Acoustic Space Movement Planning in a Neural Model of Motor Equivalent Vowel Production

Recent evidence suggests that speakers utilize an acoustic-like reference frame for the planning of speech movements. DIVA, a computational model of speech acquisition and motor equivalent speech production, has previously been shown to provide explanations for a wide range of speech production data using a constriction-based reference frame for movement planning. This paper extends the previous work by investigating an acoustic-like planning frame in the DIVA modeling framework. During a babbling phase, the model self-organizes targets in the planning space for each of ten vowels and learns a mapping from desired movement directions in this planning space into appropriate articulator velocities. Simulation results verify that after babbling the model is capable of producing easily recognizable vowel sounds using an acoustic planning space consisting of the formants F1 and F2. The model successfully reaches all vowel targets from any initial vocal tract configuration, even in the presence of constraints such as a blocked jaw.Office of Naval Research (N00014-91-J-4100, N00014-92-J-4015); Air Force Office of Scientific Research (F49620-92-J-0499

An integrated approach to preparing, publishing, presenting and preserving theses

[Abstract]: This paper describes progress on a project funded by the Australian government to create Free software; the Integrated Content Environment for research and scholarship (ICE-RS). ICE-RS is a multi-faceted project which will add value to finished theses by making them available in both HTML and PDF, as well as providing a mechanism for packaging multimedia theses. The project will also concentrate on providing services for thesis production, with version control, automated backup and collaboration services. The paper begins with the established content management system that is the basis for the project, ICE-RS , originally developed to create courseware packages. ICE includes distributed, version controlled collaboration, using word processing software and works on multiple platforms, with standard document formats. We survey other approaches to content authoring and publishing for ETDs. We showcase exploratory work on integration of the thesis writing process with Institutional Repository software including publishing theses in both PDF and HTML with preservation and descriptive metadata. The presentation will include demonstrations of thesis production at all stages of development from proposal to completion. In a more speculative vein, we will discuss opportunities for institutions to provide new levels of support for candidates via automated thesis “dashboard” progress reports, supervisor and examiner annotation and comment and support for copyright considerations as early as possible in the process

Vaccination nation? Civilised strategies for protecting outdoor poultry from Avian Flu H5N1

An analysis of the threat of H5N1 Avian Flu virus to the UK, the potential impact on UK organic and free range poultry production and the evidence for a policy of vaccination

A Recital in Honor of Phyllis Curtin, April 12, 1997

This is the concert program of the Recital in Honor of Phyllis Curtin on Saturday, April 12, 1997 at 4:00 p.m., at the Concert Hall, 855 Commonwealth Avenue. Works performed were "Parle moi de ma mère!" from Carmen by Georges Bizet, "Ah! Je ris de me voir di belle" from Faust by Charles Gounod, Ch'io mi scordi di te? Non temer, amato bene. K. 505 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, "Che gelida manina," " Mi chiamano Mimi," and "O soave fanciulla" from "La Bohème" by Giacomo Puccini, Litany by John Music, The Hangman by J. Musto, Heart, we will forget him from "Twelve Poems of Emily Dickinson" by Aaron Copland, and "Un bel di" from "Madama Butterfly" by Giacomo Puccini. Digitization for Boston University Concert Programs was supported by the Boston University Humanities Library Endowed Fund