Time Series Classification for Online Tamil Handwritten Character Recognition – A Kernel Based Approach

In this paper, we consider the problem of time series classification. Using piecewise linear interpolation various novel kernels are obtained which can be used with Support vector machines for designing classifiers capable of deciding the class of a given time series. The approach is general and is applicable in many scenarios. We apply the method to the task of Online Tamil handwritten character recognition with promising results.

Interplay of localized and itinerant character of Ru ions: Tl2Ru2O7 versus Hg2Ru2O7

We carry out a comparative study of the electronic structure of two pyrochlore ruthenate compounds, Tl2Ru2O7 and Hg2Ru2O7, in terms of first principles calculations. Our study reveals the Ru d electrons in Hg2Ru2O7 to be much more delocalized compared to that in Tl2Ru2O7. The subtle change in the Ru-d bandwidths in the two compounds, triggered by the differences in Hg 5d-Ru 4d hybridization compared to that of Tl 5d-Ru 4d, bring in the observed differences in behavior. Our study further shows that the development of long range noncollinear antiferromagnetic structure at low temperature is sufficient to produce the insulating solution in Hg2Ru2O7, in line with the prediction from recent nuclear magnetic resonance study.

Moving to stay in place: behavioral mechanisms for coexistence of African large carnivores

Most ecosystems have multiple predator species that not only compete for shared prey, but also pose direct threats to each other. These intraguild interactions are key drivers of carnivore community structure, with ecosystem-wide cascading effects. Yet, behavioral mechanisms for coexistence of multiple carnivore species remain poorly understood. The challenges of studying large, free-ranging carnivores have resulted in mainly coarse-scale examination of behavioral strategies without information about all interacting competitors. We overcame some of these challenges by examining the concurrent fine-scale movement decisions of almost all individuals of four large mammalian carnivore species in a closed terrestrial system. We found that the intensity of intraguild interactions did not follow a simple hierarchical allometric pattern, because spatial and behavioral tactics of subordinate species changed with threat and resource levels across seasons. Lions (Panthera leo) were generally unrestricted and anchored themselves in areas rich in not only their principal prey, but also, during periods of resource limitation (dry season), rich in the main prey for other carnivores. Because of this, the greatest cost (potential intraguild predation) for subordinate carnivores was spatially coupled with the highest potential benefit of resource acquisition (prey-rich areas), especially in the dry season. Leopard (P. pardus) and cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) overlapped with the home range of lions but minimized their risk using fine-scaled avoidance behaviors and restricted resource acquisition tactics. The cost of intraguild competition was most apparent for cheetahs, especially during the wet season, as areas with energetically rewarding large prey (wildebeest) were avoided when they overlapped highly with the activity areas of lions. Contrary to expectation, the smallest species (African wild dog, Lycaon pictus) did not avoid only lions, but also used multiple tactics to minimize encountering all other competitors. Intraguild competition thus forced wild dogs into areas with the lowest resource availability year round. Coexistence of multiple carnivore species has typically been explained by dietary niche separation, but our multi-scaled movement results suggest that differences in resource acquisition may instead be a consequence of avoiding intraguild competition. We generate a more realistic representation of hierarchical behavioral interactions that may ultimately drive spatially explicit trophic structures of multi-predator communities.

Maximum magnitude estimation considering the regional rupture character

The main objective of the paper is to develop a new method to estimate the maximum magnitude (M (max)) considering the regional rupture character. The proposed method has been explained in detail and examined for both intraplate and active regions. Seismotectonic data has been collected for both the regions, and seismic study area (SSA) map was generated for radii of 150, 300, and 500 km. The regional rupture character was established by considering percentage fault rupture (PFR), which is the ratio of subsurface rupture length (RLD) to total fault length (TFL). PFR is used to arrive RLD and is further used for the estimation of maximum magnitude for each seismic source. Maximum magnitude for both the regions was estimated and compared with the existing methods for determining M (max) values. The proposed method gives similar M (max) value irrespective of SSA radius and seismicity. Further seismicity parameters such as magnitude of completeness (M (c) ), ``a'' and ``aEuro parts per thousand b `` parameters and maximum observed magnitude (M (max) (obs) ) were determined for each SSA and used to estimate M (max) by considering all the existing methods. It is observed from the study that existing deterministic and probabilistic M (max) estimation methods are sensitive to SSA radius, M (c) , a and b parameters and M (max) (obs) values. However, M (max) determined from the proposed method is a function of rupture character instead of the seismicity parameters. It was also observed that intraplate region has less PFR when compared to active seismic region.

