A Comparative Analysis of Speech Recognition Platforms

Speech recognition (also known as automatic speech recognition) converts spoken words to text. It is a broad term which means it can recognize almost any speech – such as in a call centre system designed to recognize many voices. Speech Recognition in the field of telephony commonplace; and in the field of computer gaming and simulation, is becoming widespread. People with disabilities are another part of the population that benefit from using speech recognition programs. It is becoming increasingly certain, that the interaction between humans and speech recognition engines is on the increase. In certain circumstances, the caller is directed with a series of options. This is called a Directed Dialog interaction. On the other hand, there are situations where the caller is not limited by pre-defined options; but rather given the opportunity to indicate their intent. This scenario is known as an Open Dialog interaction where the caller indicates their intent orally, and the speech platform is expected to correctly interpret the caller’s intent. Such interpretations are prone to variation in recognition and classification. Even if the application software correctly classifies the caller intent, it may not adequately capture the actual utterance. This paper proposes statistical techniques for measuring the performance of three Speech Recognition engines in a directed-dialog scenario

Bicrossed products for finite groups

We investigate one question regarding bicrossed products of finite groups which we believe has the potential of being approachable for other classes of algebraic objects (algebras, Hopf algebras). The problem is to classify the groups that can be written as bicrossed products between groups of fixed isomorphism types. The groups obtained as bicrossed products of two finite cyclic groups, one being of prime order, are described.Comment: Final version: to appear in Algebras and Representation Theor

Extending structures I: the level of groups

Let $H$ be a group and $E$ a set such that $H \subseteq E$. We shall describe and classify up to an isomorphism of groups that stabilizes $H$ the set of all group structures that can be defined on $E$ such that $H$ is a subgroup of $E$. A general product, which we call the unified product, is constructed such that both the crossed product and the bicrossed product of two groups are special cases of it. It is associated to $H$ and to a system $\bigl((S, 1_S,\ast), \triangleleft, \, \triangleright, \, f \bigl)$ called a group extending structure and we denote it by $H \ltimes S$. There exists a group structure on $E$ containing $H$ as a subgroup if and only if there exists an isomorphism of groups $(E, \cdot) \cong H \ltimes S$, for some group extending structure $\bigl((S, 1_S,\ast), \triangleleft, \, \triangleright, \, f \bigl)$. All such group structures on $E$ are classified up to an isomorphism of groups that stabilizes $H$ by a cohomological type set ${\mathcal K}^{2}_{\ltimes} (H, (S, 1_S))$. A Schreier type theorem is proved and an explicit example is given: it classifies up to an isomorphism that stabilizes $H$ all groups that contain $H$ as a subgroup of index 2.Comment: 17 pages; to appear in Algebras and Representation Theor

Quaoar: New, Longitudinaly Resolved, Spectroscopic Characterization of Its Surface

(50000) Quaoar, one of the largest Trans-neptunian objects, is comparable in size to Pluto's moon Charon. However, while Charon's surface is rich almost exclusively in H2O ice, Quaoar's surface characterized by ices of CH4, N2, as well as C2H6, a product of irradiation of CH4 (Dalle Ore et al. 2009). Because of its distance from the Sun, Quaoar is expected to have preserved, to a degree, its original composition, however, its relatively small size did not make it a prime candidate for presence of volatile ices in the study by Schaller and Brown (2007). Furthermore, based on the Brown et al. (2011) study (Brown, Schaller, & Fraser, 2011. A Hypothesis for the Color Diversity of the Kuiper Belt. ApJL, 739, L60) its red coloration points to CH3OH as the ice which, when irradiated, might have produced the red material. We present new visible to near-infrared (0.3-2.48 micrometers) spectro-photometric data obtained with the XSHOOTER (Vernet et al. 2011, A&A, 536A, 105 ) instrument at the VLT-ESO facility at four different longitudes on the surface of Quaoar. The data are complemented by previously published photometric observations obtained in the near-infrared (3.6, 4.5 micrometers) with the Spitzer Space Telescope, which provide an extra set of constraints in the model calculation process in spite of the different observing times that preclude establishing the spatial consistency between the two sets. For each of the four spectra we perform spectral modeling of the entire wavelength range -from 0.3 to 4.5 micrometers- by means of a code based on the Shkuratov radiative transfer formulation of the slab model. We obtain spatially resolved compositional information for the surface of Quaoar supporting the presence of CH4 and C2H6, as previously reported, along with evidence for N2 and NH3OH. The albedo at the two Spitzer bands indicates the likely presence of CO and CO2. CH3OH, predicted on the basis of Quaoar's coloration (Brown et al. 2011), is not found at any of the four longitudes, implying that the presence of this ice is a sufficient, but not necessary condition for reddening of TNO surfaces. Other ices, in particular CH4 (Brunetto et al. 2006), have been shown to be plausible precursors for reddening of TNO surfaces

Composition of KBO (50000) Quaoar

Aims. The objective of this work is to investigate the physical properties of objects beyond Neptune-the new frontiers of the Solar System-and in particular to study the surface composition of (50 000) Quaoar, a classical Transneptunian (or Kuiper Belt) object. Because of its distance from the Sun, Quaoar is expected to have preserved, to a degree, its original composition. Our goals are to determine to what degree this is true and to shed light on the chemical evolution of this icy body. Methods. We present new near-infrared (3.6 and 4.5 mu m) photometric data obtained with the Spitzer Space Telescope. These data complement high resolution, low signal-to-noise spectroscopic and photometric data obtained in the visible and near-infrared (0.4-2.3 mu m) at VLT-ESO and provide an excellent set of constraints in the model calculation process. We perform spectral modeling of the entire wavelength range-from 0.3 to 4.5 mu m by means of a code based on the Shkuratov radiative transfer formulation of the slab model. We also attempt to determine the temperature of H(2)O ice making use of the crystalline feature at 1.65 mu m. Results. We present a model confirming previous results regarding the presence of crystalline H(2)O and CH(4) ice, as well as C(2)H(6) and organic materials, on the surface of this distant icy body. We attempt a measurement of the temperature and find that stronger constraints on the composition are needed to obtain a precise determination. Conclusions. Model fits indicate that N(2) may be a significant component, along with a component that is bright at lambda > 3.3 mu m, which we suggest at this time could be amorphous H(2)O ice in tiny grains or thin grain coatings. Irradiated crystalline H(2)O could be the source of small-grained amorphous H(2)O ice. The albedo and composition of Quaoar, in particular the presence of N(2), if confirmed, make this TNO quite similar to Triton and Pluto

The time resolution of the St. Petersburg paradox

A resolution of the St. Petersburg paradox is presented. In contrast to the standard resolution, utility is not required. Instead, the time-average performance of the lottery is computed. The final result can be phrased mathematically identically to Daniel Bernoulli's resolution, which uses logarithmic utility, but is derived using a conceptually different argument. The advantage of the time resolution is the elimination of arbitrary utility functions.Comment: 20 pages, 1 figur

Positronic lithium, an electronically stable Li-e+^+ ground state

Calculations of the positron-Li system were performed using the Stochastic Variational Method and yielded a minimum energy of -7.53208 Hartree for the L=0 ground state. Unlike previous calculations of this system, the system was found to be stable against dissociation into the Ps + Li$^+$ channel with a binding energy of 0.00217 Hartree and is therefore electronically stable. This is the first instance of a rigorous calculation predicting that it is possible to combine a positron with a neutral atom and form an electronically stable bound state.Comment: 11 pages, 2 tables. To be published in Phys.Rev.Let