MAP Based Speaker Adaptation in Very Large Vocabulary Speech Recognition of Czech

The paper deals with the problem of efficient adaptation of speech recognition systems to individual users. The goal is to achieve better performance in specific applications where one known speaker is expected. In our approach we adopt the MAP (Maximum A Posteriori) method for this purpose. The MAP based formulae for the adaptation of the HMM (Hidden Markov Model) parameters are described. Several alternative versions of this method have been implemented and experimentally verified in two areas, first in the isolated-word recognition (IWR) task and later also in the large vocabulary continuous speech recognition (LVCSR) system, both developed for the Czech language. The results show that the word error rate (WER) can be reduced by more than 20% for a speaker who provides tens of words (in case of IWR) or tens of sentences (in case of LVCSR) for the adaptation. Recently, we have used the described methods in the design of two practical applications: voice dictation to a PC and automatic transcription of radio and TV news

Turbulent heat transfer in spacer-filled channels: Experimental and computational study and selection of turbulence models

Heat transfer in spacer-filled channels of the kind used in Membrane Distillation was studied in the Reynolds number range 100–2000, encompassing both steady laminar and early-turbulent flow conditions. Experimental data, including distributions of the local heat transfer coefficient h, were obtained by Liquid Crystal Thermography and Digital Image Processing. Alternative turbulence models, both of first order (k-ε, RNG k-ε, k-ω, BSL k-ω, SST k-ω) and of second order (LRR RS, SSG RS, ω RS, BSL RS), were tested for their ability to predict measured distributions and mean values of h. The best agreement with the experimental results was provided by first-order ω-based models able to resolve the viscous/conductive sublayer, while all other models, and particularly ε-based models using wall functions, yielded disappointing predictions

EDIT - Repository construction in the oldest Hungarian university

Az 1635-ben alapított Eötvös Loránd Tudományegyetem Magyarország legrégebbi egyeteme. Az ELTE Digitális Intézményi Tudástára (EDIT) az egyetemen létrehozott dokumentumok tárhelye, archívuma. Az előadás összefoglalja a tárolni és közreadni kívánt dokumentumok körét, az adattár építésével kapcsolatos tapasztalatainkat. Az ELTE szervezeti felépítése, nagysága, valamint a tárolni kívánt dokumentumok széles köre miatt a repozitórium kialakításánál egyedi igényeink merültek fel. A választott keretrendszert, a DSpace szoftvert ezeknek az igényeknek megfelelően alakítottuk, fejlesztettük

Optimization of net power density in Reverse Electrodialysis

Reverse Electrodialysis (RED) extracts electrical energy from the salinity difference between two solutions using selective ion exchange membranes. In RED, conditions yielding a large net power density (NPD) are generally desired, due to the still large cost of the membranes. NPD depends on a large number of physical and geometric parameters. Some of these, for example the inlet concentrations of concentrate and diluate, can be regarded as “scenario” variables, imposed by external constraints (e.g., availability) or chosen by different criteria than NPD maximization. Others, namely the thicknesses HCONC, HDIL and the velocities UCONC, UDIL in the concentrate and diluate channels, can be regarded as free design parameters and can be chosen so as to maximize NPD. In the present study, a simplified model of a RED stack was coupled with an optimization algorithm in order to determine the conditions of maximum NPD in the space of the variables HCONC, HDIL,UCONC, UDIL for different sets of “scenario” variables. The study shows that an optimal choice of the free design parameters for any given scenario, as opposed to the adoption of standard fixed values for the same parameters, may provide significant improvements in NPD

Cfd investigation of spacer-filled channels for membrane distillation

The membrane distillation (MD) process for water desalination is affected by temperature polarization, which reduces the driving force and the efficiency of the process. To counteract this phenomenon, spacer-filled channels are used, which enhance mixing and heat transfer but also cause higher pressure drops. Therefore, in the design of MD modules, the choice of the spacer is crucial for process efficiency. In the present work, different overlapped spacers are investigated by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and results are compared with experiments carried out with thermochromic liquid crystals (TLC). Results are reported for different flow attack angles and for Reynolds numbers (Re) ranging from ~200 to ~800. A good qualitative agreement between simulations and experiments can be observed for the areal distribution of the normalized heat transfer coefficient. Trends of the average heat transfer coefficient are reported as functions of Re for the geometries investigated, thus providing the basis for CFD-based correlations to be used in higher-scale process models

