Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On acoustic salience of vowels and consonants predicted from articulatory models

This presentation deals on acoustic salience of vowels and consonants predicted from articulatory modeling (AM). An articulatory model describes vocal tract (VT) profiles with a small number of parameters that are interpretable in phonetic terms. Such a modeling allows a better understanding of the relationship between articulatory configurations and acoustic patterns. The goal of this paper is twofold. The first part is rather an introduction to the issue and aims to illustrate AM. The advantages and limits of studying speech with different types of modeling, such as simple models of VT area function and more elaborated AM, are very briefly reviewed, and articulatory models are introduced. In anthropological Maeda's model, the area function is reconstructed with seven articulatory parameters: one for the jaw position, three for the tongue, two for the lips and one for larynx height. Such an AM makes it possible to evaluate the separate contribution of individual parameters to the vowel formants, and their interaction. In the second part, I propose some hints to complement the traditional way of transcribing the sounds and coarticulatory effects by acoustic and articulatory notation. It is based on the notion of the Fpattern defined by Fant (1960) and the use of Maeda's model to explore the maximal articulatory and F-pattern spaces. Such exploration reveals the similarities of the F-pattern among vowels, semi-vowels, and consonants that share a similar tongue position and shape and lip configuration, but differing in the constriction size and shape. Exploring the whole F-pattern space helps to define prototypical vowels specified mainly by specific acoustic characteristics, and which may serve as references. This approach makes it possible to describe subtle but audible and consistent differences between the realizations of a similar phoneme of different languages traditionally represented by the same IPA symbols. Moreover, it incorporates coarticulatory and positional influences therefore thus uncovering the seeds for perceptual confusions among sounds due to their immediate phonetic context, which in turn can cause sound changes.
Real-Time Activity Classification by Matched Filtering Using Body-Worn Accelerometers

Having information of a user's activity can provide great use in modern-day devices such as ones that track and monitor the user's activity and fitness. In this paper, we demon-strate activity classification performance of the matched-filtering method with data obtained from a three-axis accelerometer worn by the user. We also show the real-time processing capability of our algorithms on the MSP432P401R low-powered micro-controller. Dimensionality reduction with principal component analysis (PCA) [1] is a data compression technique we use to improve our processing throughput which, inherently, has the added benefit of making our data invariant to sensor orientation. Data decimation in time is an additional throughput enhancement that we apply early to our data. We make use of an instance-based learning algorithm to train the device to learn the individual's motion patterns and store that information as activity templates for use in our matched-filter.
Iterative learning control for Linear Discrete Time Switched Systems

This paper considers the stability analysis and the stabilization problem for a class of discrete-time switched Systems. A sufficient condition based on the average dwell time that guarantees the exponential stability of switched linear systems is given. First, the iterative learning control (ILC) is presented to build a formulation ensuring the exponential stability of the given system. The results were obtained through original connection with the notion of stability along the pass for 2 D repetitive system. All the results are presented in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). A numerical simulation example is established shown the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Human Object Interaction Recognition Using Rate-Invariant Shape Analysis of Inter Joint Distances Trajectories

Human action recognition has emerged as one of the most challenging and active areas of research in the computer vision domain. In addition to pose variation and scale variability, high complexity of human motions and the variability of object interactions represent additional significant challenges. In this paper, we present an approach for human-object interaction modeling and classification. Towards that goal, we adopt relevant frame-level features, the inter-joint distances and joints-object distances. These proposed features are efficiently insensitive to position and pose variation. The evolution of the these distances in time is modeled by trajectories in a high dimension space and a shape analysis framework is used to model and compare the trajectories corresponding to human-object interaction in a Riemannian manifold. The experiments conducted following state-of-the-art settings and results demonstrate the strength of the proposed method. Using only the skeletal information, we achieve state-of-the-art classification results on the benchmark dataset.
Designing metacognitive support for learning from hypertext : What factors come into play ?

