Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Maximum entropy direct models for speech recognition

Traditional statistical models for speech recognition have all been based on a Bayesian framework using generative models such as hidden Markov models (HMMs). The paper focuses on a new framework for speech recognition using maximum entropy direct modeling, where the probability of a state or word sequence given an observation sequence is computed directly from the model. In contrast to HMMs, features can be asynchronous and overlapping. This model therefore allows for the potential combination of many different types of features. A specific kind of direct model, the maximum entropy Markov model (MEMM), is studied. Even with conventional acoustic features, the approach already shows promising results for phone level decoding. The MEMM significantly outperforms traditional HMMs in word error rate when used as stand-alone acoustic models. Preliminary results combining the MEMM scores with HMM and language model scores show modest improvements over the best HMM speech recognizer.
Automatic recognition of print and script

A deceptively simple kind of optical pattern recognition deals with print and script. What seemed at one time to be a fairly easy problem area in automated reading of line-like patterns has turned out to be difficult and expensive. The evolution and present state of the art of machine recognition of print and script is examined. On-hand systems relieve large amounts of human drudgery, and both theory and engineering design have advanced greatly in response to pressures caused by our paper explosion. But major problems of cost and effectiveness still exist.
Localisation using the appearance of prior structure

Accurate and robust localisation is a fundamental aspect of any autonomous mobile robot. However, if these are to become widespread, it must also be available at low-cost. In this thesis, we develop a new approach to localisation using monocular cameras by leveraging a coloured 3D pointcloud prior of the environment, captured previously by a survey vehicle. We make no assumptions about the external conditions during the robot’s traversal relative to those experienced by the survey vehicle, nor do we make any assumptions about their relative sensor configurations. Our method uses no extracted image features. Instead, it explicitly optimises for the pose which harmonises the information, in a Shannon sense, about the appearance of the scene from the captured images conditioned on the pose, with that of the prior. We use as our objective the Normalised Information Distance (NID), a true metric for information, and demonstrate as a consequence the robustness of our localisation formulation to illumination changes, occlusions and colourspace transformations. We present how, by construction of the joint distribution of the appearance of the scene from the prior and the live imagery, the gradients of the NID can be computed and how these can be used to efficiently solve our formulation using Quasi-Newton methods. In order to reliably identify any localisation failures, we present a new classifier using the local shape of the NID about the candidate pose and demonstrate the performance gains of the complete system from its use. Finally, we detail the development of a real-time capable implementation of our approach using commodity GPUs and demonstrate that it outperforms a high-grade, commercial GPS-aided INS on 57km of driving in central Oxford, over a range of different conditions, times of day and year.
An RF CMOS cascode LNA with current reuse and inductive source degeneration

An RF CMOS Low-Noise Amplifier (LNA) is proposed using a current reuse technique (CRT) to increase the amplifier transconductance without increasing power dissipation. The circuit was simulated and designed with 0.5 /spl mu/m CMOS MOSIS process. At 1 GHz, the LNA noise figure (NF) is 2.7 dB, forward gain is 21.6 dB and reverse isolation is -42.5 dB. The LNA consumes 20.3 mW from a 2.2 V power supply.
Measurement in business processes: a systematic review

– The purpose of this paper is to analyze the current state of the art and trends with regard to business process measurement by means of a systematic review of literature. , – The results are obtained through a systematic review carried out according to existing relevant guidelines. Additionally, a specific methodology through which to systematically obtain all the most important journals is followed. In total, 19 relevant articles are selected and later analyzed. A subsequent critical analysis of the data obtained is applied to identify the gaps in the current literature. , – A considerable effort has been made by researchers in the field of business process measurement, particularly in recent years. Many of the defined measures for business processes have been applied to models (approximately 77 per cent). Most of the initiatives concerning business measurement have been adapted from the software engineering field. A small percentage of the existing business process measures has been empirically validated. , – The results presented contribute towards providing an updated overview of the current state of research into business process measurement, in order to identify existing research gaps and concerns on which ongoing and future research efforts on this topic can be focused.
Online identification of hysteresis functions with non-local memory

This paper discusses the online identification of non-local static hysteresis functions, which are encountered in mechanical friction, magnetic materials, and piezoelectric actuators. The hysteresis function is modeled using a superposition of elementary extended stop-type hysteresis operators. Each hysteresis operator is defined by one characteristic parameter and one state variable. By choosing the characteristic parameters in advance, the identification leads to a linear least squares estimation of the weighting parameters. This can be implemented recursively for the online estimation of these parameter, to track their slow variations, e.g., due to temperature changes. The developed modelling and identification approach is tested by means of simulations and experiments on a piezoelectric actuator. For the simulations, for both static and dynamic systems, containing a hysteresis function are considered.
A logical foundation for the semantic Web

