Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Bottom-Up Modular Search Approach to Large Vocabulary Continuous Speech Recognition

A novel bottom-up decoding framework for large vocabulary continuous speech recognition (LVCSR) with a modular search strategy is presented. Weighted finite state machines (WFSMs) are utilized to accomplish stage-by-stage acoustic-to-linguistic mappings from low-level speech attributes to high-level linguistic units in a bottom-up manner. Probabilistic attribute and phone lattices are used as intermediate vehicles to facilitate knowledge integration at different levels of the speech knowledge hierarchy. The final decoded sentence is obtained by performing lexical access and applying syntactical constraints. Two key factors are critical to warrant a high recognition accuracy, namely: (i) generation of high-precision sets of competing hypotheses at every intermediate stage; and (ii) low-error pruning of unlikely theories to reduce input lattice sizes while maintaining high-quality hypotheses for the next layers of knowledge integration. The decoupled nature of the proposed techniques allows us to obtain recognition results at all stages, including attribute, phone and word levels, and enables an integration of various knowledge sources not easily done in the state-of-the-art hidden Markov model (HMM) systems based on top-down knowledge integration. Evaluation on the Nov92 test set of the 5000-word, Wall Street Journal task demonstrates that high-accuracy attribute and phone classification can be attained. As for word recognition, the proposed WFSM-based framework achieves encouraging word error rates. Finally, by combining attribute scores with the conventional HMM likelihood scores and re-ordering the N-best lists obtained from the word lattices generated with the proposed WFSM system, the word error rate (WER) can be further reduced.
Sequential Sparse NMF

Nonnegative Matrix Factorization (NMF) is a standard tool for data analysis. An important variant is the Sparse NMF problem. A natural measure of sparsity is the L₀ norm, however its optimization is NP-hard. Here, we consider a sparsity measure linear in the ratio of the L₁ and L₂ norms, and propose an efficient algorithm to handle the norm constraints which arise when optimizing this measure. Although algorithms for solving these are available, they are typically inefficient. We present experimental evidence that our new algorithm performs an order of magnitude faster compared to the previous state-of-the-art.
How History Matters for Student Performance . Lessons from the Partitions of Poland ∗

This paper examines the effect on current student performance of the 19th century Partitions of Poland among Austria, Prussia and Russia. Despite the modern similarities of the three regions, using a regression discontinuity design I show that student test scores are 0.6 standard deviation higher on the Austrian side of the former Austrian-Russian border. This magnitude is comparable to the black vs. white test score gap in the US. On the other hand, I do not find evidence for differences on the Prussian-Russian border. Using a theoretical model and indirect evidence I argue that the Partitions have persisted through their impact on social norms toward local schools. Nevertheless, the persistent effect of Austria is puzzling given the historical similarities of the Austrian and Prussian educational systems. I argue that the differential legacy of Austria and Prussia originates from the Austrian Empire’s policy to promote Polish identity in schools and the Prussian Empire’s efforts to Germanize the Poles through education.
A Survey of Adaptive Carrier Sensing Mechanisms for IEEE 802.11 Wireless Networks

This survey provides a comprehensive review of existing physical carrier sensing enhancements for IEEE 802.11 wireless networks. The original physical carrier sensing mechanism, used by wireless stations to gain access to the medium, is limited. Consequently, IEEE 802.11 networks are vulnerable to the presence of hidden and exposed nodes. Such nodes can significantly decrease system performance by increasing the collision rate and decreasing the channel spatial reuse. The value of the physical carrier sensing threshold is a key factor influencing the presence of hidden and exposed nodes in a wireless network. Several enhancements have been proposed in the literature, which attempt to mitigate the loss in performance caused by the limited carrier sensing. Firstly, the notion of an optimum carrier sensing threshold has been studied, and results indicate that it can be tuned to an optimum value. Building on the positive early results, further work was performed to develop mechanisms that dynamically adjust the threshold according to varying network conditions. This article presents an in-depth survey of the existing literature in the area, detailing the various approaches and their efficacy in addressing the problem of hidden and exposed nodes (and consequently increasing performance). It offers a comparison of the techniques, by evaluating the models, limitations, assumptions, and performance gains.
Oxidative Stress and Redox Modulation Potential in Type 1 Diabetes

Redox reactions are imperative to preserving cellular metabolism yet must be strictly regulated. Imbalances between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants can initiate oxidative stress, which without proper resolve, can manifest into disease. In type 1 diabetes (T1D), T-cell-mediated autoimmune destruction of pancreatic β-cells is secondary to the primary invasion of macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) into the islets. Macrophages/DCs, however, are activated by intercellular ROS from resident pancreatic phagocytes and intracellular ROS formed after receptor-ligand interactions via redox-dependent transcription factors such as NF-κB. Activated macrophages/DCs ferry β-cell antigens specifically to pancreatic lymph nodes, where they trigger reactive T cells through synapse formation and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and more ROS. ROS generation, therefore, is pivotal in formulating both innate and adaptive immune responses accountable for islet cell autoimmunity. The importance of ROS/oxidative stress as well as potential for redox modulation in the context of T1D will be discussed.
Evaluation of thyroid dysfunction among type 2 diabetic patients

