Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Model adaptation by state splitting of HMM for long reverberation

In environment with considerably long reverberation time, each frame of speech is affected by reflected energy components from the preceding frames. Therefore to adapt model parameters of a state, it becomes necessary to consider these frames, and compute their contributions to current state. However, these clean speech frames preceding to a state of HMM are not known during adaptation of the models. This paper describes a method to estimate the preceding frames for a state in HMM, by splitting the state into a number of substates. The estimated sequence of frames can then be used to find reflected energy component for the state and compensate its parameters. The effectiveness of the method was confirmed by the experimental results on an isolated-word recognition task.
Context as a Factor in Personal Information Management Systems

Personal information management (PIM) systems are information systems developed by individuals for use in a work environment. Seven managers were interviewed to observe how their electronic documents were organized, stored, and retrieved. The purpose of the study was to investigate classification behavior both to identify the features of a PIM system and to suggest whether the factors which influence classification decisions in an electronic environment were consistent with the factors that Kwasnik observed for physical documents in an office. It is suggested that these behaviors may be influenced by the hardware and software environment and may impact personal as well as organizational efficiency. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Hierarchical path analysis of deer responses to direct and indirect effects of climate in northern forest

A problem in climate studies has been on how to treat causal chains of explanations and both direct and indirect effects. Mammals in strongly seasonal environments of the boreal forest typically lose condition during winter and gain mass (and reproduce) during the summer season when biomass and plant quality peak. Mass decay of large herbivores during winter is due to direct effects of winter weather, such as increased costs of movement, thermoregulation and reduced access to food when snow is deep. Deer condition during summer is thought to be affected mainly indirectly by weather through plants. High spring temperature speeds up plant development, and deep snow can delay phenology in early summer. Current statistical modelling does not take into account these mechanistic pathways. We used hierarchical Bayes modelling to more mechanistically link global climate, local weather and plant phenology to autumn body mass of red deer in Norway. Red deer were much more affected indirectly through trophic interactions. No solid evidence of direct effects of snow depth was found on autumn body mass. We discuss the implications of our results relative to our ability to predict effects of global change on large mammalian herbivores in the boreal forest.
Determinants of the Time Course of Facilitation at the Granule Cell to Purkinje Cell Synapse

Short-term facilitation is a widely observed form of synaptic enhancement that is not well understood. Although presynaptic calcium has long been implicated in this process, its role is unclear, particularly at synapses in the mammalian brain. We tested the role of presynaptic residual free calcium ([Ca]res) in facilitation of synapses between granule cells and Purkinje cells in rat cerebellar slices. Paired-pulse facilitation of synaptic currents resulted in an approximately 2.5-fold enhancement that decayed with a time constant of ∼200 msec, as assessed by voltage-clamp recordings. Measurements of [Ca]res using fluorescent calcium-sensitive indicators revealed that [Ca]resdecayed more rapidly than did facilitation. Manipulation of [Ca]res dynamics by introducing EGTA into presynaptic terminals sped the decays of [Ca]res and facilitation in a dose-dependent manner. When [Ca]res was reduced to a brief impulse lasting several milliseconds, facilitation was still present, although reduced in amplitude and duration. Facilitation decayed with an intrinsic time constant of ∼40 msec. These results suggest that facilitation at this synapse is produced by a calcium-driven process with a high affinity and a slow effective off-rate. A combination of [Ca]res dynamics and the properties of a calcium-driven reaction determine the time course and amplitude of facilitation.
Potassium Channels Blockers from the Venom of Androctonus mauretanicus mauretanicus

