537 research outputs found
Speaker age estimation for elderly speech recognition in European Portuguese
Phone-like acoustic models (AMs) used in large-vocabulary automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems are usually trained with speech collected from young adult speakers. Using such models, ASR performance may decrease by about 10% absolute when transcribing elderly speech. Ageing is known to alter speech production in ways that require ASR systems to be adapted, in particular at the level of acoustic modeling. In this study, we investigated automatic age estimation in order to select age-specific adapted AMs. A large corpus of read speech from European Portuguese speakers aged 60 or over was used. Age estimation (AE) based on i-vectors and support vector regression achieved mean error rates of about 4.2 and 4.5 years for males and females, respectively. Compared with a baseline ASR system with AMs trained using young adult speech and a WER of 13.9%, the selection of five-year-range adapted AMs, based on the estimated age of the speakers, led to a decrease in WER of about 9.3% relative (1.3% absolute). Comparable gains in ASR performance were observed when considering two larger age ranges (60-75 and 76-90) instead of six five-year ranges, suggesting that it would be sufficient to use the two large ranges only.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Magnetoencephalographyâtheory, instrumentation, and applications to noninvasive studies of the working human brain
Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is a noninvasive technique for investigating neuronal activity in the living human brain. The time resolution of the method is better than 1 ms and the spatial discrimination is, under favorable circumstances, 2-3 mm for sources in the cerebral cortex. In MEG studies, the weak 10 fT-1 pT magnetic fields produced by electric currents flowing in neurons are measured with multichannel SQUID (superconducting quantum interference device) gradiometers. The sites in the cerebral cortex that are activated by a stimulus can be found from the detected magnetic-field distribution, provided that appropriate assumptions about the source render the solution of the inverse problem unique. Many interesting properties of the working human brain can be studied, including spontaneous activity and signal processing following external stimuli. For clinical purposes, determination of the locations of epileptic foci is of interest. The authors begin with a general introduction and a short discussion of the neural basis of MEG. The mathematical theory of the method is then explained in detail, followed by a thorough description of MEG instrumentation, data analysis, and practical construction of multi-SQUID devices. Finally, several MEG experiments performed in the authors' laboratory are described, covering studies of evoked responses and of spontaneous activity in both healthy and diseased brains. Many MEG studies by other groups are discussed briefly as well.Peer reviewe
Lukiolaisten ja ammatillista perustutkintoa suorittavien elÀmÀntilanne ja toimeentulo
Tutkimuksessa tarkastellaan toisen asteen opiskelijoiden elĂ€mĂ€ntilannetta ja toimeentuloa. IkĂ€ ja asumismuoto ovat keskeisimmĂ€t heidĂ€n toimeentuloonsa vaikuttavat tekijĂ€t. Lukiolaisista noin 93 prosenttia ja samanikĂ€isistĂ€ ammatillista perustutkintoa suorittavista nuorista noin 70 prosenttia asuu vanhempiensa taloudessa. Yli 20-vuotiaista ammatillista perustutkintoa suorittavista joka viides asuu vanhempiensa kanssa. Lukiolaisista suurin osa (80 prosenttia) kokee pienistĂ€ tuloistaan huolimatta taloudellisen asemansa vĂ€hintÀÀn kohtalaiseksi, mikĂ€ heijastelee lĂ€hinnĂ€ heidĂ€n taloudellisesti hyvin epĂ€itsenĂ€istĂ€ asemaansa. Huonoksi tai hyvin huonoksi oman taloudellisen asemansa kokee joka viides lukiolainen. Ammatillista tutkintoa suorittavien kokemus omasta taloudellisesta asemasta on huomattavasti negatiivisempi: 45 prosenttia ilmoittaa taloudellisen tilanteensa olevan huono tai hyvin huono. Eroa kokemuksissa eri oppilaitoksissa opiskelevien vĂ€lillĂ€ selittĂ€vĂ€t ikĂ€, itsenĂ€isempi asuminen ja vanhempien pienemmĂ€t tulot. Toisen asteen opiskelijoiden mielestĂ€ opintotuki on riittĂ€mĂ€tön ja jĂ€rjestelmĂ€ epĂ€oikeudenmukainen. KriittisimpiĂ€ ovat opintotukea saaneet. Toisen asteen opintotukeen liittyy olennaisesti kysymys vanhempien, yksilön itsensĂ€ ja yhteiskunnan vastuusta opintojen aikaisen toimeentulon rahoittamisessa. Alle 20-vuotiailla, asuivatpa he vanhempiensa taloudessa tai itsenĂ€isesti, opintotukeen vaikuttaa vanhempien tuloja koskeva tiukka tarveharkinta. Lukiolaisista vain 18 prosenttia ja ammatillista perustutkintoa suorittavista noin puolet sai opintorahaa kevÀÀllĂ€ 2006. Ammatillista tutkintoa suorittavista suurempi osa kuin lukiolaisista on yli 20-vuotiaita ja saa nĂ€in ollen opintorahaa. Opintorahan saantiin vaikuttaa heillĂ€ myös vanhempien pienemmĂ€t tulot sekĂ€ yksinhuoltajavanhempien suurempi osuus. 