Traditional expository texts typically follow formats that have been well established and predictable. However, design of hypertext systems depend to a large extent on the epistemological, instructional and design perspectives that the design team espouses. Therefore, one of the important differences in learning from hypertext compared to learning from traditional text is that students need to understand the structure of the information space, i.e. they need to understand how the different semantic units are related to each other so that they can make better navigational decisions. In this paper we discuss results from a classroom study using CoMPASS, a hypertext system. Our results suggest that students who understood the structure of the system did better on measures of navigation and learning. Self-monitoring in a hypertext environment was seen to be contingent upon the learner’s understanding of the structure well enough to be able to choose appropriate semantic units.
R-M/TCP: protocol for reliable multi-path transport over the Internet

We extend the previous work on Multi-path Transmission Control Protocol (M/TCP) and propose Rate-based M/TCP (R-M/TCP) for improving reliability and performance of the communications over the Internet. The protocol has been designed as one of TCP options, thus being backward compatible to the standard TCP. It does not require any changes in network infrastructure, but do require some modifications at the end hosts to establish multiple paths. Congestion control in R-M/TCP is performed in a rate-based and loss-avoidance manner. It attempts to estimate the available bandwidth and the queue length of the used routes in order to fully utilize the bandwidth resources. Experimental results show performance advantages of R-M/TCP beyond TCP Reno in the scenario that characteristics in terms of delay and bandwidth of each route are different.
AIWAS: The Automatic Identification of Web Attacks System

A recent report states that 63 percent of documented vulnerabilities exist in Web applications. Hence, Web applications represent an ideal platform for malicious attackers to target. This paper presents an anomaly intrusion detection system AIWAS to help system administrators protect their Web applications from these attacks. AIWAS maps each user's input into an Instance Model IM. The IM, which contains attackable features of the input, allows machine learning algorithms to classify the input as either benign or malicious. AIWAS then prevents malicious inputs from reaching the protected Web applications. A case study demonstrates the effectiveness of AIWAS against actual attacks.
Reduced angiogenic gene expression in morbillivirus‐triggered oncolysis in a translational model for histiocytic sarcoma

Histiocytic sarcoma represents a rare malignant tumour with a short survival time, indicating the need of novel treatment strategies including oncolytic virotherapy. The underlying molecular mechanisms of viral oncolysis are largely unknown. As cancer in companion animals shares striking similarities with human counterparts, we chose a permanent canine histiocytic sarcoma cell line (DH82 cells) to identify global transcriptome changes following infection with canine distemper virus (CDV), a paramyxovirus closely related to human measles virus. Microarray analysis identified 3054 differentially expressed probe sets (DEPs), encoding for 892 up‐ and 869 down‐regulated unique canine genes, respectively, in DH82 cells persistently infected with the vaccine strain Onderstepoort of CDV (DH82‐Ond‐pi), compared to non‐infected DH82 cells. Up‐regulated genes were predominantly related to immune processes, as demonstrated by functional enrichment analysis. Moreover, there was substantial enrichment of genes characteristic for classically activated M1 and alternatively activated M2 macrophages in DH82‐Ond‐pi; however, significant polarization into either of both categories was lacking. ‘Angiogenesis’ was the dominant enriched functional term for the down‐regulated genes, highlighting decreased blood vessel generation as a potential mechanism of paramyxovirus‐induced oncolysis in DH82 cells. The anti‐angiogenic effect of infection was verified by immunohistochemistry, which revealed a lower blood vessel density in an in vivo mouse model, xenotransplanted with DH82‐Ond‐pi, compared to mice transplanted with non‐infected DH82 cells. Reduction in angiogenesis appears to be an important oncolytic mechanism of CDV in DH82 cells, suggesting that similar mechanisms might account for human histiocytic sarcoma and maybe other tumours in conjunction with measles virus.
Superconformal symmetry in the interacting theory of (2,0) tensor multiplets and self-dual strings

We investigate the concept of superconformal symmetry in six dimensions, applied to the interacting theory of (2,0) tensor multiplets and self-dual strings. The action of a superconformal transformation on the superspace coordinates is found, both from a six-dimensional perspective and by using a superspace with eight bosonic and four fermionic dimensions. The transformation laws for all fields in the theory are derived, as well as general expressions for the transformation of on-shell superfields. Superconformal invariance is shown for the interaction of a self-dual string with a background consisting of on-shell tensor multiplet fields, and we also find an interesting relationship between the requirements of superconformal invariance and those of a local fermionic kappa-symmetry. Finally, we construct a superspace analogue of the Poincare dual to the string world-sheet and consider its properties under superconformal transformations.
Evolutionary foundations of number: spontaneous representation of numerical magnitudes by cotton–top tamarins

