Discriminative dialog state tracking has become a hot topic in dialog research community recently. Compared to generative approach, it has the advantage of being able to handle arbitrary dependent features, which is very appealing. In this paper, we present our approach to the DSTC2 challenge. We propose to use discriminative Markovian models as a natural enhancement to the stationary discrimin...

In this study, we demonstrate method for quasi phase matched silicon-on-sapphire waveguides suitable for MWIR wavelength conversion to achieve higher conversion efficiency than that can be achieved in uniform waveguide geometries. In particular we show that periodic change in waveguide width by 0.5μm and hence periodic change in waveguide dispersion can to reset phase accumulation and provide e...

Large numbers of positrons can be accumulated and cooled in a Penning-type trap. These positron clouds can be manipulated and conditioned using plasma physics techniques, before being released from the trap to form high quality positron beams. These techniques offer a qualitatively new method for positron beam formation and manipulation that has significant advantages in efficiency, flexibility...

repeating x-ray radiographs, as a common problem in radiology units, represent additional, non-billable costs due to increased film, chemistry, and equipment use as well as increased personnel time. furthermore, patients receive additional radiation exposure from repetitions and must remain on the premises until the second exam is completed. compounding the overt negative financial impact on th...

introduction one of the most important pre-processing steps in optical coherence tomography (oct) is reducing speckle noise, resulting from multiple scattering of tissues, which degrades the quality of oct images. materials and methods the present study focused on speckle noise reduction and edge detection techniques. statistical filters with different masks and noise variances were applied on ...

the benefits of textual input enhancement in the acquisition of linguistic forms have produced mixed results in sla literature. the present study investigates the effects of textual enhancement on adult foreign language intake of two english linguistic forms-subjunctive mood and inversion structures-to explore the role of the type of linguistic items in input enhancement studies. it also invest...

background: radiation-sensitive polymer gels are among the most promising three-dimensional dose verification tools and tissue-like developed to date. among the special features of this type of dosimeters, is be doped with other elements or chemicals which made them appropriate for investigating of dose enhancement with contrast agents, by high atomic number. material and methods: in this study...

2014 If linear micelles are considered to be rigid, their growth couples so strongly to alignment in the nematic phase that they grow almost without bound but we show that this coupling is greatly diminished when a realistic flexibility is taken into account. Analytical expressions for the coexistence variables are derived for the complete range of semiflexibility. Enhancement of growth by modi...

Biand multistatic synthetic aperture radar (SAR) operates with distinct transmit and receive antennas that are mounted on separate platforms. Such a spatial separation has several operational advantages, which will increase the capability, reliability and flexibility of future SAR missions. Various spaceborne biand multistatic SAR configurations are introduced, and their potential for different...

Sawbones are artificial bones designed to simulate the bone architecture, as well as the bone's physical properties. The incorporation of sawbones simulation laboratories in many orthopedic training programs has provided the residents with flexibility in learning and scheduling that align with their working hour limitations. This review paper deliberates the organization of sawbones simulation ...