Zero-phase inverse filtering for extraction of source characteristics

The instants at which significant excitation of vocal tract take place during voicing are referred to as epochs. Epochs and strengths of excitation pulses at epochs are useful in characterizing voice source. Epoch filtering technique proposed by the authors determine epochs from speech waveform. In this paper we propose zero-phase inverse filtering to obtain strengths of excitation pulses at epochs. Zero-phase inverse filter compensates the gross spectral envelope of short-time spectrum of speech without affecting phase characteristics. Linear prediction analysis is used to realize the zero-phase inverse filter. Source characteristics that can be derived from speech using this technique are illustrated with examples.

Three-Component Self-Assembly of a Series of Triply Interlocked Pd12 Coordination Prisms and Their Non-Interlocked Pd6 Analogues

Template-assisted formation of multicomponent Pd6 coordination prisms and formation of their self-templated triply interlocked Pd12 analogues in the absence of an external template have been established in a single step through Pd?N/Pd?O coordination. Treatment of cis-[Pd(en)(NO3)2] with K3tma and linear pillar 4,4'-bpy (en=ethylenediamine, H3tma=benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid, 4,4'-bpy=4,4'-bipyridine) gave intercalated coordination cage [{Pd(en)}6(bpy)3(tma)2]2[NO3]12 (1) exclusively, whereas the same reaction in the presence of H3tma as an aromatic guest gave a H3tma-encapsulating non-interlocked discrete Pd6 molecular prism [{Pd(en)}6(bpy)3(tma)2(H3tma)2][NO3]6 (2). Though the same reaction using cis-[Pd(NO3)2(pn)] (pn=propane-1,2-diamine) instead of cis-[Pd(en)(NO3)2] gave triply interlocked coordination cage [{Pd(pn)}6(bpy)3(tma)2]2[NO3]12 (3) along with non-interlocked Pd6 analogue [{Pd(pn)}6(bpy)3(tma)2](NO3)6 (3'), and the presence of H3tma as a guest gave H3tma-encapsulating molecular prism [{Pd(pn)}6(bpy)3(tma)2(H3tma)2][NO3]6 (4) exclusively. In solution, the amount of 3' decreases as the temperature is decreased, and in the solid state 3 is the sole product. Notably, an analogous reaction using the relatively short pillar pz (pz=pyrazine) instead of 4,4'-bpy gave triply interlocked coordination cage [{Pd(pn)}6(pz)3(tma)2]2[NO3]12 (5) as the single product. Interestingly, the same reaction using slightly more bulky cis-[Pd(NO3)2(tmen)] (tmen=N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylene diamine) instead of cis-[Pd(NO3)2(pn)] gave non-interlocked [{Pd(tmen)}6(pz)3(tma)2][NO3]6 (6) exclusively. Complexes 1, 3, and 5 represent the first examples of template-free triply interlocked molecular prisms obtained through multicomponent self-assembly. Formation of the complexes was supported by IR and multinuclear NMR (1H and 13C) spectroscopy. Formation of guest-encapsulating complexes (2 and 4) was confirmed by 2D DOSY and ROESY NMR spectroscopic analyses, whereas for complexes 1, 3, 5, and 6 single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques unambiguously confirmed their formation. The gross geometries of H3tma-encapsulating complexes 2 and 4 were obtained by universal force field (UFF) simulations.

Diketopyrrolopyrrole-Diketopyrrolopyrrole-Based Conjugated Copolymer for High-Mobility Organic Field-Effect Transistors

In this communication, we report the synthesis of a novel diketopyrrolopyrrole-diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP-DPP)-based conjugated copolymer and its application in high-mobility organic field-effect transistors. Copolymerization of DPP with DPP yields a copolymer with exceptional properties such as extended absorption characteristics (up to similar to 1100 nm) and field-effect electron mobility values of >1 cm(2) V-1 s(-1). The synthesis of this novel DPP-DPP copolymer in combination with the demonstration of transistors with extremely high electron mobility makes this work an important step toward a new family of DPP-DPP copolymers for application in the general area of organic optoelectronics.

