Learning to detect dysarthria from raw speech

Speech classifiers of paralinguistic traits traditionally learn from diverse hand-crafted low-level features, by selecting the relevant information for the task at hand. We explore an alternative to this selection, by learning jointly the classifier, and the feature extraction. Recent work on speech recognition has shown improved performance over speech features by learning from the waveform. We extend this approach to paralinguistic classification and propose a neural network that can learn a filterbank, a normalization factor and a compression power from the raw speech, jointly with the rest of the architecture. We apply this model to dysarthria detection from sentence-level audio recordings. Starting from a strong attention-based baseline on which mel-filterbanks outperform standard low-level descriptors, we show that learning the filters or the normalization and compression improves over fixed features by 10% absolute accuracy. We also observe a gain over OpenSmile features by learning jointly the feature extraction, the normalization, and the compression factor with the architecture. This constitutes a first attempt at learning jointly all these operations from raw audio for a speech classification task.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, submitted to ICASS

Rate of Convergence of Implicit Approximations for stochastic evolution equations

Stochastic evolution equations in Banach spaces with unbounded nonlinear drift and diffusion operators are considered. Under some regularity condition assumed for the solution, the rate of convergence of implicit Euler approximations is estimated under strong monotonicity and Lipschitz conditions. The results are applied to a class of quasilinear stochastic PDEs of parabolic type.Comment: 25 page

On the stochastic Strichartz estimates and the stochastic nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation on a compact riemannian manifold

We prove the existence and the uniqueness of a solution to the stochastic NSLE on a two-dimensional compact riemannian manifold. Thus we generalize a recent work by Burq, G\'erard and Tzvetkov in the deterministic setting, and a series of papers by de Bouard and Debussche, who have examined similar questions in the case of the flat euclidean space with random perturbation. We prove the existence and the uniqueness of a local maximal solution to stochastic nonlinear Schr\"odinger equations with multiplicative noise on a compact d-dimensional riemannian manifold. Under more regularity on the noise, we prove that the solution is global when the nonlinearity is of defocusing or of focusing type, d=2 and the initial data belongs to the finite energy space. Our proof is based on improved stochastic Strichartz inequalities

Adapted pairs in type AA and regular nilpotent elements

Let $\mathfrak g$ be a simple Lie algebra over an algebraically closed field $\bf k$ of characteristic zero and $\bf G$ its adjoint group. Let $\mathfrak q$ be a biparabolic subalgebra of $\mathfrak g$. The algebra $Sy(\mathfrak q)$ of semi-invariants on $\mathfrak q^*$ is polynomial in most cases, in particular when $\mathfrak g$ is simple of type $A$ or $C$. On the other hand $\mathfrak q$ admits a canonical truncation $\mathfrak q_{\Lambda}$ such that $Sy(\mathfrak q)=Sy(\mathfrak q_{\Lambda})=Y(\mathfrak q_{\Lambda})$ where $Y(\mathfrak q_{\Lambda})$ denotes the algebra of invariant functions on $\mathfrak q_{\Lambda}^*$. An adapted pair for $\mathfrak q_{\Lambda}$ is a pair $(h,\,\eta)\in \mathfrak q_{\Lambda}\times\mathfrak q_{\Lambda}^*$ such that $\eta$ is regular and $(ad\,h)\eta=-\eta$. In a previous paper of A. Joseph (2008) adapted pairs for every truncated biparabolic subalgebra $\mathfrak q_{\Lambda}$ of a simple Lie algebra $\mathfrak g$ of type $A$ were constructed and then provide Weierstrass sections for $Y(\mathfrak q_{\Lambda})$ in $\mathfrak q_{\Lambda}^*$. These latter are linear subvarieties $\eta+V$ of $\mathfrak q_{\Lambda}^*$ such that the restriction map induces an algebra isomorphism of $Y(\mathfrak q_{\Lambda})$ onto the algebra of regular functions on $\eta+V$. Here we show that for each of the adapted pairs $(h,\,\eta)$ constructed in the paper mentioned above one can express $\eta$ as the image of a regular nilpotent element $y$ of $\mathfrak g^*$ under the restriction to $\mathfrak q$. Since $y$ must be a $\bf G$ translate of the standard regular nilpotent element defined in terms of the already chosen set $\pi$ of simple roots, one may attach to $y$ a unique element of the Weyl group. Ultimately one can then hope to be able to describe adapted pairs (in general) through the Weyl group.Comment: This is a rewriting of the version submitted on the arXiv in June 201

Second to fourth digit ratio and cooperative behavior.

