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Neuron Digest   Thursday, 13 Feb 1997                Volume 97 : Issue 6

Today's Topics:
                       research associate position
                  Motorola NN Speech Synthesizer Article
          CFP: IV Brazilian Symposium on Neural Networks SBRN'97
          JAIR article - connectionist natural language learning
      Student Position: Learning for Agents and Multi-Agent Systems
                 CARGESE SUMMER SCHOOL - 1st annoucement


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----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: research associate position
From:    Claude Meunier <meunier@orphee.polytechnique.fr>
Date:    Tue, 11 Feb 1997 10:02:01 +0100

Research associate
Center for Theoretical Physics
Ecole Polytechnique, France

The Center for Theoretical Physics invites applications for a possible one
year position of research associate (no teaching duties), starting Fall
1997. Six month stays may also be considered. Candidates are expected to
carry out their research in the framework of our existing research programs
in:
- - computational neurosciences
- - condensed matter
- - field theory and particle physics
- - plasma physics

Applicants should submit a resume with publications list, statement of
research interests, and two letters of references to:
Dr. M.-N. Bussac
Centre de Physique Th=E9orique
Ecole Polytechnique
91128 Palaiseau cedex France
fax: 00 33 01 69 33 30 08
E-mail: bussac@cpth.polytechnique.fr

Send requests of information on this temporary position and post doctoral
positions in theoretical physics at Ecole Polytechnique to the same
address.

The closing date for the receipt of applications is March 15, 1997.


------------------------------

Subject: Motorola NN Speech Synthesizer Article 
From:    Orhan Karaali <karaali@ukraine.corp.mot.com>
Date:    Tue, 11 Feb 1997 11:34:16 -0600

FTP-host: archive.cis.ohio-state.edu
FTP-filename: /pub/neuroprose/karaali.synthesis_wcnn96.ps.Z



Motorola Neural Network Speech Synthesizer Article 

A new neural network based speech synthesizer has been developed here at
Motorola Chicago Corporate Research Laboratories by the Speech Synthesis and
Machine Learning Group.  We believe that the quality of the synthesized
speech it produces surpasses the current state of the art, particularly in
naturalness.

An invited paper describing this neural network speech synthesizer
was presented in the Speech Session of the World Congress on Neural
Networks 96 in San Diego.  This paper is now available in the NEUROPROSE
archive as karaali.synthesis_wcnn96.ps.Z.

If you have a problem getting the paper from NEUROPROSE, I can email
it to you.

Orhan Karaali

email: karaali@mot.com


- ---------------------------------------------------------------------

Speech Synthesis with Neural Networks
Orhan Karaali, Gerald Corrigan, and Ira Gerson
Motorola, Inc., 1301 E. Algonquin Road, Schaumburg, IL 60196
karaali@mot.com, corrigan@mot.com, gerson@mot.com

ABSTRACT

Text-to-speech conversion has traditionally been performed either by
concatenating short samples of speech or by using rule-based systems to convert
a phonetic representation of speech into an acoustic representation, which is
then converted into speech. This paper describes a system that uses a
time-delay neural network (TDNN) to perform this phonetic-to-acoustic mapping,
with another neural network to control the timing of the generated speech.
The neural network system requires less memory than a concatenation system,
and performed well in tests comparing it to commercial systems using other
technologies.



------------------------------

Subject: CFP: IV Brazilian Symposium on Neural Networks SBRN'97
From:    Valeriu Beiu <beiu@lanl.gov>
Date:    Tue, 11 Feb 1997 20:50:18 -0700


/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

       I V t h   B R A Z I L I A N   S Y M P O S I U M    O N 

                  N E U R A L    N E T W O R K S 

                                SBRN'97  

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

                Goiania, GO, Brazil, December 03 - 05, 1997


              Sponsored by: Brazilian Computer Society (SBC)
               International Neural Networks Society (INNS)

        Organized by the School of Electrical Engineering (EEE)
                    Federal University of Goias (UFG)

              Conference Chairmen: Weber Martins (EEE-UFG)
                        Dibio Leandro Borges (EEE-UFG)