The current research progresses and problems of the semantic Web are analyzed in this paper, and the insufficiency of using description logic to act as logical foundation for the semantic Web is analyzed too. According to the characteristics and requirement of the semantic Web, a kind of new dynamic description logic (DDL) framework is presented. The representation and reasoning of static knowledge and dynamic knowledge are integrated in this framework. Especially, a kind of action description method is proposed, and according to description logic theory, the action semantics is described, so DDL is a kind of formal logical framework which can process static knowledge and dynamic knowledge. The DDL has clear and formally defined semantics. It provides decidable reasoning services, and it can support effective representation and reasoning of the static knowledge, dynamic process and running mechanism (realization and subsumption relation of action). Therefore, the DDL provides reasonable logic foundation for the semantic Web, and overcomes the insufficiency of using description logic to act as logical foundation for the semantic Web.
Cache coherence in a multiport memory environment

The effects of various cache coherence strategies are analyzed for a multiported shared memory multiprocessor. Analytical models for concurrent read exclusive write access (CREW) and concurrent read concurrent write access (CRCW) are developed including shared-not-cacheable, snooping bus, snooping bus with cache-to-cache transfers, and directory protocols. The performance of each protocol is shown as the hit rate, main memory-to-cache memory cycle time ratio, fraction of shared data, read percentage, and number of partitions are varied. Overall, results indicate that a snooping bus with cache-to-cache transfer scheme provides consistently fast access times over a wide range of execution parameters. However, nearly equivalent performance can be obtained with simpler directory based schemes. The implications of these results on increasing port complexity and memory usage are discussed. <<ETX>>
Computer generated feedback on vowel production by learners of English as a second language

The acquisition of new vowel sounds is one of the most challenging tasks for the adult learner of a second language. It is also an aspect which requires a great deal of time and individual attention. Learners of English are particularly hampered by the irregular orthographic representation of vowel sounds. This paper reports on research in progress into the development of an application to provide learners with real time feedback on their vowel production. This process includes the calculation and plotting of formants on a graph using the PRAAT programme. The patterns which result are highly reminiscent of the traditional vowel chart, which in turn reflects articulation, i.e. articulatory changes are reflected on the graph. This application can provide feedback on both pure vowels and diphthongs. Some of the difficulties and obstacles which as yet prevent it from being a tool which can be used by the learner autonomously will also be outlined and discussed. Foremost amongst which are: the question of speaker normalisation (how to compensate for the difference in values between male, female and pre-pubertal speakers) which may be resolved by way of statistical elaboration of the formant data; and the methods used to isolate the vowel sound from the rest of the signal.
On the reheat furnace control problem

This paper develops a model and control algorithm for the temperature control of steel blocks (slabs) passing through a furnace burner zone. The slab temperature is controlled by varying the zone temperature. A model for a single slab passing through the furnace is developed and the parameters of this model are estimated. Data from the reheat furnace no. 2 at The Danish Steel Work Ltd. are used for the identification. The single slab model is used for building a model for all slabs in the burner zone. A slab temperature reference function (heating curve) is found from the slab temperature model. A nonlinear controller is designed to minimize the deviation from this heating curve. The stability and controllability of the system is also analyzed.
A swarm with an effective information sharing mechanism for unconstrained and constrained single objective optimisation problems

We present an effective multilevel information sharing strategy within a swarm to handle single objective, constrained and unconstrained optimization problems. A swarm is considered as a collection of individuals having a common goal to reach the best value (minimum or maximum) of a function. The success of a swarm is attributed to the identification of a set of competent leaders and a meaningful information sharing scheme between the leaders and the rest of the individuals that enables the swarm to collectively attain the common goal. The proposed algorithm mimics the above behavioral processes of a real swarm and maintains unique individuals at all time instants. The uniqueness among the individuals result in a set of near optimal solutions at the final phase that is useful for sensitivity analysis. The benefits of the effective information sharing strategy is illustrated by solving two unconstrained problems with multiple equal and unequal optima and a constrained optimization problem.
A multimedia‐enhanced problem‐based learning experience in the Malaysian classroom

