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Advancing CTC models for better speech alignment:A topological approach
Get PDFAutomatic Speech Recognition (ASR) systems often face challenges in alignment quality, particularly with the Connectionist Temporal Classification (CTC) approach, which frequently results in a high number of blank frames, known as the “peaky” issue. In this study, we explore the impact of modifying ASR model topologies on alignment quality without compromising Word Error Rate (WER) performance. Our findings demonstrate that introducing additional states to the CTC topology significantly improves alignment quality and mitigates the peaky issue. Conversely, increasing the minimum traversal frame can degrade alignment quality in our specific settings. These insights emphasise the critical importance of topology design in balancing alignment accuracy and recognition performance in ASR systems
[Review of ] Jonathan M. Cahill, Emotions, Moral Formation, and Christian Politics: Rereading Karl Barth
Get PDFInsolvency:More than just numbers
Get PDFAnalyses whether directors of insolvent companies are reluctant to take up rescue procedures because of social stigma they might incur. Considers the implications for law reform
On partially observed jump diffusions III: regularity of filtering density
Get PDFThe filtering equations associated to a partially observed jump diffusion model (Zt)t∈[0,T]=(Xt,Yt)t∈[0,T], driven by Wiener processes and Poisson martingale measures are considered. Building on results from two preceding articles on the filtering equations, the regularity of the conditional density of the signal Xt, given observations (Ys)s∈[0,t], is investigated, when the conditional density of X0 given Y0 exists and belongs to a Sobolev space, and the coefficients satisfy appropriate smoothness and growth conditions
Experimental evidence for semantic and morphophonological productivity in Kîîtharaka noun classes
No full textIn nominal classification systems, both form (i.e., morphology, phonology or both) and meaning often interact to determine the class or gender of the noun. In Bantu languages in particular, linguistic analysis has often put the emphasis on meaning, both inherent and evaluative (e.g., diminutive). However, recent quantitative studies have argued that both meaning and morphophonology – the ubiquitous nominal prefixes – serve as cues to class in Bantu, with their robustness and specific aspects potentially differing across individual languages. Here, we conducted an experimental study aimed at establishing whether speakers of Kîîtharaka (Bantu, E54) are sensitive to both semantics and morphophonology when classifying novel Kîîtharaka nouns. We used two wug-task-style experiments to establish whether particular aspects of meaning or form (here, nominal prefixes) would influence participants’ production of agreement on nominal dependents. Results showed that speakers are sensitive to two inherent features, Human and Fruit, and evaluative features like Augmentative, Pejorative and Diminutive. On the other hand, they are robustly sensitive to all morphophonological features tested when classifying novel nouns. Our results suggest that semantic features are generally less productive than morphophonology in the Kîîtharaka nominal classification system
Low-Velocity Impact Response of Hybrid Sheet Moulding Compound Composite Laminates
No full textThis work presents a comprehensive study on the impact damage tolerance of Sheet Moulding Compounds (SMCs). The performance of glass, carbon and hybrid glass/carbon SMCs are compared by means of tensile, compression, low-velocity impact and compression after impact experiments. Damage analysis of the impacted laminates was performed by ultrasonic and X-ray methodologies. The glass SMC exhibited the highest damage tolerance in low-velocity impact with the smallest damaged area, crack density and loss in compression after impact (CAI) strength. On the other hand, the carbon SMC demonstrated superior in-plane stiffness and strength, but exhibited a large damaged area and crack density under impact. The hybrid SMC displayed an optimal compromise, exhibiting intermediate tensile in-plane performance and excellent damage tolerance at lower impact energy levels, but suffered from extensive delamination at the highest impact energy. Overall, the findings highlight the suitability of hybrid SMCs for structural applications with potential impact risks
A long view of social mobility in Scotland and the role of economic changes
Get PDFChanges in the social mobility of men in Scotland between the late-nineteenth and the late-twentieth century are examined using new individual-level data from nineteenth-century censuses, linking records of men aged 0-19 in 1871 to their records in 1901, and then comparing their patterns with the social mobility of men aged 30-49 in 1974 and in 2001 as recorded in social surveys at these dates. The extent of social mobility in the nineteenth century was large. In particular, the social origins of people in the highest classes – the salariat – were very varied, indicating a society that was more open than is sometimes supposed. There was a slow growth in social mobility between then and 2001. In both periods, class inheritance – sons in the same social class as their father – was strongest in the economically declining sectors, which were agriculture and fisheries in 1901 and industry in 1974 and 2001. In the 1901 data, however, the transition to a non-agricultural economy induced strong outward mobility from agriculture