=======================================================================
    Latest information will be placed at the conference WWW-page 
                        http://www.eee.ufg.br/sbrn97/
=======================================================================



                                                          P u r p o s e 
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------

The fourth Brazilian Symposium on Neural Networks will be  held  at the 
School of Electrical Engineering,  Federal  University  of Goias (UFG), 
Goiania,  GO  (Brazil), on  3rd,  4th,  and  5th  December,  1997.  The 
Brazilian  Symposia  on  Neural  Networks are organized by the interest 
group in Neural Networks of the Brazilian Computer Society. In order to 
promote research in Neural Networks and Evolutionary  Computation,  and 
scientific interchange among Brazilian AI researchers and practitioners, 
and  their  counterparts  worldwide,  papers   from  the  international 
community  are  most  welcome.  The  papers  will  be  reviewed  by  an 
international program committee. 


                                  T o p i c s    o f    I n t e r e s t
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Submissions  are  invited  on  substantial,  original,  and  previously 
unpublished research in all aspects of Neural Networks, including,  but 
not limited to:

   * Biological Perspectives
   * Cognitive Modeling
   * Dynamic Systems
   * Evolutionary Computation 
   * Fuzzy Logic
   * Hardware Implementation
   * Hybrid Systems
   * Learning Models
   * Neural Network Algorithms and Architectures
   * Neural Network Applications
   * Optimization
   * Pattern Recognition and Image Processing
   * Robotics and Control
   * Signal Processing
   * Theoretical Models


                                     P r o g r a m    C o m m i t t e e 
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Nigel M. Allinson       (Univ. Manchester Institute of Technology - UK)
Jose Nelson Amaral      (Pontificia Catholic University, RS - BRAZIL)
William Armstrong       (University of Alberta - CANADA)
Valeriu Beiu            (Los Alamos National Laboratory - USA)
Dibio Leandro Borges  * (Federal University of Goias - BRAZIL)
Antonio de Padua Braga  (Federal University of Minas Gerais - BRAZIL)
Andre L.P. de Carvalho  (University of Sao Paulo, S. Carlos - BRAZIL)
Weber Martins         * (Federal University of Goias - BRAZIL)
Edilberto P. Teixeira   (Federal University of Uberlandia - BRAZIL)
Harold Szu              (University of Southwestern Louisiana - USA)
Germano C. Vasconcelos  (Federal University of Pernambuco - BRAZIL)

* Program Chairmen

                                                      T i m e t a b l e
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------

                   Submissions due   May 2nd, 1997
        Notification of acceptance   July 5th, 1997
              Final manuscript due   August 5th, 1997
                   Conference date   December 3rd-5th, 1997


                                     P a p e r    S u b m i s s i o n s
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                
We  invite  submissions  of  scientific  papers to any topic related to 
Neural Networks and Evolutionary  Computation.  Authors  should  submit 
four (4) copies of their  papers in  hard  copy form.  Neither computer 
files nor fax submission are acceptable.  Submissions must  be  printed 
on 8 1/2 x 11 inch (21.59 x 27.94 cm) or A4 paper using 12 point  type, 
and they must be a maximum of twenty (20)  pages  long,  double  space, 
including all figures and references.  The reviewing  process  will  be 
blind to the identities of the authors, please note that this  requires 
that authors exercise some care not to  identify  themselves  in  their 
papers.


Title page and paper body
- -------------------------

Each copy of the paper must include a title page, separate from the body 
of the paper, containing the title of the paper, the names and addresses 
of all authors (please, complete  addresses  including  also  e-mail and 
FAX), a short abstract of less than 200 words, and a  list  of  keywords 
giving the area/subarea of the paper.

The second page, on which the paper body begins, should include the same 
title, abstract, keywords, but not the names  and  affiliations  of  the 
authors.