Although animals of many species have been shown to discriminate between visual–spatial arrays or auditory–temporal sequences based on numerosity, most of the evidence for numerosity discrimination derives from experiments involving extensive laboratory training. Under these conditions, animals' discrimination of two numerosities depends on their ratio and is independent of their absolute value. It is an open question whether any untrained non–human animal spontaneously represents number in this way, as do human children and adults. We present the results of familiarization–discrimination experiments on cotton–top tamarin monkeys (Saguinus oedipus) that provide evidence for numerosity discrimination in the absence of training. Presented with auditory stimuli (speech syllables) controlled for the continuous variables of sequence duration, item duration, inter–stimulus interval and overall energy, tamarins readily discriminated sequences of 4 versus 8, 4 versus 6, and 8 versus 12 syllables. By contrast, tamarins failed to discriminate sequences of 4 versus 5 and 8 versus 10 syllables, providing evidence that their numerosity discrimination is approximate and shows the ratio signature of numerosity discrimination in humans and trained non–human animals. These results provide strong support for the hypothesis that representations of large, approximate numerosity are evolutionarily ancient and spontaneously available to non–human animals.
Use of Informational/Instructional Sheets with Eczema Patients

Contact dermatitis is not a homogenous entity, but rather a number of subtypes contributing to different clinical presentations. For better understanding, instructional sheets provide information that assists in patient care. Informational sheets on contact dermatitis, patch testing, hand dermatitis, stasis dermatitis, and poison ivy are reviewed for open forum. Although often considered archaic therapy, restriction in use of soaps/cleansers appears to aid in clinical improvement of contact irritant dermatitis. Patient education on patch testing is greatly aided by presenting visual material prior to formal discussion. An internet site for more information regarding culprit environmental allergens is presented. Some simple methods for patients to achieve clinical improvement with eczema, hand dermatitis, and poison ivy are presented. Simplicity, clarity, as well as practical, usable informa- tion are important with patient presentation of the subject of eczema. The material has to be presented in an easy-to- follow, coherent manner for patients. Semantics and scien- tific detail are not necessarily included. Thus on instructional sheets,
Differential retraction of axonal arbor terminals mediated by microtubule and kinesin motor

ABSTRACT Neurons can extend branches from a single axon to send signals to multiple target cells. Axonal arbor morphology must be changed to establish and alternate neuronal wiring properly. For this purpose, the elongation and retraction rate of each terminal in a single axonal arbor are differentially regulated. In addition, competitive growth regulation between 2 neighboring branch processes has been observed. The intracellular systems involved in how neurons differentially regulate growth and stability of axonal branches within the same arbor remain largely unknown. Microtubules play critical roles in the formation and maintenance of axonal morphology, and their functions can be differentially regulated in a region-dependent manner within a single cell. Based on our findings, we propose a microtubule-dependent model that contributes to the differential branch growth in axonal arbors.
Cooperative Secure Integration Process for Secure System Development

Recently, attacks on corporate websites are increasing and personal information on websites faces growing risks. Most developers are making efforts to establish secure system development processes. However, they have trouble with practice because they are busy and short of time or human resources. This paper describes a cooperative secure integration process that the authors actualize for secure system development and introduce the adapted management system.
Sufferage Extraction Algorithm of Ontology Mapping Based on Reasoning

Due to output similarity matrix often involves some error mappings when using multi-strategies for ontology alignment, how to extract the mappings from similarity matrix correctly and effectively will have an important influence on precision. In this paper, a novel approach is proposed, which employs Sufferage algorithm combined with logical reasoning to extract mappings. Firstly, distributed description logical is used to check the semantic consistency of candidate mapping set; secondly, repairing rules are given to repair the probable structure conflicts existed in the mappings; finally, Sufferage algorithm is employed to extract mappings. Comparing with existing algorithms, our experiment results show that this algorithm improves the precision significantly, and thus gets a better mapping result.
A Visualization-Analytics-Interaction Workflow Framework for Exploratory and Explanatory Search on Geo-located Search Data Using the Meme Media Digital Dashboard