In this paper a multimedia project was incorporated into a problem‐based learning environment to examine how learning in multimedia could be enhanced through the use of problem‐based learning. Students in a second year course in the Faculty of Creative Multimedia (FCM) were assigned the problem‐based multimedia project, they worked in groups, solving the problem using the multimedia authoring process (MAP). This paper reports on the structuring of the student learning process, the impact of the problem‐based learning environment on student learning and the important skills such as creative and critical thinking, teamwork, communication, collaborative and problem‐solving skills that arose as the result of this intervention. In the process, a multimedia‐enhanced problem‐based learning (M‐PBL) model was created. The interrelationships between the teacher, students and technology in this learning mode were also established. A survey was conducted to assess the reactions and attitudes of the students towards this learning environment. The results obtained were positive and satisfactory.
Wearable Tools for Affective Remote Collaboration

Affective computing is the study and development of systems that can recognize human emotions and feelings. Emotions are always an interesting topic of research and these days researchers are trying to develop systems which can recognize, interpret and process emotions based on human physiological and neural changes for the development of well-being. As the market for wearable devices is expanding, it provides more opportunity of research in emotion sharing with remote person. This Master’s thesis investigates the possibility of using wearable devices for affective remote collaboration. Previous research about affective computing, affective communication and remote collaboration using wearable devices is reviewed before starting the design process. Three wearable devices were developed, evaluated and discussed, two for emotion sharing between remote people, and the third for preliminary research to explore if eye gaze information can increase co-presence in remote collaboration. Conclusions and Future work are discussed based on the results from the research evaluation.
Pembangunan Modul Multimedia Interaktif Menggunakan Pendekatan Pembelajaran Berasaskan Senario Bagi Tajuk Pembangunan Perisian Multimedia Berasaskan Cd-Rom

Penggunaan teknologi multimedia pada masa kini telah menjadi suatu keperluan dalam usaha membangun dan memperkembangkan bidang pendidikan. Sehubungan itu, pembangunan modul multimedia interaktif bagi kursus Pembangunan Perisian Multimedia Berasaskan CD-ROM dihasilkan dengan kombinasi beberapa eleman multimedia seperti penggunaan teks, grafik, audio dan animasi. Selain itu, pembangunan modul pembelajaran ini dapat membantu dan memudahkan proses pengajaran dan pembelajaran. Model rekabentuk pengajaran ADDIE telah digunakan sebagai panduan dalam merekabentuk modul pembelajaran ini. Modul ini mengaplikasikan pendekatan Pembelajaran Berasaskan Senario (Scenario Based Learning) dan menggunakan teori konstriktivisme bagi menjana pemahaman serta pemikiran pelajar dalam tajuk tersebut. Modul ini dibangunkan menggunakan perisian Macromedia Authoware 7.0 sebagai platform pembangunan, di samping penggunaan perisian Macromedia Flash MX 2004, Adobe Photoshop CS dan Sound Forge 7.0, sebagai perisian sokongan bagi menghasilkan modul pembelajaran yang lebih menarik. Dengan terhasilnya modul multimedia interaktif ini dapat membantu meningkatkan prestasi pelajar dan secara tidak langsung menambahkan koleksi bahan rujukan yang diterbitkan oleh Fakulti
Similarity analysis of service descriptions for efficient Web service discovery

Web services are currently one of the preferred ways for realizing Service Oriented Architectures in business systems. Due to this popularity and also due partly to the failure of the Universal Business Registry initiative, the number of published service descriptions openly available on the Web has increased by a large extent and hence, relevant service discovery as per user specification remains a challenge. In order to achieve more efficient discovery, we propose a crawler based system for gathering service descriptions available on the Web for building a scalable service repository. We apply similarity analysis techniques to the service descriptions after extracting features provided by the service descriptions and automatically generate relevant tags for each service. Using Agglomerative Hierarchical clustering, we cluster the tagged service descriptions and use the same tagging technique to generate tags for each cluster. For generating cluster tags, we take into account how well the tag represents the corresponding service in the cluster and how well the service itself represents the cluster it is in. The search domain for service discovery was significantly reduced by tagging & clustering and and we show that our system achieves good results.
Introduction To "Stabilized Feed-Back Amplifiers"

Harold L. Black’s Classic Paper “Stabilized Feed-Back Amplifiers” appeared five years after he invented the feedback amplifier and four years before the patent was finally issued. Black’s paper shows the advantages of negative feedback in reducing harmonic distortion, increasing the bandwidth, and maintaining robust performance using primitive vacuum tubes. It also introduces a nomogram similar to the well-known Nichols Chart. In an effort to gain a better understanding of the unerlying mechanism of feedback, he enlisted the aid of H. Nyquist who responded with his famous paper, “Regeneration Theory. ”
N log N dual shuffle-exchange network with error-correcting routing