An inquisitive analysis on the temporal variation of return stroke current essential for producing observed remote electro-magnetic fields

The gross characteristics of spatio-temporal current evolution in the return stroke phase of a cloud-to-ground lightning are rather well defined. However, they by themselves do not ensure the salient features for the resulting remote Electro- Magnetic Fields (EMFs). In spite of significant efforts in the engineering models wherein, the spatio-temporal current distribution all along the channel is specified by the design, all the salient features of remote EMFs could not be achieved. Only the current evolution that ensures the basic characteristics along with its ability to reproduce all the salient features of remote EMFs ranging from 50 m – 200 km from the lightning channel, can be considered as a realistic return stroke channel current. In view of this, the present work intends to investigate on the required fine features of the return stroke current evolution that yields all the desired features. To ensure that the current evolution is not arbitrary but obeys the involved basic physical processes, a recently developed physical model will be employed for the analysis.

Costs and benefits of the presence of leopards to the sport-hunting industry and local communities in Niassa national reserve, mozambique

Sport hunting is often proposed as a tool to support the conservation of large carnivores. However, it is challenging to provide tangible economic benefits from this activity as an incentive for local people to conserve carnivores. We assessed economic gains from sport hunting and poaching of leopards (Panthera pardus), costs of leopard depredation of livestock, and attitudes of people toward leopards in Niassa National Reserve, Mozambique. We sent questionnaires to hunting concessionaires (n = 8) to investigate the economic value of and the relative importance of leopards relative to other key trophy-hunted species. We asked villagers (n = 158) the number of and prices for leopards poached in the reserve and the number of goats depredated by leopard. Leopards were the mainstay of the hunting industry; a single animal was worth approximately U.S.$24,000. Most safari revenues are retained at national and international levels, but poached leopard are illegally traded locally for small amounts ($83). Leopards depredated 11 goats over 2 years in 2 of 4 surveyed villages resulting in losses of $440 to 6 households. People in these households had negative attitudes toward leopards. Although leopard sport hunting generates larger gross revenues than poaching, illegal hunting provides higher economic benefits for households involved in the activity. Sport-hunting revenues did not compensate for the economic losses of livestock at the household level. On the basis of our results, we propose that poaching be reduced by increasing the costs of apprehension and that the economic benefits from leopard sport hunting be used to improve community livelihoods and provide incentives not to poach.

Information content of molecular graph and prediction of gas phase thermal entropy of organic compounds

Entropy is a fundamental thermodynamic property that has attracted a wide attention across domains, including chemistry. Inference of entropy of chemical compounds using various approaches has been a widely studied topic. However, many aspects of entropy in chemical compounds remain unexplained. In the present work, we propose two new information-theoretical molecular descriptors for the prediction of gas phase thermal entropy of organic compounds. The descriptors reflect the bulk and size of the compounds as well as the gross topological symmetry in their structures, all of which are believed to determine entropy. A high correlation () between the entropy values and our information-theoretical indices have been found and the predicted entropy values, obtained from the corresponding statistically significant regression model, have been found to be within acceptable approximation. We provide additional mathematical result in the form of a theorem and proof that might further help in assessing changes in gas phase thermal entropy values with the changes in molecular structures. The proposed information-theoretical molecular descriptors, regression model and the mathematical result are expected to augment predictions of gas phase thermal entropy for a large number of chemical compounds.

Investigations of Ramachandran disallowed conformations in protein domain families

In peptide and protein structures, occurrence of (phi,psi.) angles in the disallowed region of the Ramachandran map almost always suggests local regions of error or poor accuracy. However, very rarely genuine disallowed conformations occur as noted in the current study in proteins of known structure available at ultra-high resolution (<= 1.2 (A) over circle). In the current work, extent of conservation of genuine disallowed conformations in homologous proteins of known structures has been analyzed. From a dataset of 124 protein domain families, with structure of at least one constituent member in each family available at a resolution of 1.2 (A) over circle or better, we have analyzed the conservation of 221 disallowed conformations. It is observed that the disallowed conformation is only moderately conservedin protein domain families. In the gross dataset no particular residue type adopting disallowed conformation elicit high conservation of residue type though there are alignment positions in the dataset with complete conservation of both the residue type and the disallowed conformation. Conserved disallowed conformation in protein domain families play biologically significant role in roughly 50% of the cases. The residues with the disallowed conformation or its flanking residues are often located within or around the functional site of the protein. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Finite-temperature dynamics of vortices in Bose-Einstein condensates

We study the dynamics of a single vortex and a pair of vortices in quasi two-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensates at finite temperatures. To this end, we use the stochastic Gross-Pitaevskii equation, which is the Langevin equation for the Bose-Einstein condensate. For a pair of vortices, we study the dynamics of both the vortex-vortex and vortex-antivortex pairs, which are generated by rotating the trap and moving the Gaussian obstacle potential, respectively. Due to thermal fluctuations, the constituent vortices are not symmetrically generated with respect to each other at finite temperatures. This initial asymmetry coupled with the presence of random thermal fluctuations in the system can lead to different decay rates for the component vortices of the pair, especially in the case of two corotating vortices.

