Syntactic error modeling and scoring normalization in speech recognition: Error modeling and scoring normalization in the speech recognition task for adult literacy training

The purpose was to develop a speech recognition system to be able to detect speech which is pronounced incorrectly, given that the text of the spoken speech is known to the recognizer. Better mechanisms are provided for using speech recognition in a literacy tutor application. Using a combination of scoring normalization techniques and cheater-mode decoding, a reasonable acceptance/rejection threshold was provided. In continuous speech, the system was tested to be able to provide above 80 pct. correct acceptance of words, while correctly rejecting over 80 pct. of incorrectly pronounced words

From committees and choirs to communities

https://place.asburyseminary.edu/ecommonsatsdissertations/1299/thumbnail.jp

Robust Sentence Analysis and Habitability

Systems for using subsets of English with computers have progressed much in the area of linguistic coverage of well-formed sentences for a specific task. Some methods have also been devised for the treatment of input that is almost well-formed. Nevertheless, it is still quite easy to stray over the bounds imposed by current natural language systems. Without proper diagnosis, this leads to interactive systems that are not habitable, i.e. systems that are not able to perform up to the user's expectations. This thesis presents an overall system for the treatment of several areas normally outside the limits of natural language systems, and for the diagnosis of any input. The system, Robust Sentence Analysis, includes procedures for handling ambiguous input, resolving input with anaphors (e.g. pronouns), making several kinds of major and minor corrections to input, and the interactions of all these areas. The system does not treat every aspect of these methods of human interaction, but does provide for the more prevalent forms as found in simulations of user interaction in several modes: face-to-face, terminal-to-terminal, and human-to-computer (using a previously implemented natural language system). Thus the system incorporates the most likely forms found in human performance. Diagnostics are designed to lead the user back into the boundaries of the system. The Robust Sentence Analysis system is implemented as a part of the ASK system, A Simple Knowledgeable System

Mortality in Western Australian seniors with chronic respiratory diseases: a cohort study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Relatively few studies have examined survival by pharmacotherapy level and the effects of patient characteristics on mortality by pharmacotherapy level in older chronic respiratory disease (CRD) patients. This study aimed to investigate these issues in older (≥ 65) CRD patients in Western Australia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We identified 108,312 patients ≥ 65 years with CRD during 1992-2006 using linked medical, pharmaceutical, hospital and mortality databases held by the Commonwealth and State governments. Pharmacotherapy classification levels were designed by a clinical consensus panel. Cox regression was used to investigate the study aim.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Patients using only short acting bronchodilators experienced similar, but slightly worse survival than patients in the highest pharmacotherapy level group using high dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) ± long acting bronchodilators (LABs) ± oral steroids. Patients using low to medium dose ICS ± LABs experienced relatively better survival. Also, male gender was associated with all-cause mortality in all patients (HR = 1.72, 95% CI 1.65-1.80) and especially in those in the highest pharmacotherapy level group (HR = 1.97, 95%CI = 1.84-2.10). The P-value of interaction between gender and pharmacotherapy level for the effect on all-cause death was significant (0.0003).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Older patients with CRD not using ICS experienced the worst survival in this study and may benefit from an escalation in therapeutic regime. Males had a higher risk of death than females, which was more pronounced in the highest pharmacotherapy level group. Hence, primary health care should more actively direct disease management to mild-to-moderate disease patients.</p

A methodology for the determination of optimal operational schedules of hybrid electric architectures

Hybrid electric aircraft have been proposed as a means to achieve the ambitious fuel burn reduction goals set for future air transports. Many of these hybrid aircraft supplement the fuel they carry with batteries, resulting in propulsion systems which can meet a thrust requirement in multiple ways until the battery runs out of charge. The choice of when to supplement the gas turbine with electrical power can change the fuel burn even if the same total amount of battery is used due to the weight change from fuel burn being different than that for battery and the fuel efficiency change from adding electricity changing depending on the thrust being produced and the flight condition. Choosing the proper power schedule for the electric motors is essential to efficient flight and to accurate estimates of fuel burn during design. This research examined the state of the art for hybrid electric power scheduling in aircraft and in cars, where this technology has already reached the market. Several different hybrid electric power scheduling methods are identified from the literature. A methodology was then proposed for choosing appropriate schedulers for future hybrid electric aircraft designs. A hybrid electric aircraft simulation framework was developed to explore the problem and test the methodology on an example hybrid aircraft. An application of the methodology was then demonstrated by applying it to the battery sizing problem for a hybrid electric aircraft.Ph.D

Meningococcemia Presenting as a Myocardial Infarction

Neisseria meningitidis is an encapsulated gram negative diplococcus that colonizes the nasopharynx and is transmitted by aerosol or secretions with the majority of cases occurring in infants and adolescents. Meningococcemia carries a high mortality which is in part due to myocarditis. Early recognition and prompt use of antibiotics improve morbidity and mortality. We report a 55-year-old male presenting to the emergency department with chest pain, shortness of breath, and electrocardiogram changes suggestive of ST elevation MI who developed cardiogenic shock and multisystem organ failure from N. meningitidis. We present this case to highlight the unique presentation of meningococcemia, the association with myocardial dysfunction, and the importance of early recognition and prompt use of antibiotics

Modulation of humoral immunity in the rat by 17beta-estradiol and prolactin

Females of many mammalian species possess a more vigorous immune response to a variety of antigens than do the males. Many studies have shown that prolactin (PRL) and estradiol (E\sb2) augment immunity. Given that E\sb2 is a potent physiologic stimulus for the release of PRL from the pituitary, it is plausible that PRL mediates the influence of E\sb2 upon the immune system. To test this hypothesis, we conducted four experiments.In our first experiment we tested (1) if ovariectomy (OVX) resulted in a suppressed immune response and (2) if replacement of physiological levels of E\sb2 restored immunity in OVX rats. OVX caused a decline in antibody titers to bovine serum albumin. E\sb2 replacement in OVX animals did not significantly augment the antibody titers although a trend of augmentation was seen.In our second experiment we tested the effect of OVX and replacement with various tonic levels of serum E\sb2 upon the primary and secondary humoral response to fluorescein-keyhole limpet hemocyanin. OVX depressed antifluorescein antibody titers. Furthermore, E\sb2 was immunoenhancing in the physiological range and immunosuppressive in the pharmacological range of the hormone. In addition, the correlation between serum E\sb2 and antifluorescein antibody titers was more significant in the primary than the secondary response.In our third experiment, we investigated whether E\sb2 could augment antifluorescein antibody titers in OVX inbred rats in which PRL levels were suppressed by pretreatment with bromocryptine (BRC). BRC suppressed antifluorescein antibody titers in sham OVX animals. However, BRC had no detectable effect upon antibody titers in OVX + E\sb2 treated animals despite suppressing PRL release normally associated with E\sb2 injections. Furthermore, BRC unexpectedly enhanced antibody titers in OVX animals. These results suggested that modulation of the immune system by PRL may be altered by the estrogen environment.In our fourth experiment we tested the effect of daily PRL injections upon the antifluorescein response in OVX rats. Daily injections of PRL depressed the peak antifluorescein titers.We concluded that both estrogen and PRL modulate humoral immunity but that the modulation of immunity by PRL may depend upon the estrogen environment. To what extent PRL mediates estrogen's effects upon immunity is still not known.U of I OnlyETDs are only available to UIUC Users without author permissio