Statistical speech translation system based on voice recognition optimization using multimodal sources of knowledge and characteristics vectors

Synergic combination of different sources of knowledge is a key issue for the development of modern statistical translators. In this work, a speech translation statistical system that adds additional other-than-voice information in a voice translation system is presented. The additional information serves as a base for the log-linear combination of several statistical models. We describe the theoretical framework of the problem, summarize the overall architecture of the system, and show how the system is enhanced with the additional information. Our real prototype implements a real-time speech translation system from Spanish to English that is adapted to specific teaching-related environments.This work has been partially supported by the Generalitat Valenciana and the Universidad Politecnica de Valencia.Canovas Solbes, A.; Tomás Gironés, J.; Lloret, J.; García Pineda, M. (2013). Statistical speech translation system based on voice recognition optimization using multimodal sources of knowledge and characteristics vectors. Computer Standards and Interfaces. 35(5):490-506. doi:10.1016/j.csi.2012.09.003S49050635

A new method for determination of varicella-zoster virus immunoglobulin G avidity in serum and cerebrospinal fluid

BACKGROUND: Avidity determination of antigen-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies is an established serological method to differentiate acute from past infections. In order to compare the avidity of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) IgG in pairs of serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples, we developed a new technique of avidity testing, the results of which are not influenced by the concentration of specific IgG. METHODS: The modifications introduced for the new VZV IgG avidity method included the use of urea hydrogen peroxide as denaturing reagent, the adaptation of the assay parameters in order to increase the sensitivity for the detection of low-level VZV IgG in CSF, and the use of a new calculation method for avidity results. The calculation method is based on the observation that the relationship between the absorbance values of the enzyme immunoassays with and without denaturing washing step is linear. From this relationship, a virtual absorbance ratio can be calculated. To evaluate the new method, a panel of serum samples from patients with acute and past VZV infection was tested as well as pairs of serum and CSF. RESULTS: For the serum panel, avidity determination with the modified assay gave results comparable to standard avidity methods. Based on the coefficient of variation, the new calculation method was superior to established methods of avidity calculation. CONCLUSIONS: The new avidity method permits a meaningful comparison of VZV IgG avidity in serum and CSF and should be of general applicability for easy determination of avidity results, which are not affected by the concentration of specific IgG

Gendersensitives Design durch partizipative Mediengestaltung. Evaluationskonzept zur Entwicklung eines Online-Rollenspiels für Mädchen

Zauchner S, Zens B, Siebenhandl K, Jütte W. Gendersensitives Design durch partizipative Mediengestaltung. Evaluationskonzept zur Entwicklung eines Online-Rollenspiels für Mädchen. In: Schachtner C, Höber A, eds. Learning Communities.Das Internet als neuer Lern- und Wissensraum. Frankfurt/Main: Campus; 2008: 247-258

The Eltville Tephra (Western Europe) age revised: Integrating stratigraphic and dating information from different Last Glacial loess localities

The Eltville Tephra (ET) is an important stratigraphic marker bed in the Western European loess stratigraphy at the boundary between the regional Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) in the sense of the maximum extent of glaciation of the Scandinavian ice sheet and a 'terrestrial' LGM with the highest degree of aridity and coldness. Strati graphic marker beds such as tephra layers are commonly dated at more than one location, and often with more than one method. The sediments surrounding the ET were dated 87 times at 15 localities with different luminescence techniques yielding ages between 13.5 and 49.6 ka. Based on individual sections, the deposition of the ET was supposed to have taken place between 20 and 231 a. This raises the question of whether a quantitative combination of individual ages can give a reproducible common age, including uncertainties. After screening the dataset and applying selection criteria, a Bayesian resampling approach is applied to obtain a common age consistent with a high percentage of observations from multiple localities. Four new luminescence ages bracketing the ET and two ages directly generated from the tephra horizon are presented and combined with all available data. The 1 sigma age range of the Bayesian age modelling yields a deposition age between 23.2 and 25.6 ka, which is in excellent agreement with two new luminescence ages from the tephra of 24.1 +/- 1.91 a (quartz) and 24.3 +/- 1.8 ka (pIRIR(290)) and a peak of volcanic minerals in the Dehner Maar core around 24.3 ka. This age is clearly older than previously suggested for the ET volcanic eruption, but fits better with stratigraphic and paleoenvironmental evidence. Therefore, the ET was deposited during phases of strong aeolian activity of the Greenland Stadial 3. Additionally, for the first time, a correlation can be made between the ET and tephra layers recognized in the Eifel Maar lake cores. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Luminescent liquid crystals: from supramolecular plant dyes to emissive flavylium salts

Accepted manuscript / Clean copyInternational audienceInspired by the supramolecular architecture of cornflower blue we developed luminescent flavylium salts with lipophilic alkoxy or thioether side chains which self-assemble into liquid crystalline phases. The current account highlights some fundamental aspects of our biological 'role model' anthocyanine, the origin of the natural pigment cornflower blue, and our recent developments on novel liquid crystalline emissive dyes. Starting with the general synthesis of flavylium salts, other topics address variations of flavylium ILCs, including specific tuning of their mesomorphic and photophysical behaviour

