Global optimization of a neural network-hidden Markov model hybrid

The integration of multilayered and recurrent artificial neural networks (ANNs) with hidden Markov models (HMMs) is addressed. ANNs are suitable for approximating functions that compute new acoustic parameters, whereas HMMs have been proven successful at modeling the temporal structure of the speech signal. In the approach described, the ANN outputs constitute the sequence of observation vectors for the HMM. An algorithm is proposed for global optimization of all the parameters. Results on speaker-independent recognition experiments using this integrated ANN-HMM system on the TIMIT continuous speech database are reported.     

Preparing technical communication students to play a role on the translation team

Technical communicators need to be prepared for the challenges of international communication. This tutorial focuses on the need for technical communication faculty to prepare students to be skilled intercultural communicators and to play a role on the translation team. The tutorial begins with a discussion of the importance of writing for translation in the international workplace and then presents specific assignments designed to instruct students in intercultural communication and give them experience writing for translation. In addition to introducing students to the cultural issues that impact the creation of documentation for international audiences, these assignments also serve to reinforce core skills recognized as vital to professional success in the field of technical communication. Taken together, these assignments can be used as the basis for a course in international technical communication. An appendix to the tutorial includes numerous resources available to faculty who want either to develop a course in international technical communication or to include some of the assignments in existing technical communication courses.     

Green Banana (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Musa cavendishii</Emphasis>) Osmotic Dehydration by Non-Caloric Solutions: Modeling,Physical-Chemical Properties,Color, and Texture

Osmotic dehydration effects on the kinetics and on some quality attributes of green banana slices (Musa cavendishii) at 25 °C with non-caloric solutes (glycerol, sorbitol, and a mixture of both) at concentrations varying from 40 to 60 g/100 g for up to 6 h were studied. The three-component diagram showed that the first pseudo-equilibrium was achieved, and the water pseudo-diffusion coefficient presented higher values with glycerol solutions. A modified Peleg’s model was applied to obtain the maximum water loss. Changes in green banana physical-chemical properties were observed: moisture content from 1.25 to 0.19 kg/kg dry basis, soluble solute content from 5.4 to 16.9 °Brix; total color-difference from 2.7 to 15.8; and the maximum biaxial extensional viscosity from 0.63 to 1.53 MPa s. Moreover, the obtained low chroma difference values suggest that the osmotically drying process may be a suitable technique to preserve the final color of green banana slices.     

H2/air alkaline membrane fuel cell performance and durability, using novel ionomer and non-platinum group metal cathode catalyst

The development of H₂/air alkaline membrane fuel cells (AMFCs) enables the use of non-platinum group metal (PGM) catalysts which are intrinsically stable and have an activity similar to platinum in alkaline media for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). As opposed to PEMFCs, the research and development of these types of catalysts for AMFC has had little attention and even less has been given to the development of alkaline membranes and ionomers. Acta S.p.A. has developed recently new non-PGM ORR catalysts with activity higher than Pt in alkaline media. More importantly, a new anionic ionomer derived from cheap starting materials with optimum performance has been produced. In this paper we demonstrate the use of this new ionomer in H₂/air AMFCs showing the first polarization and durability data, with current densities higher than those recently reported in the literature. Furthermore, we report the effect of CO₂ on AMFC performance, showing the possibility of use of such alkaline devices not only in outer-space applications, but also with atmospheric air for large scale devices.     

The challenge of getting technical experts to talk: whyinterviewing skills are crucial to the technical communicationcurriculum

Those involved in journalism and communication programs recognize the need to teach students interviewing theory and techniques. Technical communicators rely on interviews for a significant percentage of the information they need to do their jobs. Interviewing techniques are ranked in the top ten topics that technical communicators think should be taught in technical writing programs. The author describes a course with a general focus on interviewing skills and a particular emphasis on the challenges technical communicators face in the interview situation     

The technical communication practices of Russian and US aerospaceengineers and scientists

Two studies were conducted in order to investigate the technical communication practices of Russian and US aerospace engineers and scientists. Both studies had the same five objectives: to solicit the opinions of aerospace engineers and scientists regarding the importance of technical communication to their professions; to determine the use and production of technical communication by aerospace engineers and scientists; to seek their views about the appropriate content of the undergraduate course in technical communication; to determine aerospace engineers' and scientists' use of libraries, technical information centers, and online databases; and to determine the use and importance of computer and information technology to them. Responses to a self-administered questionnaire that was distributed to Russian aerospace engineers and scientists at the Central Aero-Hydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI) and to their US counterparts at the NASA Ames Research Center and the NASA Langley Research Center are presented