Background : Diabetes mellitus is a very common endocrinal disorders and incidence of thyroid dysfunction also rising in India and world over. Thyroid hormones directly control insulin secretion and insulin clearance. Diabetes also may affect the thyroid function to variable extent first at the level of hypothalamic control of TSH release and second at peripheral tissue by converting T4 to T3. Aims and Objectives: The present study was carried out aiming to evaluate thyroid dysfunction among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Material and Methods: Study included total 80 subjects. Thyroid dysfunction was evaluated by investigating the subjects for Total tri-iodo-thyronine (T3), Total thyroxine (T4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Plasma glucose was estimated by- GOD-POD method and Thyroid profile was estimated by- CLIA (chemiluminescence immunoassay) system. Statistical analysis was performed using software statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20, unpaired T test, Pearson’s correlation. Results : In type 2 diabetic patients the prevalence of hypothyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism was found to be 4(10.00%) and 6(15.00%) respectively, while the prevalence of subclinical hyperthyroidism and hyperthyroidism was found to be 0(0.0%) and 1(2.5%) respectively. In non diabetic healthy subjects the prevalence of hypothyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism was found to be 1(2.5%) and 3(7.5%) respectively while the prevalence of subclinical hyperthyroidism and hyperthyroidism was found to be 0(0.0%) and 0(0.0%) respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction was found to be higher in type 2 diabetes mellitus subjects as compared to non-diabetic subjects. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3126/ajms.v6i3. 10814 Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.6(3) 2015 33-37
Tapping the Supercomputer Under Your Desk: Solving Dynamic Equilibrium Models With Graphics Processors

This paper shows how to build algorithms that use graphics processing units (GPUs) installed in most modern computers to solve dynamic equilibrium models in economics. In particular, we rely on the compute unified device architecture (CUDA) of NVIDIA GPUs. We illustrate the power of the approach by solving a simple real business cycle model with value function iteration. We document improvements in speed of around 200 times and suggest that even further gains are likely.
Learning with Non-uniform Class and Cost Distributions : E ects and a Distributed Multi-classi er

Many factors innuence a learning process and the performance of a learned classiier. In this paper we investigate the eeects of class distribution in the training set on performance. We also study diierent methods of measuring performance based on cost models and the performance eeects of training class distribution with respect to the diierent cost models. Observations from these eeects help us devise a distributed multi-classiier meta-learning approach to learn in domains with skewed class distributions, non-uniform cost per error, and large amounts of data. One such domain is credit card fraud detection and our empirical results indicate that our approach can signiicantly reduce loss due to illegitimate transactions.
EAP Curriculum Alignment and Social Acculturation: Student Perceptions

The role of English as a second language (ESL) teachers and instruction as fac- tors in student social and psychological acculturation is widely acknowledged. However, the function of English for Academic Purposes (EAP) is less well known in this regard, because research has focused largely on academic acculturation. This qualitative study investigated the perceptions of curriculum alignment with undergraduate study by post-EAP learners (students who had successfully completed EAP and were registered in mainstream university programs). Semistructured interviews were conducted with 7 former EAP students from a range of faculties at a large Canadian university. Analysis of interview data highlighted social acculturation as a perceived need in EAP curriculum, as participants remarked on linguistic and cultural barriers faced while participating in university life post-EAP. The researchers argue that social acculturation is typically underrepresented in EAP curriculum, and may be inadvertently overlooked by instructors, curriculum planners, and program providers. Il est largement reconnu que les enseignants d’anglais langue seconde et l’enseignement linguistique representent des facteurs importants dans l’acculturation sociale et psychologique des etudiants. Toutefois, on connait moins bien le role de l’anglais academique (EAP) dans ce contexte, la recherche ayant surtout vise l’acculturation academique. Ce e etude qualitative a interroge des nissants d’un programme d’anglais academique qui suivaient des cours reguliers a l’universite pour connaitre leurs perceptions de l’harmonisation du programme EAP avec les cours reguliers du premier cycle a l’universite. Des entrevues semi-structurees ont eu lieu aupres de 7 nissants du programme EAP actuellement inscrits dans di erentes facultes d’une grande universite canadienne. L’analyse des donnees d’entrevue a indique que les nissants trouvaient que le programme EAP devait toucher l’acculturation sociale car ils a rontaient des barrieres linguistiques et culturelles lors de leur participation a la vie universitaire apres avoir termine le programme. Les chercheurs affirment que l’acculturation sociale est generale ment sous-representee dans le curriculum EAP et que ce e composante peut, par megarde, etre negligee par les enseignants et par les planificateurs et fournisseurs du programme.
Attention Versus Learning of Online Content: Preliminary Findings from an Eye-Tracking Study

