Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Semi-supervised On-line Speaker Diarization for Meeting Data with Incremental Maximum A-posteriori Adaptation

Almost all current diarization systems are off-line and ill-suited to the growing need for on-line or real-time diarization. Our previous work reported the ﬁrst on-line diarization system for the most challenging speaker diarization domain involving meeting data captured with a single distant microphone (SDM). Even if results were not dissimilar to those reported for on-line diarization in less challenging domains, error rates were high and unlikely to support any practical applications. The ﬁrst novel contribution in this paper relates to the investigation of a semi-supervised approach to on-line diarization whereby speaker models are seeded with a modest amount of manually labelled data. In practical applications involving meetings, such data can be obtained readily from brief round-table introductions. The second novel contribution relates to a incremental MAP adaptation procedure for efﬁcient, on-line speaker modelling. When combined, these two developments provide an on-line diarization system which outperforms a baseline, off-line system by a signiﬁcant margin. When conﬁgured appropriately, error rates may be low enough to support practical applications.
Genetic Aspects of the Obstructive Sleep Apnoea/Hypopnoea Syndrome – Is There a Common Link with Obesity?

Obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) is the third most common respiratory condition after asthma and chronic obstructive airway disease affecting approximately 2–4% of the middle-aged population. OSAHS has a hereditary component but owing to difficulties with phenotyping, its genetic basis has been difficult to elucidate. Despite this, limited progress has been made in considering the genetic basis of the ‘intermediate phenotypes’ of OSAHS such as craniofacial structure and upper airway control. Obesity is a risk factor for the development of OSAHS. The genetics of obesity are complex, but advances have been made recently using genome-wide association studies. Some authors postulate that OSAHS and common obesity share many pathophysiological pathways. However, the genes underpinning the development of sleep-disordered breathing and obesity are likely to be different, despite phenotypes that appear to overlap and influence each other’s expression. This paper focuses on human studies over-viewing the most recent work in the area and includes a brief discussion on methods of genetic studies.
Determining Coastal Mean Dynamic Topography by Geodetic Methods

In geodesy, coastal mean dynamic topography (MDT) was traditionally determined by spirit leveling technique. Advances in navigation satellite positioning (e.g., GPS) and geoid determination enable space‐based leveling with an accuracy of about 3 cm at tide gauges. Recent CryoSat‐2, a satellite altimetry mission with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and SAR interferometric measurements, extends the space‐based leveling to the coastal ocean with the same accuracy. However, barriers remain in applying the two space‐based geodetic methods for MDT determination over the coastal ocean because current geoid modeling focuses primarily on land as a substitute to spirit leveling to realize the vertical datum.
Strain-specific priming of resistance in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum

As invertebrates lack the molecular machinery employed by the vertebrate adaptive immune system, it was thought that they consequently lack the ability to produce lasting and specific immunity. However, in recent years, it has been demonstrated that the immune defence of invertebrates is by far more complicated and specific than previously envisioned. Lasting immunity following an initial exposure that proves protection on a secondary exposure has been shown in several species of invertebrates. This phenomenon has become known as immune priming. In the cases where it is explicitly tested, this priming can also be highly specific. In this study, we used survival assays to test for specific priming of resistance in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, using bacteria of different degrees of relatedness. Our results suggest an unexpected degree of specificity that even allows for differentiation between different strains of the same bacterium. However, our findings also demonstrate that specific priming of resistance in insects may not be ubiquitous across all bacteria.
Improving the Adaptability of Simulated Evolutionary Swarm Robots in Dynamically Changing Environments