All paper submissions should be to the following address:
- ---------------------------------------------------------

IVth Brazilian Symposium on Neural Networks (SBRN'97)
(PAPER SUBMISSION) 
School of Electrical Engineering (EEE)
Federal University of Goias (UFG)
Pca. Universitaria s/n
Setor Universitario
74605-220   Goiania, GO        (BRAZIL) 

FAX:    +55 62 202 - 0325 
E-mail: sbrn97@eee.ufg.br


Review criteria
- ---------------
                                                                
Papers  will  be  subject to  peer  review  by an international program 
committee. Selection criteria include accuracy and originality of ideas, 
clarity and significance of results and the quality of the presentation.


                                                  P u b l i c a t i o n
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      
We  are  planning to publish the international proceedings with a major 
publishing house, and details will be available soon.  Papers submitted 
in Portuguese or Spanish will be published in a separate  volume.  Both 
proceedings will be available at the conference.  Please, note  that at 
least one author should attend the conference for  presentation  of the 
accepted paper.

                                                      I n q u i r i e s
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Inquiries  regarding  any  aspect  of the conference may be sent to the 
internet address: sbrn97@eee.ufg.br

                   or to the Conference Chairmen:

    Weber Martins                and            Dibio Leandro Borges

                                both at:
                    School of Electrical Engineering 
                     Federal University  of Goias 
                       Pca. Universitaria   s/n
                          Setor Universitario 
                   74605-220    Goiania, GO    (BRAZIL)



\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

------------------------------

Subject: JAIR article - connectionist natural language learning
From:    Stefan Wermter <wermter@nats5.informatik.uni-hamburg.de>
Date:    Wed, 12 Feb 1997 13:45:25 +0100


- ----- Begin Included Message -----


From: jair-ed@ptolemy.arc.nasa.gov


JAIR is pleased to announce the publication of the following article, which
may be of interest to readers of this mailing list:

Wermter, S. and Weber, V. (1997)
  "SCREEN: Learning a Flat Syntactic and Semantic Spoken Language Analysis 
Using Artificial Neural Networks",  Volume 6, pages 35-85.

   Available in HTML, Postscript (1.1M) and compressed Postscript (290K).
   For quick access via your WWW browser, use this URL:
     http://www.cs.washington.edu/research/jair/abstracts/wermter97a.html
   More detailed instructions are below.

   Abstract: Previous approaches of analyzing spontaneously spoken
   language often have been based on encoding syntactic and semantic
   knowledge manually and symbolically. While there has been some
   progress using statistical or connectionist language models, many
   current spoken- language systems still use a relatively brittle,
   hand-coded symbolic grammar or symbolic semantic component.<p>
   
   In contrast, we describe a so-called screening approach for learning
   robust processing of spontaneously spoken language.  A screening
   approach is a flat analysis which uses shallow sequences of category
   representations for analyzing an utterance at various syntactic,
   semantic and dialog levels.  Rather than using a deeply structured
   symbolic analysis, we use a flat connectionist analysis.  This
   screening approach aims at supporting speech and language processing
   by using (1) data-driven learning and (2) robustness of connectionist
   networks.  In order to test this approach, we have developed the
   SCREEN system which is based on this new robust, learned and flat
   analysis.<p>
   
   In this paper, we focus on a detailed description of SCREEN's
   architecture, the flat syntactic and semantic analysis, the
   interaction with a speech recognizer, and a detailed evaluation
   analysis of the robustness under the influence of noisy or incomplete
   input.  The main result of this paper is that flat representations
   allow more robust processing of spontaneous spoken language than
   deeply structured representations.  In particular, we show how the
   fault-tolerance and learning capability of connectionist networks can
   support a flat analysis for providing more robust spoken-language
   processing within an overall hybrid symbolic/connectionist framework.

The article is available via:
   
 -- comp.ai.jair.papers (also see comp.ai.jair.announce)

 -- World Wide Web: The URL for our World Wide Web server is
       http://www.cs.washington.edu/research/jair/home.html
    For direct access to this article and related files try:
       http://www.cs.washington.edu/research/jair/abstracts/wermter97a.html

 -- Anonymous FTP from either of the two sites below.

