Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Use of S-Shaped Input-Output Functions for Noise Suppression in Cochlear Implants

Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess the influence of the shape of the acoustic-to-electric mapping function on speech recognition in noise by cochlear implant listeners. Design: A new acoustic-to-electric mapping function is proposed for cochlear implant users in noisy environments. The proposed s-shaped mapping function was expansive for low input levels up to a knee point level and compressive thereafter. The knee point of the mapping functions changed dynamically and was set proportional to the estimated noise floor level. The performance of the mapping function was evaluated on a sentence recognition task using IEEE sentences embedded in +5 to 10 dB SNR multitalker babble and in +5 dB SNR speech-shaped noise. Nine postlingually deafened cochlear implant users participated in the study. Results: Results indicated that the same s-shaped mapping function did not yield significant improvements for all cochlear implant users. Significant benefits in speech intelligibility were observed, however, when the s-shaped mapping function was optimized to individual cochlear implant users. Significantly higher performance was achieved with the s-shaped mapping functions than the conventional log mapping function used by cochlear implant users in their daily strategy, in both multitalker (+5 and +10 dB SNR) and continuous speech-shaped (+5 dB SNR) conditions. Conclusions: These results clearly indicate that the shape of the nonlinear acoustic-to-electric mapping can have a significant effect on speech intelligibility in noise when it is optimized to individual cochlear implant users. The log functions currently used in most implant processors for mapping acoustic to electric amplitudes are not the best mapping functions to use in noisy environments. This is largely because compressive functions tend to amplify low-level segments of speech along with noise, thereby decreasing the spectral contrast and effective dynamic range. In contrast, the s-shaped mapping functions, which are partly compressive and partly expansive depending on the signal level, are more suitable for noisy environments and can produce significantly higher performance than the log-mapping functions.
New Insights into the Lake Chad Basin Population Structure Revealed by High-Throughput Genotyping of Mitochondrial DNA Coding SNPs

Background Located in the Sudan belt, the Chad Basin forms a remarkable ecosystem, where several unique agricultural and pastoral techniques have been developed. Both from an archaeological and a genetic point of view, this region has been interpreted to be the center of a bidirectional corridor connecting West and East Africa, as well as a meeting point for populations coming from North Africa through the Saharan desert. Methodology/Principal Findings Samples from twelve ethnic groups from the Chad Basin (n = 542) have been high-throughput genotyped for 230 coding region mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (mtSNPs) using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-Of-Flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. This set of mtSNPs allowed for much better phylogenetic resolution than previous studies of this geographic region, enabling new insights into its population history. Notable haplogroup (hg) heterogeneity has been observed in the Chad Basin mirroring the different demographic histories of these ethnic groups. As estimated using a Bayesian framework, nomadic populations showed negative growth which was not always correlated to their estimated effective population sizes. Nomads also showed lower diversity values than sedentary groups. Conclusions/Significance Compared to sedentary population, nomads showed signals of stronger genetic drift occurring in their ancestral populations. These populations, however, retained more haplotype diversity in their hypervariable segments I (HVS-I), but not their mtSNPs, suggesting a more ancestral ethnogenesis. Whereas the nomadic population showed a higher Mediterranean influence signaled mainly by sub-lineages of M1, R0, U6, and U5, the other populations showed a more consistent sub-Saharan pattern. Although lifestyle may have an influence on diversity patterns and hg composition, analysis of molecular variance has not identified these differences. The present study indicates that analysis of mtSNPs at high resolution could be a fast and extensive approach for screening variation in population studies where labor-intensive techniques such as entire genome sequencing remain unfeasible.
High‐frequency oscillations: What is normal and what is not?

