Single Test Run Research Articles

Text Independent Automatic Speaker Recognition System Using Mel-Frequency Cepstrum Coefficient and Gaussian Mixture Models

The aim of this paper is to show the accuracy and time results of a text independent automatic speaker recognition (ASR) system, based on Mel-Frequency Cepstrum Coefficients (MFCC) and Gaussian Mixture Models (GMM), in order to develop a security control access gate. 450 speakers were randomly extracted from the Voxforge.org audio database, their utterances have been improved using spectral subtraction, then MFCC were extracted and these coefficients were statistically analyzed by GMM in order to build each profile. For each speaker two different speech files were used: the first one to build the profile database, the second one to test the system performance. The accuracy achieved by the proposed approach is greater than 96% and the time spent for a single test run, implemented in Matlab language, is about 2 seconds on a common PC.

Fate and abatement of mercury and other trace elements in a coal fluidised bed oxy combustion pilot plant

The fate of trace elements and the properties of oxy-combustion residues were evaluated in a 90kWth bubbling fluidized bed (BFB) oxy-combustion pilot plant fed with coal and limestone (bed material). Sampling of solid streams (coal, limestone, bottom ash, cyclone fly ash, and bag-filter fly ash) and exhaust gas (SOx, NOx, CO2, CO, and Hg) was undertaken through 4h operating at 70% load, 70:30 CO2/O2 ratio of raw gas and 800–820°C in a single (without re-circulation) oxy-combustion test run. The retention of SO2 (98.2 %), NOx (99.9%), and Hg (92.5%) and remaining elements (99.9%) attained high efficiencies while low retention for Cl is achieved (19%). Speciation of gaseous Hg revealed that most of the gaseous Hg occurs in the exhaust gas as Hg0. The proportions of Cl and Hg in the exhaust gas may be considered of concern with respect to subsequent CO2-rich gas treatment and oxy-combustion cycles by partial re-circulation of exhaust gas. The high abatement capacity for most of elements (Hg, S, NH4+, F, Se, As, B, Se, Cd, and Sn) is mostly due to condensation in bag filters. The low gas temperature (45°C), and high-Ca content promotes condensation on fly ash collected in the bag filters. The Hg gaseous speciation and the enrichment in bag filters is indicative that most of the Hg retained is Hg2+, most probably as Hg-sulphate species. Calcite and lime are the main crystalline phases in bottom ash, quartz, illite, and calcite in cyclone fly ash and gypsum–bassanite in bag-filter fly ash. The dissolution of these species produces a moderate alkalinity (pH=10.7–11.1) in bottom ash and cyclone fly ash leachates and slight (pH=8) in bag-filter fly ash leachates. The leaching potential of most of elements in oxy-combustion residues is relatively low, falling in the range of non-hazardous materials according to Decision 2003/33/EC. Nevertheless, the high condensation of elements of environmental concern coupled with the use of a fuel rich in the aforementioned elements would increase the leachable potential, and consequently, may affect the disposal of this type of fly ash.

Verdict functions in testing with a fault domain or test hypotheses

In state-based testing, it is common to include verdicts within test cases, the result of the test case being the verdict reached by the test run. In addition, approaches that reason about test effectiveness or produce tests that are guaranteed to find certain classes of faults are often based on either a fault domain or a set of test hypotheses. This article considers how the presence of a fault domain or test hypotheses affects our notion of a test verdict. The analysis reveals the need for new verdicts that provide more information than the current verdicts and for verdict functions that return a verdict based on a set of test runs rather than a single test run. The concepts are illustrated in the contexts of testing from a nondeterministic finite state machine and the testing of a datatype specified using an algebraic specification language but are potentially relevant whenever fault domains or test hypotheses are used.

Modelling of Multi-Step Microfiltration Process for Solvent Exchange

Industrial-scale microfiltration (MF) separation is applied to process a dispersed ternary system containing an organic solvent, water and fine particles. The objective of the separation is to exchange the organic solvent with water and concentrate the water-particle dispersion. The MF separation is carried out in a multi-step batch operation including pre-concentration, dilution mode, and post-concentration process steps. In this study, we present a practical computational algorithm which can be used as a basis for process simulations of both concentration and dilution modes. The numerical method is based on mass balance processing and on empirical relations of the rejection and the permeate flux to the feed composition. These empirical relations are obtained from the experimental data of a single test-run with the process liquid. We discuss the input data of the code and the respective experimental design with the necessary sampling. Finally, we provide optimum-search techniques considering economical aspects and technological demands.

