Multimodal One-Shot Learning of Speech and Images

Imagine a robot is shown new concepts visually together with spoken tags, e.g. "milk", "eggs", "butter". After seeing one paired audio-visual example per class, it is shown a new set of unseen instances of these objects, and asked to pick the "milk". Without receiving any hard labels, could it learn to match the new continuous speech input to the correct visual instance? Although unimodal one-shot learning has been studied, where one labelled example in a single modality is given per class, this example motivates multimodal one-shot learning. Our main contribution is to formally define this task, and to propose several baseline and advanced models. We use a dataset of paired spoken and visual digits to specifically investigate recent advances in Siamese convolutional neural networks. Our best Siamese model achieves twice the accuracy of a nearest neighbour model using pixel-distance over images and dynamic time warping over speech in 11-way cross-modal matching.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure, 3 tables; accepted to ICASSP 201

Application of Monte Carlo-based statistical significance determinations to the Beta Cephei stars V400 Car, V401 Car, V403 Car and V405 Car

We have used Lomb-Scargle periodogram analysis and Monte Carlo significance tests to detect periodicities above the 3-sigma level in the Beta Cephei stars V400 Car, V401 Car, V403 Car and V405 Car. These methods produce six previously unreported periodicities in the expected frequency range of excited pulsations: one in V400 Car, three in V401 Car, one in V403 Car and one in V405 Car. One of these six frequencies is significant above the 4-sigma level. We provide statistical significances for all of the periodicities found in these four stars.Comment: 11 pages, 17 figure

Many a true word spoken in jest: Visuele voorstellingspraktyke in Vlaamse moedertaaltaalhandboeke

Based on the assumption that textbooks could hardly be free from prejudice, cultural stereotyping and marginalising of the ‘other’, the purpose of this article is to determine the extent to which the reigning social and cultural order is fostered in a Flemish language textbook series. Mechanisms such as inclusions, exclusions, confusing representations, cultural codes, values, preferences and silences are investigated to determine the extent of stereotyping strategies in textbook caricatures. The data source for the Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) is constituted by a focus group discussion held in Flanders, discussing visual material in one textbook series, Vitaal. An insider perspective on representational practices projecting the (non-Western) ‘other’ was obtained through the discussion by Flemish participants, who are all involved in the educational sphere. The conceptual framework comprises an explication of concepts and theories on studies of implicit stereotyping, culture studies and visual antropology. Influential issues in the literature on textbook representation in Flanders over the past decade are also described. The data were analysed through the lens of CDA (Barton and Stygall 2002;1-27; Huckins 2004:1-15) and according to the thematic analysis procedure introduced by Braun and Clarke (2006). The findings show that the caricatures serve as ideological rhetoric of the dominant white group, projecting the ‘other’ as problematic, focusing on their country of origin rather than their well-being in their new country. Although humour conceals the cultural exclusion in the data set, the cultural codes in the visual material generalise the non-Western ‘other’ as either extremely religious or as fundamentally different.Key terms: hegemony, Flemish language textbook, Critical Discourse, Analysis, focus group discussion, representational practices, caricatures, thematic analysisThe article is in Afrikaans

Vinkel en koljander? ‘n Diversiteitsperspektief op Afrikaanse en Nederlandse moedertaal-taalhandboeke

Where human society is involved, the world can never be objective, but is a place where, through cultural power relations, human inequalities are legitimized by meaning, interpretation and value (Hall 1997). At the same time prejudice and stereotyping disguise inequality and enhance the exclusion of certain sectors of society. Mechanisms such as inclusions, exclusions, confusing representations, cultural codes, and silences are relevant stereotyping strategies. In this article the visual representations in Dutch and Afrikaans language textbooks are compared in order to determine the strategies used to address diversity within the textbooks. The conceptual framework and literature review comprise an explication of the concepts and influential issues presented in the literature. Data sources are constituted by the visual material of one textbook series from each of the two language communities. The findings are presented as indicators derived from focus group discussions. Eurocentric perspectives of the dominant white group about the ‘other’ were identified, projecting the ‘other’ as problematic, poor and primitive. The cultural codes in the visual material furthermore generalise the non-Western ‘other’ as either extremely religious or as fundamentally different. No signs of apartheid prejudice could be found in the Afrikaans textbooks and Afrikaans is demythologised as a ‘white’ language. The visual material offers a platform for different, even contradictory, values in order to create a new cultural and social reality, even if the representation, in which everybody speaks Afrikaans, is sometimes forced and unauthentic.Keywords: diversity, representational practices, visual material, language textbooks, Dutch and Afrikaans, stereotyping strategies, thematic analysis, focus group discussionsThe article is in Afrikaans

Die persoonlikheidseienskappe en bestuurspotensiaal van bestuursgemotiveerde persone