One of the important challenges in the field of evolutionary robotics is the development of systems that can adapt to a changing environment. However, the ability to adapt to unknown and fluctuating environments is not straightforward. Here, we explore the adaptive potential of simulated swarm robots that contain a genomic encoding of a bio-inspired gene regulatory network (GRN). An artificial genome is combined with a flexible agent-based system, representing the activated part of the regulatory network that transduces environmental cues into phenotypic behaviour. Using an artificial life simulation framework that mimics a dynamically changing environment, we show that separating the static from the conditionally active part of the network contributes to a better adaptive behaviour. Furthermore, in contrast with most hitherto developed ANN-based systems that need to re-optimize their complete controller network from scratch each time they are subjected to novel conditions, our system uses its genome to store GRNs whose performance was optimized under a particular environmental condition for a sufficiently long time. When subjected to a new environment, the previous condition-specific GRN might become inactivated, but remains present. This ability to store ‘good behaviour’ and to disconnect it from the novel rewiring that is essential under a new condition allows faster re-adaptation if any of the previously observed environmental conditions is reencountered. As we show here, applying these evolutionary-based principles leads to accelerated and improved adaptive evolution in a non-stable environment.
Differing characteristics of human papillomavirus rna‐positive and rna‐negative anal carcinomas

Anal carcinomas were tested for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) RNA transcripts by in situ hybridization using 125I‐labeled RNA probes. The HPV transcripts were detected in 73.2% of 41 nonglandular anal carcinomas but in none of six anal or 11 rectal adenocarcinomas. In anal nonglandular carcinomas, no difference in the percentage of tumors that were HPV RNA positive was observed between tumors classed as basaloid carcinomas or squamous cell carcinomas. Patients with HPV RNA‐negative tumors were significantly older (9.2 years) than those with HPV RNA‐positive tumors. Anal intraepithelial neoplasia Grade 3 in the surrounding epithelium was seen in 14 of 25 assessable HPV RNA‐positive tumors and in none of nine assessable HPV RNA‐negative tumors. Anal tumors may include two separate clinical and biologic groups distinguished by their dependence, or lack of dependence, on HPV RNA expression for maintenance of the neoplastic state.
Diagnostic Utility of CSF Tau and Aβ 42 in Dementia: A Meta-Analysis

CSF tau and Aβ42 are considered as important markers to diagnose Alzheimer's disease in early stages. Hence, it is important to assess their status in different types of dementia. The main objective of this study was to assess whether these CSF biomarkers can be used to make the differential diagnosis of AD. In the present study, articles published from 1998 till 2009 were taken and meta-analysis was performed to clarify the consistency in trends of biomarkers- CSF tau and Aβ 42 in AD and other dementias and whether the same can be used as diagnostic biomarkers for its early diagnosis. 11 out of 60 for CSF tau and 07 out of 40 for CSF Aβ 42, dementia case-control studies were selected for final analysis. Descriptive statistics shows that median effect size (raw mean difference) of CSF tau was 429 pg/mL (range: 32 to 910 pg/mL) in AD whereas in Dementia due to other causes (DOC) studies it was 69 pg/mL (range: −53 to 518 pg/mL). Similarly the median effect size of CSF Aβ 42 levels was −442 pg/mL (range: −652 to −41.200 pg/mL) whereas in DOC studies it was −193 pg/mL (range: −356 to −33 pg/mL).
Oasis landscape of the ancient Loulan on the west bank of Lake Lop Nur, Northwest China, inferred from vegetation utilization for architecture

The ancient Loulan, situated on the west bank of Lake Lop Nur, Xinjiang, Northwest China, was an important town on the Silk Road connecting China to Europe. However, this once-prosperous kingdom has been a depopulated zone filled with wind-eroded mounds since approximately AD 500–600. A comprehensive understanding of the environmental setting of the flourishing Loulan civilization is a prerequisite for assessing environment–human interaction there. Here, we present our survey, chronology, and archaeobotany (the identification of plant remains) of vegetation use for architecture from eight ancient ruins of the Loulan kingdom to clarify the ecological landscape on the west bank of Lake Lop Nur and to assess paleoenvironmental conditions when the Loulan kingdom flourished. Our results suggest that Populus euphratica, tamarisk (Tamarix Linn), and reed (Phragmites Trin.) were most widely used as building materials in this period. Wood utilization for buildings depended entirely on indigenous vegetation rather than that of the mountains in the Loulan kingdom, even though the Loulan was a predominant transportation hub on the prosperous Silk Road. Our reconstruction indicates that the west bank of Lake Lop Nur was sufficiently wetter than present conditions to support riparian forest growth composed mainly of P. euphratica, tamarisk shrubs, and reed meadows, until approximately AD 500. These wetter conditions and flourishing civilization accompanied an increase in precipitation in arid central Asia. Conversely, combined evidence of both archeological and paleoclimatic records from the water sources of Lake Lop Nur and ancient oases suggest that abrupt decreased mountain precipitation could be considered a significant environmental factor in the decline of Loulan kingdom.
Intermittent hypoxia impairs glucose homeostasis in C57BL6/J mice: partial improvement with cessation of the exposure.

