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Dysarthria is a neuromotor speech disorder caused by neuromuscular disturbances that affect one or more articulators resulting in unintelligible speech. Though inter-phoneme articulatory variations are well captured by formant frequency-based acoustic features, these variations are expected to be much higher for dysarthric speakers than normal. These substantial variations can be well captured by placing sensors in appropriate articulatory position. This study focuses to determine a set of articulatory sensors and parameters in order to assess articulatory dysfunctions in dysarthric speech.

The current work aims to determine significant sensors and parameters associated using motion path and correlation analyzes on the TORGO database of dysarthric speech. Among eight informative sensor channels and six parameters per channel in positional data, the sensors such as tongue middle, back and tip, lower and upper lips and parameters (y, z, φ) are found to contribute significantly toward capturing the articulatory information. Acoustic and positional data analyzes are performed to validate these identified significant sensors. Furthermore, a convolutional neural network-based classifier is developed for both phone-and word-level classification of dysarthric speech using acoustic and positional data.

The average phone error rate is observed to be lower, up to 15.54% for positional data when compared with acoustic-only data. Further, word-level classification using a combination of both acoustic and positional information is performed to study that the positional data acquired using significant sensors will boost the performance of classification even for severe dysarthric speakers.

The proposed work shows that the significant sensors and parameters can be used to assess dysfunctions in dysarthric speech effectively. The articulatory sensor data helps in better assessment than the acoustic data even for severe dysarthric speakers.

This paper aims to propose a single element, dual feed, polarisation diversity antenna. The proposed antenna operates from 2.9 to 10.6 GHz for covering the entire ultra-wideband (UWB) frequency range. The antenna is designed for usage in massive multiple input multiple output (MIMO) and closed packaging applications.

The size of the antenna is 24 × 24 × 1.6 mm³. The radiating element of the antenna is derived from the Sierpinski–Knopp (SK) fractal geometry for miniaturization of the antenna size. The antenna has a single reflecting stub placed between the two orthogonal feeds, to improve isolation.

The proposed antenna system exhibits S₁₁ < −10 dB, S₂₁ < −15 dB and stable radiation characteristics in the entire operating region. It also offers an envelope correlation coefficient < 0.01, a diversity gain > 9.9 dB and a capacity loss < 0.4 bps/Hz. The simulated and measured outputs were compared and results were found to be in similarity.

The proposed UWB-MIMO antenna has significant size reduction through usage of SK fractal geometry for radiating element. The antenna uses a single radiating element with dual feed. The stub is between the antenna elements which provide a compact and miniaturized MIMO solution for high density packaging applications. The UWB-MIMO antenna provides an isolation better than −20 dB in the entire UWB operating band.

Purpose: With this study, the authors aim to highlight the application of machine learning in smart appliances used in our day-to-day activities. This chapter focuses on analysing intelligent devices used in our daily lives to examine various machine learning models that can be applied to make an appliance ‘intelligent’ and discuss the different pros and cons of the implementation.

Methodology: Most smart appliances need machine learning models to decrypt the meaning and functioning behind the sensor’s data to execute accurate predictions and come to appropriate conclusions.

Findings: The future holds endless possibilities for devices to be connected in different ways, and these devices will be in our homes, offices, industries and even vehicles that can connect each other. The massive number of connected devices could congest the network; hence there is necessary to incorporate intelligence on end devices using machine learning algorithms. The connected devices that allow automatic control appliance driven by the user’s preference would avail itself to use the Network to communicate with devices close to its proximity or use other channels to liaise with external utility systems. Data processing is facilitated through edge devices, and machine learning algorithms can be applied.

Significance: This chapter overviews smart appliances that use machine learning at the edge. It highlights the effects of using these appliances and how they raise the overall living standards when smarter cities are introduced by integrating such devices.

Air connectivity network is an important part of the overall connectivity network of any country. This becomes even more crucial for the interior regions, which have no access to sea routes and have inadequate road and rail connectivity. In India there is uniform distribution of airports throughout the country but only a few of them are currently used because of poor infrastructure availability at these airports. Any aircraft operating from these airports, having minimal infrastructure, need to have efficient high‐lift systems for short takeoff and landing ability as one of the key requirements. The purpose of this paper is look at the performance of a new high‐lift airfoil configuration for application to a general transport aircraft.

