Application of 1-D discrete wavelet transform based compressed sensing matrices for speech compression.

BACKGROUND: Compressed sensing is a novel signal compression technique in which signal is compressed while sensing. The compressed signal is recovered with the only few numbers of observations compared to conventional Shannon-Nyquist sampling, and thus reduces the storage requirements. In this study, we have proposed the 1-D discrete wavelet transform (DWT) based sensing matrices for speech signal compression. The present study investigates the performance analysis of the different DWT based sensing matrices such as: Daubechies, Coiflets, Symlets, Battle, Beylkin and Vaidyanathan wavelet families. RESULTS: First, we have proposed the Daubechies wavelet family based sensing matrices. The experimental result indicates that the db10 wavelet based sensing matrix exhibits the better performance compared to other Daubechies wavelet based sensing matrices. Second, we have proposed the Coiflets wavelet family based sensing matrices. The result shows that the coif5 wavelet based sensing matrix exhibits the best performance. Third, we have proposed the sensing matrices based on Symlets wavelet family. The result indicates that the sym9 wavelet based sensing matrix demonstrates the less reconstruction time and the less relative error, and thus exhibits the good performance compared to other Symlets wavelet based sensing matrices. Next, we have proposed the DWT based sensing matrices using the Battle, Beylkin and the Vaidyanathan wavelet families. The Beylkin wavelet based sensing matrix demonstrates the less reconstruction time and relative error, and thus exhibits the good performance compared to the Battle and the Vaidyanathan wavelet based sensing matrices. Further, an attempt was made to find out the best-proposed DWT based sensing matrix, and the result reveals that sym9 wavelet based sensing matrix shows the better performance among all other proposed matrices. Subsequently, the study demonstrates the performance analysis of the sym9 wavelet based sensing matrix and state-of-the-art random and deterministic sensing matrices. CONCLUSIONS: The result reveals that the proposed sym9 wavelet matrix exhibits the better performance compared to state-of-the-art sensing matrices. Finally, speech quality is evaluated using the MOS, PESQ and the information based measures. The test result confirms that the proposed sym9 wavelet based sensing matrix shows the better MOS and PESQ score indicating the good quality of speech.

Prosthodontic management of radiation induced xerostomic patient using flexible dentures.

Xerostomia causes discomfort for complete denture wearers as the tissues become dry and friable due to lack of lubricating properties of saliva. Common problems faced by such patients are glossitis, mucositis, angular chelitis, dysgeusia and difficulty in chewing and swallowing. This case report describes a new method in addressing such issues by using flexible complete denture construction in radiation induced xerostomic patient with minimal tissue damage during and after denture construction procedures.

Effects of cigarette smoking on morphology and aggregation of erythrocytes.

Erythrocyte deformability and aggregation are important parameters related to blood flow in cardiovascular system. These are generally determined by various techniques. The present work is an attempt to implement a computerized procedure based on microscopic images of erythrocytes, obtained from cigarette smokers, to calculate these and related parameters. The subjects who have been smoking for more than ten years (Group 2) are selected and the calculated parameters are compared with that of non-smoking subjects (Group 1). The shape parameters area, perimeter and form factor of erythrocytes show significant change in Group 2 compared to that of Group 1. The erythrocyte aggregation, as measured by area occupied by aggregates, shows significant reduction in smokers, attributed to enhanced cell-cell interaction in Group 2. The ratio of crenated to normal erythrocytes increases immediately after smoking but reverts back to initial level after a gap of more than one hour, which is attributed to the change in metabolic activity of erythrocytes.

Management of exaggerated gagging in prosthodontic patients using glossopharyngeal nerve block.

When gag reflex becomes abnormally active, it poses difficulty for the prosthodontists, as it hinders the process of fixed partial denture construction beginning with tooth preparation till impression making. In this case-report, the authors used a nerve block technique which is popular among anaesthetist and otolaryngologist, but is being applied in the field of prosthodontics for the first time, to tide over the difficulty.

Prophylactic antiemetics in oral and maxillofacial surgery: a requiem?

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures and to evaluate the rationale behind prophylactic antiemetic medications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 167 patients, irrespective of age and gender, undergoing oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures under general anesthesia/dissociative anesthesia, were included. Risk factors associated with PONV such as gender, type of anesthetic agent used, nature of surgical procedure, surgical approach used, and duration of surgery and postoperative use of opioids were assessed. A "watch and wait" policy was adopted in all cases of recorded PONV with gastric lavage (GL) to be performed in patients with more than 2 episodes of PONV in the 6-hour postoperative period. The efficacy of such an intervention was also assessed. Antiemetic medications were given in only those cases which did not respond favorably to GL. A chi(2) test was performed using SPSS software (Chicago, IL) to determine statistical significance. RESULTS: Of the 167 patients included, 19 patients experienced episodes of PONV. GL was performed in 3 patients, and all showed cessation of emesis after this intervention. No antiemetic medications were administered. A significant association was observed between PONV and female gender, duration of surgery, type of anesthetic agent used, and specific surgical procedures such as oncologic and temporomandibular joint surgeries. The role of surgical approach and the use of opioids in the postoperative period on the incidence of PONV were found to be insignificant. CONCLUSIONS: Information regarding the incidence of PONV after oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures remains scanty. We conclude that there does not appear to be a rationale for the prophylactic administration of antiemetic drugs in such surgical procedures. A watch-and-wait policy and simple GL may provide significant relief. Antiemetic medications are to be considered only in case of non-responders and intractable PONV.