OBJECTIVES Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Although several studies have suggested that intermittent hypoxia in obstructive sleep apnea may induce abnormalities in glucose homeostasis, it remains to be determined whether these abnormalities improve after discontinuation of the exposure. The objective of this study was to delineate the effects of intermittent hypoxia on glucose homeostasis, beta cell function, and liver glucose metabolism and to investigate whether the impairments improve after the hypoxic exposure is discontinued. INTERVENTIONS C57BL6/J mice were exposed to 14 days of intermittent hypoxia, 14 days of intermittent air, or 7 days of intermittent hypoxia followed by 7 days of intermittent air (recovery paradigm). Glucose and insulin tolerance tests were performed to estimate whole-body insulin sensitivity and calculate measures of beta cell function. Oxidative stress in pancreatic tissue and glucose output from isolated hepatocytes were also assessed. RESULTS Intermittent hypoxia increased fasting glucose levels and worsened glucose tolerance by 67% and 27%, respectively. Furthermore, intermittent hypoxia exposure was associated with impairments in insulin sensitivity and beta cell function, an increase in liver glycogen, higher hepatocyte glucose output, and an increase in oxidative stress in the pancreas. While fasting glucose levels and hepatic glucose output normalized after discontinuation of the hypoxic exposure, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and impairments in beta cell function persisted. CONCLUSIONS Intermittent hypoxia induces insulin resistance, impairs beta cell function, enhances hepatocyte glucose output, and increases oxidative stress in the pancreas. Cessation of the hypoxic exposure does not fully reverse the observed changes in glucose metabolism.
A Novel Monoclonal Antibody against Human CD80 and its Immune Protection in a Mouse Lupus-like Disease

Blockade of the interactions between CD28/CTLA-4 and their ligands, CD80 (B7, B7.1)/CD86 (B70, B7.2), is an attractive means to induce antigen-specific peripheral tolerance in autoimmune disease and organ transplantation. In this study, we generated and characterized a monoclonal antibody (Clone 4E5) against human CD80. 4E5 could recognize both human and mouse CD80 and suppress mixed lymphocyte reaction in vitro. To investigate their potency for clinical use, we further administrated 4E5 to a mouse lupus-like disease model (C57BL/J6) induced by Pristane. 4E5 could inhibit the immune response and attenuate the severity of lupus-like disease. The data showed 4E5 function and suggested that blockade of CD80/CD28 co-stimulatory signal pathway with 4E5 is a promising strategy to decelerate the progression of lupus-like disease and other autoimmune diseases.
An Evaluation of the Practicality of Sliding Mode Controllers in DC-DC Converters and Their General Design Issues

This paper examines the practical design issues of sliding mode controllers as applied to the control of DC– DC converters. A comprehensive review of the relevant literature is first provided. Major problems that prevent the use of sliding mode control in DC–DC converter for industrial applications and their possible solutions are discussed. Performance of sliding mode control is compared with that of conventional PWM control in terms of transient characteristics. It is shown that the use of sliding mode control can lead to improved robustness in providing consistent transient responses over a wide range of operating conditions.
Integrated weed management in direct-seeded upland rice under Tripura condition

