ASR decoding in a computational model of human word recognition

This paper investigates the interaction between acoustic scores and symbolic mismatch penalties in multi-pass speech decoding techniques that are based on the creation of a segment graph followed by a lexical search. The interaction between acoustic and symbolic mismatches determines to a large extent the structure of the search space of these multipass approaches. The background of this study is a recently developed computational model of human word recognition, called SpeM. SpeM is able to simulate human word recognition data and is built as a multi-pass speech decoder. Here, we focus on unravelling the structure of the search space that is used in SpeM and similar decoding strategies. Finally, we elaborate on the close relation between distances in this search space, and distance measures in search spaces that are based on a combination of acoustic and phonetic features

Clinicians’ views and practices in quality of life in aphasia rehabilitation: a preliminary study

Background: Quality of life (QOL) is important to people with aphasia and their family members and is influenced by a range of factors within the scope of practice for speech and language therapy. Interestingly though, clinicians largely assess patients’/ clients’ QOL informally through discussion, and rarely measure QOL as an outcome from aphasia rehabilitation. Research is needed to understand why there is relatively little consideration of QOL in clinical practice and little use of formal assessments. Aims: This study explores aphasia clinicians’ views and reported practices regarding QOL as a concept and its assessment. Methods & Procedures: Nineteen practising speech and language therapists working in rehabilitation with adult clients with neurogenic communication disorders volunteered and completed the study. They completed an online survey of 48 questions with a range of response options, including free text. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for count and categorical data, and content analysis for text responses. Outcomes & Results: These clinicians felt initially unprepared for practice, and had limited awareness, knowledge and confidence in using QOL assessments, but nonetheless thought QOL was important in clinical management. They considered QOL as being individualized, pertaining to life satisfaction and enjoyment, and additionally considered it as communication, participation in activities, education, and emotional support. The majority used informal methods, although some formal assessment use was reported. Many perceived barriers related to lack of resources (physical, staff, and time). Clinicians also reported scope of practice issues with the broader multidisciplinary rehabilitation team and specifically clinical psychology. Conclusions: Training and access to existing available QOL assessments are clear implications from this study. Further research is needed to assess the extent to which these findings are representative of the broader aphasia clinician community in England

Vigour : smart textile services to support rehabilitation

"Vigour" is a garment that shows the possibilities of smart textile services for geriatric rehabilitation exercises. It is the result of a collaborative design process between a design researcher, three therapists, an eldercare manager, a textile developer and an embedded systems designer. Vigour embodies the knowledge that was accumulated during the collaborative design process. We contribute to the theme of experimentation in design research by showing the value of experimentation in a participatory setting through the iterations leading to the final garment. Further, we will briefly describe three of the steps that lead to the final prototype

Viabilidad de la implantación de sistemas de cerramiento total para reducir las emisiones difusas de partículas

Tras la entrada en vigor de la Directiva de Prevención y Control Integrados de la Contaminación (Directiva IPPC) las actividades afectadas por la misma, incluidas las del sector cerámico, se han visto obligadas a controlar la emisión de partículas difusas mediante la implantación de medidas correctoras, que en muchos casos suponen un impacto económico significativo. En los casos más exigentes, las Autorizaciones Ambientales Integradas (AAIs) otorgadas a empresas del sector cerámico requieren el cerramiento total de las operaciones de gestión de materias primas. En el presente trabajo se evalúa la viabilidad técnica, económica y ambiental de la implantación de un sistema de cerramiento o confinamiento total como medida de reducción de emisiones difusas al considerarse una de las Mejores Técnicas Disponibles (MTDs). El estudio se ha realizado sobre una instalación de fabricación de gránulo atomizado considerando las operaciones de recepción, gestión y almacenamiento de materias primas.Peer reviewe

EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH OF DYNAMIC QUALITIES OF FREIGHT CARS WITH BOGIES OF DIFFERENT DESIGNS