K+ channels selectively transport K+ ions across cell membranes and play a key role in regulating the physiology of excitable and nonexcitable cells. Their activation allows the cell to repolarize after action potential firing and reduces excitability, whereas channel inhibition increases excitability. In eukaryotes, the pharmacology and pore topology of several structural classes of K+ channels have been well characterized in the past two decades. This information has come about through the extensive use of scorpion toxins. We have participated in the isolation and in the characterization of several structurally distinct families of scorpion toxin peptides exhibiting different K+ channel blocking functions. In particular, the venom from the Moroccan scorpion Androctonus mauretanicus mauretanicus provided several high-affinity blockers selective for diverse K+ channels (SKCa, Kv4.x, and Kv1.x K+ channel families). In this paper, we summarize our work on these toxin/channel interactions.
Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Gastrointestinal Injury in Rats: Role of Surface Hydrophobicity and Bile Salts

Sepsis of gastrointestinal origin can lead to life-threatening complications in vital organs due to bacterial overgrowth and/or translocation from the lumen into the blood. In a rat model of endotoxemia, changes in surface hydrophobicity (associated with barrier integrity) of the gastrointestinal mucosa were examined. Rats were treated with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and gastric and ileal tissue were collected for determination of surface hydrophobicity by contact angle analysis. A role for bile salts in hydrophobicity changes was tested by quantifying bile salts in the lumen of both the stomach and ileum after LPS and by the administration of LPS to bile duct-ligated rats. A single intraperitoneal dose of LPS induced a dose- and time-dependent reduction in hydrophobicity of both the stomach and ileum, with the stomach showing greater sensitivity at an earlier time than the ileum. LPS also induced gastric bleeding, reflux of bile acid into the gastric lumen, and decreased levels of bile salt in the ileum. The LPS-induced reductions in surface hydrophobicity of the stomach were prevented by prior bile duct ligation. We conclude that LPS disrupts gastrointestinal barrier integrity, in part by mechanisms involving bile constituents and an attenuation in the mucosa's hydrophobic characteristics.
Social perception training in schizophrenia : A pilot study

Social cognition has been recognized as one of the key cognitive factors that is impaired in schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of improvements in social perception, which is a key component of social cognition, in chronically ill patients. Eighteen schizophrenic outpatients were randomly assigned to therapy and control groups. The patients in the therapy group followed the social perception subprogram of IPT. The patients‘ performance in social perception was assessed before the intervention, after the intervention and at the end of a six-month follow-up period, using a scale that was specifically developed to assess social perception (Social Perception Scale –SPS). The results indicate that it can differentiate between the group that followed the therapy program and the control group. Attention, psychopathology and social functioning were also evaluated. Although only a small group of patients participated in the study, the results are promising. They suggest improvements in the social perception abilities that were trained using the IPT program in the therapy group in comparison with the control group. The patients in the therapy group improved their ability to identify stimuli and to interpret and summarise information in a picture.
Physical and Mechanical Properties of Selected Common Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Cultivated in Tanzania

The physical and mechanical properties of foods are important, if not essential, in the design of suitable systems, machines, and structures for planting, harvesting, handling and processing of agro-products. Phaseolus vulgaris L. is a popular legume species that play an important role in human diet and among easily available sources of plant protein. However, despite its important roles, there is a lack of information on the physical and mechanical properties of common beans cultivated in Tanzania. The objective of this study was therefore focused on experimental determination of physical and mechanical properties for Uyole-96, Kablanketi, and Wanja, common beans cultivars grown in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. Experimental results showed that the average length, width, and thickness were 19.96 mm, 8.97 mm, and 7.6 mm at a moisture content of 17.15% dry basis (db.), 13.92% db. , and 14.64% db. for Uyole-96, Kablanketi, and Wanja, respectively. The results further show that the average mean diameters (Da) were 10.93, 9.35, and 9.55 mm for Uyole-96, Kablanketi, and Wanja, respectively. The geometric mean diameters (Dg) were 9.66, 8.35, and 8.80 mm for Uyole-96, Kablanketi, and Wanja, respectively, whereas sphericity was found to be 53, 64, and 58% for the same types of beans. Repose angle measuremnts were experimentally determined as 40, 36, and 35 degrees for Uyole-96, Kablanketi, and Wanja, respectively. Weight for apparent density analysis was 709.27, 686.30, and 766.10 kg/m3 for Uyole-96, Kablanketi, and Wanja, respectively, whereas the apparent densities were determined as 1142, 1158, and 1327 kg/m3, respectively, for the same types of beans. Results from the study showed that physical and mechanical properties for Uyole-96, Kablanketi, and Wanja differ significantly from other common beans cultivars cultivated in other countries. Data on physical and mechanical properties determined in this study establishes a convenient reference table for the mechanization and processing of Tanzanian common beans cultivars .
Exploitation of the Impedance and Characteristics of the Human Arm in the Design of Haptic Interfaces

