MAP Based Speaker Adaptation in Very Large Vocabulary Speech Recognition of Czech

The paper deals with the problem of efficient adaptation of speech recognition systems to individual users. The goal is to achieve better performance in specific applications where one known speaker is expected. In our approach we adopt the MAP (Maximum A Posteriori) method for this purpose. The MAP based formulae for the adaptation of the HMM (Hidden Markov Model) parameters are described. Several alternative versions of this method have been implemented and experimentally verified in two areas, first in the isolated-word recognition (IWR) task and later also in the large vocabulary continuous speech recognition (LVCSR) system, both developed for the Czech language. The results show that the word error rate (WER) can be reduced by more than 20% for a speaker who provides tens of words (in case of IWR) or tens of sentences (in case of LVCSR) for the adaptation. Recently, we have used the described methods in the design of two practical applications: voice dictation to a PC and automatic transcription of radio and TV news

EDIT - Repository construction in the oldest Hungarian university

Az 1635-ben alapított Eötvös Loránd Tudományegyetem Magyarország legrégebbi egyeteme. Az ELTE Digitális Intézményi Tudástára (EDIT) az egyetemen létrehozott dokumentumok tárhelye, archívuma. Az előadás összefoglalja a tárolni és közreadni kívánt dokumentumok körét, az adattár építésével kapcsolatos tapasztalatainkat. Az ELTE szervezeti felépítése, nagysága, valamint a tárolni kívánt dokumentumok széles köre miatt a repozitórium kialakításánál egyedi igényeink merültek fel. A választott keretrendszert, a DSpace szoftvert ezeknek az igényeknek megfelelően alakítottuk, fejlesztettük

Turbulent heat transfer in spacer-filled channels: Experimental and computational study and selection of turbulence models

Heat transfer in spacer-filled channels of the kind used in Membrane Distillation was studied in the Reynolds number range 100–2000, encompassing both steady laminar and early-turbulent flow conditions. Experimental data, including distributions of the local heat transfer coefficient h, were obtained by Liquid Crystal Thermography and Digital Image Processing. Alternative turbulence models, both of first order (k-ε, RNG k-ε, k-ω, BSL k-ω, SST k-ω) and of second order (LRR RS, SSG RS, ω RS, BSL RS), were tested for their ability to predict measured distributions and mean values of h. The best agreement with the experimental results was provided by first-order ω-based models able to resolve the viscous/conductive sublayer, while all other models, and particularly ε-based models using wall functions, yielded disappointing predictions

Optimization of net power density in Reverse Electrodialysis

Reverse Electrodialysis (RED) extracts electrical energy from the salinity difference between two solutions using selective ion exchange membranes. In RED, conditions yielding a large net power density (NPD) are generally desired, due to the still large cost of the membranes. NPD depends on a large number of physical and geometric parameters. Some of these, for example the inlet concentrations of concentrate and diluate, can be regarded as “scenario” variables, imposed by external constraints (e.g., availability) or chosen by different criteria than NPD maximization. Others, namely the thicknesses HCONC, HDIL and the velocities UCONC, UDIL in the concentrate and diluate channels, can be regarded as free design parameters and can be chosen so as to maximize NPD. In the present study, a simplified model of a RED stack was coupled with an optimization algorithm in order to determine the conditions of maximum NPD in the space of the variables HCONC, HDIL,UCONC, UDIL for different sets of “scenario” variables. The study shows that an optimal choice of the free design parameters for any given scenario, as opposed to the adoption of standard fixed values for the same parameters, may provide significant improvements in NPD

Cfd investigation of spacer-filled channels for membrane distillation

The membrane distillation (MD) process for water desalination is affected by temperature polarization, which reduces the driving force and the efficiency of the process. To counteract this phenomenon, spacer-filled channels are used, which enhance mixing and heat transfer but also cause higher pressure drops. Therefore, in the design of MD modules, the choice of the spacer is crucial for process efficiency. In the present work, different overlapped spacers are investigated by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and results are compared with experiments carried out with thermochromic liquid crystals (TLC). Results are reported for different flow attack angles and for Reynolds numbers (Re) ranging from ~200 to ~800. A good qualitative agreement between simulations and experiments can be observed for the areal distribution of the normalized heat transfer coefficient. Trends of the average heat transfer coefficient are reported as functions of Re for the geometries investigated, thus providing the basis for CFD-based correlations to be used in higher-scale process models

Plano de negócio: “Green Coffee”

