Abstract: A system and method of targeted tuning of a speech recognition system are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method includes determining a frequency of occurrence of a particular type of utterance method and includes determining whether the frequency of occurrence exceeds a threshold. The method further includes tuning a speech recognition system to improve recognition of the particular type of utterance when the frequency of occurrence of the particular type of utterance exceeds the threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing speech are provided. A system may include a speech recognition interface and a processor. The processor may convert speech received from a call at the speech recognition interface to at least one word string. The processor may parse each word string of the at least one word string into first objects and first actions. The processor may access a synonym table to determine second objects and second actions based on the first objects and the first actions. The processor may also select a preferred object and a preferred action from the second objects and the second actions.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining functional relationships between a skin-active agent and a skin condition of interest, and methods and systems for identifying cosmetic agents effective for treatment of dandruff, as well as the use of agents identified by such methods and systems for the preparation of cosmetic compositions, personal care products, or both are provided. Methods for developing in vitro models of skin disease and models for specific skin diseases are also provided.

Abstract: We describe an electronic document reader system for viewing electronic documents, in which the electronic documents are viewable on a removable electronic document reader display that is useable whilst removed from an electronic document reader display holder. The system comprises: a removable non-volatile display for viewing electronic documents thereon, the display having a display portion on which electronic documents are viewable; a display holder for receiving the removable display, the display holder comprising a back, and an open front shaped to receive the removable display, each of the display and the holder having an electrical interface, wherein, when the removable display is received in the open front, the removable display and holder form an electrically connected combined unit to enable the display to receive document data from the holder for display, and wherein the removable display is useable to read electronic documents when removed from the display holder.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of microbiological testing of food. It relates to a method for identifying bacteria of the Bacillus cereus group, comprising the steps consisting in: bringing a sample that may contain bacteria of the Bacillus cereus group, a reaction medium comprising at least one fluorescent phosphatidylcholine phospholipase C substrate and an inhibitor of Gram-negative bacteria into contact, in a container; incubating all of the above together; identifying the bacteria of the Bacillus cereus group by detecting the PC-PLC substrate hydrolysis reaction, in which the pH of the reaction medium and the time necessary for detecting the PC-PLC substrate hydrolysis reaction carried out are adapted in such a way that said hydrolysis reaction by the bacteria of the Bacillus cereus group is detected before the hydrolysis of the PC-PLC substrate by the Gram-positive bacteria other than those belonging to the Bacillus cereus group, and potentially present in the sample, is detectable.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring and reporting automated call-processing performance is disclosed. Initially, performance metrics can be established for normal or acceptable system performance. Performance metrics may be determined for individual components and/or a combination of components in a system, wherein the individual metric may help to provide a performance indicator for the call processing system. The performance metrics can be established by utilizing historical data gathered from past operating characteristics or operating parameters. The performance metric can be calculated from past operating characteristics and could be a statistical distribution or a statistical value. This statistical distribution will often conform to a Gaussian distribution also known as a bell curve. However, acceptable performance limits can be set based on nearly any statistical distribution.

Abstract: A system and method for in-service optical dispersion determination are provided. Optical dispersion is determined by splitting a first optical signal into two components, introducing a time delay between the two components such that corresponding pulses of the two components partially overlap, combining the two components to generate a combined optical signal comprising a first component and a second component, determining power of the combined optical signal while applying a plurality of dispersion compensation values, in order to determine a dispersion compensation value that results in a minimum detected power of the combined optical signal. Polarization Mode Dispersion is determined by adjusting the time delay that is introduced until the power of the combined optical signal is substantially equal for all of the plurality of dispersion compensation values.

Abstract: A system includes an acoustic input engine configured to accept a speech input, to recognize phonemes of the speech input, and to create word strings based on the recognized phonemes. The system includes a semantic engine coupled to the acoustic engine and operable to identify actions and to identify objects by parsing the word strings. The system also includes an action-object pairing system to identify a dominant entry from the identified actions and the identified objects, to select a complement to the dominant entry from the identified actions and the identified objects, and to form an action-object pair that includes the dominant entry and the complement. The system further includes an action-object routing table operable to provide a routing destination based on the action-object pair. The system also includes a call routing module to route a call to the routing destination.

Abstract: A method, in one embodiment, can include encoding knowledge about a topic domain into a data modeling technique. Additionally, a set of candidate conditional functional dependencies can be generated based on a data set of the topic domain. Moreover, the set of candidate conditional functional dependencies and the data modeling technique encoded with the topic domain knowledge can be applied to the data set to obtain a plurality of data quality rules for the data set.