A field experiment was conducted at KVK, South Tripura during the Kharif season of 2013 and 2014 to study the integrated weed management in direct-seeded upland rice. The predominant weed flora in the experimental field were Amaranthus viridis, Oldenlendia corymbosa, Spilanthes acmella, Ludwigia parviflora, Cleome rutidosperma, Malvestrum coromondalianeum among the broad-leaf weeds, Digitaria sanguinalis among grasses and Cyperus iria among sedges. The results revealed that though the hand weeding thrice at 15, 30 and 45 DAS recorded lowest weed dry weight and the highest grain yield, it was not economically viable. The pre-emergence application of pendimethalin at 1.0 kg/ha at 2 DAS + bispyribac-sodium at 25 g/ha at 20 DAS recorded the highest net returns and return per rupee invested and appeared to be the most promising and remunerative weed management practices for direct-seeded rice under Tripura condition followed by pendimethalin at 1.0 kg/ha at 2 DAS + one hand weeding at 30 DAS.
On the optimality system for a 1-D Euler flow problem

In this paper, a problem of shape design for a duct with the flow governed by the one-dimensional Euler equations is analyzed. The flow is assumed to be transonic, in the sense that we have a shock embedded in the flow. The presence of the shock introduces analytical and numerical difficulties that are overcome by introducing the shock location as an explicit state variable. We justify the use of adjoint variables by establishing conditions to ensure that the linearized constraint is surjective. These adjoint variables are used to state necessary optimality conditions and to compute gradients. In addition, our characterization of the adjoint variables is of interest for comparison to adjoints associated with shock-capturing formulations.
Amantadine for levodopa‐induced choreic dyskinesia in compound heterozygotes for GCH1 mutations

Amantadine suppressed severe levodopa‐induced choreic dyskinesia, which developed at initiation of levodopa therapy, in two siblings manifesting dystonia with motor delay phenotype of GTP cyclohydrolase I deficiency caused by compound heterozygous GCH1 mutations. Our finding suggests a beneficial effect of amantadine on this type of dyskinesia frequently observed in relatively severe dopamine‐deficient metabolic disorders. © 2004 Movement Disorder Society
Cytoid, colloid and large intra-blister round bodies and c-ANCAs in a case of erythema multiforme

Erythema multiforme (EM) represents an uncommon, acute inflammatory, reactive mucocutaneous disorder [1-3]. Etiologic agents of EM include infections (particularly herpes simplex virus, mycoplasma pneumonia, Epstein-Barr virus and histoplasmosis) and medications [1-3]. EM direct immunofluorescent (DIF) has been described as nonspecific, but may show deposition of Complement/C3 and fibrin along the dermal/epidermal junction, as well as IgM, Complement/C3 and fibrin around upper dermal blood vessels [1-3]. Here we report an EM case that seemed to be triggered by multiple medications; the histologic and immunologic studies demonstrated a complex immune response, including anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (c-ANCAs). We also noted cellular debris within the blisters, including fragments of melanocytes and keratinocytes.
Trees and Meta-Fibonacci Sequences

For $k>1$ and nonnegative integer parameters $a_p, b_p$, $p = 1.k$, we analyze the solutions to the meta-Fibonacci recursion $C(n)=\sum_{p=1}^k C(n-a_p-C(n-b_p))$, where the parameters $a_p, b_p$, $p = 1.k$ satisfy a specific constraint. For $k=2$ we present compelling empirical evidence that solutions exist only for two particular families of parameters; special cases of the recursions so defined include the Conolly recursion and all of its generalizations that have been studied to date. We show that the solutions for all the recursions defined by the parameters in these families have a natural combinatorial interpretation: they count the number of labels on the leaves of certain infinite labeled trees, where the number of labels on each node in the tree is determined by the parameters. This combinatorial interpretation enables us to determine various new results concerning these sequences, including a closed form, and to derive asymptotic estimates. Our results broadly generalize and unify recent findings of this type relating to certain of these meta-Fibonacci sequences. At the same time they indicate the potential for developing an analogous counting interpretation for many other meta-Fibonacci recursions specified by the same recursion for $C(n)$ with other sets of parameters.
Transmission Electron Microscope Imaging Sharpens Geochronological Interpretation of Zircon and Monazite