Purpose. With the advent of new designs of freright cars the task of designing the more modern bogies, assessment of their dynamic properties depending on the type and structure of pecularities, accounting the axle loadings, providing the dynamic and running characteristics, meeting the conditions of impact on the track, stability, and frame forces intensity etc. becomes especially important. In order to launch the new production into manufacture and to assess the dynamic properties using different designs of bogies the running testes were conducted. They allowed one to compare the dynamic performance of the new bogie with the existing models. Methodology. The study was conducted using the method of numerical integration and mathematical modeling of dynamic loading of freight cars using the software package «Dynamics of Rail Vehicles» («DYNRAIL»). Findings. The results of studies of dynamic characteristics of open cars with new and worn wheels of bogie models 18-9771, 18-9770 and 18-578 in graphical and tabular form are presented. All figures are within the normative values and do not exceed the maximum admissible ones. Originality. When designing the bogie for loading 23.5 t/axle almost all available technical solutions to improve the characteristics of the freight car bogies (elastic bearers, cassette bearing in axle boxes, axle boxe adapter of original design, bilinear central spring suspension, etc.) were used. Practical value. As a result of the engineering works on projecting and manufacturing of the improved designs of freight car bogies a new design was received. It is highly competitive with the dynamic qualities of the best ones. Made choice of rational values of elastic-dissipative parameters of the bogie allows one to create standard series of running gears for freight cars for promising operating conditions.The results are of practical importance. They have found reflection in the number of author’spublications in special and semi-populareditions

Strain-induced kinetics of intergrain defects as the mechanism of slow dynamics in the nonlinear resonant response of humid sandstone bars

A closed-form description is proposed to explain nonlinear and slow dynamics effects exhibited by sandstone bars in longitudinal resonance experiments. Along with the fast subsystem of longitudinal nonlinear displacements we examine the strain-dependent slow subsystem of broken intergrain and interlamina cohesive bonds. We show that even the simplest but phenomenologically correct modelling of their mutual feedback elucidates the main experimental findings typical for forced longitudinal oscillations of sandstone bars, namely, (i) hysteretic behavior of a resonance curve on both its up- and down-slopes, (ii) linear softening of resonant frequency with increase of driving level, and (iii) gradual recovery (increase) of resonant frequency at low dynamical strains after the sample was conditioned by high strains. In order to reproduce the highly nonlinear elastic features of sandstone grained structure a realistic non-perturbative form of strain potential energy was adopted. In our theory slow dynamics associated with the experimentally observed memory of peak strain history is attributed to strain-induced kinetic changes in concentration of ruptured inter-grain and inter-lamina cohesive bonds causing a net hysteretic effect on the elastic Young's modulus. Finally, we explain how enhancement of hysteretic phenomena originates from an increase in equilibrium concentration of ruptured cohesive bonds that are due to water saturation.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Measuring cognitive load: mixed results from a handover simulation for medical students.

The application of cognitive load theory to workplace-based activities such as patient handovers is hindered by the absence of a measure of the different load types. This exploratory study tests a method for measuring cognitive load during handovers.The authors developed the Cognitive Load Inventory for Handoffs (CLI4H) with items for intrinsic, extraneous, and germane load. Medical students completed the measure after participating in a simulated handover. Exploratory factor and correlation analyses were performed to collect evidence for validity.Results yielded a two-factor solution for intrinsic and germane load that explained 50 % of the variance. The extraneous load items performed poorly and were removed from the model. The score for intrinsic load correlated with the Paas Cognitive Load scale (r = 0.31, p = 0.004) and was lower for students with more prior handover training (p = 0.036). Intrinsic load did not, however, correlate with performance. Germane load did not correlate with the Paas Cognitive Load scale but did correlate as expected with performance (r = 0.30, p = 0.005) and was lower for those students with more prior handover training (p = 0.03).The CLI4H yielded mixed results with some evidence for validity of the score from the intrinsic load items. The extraneous load items performed poorly and the use of only a single item for germane load limits conclusions. The instrument requires further development and testing. Study results and limitations provide guidance to future efforts to measure cognitive load during workplace-based activities, such as handovers