Event temporal relation computation based on machine learning

Temporal relation computation is one of the tasks of the extraction of temporal arguments from event, and it is also the ultimate goal of temporal information processing. However, temporal relation computation based on machine learning requires a lot of hand-marked work, and exploring more features from discourse. A method of two-stage machine learning based on temporal relation computation （TSMLTRC） is proposed in this paper for the shortcomings of current temporal relation computation between two events. The first stage is to get the main temporal attributes of event based on classification learning. The second stage is to compute the event temporal relation in the discourse through employing the result of the first stage as the basic features, and also employing some new linguistic characteristics. Experiments show that, compared with the artificial golden rule, the computational efficiency in the first stage is much higher, and the F1-Score of event temporal relation which is computed through combining multi-features may be increased at 85.8% in the second stage.

Research on temporal and spatial distribution,evolutionary character and mechanism of crustal deformation field before and after the Tangshan earthquake

According to the data of precise relevelling and deformation measurement across faults, the temporal and spatial evolution process of crustal deformation field in the source and peripheral regions of the Tangshan earthquake (1976, M S=7.8), from 22 years before the earthquake to 9 years after, is described with the method of crustal deforma tion pattern dynamics. The crustal unstable zones first occur in the exterior, and then surround the focal region by contracting from the exterior to the interior, when the focal region appears to be unstable but does not lose stability. After the transient stable state, the second unstable process from the exterior to interior appears, which results in the instability of focal region. 'Deformation gap', 'earthquake gap' and 'locked fault zone' occur before instability, and their spatial distributions overlap, but their occurrence times have little differences. The earthquake occurs after the impending pre slide of the faults in the focal region. The studied results of the evolution process of crustal deformation field are identical with each other and with that of numeric simulation of crustal stress field, which supports the evolution model of seismogenic system with a strong body as its core.

Causal Circular Narrative and Time-Space Construction of the Movie Little Big Woman

Chinese film Little Big Woman takes the father’s funeral as the main line to tell the story of family affection and real-life emotional entanglements.In the narrative with multiple clues,we go back to find the hidden reasons,and the gradually clear reflection of the past is related to the real situation of the characters.Causal cycle narrative is not only a narrative strategy,but also a narrative logic with deep Chinese traditional cultural and philosophical connotations.

Auditory neuropathy in a patient with hemochromatosis

Objective: To evaluate the auditory function of an individual with genetically confirmed hemochromatosis.Methods: A 57 year old male with mildly impaired sound detection thresholds underwent a range of behavioural, electroacoustic and electrophysiologic assessments. These included the recording of otoacoustic emissions and auditory brainstem responses, measurement of monaural temporal resolution and evaluation of binaural speech processing. Findings for this patient were subsequently compared with those of 80 healthy controls with similar audiometric thresholds.Results: The patient showed the three cardinal features of auditory neuropathy, presenting with evidence of normal cochlear outer hair cell function, disrupted neural activity in the auditory nerve/brainstem and impaired temporal processing. His functional hearing ability(speech perception) was significantly affected and suggested a reduced capacity to use localization cues to segregate signals in the presence of background noise.Conclusion: We present the first case of an individual with hemochromatosis and auditory neuropathy. The findings for this patient highlight the need for careful evaluation of auditory function in individuals with the disorder.

Psychophysics in the ophthalmological practice—Ⅱ.Contrast sensitivity

Contrast is the differential luminance between one object and another.Contrast sensitivity(CS)quantifies the ability to detect this difference:estimating contrast threshold provides information about the quality of vision and helps diagnose and monitor eye diseases.High contrast visual acuity assessment is traditionally performed in the eye care practice,whereas the estimate of the discrimination of low contrast targets,an important complementary task for the perception of details,is far less employed.An example is driving when the contrast between vehicles,obstacles,pedestrians,and the background is reduced by fog.Many conditions can selectively degrade CS,while visual acuity remains intact.In addition to spatial CS,“temporal”CS is defined as the ability to discriminate luminance differences in the temporal domain,i.e.,to discriminate information that reaches the visual cortex as a function of time.Likewise,temporal sensitivity of the visual system can be investigated in terms of critical fusion frequency(CFF),an indicator of the integrity of the magnocellular system that is responsible for the perception of transient stimulations.As a matter of fact,temporal resolution can be abnormal in neuro-ophthalmological clinical conditions.This paper aims at considering CS and its application to the clinical practice.