A low second to fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) has been related to high testosterone levels and to markers of high status. In a social dilemma context status can be obtained either by acting egoistically (i.e. not contributing one's share) or by acting altruistically (i.e. contributing more than one's fair share). We therefore predicted that a low 2D:4D would be associated with high levels of egoism and altruism and low levels of common cooperativeness (i.e. contributing exactly one's fair share). We found the exact opposite: participants with a low 2D:4D were more likely to act cooperatively and less likely to act altruistically and egoistically. These findings suggest that (1) there might be a high and a low testosterone strategy to gain status and (2) that the high testosterone strategy is characterized by a preference for normative behavior.Altruism; Strategy; Preference; Behavior;

The EU strategy of policy convergence with its neighbours in the area of trade

The objective of this paper is to ascertain whether the EU is seeking policy convergence with its neighbours in the area of trade by means of EU regulations. For each trade- related topic, we carried out a content analysis of the available official documents to identify the model of relations that has been established between the EU and four neighbouring countries (Morocco, Algeria, Ukraine and Georgia). The findings indicate that Europeanization is the EU strategy in most cases. However, adaptation to European regulations is only a long-term aim. When international regulations exist in a specific area, the EU usually demands the internationalization of a countrys regulations as a first step. When there are no international regulations, the convergence process is established on the basis of bilaterally developed norms. EU strategy also varies depending on the country. Its relations with Algeria are the most particular. We conclude that the EU is promoting policy convergence with its neighbours in the area of trade mainly on the basis of international and bilaterally-developed regulations.normative power, eu neighbourhood policy, europeanization, eu trade relations

Ultramarathon is an outstanding model for the study of adaptive responses to extreme load and stress.

ABSTRACT: Ultramarathons comprise any sporting event involving running longer than the traditional marathon length of 42.195 km (26.2 miles). Studies on ultramarathon participants can investigate the acute consequences of ultra-endurance exercise on inflammation and cardiovascular or renal consequences, as well as endocrine/energetic aspects, and examine the tissue recovery process over several days of extreme physical load. In a study published in BMC Medicine, Schütz et al. followed 44 ultramarathon runners over 4,487 km from South Italy to North Cape, Norway (the Trans Europe Foot Race 2009) and recorded daily sets of data from magnetic resonance imaging, psychometric, body composition and biological measurements. The findings will allow us to better understand the timecourse of degeneration/regeneration of some lower leg tissues such as knee joint cartilage, to differentiate running-induced from age-induced pathologies (for example, retropatelar arthritis) and finally to assess the interindividual susceptibility to injuries. Moreover, it will also provide new information about the complex interplay between cerebral adaptations/alterations and hormonal influences resulting from endurance exercise and provide data on the dose-response relationship between exercise and brain structure/function. Overall, this study represents a unique attempt to investigate the limits of the adaptive response of human bodies.Please see related article: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7015/10/78

Low strength is related to diminished ground reaction forces and walking performance in older women

The purpose of this study was to determine how lower-limb strength in older women affected gait speed, supportive forces, spatial, and temporal aspects of walking gait. Twenty-four women between 65 – 80 yr performed maximal voluntary isometric contractions for the knee extensors (KE), knee flexors (KF), ankle plantarflexors (PF) and ankle dorsiflexors (DF) and were separated into low strength and normal strength groups using a KE torque threshold of 1.5 Nm kg−1 . They walked at both a standard speed of 0.8 m s−1 and at a self-selected maximal speed on an instrumented treadmill that recorded vertical ground reaction forces (vGRF) and spatiotemporal gait measures. Older women with low strength had 30% lower KE maximal torque, 36% lower PF maximal torque, 34% lower KE rate of torque development (RTD) and 30% lower KF RTD. Low strength women demonstrated slower maximal walking speeds (1.26 ± 0.20 vs. 1.56 ± 0.20 m s−1 ), lower vGRF during weight acceptance (1.15 ± 0.10 vs. 1.27 ± 0.13 BW), lower weight acceptance rates (11.3 ± 0.5 vs. 17.0 ± 5.5 BW s−1 ), slower stride rates, shorter stride lengths, and longer footground and double-limb support times (all P \u3c 0.05). Maximal gait speed was strongly correlated to peak vGRF and rate (r = 0.60 – 0.85, P \u3c 0.01) and moderately related to lower-limb strength (r = 0.42 – 0.60, P \u3c 0.05). In older women with low strength, diminished peak vGRFs were associated with slower walking speeds putting them at risk for mobility limitation, disability, poor health, and loss of independence