It is well known that friction in haptic devices plays a key role in dissipating surplus energy to maintain passivity of the haptic system. This paper shows that the surplus energy can also be dissipated by careful exploitation of human operator's damping and analyzes the effects of the time-varying human arm impedance on the passivity of a haptic system. The human arm impedance is modeled as a second-order mass-damper-spring system. An impedance model is developed to describe the dynamic behavior of a haptic system that includes the human arm impedance. A new necessary and sufficient passivity condition of the haptic system is derived using an energy-based approach. The analytical results are experimentally validated using a one-degree-of-freedom haptic device. Experimental results show that the maximum achievable stiffness of the haptic system varies widely according to the degree of human arm impedance and is predictable more accurately using the newly derived passivity condition compared to the previous results in the literature.
South African medical schools: Current state of selection criteria and medical students' demographic profile.

BACKGROUND Selection of medical students at South African (SA) medical schools must promote equitable and fair access to students from all population groups, while ensuring optimal student throughput and success, and training future healthcare practitioners who will fulfil the needs of the local society. In keeping with international practices, a variety of academic and non-academic measures are used to select applicants for medical training programmes in SA medical schools. OBJECTIVES To provide an overview of the selection procedures used by all eight medical schools in SA, and the student demographics (race and gender) at these medical schools, and to determine to what extent collective practices are achieving the goals of student diversity and inclusivity. METHODS A retrospective, quantitative, descriptive study design was used. All eight medical schools in SA provided information regarding selection criteria, selection procedures, and student demographics (race and gender). Descriptive analysis of data was done by calculating frequencies and percentages of the variables measured. RESULTS Medical schools in SA make use of academic and non-academic criteria in their selection processes. The latter include indices of socioeconomic disadvantage. Most undergraduate medical students in SA are black (38.7%), followed by white (33.0%), coloured (13.4%) and Indian/Asian (13.6%). The majority of students are female (62.2%). The number of black students is still proportionately lower than in the general population, while other groups are overrepresented. CONCLUSION Selection policies for undergraduate medical programmes aimed at redress should be continued and further refined, along with the provision of support to ensure student success.
Betaine and Folate Status as Cooperative Determinants of Plasma Homocysteine in Humans

Objective— Two published studies have demonstrated that betaine in the circulation is a determinant of plasma total homocysteine, but none had sufficient power to investigate the possible effect modification by folate status. Methods and Results— We measured homocysteine, betaine, folate, vitamin B6, and related compounds in serum/plasma from 500 healthy men and women aged 34 to 69 years before (fasting levels) and 6 hours after a standard methionine loading test. Choline, dimethylglycine, and folate were determinants of plasma betaine in a multiple regression model adjusting for age and sex. The increase in homocysteine after loading showed a strong inverse association with plasma betaine and a weaker inverse association with folate and vitamin B6. Fasting homocysteine showed a strong inverse relation to folate, a weak relation to plasma betaine, and no relation to vitamin B6. Notably, adjusted (for age and sex) dose-response curves for the postmethionine increase in homocysteine or fasting homocysteine versus betaine showed that the inverse associations were most pronounced at low serum folate, an observation that was confirmed by analyses of interaction. Conclusions— Collectively, these results show that plasma betaine is a strong determinant of increase in homocysteine after methionine loading, particularly in subjects with low folate status.
Spatial Variability in Growth‐Climate Relationships of Amur Cork Tree (Phellodendron amurense) and Their Connections With PDO in Northeast China

