bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Towards Spike-Based Speech Processing: A Biologically Plausible Approach to Simple Acoustic Classification
Authors: Uysal Ismail , Sathyendra Harsha , Harris John 
Published: June 2008

Towards Spike-Based Speech Processing: A Biologically Plausible Approach to Simple Acoustic ClassificationShortcomings of automatic speech recognition (ASR) applications are becoming more evident as they are more widely used in real life. The inherent non-stationarity associated with the timing of speech signals as well as the dynamical changes in the environment make the ensuing analysis and recognition extremely difficult. Researchers often turn to biology seeking clues to make better engineered systems, and ASR is no exception with the usage of feature sets such as Mel frequency cepstral coefficients, which employ filter banks similar to cochlear filter banks in frequency distribution and bandwidth. In this paper, we delve deeper into the mechanics of the human auditory system to take this biological inspiration to the next level. The main goal of this research is to investigate the computation potential of spike trains produced at the early stages of the auditory system for a simple acoustic classification task. First, various spike coding schemes from temporal to rate coding are explored, together with various spike-based encoders with various simplicity levels such as rank order coding and liquid state machine. Based on these findings, a biologically plausible system architecture is proposed for the recognition of phonetically simple acoustic signals which makes exclusive use of spikes for computation. The performance tests show superior performance on a noisy vowel data set when compared with a conventional ASR system.
Model Based Analysis of Signaling Pathways
Authors: Śmieja Jarosław 
Published: June 2008

Model Based Analysis of Signaling PathwaysThe paper is concerned with application of mathematical modeling to the analysis of signaling pathways. Two issues, deterministic modeling of gene transcription and model-driven discovery of regulatory elements, are dealt with. First, the biological background is given and the importance of the stochastic nature of biological processes is addressed. The assumptions underlying deterministic modeling are presented. Special emphasis is put on describing gene transcription. A framework for including unknown processes activating gene transcription by means of first-order lag elements is introduced and discussed. Then, a particular interferon-β induced pathway is introduced, limited to early events that precede activation of gene transcription. It is shown how to simplify the system description based on the goals of modeling. Further, a computational analysis is presented, facilitating better understanding of the mechanisms underlying regulation of key components in the pathway. The analysis is illustrated by a comparison of simulation and experimental data.
A New Approach to Image Reconstruction from Projections Using a Recurrent Neural Network
Authors: Cierniak Robert 
Published: June 2008

A New Approach to Image Reconstruction from Projections Using a Recurrent Neural NetworkA new neural network approach to image reconstruction from projections considering the parallel geometry of the scanner is presented. To solve this key problem in computed tomography, a special recurrent neural network is proposed. The reconstruction process is performed during the minimization of the energy function in this network. The performed computer simulations show that the neural network reconstruction algorithm designed to work in this way outperforms conventional methods in the obtained image quality.
Segmentation of Breast Cancer Fine Needle Biopsy Cytological Images
Authors: Hrebień Maciej , Steć Piotr , Nieczkowski Tomasz , Obuchowicz Andrzej 
Published: June 2008

Segmentation of Breast Cancer Fine Needle Biopsy Cytological ImagesThis paper describes three cytological image segmentation methods. The analysis includes the watershed algorithm, active contouring and a cellular automata GrowCut method. One can also find here a description of image pre-processing, Hough transform based pre-segmentation and an automatic nuclei localization mechanism used in our approach. Preliminary experimental results collected on a benchmark database present the quality of the methods in the analyzed issue. The discussion of common errors and possible future problems summarizes the work and points out regions that need further research.
Time-Optimal Boundary Control of an Infinite Order Parabolic System with Time Lags
Authors: Kowalewski Adam , Krakowiak Anna 
Published: June 2008

Time-Optimal Boundary Control of an Infinite Order Parabolic System with Time LagsIn this paper the time-optimal boundary control problem is presented for a distributed infinite order parabolic system in which time lags appear in the integral form both in the state equation and in the boundary condition. Some specific properties of the optimal control are discussed.
Fractional Positive Continuous-Time Linear Systems and Their Reachability
Authors: Kaczorek Tadeusz 
Published: June 2008

Fractional Positive Continuous-Time Linear Systems and Their ReachabilityA new class of fractional linear continuous-time linear systems described by state equations is introduced. The solution to the state equations is derived using the Laplace transform. Necessary and sufficient conditions are established for the internal and external positivity of fractional systems. Sufficient conditions are given for the reachability of fractional positive systems.
Creation of Unequal Error Protection Codes for Two Groups of Symbols
Authors: Kuriata Eugeniusz 
Published: June 2008