    Carnegie-Mellon University (USA):
        ftp://ftp.cs.cmu.edu/project/jair/volume6/wermter97a.ps
    The University of Genoa (Italy):
        ftp://ftp.mrg.dist.unige.it/pub/jair/pub/volume6/wermter97a.ps

    The compressed PostScript file is named wermter97a.ps.Z (290K)

 -- automated email. Send mail to jair@cs.cmu.edu or jair@ftp.mrg.dist.unige.it
    with the subject AUTORESPOND and our automailer will respond. To
    get the Postscript file, use the message body GET volume6/wermter97a.ps 
    (Note: Your mailer might find this file too large to handle.) 
    Only one can file be requested in each message.

For more information about JAIR, visit our WWW or FTP sites, or
send electronic mail to jair@cs.cmu.edu with the subject AUTORESPOND
and the message body HELP, or contact jair-ed@ptolemy.arc.nasa.gov.


- ----- End Included Message -----


*****************************************************************
Dr. Stefan Wermter
University of Hamburg
Dept. of Computer Science
Vogt-Koelln-Str. 30
D-22527 Hamburg
Germany

Email: wermter@informatik.uni-hamburg.de
Phone: +49-5494 2531
Fax:   +49-5494 2515
http://www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/NATS/staff/wermter.html

------------------------------

Subject: Student Position: Learning for Agents and Multi-Agent Systems
From:    Steve Lawrence <lawrence@research.nj.nec.com>
Date:    Wed, 12 Feb 1997 13:05:43 -0500

The NEC Research Institute in Princeton, NJ has an immediate opening
for a student research position in the area of learning for agents and
multi-agent systems.

Candidates must have experience in research and be able to effectively
communicate research results. Ideal candidates will have knowledge of
one or more machine learning techniques (e.g. neural networks,
decision trees, rule based systems, and nearest neighbor techniques),
and be proficient in the software implementation of algorithms.

NEC Research provides an outstanding research environment with many
recognized experts and excellent resources including several
multiprocessor machines.

Interested applicants should apply by email, mail or fax including
their resumes and any specific interests in learning for agents and
multi-agent systems to:

Dr. C. Lee Giles
NEC Research Institute
4 Independence Way
Princeton NJ 08540

Phone: (609) 951 2642
Fax: (609) 951 2482
Email: giles@research.nj.nec.com

- -- 
Steve Lawrence <*> http://www.neci.nj.nec.com/homepages/lawrence

------------------------------

Subject: CARGESE SUMMER SCHOOL - 1st annoucement
From:    parodi@cptsu2.univ-mrs.fr (Olivier Parodi)
Date:    Mon, 10 Feb 1997 15:54:07 +0100



                        SUMMER SCHOOL

                             on

                NEURONAL INFORMATION PROCESSING :
        FROM BIOLOGICAL DATA TO MODELLING AND APPLICATIONS

                Cargese -- Corse du Sud (France)
                    June 30 -- July 12, 1997

                        organized at the
          INSTITUT D'ETUDES SCIENTIFIQUES DE CARGESE
                        CNRS (UMS 820) 
   Universite de Nice-Sophia Antipolis - Universite de Corte
                      F 20130 CARGESE


Sponsored by

        Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
        DGA-DRET (French Ministry of Defence)
        Conseil Executif de la Corse

THEME

        In the past ten years, statistical mechanics and dynamics of neuronal 
automata have been extensively studied. Most of the work has been based on 
over-simplified models of neurons. Recent developments in Neurosciences have, 
however, considerably modified our knowledge of both the operating modes of 
neurons and information processing in the cortex.
        Multi-unit recordings have allowed precise temporal correlations to be
detected, within temporal windows of the order of 1 ms. Simultaneously,
oscillations corresponding to a quasi-periodic spike-firing, synchronized over
several visual cortical areas, have been observed with anaesthesied cats and
with monkeys. Last but not least, recent work on the neuronal operating modes
have emphasized the role played by the dendritic arborization.
        These developments have led to considerable interest for coding scheme 
relying on precise spatio-temporal patterns both from the theoretical and 
experimental points of view.  This prompts us to consider, for information 
processing, new models which would proceed, e.g., from a synchronous detection 
of correlated spike firing, and could be particularly robust against noise. 
Such models might bring about original technical applications for information 
processing and control.
        Further developments in this field may be of major importance for our 
understanding of the basic mechanisms of perception and cognition. They should 
also lead to new concepts in applications directed towards artificial 
percrecognition are far from reaching the standards of human vision. Systems based 
on a temporal coding by spikes may now be expected to bring about major 
improvements in this field.
        The aim of the school is to provide students and people engaged in both
applied and basic research with state of the art in every relevant field
(Neurosciences, Physics, Mathematics, Information and Control Theory) and to 
encourage further interdisciplinary and international exchanges.