Exploiting Chinese character models to improve speech recognition performance

The Chinese language is based on characters which are syllabic in nature. Since languages have syllabotactic rules which govern the construction of syllables and their allowed sequences, Chinese character sequence models can be used as a first level approximation of allowed syllable sequences. N-gram character sequence models were trained on 4.3 billion characters. Characters are used as a first level recognition unit with multiple pronunciations per character. For comparison the CU-HTK Mandarin word based system was used to recognize words which were then converted to character sequences. The character only system error rates for one best recognition were slightly worse than word based character recognition. However combining the two systems using log-linear combination gives better results than either system separately. An equally weighted combination gave consistent CER gains of 0.1-0.2% absolute over the word based standard system. Copyright © 2009 ISCA.

Los actos intrínsecamente malos en Veritatis Splendor

Resumen: El autor se propone recordar el sentido verdadero de la doctrina de los actos intrínsecamente malos y el marco conceptual desde el que es interpretada. Para precisar el lugar fundamental de la perspectiva desde la cual se reflexiona acerca del acto moral considera las implicancias de la así llamada “perspectiva de la tercera persona” y del proporcionalismo, que asumen un punto de vista exterior al acto mismo, y la reafirmación que VS hace de dicha doctrina, en la perspectiva más propia para la apreciación de los actos humanos desde el punto de vista moral: la perspectiva de la persona que actúa, denominada “perspectiva de la primera persona”, que pone de relieve el carácter intencional de las acciones humanas. En ese marco, se presenta al objeto moral en referencia al orden de la razón o al bien global de la persona humana y, en él, la aprehensión que hace la razón práctica de la “ordenabilidad” de los actos humanos al bien y al fin último que es Dios, la intencionalidad y autorreferencialidad propia de los actos del libre obrar humano, y el concepto personalista y relacional de acto intrínsecamente malo.

Las escenas espejo en el teatro isabelino : el jardín de Isabel en “La tragedia española” de Thomas Kyd

Resumen: Este trabajo busca demostrar cómo la escena de “El Jardín de Isabel” (acto IV, escena ii) en la obra La tragedia española de Thomas Kyd es un ejemplo de una escena espejo. Inicialmente se observa cómo esta escena está laxamente conectada con el resto de la obra y la misma no sufriría un cambio significativo de ser la escena eliminada; la característica de “prescindible” de ésta, es propia de una escena espejo. La escena del Jardín de Isabel es luego estudiada en profundidad para dejar en evidencia cómo resume la obra y la simboliza. El personaje de Isabel es examinado en detalle, siguiendo una sensibilidad pictórica y, a través de una interpretación temática y simbólica, Isabel es presentada como Piedad, Testigo de Justicia Divina y Venganza. Finalmente el espacio es también analizado como locus amoenus al ser inicialmente un lugar de encuentro de los enamorados y locus eremus luego de la maldición de Isabel. Luego del estudio de estos aspectos de esta escena espejo, se pone en evidencia cómo la misma “refleja” los temas centrales de la obra: la verdad se revela con el tiempo, hay que ser paciente y esperar la justicia divina y, por último, la venganza sólo condena al vengador.