Creation of Unequal Error Protection Codes for Two Groups of SymbolsThis article presents problems of unequal information importance. The paper discusses constructive methods of code generation, and a constructive method of generating asymptotic UEP codes is built. An analog model of Hamming's upper bound and Hilbert's lower bound for asymptotic UEP codes is determined.
Towards Defining a Valid Assessment Criterion of Pronunciation Proficiency in Non-Native English-Speaking Graduate Students
Authors: Isaacs Talia 
Published: June 2008

Abstract: Intelligibility has been widely regarded as an appropriate goal for second language pronunciation teaching. Yet there is no universally accepted definition of intelligibility, nor any field-wide consensus on the best way to measure it. Further, there is little empirical evidence to suggest which pronunciation features are crucial for intelligibility to guide teachers in their instructional choices. This mixed-methods study examines whether intelligibility is an appropriate criterion for assessing pronunciation proficiency in the academic domain. Speech samples of eight non-native English speaking graduate students were elicited using the Test of Spoken English, a standardized test often used to screen international teaching assistants (ITAs). Results of a fine-grained analysis of the speech samples combined with intelligibility ratings of 18 undergraduate science students suggest that intelligibility, though an adequate assessment criterion, is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for international graduate students to instruct undergraduate courses as teaching assistants.
Exploration through Virtual Reality: Encounters with the Target Culture
Authors: O’Brien Mary Grantham , Levy Richard M. 
Published: June 2008

Abstract:This paper presents the results of a study on the use of a virtual reality (VR) world in a German language classroom. After participating in a lesson on the use of commands, students experienced the language and culture through navigation in a VR world. It is argued that this new medium allows for students to be immersed in the target culture and language in ways that are not possible through the use of other media. The results of the study indicate that the virtual world experience enhances students’ awareness of the target culture.
Manufacture of Spinnerets for Synthetic Micro-fibers by LIGA and Micro-injection Molding Technique
Authors: Tseng S.-C. , Shi C.-T. 
Published: June 2008

Abstract
In the past, the capillaries of fiber-spinneret were made by micro drilling or by micro electro-discharge-machining (M-EDM). However, the productivity and uniformity of M-EDM are restricted. Hence, a new approach related to LIGA technique was developed. The micro mold of the capillaries was made by LIGA. Micro plastic cores were then duplicated by micro injection molding. With consequent treatments and electroforming, the spinneret die can be mass produced. Better process conditions for micro molding will be determined by Taguchi's experiment design method. Through a single injection molding cycle, a 48-capillary structure was formed at once. The diameters of each capillary were inspected at three locations along the longitudinal direction carefully. The results show that the accuracy of the diameters of capillaries can be controlled within 200 ± 1 μm.
Capillaries die to spin ∗ and w-shaped micro-fibers were also developed in this work. Thanks to LIGA process, spinnerets with higher aspect ratios (even up to 30) can be achieved more easily. By applying micro injection molding, consequent treatments and electro-forming processes, the spinnerets can be produced in a batch and mass production way. The technology developed here can also be used in the fabrication of Micro-Electro-Mechanical (MEMS) components.
Study of Solid-plug Conveying in a Centrifugal Extruder
Authors: Jing Z. , Daming W. , Kuzyayev I. M. , Weihong C. , Hong X. , Ying L. 
Published: June 2008

Abstract
A new type of polymer processing machine, a centrifugal extruder, is introduced and its performance studied experimentally and analyzed theoretically. Calculations show that by means of appropriate choice of the geometrical parameters of the rotor drum and the rotor speed, the pressure of the solid polymer in the rotor drum can reach a value of several MPa. Theoretical analysis also shows that the most important factors influencing the solid conveying pressure in the rotor drum are the radius and slope angle of the rotor drum, the rotation speed of the rotor drum, the friction factor between the solid polymer and the drum surface, and the density of the polymer. An experimental rotor drum was designed in order to validate the mathematical model used for calculation of the solid conveying pressure in the rotor drum. The results of the experiments show good agreement with the theoretical predictions.
Studying the Effective Thermal Properties of Solids in Extrusion Machinery using a Discrete Particle Simulation Approach
Authors: Moysey P. A. , Cloet K. L. , Thompson M. R. 
Published: June 2008

Abstract
In this paper, both experimental trials and numerical simulations are presented to improve our understanding of the heat transfer within granular polymer beds for systems with and without shear. Both amorphous polymer, polystyrene (PS), and a semi-crystalline polymer, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) of varying particle size from 6 mm to 25 mm were examined. The estimated effective thermal conductivity data from the experimental trials was found by fit to two simple semi-empirical models allowing readers to readily approximate the property based on porosity of the bed and solid thermal properties. Discrete particle simulations, i. e. DEM, were used to recognize the importance of heat transport through the stagnant interstitial gas phase in comparison to particle-particle conduction. The results underscore the importance of including an effective thermal conductivity for granular solids in an extruder when using continuum models.
Polymer-ridge Waveguide Fabrication by Gas-assisted UV Embossing with a Soft Mold
Authors: Cheng F.-S. , Huang P.-Y. , Yang S.-Y. 
Published: June 2008

