Simultaneous translation of lectures and speeches

With increasing globalization, communication across language and cultural boundaries is becoming an essential requirement of doing business, delivering education, and providing public services. Due to the considerable cost of human translation services, only a small fraction of text documents and an even smaller percentage of spoken encounters, such as international meetings and conferences, are translated, with most resorting to the use of a common language (e.g. English) or not taking place at all. Technology may provide a potentially revolutionary way out if real-time, domain-independent, simultaneous speech translation can be realized. In this paper, we present a simultaneous speech translation system based on statistical recognition and translation technology. We discuss the technology, various system improvements and propose mechanisms for user-friendly delivery of the result. Over extensive component and end-to-end system evaluations and comparisons with human translation performance, we conclude that machines can already deliver comprehensible simultaneous translation output. Moreover, while machine performance is affected by recognition errors (and thus can be improved), human performance is limited by the cognitive challenge of performing the task in real time.     

Imaging the domain pattern of the canted magnetization state in Co/Pt multilayer films

The exact magnetization pattern of magnetic films close to a spin-reorientation transition is difficult to analyze due to the intrinsically three-dimensional (3d) variation of the orientation of the local magnetization. We present a technique how this can be performed, based on the analysis of high quality 2d polarization maps from a single scanning electron microscope with polarization analysis (SEMPA) measurement with tilted sample. The key tool is the statistical distribution of all occurring polarization doublets, visualized in a 2d histogram plot. From the shape of the distribution the type of transition—canted-phase, or coexisting phases—can be inferred. For the canted-phase state, the canting angle can be accurately determined from geometrical considerations. With help of the histogram the image data can be analyzed and the three components of the magnetization can be calculated for most points of the image. For a Co/Pt multilayer film we found a cone state. The magnetization forms a complex pattern consisting of out-of-plane domains while the in-plane magnetization shows a maze pattern.     

Novel Readout Electronics for Thickness Shear-Mode Liquid Sensors Compensating for Spurious Conductivity and Capacitances

In this paper, a readout circuit for a thickness shear-mode (TSM) resonator is presented which can be used for sensing applications in liquids such as viscosity sensing. The system features compensation of both spurious capacitances and conductances in parallel to the resonator. This allows measurements even in conductive liquids without the need for an elaborate sealing of the sensor. The influence of the spurious elements is determined by means of two orthogonal synchronous detectors and eliminated by active compensation using voltage-controlled amplifiers (VCAs). Furthermore, the circuit is robust against possible phase errors. The basic concept is discussed in detail, and a readout circuit is developed. A prototype is presented, and sample results are given, demonstrating the feasibility of the approach     

The Rician inverse Gaussian distribution: a new model for non-Rayleigh signal amplitude statistics.

In this paper, we introduce a new statistical distribution for modeling non-Rayleigh amplitude statistics, which we have called the Rician inverse Gaussian (RiIG) distribution. It is a mixture of the Rice distribution and the inverse Gaussian distribution. The probability density function (pdf) is given in closed form as a function of three parameters. This makes the pdf very flexible in the sense that it may be fitted to a variety of shapes, ranging from the Rayleigh-shaped pdf to a noncentral chi2-shaped pdf. The theoretical basis of the new model is quite thoroughly discussed, and we also give two iterative algorithms for estimating its parameters from data. Finally, we include some modeling examples, where we have tested the ability of the distribution to represent locale amplitude histograms of linear medical ultrasound data and single-look synthetic aperture radar data. We compare the goodness of fit of the RiIG model with that of the K model, and, in most cases, the new model turns out as a better statistical model for the data. We also include a series of log-likelihood tests to evaluate the predictive performance of the proposed model.     

Assessing Human Impact of Organizational Crises: Reliability and Validity of the Triage Assessment Scale for Organizations (TAS:O)

The present study evaluated the reliability and validity of the Triage Assessment Survey: Organizations (TAS:O), a 27-item, 5-point, Likert summated rating scale. One hundred and seventeen participants responded to the TAS:O after reading mild, moderate, marked and severe organizational crisis scenarios. The overall Cronbach's alpha and split-half reliability were both .93. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed three factors, supporting the hypothesis that the TAS:O is comprised of three distinct factors (i.e., Affect, Behavior, and Cognition). An analysis of variance provided evidence that the TAS:O has the capacity to distinguish among mild, moderate, marked, and severe crises. Because this research is the first to evaluate the TAS:O, further studies are needed to strengthen confidence in the psychometric properties of this scale.     

Static and Dynamic Spins in Superconducting La2−x Sr x CuO4: The Risø Years

One important area of modern condensed matter research is the investigation of the nature of the superconducting cuprates. Much progress in this field has been obtained with the technique of neutron scattering. We here present a review of neutron scattering studies of the high-temperature superconductor La_2?xSr_xCuO₄, performed at Risø National Laboratory. We review the work on the mapping of the incommensurate spin fluctuations, the investigation of the gap in the fluctuation spectrum, the magnetic properties of the vortices appearing in an applied field, and the quantum critical behaviour of the system. We discuss our findings in the light of results of neutron scattering from other groups, on other cuprate systems, and results from other experimental methods, e.g. NMR, μSR, STM, X-ray diffraction, and ARPES. We end with a discussion on the implications of the experimental results for the progress in the general understanding of high-temperature superconductivity. PACS numbers: 61.12.Ex, 74.20.Mn, 74.72.Dn, 75.25.+z, 78.70.Nx.     

Safety risk assessment and management—the ESA approach

The European Space Agency ESA aims at minimizing the safety risks of their space flight projects. Hazard and risk reduction is supported by hazard analysis and probabilistic risk assessment. In hazard analysis hazardous conditions and accident scenarios are identified. Risk assessment is the probabilistic evaluation of accident scenarios and is the basis for risk management. The risk assessment method involves the determination and propagation of event probability. Expert judgement is used in a structured way. In risk management the risk assessment results are used to prioritize and optimize risk reduction efforts and to support risk acceptance evaluations.     

Mechanical Properties of Large Arteries in Mother and Fetus during Normal and Diabetic Pregnancy

Cardiodilatin (CDD)/atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is a 28-amino acid peptide hormone known to be synthesized in the heart of a large number of different vertebrates. It plays an important role in the regulation of blood pressure and natriuresis/diuresis. Since the cardiovascular system of the horse has to meet the highest requirements concerning its physiological performance, we intended to characterize the cardiodilatin/atrial natriuretic peptide system of this species. By means of immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy, we precisely identified auricular cardiocytes as the loci of CDD/ANP synthesis. Using aortic smooth muscle relaxation assay and CDD/ANP-ELISA, we succeeded in isolating the biologically active prohormone. We subsequently cloned the equine cDNA of the CDD/ANP precursor protein and deduced its primary sequence. The entire precursor protein is in good agreement with the CDD/ANP prohormones of other mammals. The deduced theoretical average Mr of equine CDD/ANP-1-126 is 13,764, corresponding to the molecular weight of purified peptide determined by ESI-MS. Our findings suggest that equine CDD/ANP is produced in auricular cardiocytes and the predominant storage form of CDD/ANP in the auricle is the prohormone CDD/ANP-1-126.