PRELIMINARY PROGRAM

        Pr. M. Abeles (Jerusalem) - Spike Correlations and synfire chains,
        Pr. P. Combe (Marseille) - Learning: a geometrical approach,
        Pr. J. Demongeot (Grenoble) - Dynamics of modular architectures,
        Pr. L. van Hemmen (Munchen) - Coding by spikes,
        Pr. J. Herault (Grenoble) - Information processing in the retina,
        Pr. J. Hertz (Copenhague) - Temporal coding and learning,
        Pr. A. Holley (Lyon) - Information processing in the olfactory 
mammalian system,
        Pr. C. von der Malsburg (Bochum) - Binding and Synchrony,
        Dr. C. Masson (Paris) - Cellular mechanism of odor discrimination,
        Dr. J. P. Nadal (Paris) - Information theory and neuronal 
architecture,
        Dr. O. Parodi (Marseille) - Temporal coding and correlation detection,
        Pr. S. Solla (ATT) - Dynamics of on-line learning processes.
        

OFFICIAL LANGUAGES
The official languages of the School are English and French. Lectures will
given in English.


DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL
        Olivier PARODI, Centre de Physique Theorique
        CNRS-Luminy, case 907, F 13288 MARSEILLE CEDEX 09, France
        Tel. (33) 4 91 26 95 30  Fax (33) 4 91 26 95 53
        e-mail parodi@cpt.univ-mrs.fr

REGISTRATION FEES
        Students: free
        CNRS and members of CNRS institutes: free
        University: 1500 FF
        Industry: 2500 FF

ACCOMMODATION GRANTS 
 
1 - The School is sponsored by the Formation Permanente du CNRS, which can
support accomodation expenses of at least 16 CNRS participants. 
2 - The Organizing Committee will consider grants for students and young 
participants.


PRACTICAL INFORMATION

        The school will be held at the Institut d'Etudes Scientifiques 
de Cargese. Lectures and Seminars will be given from 9 am to 12:30 pm and 
from 4 to 7:15 pm.(except on Sunday) from July 1 to 11 included. All 
participants are expected to arrive on June 30 and leave on July 12.

TRAVEL : Cargese is located approximatively 60 kms North of Ajaccio. The best 
way to get to Cargese is to reach Ajaccio. You are asked to make your own 
travelling arrangements. However, in order to reduce the cost of your travel, 
two groups will be organized on regular flights between Paris and Ajaccio and 
Marseille and Ajaccio on June 30 and July 12 (approx. 1200-1400 FF for a Paris- 
Ajaccio return ticket). We also consider renting buses for the Ajaccio-Cargese 
and return journeys. Details will be sent later. 

ACCOMODATION : The Institute is located 2 km south of the village, on the 
sea shore. On working days, lunches will be served at the Institute (800 FF for
the session, including refreshment and coffe breaks). There are various housing
possibilities:

- - shared room at the Institute or in apartments in the village - 1920 FF
 (per person for the session)
- - single room in shared apartments in the village - 2640 FF for the session
- - rented apartment in the village for your family - 270 to 500 FF per day
- - hotels in the village - 250 to 400 FF per person per day
- - camping on the grounds of the Institute - 20 FF per person per day. You have 
to bring your own equipment, showers are at your disposal. Breakfast will be 
served at the Institute for people staying on the grounds.