The present study deals with two‐dimensional analyses of a high‐lift system for general transport aircraft. The JUMBO2D, a multi‐block structured viscous code has been used to make preliminary analysis of the proposed high‐lift system. The configuration consists of three elements, namely, the main airfoil with nose droop, a vane and a flap.

In the present work the code has been revalidated by computing for NLF (1) 0416 airfoil (clean) and NACA 1410 airfoil with double‐slotted flap. The computed results compare very well with the experimental data. The proposed high‐lift configuration of general transport aircraft has then been analyzed in detail for both takeoff and landing conditions with and without nose droop. The effect of gap between main element and vane on the aerodynamic performance has also been investigated.

This computational study looks at the performance of a new high‐lift airfoil configuration for application to a general transport aircraft.

Recent developments indicate that the polymer coatings used to protect steel structures from corrosive environments are rarely one‐component systems. Polymeric blends used to protect the structures are a mixture of at least two polymers or copolymers. The heterophase polymer blends are known as polymer‐polymer composites (PPC). The advantages of PPC coatings in comparison to multicoat systems are high thickness per coat, excellent protection and superior layer adhesion. Presents a study in which a poly (epoxy‐chlorinated rubber‐silicone) PPC coating was prepared and its chemical resistance properties in acid, alkali and neutral solutions were studied. Different combinations of these three binders were also prepared in toluene:acetone solvent mixture and the chemical resistance properties of these PPCs were evaluated in comparison with the corresponding multicoat system with the same thickness. Finds that the PPCs show superior properties when compared to multicoat systems. Studies the electrochemical behaviour such as potential, resistance and capacitance of the PPCs and the multicoat systems on steel substrate in sodium chloride solution and finds that the PPCs have higher resistance value than the multicoat systems. Based on the experimental results, concludes that a single coat of PPC can be recommended for protecting the steel structures from chemical and marine environments, instead of using conventional three‐ or four‐coat systems based on the same or different film formers.

Epoxy‐resin‐based paints generally offer very good corrosion‐protective properties and are widely used in harsh environments such as the sea. They are two‐pack systems, the curing agent normally used being polyamines or polyamides. Such systems find extensive use on structures exposed to dry conditions. When substrates lie under water or are constantly exposed to the wet, the above system is impracticable due to poor adhesion. For these environments, the curing agent has to be modified, and in such circumstances ketimines have been found to work. Many amines and ketones are used to obtain ketimines. The ketimine in contact with water hydrolyses, releasing a free amine, which in turn reacts with the epoxy resin and so curing takes place in situ. Reports on a study of effective ketimines in various coating systems.

Purpose – Exploration of the methodological aspects of male sex work is rather limited. Without a strong methodological toolkit to draw from, research in male sex work will not be able to accurately capture changes in the dynamic sex work environment. Thus, the author provides a comprehensive review of methods in male sex work along with a broad spectrum of methodological insights through which future research can be advanced.

Methodology/approach – Drawing from two studies that the author conducted in the male independent escorting space, this chapter provides a range of methodological insights and offers avenues for future research.

Findings – This chapter reviews the methods used in male sex work research over the years and details the lack of research on methodological inquiry in the field.

Originality/value – With the increasing normalization and dynamism of male sex work, it is necessary for the research to provide methodological guidance for the next wave of studies in the field. The recommendations and research directions proposed herein are hoped to have implications for research in the larger sex work context.

The purpose of this paper is to first review the implementation of automatic identification and data capture) technologies in library/information science, focusing on barcode technology, radio frequency identification (RFID) and near field communication (NFC). This paper then presents S-Library, a new android-based application, to enable users to perform a wide range of information science-related transactions, such as borrowing, searching, returning and viewing transaction records.

This paper presents the design process and the database and software components. For analysis, the authors used application testing, and also usability testing, with a questionnaire distributed to 343 users.