Merging liquid crystalline self-assembly and linear optical properties of merocyanines via tailored donor units

International audienceAiming at merocyanine dyes with good linear optical and self-assembly properties, a series of rigid mono-, bi- and tricyclic merocyanines with O- and N-donor units as well as keto or malodinitrile acceptor units was prepared by a convergent approach. With particular focus on tailoring the donor unit, a selection of appropriate derivatives was investigated with respect to their dye properties in solution and in the bulk (UV/Vis, fluorescence, temperature-dependent fluorescence, lifetime). Determination of fluorescence quantum yields revealed the importance of the donor unit and the chromophore size. Larger chromophores and N-donors were beneficial for strong emission in solution, whereas small chromophores and O-donors favored emission in the solid state. To rationalize the different optical properties depending on their donor unit, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed. Liquid crystalline derivatives were additionally studied by optical polarization microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction experiments. For merocyanines with O-donor, fluorinated side chains were mandatory to get stable enantiotropic SmA phases regardless of chromophore size, side chain lengths or acceptor unit. Increased mesophase widths (up to 134 K) were observed upon increasing the chromophore lengths, chain lengths (up to C-12) and F/C ratio in the side chain. On the other hand, merocyanines with N-donor and keto acceptor showed enantiotropic SmA phases in the presence of simple alkoxy side chains. The tricyclic merocyanine with N-donor shows an additional SmE phase at lower temperatures. The results revealed the importance of the donor unit to balance optical and mesomorphic properties in merocynanines

Chasing Self-Assembly of Thioether-Substituted Flavylium Salts in Solution and Bulk State

International audienceTwo series of flavylium triflates carrying alkoxy side chains in the A-ring (benzo unit of chromylium salt) and thioethers in the B-ring (phenyl unit) (On-Fla-Sm) as well as thioethers at both A- and B-ring (Sn-Fla-Sm) were synthesized in order to understand the effect of thioether functionalization on their self-assembly and electronic properties. Concentration-dependent and diffusion ordered (DOSY) NMR experiments of O1-iV-Fla-S3 indicated the formation of columnar H-aggregates in solution with antiparallel intracolumnar stacking of the AC unit (chromylium) of the flavylium triflate, which agreed with the solid state structure of O1-V-Fla-S1 . Thioether substitution on the B-ring changed the linear optical properties in solution, while it has no effect on the A-ring. According to differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction bulk self-assembly of these ionic liquid crystals (ILCs) depends on the total number of side chains, yielding SmA and LamCol phases for ILCs with 2 - 3 chains and Colro, Colh phases for ILCs with 3 - 6 chains. Thus, we demonstrated that thioethers are a useful design tool for ILCs with tailored properties

Iron(0)‐Mediated Stereoselective (3+2)‐Cycloaddition of Thiochalcones via a Diradical Intermediate

Reactions of α,β‐unsaturated aromatic thioketones 1 (thiochalcones) with Fe 3 (CO) 12 leading to η 4 ‐1‐thia‐1,3‐diene iron tricarbonyl complexes  2 , [FeFe] hydrogenase mimics 3 , and the thiopyrane adduct 4 are described. Obtained products have been characterized by X‐ray crystallography and by computational methods. Completely regio‐ and diastereoselective formation of the five‐membered ring system in products  3 , containing four stereogenic centers, can be explained by an unprecedented, stepwise (3+2)‐cycloaddition of two thiochalcone molecules mediated by Fe 3 (CO) 12 . Quantum chemical calculations aimed at elucidation of the reaction mechanism, suggest that the formal (3+2)‐cycloaddition proceeds via sequential intramolecular radical transfer events upon homolytic cleavage of one carbon‐sulfur bond leading to a diradical intermediate.Making the rounds : A series of new cyclopentenes was obtained from thiochalcones via a Fe 0 ‐mediated formal (3+2)‐cycloaddition. Reactions occurred diastereoselectively and the postulated reaction mechanism was elucidated by a combined experimental and theoretical approach. imag

Joint Venture of Metal Cluster and Amphiphilic Cationic Minidendron Resulting in Near Infrared Emissive Lamellar Ionic Liquid Crystals

International audienceInorganic red-NIR emissive materials are particularly relevant in many fields like optoelectronic, bioimaging or solar cells. Benefiting from their emission in devices implies their integration in easy-to-handle materials like liquid crystals, whose long-range ordering and self-healing abilities could be exploited and influence emission. Herein, we present red-NIR emissive hybrid materials obtained with phosphorescent octahedral molybdenum cluster anions electrostatically associated with amphiphilic guanidinium minidendrons. Polarized optical microscopy and X-ray analysis show that while the minidendron chloride salts self-organize into columnar phases, their association with the dianionic metal cluster leads to layered phases. Steady-state and time-resolved emission investigations demonstrate the influence of the minidendron alkyl chain length on the phosphorescence of the metal cluster core