<div><div><div><p>VOICE conversion (VC) is the process whereby the speech signal of one speaker (source) is transformed into the the voice of another speaker (target). Voice con- version can be used in many applications, example of which includes text to speech; speaker recognition; noise reduction in speech; neutral speech to emotional speech conversion; movie, animation, and music industry applications. The features trans- formed in VC systems are typically the parameters characterizing the speech and speaker individuality, including the fundamental frequency, spectral envelope, ape- riodicity, and phoneme duration. Among these, the spectral envelope is one of the most significant characteristics of the speaker identity. In this thesis, we propose four new approaches for spectral conversion: Mixture Density Network (MDN); Dynamic Multi-band Random Forest (DMRF); State Space Model (SSM) employing the Gaus- sian Mixture Model (GMM) for state-vector sequence conversion (SSM-GMM); and Sub-band Deep Gaussian Processes (SDGP). These new conversion methods were developed for both speech and singing applications. Experimental results show that the new methods have performance advantages over the conventional methods both subjectively and objectively.</p></div></div></div>

Orientador: João Francisco Galera Monico / Resumo: A tecnologia Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) tem sido amplamente utilizada em posicionamento, desde as aplicações cotidianas (acurácia métrica), até aplicações que requerem alta acurácia (poucos cm ou dm). Quando se pretende obter alta acurácia, diferentes técnicas devem ser aplicadas a fim de minimizar os efeitos que o sinal sofre desde sua transmissão, no satélite, até sua recepção. O sinal GNSS ao se propagar na atmosfera neutra (da superfície até 50 km), é afetado por gases hidrostáticos e vapor d’água. A variação desses constituintes atmosféricos causa uma refração no sinal que gera um atraso. Esse atraso pode ocasionar erros na medida de no mínimo 2,5 m (zenital) e superior a 25 m (inclinado). A determinação do atraso na direção inclinada (satélite-receptor) de acordo com o ângulo de elevação é realizada pelas funções de mapeamento. Uma das técnicas para o cálculo do atraso é o traçado de raio (ray tracing). Essa técnica permite mapear o caminho real que o sinal percorreu e modelar a interferência da atmosfera neutra sobre esse sinal. Diferentes abordagens podem ser usadas para obter informações que descrevem os constituintes da atmosfera neutra. Dentre as possibilidades pode-se citar o uso de medidas de radiossondas, modelos de previsão do tempo e clima (PNT), medidas GNSS, assim como modelos teóricos. Modelos de PNT regionais do Centro de Previsão de Tempo e Estudos Climáticos (CPTEC) do Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE) apresentam-se como um... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) technology has been widely used in positioning, from day-to-day applications (metric accuracy) to applications that require high accuracy (few cm or dm). For high accuracy, different techniques may be applied to minimize the effects that the signal suffers from its transmission on the satellite to its reception. GNSS signal when propagating in the neutral atmosphere (from surface up to 50km) is influenced by hydrostatic gases and water vapor. The variation of these atmospheric constituents causes a refraction in the signal that generates a delay. This delay may cause errors of at least 2.5 m (zenith) and greater than 25 m (slant). The determination of the delay in the slanted direction (satellite-receiver) according to the elevation angle is performed by the mapping functions. One of the techniques for calculating the delay is raytracing. This technique allows us to map the actual path that the signal has traveled and to model the interference of the neutral atmosphere on it. Different approaches can be used to obtain information describing the neutral atmosphere constituents - temperature, pressure and humidity. The possibilities include the use of radiosonde measurements, weather and climate models (NWP), GNSS measurements, as well as theoretical models. Regional NWP models from the Center Weather Forecasting and Climate Studies (CPTEC) of the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) are a good alternative to provide atmospheri... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

