scholarly journals Predicting the Quality of Synthesized and Natural Speech Impaired by Packet Loss and Coding Using PESQ and P.563 Models

2011 ◽  
Vol 97 (5) ◽  
pp. 852-868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Počta ◽  
Jan Holub
Keyword(s):  
Packet Loss ◽  
Speech Quality ◽  
The Other ◽  
Natural Speech ◽  
Text To Speech ◽  
Synthesized Speech ◽  
Subjective Assessments ◽  
Almost All ◽  
The Impact

This paper investigates the impact of independent and dependent losses and coding on speech quality predictions provided by PESQ (also known as ITU-T P.862) and P.563 models, when both naturally-produced and synthesized speech are used. Two synthesized speech samples generated with two different Text-to-Speech systems and one naturally-produced sample are investigated. In addition, we assess the variability of PESQ's and P.563's predictions with respect to the type of speech used (naturally-produced or synthesized) and loss conditions as well as their accuracy, by comparing the predictions with subjective assessments. The results show that there is no difference between the impact of packet loss on naturally-produced speech and synthesized speech. On the other hand, the impact of coding is different for the two types of stimuli. In addition, synthesized speech seems to be insensitive to degradations provided by most of the codecs investigated here. The reasons for those findings are particularly discussed. Finally, it is concluded that both models are capable of predicting the quality of transmitted synthesized speech under the investigated conditions to a certain degree. As expected, PESQ achieves the best performance over almost all of the investigated conditions.

scholarly journals Noise at the time of COVID 19: The impact in some areas in Rome and Milan, Italy

Noise Mapping ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 248-264
Author(s):  
Rosa Maria Alsina Pagès ◽  
Francesc Alías ◽  
Patrizia Bellucci ◽  
Pier Paolo Cartolano ◽  
Ilaria Coppa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sound Pressure ◽  
Traffic Noise ◽  
Motor Vehicles ◽  
Acoustic Environment ◽  
Commercial Activities ◽  
Real Time Traffic ◽  
Italian Regions ◽  
Almost All ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed in Italy at the end of January 2020, when the first positive cases for the virus were identified. At the beginning of March, the virus had spread to all Italian regions and on 10 March 2020 the lockdown phase began, limiting the movement of people and prohibiting almost all commercial activities, businesses and non-essential industries. As a result, millions of people were forced to stay at home, causing a drastic drop in traffic volume, which significantly changed the acoustic environment and air quality of cities. On 4 May 2020, the lockdown was partially lifted and activities were progressively reopened. Therefore, traffic gradually started to increase and, consequently, the noise emitted by motor vehicles. This behaviour was confirmed by the data collected by the DYNAMAP system, an automatic platform developed within the LIFE DYNAMAP project, providing real time traffic noise maps in terms of sound pressure levels and impacts at receivers (people and dwellings exposed to noise level bands). In this paper traffic and non-traffic-related noise events in the cities of Rome and Milan from March to May 2020 are analysed and compared to the corresponding values in 2019 to evaluate the effects of the lockdown period.

scholarly journals Impact of treated sewage on meiobenthic nematodes: a case study from the Tunisian Refining Industries Company

2022 ◽  
Vol 82 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Hedfi ◽  
M. Ben Ali ◽  
A. Noureldeen ◽  
H. Darwish ◽  
T. Saif ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
The Other ◽  
Treated Sewage ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Bizerte Bay ◽  
De Man ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The main objective of the current study was to assess the impact of the water taken from the ‘Tunisian Refining Industries Company’ on meiobenthic nematodes, before and after a series of treatments in decantation basins followed by its discharge in Bizerte bay, Tunisia. The comparison of environmental parameters of the two types of water was clearly indicative of an improvement in the quality of treated waters after a significant reduction in their loads in hydrocarbons. Overall, the water retained a good quality after being treated by ‘Tunisian Refining Industries Company’ before discharge in the sea. At the end of the experiment, differential responses were observed according to the richness of sediment in organic matter and hydrocarbons. Thus, it was apparent that the nematode assemblage exposed to the treated waters was closer to controls and associated to higher values of abundance, than that under untreated ones. It was also assumed that the species Microlaimus honestus De Man, 1922, Paramonohystera proteus Wieser, 1956 and Cyartonema germanicum Juario, 1972 are sensitive bioindicators of bad environmental statues and of hydrocarbon presence in the environment. On the other hand, Metoncholaimus pristiurus (Zur Strassen, 1894) Filipjev, 1918 would rather be classified as a positive bioindicative species of this type of pollutants.

scholarly journals ANALYSIS IMPLEMENTATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS AS EVALUATION MATERIALS FOR EQUATING EDUCATION QUALITY IN INDONESIA

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-101
Author(s):  
Widowati Pusporini ◽  
Zamroni ◽  
Mansur Arsyad ◽  
Qomariyatus Sholihah
Keyword(s):  
School Principals ◽  
School Principal ◽  
Education Quality ◽  
Curriculum Management ◽  
School Programs ◽  
Almost All ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Partnership Program ◽  
Made In

