Applying capacity analyses to psychophysical evaluation of multisensory interactions

Determining when, if, and how information from separate sensory channels has been combined is a fundamental goal of research on multisensory processing in the brain. This can be a particular challenge in psychophysical data, as there is no direct recording of neural output. The most common way to characterize multisensory interactions in behavioral data is to compare responses to multisensory stimulation with the race model, a model of parallel, independent processing constructed from the probability of responses to the two unisensory stimuli which make up the multisensory stimulus. If observed multisensory reaction times are faster than those predicted by the model, it is inferred that information from the two channels is being combined rather than processed independently. Recently, behavioral research has been published employing capacity analyses where comparisons between two conditions are carried out at the level of the integrated hazard function. Capacity analyses seem to be particularly appealing technique for evaluating multisensory functioning, as they describe relationships between conditions across the entire distribution curve, are relatively easy and intuitive to interpret. The current paper presents capacity analysis of a behavioral data set previously analyzed using the race model. While applications of capacity analyses are still somewhat limited due to their novelty, it is hoped that this exploration of capacity and race model analyses will encourage the use of this promising new technique both in multisensory research and other applicable fields.     

Assessing the role of attention in the audiovisual integration of speech

Currently, one of the most controversial topics in the study of multisensory integration in humans (and in its implementation in the development of new technologies for human communication systems) concerns the question of whether or not attention is needed during (or can modulate) the integration of sensory signals that are presented in different sensory modalities. Here, we review the evidence on this question, focusing specifically on the integration of auditory and visual information during the perception of speech. Contrary to the mainstream view that has been prevalent for the last 30 years or so, recent studies have now started to reveal that attentional resources are, in fact, recruited during audiovisual multisensory integration, at least under certain conditions. Finally, considering all of the available evidence, we discuss the extent to which audiovisual speech perception should be considered to represent a ‘special’ case of audiovisual, and more generally, of multisensory integration.     

Influence of multisensory feedback on haptic accessibility tasks

Environments of a certain nature, such as those related to maintenance tasks can benefited from haptic stimuli by performing accessibility simulation in a realistic manner. Accessibility is defined as the physical feasibility of accessing an element of a 3D model avoiding undesirable collisions. This paper studies the benefits that multisensory systems can provide in performing this kind of tasks. The research is specially focused on the improvements provided by auditory feedback to the user’s performance. We have carried out a user study where participants had to perform an accessibility task with the aid of different combinations of sensorial stimuli. A large haptic interface for aeronautic maintainability has been extended with real-time sound generation capabilities to study this issue. The results of these experiments show that auditory stimuli provide with useful cues to the users helping them to correct trajectories and hence improving their performance.     

Multi-layer integration framework for low carbon design based on design features

Global warming has currently become the most discussed environmental issue. The major portion of the carbon emission for a product is determined at the design stage of its life cycle. Given that products are made of parts, one of the major difficulties is that existing carbon emission assessment methods are machining process-oriented and lack association with design information, which makes it difficult to support low-carbon design. To address this problem, this paper develops a multi-layer integration framework for part low-carbon design based on the association mechanism among five layers, i.e., design feature, machining process, machining feature, operation feature, and carbon emission feature. The carbon emission assessment model of the part could be obtained by the method of top-down expansion and bottom-up assessment in terms of the design features through the developed framework. To obtain a low carbon design scheme, an improved differential evolution algorithm (IDE) with the multi-layer encoding method is proposed based on the hierarchical relationship of the framework, which aims to minimize the potential carbon emissions of parts and makespan of its machining processes. The proposed methodology is verified by the low carbon design of a flange plate.     

Perception of traffic guidance signs containing conflicting symbol and direction information

Information pictographs (airport and ski trail symbols) and corporate logos (Amtrak, Montreal Metro), all with directional quality were paired with route guidance arrows. The resulting signs were rated on semantic differential adjective scales. In addition, the response times to the same signs were measured.