This thesis describes the application of the first-order Conditional Moment Closure (CMC) to the autoignition of high-pressure fuel jets, and to piloted and lifted turbulent jet flames using classical and advanced CMC submodels. A Doubly-Conditional Moment Closure (DCMC) formulation is further proposed. In the first study, CMC is applied to investigate the impact of C₂H₆, H₂ and N₂ additives on the autoignition of high-pressure CH₄ jets injected into lower pressure heated air. A wide range of pre-combustion air temperatures is considered and detailed chemical kinetics are employed. It is demonstrated that the addition of C₂H₆ and H₂ does not change the main CH₄ oxidisation pathways. The decomposition of these additives provides additional ignition-promoting radicals, and therefore leads to shorter ignition delays. N₂ additives do not alter the CH₄ oxidisation pathways, however, they reduce the amount of CH₄ available for reaction, causing delayed ignition. It is further shown that ignition always occurs in lean mixtures and at low scalar dissipation rates. The second study is concerned with the modelling of a piloted CH₄/air turbulent jet flame. A detailed assessment of several Probability Density Function (PDF), Conditional Scalar Dissipation Rate (CSDR) and Conditional Velocity (CV) submodels is first performed. The results of two β-PDF-based implementations are then presented. The two realisations differ by the modelling of the CSDR. Homogeneous (inconsistent) and inhomogeneous (consistent) closures are considered. It is shown that the levels of all reactive scalars, including minor intermediates and radicals, are better predicted when the effects of inhomogeneity are included in the modelling of the CSDR. The two following studies are focused on the consistent modelling of a lifted H₂/N₂ turbulent jet flame issuing into a vitiated coflow. Two approaches are followed to model the PDF. In the first, a presumed β-distribution is assumed, whereas in the second, the Presumed Mapping Function (PMF) approach is employed. Fully consistent CV and CSDR closures based on the β-PDF and the PMF-PDF are employed. The homogeneous versions of the CSDR closures are also considered in order to assess the effect of the spurious sources which stem from the inconsistent modelling of mixing. The flame response is analysed over a narrow range of coflow temperatures (Tc). The stabilisation mechanism is determined from the analysis of the transport budgets in mixture fraction and physical spaces, and the history of radical build-up ahead of the stabilisation height. The β-PDF realisations indicate that the flame is stabilised by autoignition irrespective of the value of Tc. On the other hand, the PMF realisations reveal that the stabilisation mechanism is susceptible to Tc. Autoignition remains the controlling stabilisation mechanism for sufficiently high Tc. However, as Tc is decreased, stabilisation is achieved by means of premixed flame propagation. The analysis of the spurious sources reveals that their effect is small but non-negligible, most notably within the flame zone. Further, the assessment of several H₂ oxidation mechanisms show that the flame is very sensitive to chemical kinetics. In the last study, a DCMC method is proposed for the treatment of fluctuations in non-premixed and partially premixed turbulent combustion. The classical CMC theory is extended by introducing a normalised Progress Variable (PV) as a second conditioning variable beside the mixture fraction. The unburnt and burnt states involved in the normalisation of the PV are specified such that they are mixture fraction-dependent. A transport equation for the normalised PV is first obtained. The doubly-conditional species, enthalpy and temperature transport equations are then derived using the decomposition approach and the primary closure hypothesis is applied. Submodels for the doubly-conditioned unclosed terms which arise from the derivation of DCMC are proposed. As a preliminary analysis, the governing equations are simplified for homogeneous turbulence and a parametric assessment is performed by varying the strain rate levels in mixture fraction and PV spaces.

This thesis describes the application of the first-order Conditional Moment Closure (CMC) to the autoignition of high-pressure fuel jets, and to piloted and lifted turbulent jet flames using classical and advanced CMC submodels. A Doubly-Conditional Moment Closure (DCMC) formulation is further proposed. In the first study, CMC is applied to investigate the impact of C₂H₆, H₂ and N₂ additives on the autoignition of high-pressure CH₄ jets injected into lower pressure heated air. A wide range of pre-combustion air temperatures is considered and detailed chemical kinetics are employed. It is demonstrated that the addition of C₂H₆ and H₂ does not change the main CH₄ oxidisation pathways. The decomposition of these additives provides additional ignition-promoting radicals, and therefore leads to shorter ignition delays. N₂ additives do not alter the CH₄ oxidisation pathways, however, they reduce the amount of CH₄ available for reaction, causing delayed ignition. It is further shown that ignition always occurs in lean mixtures and at low scalar dissipation rates. The second study is concerned with the modelling of a piloted CH₄/air turbulent jet flame. A detailed assessment of several Probability Density Function (PDF), Conditional Scalar Dissipation Rate (CSDR) and Conditional Velocity (CV) submodels is first performed. The results of two β-PDF-based implementations are then presented. The two realisations differ by the modelling of the CSDR. Homogeneous (inconsistent) and inhomogeneous (consistent) closures are considered. It is shown that the levels of all reactive scalars, including minor intermediates and radicals, are better predicted when the effects of inhomogeneity are included in the modelling of the CSDR. The two following studies are focused on the consistent modelling of a lifted H₂/N₂ turbulent jet flame issuing into a vitiated coflow. Two approaches are followed to model the PDF. In the first, a presumed β-distribution is assumed, whereas in the second, the Presumed Mapping Function (PMF) approach is employed. Fully consistent CV and CSDR closures based on the β-PDF and the PMF-PDF are employed. The homogeneous versions of the CSDR closures are also considered in order to assess the effect of the spurious sources which stem from the inconsistent modelling of mixing. The flame response is analysed over a narrow range of coflow temperatures (Tc). The stabilisation mechanism is determined from the analysis of the transport budgets in mixture fraction and physical spaces, and the history of radical build-up ahead of the stabilisation height. The β-PDF realisations indicate that the flame is stabilised by autoignition irrespective of the value of Tc. On the other hand, the PMF realisations reveal that the stabilisation mechanism is susceptible to Tc. Autoignition remains the controlling stabilisation mechanism for sufficiently high Tc. However, as Tc is decreased, stabilisation is achieved by means of premixed flame propagation. The analysis of the spurious sources reveals that their effect is small but non-negligible, most notably within the flame zone. Further, the assessment of several H₂ oxidation mechanisms show that the flame is very sensitive to chemical kinetics. In the last study, a DCMC method is proposed for the treatment of fluctuations in non-premixed and partially premixed turbulent combustion. The classical CMC theory is extended by introducing a normalised Progress Variable (PV) as a second conditioning variable beside the mixture fraction. The unburnt and burnt states involved in the normalisation of the PV are specified such that they are mixture fraction-dependent. A transport equation for the normalised PV is first obtained. The doubly-conditional species, enthalpy and temperature transport equations are then derived using the decomposition approach and the primary closure hypothesis is applied. Submodels for the doubly-conditioned unclosed terms which arise from the derivation of DCMC are proposed. As a preliminary analysis, the governing equations are simplified for homogeneous turbulence and a parametric assessment is performed by varying the strain rate levels in mixture fraction and PV spaces.