The parallels between the design philosophies of switching and transmission systems are established, and it is argued that error-correcting routing in switching is analogous to error-correcting coding in transmission. Based on a novel error-correcting and self-routing algorithm, it is shown by analysis and simulation that the dual shuffle-exchange network can achieve the Shannon's lower bound N log N on switch complexity with arbitrarily small packet-loss probability. <<ETX>>
Multicarrier TDD systems using channel state feedback information

In this paper we discuss transmission using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) in the context of a TDMA/TDD multiple access scheme based loosely around that used in the Digital European Cordless Communications (DECT) system. The DECT framework makes results more tangible, however the real aim of this work is to highlight novel OFDM techniques. All the proposed systems make use of only a small number of subchannels, the rationale behind this choice is discussed in detail in O'Neill and Lopes (1996) and is briefly reiterated in the present paper. We present three systems, all of which make use of channel state feedback information, which is readily available because of TDD and useful because relative speeds of motion are low in DECT. The first is targeted at improving speech quality by attempting to map speech vocoder output bits to subchannels based on significance. The second uses a reduced set of the available subchannels for transmission in a given timeslot, hence avoiding frequency selective fades and improving overall performance in both speech and data applications. The final system combines transmission on a reduced set of subchannels with base-station diversity.
Business performance management and unlearning process

The process of unlearning can serve as a basis for removing old knowledge structures. Unlearning makes it possible for new knowledge to be accepted, and for old structures to be changed or removed. However, since organizations have difficulties in changing when in fact they are successful, the transition from unlearning to learning is especially difficult, since success tends to preserve existing knowledge structures and behaviours, and organizations fritter away their resources in internal power struggles, instead of using them to bring about fundamental changes in behaviour. The aims of this research are, firstly, to introduce a theoretical argument with respect to unlearning; secondly, an unlearning process is explained as the key to broadening knowledge. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analytic approach for deploying desktop videoconferencing

The deployment of desktop videoconferencing, also known as video and voice over IP (VVoIP), over existing IP networks is gaining popularity. Such a deployment has become a major and challenging task for data network researchers and designers. An analytic approach for deploying videoconferencing is presented. The approach utilises queueing network analysis and investigates two key performance bounds for videoconferencing: delay and bandwidth. The approach can be used to assess the support and readiness of an existing IP network. Prior to the purchase and deployment of desktop videoconferencing equipment, the approach predicts the number of videoconferencing sessions or calls that can be sustained by an existing network while satisfying QoS requirements of all network services and leaving adequate capacity for future growth. As a case study, we apply our approach to a typical network of a small enterprise. In addition, we use OPNET network simulator to verify and validate our analysis. Results obtained from analysis and simulation are in line and give a close match.
A Look Into The Bubble Interior by Molecular Dynamics Simulation

The interior dynamics of a collapsing and rebounding cavitation bubble is investigated by means of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. A hard sphere model for the species inside the bubble is adopted. The dynamics of the surrounding liquid (water) is modeled by a Rayleigh-Plesset (RP) type equation coupled to the bubble interior by the gas pressure at the wall obtained from the MD calculations. Water vapor and vapor chemistry are included in the hybrid RP-MD model as well as mass and energy transfer through the bubble wall. Calculations are done for bubbles at conditions typical for single bubble sonoluminescence and for small bubbles driven atMHz frequencies to determine the evolution of temperature, density and pressure within a bubble and to predict how the particle numbers and densities of different vapor dissociation and reaction products in the bubble develop in space and time. Among the parameters varied are the bubble size, the sound pressure amplitude of the driving sound field, the frequency of the sound field and the noble gas mixture in the bubble.
Drag-and-drop versus point-and-click mouse interaction styles for children

This research investigates children's use of two common mouse interaction styles, drag-and-drop and point-and-click, to determine whether the choice of interaction style impacts children's performance in interactive learning environments. The interaction styles were experimentally compared to determine if either method was superior to the other in terms of speed, error rate, or user preference, for children. The two interaction styles were also compared based on children's achievement and motivation, within a commercial software environment. Experiment I used an interactive learning environment as children played two versions of an educational puzzle-solving game, each version utilizing a different mouse interaction style; experiment II used a mouse-controlled software environment modeled after the educational game. The results were similar to previous results reported for adults: the point-and-click interaction style was faster; fewer errors were committed using it; and it was preferred over the drag-and-drop interaction style. Within the context of the puzzle-solving game, the children solved significantly fewer puzzles, and they were less motivated using the version that utilized a drag-and-drop interaction style as compared to the version that utilized a point-and-click interaction style. These results were also explored through the use of state-transition diagrams and GOMS models, both of which supported the experimental data gathered.