High‐frequency oscillations (HFOs) in the 80–200 Hz range can be recorded from normal hippocampus and parahippocampal structures of humans and animals. They are believed to reflect inhibitory field potentials, which facilitate information transfer by synchronizing neuronal activity over long distances. HFOs in the range of 250–600 Hz (fast ripples, FRs) are pathologic and are readily recorded from hippocampus and parahippocampal structures of patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, as well as rodent models of this disorder. These oscillations, and similar HFOs recorded from neocortex of patients, appear to identify brain tissue capable of spontaneous ictogenesis and are believed to reflect the neuronal substrates of epileptogenesis and epileptogenicity. The distinction between normal and pathologic HFOs (pHFOs), however, cannot be made on the basis of frequency alone, as oscillations in the FR frequency range can be recorded from some areas of normal neocortex, whereas oscillations in the ripple frequency range are present in epileptic dentate gyrus where normal ripples never occur and, therefore, appear to be pathologic. The suggestion that FRs may be harmonics of normal ripples is unlikely, because of their spatially distinct generators, and evidence that FRs reflect synchronized firing of abnormally bursting neurons rather than inhibitory field potentials. These synchronous population spikes, however, can fire at ripple frequencies, and their harmonics appear to give rise to FRs. Investigations into the fundamental neuronal processes responsible for pHFOs could provide insights into basic mechanisms of epilepsy. The potential for pHFOs to act as biomarkers for epileptogenesis and epileptogenicity is also discussed.
Better Reliability Assessment and Prediction through Data Clustering

This paper presents a new approach to software reliability modeling by grouping data into clusters of homogeneous failure intensities. This series of data clusters associated with different time segments can be directly used as a piecewise linear model for reliability assessment and problem identification, which can produce meaningful results early in the testing process. The dual model fits traditional software reliability growth models (SRGMs) to these grouped data to provide long-term reliability assessments and predictions. These models were evaluated in the testing of two large software systems from IBM. Compared with existing SRGMs fitted to raw data, our models are generally more stable over time and produce more consistent and accurate reliability assessments and predictions.
Th17 Responses Are Not Induced in Dextran Sodium Sulfate Model of Acute Colitis

Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) is a widely used chemical model for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It is thought that imbalances in the T helper (Th) cell subsets contribute to IBD. Recent studies suggest that the acute DSS-colitis model is polarized toward a Th1/Th17 profile based on RT-PCR analysis of colonic tissues. In the current study we determined whether colonic Th cells from DSS-colitis mice were skewed toward the Th17 profile. Mice were treated with 5% DSS for 7 days and colonic T cells isolated and examined for production of IFN-γ (Th1 cell), IL-4 (Th2 cell) and IL-17 (Th17 cell) by intracellular flow cytometry. We found that the percentage of colonic Th17 cells were similar to non-treated controls but the percentage of Th1 cells were elevated in DSS-colitis mice. These results suggest that in the acute DSS-colitis model the colonic Th cells exhibit a Th1 profile and not a Th17 profile.
Potential geographical distribution of Rhagoletis pomonella (Diptera: Tephritidae) in China

Abstract Apple maggot fly, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) is a major pest causing considerable economic losses of fruits in North America. During the development of international trade, apple maggot fly has become a threat to Chinese agriculture. In this study, CLIMEX and ArcGIS were used to predict the potential geographical distribution of apple maggot fly in China. The parameters used in CLIMEX for apple maggot fly were derived from ecological data and the present geographical distribution of apple maggot fly in North America. Then the potential distribution map in China was presented based on the adjusted values of these parameters. The results showed that apple maggot fly has a wide potential distribution area in China; 47.5% of 748 meteorological stations presented high or medium suitability of pest establishment. These high suitable stations are mainly located in northeast, southwest and northwest of China, such as Liaoning, Shandong, Gansu and Shaanxi Provinces. These areas are also the central regions of apple, pear and peach production in China. Two hundred and twenty‐five stations (30.1%) in western and southern China, such as Tibet, Qinghai, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan and Taiwan, were unsuitable for establishment of apple maggot fly populations. In order to prevent the introduction of apple maggot fly in China, the present plant quarantine measures should be enhanced, especially in the areas with high suitability for the presence of apple maggot fly.
The application of the SHE-PWM based on Particle Swarm Optimization for the improvement of the cascaded H-Bridge inverter output voltage