Modern geo-position system (GPS) enabled smart phones are generating an increasing volume of information about their users, including geo-located search, movement, and transaction data. While this kind of data is increasingly rich and offers many grand opportunities to identify patterns and predict behaviour of groups and individuals, it is not immediately obvious how to develop a framework for extracting plausible inferences from these data. In our case, we have access to a large volume (more than half a billion individual records) of real user data from the Point smart phone application, and we have developed a generic and layered system architecture to incrementally find aggregate items of interest within that data. "Interest" is based on the semantics of the data, so include time and space correlations, e.g., Are people searching for dinner and a movie, distributions of usage patterns and platforms, e.g., Geographic distribution of Android, Apple, and Black-Berry users, and clustering to identify interesting and relatively complex search and movement patterns, e.g., Consumer trajectories from key word searches. Our integration of visualization tools is thus guided top-down, by semantic concepts in the application domain, rather than by bottom-up tool development. Our presentation here is preliminary in that we provide sketches of case-studies that demonstrate an application specific integration of the three major components of modern visual analytics: visualization, analytics, and interaction (VAI). Our case-study sketches show how an interactive system for visual data exploration can be used to alternate between exploratory search -- looking for ideas and new hypothesis in data -- and explanatory search -- looking for evidence to support a hypothesis. While we have not yet formulated experiments to directly measure the cognitive efficacy of our experimental system, we believe that our semantically-driven VAI workflows and the integration of visual methods and interaction provides some useful ideas about how to extend current frameworks for visual analytics systems.
‘Letters aren’t good’: the operation of the right to request flexible working post-maternity leave in UK small and medium-sized companies

Abstract This article contributes to existing literature on flexible working at an organisational level by presenting the results of a qualitative study of women employees and managers in small firms who have been involved in negotiating part-time hours on return to work post-maternity leave. The study finds that the right to request flexible working has become embedded in the policies of small firms and that the overwhelming experience of women employees was positive: their requests were accepted because they were perceived as valuable and consequently their managers wanted to retain them. However employees who lacked ongoing managerial support had a less positive experience. The study also examines other aspects of the operation of the right to request such as the efficacy of written policies on flexible working and the extent to which the negotiation process was formalised.
Lossless Compression

Compression is an aspect of computing that many people have dabbled inhow can anyone not be intrigued by the seeming magic of getting something for nothingand it is my additional hope that experts in other "elds, and those amongst you that are practitioners rather than researchers, will also "nd the papers in this issue of interest. One of the consequences of the relentless increase in computing power that we are in the midst of is that compression is becoming more and more important as a component of large software systems. The ever-decreasing ratio between the time of a CPU cycle and the time taken to locate and transfer data from secondary storage media means that it is now possible for an application to execute faster with embedded compression than without. That is, with a careful choice of methods, data can now often be decoded within the extra time that would, in the absence of compression, be spent fetching more of it [1]. The range of `disk-doubling' software tools available for the PCmarket, and their widespread popularity, is further testament to this fact. And as machines become more and more cache-reliant the same effects will be observed in main memory toothe only place that data or program code is manipulated uncompressed may soon be at the instant of use, and even in main memory blocks of information may be stored in a compact form. As a "nal example of the impact of compression techniques, consider the humble fax machine. Just one decade ago the fax was a technological marvel. Now it is as ordinary an item of of"ce furniture as is a chair or "ling cabinet. The two crucial factors that catapulted the fax machine into everyday use are that it sits on top of the telephone network (a technological marvel in itself), and that compression technology allows multi-page documents to be transmitted in minutes rather than hours. Indeed, one of the papers in this issue (that of Paul Howard) examines one proposal for the next generation of fax compression standards.
"Out of sight, out of mind", investigating affective intergenerational communication over distance

The geographic separation of the generations due to globalisation decreases opportunities to maintain communication and connectedness between grandparents and adolescent grandchildren. Many studies consider the importance of social presence in relationships, ignoring how to make such relationships meaningful. Most studies in HCI that discuss technology-supported communication in fostering intergenerational relationships examine relations between grandparents and child or adult grandchildren. This paper investigates the emotions expressed by grandparents and adolescent grandchildren in online and offline interaction by examining the expression of emotions in their actual interactions. This approach provides insight into which emotions are commonly expressed and how they are expressed using Computer Mediated Communication (CMC). Such insights can inform the design of new, affective tools to foster communication and connectedness in these specific intergenerational dyads. Our method covers focus group, cultural probe and interview. In particular, we discuss the use of a Show & Tell game as an instrument to investigate emotions in actual interaction. Our findings show that care, happiness and also negative perceptions were commonly communicated within the participating dyads and that CMC can assist in the transmission of feelings that were unspoken in face-to-face interaction, fostering connectedness between dyads.