MLLP-VRAIN Spanish ASR Systems for the Albayzín-RTVE 2020 Speech-To-Text Challenge: Extension

This paper describes the automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems built by the MLLP-VRAIN research group of Universitat Politècnica de València for the Albayzín-RTVE 2020 Speech-to-Text Challenge, and includes an extension of the work consisting of building and evaluating equivalent systems under the closed data conditions from the 2018 challenge. The primary system (p-streaming_1500ms_nlt) was a hybrid ASR system using streaming one-pass decoding with a context window of 1.5 seconds. This system achieved 16.0% WER on the test-2020 set. We also submitted three contrastive systems. From these, we highlight the system c2-streaming_600ms_t which, following a similar configuration as the primary system with a smaller context window of 0.6 s, scored 16.9% WER points on the same test set, with a measured empirical latency of 0.81 ± 0.09 s (mean ± stdev). That is, we obtained state-of-the-art latencies for high-quality automatic live captioning with a small WER degradation of 6% relative. As an extension, the equivalent closed-condition systems obtained 23.3% WER and 23.5% WER, respectively. When evaluated with an unconstrained language model, we obtained 19.9% WER and 20.4% WER; i.e., not far behind the top-performing systems with only 5% of the full acoustic data and with the extra ability of being streaming-capable. Indeed, all of these streaming systems could be put into production environments for automatic captioning of live media streams.

First Survey about Current Practices of Environmental Monitoring Programs within French Agri-Food Industries

Food safety is a constant challenge for stakeholders in the food industry. To manage the likelihood of microbiological contamination, food safety management systems must be robust, including food and environmental testing. Environmental monitoring programs (EMP) have emerged this last decade aiming to validate cleaning–sanitation procedures and other environmental pathogen control programs. The need to monitor production environments has become evident because of recent foodborne outbreaks. However, the boundaries of environmental monitoring are not only limited to the management of pathogens but also extend to spoilage and hygiene indicators, microorganisms, allergens, and other hygiene monitoring. Surfaces in production environments can be a source of contamination, either through ineffective cleaning and disinfection procedures or through contamination during production by flows or operators. This study analyses the current practices of 37 French agri-food industries (small, medium, or large), reporting their objectives for EMPs, microbial targets, types, numbers and frequency of sampling, analysis of results, and types of corrective actions.

Quality requirement for seed production in the Nigerian seed industry

Greater attention is always being given to quantity of seeds produced rather than the inherent quality when issues related to seed requirements are discussed. However, seed production should not be limited to production of crops with high yielding potential, but also of high quality seeds with good economic potential that can give good crop establishment and yields in a wide range of production environments. This requires good knowledge of seed production and the establishment of an economically functional seed system with serviceable strategies. This underscores the importance of seed quality assurance systems strengthened with seed law enforcement strategies to assure production of good quality seeds of preferred varieties. This paper discusses those strategies put in place to ensure a successful production of quality seeds in the Nigerian seed industry and how the setups operate to achieve this objective.

Deception in Network Defences Using Unpredictability

In this article, we propose a novel method that aims to improve upon existing moving-target defences by making them unpredictably reactive using probabilistic decision-making. We postulate that unpredictability can improve network defences in two key capacities: (1) by re-configuring the network in direct response to detected threats, tailored to the current threat and a security posture, and (2) by deceiving adversaries using pseudo-random decision-making (selected from a set of acceptable set of responses), potentially leading to adversary delay and failure. Decisions are performed automatically, based on reported events (e.g., Intrusion Detection System (IDS) alerts), security posture, mission processes, and states of assets. Using this codified form of situational awareness, our system can respond differently to threats each time attacker activity is observed, acting as a barrier to further attacker activities. We demonstrate feasibility with both anomaly- and misuse-based detection alerts, for a historical dataset (playback), and a real-time network simulation where asset-to-mission mappings are known. Our findings suggest that unpredictability yields promise as a new approach to deception in laboratory settings. Further research will be necessary to explore unpredictability in production environments.

Occurrence of Antibiotic-Resistant Staphylococcus spp. in Orange Orchards in Thailand

Background: The widespread indiscriminate application of antibiotics to food crops to control plant disease represents a potential human health risk. In this study, the presence of antibiotic-resistant staphylococci associated with workers and orange orchard environments was determined. A total of 20 orchards (orange and other fruits) were enrolled in the study. Trees in the orange orchards were treated with ampicillin on a pre-determined schedule. Environmental samples (n = 60) included soil, water, and oranges; 152 hand and nasal samples were collected from 76 healthy workers. Antibiotic susceptibility profiles were determined for all staphylococcal isolates. Results: This investigation revealed that of the total Staphylococcus spp. recovered from the orange orchard, 30% (3/10) were resistant to erythromycin, 20% (2/10) were resistant to ampicillin, and 20% (2/10) resistant to both erythromycin and ampicillin. Conclusion: The application of antibiotics to orange trees in open production environments to halt the spread of bacterial disease presents risks to the environment and creates health concerns for Thai farmers using those agents. ARB on crops such as oranges may enter the global food supply and adversely affect public health.