“The next 1,000 unicorns won’t be search engines or social media companies, they’ll be sustainable, scalable innovators – startups that help the world decarbonize and make the energy transition affordable for all consumers,” - Laurence “Larry” Fink, chairman and chief executive officer of BlackRock Inc. O projeto “Green Coffee” vem demonstrar que no meio económico presente, é possível uma empresa com objetivo de reciclar e criar economias circulares, dar resultado económico positivo e atrativo. Este projeto vem combater o desperdício das borras de café - que resulta da atividade de milhares de estabelecimentos comerciais pelo país - e a desflorestação, através da plantação direta de árvores. O processo vai começar com a criação de uma rede que recolhe as borras dos diversos estabelecimentos, sendo esta alvo de um breve processamento nos armazéns da “Green Coffee” para posteriormente ser vendida às fábricas que a utilizem como matéria-prima. As fábricas por cada Kg de borras compradas irão receber 10 códigos QR para inserir nas embalagens dos seus produtos, que ao serem ativados irão transferir para as carteiras digitais, dos consumidores finais, tokens que podem utilizar na plataforma digital da “Green Coffee”. Nesta plataforma os consumidores finais, podem comprar a plantação de diversas árvores, com os tokens. Diferentes árvores terão diferentes preços, o valor base são 5 tokens para a plantação de um pinheiro-bravo. Com os diversos dados pesquisados foi possível elaborar uma previsão do que será a quantidade de borras recicladas e árvores plantadas, assim como o resultado económico que resulta. O projeto foi considerado viável visto que considerando uma vida útil de 5 anos, resultou num valor atual líquido superior a 3,3 milhões e um payback de 3 anos e 7 meses.“The next 1,000 unicorns won’t be search engines or social media companies, they’ll be sustainable, scalable innovators – startups that help the world decarbonize and make the energy transition affordable for all consumers,” - Laurence “Larry” Fink, chairman and chief executive officer of BlackRock Inc. The Green Coffee Project comes to prove that in today economic environment it is possible for a company that focus on recycling in order to create a circular economy, to still be profitable. This project is based on the effort to reduce coffee grounds waste and fight deforestation. Green Coffee will start by collecting the coffee ground from all kinds of establishments that produce this waste, then the coffee grounds will be cleaned and prepared to be sold to other companies that use them in any way to produce their products. By buying 1 Kg of our coffee grounds, they will receive 10 QR codes to print in their products’ packages, these QR codes after scanned will send the consumer to Green Coffee platform, where they will retrieve one token to their digital wallet. In this platform the consumer will be able to use their tokens as currency to pay for the plantation of trees. The price will depend on the kind of tree, but the base price will be a pine tree for 5 tokens. With all the data gathered, we calculated an estimate on the amount of coffee grounds recycled and trees planted and the balance sheet correspondingly. Analyzing the balance sheet, we concluded that this project is viable, due to the fact that the net present value amounts to 3.3 million and the payback is 3 years and 7 months

Masculinidades y construcción discursiva sobre las políticas de género en México

El artículo tiene por objetivo analizar los mecanismos de construcción discursiva desde las masculinidades que se escenifican en la esfera laboral del Estado, específicamente en los espacios institucionales responsables de promover políticas de igualdad de género. A partir del análisis cualitativo de la experiencia mexicana se describe la relación que guardan los varones en la implementación de políticas de género y los discursos que los acompañan, en el entendido que existen profundas transformaciones en los imaginarios individuales y colectivos que nos hablan de situaciones en donde conviven actitudes tradiciones de género con apuestas más democráticas de relaciones personales y laborale

Força do exemplo de Isabel de Aragão : reflexões sobre catolicismo, condição postsecular e gênero em Portugal