Hannah Arendt y Walter Benjamin : masa, multitud, populacho

Resumen: Hannah Arendt y Walter Benjamin examinan los fenómenos asociativos de masa, multitud y populacho. Ambos sustraen tales grupos del ámbito político y los sitúan en el ámbito social. En Los orígenes del totalitarismo, Arendt indaga la noción de populacho o mob en el contexto del fenómeno imperialista. Asocia el carácter del populacho con el de la clase burguesa y posiciona ambos grupos en la emergencia de los nacionalismos tribales, ambos antecesores del totalitarismo. La masa es consustancial con los regímenes totalitarios. La apatía cívica, el cinismo y el derrumbe de las costumbres burguesas no alcanzan para explicar el fenómeno totalitario. El hombre masa ha perdido incluso el interés por sí mismo y el gusto por las asociaciones no partidarias. Walter Benjamin reflexiona literariamente los fenómenos de la bohème y de la multitud (crowd), a través de la poesía de Baudelaire y los relatos de Poe. El primer grupo incluye los conspiradores profesionales, cuyo aislamiento y resentimiento los emparenta con los miembros del mob. La falta de pertenencia y la ausencia de vínculos los conduce al activismo, sin un programa de acción. En el contexto de su reflexión sobre el fenómeno de la multitud, Benjamin indaga el impacto de las condiciones de vida moderna en las conductas automatizadas de los individuos. Los comportamientos reflejos, las respuestas automatizadas y los clichés, son las notas que también Arendt encuentra en el hombre “normal” y diluido en la masa, como lo evidenció la conducta de Eichmann durante el proceso en Jerusalén

La aventura no cumplida : el camino hacia el ocaso del caballero andante

Resumen: Los movimientos del héroe hacia su gloria implican una serie de acontecimientos, en los cuales la magia y la maravilla se unen para prodigar este derrotero de auxilios y obstáculos que fortifican el carácter del caballero y ayudan a este a alcanzar su ethos caballeresco. Batallas, encuentros fabulosos y apariciones extrañas se engarzan como cuentas en un collar para conducirlo a su plena realización. De forma similar, las aventuras no cumplidas indican al héroe que la hora del reposo ha llegado, que su andar, si bien en algunas oportunidades continúa, será menos intenso, y que debe dejar el lugar para su heredero. El universo mágico interviene igualmente en esta especie de ocaso del protagonismo para señalarle que la aventura no puede ser llevada a cabo por él, sino por su hijo. En este trabajo se pretende examinar cómo el elemento mágico interviene en este “estado de reposo” del caballero andante, que implica frecuentemente su entronización como gobernante de un reino o imperio, y el nacimiento del nuevo futuro caballero.

Character of simplified Navier-Stokes (SNS) equations near separation point for two-dimensional laminar flow over a flat plate

It is proved that the simplified Navier-Stokes (SNS) equations presented by Gao Zhi[1], Davis and Golowachof-Kuzbmin-Popof (GKP)[3] are respectively regular and singular near a separation point for a two-dimensional laminar flow over a flat plate. The order of the algebraic singularity of Davis and GKP equation[2,3] near the separation point is indicated. A comparison among the classical boundary layer (CBL) equations, Davis and GKP equations, Gao Zhi equations and the complete Navier-Stokes (NS) equations near the separation point is given.

Orientation preference and fractal character of short fatigue cracks in a weld metal

Short fatigue crack behaviour in a weld metal has been further investigated. The Schmid factor and the fractal dimension of short cracks on iso-stress specimens subjected to reversed bending have been determined and then applied to account for the distribution and orientation characteristics of short fatigue cracks. The result indicates that the orientation preference of short cracks is attributed to the large values of Schmid factor at relevant grains. The Schmid factors of most slip systems, which produced short cracks, are less than or equal to 0.4. Crack length measurements reveal that short crack path, compared to that of long crack, possesses a more stable and relatively larger value of fractal dimension. This is regarded as one of the typical features of short cracks.

Caso Bertoko

Addendum publicado en Cuadernos de Gestión 2(1): 113-113 (2002), disponible en ADDI: http://hdl.handle.net/10810/7030