18â19-vuotiaiden opiskelijoiden toimeentulotukiasiakkuudet ovat lisÀÀntyneet merkittĂ€vĂ€sti 1990-luvun alun jĂ€lkeen, minkĂ€ taustalla voi olla opintorahan reaaliarvon lasku sekĂ€ toisen asteen opintotukeen oikeutettujen osuuden lasku. Heikoimmassa taloudellisessa asemassa ovat itsenĂ€isesti asuvat, etenkin toisella paikkakunnalla opiskelevat nuoret. ItsenĂ€isesti asuvat 16â25-vuotiaat ammatillista perustutkintoa suorittavat ilmoittavat nettokuukausituloikseen 384 euroa kuukaudessa. ItsenĂ€isesti asuvista yli 90 prosenttia ilmoittaa vanhempiensa avustavan sÀÀnnöllisesti tai satunnaisesti suoraan rahallisesti tai maksamalla asumiskuluja ja laskuja. Kokonaan ilman vanhempien taloudellista tukea on itsenĂ€isesti asuvista alle 20-vuotiaista kahdeksan prosenttia ja noin joka viidennellĂ€ tuki on satunnaista. Vuonna 2006 korotettiin vanhempien tulorajoja 15 prosenttia ja vuonna 2007 korotetaan 30 prosenttia. NykyistĂ€ useampi pÀÀsee taas opintorahan piiriin ja osalla tukeen oikeutetuista tuen mÀÀrĂ€ nousee merkittĂ€vĂ€sti. Kahden elĂ€ttĂ€jĂ€n lapsiperheissĂ€ tulorajojen muutos tuo etuuden saajien joukkoon nuoria verraten lĂ€heltĂ€ mediaanituloisten ryhmÀÀ ja yksinhuoltajien lapsista vain ylimpÀÀn tulokymmenykseen kuuluvat lapset tulevat jÀÀmÀÀn jĂ€rjestelmĂ€n ulkopuolelle. Tulorajojen indeksijĂ€rjestelmĂ€ tai sÀÀnnölliset tulorajojen tarkistukset estĂ€isivĂ€t tĂ€llaiset vaivihkaa tapahtuvat tuen saatavuuden ja tuen tason laskun.9,00 euro
K -shell diagram and hypersatellite spectra of 4d transition elements
The K-shell diagram (K alpha(1,2) and K beta(1,3)) and hypersatellite (HS) (K-h alpha(1,2)) spectra of Y, Zr, Mo, and Pd have been measured with high energy-resolution using photoexcitation by 90 keV synchrotron radiation. Comparison of the measured and ab initio calculated HS spectra demonstrates the importance of quantum electrodynamical (QED) effects for the HS spectra. Phenomenological fits of the measured spectra by Voigt functions yield accurate values for the shift of the HS from the diagram lines, the splitting of the HS lines, and their intensity ratio. Good agreement with theory was found for all quantities except for the intensity ratio, which is dominated by the intermediacy of the coupling of the angular momenta. The observed deviations imply that our current understanding of the variation of the coupling scheme from LS to jj across the periodic table may require some revision.The K-shell diagram (K alpha(1,2) and K beta(1,3)) and hypersatellite (HS) (K-h alpha(1,2)) spectra of Y, Zr, Mo, and Pd have been measured with high energy-resolution using photoexcitation by 90 keV synchrotron radiation. Comparison of the measured and ab initio calculated HS spectra demonstrates the importance of quantum electrodynamical (QED) effects for the HS spectra. Phenomenological fits of the measured spectra by Voigt functions yield accurate values for the shift of the HS from the diagram lines, the splitting of the HS lines, and their intensity ratio. Good agreement with theory was found for all quantities except for the intensity ratio, which is dominated by the intermediacy of the coupling of the angular momenta. The observed deviations imply that our current understanding of the variation of the coupling scheme from LS to jj across the periodic table may require some revision.The K-shell diagram (K alpha(1,2) and K beta(1,3)) and hypersatellite (HS) (K-h alpha(1,2)) spectra of Y, Zr, Mo, and Pd have been measured with high energy-resolution using photoexcitation by 90 keV synchrotron radiation. Comparison of the measured and ab initio calculated HS spectra demonstrates the importance of quantum electrodynamical (QED) effects for the HS spectra. Phenomenological fits of the measured spectra by Voigt functions yield accurate values for the shift of the HS from the diagram lines, the splitting of the HS lines, and their intensity ratio. Good agreement with theory was found for all quantities except for the intensity ratio, which is dominated by the intermediacy of the coupling of the angular momenta. The observed deviations imply that our current understanding of the variation of the coupling scheme from LS to jj across the periodic table may require some revision.Peer reviewe
Inelastic X-ray scattering in correlated (Mott) insulators
We calculate the inelastic light scattering from X-rays, which allows the
photon to transfer both energy and momentum to the strongly correlated charge
excitations. We find that the charge transfer peak and the low energy peak both
broaden and disperse through the Brillouin zone similar to what is seen in
experiments in materials like Ca_2 Cu O_2 Cl_2.Comment: 5 pages Revtex4, 6 figure
Inverse Modeling for MEG/EEG data
We provide an overview of the state-of-the-art for mathematical methods that