We used a dendrochronological approach to identify the spatial variability in growth‐climate relationships of Amur cork tree (Phellodendron amurense), using a network of 12 sites across its natural range in Northeast China. Results showed that the signal‐noise ratio, expressed population signal, and mean interseries correlations of the site chronologies decreased significantly with decreasing latitude. Correlation matrix, cluster, and rotated empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis all indicated that the 12 chronologies can be classified into two groups, the southern and northern chronologies. Minimum temperature (Tmin) was a major factor limiting Amur cork tree growth at regional scales. Almost all sites had positive correlations with monthly temperature, while correlation coefficients with precipitation were much lower than minimum temperature correlations, and only a few months (January, April, and July) were significant (p < 0.05). The positive effects of summer Tmin on tree growth were significantly decreased with increasing latitude (except BSL site), while positive effects of summer precipitation increased significantly with latitude and longitude and decreased significantly with altitude. The southern nine site chronologies (EOF‐1) were significantly positively correlated with the seasonal or annual Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) index of the previous year and the current spring, while the northern three chronologies (EOF‐2) showed different relationships, which is consistent with the spatial relationship between PDO and local temperature. The spatial variability in growth‐climate relationships of Amur cork tree can be affected by PDO, which can modulate the spatiotemporal variation of spring onset, autumn termination, and the effective accumulated temperature by affecting local temperature.
Oxygen Depletion and Formation of Toxic Gases following Sea Transportation of Logs and Wood Chips

Several recent accidents with fatal outcomes occurring during discharge of logs and wood chips from ships in Swedish ports indicate the need to better understand the atmospheric conditions in holds and connecting stairways. The principal aim of the present study was to assess the air levels of oxygen and toxic gases in confined spaces following sea transportation of logs and wood chips. The focus of the study was the conditions in the stairways, as this was the location of the reported accidents. Forty-one shipments of logs (pulpwood) and wood chips carried by 10 different ships were investigated before discharge in ports in northern Sweden. A full year was covered to accommodate variations due to seasonal temperature changes. The time from completion of loading to discharge was estimated to be 37–66 h (mean 46 h). Air samples were collected in the undisturbed air of altogether 76 stairways before the hatch covers were removed. The oxygen level was measured on-site by handheld direct-reading multi-gas monitors. On 16 of the shipments, air samples were additionally collected in Tedlar® bags for later analysis for carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The mean oxygen level was 10% (n = 76) but in 17% of the samples the oxygen level was 0%. The oxygen depletion was less pronounced during the cold season. The mean CO2 and CO levels were 7.5% (n = 26) and 46 p.p.m. (n = 28), respectively. More than 90% of the hydrocarbons were explained by monoterpenes, mainly α-pinene (mean 41 p.p.m., (n = 26). In conclusion, the measurements show that transport of logs and wood chips in confined spaces may result in rapid and severe oxygen depletion and CO2 formation. Thus, apparently harmless cargoes may create potentially life-threatening conditions. The oxygen depletion and CO2 formation are seemingly primarily caused by microbiological activity, in contrast to the oxidative processes with higher CO formation that predominate in cargoes of wood pellets. Improved technical and organizational measures are considered necessary to prevent future accidents. Recommendations given regarding safe entry procedures and technical preventive methods may also apply to other oxygen-depleting products.
Dexamethasone and Salbutamol Stimulate Human Lung Fibroblast Proliferation