Abstract
This paper reports a new process for the fabrication of polymer optical waveguides using gas-assisted UV embossing. A polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) mold with a multimode waveguide array was made by casting a pre-polymer of PDMS against a plastic master of a waveguide array. The plastic master was prepared using gas-assisted hot embossing of polycarbonate (PC) film over a Si mold with the waveguide array. In this study, well-defined patterns with fine roughness for the multi-mode waveguides (125 μm × 80 μm) were successfully fabricated. The residual layer was thin and uniform. The replication quality, surface roughness and optical property of the replicated waveguides were measured and proved satisfactory. The average propagation loss of the waveguides was 0.88 dB/cm at a 1310 nm wavelength. The results indicate that the proposed method is likely to be a promising technique for the fabrication of optical waveguides.
Rapid Fabrication of Microstructures onto Plastic Substrates by Infrared Hot Embossing
Authors: Liu S.-J. , Lin K.-Y. , Li M.-K 
Published: June 2008

Abstract
This paper proposes a rapid fabrication technique of polymeric micro-block arrays using an IR hot embossing process. A pneumatically actuated embossing facility with conventional IR heating was designed, constructed and tested in our laboratory. To mold micro-blocks onto the plastic plates, a silicon mold with an array of micro-block cavities was fabricated by photolithography and deep reactive ion etching. During the embossing process, a PMMA plate was first placed above the mold. A ceramic IR heater was placed above the PMMA plate to heat the mold. The IR passed through the transparent PMMA to reach and heat up the mold surface. After retrieval of the IR heater, the pneumatically actuated embossing facility pressed the plastic plate against the hot master mold. A micro-block array was obtained. The effect of various processing parameters on the replicability of the micro-blocks was investigated. Under the proper processing conditions, the arrays of polymeric micro-blocks, with a dimension of 100 m × 80 μm × 40 μm, could be successfully fabricated. The experimental results in this study suggest that IR heated embossing could provide an effective way of fabricating large-area microstructures onto plastic plates. This would provide significant advantages in terms of a shorter cycle time as well as improved product quality.
Design of Calibrators for Profile Extrusion – Optimizing Multi-step Systems
Authors: Nóbrega J. M. , Carneiro O. S. , Gaspar-Cunha A. , Gonçalves N. D. 
Published: June 2008

Abstract
A computer code, that couples numerical modelling and optimization routines, is described and used to automatically optimize the performance of a multi-step calibration stage of a plastic profile extrusion line. The objective of the optimization process is to minimize two conflicting criteria: final plastic profile average temperature and corresponding distribution standard deviation, both computed at the end of the calibration/cooling stage. The optimization routine uses Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithms (MOEA). Having in mind the well-known difficulties in characterizing the interface heat transfer coefficient, the system optimization was performed using different constant values for this parameter.
Techniques for restoring fen vegetation on cut‐away peatlands in North America
Authors: Graf M.D. , Rochefort L. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractQuestion: Which restoration measures (reintroduction techniques, reintroduction timing and fertilization) best enable the establishment of fen species on North American cut‐away peatlands?Location: Rivière‐du‐Loup peatland, southern Québec, Canada.Methods: In total, eight treatments which tested a combination of two reintroduction techniques, two reintroduction timings and the use of phosphorus fertilization were tested in a field experiment within a completely randomized block design.Results: Sphagnum transfer, a reintroduction technique commonly used for bog restoration in North America, was effective for establishing Sphagnum and Carex species. The hay transfer method, commonly used for fen restoration in Europe, was much less successful, probably due to questionable viability of reintroduced seeds. The treatments which included light phosphorus fertilization, had a higher Carex cover after three growing seasons. The timing of the reintroductions had no impact on the success of vegetation establishment. However, vegetation reintroduction should be carried out in the spring while the ground is still frozen to minimize other ecological impacts.Conclusions: The success of the diaspore reintroduction technique on small‐scale units indicates that a large‐scale restoration of fens using this technique is feasible.
Controlled Fabrication of Multitiered Three‐Dimensional Nanostructures in Porous Alumina
Authors: Ho Audrey Yoke Yee , Gao Han , Lam Yee Cheong , Rodríguez Isabel 
Published: June 2008