The Learning Path to Neural Network Industrial Application in Distributed Environments

Industrial companies focus on efficiency and cost reduction, which is very closely related to production process safety and secured environments enabling production with reduced risks and minimized cost on machines maintenance. Legacy systems are being replaced with new systems built into distributed production environments and equipped with machine learning algorithms that help to make this change more effective and efficient. A distributed control system consists of several subsystems distributed across areas and sites requiring application interfaces built across a control network. Data acquisition and data processing are challenging processes. This contribution aims to present an approach for the data collection based on features standardized in industry and for data classification processed with an applied machine learning algorithm for distinguishing exceptions in a dataset. Files with classified exceptions can be used to train prediction models to make forecasts in a large amount of data.

Layout optimization methods and tools: A systematic literature review

Purpose: This article aims to show the methods used to optimize layout and tools that have been applied since 2010 in the most diverse production environments. Theoretical Reference: Due to the intense competitiveness and uncertainties in the current market, improving processes and increasing production efficiency by managing the layout of a facility can be one of the methods to benefit organizations. In this context, knowledge of the main tools and methods is essential in defining the conduct of studies. Design/methodology/approach: Research was carried out through a systematic literature review. The databases used were Science Direct and Portal Capes. Using keywords, a defined scope and the relevance of the theme, international articles were selected for reading and discussion. Findings: Through the review, it was possible to select 51 articles which were relevant to the topic. Due to the complexity of the layout management study, it was found that increasingly more algorithms, mathematical and computational models are being used to solve these NP-hardness problems. Research, Practical & Social implications: adjusting to new methods and ways of solving problems laying out facilities, although scenarios can be extremely varied, they can improve business results by making the process more efficient. Originality/value: The article compiles and briefly explains the methods found to optimize the layout, which is of great importance considering the knowledge that these models spread on production management practices. Keywords: Layout optimization. Algorithm. Method. Facility layout planning

Proposal of a Tool for Determining Sub- and Main Dimension Indicators in Assessing Internal Logistics Readiness for Industry 4.0 within a Company

Key elements of Industry 4.0 are the digitization of products and production, enterprise information systems, robotic workplaces, communication infrastructure, and of course, employees. Industry 4.0 transforms production from stand-alone automated units to fully integrated automated and continuously optimized production environments. According to the prediction of Industry 4.0, new global networks will be created based on the interconnection of production equipment into CPS systems. These systems will be the basic building block of the so-called “smart factories”, and will be able to exchange information autonomously, trigger the necessary actions in response to current conditions and mutually independent inspections. The aim of this article is to describe the issue of readiness models for the Industry 4.0 concept, which are commonly used as tools for conceptualizing and measuring the maturity of an organization or process related to a specific target state. Characteristic for the models is their use because, on this basis, it is possible to identify the current readiness for the concept of Industry 4.0 comprehensively in the whole company or in various sub-areas.

Growth and trend analysis of area, production and yield of rice: A scenario of rice security in Bangladesh

Bangladesh positioned as third rice producing country in the world. In Bangladesh, regional growth and trend in rice production determinants, disparities and similarities of rice production environments are highly desirable. In this study, the secondary time series data of area, production, and yield of rice from 1969–70 to 2019–20 were used to investigate the growth and trend by periodic, regional, seasonal and total basis. Quality checking, trend fitting, and classification analysis were performed by the Durbin-Watson test, Exponential growth model, Cochrane-Orcutt iteration method and clustering method. The production contribution to the national rice production of Boro rice is increasing at 0.97% per year, where Aus and Aman season production contribution significantly decreased by 0.48% and 0.49% per year. Among the regions, Mymensingh, Rangpur, Bogura, Jashore, Rajshahi, and Chattogram contributed the most i.e., 13.9%, 9.8%, 8.6%, 8.6%, 8.2%, and 8.0%, respectively. Nationally, the area of Aus and Aman had a decreasing trend with a -3.63% and -0.16% per year, respectively. But, in the recent period (Period III) increasing trend was observed in the most regions. The Boro cultivation area is increasing with a rate of 3.57% per year during 1984–85 to 2019–20. High yielding variety adoption rate has increased over the period and in recent years it has found 72% for Aus, 73.5% for Aman, and 98.4% for Boro season. As a result, the yield of the Aus, Aman, and Boro seasons has been found increasing growth for most of the regions. We have identified different cluster regions in different seasons, indicating high dissimilarities among the rice production regions in Bangladesh. The region-wise actionable plan should be taken to rapidly adopt new varieties, management technologies and extension activities in lower contributor regions to improve productivity. Cluster-wise, policy strategies should be implemented for top and less contributor regions to ensure rice security of Bangladesh.