On some issues in the computational modelling of spacer-filled channels for membrane distillation

This study addresses issues which arise in the computational and experimental modelling of flow and heat/mass transfer in membrane distillation and other processes adopting spacer-filled channels (either planar or spiral wound), but have not been sufficiently clarified in the literature so far. Most of the argumentations presented are based on original computational results obtained by the authors by finite volume simulations; some literature results are also considered. The questions addressed regard the choice of scales for the reduction of data and the definition of dimensionless numbers (Re, f, Nu, Sh); the definition of average heat or mass transfer coefficients; the combined effects of the parameters that characterize the process (spacer pitch to channel height ratio l/H, flow attack angle γ and Reynolds number Re) and the applicability of simple correlations; the influence of the spacer's thermal conductivity. In regard to the influence of the parameters, Re, l/H and γ were found to interact heavily, making a separate-effect analysis impossible and power-law friction or heat/mass transfer correlations of little use. Thermal conduction in the spacer, even for low-conductivity polymeric spacers (λ ≈ 0.15 Wm− 1 K− 1), was found to be responsible for up to 10% of the total heat transfer

Análise morfológica com microscopia especular do endotélio corneal em olhos de cães

Foram estudados 20 olhos de 10 cães sem raça definida, machos e fêmeas com 6 anos de idade. A morfologia das células do endotélio da córnea foi analisada utilizando-se microscópio especular de contato. Foram estudadas as regiões central e periférica da córnea. De cada região da córnea foram realizadas três micrografias. De cada micrografia foram analisadas no mínimo 100 células endoteliais. Foram obtidos os valores do polimegatismo e pleomorfismo. O endotélio corneano de cães caracterizou-se por uma monocamada de células poligonais uniformes em tamanho e forma. A forma predominante das células endoteliais foi hexagonal. O índice de polimegatismo foi 0.22. Este estudo demonstrou que a morfologia das células do endotélio da córnea de cães é semelhante à observada em humanosBoth healthy eyes of 10 six-year-old male and female mongrel dogs were studied. With a contact specular microscope the corneal endothelium was examined. Endothelial cells were analyzed in the central and peripheral cornea. Morphological analysis with regard to polymegathism and pleomorphism was performed. Three images of each region with at least 100 cells were obtained. The analysis showed that polygonal cells formed a mosaic-like pattern uniform in size and shape. The predominant number of cells was hexagonal. The polymegathism index was 0.22. The study demonstrates that the morphology of the normal corneal endothelial cells of dogs is similar to that found in the human corne

Plano de negócio: “Green Coffee”

“The next 1,000 unicorns won’t be search engines or social media companies, they’ll be sustainable, scalable innovators – startups that help the world decarbonize and make the energy transition affordable for all consumers,” - Laurence “Larry” Fink, chairman and chief executive officer of BlackRock Inc. O projeto “Green Coffee” vem demonstrar que no meio económico presente, é possível uma empresa com objetivo de reciclar e criar economias circulares, dar resultado económico positivo e atrativo. Este projeto vem combater o desperdício das borras de café - que resulta da atividade de milhares de estabelecimentos comerciais pelo país - e a desflorestação, através da plantação direta de árvores. O processo vai começar com a criação de uma rede que recolhe as borras dos diversos estabelecimentos, sendo esta alvo de um breve processamento nos armazéns da “Green Coffee” para posteriormente ser vendida às fábricas que a utilizem como matéria-prima. As fábricas por cada Kg de borras compradas irão receber 10 códigos QR para inserir nas embalagens dos seus produtos, que ao serem ativados irão transferir para as carteiras digitais, dos consumidores finais, tokens que podem utilizar na plataforma digital da “Green Coffee”. Nesta plataforma os consumidores finais, podem comprar a plantação de diversas árvores, com os tokens. Diferentes árvores terão diferentes preços, o valor base são 5 tokens para a plantação de um pinheiro-bravo. Com os diversos dados pesquisados foi possível elaborar uma previsão do que será a quantidade de borras recicladas e árvores plantadas, assim como o resultado económico que resulta. O projeto foi considerado viável visto que considerando uma vida útil de 5 anos, resultou num valor atual líquido superior a 3,3 milhões e um payback de 3 anos e 7 meses.“The next 1,000 unicorns won’t be search engines or social media companies, they’ll be sustainable, scalable innovators – startups that help the world decarbonize and make the energy transition affordable for all consumers,” - Laurence “Larry” Fink, chairman and chief executive officer of BlackRock Inc. The Green Coffee Project comes to prove that in today economic environment it is possible for a company that focus on recycling in order to create a circular economy, to still be profitable. This project is based on the effort to reduce coffee grounds waste and fight deforestation. Green Coffee will start by collecting the coffee ground from all kinds of establishments that produce this waste, then the coffee grounds will be cleaned and prepared to be sold to other companies that use them in any way to produce their products. By buying 1 Kg of our coffee grounds, they will receive 10 QR codes to print in their products’ packages, these QR codes after scanned will send the consumer to Green Coffee platform, where they will retrieve one token to their digital wallet. In this platform the consumer will be able to use their tokens as currency to pay for the plantation of trees. The price will depend on the kind of tree, but the base price will be a pine tree for 5 tokens. With all the data gathered, we calculated an estimate on the amount of coffee grounds recycled and trees planted and the balance sheet correspondingly. Analyzing the balance sheet, we concluded that this project is viable, due to the fact that the net present value amounts to 3.3 million and the payback is 3 years and 7 months