The original publication is available at http://www.sajip.co.zaThe personality traits and managerial potential of managerial motivated persons: In the ligth of criticisms of the psychometric suitability of existing measures of managerial motivation a new scale, the Managerial Motivation Questionnaire (MMQ), was developed. This was done on the basis of a comprehensive study of the literature on managerial motivation and the role-motivation theory of Miner. The MMQ demonstrated adequate internal consistency. The aim of this study is to clarify the construct validity of the MMQ. Significant and positive correlations were found between managerial motivation, overall managerial potential, and nine managerial dimensions. The construct validity of the MMQ was further supported by correlations between sixteen personality traits and managerial motivation.In die lig van kritiek teen die psigometriese geskiktheid van bestaande meetinstrumente van bestuursmotivering is 'n nuwe skaal, die Bestuursmotiveringsvraelys (BMV)/ ontwikkel. Dit is gedoen op grond van die konseptuele omiyning van bestuursmotivering en die rolmotiveringsteorie van Miner. Die BMV vertoon toereikende interne konsekwentheid. Die doel van hierdie studie is om die konstrukgeldigheid van die BMV verder op te klaar. Beduidend positiewe korrelasies is tussen bestuursmotivering/ globale bestuurspotensiaal en nege bestuursdimensies gevind. Hierbenewens het die korrelasies tussen sestien persoonlikheidseienskappe en bestuursmotivering verdere ondersteunende bewyse gelewer van die konstrukgeldigheid van die BMV.SA Journal of Industrial PsychologyPublishers' Versio

Charge-Spin Separation in 2D Fermi Systems: Singular Interactions as Modified Commutators, and Solution of 2D Hubbard Model in Bosonized Approximation

The general 2-dimensional fermion system with repulsive interactions (typified by the Hubbard Model) is bosonized, taking into account the finite on-shell forward scattering phase shift derived in earlier papers. By taking this phase shift into account in the bosonic commutation relations a consistent picture emerges showing the charge-spin separation and anomalous exponents of the Luttinger liquid.Comment: Latex file 14 pages. email: [email protected]

Why do male patients request circumcisions?

Background: Circumcision has been performed for centuries. The popularity of the procedure waxed and waned during the ages. In South Africa, cultural circumcision is often regarded as the only way to attain full adulthood, and consequently many patients request circumcision by medical personnel. The aim of this study was to explore the motivations and perceptions of patients requesting circumcision at Kalafong Hospital. Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with patients requesting circumcision. Interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed and themes were identified. Triangulation was used to enhance the trustworthiness of the data. Results: The themes that were identified were cultural acceptance, fear of mountain school, improved intercourse, prevention of disease and improved hygiene. Conclusions: Doctors should adopt a compassionate attitude when patients request circumcision. It is imperative to discuss patients' expectations. If this is not done, patients' problems may remain unsolved. The perception that circumcision provides effective protection against sexually transmitted diseases is dangerous and should be addressed fully. Keywords:circumcision, penile, motivation, qualitative For full text , click here:SA Fam Prac 2004;46(2):25-2

BCS-to-BEC crossover from the exact BCS solution

The BCS-to-BEC crossover, as well as the nature of Cooper pairs, in a superconducting and Fermi superfluid medium is studied from the exact ground state wavefunction of the reduced BCS Hamiltonian. As the strength of the interaction increases, the ground state continuously evolves from a mixed-system of quasifree fermions and pair resonances (BCS), to pair resonances and quasibound molecules (pseudogap), and finally to a system of quasibound molecules (BEC). A single unified scenario arises where the Cooper-pair wavefunction has a unique functional form. Several exact analytic expressions, such as the binding energy and condensate fraction, are derived. We compare our results with recent experiments in ultracold atomic Fermi gases.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. Revised version with one figure adde

Pyott Case: A Lasting Deposit for Our Tax Heritage

Pyott Ltd v CIR is generally regarded as the seminal case in South Africa on the tax treatment of deposits received on containers that may be returned at a later stage for a refund. This article analyses the tax treatment of deposits, prepayments and advances from a gross income point of view, as well as the possibility of claiming a deduction for the contingent liability to refund such deposit.The main objective of this article is to discuss the judgment in the Pyott case and establish whether the principle enunciated that deposits, received in respect of returnable containers, are taxable in full once received, can also be extended to receipts of deposits, prepayments and advances where no returnable container is involved.The conclusions reached are that the principles laid down in the Pyott case are still relevant today, apart from possible relief which may now be claimed under the subsequently introduced section 24C. Where no container is involved, beneficial ownership must first be established before such deposit, prepayment or advance becomes taxable, taking into account the specific provisions of legislation such as the Rental Housing Act and the Consumer Protection Act. The research has also shown coherence in the treatment of deposits for income tax purposes and other taxes, such as value-added tax.Keywords: Deposits, Prepayments and Advances, Beneficial Ownership, Contingent Liability, Consumer Protection Act, Rental Housing Ac