Previous eye tracking studies have consistently associated increased eye fixations with comprehension difficulty. However, little research has probed this relationship in more complex news stories online. This exploratory within-subject experiment exposed participants (N = 20) to different text and graphic structures in health news stories. Results suggest enhanced learning, shorter viewing time, and fewer eye fixations for a linear text structure as compared to an â€œinverted pyramidâ€ text commonly used in news. Graphics interacted with text, facilitating performance in the linear conditions but inhibiting them in the inverted pyramid structure. Graphics tended to also increase viewing time and eye fixations on text only and text combined with graphics for both structure conditions. Results discuss the importance of text structure in complex news and how the data are not entirely consistent with the assumption that explanatory graphics increase understanding.
Segmentation of the Blood Vessels and Optic Disk in Retinal Images

Retinal image analysis is increasingly prominent as a nonintrusive diagnosis method in modern ophthalmology. In this paper, we present a novel method to segment blood vessels and optic disk in the fundus retinal images. The method could be used to support nonintrusive diagnosis in modern ophthalmology since the morphology of the blood vessel and the optic disk is an important indicator for diseases like diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and hypertension. Our method takes as first step the extraction of the retina vascular tree using the graph cut technique. The blood vessel information is then used to estimate the location of the optic disk. The optic disk segmentation is performed using two alternative methods. The Markov random field (MRF) image reconstruction method segments the optic disk by removing vessels from the optic disk region, and the compensation factor method segments the optic disk using the prior local intensity knowledge of the vessels. The proposed method is tested on three public datasets, DIARETDB1, DRIVE, and STARE. The results and comparison with alternative methods show that our method achieved exceptional performance in segmenting the blood vessel and optic disk.
Characterization of Newly Gained Introns in Daphnia Populations

As one of the few known species in an active phase of intron proliferation, the microcrustacean Daphnia pulex is an especially attractive system for interrogating the gain and loss of introns in natural populations. In this study, we used a comparative population-genomic approach to identify and characterize 90 recently gained introns in this species. Molecular clock analyses indicate that these introns arose between 3.9 × 105 and 1.45 × 104 years ago, with a spike in intron proliferation approximately 5.2 × 104 to 1.22 × 105 years ago. Parallel gains at homologous positions contribute to 47.8% (43/90) of discovered new introns. A disproportionally large number of new introns were found in historically isolated populations in Oregon. Nonetheless, derived, intron-bearing alleles were also identified in a wide range of geographic locations, suggesting intron gain and, to a lesser degree, intron loss are important sources of genetic variation in natural populations of Daphnia. A majority (55/90 or 61.1%) of the identified neointrons have associated internal direct repeats with lengths and compositions that are unlikely to occur by chance, suggesting repeated bouts of staggered double-strand breaks (DSBs) during their evolution. Accordingly, internal, staggered DSBs may contribute to a passive trend toward increased length and sequence diversity in nascent introns.
USBL/INS Tightly-Coupled Integration Technique for Underwater Vehicles

This paper presents a new ultra-short baseline (USBL) tightly-coupled integration technique to enhance error estimation in low-cost strap-down inertial navigation systems (INSs) with application to underwater vehicles. In the proposed strategy the acoustic array spatial information is directly exploited resorting to the extended Kalman filter implemented in a direct feedback structure. The determination and stochastic characterization of the round trip travel time are obtained resorting to pulse detection matched filters of acoustic signals modulated using spread-spectrum code division multiple access (CDMA). The performance of the overall navigation system is assessed in simulation and compared with a conventional loosely-coupled solution that consists of solving separately the triangulation and sensor fusion problems. From the simulation results it can be concluded that the proposed technique enhances the position, orientation, and sensors biases estimates accuracy
A Tale of Two Countries : Sovereign Default , Trade , and Terms of Trade

