П.П. Пазолини и Л.Н. Толстой (Теорема и Смерть Ивана Ильича)

В статье исследуются связи между «Смертью Ивана Ильича» Л.Н. Тол- стого и «Теоремой» П.П. Пазолини в контексте их творчества.The article investigates the connection between The Death of Ivan Ilyich by L.N. Tolstoy and The Theorem by P. P. Pasolini in the context of their art

Spike-Timing-Dependent Plasticity in the Intact Brain: Counteracting Spurious Spike Coincidences

A computationally rich algorithm of synaptic plasticity has been proposed based on the experimental observation that the sign and amplitude of the change in synaptic weight is dictated by the temporal order and temporal contiguity between pre- and postsynaptic activities. For more than a decade, this spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) has been studied mainly in brain slices of different brain structures and cultured neurons. Although not yet compelling, evidences for the STDP rule in the intact brain, including primary sensory cortices, have been provided lastly. From insects to mammals, the presentation of precisely timed sensory inputs drives synaptic and functional plasticity in the intact central nervous system, with similar timing requirements than the in vitro defined STDP rule. The convergent evolution of this plasticity rule in species belonging to so distant phylogenic groups points to the efficiency of STDP, as a mechanism for modifying synaptic weights, as the basis of activity-dependent development, learning and memory. In spite of the ubiquity of STDP phenomena, a number of significant variations of the rule are observed in different structures, neuronal types and even synapses on the same neuron, as well as between in vitro and in vivo conditions. In addition, the state of the neuronal network, its ongoing activity and the activation of ascending neuromodulatory systems in different behavioral conditions have dramatic consequences on the expression of spike-timing-dependent synaptic plasticity, and should be further explored

Modelling the effects of spontaneous speech in speech recognition

Intrinsic variability of the speaker in spontaneous speech remains a challenge to state of the art Automatic speech recognition (ASR). While planned speech exhibits a moderate variability, the significant variability of spontaneous speech is caused by situation, context, intention, emotion and listeners. This conditioning of speech is observable in terms of speaking rate and in feature space. We analysed broadcast news (BN) and broadcast conversational (BC) speech in terms of phoneme rate (PR) and feature space reduction (FSR), and contrasted both with the planned speech data. Strong statistically significant differences were revealed. We cluster the speech segments with respect to their degree of PR and FSR forming a set of variability classes, and induce the variability classes into the Hidden-Markov-Model (HMM) based acoustic model (AM). In recognition we follow two approaches: the first considers the variability class as context variable, the second relies on prior estimation of the variability class after the first pass of a multi-pass recognition system. Beside explicit modelling of the intrinsic speech variability of the speaker, we furthermore segregate the general speaker specific characteristics by means of speaker adaptive training (SAT) into feature space transforms using ConstrainedMaximumLikelihood Linear Regression (CMLLR), and apply the adaptive approach in third pass recognition. By approaching to model both within speaker variation and between speaker variation in spontaneous speech, we address two fundamental sources of speech variability that determine the performance of ASR systems.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Found a Cockroach? (Saw a GAZILLION?)

NYS IPM Type: Community IPM BrochureNYS IPM Type: BrochureA brochure describing how to identify types of cockroaches and how to prevent them from entering and living in homes and other buildings

Design challenges in the use of silicon carbide JFETs in matrix converter applications

This paper investigates some of the challenges en¬countered during the implementation of a Silicon Carbide JFET matrix converter which has been designed to meet a specific power density of 20kW/litre with forced air cooling. After a brief introduction to the main features of the hardware implementation of the power converter, an insight into the control strategy and controller platform adopted is given with a particular attention to the issues relating to the high switching frequencies on the controller requirements and the performance implications of the gate drive circuitry. An analysis of the results which show the effects of gate driver and controller induced commutation time limitations on the output waveform quality is presented. Wide bandgap semiconductor devices offer the power electronic engineer new opportunities for high speed, high efficiency designs but these devices cannot be used as a simple like for like replacements and as such the whole converter system needs to be looked at

Methorics of Coagulation Processes. XIII. Systematic Comparison of Coagulation Values for Various Cationson Negative Silver Halogenide Sols*