21 The present paper highlights the benefits of nanoscale characterization of the most commonly 22 used minerals – zircon and monazite – in U–Th–Pb geochronology to sharpen 23 2 geochronological interpretations and convert isotopic ratios a “date” into a geologically 24 meaningful age. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) is a powerful analytical tool, and 25 sometimes the only one, that can provide evidence of the mechanisms behind disturbance of 26 the geochronological systems leading to discordance. These mechanisms include (1) distinct 27 episodes of growth/replacement, (2) U, Th or Pb mobility (enhanced by the presence of nano28 structural defects), (3) nano-inclusions or nano-chemical heterogeneity. Furthermore, TEM 29 also helps to interpret concordant dates spreading along the Concordia curve. Such spread 30 could represent protracted continuous growth, episodic short-duration growth, or U–Th–Pb 31 disturbance of the geochronometers. In this paper, we show TEM images of nano-inclusions 32 interfering with U–Th–Pb systematics and discuss how to address the impact of nano33 inclusions on isotopic dates. Second, we show how experimental studies can be used to 34 understand the mechanism of U–Th–Pb resetting in monazite. Finally, the third part focuses 35 on nano-petrochronology of monazite, i.e. how the identification of nano-chemical tracer 36 revealed by TEM improves the geochronological data interpretation. 37
A Survey of Patterns of Diversity in Non-Lichenized Fungi

This paper summarizes the opinions of 26 mycologists who have worked in more than one hemlisphere or continent regarding the locations, correlates, and potential causes of centers of fungal endemism and diversity in non-lichenized fungi. These views were initially obtained via a survey and then summarized by the lead author. Most authors working on basidiomycetes thought that fungal diversity was more strongly correlated with host and habitat diversity than with resource abundance, whereas most of those working on ascomycetes and Hyphomycetes indicated that all three factors were very important. Overall diversity was highest in the tropics, at intermediate to high rainfall. and at middle to low elevations. Certain fungal groups, however. such as the Cortinariaceae (Agaricales), and some members of the Heterobasidiomycetes are more diverse at middle to high latitudes and elevations. There was no apparent variation in Gasteromycete diversity with latitude. The Neotropics were ranked as having a greater diversity of fungi than Africa by three of the four authors with experience in both. Although this pattern might be related to historical factors or to a higher diversity of host plants in the Neotropics, collections of fungi from Africa and the Asian tropics have been too limited to make confident comparisons between continents Except for the Gasteromycetes and certain plant parasites, Europe was always ranked lowest in fungal diversity when it was included in comparisons, even though collecting has been most intense there. The types of areas most frequently mentioned as having many species that are unknown elsewhere were humid forests on islands, tropical mountaintops, and large tropical river basins For example. Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, Sulawesi, the Andes, and parts of Africa and South America. especially the Congo and Amazon river basins were thought to have many unique species, These areas encompass many wet to moist centers of endemism for plants. The concordance suggests that despite differences in the mechanisms of dispersal and sexual incompatibility, there may be similar forces governing the isolation and speciation of plants and fungi growing in humid areas Some plant parasitic Heterobiasidomycetes that are host-restricted occur in all regions and habitats, including dry ones. Species with limited ranges also appear to be common in the Agaricales regardless of the region. Unfortunately, there is currently too little knowledge of fungal mating systems and dispersal barriers with regard to their roles in fungal evolution and distribution. The various gaps, hypotheses, and global patterns of fungal diversity identified in this paper are worthy of pursuit through experiments anti comparable surveys.
Sequela of preterm versus term infants born to mothers on a methadone maintenance program: differential course of neonatal abstinence syndrome

Abstract Objective: We determined the effect of preterm delivery on the course of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) in infants born to mothers participating in a methadone maintenance program. Study design: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in which infant and maternal data were collected from the medical records of 53 preterm and 66 term infants. Infants were selected from all infants admitted to Thomas Jefferson University hospital born between 1998 and 2002 whose mothers were enrolled in the methadone maintenance program. All infants were managed by a standard protocol utilizing the Neonatal Abstinence Scoring System (NASS) and neonatal opiate solution (NOS). Preterm and term infants were compared. Results: Preterm infants had shorter lengths of stay, treatment courses and required less medication than did term infants during the same time period. Conclusion: These data indicate that following exposure to maternal methadone, preterm infants have a different neonatal course than do infants born at term.