Purpose of the study: This research was compiled to analyze the improvement of the quality of education in Indonesia. The purpose of program evaluation is to know for sure whether the achievement of the results, progress, and obstacles encountered in the implementation of the program. Recognizing the low competency of school principals of the principal's partnership programs. Methodology: The type of this research is development, research which aims to produce instruments to evaluate a school principal partnership program. The development design in this study using the Plomp model. The data was analyzed qualitatively as input for improvement of activities in 2018. The following data was collected using questionnaires, interviews, and observations. Main Findings: The data and analysis show that the partnership program has recorded various advances made in the impact schools — both those related to curriculum management and implementation of supervision of learning and strengthening of school ecosystems. The effectiveness of school programs is very dependent on the carrying capacity of each school. However, it is the real result of this program is the change in mindset not only for principals but for almost all stakeholders. Applications of this study: This Study is analyzed based on the school principal partnership program report to become recommendation and references for another partnership programs, improving the competency of school principals, and developing remote area (3T regions/frontier, outermost, and disadvantaged in Indonesia national scale) of Indonesia. Novelty/Originality of this study: The findings imply that the partnership program has a significant impact on the equity growth in remote areas.

scholarly journals The Impact of Virtual Human Voice on Learner Trust

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 2272-2276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scotty D. Craig ◽  
Erin K. Chiou ◽  
Noah L. Schroeder
Keyword(s):  
Female Voice ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Virtual Human ◽  
Instructional Video ◽  
Text To Speech ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Human Voice ◽  
Synthetic Voices ◽  
The Impact

The current study investigates if a virtual human’s voice can impact the user’s trust in interacting with the virtual human in a learning setting. It was hypothesized that trust is a malleable factor impacted by the quality of the virtual human’s voice. A randomized alternative treatments design with a pretest placed participants in either a low-quality Text-to-Speech (TTS) engine female voice (Microsoft speech engine), a high-quality TTS engine female voice (Neospeech voice engine), or a human voice (native female English speaker) condition. All three treatments were paired with the same female virtual human. Assessments for the study included a self-report pretest on knowledge of meteorology, which occurred before viewing the instructional video, and a measure of system trust. The current study found that voice type impacts a user’s trust ratings, with the human voice resulting in higher ratings compared to the two synthetic voices.

Impact of Exercise/Sport on Well-being in Congenital Bleeding Disorders

2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (08) ◽  
pp. 796-801
Author(s):  
Silvia Fasoli ◽  
Giorgio Gandini ◽  
Anna Giuffrida ◽  
Massimo Franchini
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Other ◽  
Bleeding Disorders ◽  
Coagulation Disorders ◽  
Sporting Activity ◽  
The Impact

AbstractPhysical activity provides many benefits in patients with congenital bleeding disorders. Patients with hemophilia are encouraged to participate in exercise and sports, especially those patients receiving prophylaxis. Several publications and guidelines have explored this issue in hemophilia patients, evaluating in particular the impact of physical activity on patients' well-being and quality of life. The other rare congenital bleeding disorders are less studied; they are heterogeneous in terms of clinical bleeding phenotype, incidence of hemarthrosis, and arthropathy. Furthermore, prophylaxis in these patients is less common than in hemophilia patients, which must be considered when choosing the type of physical and sporting activity. In this review, the authors have analyzed the literature focusing their attention on those rare coagulation disorders that may be complicated by arthropathy and the role of exercise and sports in this context.

scholarly journals Timolol 0.1% in Glaucomatous Patients: Efficacy, Tolerance, and Quality of Life

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Letizia Negri ◽  
Antonio Ferreras ◽  
Michele Iester
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Beta Blockers ◽  
The Other ◽  
Visual Field Defects ◽  
Market Beta ◽  
Systemic Side Effects ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Preservative Free

Glaucoma is a progressive, chronic optic neuropathy characterized by a typical visual field defects. Four main classes of topical medication are actually available on the market: beta-blockers, prostaglandins, alpha2-agonists, and topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor to treat intraocular pressure (IOP). The aim of this review is to outline the efficacy of timolol and to evaluate the impact of this treatment on patients’ quality of life. Among beta-blockers, timolol is most used at three different concentrations: 0.1%, 0.25%, and 0.5%. While the first one is a gel, the other two products are solution. Timolol has few topical side effects, while it has some important systemic side effects on the cardiac and respiratory systems. The balance between efficacy and safety is always the main aspect to care patients. Because of the less efficacy of timolol 0.1% solution, the possibility to use carbomers as vehicle in the gel drops helped timolol 0.1 to be used in clinics, extending the time contact between the active ingredient and the surface of the cornea. Using preservative-free timolol 0.1 for treatment, IOP was at the same level of the other beta-blockers at higher concentration, but it was better tolerated. Preservative-free treatment improved the quality of life reducing dry-eye like symptoms; furthermore, the presence of an artificial tear in the medication bottle could help adherence. The once daily dosing improves compliance.