Forest area estimation and reporting: implications for conservation, management and REDD

Periodic estimation, monitoring and reporting on area under forest and plantation types and afforestation rates are critical to forest and biodiversity conservation, sustainable forest management and for meeting international commitments. This article is aimed at assessing the adequacy of the current monitoring and reporting approach adopted in India in the context of new challenges of conservation and reporting to international conventions and agencies. The analysis shows that the current mode of monitoring and reporting of forest area is inadequate to meet the national and international requirements. India could be potentially over-reporting the area under forests by including many non-forest tree categories such as commercial plantations of coconut, cashew, coffee and rubber, and fruit orchards. India may also be under-reporting deforestation by reporting only gross forest area at the state and national levels. There is a need for monitoring and reporting of forest cover, deforestation and afforestation rates according to categories such as (i) natural/primary forest, (ii) secondary/degraded forests, (iii) forest plantations, (iv) commercial plantations, (v) fruit orchards and (vi) scattered trees.

Controlling Conformations of Diketopyrrolopyrrole-Based Conjugated Polymers: Role of Torsional Angle

Transport of charge carriers through conjugated polymers is strongly influenced by the presence and distribution of structural disorders. In the present work, structural defects caused by the presence of torsional.. angle were investigated in a diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-based conjugated polymer. Two new copolymers of DPP were synthesized with varying torsional angles to trace the role of structural disorder. The optical properties of these copolymers in solution and thin film reveal the strong influence of torsional angle on their photophysical properties. A strong influence was observed on carrier transport properties of polymers in organic field-effect transistors (OFET) device geometry. The polymers based on phenyl DPP with higher torsional angle (PPTDPP-OD-TEG) resulted in high threshold voltage with less charge carrier mobility as compared to the polymer based on thiophene DPP (2DPP-OD-TEG) bearing a lower torsional angle. Carrier mobility and the molecular orientation of the conjugated polymers were correlated on the basis of grazing incidence X-ray scattering measurements showing the strong role of torsional angle introduced in the form of structural disorder. The results presented in this Article provide a deep insight into the sensitivity of structural disorder and its impact on the device performance of DPP-based conjugated polymers.

Vortex reconnections between coreless vortices in binary condensates

Vortex reconnections plays an important role in the turbulent flows associated with the superfluids. To understand the dynamics, we examine the reconnections of vortex rings in the superfluids of dilute atomic gases confined in trapping potentials using Gross-Petaevskii equation. Further more we study the reconnection dynamics of coreless vortex rings, where one of the species can act as a tracer.

Selenium in Diketopyrrolopyrrole-based Polymers: Influence on Electronic Properties and Charge Carrier Mobilities

Diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-based pi-conjugated copolymers with thiophene have exceptionally high electron mobilities. This paper investigates electronic properties and charge carrier mobilities of selenophene containing analogues. Two new copolymers, with alternating thiophene DPP (TDPP) and selenophene DPP (SeDPP) units, were synthesized. Two side-chains, hexyl (Hex) and triethylene glycol (TEG) were employed, yielding polymers designated as PTDPPSeDPP-Hex and PTDPPSeDPP-TEG. Selenophene systems have smaller band gaps, with concomitant enhancement of the stability of the reduced state. For both polymers, ambipolar mobilities were observed in organic field-effect transistors (OFET). Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD) data indicates preferential edge-on orientation of PTDPPSeDPP-TEG, which leads to superior charge transport properties of the TEG substituted polymer, as compared to its Hex analogue. Time-dependent-density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations corroborate the decrease in the optical band gap with the inclusion of selenophene. Ambipolar charge transport is rationalized by exceptionally wide conduction bands. Delta SCF calculations confirm the larger electron affinity, and therefore the greater stability, of the reduced form of the selenophene-containing DPP polymer in presence of chloroform.

Use of side-chain for rational design of n-type diketopyrrolopyrrole-based conjugated polymers: what did we find out?

