[en] One of the biggest challenges in vocal transformation with TD-PSOLA technique is the selection of modified parameters that will make a successful speech resynthesis. The best selection methods are by using human ratters. This study focuses on automatic determination of the pathological voice transformation coefficients using an Artificial Neural Network this way by comparing the results to the previous manual work. Four characterizied parameters (RATA-PLP, Jitter, Shimmer and RAP) were chosen. The system is developed with supervised training, consists of recognition (neural network) for synthesis (TD-PSOLA). The experimental results show that the parameter sets selected by the proposed system can be successfully used to resynthesize and demonstrating that our system can assist in vocal of pathological voice's transformation.

[en] This paper presents a performance evaluation framework for streetscape vegetation. A performance index (PI) is conceived using the following seven traits, specific to the street environments – Pollution Flux Potential (PFP), Carbon Sequestration Potential (CSP), Thermal Comfort Potential (TCP), Noise Attenuation Potential (NAP), Biomass Energy Potential (BEP), Environmental Stress Tolerance (EST) and Crown Projection Factor (CPF). Its application is demonstrated through a case study using fifteen street vegetation species from the UK, utilising a combination of direct field measurements and inventoried literature data. Our results indicate greater preference to small-to-medium size trees and evergreen shrubs over larger trees for streetscaping. The proposed PI approach can be potentially applied two-fold: one, for evaluation of the performance of the existing street vegetation, facilitating the prospects for further improving them through management strategies and better species selection; two, for planning new streetscapes and multi-functional biomass as part of extending the green urban infrastructure. - Highlights: • A performance evaluation framework for streetscape vegetation is presented. • Seven traits, relevant to street vegetation, are included in a performance index (PI). • The PI approach is applied to quantify and rank fifteen street vegetation species. • Medium size trees and evergreen shrubs are found more favourable for streetscapes. • The PI offers a metric for developing sustainable streetscape green infrastructure. - A performance index is developed and applied to fifteen vegetation species indicating greater preference to medium size trees and evergreen shrubs for streetscaping.

No abstract available

No abstract available

[en] The Diesel refrigeration cycle using an ideal quantum gas as the working substance is called quantum Diesel refrigeration cycle, which is different from Carnot, Ericsson, Brayton, Otto and Stirling refrigeration cycles. For ideal quantum gases, a corrected equation of state, which considers the quantum behavior of gas particles, is used instead of the classical one. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of quantum gas as the working substance on the performance of a quantum Diesel refrigeration cycle. It is found that coefficients of performance of the cycle are not affected by the quantum degeneracy of the working substance, which is the same as that of the classical Diesel refrigeration cycle. However, the refrigeration load is different from those of the classical Diesel refrigeration cycle. Lastly, the influence of the quantum degeneracy on the performance characteristics of the quantum Diesel refrigeration cycle operated in different temperature regions is discussed

[en] Systems which perform built-in tests to provide continuous monitoring of system reliability are of increasing interest. To minimize the test overhead it is appropriate to divide the entire system test into several subtests, which are executed during the idle times of the system, i.e., in background mode. In this paper a model using renewal theory is described to determine the probability distribution function and the mean of the duration of an entire system selftest. Finally, we evaluate the effects of selftesting on system performance, expressed by the delays occurring and the decreased throughput of user tasks. Our analysis allows us to compare the performance effects of various test policies. At the end of the paper we deal with optimal subtest lengths

[en] This paper describes a new ejector refrigeration system with mechanical subcooling which uses an auxiliary liquid-gas ejector to enhance subcooling for the refrigerant from condenser. The new system can have larger subcooling degree when circulating pump consumes a little more power compared with conventional ejector refrigeration system. Based on the built mathematical model, the performance of the new ejector refrigeration system was discussed and compared with that of a conventional ejector refrigeration system for refrigerant R142b. Theoretical analyzing results show that the new system can efficiently improve the coefficient of performance (COP) of ejector refrigeration

[en] During the last years, a couple of software to model the behaviour of a rock under P-T-X changes using thermodynamic databases have been developed. The result of such models is a pseudo section or projection in the P-T plane of a phase diagram of a system at a fixed composition, i.e. a phase diagram section. Although its usefulness has been well demonstrated, a comparison between theoretical and experimental data is advisable to see the degree of approximation of the theoretical model to the reality but also to consider the kinetic effects in experiments. In this paper, theoretical and experimental results of the melting of the Ollo de Sapo Gneiss are compared. (Author) 32 refs.

[en] Highlights: • Experimental investigations of a commercial DAR refrigerator are carried out. • A detailed steady state simulation model of the DAR is developed using Aspen-Plus. • The refrigerator model is validated using the experimental measurements. - Abstract: Experimental investigations and numerical simulations of a low capacity commercial diffusion-absorption refrigerator (DAR) in stationary mode are carried out. The tests are performed under different heat input conditions. Optimal operation of the DAR refrigerator is reached with a power supply of 46 W at a generator temperature of 167 °C, corresponding to a coefficient of performance ($\mathit{COP}$) of 0.159. Numerical simulations of the refrigerator using a model developed with the commercial flow-sheeting Aspen-Plus software are also perfomed. The computer model is validated by comparing its predictions with experimental data for three generator heat supply rates: 46 W, 56 W and 67 W. Deviations between model predictions and experimental measurements in terms of cooling capacity and coefficient of performance are less than 1%. The proposed model could be very useful to predict the functioning of the commercial diffusion-absorption refrigerator under steady state regime.

[en] Highlights: •The performance of an ejector-expansion R410A air conditioner is measured. •The effect of ejector geometries on the COP and CSPF is analyzed. •The mixing-section diameter of the ejector is optimized based on the CSPF. •The mixing-section diameter is optimized based on the climatic conditions. -- Abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of ejector geometries on the performance of an ejector-expansion air conditioner (EEAC) considering the cooling seasonal performance factor (CSPF). The performance of the EEAC using R410A was measured and analyzed by varying the compressor speed, outdoor-bin temperature, operating pressures, nozzle-throat diameter, and mixing-section diameter. The EEAC in the medium-capacity mode exhibited maximum coefficient of performance (COP) improvement, i.e., 7.5%, over the baseline (conventional) cycle. The optimum mixing-section diameter was determined to be 9 mm based on the CSPF. In addition, the optimum mixing-section diameter increased with an increase in the annual average outdoor temperature. The CSPF of the EEAC with the optimized mixing-section diameter improved in the range of 16.0–20.3% over the baseline cycle depending on the climatic conditions.