In the present work Selective Harmonic Elimination Pulse Width Modulation (SHE-PWM) based on Particle Swarm Optimization is proposed for the enhancement of the H-Bridge multilevel inverter output voltage quality. The problem of the SHE-PWM is presented by a constrained nonlinear objective function which has to be minimized. The main aim is the calculation of the switching angles vector solution representing the best minimal value for the objective function. The results obtained with the present application show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Reductions of PAH and Soot by Center Air Injection

In this study, to reduce the amount of pollutant PAH and soot in the flame, we examined the burner system equipped with a center air injection. For this purpose, by using PAH-LIF and soot LII, we evaluated relative PAH and soot amounts in both the triple port burner and the conventional co-axial burner (double port burner) to discuss effects of center air injection on the formation of PAH and soot. The fuel was propane. In the triple port burner, two different blue flames are observed near the burner rim, followed by bright luminous flames with soot. The flame length is longer when the fuel flow velocity is increased. On the other hand, the flame length is shorter with an increase in internal air flow velocity. As for PAH and soot, these amounts of the triple port burner are much smaller than those of the double port burner. For the triple port burner, due to the center air injection, the fuel consumption occurs in both inner and outer flames. On the other hand, for the double port burner, the oxygen is supplied from one side air, and as a result, the fuel consumption rate is relatively lower. Hence, by the center air injection, the fuel consumption is largely accelerated, resulting in the reduction of PAH and soot.
Adaptive Optics Spectroscopy of the [Fe II] Outflows from HL Tauri and RW Aurigae

We present new results of [Fe II] λ1. 644 μm spectroscopy toward the jets from HL Tau and RW Aur carried out with the Subaru Telescope combined with the adaptive optics system. We observed the regions within 2''-3'' from the stars with the subarcsecond resolutions of 0. ″5 and 0. ″2 for HL Tau and RW Aur, respectively. In addition to the strong high-velocity component (HVC) extended along each jet, we detected a blueshifted low-velocity component (LVC) seen as a wing or shoulder of the HVC at each stellar position. The position velocity diagrams of the two objects show a characteristic similar to those of the cold disk wind and X-wind models in that the [Fe II] line width is broad close to the stellar position and narrower at the extended jet. A closer comparison suggests, however, that the disk wind model tends to have too large a line width at the HVC, while the X-wind model has excess redshifted emission at the stellar position. The narrow velocity width with symmetric line profiles of the observed HVC supports an X-wind-type model, while the LVC, located away from the star, favors the presence of a disk wind. The [Fe II] emission shows a gap of 0. ″8 for HL Tau and a marked drop of Y ~ -0. ″2 for RW Aur between the redshifted jet and the star, which indicate optically thick disks of ~160 and <40 AU in radius, respectively. Part of the Br12 emission of HL Tau originates from the jet itself because its normalized line profile shows a signigicantly large deviation from the normalized continuum in spatial profile.
Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Perihemorrhagic Edema and Secondary Hematoma Expansion: From Bench Work to Ongoing Controversies

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a medical emergency, which often leads to severe disability and death. ICH-related poor outcomes are due to primary injury causing structural damage and mass effect and secondary injury in the perihemorrhagic region over several days to weeks. Secondary injury after ICH can be due to hematoma expansion (HE) or a consequence of repair pathway along the continuum of neuroinflammation, neuronal death, and perihemorrhagic edema (PHE). This review article is focused on PHE and HE and will cover the animal studies, related human studies, and clinical trials relating to these mechanisms of secondary brain injury in ICH patients.
Contribution of transplanted bone marrow cells to Purkinje neurons in human adult brains

