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Automatic speaker verification is an active research area for more than four decades, and the technology has gradually upgraded for real application. In this paper, a hybrid convolutional neural network (CNN) model is proposed where a combination of the 3D CNN & 2D CNN model is used for speaker verification in the text-independent scenario. For speaker verification, this novel convolutional neural network architecture was built to capture and discard speaker and non-speaker information at the same time. In the training process, the network is trained to differentiate between different identities of a speaker to establish the background model. The model development of the speaker is one of the important aspects. Most conventional techniques employed the d-vector system to create speaker models by means of an average of the features collected from the speaker utterance. Here a hybrid of convolutional neural networks model is utilized in the development and registration phases for building a speaker model. The approach suggested exceeds the existing methods of speaker verification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the international relations literature, US-Iran relations are usually examined in a narrow time frame. In these analyses, scholars examine the bilateral relationship by taking either the 1953 Mossadiq coup or the 1979 Islamic Revolution as milestone. However, it is possible to trace back the unofficial relations of the US with Iran to the 1830s and the diplomatic relations to the 1850s. Drawing on image theory, this study seeks to examine these two countries’ first impressions of each other during the period of 1830-1914. It argues that just like in human relations, the images and perceptions states develop of one another in their first encounters can have a long-lasting impact on their relations. During the period under review, the knowledge that the two countries had of each other was extremely limited, even more so for Iran. The US and Iran had unrealistic images of each other based on their perceptions shaped by their self-images, cultures, historical information, and international conjecture at the time. These unrealistic viewpoints prevented them from assessing each other accurately and created false expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On December 27, 2008, Israel launched a deadly attack on Gaza. Turkey responded immediately to the Israeli attacks and strongly criticized the operation. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan embarked on a tour of Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt to garner support for an immediate ceasefire. Turkey's active diplomacy in the Gaza crisis is an indication of Turkey's new foreign policy vision and a self-confidence consolidated by strengthening relations with regional powers. Turkey's proactive policy in the region does not suggest that it will discontinue its relations with one side or the other. In fact, this supposition is marked by the old belief that Turkish foreign policy has a single axis or dimension. By observing the balance of power and keeping all actors involved in the process, Ankara has a greater chance of finding a just and sustainable solution to the Palestinian problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nineteen compacted graphite cast irons were investigated to determine how alloying additions affect the thermal transport properties and microstructure. All melts were based on one chemical composition and alloying elements were added to obtain melts with variation in magnesium, silicon, carbon, copper, tin, chromium and molybdenum. Increasing amounts of magnesium resulted in a further compaction of the graphite particles, reducing the thermal conductivity. Large amounts of silicon resulted in a fully ferritic metal matrix. Silicon also formed solid solution with iron which had a deteriorating effect on the thermal conductivity, i.e. the larger amount of silicon the lower the thermal conductivity. Copper and tin promoted formation of pearlite that had worse thermal properties compared to ferrite. Increasing amount of ferrite generally had a positive influence of the thermal conductivity. Chromium and molybdenum were carbide forming elements and carbides had a negative influence on the thermal conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Children with specific language impairment (SLI) are underidentified, despite a robust literature on their language abilities and a clinical grammar marker. Adlof and Hogan (2019) call for school systems to assess oral language and provide supports through response to intervention (RTI), with the aim of identifying and supporting children with SLI and other language impairments. However, it is unknown how teachers make educational decisions for children with SLI. Method: A web-based survey was distributed to public school teachers nationwide (N = 304). In this observational study, teachers read six vignettes featuring profiles of children systematically varying in the linguistic characteristics relevant to SLI (e.g., difficulty with verb tense) and responded to items on the educational decisions that they would make in the absence of workplace constraints. Results: Teachers were likely to identify that the children in the vignettes needed language for classroom success and to indicate that they would provide in-class intervention. However, teachers were unlikely to recommend speechlanguage pathology services. These outcomes were mostly consistent across all child characteristics and teacher characteristics. Conclusions: Findings show that teachers were sensitive to the languagebased needs of children with SLI and elected to provide in-class intervention. Future work is needed to understand how workplace characteristics, including opportunities for interprofessional collaboration, and the heterogeneity of children with SLI, inform teacher educational decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microscopic