Abstract: In a method for efficiently and accurately measuring the intelligibility of speech, a user may utter a sample text, and an automatic speech assessment (ASA) system may receive an acoustic signal encoding the utterance. An automatic speech recognition (ASR) module may generate an N-best output corresponding to the utterance and generate an intelligibility score representing the intelligibility of the utterance based on the N-best output and the sample text. Generating the intelligibility score may involve (1) calculating conditional intelligibility value(s) for the N recognition result(s), and (2) determining the intelligibility score based on the conditional intelligibility value of the most intelligible recognition result. Optionally, the process of generating the intelligibility score may involve adjusting the intelligibility score to account for environmental information (e.g., a pronunciation score for the user's speech and/or a confidence score assigned to the 1-best recognition result).

Abstract: In a method for efficiently and accurately measuring the intelligibility of speech, a user may utter a sample text, and an automatic speech assessment (ASA) system may receive an acoustic signal encoding the utterance. An automatic speech recognition (ASR) module may generate an N-best output corresponding to the utterance and generate an intelligibility score representing the intelligibility of the utterance based on the N-best output and the sample text. Generating the intelligibility score may involve (1) calculating conditional intelligibility value(s) for the N recognition result(s), and (2) determining the intelligibility score based on the conditional intelligibility value of the most intelligible recognition result. Optionally, the process of generating the intelligibility score may involve adjusting the intelligibility score to account for environmental information (e.g., a pronunciation score for the user's speech and/or a confidence score assigned to the 1-best recognition result).

Abstract: Adaptive control systems and methods of using the same to control aspects of material processing systems are described. The adaptive control systems may incorporate techniques that use heuristic modeling, and apply those techniques to control processing of biomass feedstock.

Abstract: A container for stacking with an alike container for use in hydroponics, the container includes a base and a side wall extending from the base and defining an opening, the side wall having an inner profile and an outer profile, the inner profile interfits with the outer profile when the container is in a stacked relationship with an alike container, and wherein the inner profile includes at least one formation located at a height from the base of the container, and the outer profile includes at least one abutment for engaging the formation of an alike container when stacked therein, and when in use, the container can be stacked with an alike container in a nesting relationship such that one container forms a receiver and the other forms a nester that is positioned in a lowered operative position within a receiver, and the relative positions of the containers can be adjusted by locating the at least one abutment of the outer profile of the nester on the at least one formation of the receiver and thereby suppor

Abstract: A container for stacking with an alike container for use in hydroponics, the container includes a base and a side wall extending from the base and defining an opening, the side wall having an inner profile and an outer profile, the inner profile interfits with the outer profile when the container is in a stacked relationship with an alike container, and wherein the inner profile includes at least one formation located at a height from the base of the container, and the outer profile includes at least one abutment for engaging the formation of an alike container when stacked therein, and when in use, the container can be stacked with an alike container in a nesting relationship such that one container forms a receiver and the other forms a nester that is positioned in a lowered operative position within a receiver, and the relative positions of the containers can be adjusted by locating the at least one abutment of the outer profile of the nester on the at least one formation of the receiver and thereby suppor

Abstract: Formulations are provided for producing structural members or back fill for mine stopes in environments having sub zero temperatures such as permafrost. The formulations having constituents including crushed rock (rockfill), powdered tailings, ice and water in specific ratios with attention to the prescribed gradations of the rockfill and tailings. The tailings, a readily available and very finely divided material, fill the naturally existing voids in the rockfill. The gradation of the rockfill and the bulk density of the rockfill establish the rockfill/tailings ratio, which has been determined to lie between 1 and 3 or from 50/50 to about 75/25 for optimum strength. The ice in the mix design arises from the pre-existing moisture content in the rock and tailings typically 2% to 5% for the rockfill, 8% to 25% for the tailings. The change of state of liquid water to ice on the particle surfaces is the binding mechanism of the system and is enhanced by vigorous mixing.