We show here that cells within human adult bone marrow can contribute to cells in the adult human brain. Cerebellar tissues from female patients with hematologic malignancies, who had received chemotherapy, radiation, and a bone marrow transplant, were analyzed. Brain samples were obtained at autopsy from female patients who received male (sex-mismatched) or female (sex-matched, control) bone marrow transplants. Cerebella were evaluated in 10-μm-thick, formaldehyde-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections that encompassed up to ≈50% of a human Purkinje nucleus. A total of 5,860 Purkinje cells from sex-mismatched females and 3,202 Purkinje cells from sex-matched females were screened for Y chromosomes by epifluorescence. Confocal laser scanning microscopy allowed definitive identification of the sex chromosomes within the morphologically distinct Purkinje cells. In the brains of females who received male bone marrow, four Purkinje neurons were found that contained an X and a Y chromosome and two other Purkinje neurons contained more than a diploid number of sex chromosomes. No Y chromosomes were detected in the brains of sex-matched controls. The total frequency of male bone marrow contribution to female Purkinje cells approximated 0.1%. This study demonstrates that although during human development Purkinje neurons are no longer generated after birth, cells within the bone marrow can contribute to these CNS neurons even in adulthood. The underlying mechanism may be caused either by generation de novo of Purkinje neurons from bone marrow-derived cells or by fusion of marrow-derived cells with existing recipient Purkinje neurons.
An iron core impedance model for calculating high frequency common mode currents and shaft voltages in inverter-fed AC machines

In order to calculate the common mode currents and induced shaft voltages in the inverter fed AC machines, a 2D finite element (FE) common mode impedance model of the laminated iron core, assuming the rotational symmetry and the uniform radial current distribution in the lamination sheets, has been proposed in the literature. In this paper, as an alternative to the existent 2D FEM models, a 3D FEM model of the iron laminated core is proposed to calculate the iron core impedance per phase. The proposed 3D FEM model considers better the radial distribution of the common mode current in the stator lamination sheets. The iron core impedance per phase is used to calculate the peak values of the most significant harmonics of the common mode current and of the induced shaft voltage.
Reformulations in Mathematical Programming: Symmetry

If a mathematical program (be it linear or nonlinear) has many symmetric optima, solving it via Branch-and-Bound techniques often yields search trees of disproportionate sizes; thus, finding and exploiting symmetries is an important task. We propose a method for: (a) automatically finding the formulation group of any given Mixed-Integer Nonlinear Program, and (b) reformulating the problem so that some symmetric solutions become infeasible. The reformulated problem can then be solved via standard Branch-and-Bound codes such as CPLEX (for linear programs) and Couenne (for nonlinear programs). Our computational results include formulation group tables for the MIPLib3, MIPLib2003, GlobalLib and MINLPLib instance libraries, solution tables for some instances in the aforementioned libraries, and a theoretical and computational study of the symmetries of the Kissing Number Problem.
Critical Involvement of Postsynaptic Protein Kinase Activation in Long-Term Potentiation at Hippocampal Mossy Fiber Synapses on CA3 Interneurons

Hippocampal mossy fiber (MF) synapses on area CA3 lacunosum-moleculare (L-M) interneurons are capable of undergoing a Hebbian form of NMDA receptor (NMDAR)-independent long-term potentiation (LTP) induced by the same type of high-frequency stimulation (HFS) that induces LTP at MF synapses on pyramidal cells. LTP of MF input to L-M interneurons occurs only at synapses containing mostly calcium-impermeable (CI)-AMPA receptors (AMPARs). Here, we demonstrate that HFS-induced LTP at these MF-interneuron synapses requires postsynaptic activation of protein kinase A (PKA) and protein kinase C (PKC). Brief extracellular stimulation of PKA with forskolin (FSK) alone or in combination with 1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine (IBMX) induced a long-lasting synaptic enhancement at MF synapses predominantly containing CI-AMPARs. However, the FSK/IBMX-induced potentiation in cells loaded with the specific PKA inhibitor peptide PKI6-22 failed to be maintained. Consistent with these data, delivery of HFS to MFs synapsing onto L-M interneurons loaded with PKI6-22 induced posttetanic potentiation (PTP) but not LTP. Hippocampal sections stained for the catalytic subunit of PKA revealed abundant immunoreactivity in interneurons located in strata radiatum and L-M of area CA3. We also found that extracellular activation of PKC with phorbol 12,13-diacetate induced a pharmacological potentiation of the isolated CI-AMPAR component of the MF EPSP. However, HFS delivered to MF synapses on cells loaded with the PKC inhibitor chelerythrine exhibited PTP followed by a significant depression. Together, our data indicate that MF LTP in L-M interneurons at synapses containing primarily CI-AMPARs requires some of the same signaling cascades as does LTP of glutamatergic input to CA3 or CA1 pyramidal cells.
One and Two Dimensions Unequally Array Pattern Synthesis with the use of a Modified Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm

