The traditional method for estimation of the parameters of Hidden Markov Model (HMM) based acoustic modeling of speech uses the Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm. The EM algorithm is sensitive to initial values of HMM parameters and is likely to terminate at a local maximum of likelihood...

With modern data-acquisition equipment and on-line computers used during production, it is now common to monitor several correlated quality characteristics simultaneously in multivariate processes. Multivariate control charts (MCC) are important tools for monitoring multivariate processes. One...

In 1998, the Australian Government announced a major reform of Australia’s overall tax system. The previous system was characterized as out of date (it included a range of historically justified but now anachronistic taxes), unfair, discouraging of exports and investment, ineffective and...

The aim of this study is to examine the association of smoking status with income inequality, relative deprivation, perception of relative material well-being and community-level social capital, controlling for individual-level indicators of social capital, and common socio-economic variables....

In recent years, attempts have been made to incorporate religion into tobacco control efforts, especially in countries like Malaysia and Thailand where religion is central to the lives of people. This paper is a prospective examination of the perceived relevance and role of religion and...

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a remote identification technique promises to revolutionize the way a specific object use to identify in our industry. However, large scale implementation of RFID sought for protection, against Malware threat, information privacy and un-traceability, for...

The global demand for web-based applications regarding financial products and services drives the financial sector to innovate through Information and Communication Technology (ICT) projects. The ICT projects are launched for the diffusion (spread) and implementation of new software or hardware...