Multimedia retrieval in MultiMatch: The impact of speech transcript errors on search behaviour

This study discusses the findings of an evaluation study on the performance of a multimedia multimodal information access sub-system (MIAS), incorporating automatic speech recognition technology (ASR) to automatically transcribe the speech content of video soundtracks. The study’s results indicate that an information-rich but minimalist graphical interface is preferred. It was also discovered that users tend to have a misplaced confidence in the accuracy of ASR-generated speech transcripts, thus they are not inclined to conduct a systematic auditory inspection (their usual search behaviour) of a video’s soundtrack if the query term does not appear in the transcript. In order to alert the user to the possibility that a search term may be incorrectly recognised as some other word, a matching algorithm is proposed that searches for word sequences of similar phonemic structure to the query term

Conserved developmental processes and the formation of evolutionary novelties: examples from butterfly wings

The origin and diversification of evolutionary novelties—lineage-specific traits of new adaptive value—is one of the key issues in evolutionary developmental biology. However, comparative analysis of the genetic and developmental bases of such traits can be difficult when they have no obvious homologue in model organisms. The finding that the evolution of morphological novelties often involves the recruitment of pre-existing genes and/or gene networks offers the potential to overcome this challenge. Knowledge about shared developmental processes obtained from extensive studies in model organisms can then be used to understand the origin and diversification of lineage-specific structures. Here, we illustrate this approach in relation to eyespots on the wings of Bicyclus anynana butterflies. A number of spontaneous mutations isolated in the laboratory affect eyespots, lepidopteran-specific features, and also processes that are shared by most insects. We discuss how eyespot mutants with disturbed embryonic development may help elucidate the genetic pathways involved in eyespot formation, and how venation mutants with altered eyespot patterns might shed light on mechanisms of eyespot development

A diagnostic plot for assessing model fit incount data models

Whilst many numeric methods, such as AIC and deviance, exist for assessing model fit, diagrammatic methods are few. We present here a diagnostic plot, to which we refer as ‘Christmas tree plot’ due its characteristic shape, that may be used to visually assess the suitability of a given count data model

On statistical testing and mean parameter estimation for zero–modification in count data regression

For the problem of testing for zero–modification in Poisson regression, a simple and intuitive test can be constructed by computing directly confidence intervals for the number of 0’s under the Poisson assumption. This requires the ability of estimating the mean function accurately even if the data are in fact zero–inflated or deflated. A novel hybrid estimator is introduced for this purpose, which is of interest beyond the scope of the motivating test problem

A diagnostic plot for assessing model fit in count data models

Whilst many numeric methods, such as AIC and deviance, exist for assessing model fit, diagrammatic methods are few. We present here a diagnostic plot, to which we refer as `Christmas tree plot' due its characteristic shape, that may be used to visually assess the suitability of a given count data model

A geometric approach to time evolution operators of Lie quantum systems

Lie systems in Quantum Mechanics are studied from a geometric point of view. In particular, we develop methods to obtain time evolution operators of time-dependent Schrodinger equations of Lie type and we show how these methods explain certain ad hoc methods used in previous papers in order to obtain exact solutions. Finally, several instances of time-dependent quadratic Hamiltonian are solved.Comment: Accepted for publication in the International Journal of Theoretical Physic

Effects of Seasonal Variation in Milk Composition on the Quality of Pizza Cheese

End of Project ReportThe main aims of this study were to investigate the effects of diet and lactation stage on the composition and cheesemaking quality of milk produced under controlled conditions. The main conclusions were as follows: These studies clearly demonstrated that the Recommended Moorepark Milk Production System in conjunction with an objectively standardised cheesemaking process provides a model for year round production of quality Mozzarella cheese. Databases have been established on the effects of diet quantity and quality, and stage of lactation on the composition, processability and cheesemaking characteristics of milk from both Spring- and Autumn-calving herds. Increasing the daily herbage allowance from 16 to 24 kgs DM/cow/day during mid-lactation, resulted in increases in the level of milk casein and cheese yield but had little influence on cheese functionality. Similarily improving diet quality in mid-lactation by reducing the stocking density from 4.3 to 3.8 cows/ha combined with concentrate supplementation (3 kgs/cow/day) had the same effect. Using milk from a Spring-calving herd, produced according to the Recommended Moorepark Milk Production System, in conjunction with an objectively-standardised Mozzarella cheesemaking process, no major problems were encountered during the lactation period 170 - 273 days from calving. Extending the lactation period of the Spring-calving herd from ~ 273 to 286 days resulted in higher cheese moisture (by ~ 2%), softer cheese, and lower chewiness in the melted cheese. A sharp decline in both total protein, casein and lactose in the milk was observed during this period. However the blending of this milk with milk of an Autumn-calving herd overcame these cheesemaking problems. The yield of low moisture Mozzarella cheese (using milks from Spring- or Autumn-calved herds) was positively correlated with milk casein level. The yield of cheese from the Spring-calved herd increased concomitantly with increasing casein level to day 273 of lactation and decreased thereafter as the casein concentration declined. In these studies it was found that easy-to-use tests such as lactose level in the milk and rennet coagulation properties as determined by Formagraph were useful indicators of the suitability of milk for cheesemaking. The Recommended Moorepark Milk Production System, as applied in the late lactation period, was characterised by a high plane of nutrition and a drying-off strategy which ensured a minimum daily milk yield per cow of 9 kg. It resulted in milk of good cheesemaking quality - lactose > 4.25%, and casein > 2.6% and satisfactory rennet coagulation properties - curd firming rate of > 0.15 min ¯¹ curd firmness at 60 min of > 45mm - at the end of lactation.Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marin