WARNING: There are no banks nor cash machines in Cargese and credit cards
are not accepted everywhere. Think to bring enough French cash before leaving 
Paris, Marseille or Ajaccio.

NOTE : We cannot provide accomodation before or after the dates of the School.

POSTER SESSION : One or several poster sessions will be organized. 
Participants are encouraged to prepare posters on their own work.

REGISTRATION :
You have to fill the enclosed application and return it by e-mail to
                cargese@cpt.univ-mrs.fr
BEFORE MARCH 31, 1997 with, if necessary, a letter justifying your grant 
request.

The School will accept up to 50 students, including those supported by the
Formation Permanente of CNRS. In case of over-demand, participants will be 
selected by the Scientific Committee, with a balance between junior
and senior students, and a preference for students carrying an active 
research in the field.

***************************************************************************
***************************************************************************




        |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||


                           REGISTRATION FORM
                         BULLETIN D'INSCRIPTION


                   NEURONAL INFORMATION PROCESSING
                 TRAITEMENT NEURONAL DE L'INFORMATION



NAME / NOM
First name / Prenom (Ms/Mr)
Nationality/Nationalite
date of birth / date
INSTITUTE ADDRESS / LABORATOIRE



Tel.
Fax
e-mail

HOME ADDRESS / Adresse personnelle



Tel.
Next of kin / Personne a prevenir en cas d'accident :



DIPLOMA /Niveau Universitaire

PRESENT POSITION / EMPLOI ACTUEL ?


PRESENT RESEARCH / RECHERCHES ACTUELLES


MAIN PUBLICATIONS / Publications Principales
(up to five recent publications)





Will your Institution pay for / Votre Laboratoire subventionne-t-il:
your travel (Yes/No) ? 
votre voyage (Oui/Non) ?
your accommodation expenses (Yes/No) ?
vos frais de sejour ? (Oui/Non) ?


Only for members of the CNRS /
Pour les participants CNRS, ou relevant d'un laboratoire soutenu par le CNRS,
demandez-vous la prise en charge de vos frais de sejour et de transport par
la Formation Permanente du CNRS ?

For Junior applicants, do you request a grant ? (Yes/No) ?
Pour les jeunes chercheurs, etes-vous candidat a une bourse ? (Oui/Non)

RECOMMENDATION : Junior applicants should arrange for a letter of 
recommendation from a senior scientist who had the oppotunity to judge their
work. This letter should be sent by e-mail to cargese@cpt.univ-mrs.fr. 
RECOMMANDATION: Les jeunes chercheurs doivent fournir une lettre de 
recommandation d'un chercheur confirme. Cette lettre doit etre envoyee par 
courrier electronique a cargese@cpt.univ-mrs.fr

YOU ARE RECOMMENDED BY / Vous etes recommande par ?


TRAVEL/VOYAGE:
Will you take a group flight / Prendrez-vous un vol de groupe ?
Paris-Ajaccio-Paris : Number/Nombre ?
Marseille-Ajaccio-Marseille : Number/Nombre ?

HOUSING (Specify your choice):
LOGEMENT (Precisez votre choix):

Pour les participants francophones:
Etes-vous capable de suivre un cours en anglais ?
De participer a une discussion en anglais ?   

DEADLINE / DATE LIMITE D'INSCRIPTION : 
THIS APPLICATION HAS TO BE SENT BY E-MAIL NOT LATER THAN MARCH 31, 1997 TO 
cargese@cpt.univ-mrs.fr 
CE FORMULAIRE DOIT ETRE RENVOYE PAR COURRIER ELECTRONIQUE AU PLUS TARD LE
31 MARS 1997 A cargese@cpt.univ-mrs.fr

You will receive an answer by e-mail before April 30.
Vous recevrez une reponse avant le 30 avril.

e-mail contact for special requests only / contact par courrier electronique 
pour des problemes particuliers:
                cargese@cpt.univ-mrs.fr


------------------------------

End of Neuron Digest [Volume 97 Issue 6]
****************************************