Concordant signs, for which symbol and route arrow directions agree, were judged to be more clear, unified, valuable, and strong than signs using discordant symbols and arrows. Response times were slower for discordant airport and Amtrak signs than for the comparable concordant signs; however, concordance did not influence response times to the skier or the metro symbols. It was concluded that agreement between symbol and arrow direction is an important element in decreasing perceptual conflict within a sign. A second conclusion was that unless such agreement can be achieved, prominent arrowlike logos (e.g., Amtrak, airport) should be avoided in highway guidance signs because of their adverse effect on response times.     

An XML query rewriting mechanism with multiple ontologies integration based on complex semantic mapping

Semantic integration, which can be divided into three parts including ontology mapping, mapping representation, and reasoning and query rewriting with mappings, plays a key role in information integration systems. This paper develops an XML query rewriting and ontology integration mechanism, which acts as a global-as-view (GAV) approach to represent and query semantic information in mediator based information integration environment. It proposes the patterns and properties of ontology mappings, discusses the procedure and algorithm of ontology integration firstly, and then proposes the ontology based XML query mechanism, especially the XML query rewriting mechanism. Finally, a mediator-based implementation of the mechanism in OBSA system is introduced.     

Some thoughts on systems integration: A conceptual framework

This article presents a conceptual framework for systems integration in the area of computing systems. The framework identifies a hierarchical structure of concepts and methods that allows us to discuss the different elements of systems integration. The kernel of this approach is the concept of an integration architecture, specifying the general layout of the integration framework. Such an integration architecture is based on enabling technologies, like networking, and forms the basis for global integration activities. These global integration activities are targeted to preserve a common universe of discourse for the user of the integrated architecture and to agree upon a conceptual model of the application domain. Based on these prerequisites, two models for managing the process of systems integration, the post factor approach and the phased top-down approach, are discussed.     

Computer-aided integration of multidisciplinary design information

This paper addresses the integration issues at the preliminary design stage in order to support analysis and decision-making while considering a design from the viewpoint of different disciplines. The paper describes a research project for investigating and designing a framework for intelligent linkage between design drawings and other information system environments, providing access to both external databases and design methods at the preliminary design stage. Accessing such information at this stage will allow designers to carry out the rapid evaluation of design alternatives, analysis and decision-making in a multi-disciplinary, multi-agent design environment. The objectives of the research are outlined, the methodology is discussed and the first application results are demonstrated.     

基于语义空间的藏文微博情感分析方法

藏语微博是目前流行的藏文网络媒体形式。对藏文微博文本进行情感挖掘,能够有效提高政府对藏语言的监测能力。传统的文本分类方法对中文微博能够达到不错的效果,但由于藏文具有自身的语言特点,传统方法对藏语的分类效率并不高。本文提出了一种基于语义空间的藏文微博情感分析方法。该方法首先使用句法树生成句法结构;然后结合句法结构和语义特征向量构建语义特征空间,在特征空间中通过K-means方法聚类形成语义簇质心;最后计算基于簇的TF-IDF值作为最终的微博情感特征值。实验结果表明,与目前常用的SVM TF-IDF和Naive Bayes 最大熵方法相比,该方法能更准确地对藏文微博进行情感分类。     

A methodology for the semi-automatic creation of data-driven detailed business ontologies

In the context of technological expansion and development, companies feel the need to renew and optimize their information systems as they search for the best way to manage knowledge. Business ontologies within the semantic web are an excellent tool for managing knowledge within this space. The proposal in this article consists of a methodology for integrating information in companies. The application of this methodology results in the creation of a specific business ontology capable of semantic interoperability. The resulting ontology, developed from the information system of specific companies, represents the fundamental business concepts, thus making it a highly appropriate information integration tool. Its level of semantic expressivity improves on that of its own sources, and its solidity and consistency are guaranteed by means of checking by current reasoning tools. An ontology created in this way could drive the renewal processes of companies’ information systems. A comparison is also made with a number of well-known business ontologies, and similarities and differences are drawn, highlighting the difficulty in aligning general ontologies to specific ones, such as the one we present.     