The implementation of NFC technology means that S-Library has a number of technical advantages over other approaches. It was also shown with user acceptance testing that there was a high degree of user satisfaction with S-Library.

Although the findings combine technical assessment and usability testing and are extremely positive, further user evaluation could be performed. In addition, S-Library does not currently read existing RFID tags, which would improve the application further.

The system proposed here shows that S-Library is a feasible approach taken to improve the library transaction experience and that it can replace and improve upon older technologies.

This paper provides a first successful demonstration of a functioning and tested android and NFC-based library transaction system and shows that this approach generates a high degree of user reliability.

The purpose of this paper is to describe the present status of implementing innovative radio frequency identification (RFID) technology in university libraries of Bangladesh. The main obstacles of implementing this technology among university libraries and ways to overcome the obstacles are also described.

This study uses both qualitative and quantitative approaches along with review of related literature. The present scenario of RFID implementation status of Bangladesh is shown by a survey with a structured questionnaire and reviewing related literature.

The findings show that RFID is being used in the university libraries to reduce staff stress, increase efficiency, track and locate items quickly, book drop support at any time, easier circulation, promote self-check-in check-out activities, etc. This study identifies the challenges in libraries of Bangladesh which are lack of adequate funding, unavailability of RFID accessories, lack of skilled manpower, unwillingness, erratic power supply, etc. Also, it suggests some suitable ways such as creating positive impression and attitudes, arrangement of proper training, appointment of skilled manpower and allocation of sufficient budget to overcome the existing challenges of RFID.

The study describes the benefits of RFID technology for libraries, and some recommendations are proposed for extensive use of this technology.

This research investigates the impact of Dufour effects and viscous dissipation on unsteady magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) natural convection in an incompressible, viscous, and electrically conductive fluid over a vertically oscillating flat plate. The study highlights the significance of magnetic fields in influencing thermal and mass transfer, particularly in the context of thermal radiation. Computational fluid dynamics method including finite difference or finite element techniques can be used to crack the governing equations of the fluid flow. In this work, we used the finite element method (FEM) numerical technique to analyze the numerical behavior of unsteady boundary layer flow of Casson fluid with natural convection past an oscillating vertical plate. Key parameters such as skin friction, temperature, concentration, velocity and Sherwood numbers are derived and analyzed. The results demonstrate that viscous dissipation significantly elevates the fluid temperature, while an increase in the radiation parameter is associated with a decrease in internal friction at the plate. These findings provide critical insights into the interplay between thermal radiation and magnetic fields in MHD flows, with potential applications in engineering systems involving heat and mass transfer, such as cooling systems and material processing. This study underscores the importance of understanding these dynamics for optimizing the performance of MHD applications in various industrial settings.

The mainly authorized and energetic FEM to explain the non-linear, dimensionless partial differential equations (11–13) via equation with boundary conditions (14) makes use of Bathe (36), Reddy (37), Connor (38) and Chung (39). Following are the key steps that make up the method: discretize the domain, derivation of element equation, assembly of element equation, imposition of boundary condition and solution of assembly equation.

This study examined the impact of viscid dissipative radiation and the Dufour effect on unsteady one-dimensional MHD natural convective flow of a viscous, incompressible, electrically conducting fluid past an infinite moving vertical flat plate with a chemical reaction. Numerically solving the governing equations using the FEM approach is efficient and precise, aiming to be applied to fluid mechanics and related problems. Along with their effects on temperature, concentration and velocity, the following parameters are included: the mass Grashof number, the Soret number, the Grashof number, the Prandtl number, chemical reaction, the Schmidt number, radiation and the Casson parameter. Both the Grashof numbers of thermal and mass rates (Gr, Gm) make an increment in the velocity region. The velocity decreases with an increase in the magnetic parameter. The velocity increases with an increase in the permeability of the porous medium parameter. The temperature flow rate is higher for both Dufour and Viscid dissipation, while a decrement is noted of both Prandtl number and radiation effects. The decrementing behavior of the concentration region is observed at supreme inputs of chemical reaction coefficient and Schmidt number.

This is an original paper and not submitted anywhere.