusz Wyrzykowski ◽  
Joanna Pranczk ◽  
Dagmara Jacewicz ◽  
Aleksandra Tesmar ◽  
Bogusław Pilarski ◽  
...  

AbstractA potentiometric titration method (PT) and a stopped-flow kinetic technique monitored by a UV−Vis spectroscopy have been used to characterize the stability of series of Co(II)- and Ni(II)-thiodiacetato complexes, M(TDA), in the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) or 2,2’-bipyridine (bipy) in aqueous solutions. The stability constants of the binary (1:1), ternary (1:1:1) as well as the resulting hydroxo complexes were evaluated and compared to the corresponding oxydiacetate complexes. Based on the species distribution as a function of pH the relative predominance of the species in the system over a pH range was discussed. Furthermore, the kinetic measurements of the substitution reactions of the aqua ligands to phen or bipy in the coordination sphere of the binary complexes M(TDA) were performed in the 288–303 K temperature range, at a constant concentration of phen or bipy and at seven different concentrations of the binary complexes (0.2–0.5 mM). The kinetic stability of the M(TDA) complexes was discussed in relation to the experimental conditions and the kind of the auxiliary ligands (phen/bipy). Moreover, the influence of the type of primary ligand (thiodiacetate/oxydiacetate) on the substitution rate of the auxiliary ligands was also compared.


Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 960
Author(s):  
Meagan Archer ◽  
Jianping Xu

Aspergillus is a genus of filamentous fungi with vast geographic and ecological distributions. Species within this genus are clinically, agriculturally and biotechnologically relevant, leading to increasing interest in elucidating gene expression dynamics of key metabolic and physiological processes. Reverse-transcription quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) is a sensitive and specific method of quantifying gene expression. A crucial step for comparing RT-qPCR results between strains and experimental conditions is normalisation to experimentally validated reference gene(s). In this review, we provide a critical analysis of current reference gene selection and validation practices for RT-qPCR gene expression analyses of Aspergillus. Of 90 primary research articles obtained through our PubMed query, 17 experimentally validated the reference gene(s) used. Twenty reference genes were used across the 90 studies, with beta-tubulin being the most used reference gene, followed by actin, 18S rRNA and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Sixteen of the 90 studies used multiple reference genes for normalisation. Failing to experimentally validate the stability of reference genes can lead to conflicting results, as was the case for four studies. Overall, our review highlights the need to experimentally validate reference genes in RT-qPCR studies of Aspergillus.


1963 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir Palaty

The stability constant of the sodium chelate of EDTA was determined by means of a sodium-sensitive glass electrode. It appears that a hydrogen chelate of the formula NaHY2− is formed in the neutral solution of EDTA, but is very unstable. The stability constants, pKNaY = −2.61 and pKNaHY = 0.03, are comparable to the value obtained by Schwarzenbach and Ackermann under different experimental conditions by a less sensitive method.


1974 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 487-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Pitts

In a drop of liquid which hangs below a horizontal support or a t the end of a tube, the forces due to surface tension, pressure and gravity are in equilibrium. Amongst the many possible equilibrium shapes of the drop, only those which are stable occur naturally. The calculus of variations has been used to determine theoretically the stable equilibria, by calculating the energy change when the liquid in equilibrium experiences axially symmetrical perturbations under physically realistic constraints. If the energy change can be made negative, the drop is unstable. With this criterion, stable equilibria have been identified through which the naturally growing drops evolve until they reach a maximum volume, when they become unstable. These results are illustrated by calculations relating to typical experimental conditions.


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