Double-layered schema integration of heterogeneous XML sources

Schema integration aims to create a mediated schema as a unified representation of existing heterogeneous sources sharing a common application domain. These sources have been increasingly written in XML due to its versatility and expressive power. Unfortunately, these sources often use different elements and structures to express the same concepts and relations, thus causing substantial semantic and structural conflicts. Such a challenge impedes the creation of high-quality mediated schemas and has not been adequately addressed by existing integration methods. In this paper, we propose a novel method, named XINTOR, for automating the integration of heterogeneous schemas. Given a set of XML sources and a set of correspondences between the source schemas, our method aims to create a complete and minimal mediated schema: it completely captures all of the concepts and relations in the sources without duplication, provided that the concepts do not overlap. Our contributions are fourfold. First, we resolve structural conflicts inherent in the source schemas. Second, we introduce a new statistics-based measure, called path cohesion, for selecting concepts and relations to be a part of the mediated schema. The path cohesion is statistically computed based on multiple path quality dimensions such as average path length and path frequency. Third, we resolve semantic conflicts by augmenting the semantics of similar concepts with context-dependent information. Finally, we propose a novel double-layered mediated schema to retain a wider range of concepts and relations than existing mediated schemas, which are at best either complete or minimal, but not both. Performed on both real and synthetic datasets, our experimental results show that XINTOR outperforms existing methods with respect to (i) the mediated-schema quality using precision, recall, F-measure, and schema minimality; and (ii) the execution performance based on execution time and scale-up performance.     

Numerical integration of partial differential equations using cubic splines

This paper presents techniques for the numerical solution of partial differential equations using cubic spline collocation.

The main spline relations are presented and incorporated into solution procedures for partial differential equations. The computational algorithm in every case is a tridiagonal matrix system amenable to efficient inversion methods. Truncation errors and stability are briefly discussed. Finally, some examples of their application to parabolic and hyperbolic systems with mixed boundary conditions are presented.

The results obtained are encouraging and justify further research in this field.     

A study of cybersickness and sensory conflict theory using a motion-coupled virtual reality system

Sensory conflict theory explains that motion sickness in virtual reality (VR) systems can be caused due to the mismatch between visual and vestibular senses. This study examines whether coupling physical motions to visual stimuli in VR could reduce this discomfort. A motion-coupled VR system developed on a motion platform, providing vestibular cues to supplement visual roll from a head-mounted display (HMD), was used. Three conditions were tested: visual rotation only (stationary), visual-physical motion synchronised (synchronous), and vestibular motion with a self-referenced visual environment. Results show that when users are placed under a visual-vestibular synchronised condition, their subjective miserable score of cybersickness decreased while their comfort level of the overall experience increased. This indicates that a motion-coupled system, if integrated seamlessly in VR, could mitigate cybersickness symptoms.     

现代信息技术在高职英语口语教学中的应用

随着现代社会的飞速发展,信息技术与高职英语口语教学应该顺应时代进行整合.本文将对现阶段高职英语口语教学的现状、信息技术教学系统的先进性、以及将其进行整合产生的问题的解决进行论述.     

A semantic framework and software design to enable the transparent integration,reorganization and discovery of natural systems knowledge

I present a conceptualization that attempts to unify diverse representations of natural knowledge while providing a workable computational framework, based on current semantic web theory, for developing, communicating, and running integrated simulation models. The approach is based on a long-standing principle of scientific investigation: the separation of the ontological character of the object of study from the semantics of the observation context, the latter including location in space and time and other observation-related aspects. I will show how current Knowledge Representation theories coupled with the object-oriented paradigm allow an efficient integration through the abstract model of a domain, which relates to the idea of aspect in software engineering. This conceptualization allows us to factor out two fundamental causes of complexity and awkwardness in the representation of knowledge about natural system: (a) the distinction between data and models, both seen here as generic knowledge sources; (b) the multiplicity of states in data sources, handled through the hierarchical composition of independently defined domain objects, each accounting for all states in one well-known observational dimension. This simplification leaves modelers free to work with the bare conceptual bones of the problem, encapsulating complexities connected to data format, and scale. I will then describe the design of a software system that implements the approach, referring to explicit ontologies to unambiguously characterize the semantics of the objects of study, and allowing the independent definition of a global observation context that can be redefined as required. I will briefly discuss applications to multi-scale, multi-paradigm modeling, intelligent database design, and web-based collaboration.     