The primary role of substituted side chains in organic semiconductors is to increase their solubility in common organic solvents. In the recent past, many literature reports have suggested that the side chains play a critical role in molecular packing and strongly impact the charge transport properties of conjugated polymers. In this work, we have investigated the influence of side-chains on the charge transport behavior of a novel class of diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) based alternating copolymers. To investigate the role of side-chains, we prepared four diketopyrrolopyrrole-diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP-DPP) conjugated polymers with varied side-chains and carried out a systematic study of thin film microstructure and charge transport properties in polymer thin-film transistors (PTFTs). Combining results obtained from grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD) and charge transport properties in PTFTs, we conclude side-chains have a strong influence on molecular packing, thin film microstructure, and the charge carrier mobility of DPP-DPP copolymers. However, the influence of side-chains on optical properties was moderate. The preferential ``edge-on'' packing and dominant n-channel behavior with exceptionally high field-effect electron mobility values of >1 cm(2) V-1 s(-1) were observed by incorporating hydrophilic (triethylene glycol) and hydrophobic side-chains of alternate DPP units. In contrast moderate electron and hole mobilities were observed by incorporation of branched hydrophobic side-chains. This work clearly demonstrates that the subtle balance between hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity induced by side-chains is a powerful strategy to alter the molecular packing and improve the ambipolar charge transport properties in DPP-DPP based conjugated polymers. Theoretical analysis supports the conclusion that the side-chains influence polymer properties through morphology changes, as there is no effect on the electronic properties in the gas phase. The exceptional electron mobility is at least partially a result of the strong intramolecular conjugation of the donor and acceptor as evidenced by the unusually wide conduction band of the polymer.

Typical and atypical domain combinations in human protein kinases: functions, disease causing mutations and conservation in other primates

Ser/Thr and Tyr protein kinases orchestrate many signalling pathways and hence loss in this balance leads to many disease phenotypes. Due to their high abundance, diversity and importance, efforts have been made in the past to classify kinases and annotate their functions at both gross and fine levels. These kinases are conventionally classified into subfamilies based on the sequences of catalytic domains. Usually the domain architecture of a full-length kinase is consistent with the subfamily classification made based on the sequence of kinase domain. Important contributions of modular domains to the overall function of the kinase are well known. Recently occurrence of two kinds of outlier kinases-''Hybrid'' and ``Rogue'' has been reported. These show considerable deviations in their domain architectures from the typical domain architecture known for the classical kinase subfamilies. This article provides an overview of the different subfamilies of human kinases and the role of non-kinase domains in functions and diseases. Importantly this article provides analysis of hybrid and rogue kinases encoded in the human genome and highlights their conservation in closely related primate species. These kinases are examples of elegant rewiring to bring about subtle functional differences compared to canonical variants.

Modeling of solar radiation management: a comparison of simulations using reduced solar constant and stratospheric sulphate aerosols

The climatic effects of Solar Radiation Management (SRM) geoengineering have been often modeled by simply reducing the solar constant. This is most likely valid only for space sunshades and not for atmosphere and surface based SRM methods. In this study, a global climate model is used to evaluate the differences in the climate response to SRM by uniform solar constant reduction and stratospheric aerosols. Our analysis shows that when global mean warming from a doubling of CO2 is nearly cancelled by both these methods, they are similar when important surface and tropospheric climate variables are considered. However, a difference of 1 K in the global mean stratospheric (61-9.8 hPa) temperature is simulated between the two SRM methods. Further, while the global mean surface diffuse radiation increases by similar to 23 % and direct radiation decreases by about 9 % in the case of sulphate aerosol SRM method, both direct and diffuse radiation decrease by similar fractional amounts (similar to 1.0 %) when solar constant is reduced. When CO2 fertilization effects from elevated CO2 concentration levels are removed, the contribution from shaded leaves to gross primary productivity (GPP) increases by 1.8 % in aerosol SRM because of increased diffuse light. However, this increase is almost offset by a 15.2 % decline in sunlit contribution due to reduced direct light. Overall both the SRM simulations show similar decrease in GPP (similar to 8 %) and net primary productivity (similar to 3 %). Based on our results we conclude that the climate states produced by a reduction in solar constant and addition of aerosols into the stratosphere can be considered almost similar except for two important aspects: stratospheric temperature change and the consequent implications for the dynamics and the chemistry of the stratosphere and the partitioning of direct versus diffuse radiation reaching the surface. Further, the likely dependence of global hydrological cycle response on aerosol particle size and the latitudinal and height distribution of aerosols is discussed.