scholarly journals “We have a ticking time bomb”: a qualitative exploration of the impact of canine epilepsy on dog owners living in England

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy E. Pergande ◽  
Zoe Belshaw ◽  
Holger A. Volk ◽  
Rowena M. A. Packer
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Lifestyle Changes ◽  
Idiopathic Epilepsy ◽  
Clinical Aspects ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Online Groups ◽  
Additional Support ◽  
Almost All ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Idiopathic epilepsy is a common neurological condition in dogs. Previous research has focused on clinical aspects of seizure management in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy with little attention given to the emotional and logistical challenges for their owners. The current study aimed to explore the impacts of owning a dog with idiopathic epilepsy on owner quality of life and lifestyle, using qualitative methods. Methods Owners of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy living in England were recruited via social media and word of mouth, and then selected using purposive sampling to participate in face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Epilepsy management was explored through in-depth accounts of owner experiences and influencing factors. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was used to construct key themes. Results Twenty-one interviews were completed. Almost all owners had made lifestyle changes in order to care for their dog, including substantial modifications to routines and, in some cases, employment. Many owners discussed a very emotionally close dog-owner bond, and described experiencing frequent feelings of fear, stress and uncertainty regarding their dog’s health. Friends, family and colleagues did not always understand the magnitude of commitment required to care for a dog with idiopathic epilepsy. This, combined with a fear of leaving their dog unsupervised, had social implications in some instances and lead to increased use of the Internet and online groups for peer support. Conclusions The commitment required to care for a dog with idiopathic epilepsy, and the lifestyle changes made by their owners, may be far greater than previously estimated. Further consideration of these factors by veterinary professionals and the friends and families of owners of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy could improve owner quality of life, and facilitate the provision of additional support.

scholarly journals Impact of malocclusion on the quality of life of Saudi children

2013 ◽  
Vol 83 (6) ◽  
pp. 1043-1048 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irfan Dawoodbhoy ◽  
Elsa K. Delgado-Angulo ◽  
Eduardo Bernabé
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Multivariate Analysis ◽  
The Other ◽  
Arabic Version ◽  
Child Perception ◽  
Clinical Measures ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the relationship between malocclusion severity and quality of life in children. Materials and Method: Two hundred and seventy-eight children aged 11 to 14 years were recruited voluntarily from the Dental and Maxillofacial Centre of the Almana General Hospital in Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia. The children were asked to fill out the Arabic version of the Child Perception Questionnaire for 11- to 14-year-old children (CPQ11–14) and were then clinically examined to determine the severity of their malocclusion using the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI). Multivariate analysis of variance was used to compare the four domains and the total CPQ11–14 scores between the four DAI severity groups. Results: Significant differences were found between DAI severity groups for the four domains and the total CPQ11–14 scores. Although children with very severe (handicapping) malocclusion had significantly higher domain and total CPQ11–14 scores than all the other groups (differences of up to 6 and 22 units, respectively, compared to children with no/minor malocclusion), there were no differences between those with no/minor, definite, and severe malocclusion. Conclusion: These findings suggest that only very severe malocclusion had an impact on the quality of life of the participants. Orthodontists should focus not only on clinical measures of malocclusion but should also consider the impact of severe malocclusion on patients' quality of life.

scholarly journals “We have a ticking time bomb”: A qualitative exploration of the impact of canine epilepsy on dog owners living in England

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Eliza Pergande ◽  
Zoe Belshaw ◽  
Holger A Volk ◽  
Rowena M A Packer
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Lifestyle Changes ◽  
Idiopathic Epilepsy ◽  
Clinical Aspects ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Online Groups ◽  
Additional Support ◽  
Almost All ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Idiopathic epilepsy is a common neurological condition in dogs. Previous research has focused on clinical aspects of seizure management in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy with little attention given to the emotional and logistical challenges for their owners. The current study aimed to explore the impacts of owning a dog with idiopathic epilepsy on owner quality of life and lifestyle, using qualitative methods. Methods Owners of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy living in England were recruited via social media and word of mouth, and then selected using purposive sampling to participate in face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Epilepsy management was explored through in-depth accounts of owner experiences and influencing factors. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was used to construct key themes. Results Twenty-one interviews were completed. Almost all owners had made lifestyle changes in order to care for their dog, including substantial modifications to routines and, in some cases, employment. Many owners discussed a very emotionally close dog-owner bond, and described experiencing frequent feelings of fear, stress and uncertainty regarding their dog’s health. Friends, family and colleagues did not always understand the magnitude of commitment required to care for a dog with idiopathic epilepsy. This, combined with a fear of leaving their dog unsupervised, had social implications in some instances and lead to increased use of the Internet and online groups for peer support. Conclusions The commitment required to care for a dog with idiopathic epilepsy, and the lifestyle changes made by their owners, may be far greater than previously estimated. Further consideration of these factors by veterinary professionals and the friends and families of owners of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy could improve owner quality of life, and facilitate the provision of additional support.

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