are used to reconstruct brain activity from neurophysiological data. After a
brief introduction on the mathematics of the forward problem, we discuss
standard and recently proposed regularization methods, as well as Monte Carlo
techniques for Bayesian inference. We classify the inverse methods based on the
underlying source model, and discuss advantages and disadvantages. Finally we
describe an application to the pre-surgical evaluation of epileptic patients.Comment: 15 pages, 1 figur
High resolution mapping of a novel late blight resistance gene Rpi-avll, from the wild Bolivian species Solanum avilesii
Both Mexico and South America are rich in Solanum species that might be valuable sources of resistance (R) genes to late blight (Phytophthora infestans). Here, we focus on an R gene present in the diploid Bolivian species S. avilesii. The genotype carrying the R gene was resistant to eight out of 10 Phytophthora isolates of various provenances. The identification of a resistant phenotype and the generation of a segregating population allowed the mapping of a single dominant R gene, Rpi-avl1, which is located in an R gene cluster on chromosome 11. This R gene cluster is considered as an R gene âhot spotâ, containing R genes to at least five different pathogens. High resolution mapping of the Rpi-avl1 gene revealed a marker co-segregating in 3890 F1 individuals, which may be used for marker assisted selection in breeding programs and for further cloning of Rpi-avl
Quantum Monte Carlo calculation of Compton profiles of solid lithium
Recent high resolution Compton scattering experiments in lithium have shown
significant discrepancies with conventional band theoretical results. We
present a pseudopotential quantum Monte Carlo study of electron-electron and
electron-ion correlation effects on the momentum distribution of lithium. We
compute the correlation correction to the valence Compton profiles obtained
within Kohn-Sham density functional theory in the local density approximation
and determine that electronic correlation does not account for the discrepancy
with the experimental results. Our calculations lead do different conclusions
than recent GW studies and indicate that other effects (thermal disorder,
core-valence separation etc.) must be invoked to explain the discrepancy with
experiments.Comment: submitted to Phys. Rev.
A Novel 2D Folding Technique for Enhancing Fermi Surface Signatures in the Momentum Density: Application to Compton Scattering Data from an Al-3at%Li Disordered Alloy
We present a novel technique for enhancing Fermi surface (FS) signatures in
the 2D distribution obtained after the 3D momentum density in a crystal is
projected along a specific direction in momentum space. These results are
useful for investigating fermiology via high resolution Compton scattering and
positron annihilation spectroscopies. We focus on the particular case of the
(110) projection in an fcc crystal where the standard approach based on the use
of the Lock-Crisp-West (LCW) folding theorem fails to give a clear FS image due
to the strong overlap with FS images obtained through projection from higher
Brillouin zones. We show how these superposed FS images can be disentangled by
using a selected set of reciprocal lattice vectors in the folding process. The
applicability of our partial folding scheme is illustrated by considering
Compton spectra from an Al-3at%Li disordered alloy single crystal. For this
purpose, high resolution Compton profiles along nine directions in the (110)
plane were measured. Corresponding highly accurate theoretical profiles in
Al-3at%Li were computed within the local density approximation (LDA)-based
Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker coherent potential approximation (KKR-CPA)
first-principles framework. A good level of overall accord between theory and
experiment is obtained, some expected discrepancies reflecting electron
correlation effects notwithstanding, and the partial folding scheme is shown to
yield a clear FS image in the (110) plane in Al-3%Li.Comment: 24 pages, 8 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.
Multi-sensor system for simultaneous ultra-low-field MRI and MEG
Magnetoencephalography (MEG) and magnetic resonance imaging at ultra-low
fields (ULF MRI) are two methods based on the ability of SQUID (superconducting
quantum interference device) sensors to detect femtotesla magnetic fields.
Combination of these methods will allow simultaneous functional (MEG) and
structural (ULF MRI) imaging of the human brain. In this paper, we report the
first implementation of a multi-sensor SQUID system designed for both MEG and
ULF MRI. We present a multi-channel image of a human hand obtained at 46
microtesla field, as well as results of auditory MEG measurements with the new
system.Comment: To appear in Proceedings of 15th International Conference on
Biomagnetis
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