Background Asthma is characterized by bronchial hyperreactivity and airway remodeling. Subepithelial fibrosis, a feature of remodeling, is accompanied by activation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts, with excessive proliferation and increased collagen, extracellular matrix protein, and profibrogenic cytokine production. Mast cells are important in the development of asthma and its fibrotic changes. Objective In this study, we aimed to investigate the direct effect of the drugs most frequently used in asthma, that is, glucocorticosteroids (dexamethasone) and shortacting &bgr;2-agonists (salbutamol), on human lung fibroblast proliferation when unstimulated or activated by mast cells or eotaxin. Methods Subconfluent human fetal lung or bronchial fibroblasts were incubated with different concentrations of the drugs (24 h) 6 activators, and [3H]-Thymidine was added (24 h) to measure their proliferation. IL-6 production in the supernatants of confluent monolayers cultured in the presence of the drugs or forskolin (24 h) was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Both drugs alone and in the presence of the activators enhanced fibroblast proliferation in a seemingly synergistic way for both fetal and bronchial fibroblasts. Dexamethasone was found to decrease IL-6 production, while salbutamol increased it. Conclusions These observations if corroborated by in vivo data may possibly account for the deleterious effect of long-term therapy with &bgr;2-bronchodilators and inhaled glucocorticosteroids on the natural history of asthma.
Automated Assessment of β-Cell Area and Density per Islet and Patient Using TMEM27 and BACE2 Immunofluorescence Staining in Human Pancreatic β-Cells

In this study we aimed to establish an unbiased automatic quantification pipeline to assess islet specific features such as β-cell area and density per islet based on immunofluorescence stainings. To determine these parameters, the in vivo protein expression levels of TMEM27 and BACE2 in pancreatic islets of 32 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and in 28 non-diabetic individuals (ND) were used as input for the automated pipeline. The output of the automated pipeline was first compared to a previously developed manual area scoring system which takes into account the intensity of the staining as well as the percentage of cells which are stained within an islet. The median TMEM27 and BACE2 area scores of all islets investigated per patient correlated significantly with the manual scoring and with the median area score of insulin. Furthermore, the median area scores of TMEM27, BACE2 and insulin calculated from all T2D were significantly lower compared to the one of all ND. TMEM27, BACE2, and insulin area scores correlated as well in each individual tissue specimen. Moreover, islet size determined by costaining of glucagon and either TMEM27 or BACE2 and β-cell density based either on TMEM27 or BACE2 positive cells correlated significantly. Finally, the TMEM27 area score showed a positive correlation with BMI in ND and an inverse pattern in T2D. In summary, automated quantification outperforms manual scoring by reducing time and individual bias. The simultaneous changes of TMEM27, BACE2, and insulin in the majority of the β–cells suggest that these proteins reflect the total number of functional insulin producing β–cells. Additionally, β–cell subpopulations may be identified which are positive for TMEM27, BACE2 or insulin only. Thus, the cumulative assessment of all three markers may provide further information about the real β–cell number per islet.
Vaccination Coverage for Infants: Cross-Sectional Studies in Two Regions of Belgium

Methods and Objectives. To estimate infant vaccination coverage in the French-speaking region of Belgium (Wallonia) and in the Brussels-Capital Region, two cross-sectional studies were performed in 2012. A face-to-face questionnaire was administered by trained investigators. The objective was to evaluate infant vaccination coverage retrospectively in 18- to 24-month-old children. These studies offered the opportunity to assess some factors influencing vaccine uptake in infants. Results and Discussion. Approximately 99% of the children had received the first dose of IPV-DTaP, 90% the fourth dose, 94% the MMR vaccine, 97% the first dose of pneumococcal vaccine, and 90% the third dose. In both regions, when fitting a logistic model, the most associated factor was attendance at maternal and child clinics (MCH). No association was observed between vaccination coverage and the mother's level of education. For the last immunization session, where the mother was a Belgian native and when she worked more hours, child was better immunized, but only in Brussels. Conclusion. Coverage for the fourth dose of hexavalent vaccine (DTaP-IPV-HBV/Hib) needs to be increased. Indeed, additional effort is needed to increase HIB and pertussis coverage rates because the herd immunity threshold for these two diseases has not been reached.