Abstract: A loose terrain traction assist device for wheeled vehicles includes a generally frusto-conical structure having a proximal portion with a diameter smaller than an overall diameter of a tire of a vehicle, a distal portion that extends outwardly from the wheel, and an outer surface defined between the proximal portion and the distal portion. The traction assist device also includes an attachment arrangement for releasably coupling the frusto-conical structure to a wheel assembly of the vehicle, such that at least part of the frusto-conical structure is adapted to engage with terrain during operation of the vehicle in loose terrain and to not engage with terrain during operation of the vehicle on normal terrain.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a system including a factor engine, an audio clip sequencing engine and an announcement engine. The factor engine is configured to identify an ordered set of menu options based on a plurality of weighted factors. The audio clip sequencing engine is responsive to the factor engine and is configured to generate an ordered sequence of audio clips based on the ordered set of menu options. The announcement engine is responsive to the audio clip sequencing engine and is configured to play the ordered sequence of audio clips.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a base plate including a plurality of depressions, and a power electronics printed circuit board including a plurality traces and a plurality of high voltage components. The plurality of high voltage components is located at a plurality of locations corresponding to the plurality of depressions in the base plate. A plurality of fasteners secures the printed circuit board to the base plate with the plurality of high voltage components received at the corresponding plurality of depressions. A thermally conductive and electrically isolating interface between the base plate and the printed circuit board is made of a gap filler material conforming to the base plate and to the plurality of depressions in the base plate, and conforming to the printed circuit board and to the plurality of high voltage components.

Abstract: A system and method for in-service optical dispersion determination are provided. Optical dispersion is determined by splitting a first optical signal into two components, introducing a time delay between the two components such that corresponding pulses of the two components partially overlap, combining the two components to generate a combined optical signal comprising a first component and a second component, determining power of the combined optical signal while applying a plurality of dispersion compensation values, in order to determine a dispersion compensation value that results in a minimum detected power of the combined optical signal. Polarization Mode Dispersion is determined by adjusting the time delay that is introduced until the power of the combined optical signal is substantially equal for all of the plurality of dispersion compensation values.

Abstract: A method, system, apparatus and program for effecting the decomposition of organic waste material comprises: providing a treatment tank for decomposition of organic waste material, the treatment tank containing an active biomass comprising at least one bacteria that decomposes organic material; providing at least two inlets to the treatment tank, a first inlet comprising an inlet for organic material and a second inlet comprising an inlet for an aqueous stream; a processor that receives and stores information on: the status of chemical oxygen demand of the active biomass; and the oxygen provision capability of a first organic material that can be fed into the treatment tank through the first inlet; a mass flow control system controlled by the processor which feeds the at least one organic material through the first inlet at a rate based at least in part upon the status of chemical oxygen demand in the treatment tank as recognized by the processor.

Abstract: A method for electroless plating of metal on a laser-patterned substrate. A substrate is provided on which both a thermal imaging layer and catalytic layer are deposited. On exposure to a laser beam, sufficient levels of radiation are converted to heat in the thermal imaging layer to render the exposed regions of the adjacent catalytic layer inactive. The laser-patterned substrate is then exposed to a reaction solution which initiates the growth of a metal film on the unexposed regions of the catalytic layer.

Abstract: A loose terrain traction assist device for wheeled vehicles includes a generally frusto-conical structure having a proximal portion with a diameter smaller than an overall diameter of a tire of a vehicle, a distal portion that extends outwardly from the wheel, and an outer surface defined between the proximal portion and the distal portion. The traction assist device also includes an attachment arrangement for releasably coupling the frusto-conical structure to a wheel assembly of the vehicle, such that at least part of the frusto-conical structure is adapted to engage with terrain during operation of the vehicle in loose terrain and to not engage with terrain during operation of the vehicle on normal terrain.

Abstract: A dynamic dispersion compensation system and method are provided. The method dynamically compensates for dispersion in an optical signal by recovering a first clock and a second clock from a first polarization component and a second polarization component of the optical signal respectively, determining a delay time between the first clock and the second clock, determining the dispersion based on the delay time and dynamically compensating for the determined dispersion. The system comprises a polarization beam splitter, a clock recoverer, a dispersion determiner and a tunable dispersion compensation module and is operable to dynamically compensate for the dispersion in an optical signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing speech are provided. A system may include a speech recognition interface and a processor. The processor may convert speech received from a call at the speech recognition interface to at least one word string. The processor may parse each word string of the at least one word string into first objects and first actions. The processor may access a synonym table to determine second objects and second actions based on the first objects and the first actions. The processor may also select a preferred object and a preferred action from the second objects and the second actions.

Abstract: A call routing system prompts a caller for information and receives a response from the caller. Based on the caller's response, a confidence value is assigned to the call. The confidence value can be assigned based on the likelihood that the received information is consistent with the prompt and other criteria. Additional prompts are provided to the caller based on the confidence value, and additional caller's responses are used to modify the confidence value. At least one threshold confidence level is set and when the confidence value of the call meets or exceeds the threshold (because of low confidence), the call is immediately routed to a human operator.

Abstract: The various embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to systems and methods for the detection of anatomical structures and anatomical positions. More particularly, the various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to the detection of musculoskeletal elements, such as bones, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and the like, which could be useful for example in poultry processing for bone screening as well as for guidance of machines for processing.