E-waste management practices through the eyes of responsible departments at Malaysian public universities
Get PDFElectronic and electrical waste (E-waste) has been identified as the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. In Malaysia, forecasts indicate that it will soon reach 24.5 million units of e-waste by the year 2025. Today, higher learning institutions also contribute to the rapidly growing threat of e-waste. Besides mobile phones, the usage of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment at universities keeps increasing and contributes to the increased quantity of e-waste, while the handling and disposal methods of e-waste still need to be improved. The purpose of this paper is to examine the current e-waste management system as well as to investigate the critical challenges constraining e-waste management at public universities in Malaysia. By using a qualitative approach, a number of interview sessions have been conducted with the responsible departments at six established public universities in Malaysia. It has been found that currently only e-waste generated from used electric and electronic equipment (EEE) which have been declared as university assets are being managed by the responsible departments at the six universities. All six universities are using the standard process of handling their e-waste since every single process needs to comply with the requirements of the Ministry of Finance (MOF). This remains the main constraint to flexibility or improvement of the current system. The universities are also facing some challenges, among others, lack of awareness and knowledge on how to properly handle e-waste among university citizens, no clear sustainable policy at the university, lack of facilities within the university compound to support the proper practice of e-waste disposal as well as lack of education and related training provided to the campus citizens. This paper also provides some recommendations for the improvement of e-waste management towards sustainability and offers an agenda for future research
Imagination and creativity:A necessary connection?
No full textIn Imagination and creative thinking, Amy Kind leads readers on a journey through two of the most fascinating, and at the same time intricate, subjects in the philosophy of mind: imagination and creativity. This paper retraces this journey, providing some points for reflection around key arguments proposed by Kind on the nature of the two concepts and on their connection. I will expand on some of the many questions that Kind addresses in the book, showing how her answers can help thinkers and practitioners to navigate the future of creativity and imagination
Do foster youth face harsher juvenile justice outcomes? Reinvestigating child welfare bias in juvenile justice processing
Get PDFResearch summary: For decades, child welfare scholars and policy makers have been concerned with the strong association between foster care and juvenile justice involvement. Foster care placement may lead to differences in justice system outcomes if youth in foster care face “processing bias”—differentially harsh treatment by agents of the juvenile court. Previous research found that youth in foster care at the time of juvenile justice contact were treated more harshly by the court, resulting in higher rates of punitive case outcomes. We revisit the question of processing bias using detailed administrative data on more than 10,000 adolescents in Pennsylvania in 2015–2019 and a selection-on-observables design. We find no evidence of processing bias against youth in foster care. Compared to observationally equivalent cases, those that involve youth in foster care do not experience more punitive outcomes. If anything, our estimates suggest the opposite—youth in foster care are less likely to have a charge adjudicated, be placed under court-ordered supervision, or enter into juvenile detention. The precision of our estimates and bounding exercises allow us to rule out even modest evidence of punitive processing bias. Policy implications: This paper highlights the importance of revisiting the evidence of processing bias within juvenile justice and child welfare agencies. Given the decentralized and continuously evolving nature of these systems, local jurisdictions should investigate their own case outcomes and contexts before implementing reforms to address bias. Yet, many lack the resources for such research and federal support is essential to enhance local data analysis capabilities, promoting more tailored and effective policy reforms. Initiatives that aim to integrate data from multiple systems can better understand and address the needs of overlapping populations, ultimately improving the quality of services and outcomes.</p
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