AbstractWe present the fabrication of multitiered branched porous anodic alumina (PAA) substrates consisting of an array of pores branching into smaller pores in succeeding tiers. The tiered three‐dimensional structure is realized by sequentially stepping down the anodization potential while etching of the barrier layer is performed after each step. We establish the key processing parameters that define the tiered porous structure through systematically designed experiments. The characterization of the branched PAA structures reveals that, owing to constriction, the ratio of interpore distance to the anodization potential is smaller than that for pristine films. This ratio varies from 1.8 to 1.3 nm V−1 depending on the size of the preceding pores and the succeeding tier anodization potential. Contact angle measurements show that the multitiered branched PAA structures exhibit a marked increased in hydrophilicity over two‐dimensional PAA films.
Spectroscopic and thermal characterization of the host–guest interactions between α‐, β‐ and γ‐cyclodextrins and vanadocene dichloride
Authors: Morales Alexis , Weber Ralph T. , Melendez Enrique 
Published: June 2008

AbstractHost–guest interactions between α‐, β‐ and γ‐cyclodextrins and vanadocene dichloride (Cp2VCl2) have been investigated by a combination of thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, powder X‐ray diffraction and solid‐state and solution electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The solid‐state results demonstrated that only β‐ and γ‐cyclodextrins form 1:1 inclusion complexes, while α‐cyclodextrin does not form an inclusion complex with Cp2VCl2. The β‐ and γ‐CD–Cp2VCl2 inclusion complexes exhibited anisotropic electron‐51V (I = 7/2) hyperfine coupling constants whereas the α‐CD–Cp2VCl2 system showed only an asymmetric peak with no anisotropic hyperfine constant. On the other hand, solution EPR spectroscopy showed that α‐cyclodextrin (α‐CD) may be involved in weak host–guest interactions in equilibrium with free vanadocene species. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane bound fulleropyrrolidines
Authors: Clarke David J. , Matisons Janis G. , Simon George R. , Samoc Marek , Samoc Anna 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThe first reported examples of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) cages containing a fulleropyrrolidine species are reported herein. Monosubstituted POSS‐dioxalane species were synthesized through the hydrosilylation of a silyl‐dioxalane with mono‐vinyl substituted POSS. Subsequent deprotection yielded the desired aldehyde functionality. An alternative synthetic pathway, involving the nucleophilic substitution of mono‐benzyl chloride POSS with 4‐hydroxybenzaldehyde yielded the desired aldehyde functionality. Each mono‐aldehyde POSS was then reacted with N‐methylglycine and C60 to yield the desired POSS fulleropyrrolidines. The prepared compounds were characterized by multinuclear NMR, electrospray mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, UV–vis, fluorescence and optical power limiting measurements. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Niobium(V) chloride‐catalyzed synthesis of α‐aminonitriles with simultaneous reaction of aldehydes, amines and trimethylsilyl cyanide
Authors: Majhi Anjoy , Kim Sung Soo , Kim Ho Sub 
Published: June 2008

AbstractA simple and efficient one‐pot method has been developed for the synthesis of α‐aminonitriles by concurrent reaction of aldehydes, amines and trimethylsilyl cyanide with a catalytic amount of NbCl5 (10 mol%) in CH3CN at room temperature. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Beyond agrification: twenty five years of policy and innovation for non‐food application of renewable resources in the Netherlands
Authors: Bos Harriëtte L. , Slingerland Maja A. , Elbersen Wolter , Rabbinge Rudy 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThe first part of this review describes policy developments in the Netherlands since the 1980s around innovations for non‐food application of renewable resources. Next, these developments are analyzed using the Strategic Niche Management (SNM) theory. The drivers at the regime level and the quality of the processes at the niche level have increased considerably in the last number of years. The trend toward a much wider use of renewable resources for non‐food applications thus seems more robust than it was in the previous century. From the SNM analysis, we derive a number of recommendations for policy‐makers active in this field. We also present a previously unpublished stakeholder study performed in 2000 on the factors of success for innovations in this field, and derive from this study recommendations for innovators active in the field. © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Risk factors for development of desmoid tumours in familial adenomatous polyposis
Authors: Lefevre J H , Parc Y , Kernéis S , Goasguen N , Benis M , Parc R , Tiret E 
Published: June 2008

Abstract

Background
Desmoid tumours (DTs) are the primary cause of death of patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) following restorative proctocolectomy. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for DT in a French population.

Methods
Clinical data for 442 patients with FAP from 1983 to 2004 were reviewed retrospectively.

Results
A total of 124 DTs were documented in 50 patients (25 female). DT sites were mesenteric (73 tumours), abdominal wall (44) and extra-abdominal (seven). Female patients developed DT earlier than males. Although DTs appeared after colectomy in 34 patients, the type of surgery did not influence the risk of DT. An identified point mutation in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene after codon 1444 was a significant risk factor (hazard ratio 3·3 (95 per cent confidence interval 1·5 to 7·3)). Belonging to a family affected by DT did not increase the individual's risk in this population.

Conclusion
No risk factor for life-threatening mesenteric DT could meaningfully modify the management of patients with FAP.