jets of cryogenic substances such as liquid nitrogen are important regenerative high-density targets for high-repetition rate, high-brightness laser-plasma soft x-ray sources. When operated in vacuum such liquid jets exhibit several non-classical instabilities that negatively influence the x-ray source's spatial and temporal stability, yield, and brightness, parameters that all are important for applications such as water-window microscopy. In the present paper, we investigate liquid-nitrogen jets with a flash-illumination imaging system that allows for a quantitative stability analysis with high spatial and temporal resolution. Direct and indirect consequences of evaporation are identified as the key reasons for the observed instabilities. Operating the jets in an approximately 100 mbar ambient atmosphere counteracts the effects of evaporation and produces highly stable liquid nitrogen jets. For operation in vacuum, which is necessary for the laser plasmas, we improve the stability by introducing an external radiative heating element. The method significantly extends the distance from the nozzle that can be used for liquid-jet laser plasmas, which is of importance for high-average-power applications. Finally, we show that laser-plasma operation with the heating-element-stabilized jet shows improved short-term and long-term temporal stability in its water-window x-ray emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microscopic jets of cryogenic substances such as liquid nitrogen are important regenerative high-density targets for high-repetition rate, high-brightness laser-plasma soft x-ray sources. When operated in vacuum such liquid jets exhibit several non-classical instabilities that negatively influence the x-ray source's spatial and temporal stability, yield, and brightness, parameters that all are important for applications such as water-window microscopy. In the present paper, we investigate liquid-nitrogen jets with a flash-illumination imaging system that allows for a quantitative stability analysis with high spatial and temporal resolution. Direct and indirect consequences of evaporation are identified as the key reasons for the observed instabilities. Operating the jets in an approximately 100 mbar ambient atmosphere counteracts the effects of evaporation and produces highly stable liquid nitrogen jets. For operation in vacuum, which is necessary for the laser plasmas, we improve the stability by introducing an external radiative heating element. The method significantly extends the distance from the nozzle that can be used for liquid-jet laser plasmas, which is of importance for high-average-power applications. Finally, we show that laser-plasma operation with the heating-element-stabilized jet shows improved short-term and long-term temporal stability in its water-window x-ray emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Lens-based water-window X-ray microscopy allows two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) imaging of intact unstained cells in their near-native state with unprecedented contrast and resolution. Cryofixation is essential to avoid radiation damage to the sample. Present cryo X-ray microscopes rely on synchrotron radiation sources, thereby limiting the accessibility for a wider community of biologists. In the present paper we demonstrate water-window cryo X-ray microscopy with a laboratory-source-based arrangement. The microscope relies on a λ =2.48-nm liquid-jet high-brightness laser-plasma source, normal-incidence multilayer condenser optics, 30-nm zone-plate optics, and a cryo sample chamber. We demonstrate 2D imaging of test patterns, and intact unstained yeast, protozoan parasites and mammalian cells. Overview 3D information is obtained by stereo imaging while complete 3D microscopy is provided by full tomographic reconstruction. The laboratory microscope image quality approaches that of the synchrotron microscopes, but with longer exposure times. The experimental image quality is analyzed from a numerical wave-propagation model of the imaging system and a path to reach synchrotron-like exposure times in laboratory microscopy is outlined. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Pulmonary fibrosis and atherosclerosis have many similarities at the histopathologic level. Moreover, fibrotic lung diseases exhibit systemic effects and have the potential to affect the vasculature beyond the lung. The existence of a relationship between the two, however, has not been studied. Methods: To investigate whether fibrotic lung disorders may predispose to atherosclerosis, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 630 patients referred for lung transplantation evaluation at a university hospital. We compared the prevalence of angiographic coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with fibrotic vs nonfibrotic lung diseases. Results: Fibrotic lung diseases were associated with an increased prevalence of CAD compared with nonfibrotic diseases after adjustment for traditional risk factors (odds ratio, 2.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-4.06). The magnitude and significance of this association were maintained when only nongranulomatous fibrotic disease or its subset, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, was examined. The strength of the relationship between fibrotic disorders and CAD increased when multivessel disease was analyzed (odds ratio, 4.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.46-11.9). No significant association was detected for granulomatous fibrotic disorders (odds ratio, 1.56; 95% confidence interval, 0.47-5.16; P = .47), although this subgroup had fewer cases of CAD for analysis. Conclusions: These findings support an association between fibrotic lung disorders and CAD. Further research is necessary to confirm this relationship and to explore the pathologic processes underlying, and potentially linking, these 2 conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]