Grassland degradation in the ＂Three-River Headwaters＂ region, Qinghai Province

Supported by MSS images in the mid and late 1970s,TM images in the early 1990s and TM/ETM images in 2004,grassland degradation in the＂Three-River Headwaters＂region （TRH region）was interpreted through analysis on RS images in two time series,then the spatial and temporal characteristics of grassland degradation in the TRH region were analyzed since the 1970s.The results showed that grassland degradation in the TRH region was a continuous change process which had large affected area and long time scale,and rapidly strengthen phenomenon did not exist in the 1990s as a whole.Grassland degradation pattern in the TRH region took shape initially in the mid and late 1970s.Since the 1970s,this degradation process has taken place continuously,obviously characterizing different rules in different regions.In humid and semi-humid meadow region,grassland firstly fragmentized, then vegetation coverage decreased continuously,and finally＂black-soil-patch＂degraded grassland was formed.But in semi-arid and arid steppe region,the vegetation coverage decreased continuously,and finally desertification was formed.Because grassland degradation had obviously regional differences in the TRH region,it could be regionalized into 7 zones, and each zone had different characteristics in type,grade,scale and time process of grassland degradation.

Feasibility of a novel beamforming algorithm via retrieving spatial harmonics

This paper introduces an algorithm for beamforming systems by the aid of multidimensional harmonic retrieval(MHR).This algorithm resolves problems,removes limitations of sampling and provides a more robust beamformer.A new sample space is created that can be used for estimating weights of a new beamforming called spatial-harmonics retrieval beamformer(SHRB).Simulation results show that SHRB has a better performance,accuracy,and applicability and more powerful eigenvalues than conventional beamformers.A simple mathematical proof is provided.By changing the number of harmonics,as a degree of freedom that is missing in conventional beamformers,SHRB can achieve more optimal outputs without increasing the number of spatial or temporal samples.We will demonstrate that SHRB offers an improvement of 4 dB in signal to noise ratio(SNR) in bit error rate(BER) of 10~(-4) over conventional beamformers.In the case of direction of arrival(DOA) estimation,SHRB can estimate the DOA of the desired signal with an SNR of-25 dB,when conventional methods cannot have acceptable response.

Diffractive-optical processing of temporal signals, part I: basic principles

The topic of this paper is the utilization of time for optical information processing. As clock rates in computing and communication systems increase and reach the THz border, optical techniques for signal filtering, shaping and clock distribution become attractive. We discuss the use of optics in temporal processing and consider in particular diffractive solutions. In part one of this paper, we discuss the basic concepts of temporal optics.

Diffractive-optical processing of temporal signals, part Ⅱ: optical tapped-delay line

The topic of this presentation is the utilization of time for optical information processing. As clock rates in computing and communication systems increase and reach the THz border, optical techniques for signal filtering, shaping and clock distribution become attractive. We discuss the use of optics in temporal processing and consider in particular diffractive solutions, in this paper, we describe the use of double diffraction for implementing an ultrafast tapped-delay line.

Diurnal changes in differential sensitivity and temporal resolution in morning-type and evening-type individuals with normal hearing

The present study attempts to determine diurnal changes by testing the differential sensitivity and temporal resolution in morning-type,evening-type,and intermediate-type individuals with normal hearing.Thirty participants with normal hearing were divided into morningtype,evening-type,and intermediate-type using“MorningnesseEveningness Questionnaire”.The tests of differential sensitivity and temporal resolution were administered to all the participants in the morning and evening,respectively.The differences in the test results between different timing across all the three groups were analyzed.The results of the study showed that there was a significant diurnal effect on psychoacoustic tests as morning-type individuals performed better when tested in morning and evening-type performed better when they were tested in evening.However,there was no diurnal effect found in intermediate group.The lack of inhibitory control and poor cognitive load in off peak time could have lead to poor scores.Thus,the variable of diurnal effects should be considered in further studies on psychoacoustic tests,especially in young adults.Furthermore,studies could be performed to explore diurnal effects on objective audiological tests in a larger group of population in the future.

A new method for fMRI data processing: Neighborhood independent component correlation algorithm and its preliminary application

Independent component analysis (ICA) is a newly developed promising technique in signal processing applications. The effective separation and discrimination of functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) signals is an area of active research and widespread interest. Therefore, the development of an ICA based fMRI data processing method is of obvious value both theoretically and in potential applications. In this paper, analyzed firstly is the drawback of the extant popular ICA-fMRI method where the adopted signal model assumes the independence of spatial distributions of the signals and noise. Then presented is a new fMRI signal model, which assumes the independence of temporal courses of signal and noise in a tiny spatial domain. Consequently we get a novel fMRI data processing method: Neighborhood independent component correlation algorithm. The effectiveness is elucidated through theoretical analysis and simulation tests, and finally a real fMRI data test is presented.