Esta tese investiga a situação atual da República Portuguesa quanto sua forma de secularização, na qual a religião Católica continua a ocupar um lugar proeminente, de modo que tanto o Estado quanto o Catolicismo são atores centrais na configuração do espaço público português. A problemática central questiona o papel do Estado e do Catolicismo enquanto fontes de valores que podem viabilizar a coexistência de visões religiosas e seculares, as quais caracterizam uma sociedade postsecular. Em particular, busca apreender se o processo de enfrentamento pelos direitos das mulheres e igualdade de gênero em Portugal possui uma dupla fonte, secular e religiosa. Empreende um estudo da reconstrução das memórias de D. Isabel, mulher aragonesa, rainha consorte de Portugal (período Medieval) e santa católica, bem como de outras mulheres em diferentes períodos históricos. A doutoranda realizou pesquisas etnográficas em Portugal em três momentos: 2015, 2016 e 2017. Percorreu treze localidades em busca da compreensão de como se manifesta, na atualidade, o Catolicismo popular português. Pesquisou, particularmente, as celebrações ritualísticas da Rainha Santa Isabel e as festas do Espírito Santo, ambas tidas como importantes festividades religiosas populares e étnicas das comunidades portuguesas e de diáspora. Também procurou entender um dos maiores cultos religiosos do país lusitano: o fenômeno de Fátima. Acompanhou a cerimônia de canonização dos Pastorinhos de Fátima: Jacinta e Francisco Marto, com a presença do Papa Francisco. Mediante uma Sociologia da Religião e da Moral de Émile Durkheim, buscou mostrar, além das práticas de Catolicismo popular, novas formas de sagrado moderno. Para pensar o postsecular na sociedade portuguesa, na concepção de Jürgen Habermas, introduziu uma discussão sobre força do exemplo de Alessandro Ferrara, quando trabalhou com a exemplaridade de D. Isabel e outras mulheres ao longo da história do Ocidente. Por meio destas investigações, propõe uma interpretação sobre diferentes tipos de enfrentamentos pela igualdade de gênero em Portugal e estabelece um debate sobre a condição postsecular no país lusitano.This thesis investigates the current situation of the Portuguese Republic regarding its secularization, a country in which Catholicism continues to occupy a prominent place, to such an extent that both State and the aforementioned branch of Christianity are fundamental players in the configuration of the Portuguese public space. The main part of the research problem questions the role of State and Catholicism as sources of values that can allow the coexistence of religious and secular views, both of which characterize a postsecular society. Particularly, it tries to understand if the fight for the rights of women and gender equality in Portugal has a double source, namely, a secular and a religious one. It undertakes a study of the reconstruction of the memories of Isabella, aragonese woman, Queen consort of Portugal (medieval period) and catholic saint, as well as of other women in different time periods of history. The PhD student did ethnographic researches in Portugal in three moments: 2015, 2016 and 2017. She travelled thirteen places trying to understand how it is manifested, nowadays, Portuguese Catholicism in its popular form. She researched, particularly, ritualistic celebrations of the Queen and Saint Isabella and the festivities of the Holy Spirit, both of which being important popular and ethnic religious festivities of diaspora and portuguese communities. She also tried to understand one of the major religious cults of the lusitanian country: the phenomena of Fatima. The PhD student also accompanied the canonization of the Pastorinhos of Fatima: Jacinta e Francisco Marto, with the presence of the Pope Francisco. Using the Sociology of Religion and Morality by Émily Durkheim, she tried to show, besides the practices of popular Catholicism, new forms of modern sacred. To think of the postsecular in the portuguese society, in the conception of Jürgen Habermas, she introduced a discussion of force of example by Alessandro Ferrara, when working with the exemplarity of Isabella and other women throughout the Western history. Through these investigations, the PhD student proposes an interpretation over different types of fights for gender equality in Portugal and establishes a debate on the condition of the postsecular in the lusitanian country.Cette thèse examine la situation actuelle de la République portugaise, en ce qui concerne sa forme de laïcité, en considérant que la religion catholique occupe toujours une place prépondérante, de façon que le Catholicisme ainsi que l’État est un acteur central dans la configuration de l’espace public portugais. La question centrale interroge le rôle de l’État et du catholicisme en tant que sources de valeurs qui permettent la coexistence de points de vue religieux et laïques, ce qui caractérise une société postséculière. En particulier, la thèse vise comprendre si le processus de lutte pour les droits des femmes et l’égalité des sexes au Portugal a des doubles sources : laïque et religieuse. Nous avons mené une étude de la reconstruction des mémoires d’Élisabeth d’Aragon, femme aragonaise, reine consort du Portugal (période médiévale) et sainte catholique, ainsi que d’autres femmes de différentes périodes historiques. Ainsi, la doctorante a mené des recherches ethnographiques au Portugal, en trois temps : en 2015, 2016 et 2017. Elle a visité treize localités, en cherchant de comprendre comment le catholicisme populaire portugais se manifeste aujourd’hui. Particulièrement, elle a recherché les célébrations rituelles de la Reine Sainte Élisabeth de Portugal et les fêtes du Saint-Esprit, qui sont les deux considérées fêtes religieuses populaires et ethniques importantes pour les communautés portugaises et de la diaspora. Également, elle a cherché à comprendre l’un des plus grands cultes religieux du pays, le phénomène de Fátima, et accompagné la cérémonie de canonisation des Enfants bergers de Fátima – Jacinta et Francisco Marto –, en présence du pape François. En utilisant une sociologie de la religion et de la morale proposée par Émile Durkheim, la doctorante cherche à montrer les pratiques du catholicisme populaire ainsi que de nouvelles formes du sacré moderne. Pour réfléchir sur la post-sécularité dans la société portugaise, selon l’a conçu Jürgen Habermas, elle a conduit une discussion sur la force de l’exemple, selon Alessandro Ferrara, qui a mené des études sur l’exemplarité de Élisabeth de Portugal et d’autres femmes au cours de l’histoire de l’Occident. À travers ces investigations, elle propose une interprétation sur différents types de lutte pour l’égalité des sexes au Portugal et ouvre un débat sur la condition post-séculière dans le pays lusitanien