Modeling collaboration for large-scale software system integration by formal communication models

In the development of large software systems, several synchronization points have to be passed successfully in order to achieve high-end user acceptance of the final system. In particular, the integration of conceptual design entities has turned out to be the most crucial step in software development. At this point, an explicit representation of the organizational knowledge, namely how the integration can be performed, is required. The overall organization of the integration of design entities is a set of knowledge, action (including communication), and time. The knowledge part comprises the integration procedure itself as well as the design entities. Actions are performed by the members of the project team (project leaders, developers). Each integration step has to be performed synchronized, so that each member of the development team knows concurrently the status of the integration procedure. All other individual design activities are usually performed asynchronously. According to the need for an explicit representation of the organizational knowledge for large software system design, this paper attempts tounderstand the nature of large software system integration and formallydescribes the coordination of a dispersed set of software developers. The organizational knowledge is represented by processes that occur in an asynchronous development environment. The design knowledge is assigned to logical formulas that are processed as exchanged messages among developers. Hence, the activities for integration are based on the transmission of messages. Time-critical events, such as the integration of a particular design entity into the final conceptual design of the software system, have to become common knowledge concurrently for all developers. This organizational constraint has been formalized in the communication model. Not only can the proposed framework be adapted to organizational changes in a flexible way, it can also be applied to any specific development strategy for the integration of conceptual design entities. Thus, such kind of formal communication models may provide a sound basis for cooperative CASE (computer-aided software engineering) tools.This work has been sponsored by the Max Kade Foundation, New York.     

基于ICGA的雷达与雷达干扰一体化信号的优化设计

现代雷达与雷达干扰一体化系统中一体化信号的优化设计对整个系统性能发挥具有深远意义。结合伪随机信号特点,运用时空混沌系统构造伪随机二相序列,并在分析一体化信号设计原则的基础上建立了一体化二相序列的优化模型,将基于自适应排序选择策略的混沌遗传算法应用于求解序列优化模型,给出了具体的解算步骤,并进行了实例仿真。仿真结果表明改进的混沌遗传算法有效地解决了雷达与雷达干扰一体化信号优化设计问题,得到了性能良好的一体化信号。     

柔性仿生触觉传感器系统集成设计

设计了一种轻量级的触觉传感系统,基于压敏电阻将压力信号转换为电阻变化的原理,进一步转换为电压信号进行反相滤波处理,通过低功耗蓝牙芯片CC2541读取并无线传递触觉信息.整个系统采用仿生手指结构设计,指尖覆盖与皮肤触感相近的硅胶,柔顺传递接触力.整个电路包含供电模块、电源管理模块、触觉采样处理模块和信号传递模块,集成在第二指节内.整个传感器系统集成度高,便于实际应用.     

Ease of interaction plus ease of integration: Combining Web2.0 and the Semantic Web in a reviewing site

Web2.0 has enabled contributions to the Web on an unprecedented scale, through simple interfaces that provide engaging interactions. This wealth of data has spawned countless mashups that integrate heterogenous information, but using techniques that will not scale beyond a handful of sources. In contrast, the Semantic Web provides the key to large-scale data integration, yet still lacks approachable interfaces allowing contributions from non-specialists. In this paper we present Revyu, a reviewing and rating site in the Web2.0 mould that is built on Semantic Web infrastructure and both publishes and consumes linked RDF data. This combination of approaches affords ease of interaction for regular users and ease of integration with external data sources.