Plano de negócio: “Green Coffee”

“The next 1,000 unicorns won’t be search engines or social media companies, they’ll be sustainable, scalable innovators – startups that help the world decarbonize and make the energy transition affordable for all consumers,” - Laurence “Larry” Fink, chairman and chief executive officer of BlackRock Inc. O projeto “Green Coffee” vem demonstrar que no meio económico presente, é possível uma empresa com objetivo de reciclar e criar economias circulares, dar resultado económico positivo e atrativo. Este projeto vem combater o desperdício das borras de café - que resulta da atividade de milhares de estabelecimentos comerciais pelo país - e a desflorestação, através da plantação direta de árvores. O processo vai começar com a criação de uma rede que recolhe as borras dos diversos estabelecimentos, sendo esta alvo de um breve processamento nos armazéns da “Green Coffee” para posteriormente ser vendida às fábricas que a utilizem como matéria-prima. As fábricas por cada Kg de borras compradas irão receber 10 códigos QR para inserir nas embalagens dos seus produtos, que ao serem ativados irão transferir para as carteiras digitais, dos consumidores finais, tokens que podem utilizar na plataforma digital da “Green Coffee”. Nesta plataforma os consumidores finais, podem comprar a plantação de diversas árvores, com os tokens. Diferentes árvores terão diferentes preços, o valor base são 5 tokens para a plantação de um pinheiro-bravo. Com os diversos dados pesquisados foi possível elaborar uma previsão do que será a quantidade de borras recicladas e árvores plantadas, assim como o resultado económico que resulta. O projeto foi considerado viável visto que considerando uma vida útil de 5 anos, resultou num valor atual líquido superior a 3,3 milhões e um payback de 3 anos e 7 meses.“The next 1,000 unicorns won’t be search engines or social media companies, they’ll be sustainable, scalable innovators – startups that help the world decarbonize and make the energy transition affordable for all consumers,” - Laurence “Larry” Fink, chairman and chief executive officer of BlackRock Inc. The Green Coffee Project comes to prove that in today economic environment it is possible for a company that focus on recycling in order to create a circular economy, to still be profitable. This project is based on the effort to reduce coffee grounds waste and fight deforestation. Green Coffee will start by collecting the coffee ground from all kinds of establishments that produce this waste, then the coffee grounds will be cleaned and prepared to be sold to other companies that use them in any way to produce their products. By buying 1 Kg of our coffee grounds, they will receive 10 QR codes to print in their products’ packages, these QR codes after scanned will send the consumer to Green Coffee platform, where they will retrieve one token to their digital wallet. In this platform the consumer will be able to use their tokens as currency to pay for the plantation of trees. The price will depend on the kind of tree, but the base price will be a pine tree for 5 tokens. With all the data gathered, we calculated an estimate on the amount of coffee grounds recycled and trees planted and the balance sheet correspondingly. Analyzing the balance sheet, we concluded that this project is viable, due to the fact that the net present value amounts to 3.3 million and the payback is 3 years and 7 months