A computationally efficient global optimization method, the adaptive particle swarm optimization (APSO), is proposed for the synthesis of uniform and Gaussian amplitude arrays of two cases, i.e., the prior constraint in the synthesis of the element positions for both the cases is dmin = 0.5 λ, where dmin is the minimum distance between two adjacent elements. The upper limit in the distance between the elements, dmax is varied from 0.5λ to 0. 6λ for the first case and from 0.5λ to λ for the second case. The proposed iterative method aims at linear and planar array and the optimization of phasespositions by minimizing the side-lobes level and respecting a beam pattern shape. Selected examples are included, which demonstrate the effectiveness and the design flexibility of the proposed method in the framework of the electromagnetic synthesis of linear and planar antennas arrays. Key-Words: Adaptive particle swarm optimization, unequally spaced linear and planar arrays antennas.
Experts and Decision Making: First Steps towards a Unifying Theory of Decision Making in Novices, Intermediates and Experts

Expertise research shows quite ambiguous results on the abilities of experts in judgment and decision making (JDM) classic models cannot account for. This problem becomes even more accentuated if different levels of expertise are considered. We argue that parallel constraint satisfaction models (PCS) might be a useful base to understand the processes underlying expert JDM and the hitherto existing, differentiated results from expertise research. It is outlined how expertise might influence model parameters and mental representations according to PCS. It is discussed how this differential impact of expertise on model parameters relates to empirical results showing quite different courses in the development of expertise; allowing, for example, to predict under which conditions intermediates might outperform experts. Methodological requirements for testing the proposed unifying theory under complex real-world conditions are discussed.
Straightforward Derivation of the Schrodinger Equation from Classical Mechanics and the Planck Postulate.

According to the widely accepted notion, the Schrodinger equation (SE) is not derivable in principle. Contrary to this belief, we present here a straightforward derivation of SE. It is based on only two fun- damentals of mechanics: the classical Hamilton-Jacobi equation(HJE) and the Planck postulate about the discrete transfer of energy at micro- scales. Our approach is drastically different from the other published derivations of SE which either employ an ad hoc underlying assump- tion about the probabilistic or the statistical nature of the micro-scale phenomena, or rely on the prior knowledge of SE and arrive at it by introducing a new postulate - neither present in classical mechanics nor following from experiments - with a suitable but physically unjus- tifiable choice of a key arbitrary constant.
Colliding cascades model for earthquake prediction

A wide set of premonitory seismicity patterns is reproduced on a numerical model of seismicity, and their performance in the prediction of major model earthquakes is evaluated. Seismicity is generated by the colliding cascades model, recently developed by the authors. The model has a hierarchical structure. It describes the interaction of two cascades: a direct cascade of loading, which is applied to the top (largest) element and transfers down the hierarchy, and an inverse cascade of failures, which goes up the hierarchy, from the smaller to the larger elements. These cascades collide and interact: loading leads to failures, while failures release and redistribute the loading. Three basic types of earthquake precursors are considered: (i) the clustering of earthquakes in space and time, (ii) the intensity of earthquake sequences, and (iii) the correlation distance between earthquakes. Patterns of the first two types are used in intermediate-term earthquake prediction algorithms. Patterns of the third type are found in the colliding cascades model, although they were hypothesized previously. They have not been validated by observations. For each precursor, we explore what is called an ‘error diagram’ showing the total duration of alarms, the rate of failures to predict, and the rate of false alarms.