This paper explores the interactions of sovereign defaults with income and trade through a terms-of-trade channel, in a DSGE model of two risk-averse open economies with production. It makes contributions in two main aspects. First, the paper models the impact of sovereign defaults on trade, especially bilateral trade flows that are largely absent in theoretical sovereign default literature. Moreover, unlike existing models, this paper endogenously generates nonzero trade balances and trade balance reversal upon a sovereign default. Second, this model differs from others by endogenizing terms of trade and real exchange rate that interact with default risk. It captures a defaulting country’s terms-of-trade deterioration that significantly contributes to its income and trade losses, as in the data. In a quantitative analysis, the model produces countercyclical trade balances, procyclical bilateral trade, countercyclical bond spreads with a data-consistent average, and other empirical features of Mexican business cycles and its sovereign default episodes. The model results also imply that greater trade openness supports a higher debt-to-GDP ratio, and lowers terms of trade volatility, default frequency, and default-triggered welfare losses.
Staphylococcal enterotoxin specific IgE and asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Recent literature suggests that Staphylococcal enterotoxin specific IgE may be a risk factor for asthma. Objective To investigate the associations between Staphylococcal enterotoxin sensitization and asthma. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed for relevant case-control or population-based studies, published in the peer-reviewed journals until February 2013. Data were extracted on study designs, subjects, definitions and the prevalence of Staphylococcal enterotoxin sensitization. Results A total of 683 studies were initially identified, of which 7 studies finally met the inclusion criteria (5 case-control and 2 population-based studies). All the included studies reported higher prevalence of the sensitization in asthmatics than in controls, despite clinical and methodological heterogeneity. In a meta-analysis, the pooled odds ratio of the sensitization for asthma was 2.95 (95% confidence intervals 2.28-3.82). Conclusion Staphylococcal enterotoxin sensitization was significantly associated with asthma. The mechanisms of associations warrant further elucidation.
Design and Implementation of an Intrusion-Tolerant Self-Healing Application Server

Aiming at the current intrusion-tolerant application server’s limitation for self-healing, a method to design an intrusion-tolerant oriented self-healing application server is proposed. By the way of establishing a self-healing functional components, including the detection components, management components and implementation components, we add self-healing capabilities into the intrusion-tolerant application server. It solves some problems in the intrusion-tolerant application servers, such as the hidden intrusion, software aging, and the vulnerable prerequisite of intrusion tolerance, and further enhances the reliability and survivability of the intrusion-tolerant application server. Finally, an intrusion-tolerant oriented self-healing application server is realized, built on Jboss, which is an open source J2EE application server.
Convective Entrainment and Large-Scale Organization of Tropical Precipitation: Sensitivity of the CNRM-CM5 Hierarchy of Models

AbstractThe spurious double intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) is a systematic bias affecting state-of-the-art coupled general circulation models (GCMs). Modeling studies show that the ITCZ structure is very sensitive to moist convection parameterization and in particular, to the vertical profile of convective heating and free-tropospheric moistening. To further explore this sensitivity, the authors focus in this study on the influence of lateral entrainment in convective plumes on the simulated tropical precipitation and large-scale circulation. Sensitivity studies to the entrainment parameter were performed in a hierarchy of models (coupled ocean–atmosphere GCM, atmospheric GCM, and aquaplanet GCM), in order to mitigate the double ITCZ problem in the Centre National de Recherches Meteorologiques Coupled Global Climate Model, version 5 (CNRM-CM5). The sensitivity of the ITCZ structure to lateral entrainment is robust across our hierarchy of models. In response to increased entrainment, the realistic s.
Implicit learning of an artificial grammar of musical timbres

This study investigates how the artificial grammars of timbres are learned. In Experiment 1, the participants listened to sequences of timbres produced using an artificial grammar. They were then asked to differentiate between sequences which either did or did not violate the grammar. The participants in the explicit condition were informed of the existence of rules underlying the sequences. Those in the implicit condition received no such information (Reber, 1967). Experiment 2 addressed the influence of the learning mode on the content of the knowledge acquired. At the end of the learning phase, the participants were asked to judge the grammaticality of new sequences of timbres (test condition) or letters (transfer condition). The results confirmed the advantage of the implicit condition over the explicit condition but suggest that the knowledge acquired pertained more to surface regularities than to abstract rules. The results are discussed within the framework of current work on implicit learning and musical cognition.
Spectroscopically and spatially resolved optical line emission in the Superantennae (IRAS 19254-7245)

We present Visible Multi-Object Spectrograph integral-field spectroscopic observations of the ultraluminous infrared galaxy (ULIRG) pair IRAS 19254−7245 (the Superantennae). We resolve Hα, [N ii], [O i] and [S ii] emission both spatially and spectroscopically, and separate the emission into multiple velocity components. We identify spectral line emission characteristic of star formation associated with both galaxies, broad spectral line emission from the nucleus of the southern progenitor and potential outflows with shock-excited spectral features near both nuclei. We estimate that ≲10 per cent of the 24 μm flux density originates from star formation, implying that most of the 24 μm emission originates from the active galactic nuclei in the southern nucleus. We also measure a gas consumption time of ∼1 Gyr, which is consistent with other measurements of ULIRGs.