The results on coagulating effects of the following electrolytes are reported: on negative silver bromide sol: HNO3, LiNO3, NaNO3, KNO3, H2S04, Li2SO4, Na2SO4, K2S04, Mg(NOAl2, Mn(N03)2, Ca(NO3)2,Sr(NO3)2, Ba(NO3)2, MgSO4, MnSO4, CaSO4, Al(NO3)3, Ce(NO3)3, La(NO3)2; on negative silver iodide sol: LiNO3, NaNO3, KNO3,H2SO4, Li2SO4, Na2SO4, K2SO4, Mg(NO3)2, Mn(NO3)2, Ca(NO3)2, Sr(NOa3)2, Ba(NO3)2, MgSO4 , MnSO4, CaSO4, Al(NO3)3, La(NO3)2 and Al2(S04)3; on negative silver chloride sol: KNO3, Mg(N03), Ca(NO3)2, Sr(NO3)2, Ba(NO3)2, MgS04, CaSO4, Al(N03)3, and La(NO3)3 . As shown earlier a linear relationship exists between the crystallographic radii of the counterions of the same valency and the logarithms of the corresponding coagulation values; the characteristic coagulation values obtained when extrapolating the straight lines of the preceding plots to the zero radius were used for testing the validity of expression for quantitative interpretation of the Schulze- Hardy rule. The equations which follow from the theories of Freundlich and Verwey and Overbeek did not fit the experimental observations, while the equations of Whetham and Tefak showed quite a good agreement

Methorics of Coagulation Processes. XIII. Systematic Comparison of Coagulation Values for Various Cationson Negative Silver Halogenide Sols*

The results on coagulating effects of the following electrolytes are reported: on negative silver bromide sol: HNO3, LiNO3, NaNO3, KNO3, H2S04, Li2SO4, Na2SO4, K2S04, Mg(NOAl2, Mn(N03)2, Ca(NO3)2,Sr(NO3)2, Ba(NO3)2, MgSO4, MnSO4, CaSO4, Al(NO3)3, Ce(NO3)3, La(NO3)2; on negative silver iodide sol: LiNO3, NaNO3, KNO3,H2SO4, Li2SO4, Na2SO4, K2SO4, Mg(NO3)2, Mn(NO3)2, Ca(NO3)2, Sr(NOa3)2, Ba(NO3)2, MgSO4 , MnSO4, CaSO4, Al(NO3)3, La(NO3)2 and Al2(S04)3; on negative silver chloride sol: KNO3, Mg(N03), Ca(NO3)2, Sr(NO3)2, Ba(NO3)2, MgS04, CaSO4, Al(N03)3, and La(NO3)3 . As shown earlier a linear relationship exists between the crystallographic radii of the counterions of the same valency and the logarithms of the corresponding coagulation values; the characteristic coagulation values obtained when extrapolating the straight lines of the preceding plots to the zero radius were used for testing the validity of expression for quantitative interpretation of the Schulze- Hardy rule. The equations which follow from the theories of Freundlich and Verwey and Overbeek did not fit the experimental observations, while the equations of Whetham and Tefak showed quite a good agreement

BIM-enabled “Digital by Default” vision for fire safety

In England and Wales, building regulations apply to the design and construction of new buildings, extensions and changes of use. Regulation 38 (BRE, 2019) is a requirement to provide fire safety information to the responsible person at the completion of a project, or where the building or extension is first occupied. Regulations require as-built Fire Safety Information to be handed over by the design and construction teams to the responsible person to maintain and operate a building with reasonable safety. The responsible person is the owner, occupier, or manager of the building. The information would typically include; a fire safety strategy of the building that accurately reflects the fire safety precautions; and design and construction information, services information; and information about fixtures, fittings and equipment. Unfortunately, Regulation 38 has been far from successful and the required information is rarely communicated to the dutyholders in a manner that meets the intention of the authors. There is no requirement for the information to be presented to either the Fire Service or the Building Control Body for assessment. The requirement is merely for the person carrying out the work to confirm that the required information has been passed over (CIC, 2017). The guiding philosophy of legislation requires organisations to assess the potential risks associated with their work activities and to introduce effective measures to control risks. However, in reality the current regulations set the bar too low, with the industry looking to satisfy the minimum standards by the cheapest means possible, magnified by a lack of approval scrutiny. In the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 that killed 72 people, the UK Government commissioned the Hackitt Review (2018) of building regulations and fire safety. The Hackitt Review calls for radical change in culture in the construction industry and the regulatory system that assigns responsibility and holds people accountable. It also states that the Government should mandate a digital standard of record-keeping for design, construction and occupation of new Higher Risk Residential Buildings (HRRB) and refurbishments within HRRBs. A BIM-driven dataset is suggested, which requires duty-holders to generate a suitable evidence-base through which to deliver their responsibilities and maintain safety and integrity throughout the lifecycle of a building. This paper will examine the requirements set out in the Hackitt review and explores the need for a digital record of lifecycle building information. It examines examine the role of BIM as an enabler of the digital building information record and presents a conceptual framework that enables rapid realisation of the digital by default vision, via a Safe by Default Asset Delivery framework. It outlines the potential outcomes of the safe by default approach and discusses the potential opportunities and challenges likely to be considered if the BIM enabled “digital by default" vision was to be realised. <br