Novel wavelength-resolved fluorescence detection for a high-throughput capillary electrophoresis system under a diascopic configuration

This paper presents a novel method regarding a wavelength-resolved fluorescence detection scheme for high-throughput analysis of bio-samples in a micro-CE chip. Instead of using the conventional laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) microscope equipped with delicate spatial filters and complex control systems, this study adopts a hollow cone illumination generated using a dark-field condenser for exciting fluorescence in the microchannel and an ultraviolet–visible–near–infrared (UV–Vis–NIR) spectrometer for detecting the emission signals. Experimental results show that the proposed system is feasible for simultaneously detecting a mixed sample composed of Atto 610, Rhodamine B and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) fluorescent dyes in a single test run. Furthermore, a mixed bio-sample composed of two mixed 16-mer single-stranded DNAs labeled with Cy3 and FITC fluorescent dyes is also successfully detected with the proposed system. The measured limit of detection (LOD) for detecting FITC of the proposed system can be as low as 5.4 × 10 −6 M (S/N = 3). This proposed detection method has shown its potential on RNA identification and DNA sequencing applications.

In vitro diagnostic tests for infectious agents Considerations for the planning and conduct of reproducibility studies of in vitro diagnostic tests for infectious agents

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires reproducibility studies for premarket approval of in vitro diagnostic (IVD) tests. Results of reproducibility studies provide an estimate of the variability of the IVD test among study sites, reagent lots, site operators, within a single test run, and over multiple test days. In planning the study, discuss the product registration strategy, including the intended use of the product and desired label claims, and define the study team. Design the sample panel according to the limit of detection or quantitation of the test, dynamic range of the test, FDA guidelines, sample matrix, and genotype. Consider legal and ethical issues for obtaining the panel parent specimen, such as minimizing the privacy risk and keeping promises to donors. During the study, review data promptly to determine invalid runs, discover trends in the data that may require additional operator training, ensure correct completion of case report forms, and resolve queries quickly. At the end of the study, gather the study team to review and improve processes. Use the outcome to set expectations of other functional areas and to provide product feedback.

Refinement and Validation of the Hydraulic Fracture Test

The hydraulic fracture test was developed under the Strategic Highway Research Program to address the need for a more rapid, less expensive test for concrete aggregate freeze–thaw durability. Although the test concept appeared sound, the original test and analysis procedures were not sufficiently reliable and accurate to merit widespread adoption and implementation. Several follow-up research efforts have been performed, and each has resulted in improvements to the test. The results of the most recent study, which evaluated changes in both the test procedure (to include additional test sieves for better characterization of particle fractures) and the analysis procedures, are described. The “hydraulic fracture index” has been replaced by a model that predicts freeze–thaw test dilation as a function of the distribution of particle mass retained on the test sieves. This model was developed using data obtained from freeze–thaw and hydraulic fracture testing of 18 quarried carbonate and gravel aggregate sources; the resulting correlation is exceptional ( r2 = 0.98). An additional improvement is the development of a large test chamber capable of handling aggregate samples five times larger than the original small chamber, which thereby allows aggregate durability characterization with a single test run. It is believed that the hydraulic fracture test is now ready for more broad-based validation testing and eventual widespread acceptance and implementation as an accurate screening tool for concrete aggregate freeze–thaw durability.

Heat-flux calorimetric method for the determination of spontaneous oxidative heat rate of active carbon containing oxidizable/volatile organics

Carbon beds containing organics, in contact with air, exhibit potential for thermal runaway. To accurately define the spontaneous oxidative thermokinetics, appropriate calorimetric techniques are required. A stopped-flow heat-flux calorimetry for oxidative heat-rate measurement is presented in conjunction with the results generated by accelerating rate calorimetry. The stopped-flow method eliminates many experimental uncertainties encountered with the conventional continuous gassparging method, and generates accurate and reproducible heat-rate data in a single test run. This technique is particularly useful in solid oxidation systems containing volatile organics.

Reproducibility of gait measurement using the Lamoreux goniometer

The self-aligning goniometer system of the Lamoreux type mounted on an exo-skeleton was applied ten times on the same normal person to measure hip and knee flexion and extension movements. The standard deviation of full measurement was found to be approximately 5 per cent of the hip excursion and 10 per cent of the knee excursion. These figures were found throughout the test series as well as within each single test run. The goniometer is considered a useful tool for clinical gait analysis.

Serology of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Characterization of rabbit hyperimmune antisera by line-rocket immunoelectrophoresis for use in coagglutination.

The co-agglutination (COA) and line-rocket immunoelectrophoresis (L-RIE) techniques were investigated for the serological classification of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. COA with absorbed sera was found to demonstrate "strain-specific" as well as cross-reacting antigens. The results were dependent on the immunizing, absorbing and agglutinating properties of a particular strain. Heated (100 degrees C) whole cells were found to be more reactive in the COA tests than untreated or formalin-fixed organisms. It was possible by L-RIE to compare the antigenic relationship between at least 20 strains in a single test run. This technique was applied on the 16 major outer membrane protein (MOMP) reference strains, which could then be divided into two separate groups with regard to cross-reacting antigens. Based on the findings by the L-RIE tests, selective absorptions of antibodies were performed for use in preparation of COA reagents. It was found that the reactions of these reagents with the MOMP reference strains could be assigned to three different antigenic classes. Reagents prepared for these classes are proposed as a basis for serological classification of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.