Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exemplar-Based Sparse Representation With Residual Compensation for Voice Conversion

We propose a nonparametric framework for voice conversion, that is, exemplar-based sparse representation with residual compensation. In this framework, a spectrogram is reconstructed as a weighted linear combination of speech segments, called exemplars, which span multiple consecutive frames. The linear combination weights are constrained to be sparse to avoid over-smoothing, and high-resolution spectra are employed in the exemplars directly without dimensionality reduction to maintain spectral details. In addition, a spectral compression factor and a residual compensation technique are included in the framework to enhance the conversion performances. We conducted experiments on the VOICES database to compare the proposed method with a large set of state-of-the-art baseline methods, including the maximum likelihood Gaussian mixture model (ML-GMM) with dynamic feature constraint and the partial least squares (PLS) regression based methods. The experimental results show that the objective spectral distortion of ML-GMM is reduced from 5.19 dB to 4.92 dB, and both the subjective mean opinion score and the speaker identification rate are increased from 2.49 and 73.50% to 3.15 and 79.50%, respectively, by the proposed method. The results also show the superiority of our method over PLS-based methods. In addition, the subjective listening tests indicate that the naturalness of the converted speech by our proposed method is comparable with that by the ML-GMM method with global variance constraint.
The Transient Receptor Potential Ion Channel TRPV6 Is Expressed at Low Levels in Osteoblasts and Has Little Role in Osteoblast Calcium Uptake

Background TRPV6 ion channels are key mediators of regulated transepithelial absorption of Ca2+ within the small intestine. Trpv6 -/- mice were reported to have lower bone density than wild-type littermates and significant disturbances in calcium homeostasis that suggested a role for TRPV6 in osteoblasts during bone formation and mineralization. TRPV6 and molecules related to transepithelial Ca2+ transport have been reported to be expressed at high levels in human and mouse osteoblasts. Results Transmembrane ion currents in whole cell patch clamped SaOS-2 osteoblasts did not show sensitivity to ruthenium red, an inhibitor of TRPV5/6 ion channels, and 45Ca uptake was not significantly affected by ruthenium red in either SaOS-2 (P = 0.77) or TE-85 (P = 0.69) osteoblastic cells. In contrast, ion currents and 45Ca uptake were both significantly affected in a human bronchial epithelial cell line known to express TRPV6. TRPV6 was expressed at lower levels in osteoblastic cells than has been reported in some literature. In SaOS-2 TRPV6 mRNA was below the assay detection limit; in TE-85 TRPV6 mRNA was detected at 6.90±1.9 × 10−5 relative to B2M. In contrast, TRPV6 was detected at 7.7±3.0 × 10−2 and 2.38±0.28 × 10−4 the level of B2M in human carcinoma-derived cell lines LNCaP and CaCO-2 respectively. In murine primary calvarial osteoblasts TRPV6 was detected at 3.80±0.24 × 10−5 relative to GAPDH, in contrast with 4.3±1.5 × 10−2 relative to GAPDH in murine duodenum. By immunohistochemistry, TRPV6 was expressed mainly in myleocytic cells of the murine bone marrow and was observed only at low levels in murine osteoblasts, osteocytes or growth plate cartilage. Conclusions TRPV6 is expressed only at low levels in osteoblasts and plays little functional role in osteoblastic calcium uptake.
Spatiotemporal Cluster Patterns of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease at the County Level in Mainland China, 2008-2012

Background Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is known to be a highly contagious childhood illness. In recent years, the number of reported cases of HFMD has significantly increased in mainland China. This study aims at the epidemiological features, spatiotemporal patterns of HMFD at the county/district level in mainland China. Methods Data on reported HFMD cases for each county from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2012 were obtained from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Cluster analysis, spatial autocorrelation, and retrospective scan methods were used to explore the spatiotemporal patterns of the disease. Results The annual incidences varied greatly among the counties, ranging from 0 to 74.31‰ with the median of 5.42‰ (interquartile range: 1.54‰–13.55‰) during 2008–2012 in mainland China. Counties close to provincial capital cities generally had higher incidences than rural counties. A seasonal distribution was observed between the northern and southern China, of which dual epidemic were shown in southern China and usually only one in northern China. Based on the global and local spatial autocorrelation analysis, we found that the spatial distribution of HFMD was presented a significant clustering pattern for each year (P<0.001), and hotspots of the disease were mostly distributed in coastal provinces of China. The retrospective scan statistic further identified the dynamics of spatiotemporal clustering areas of the disease, which were mainly distributed in the counties of eastern and southern China, as well as provincial capitals and their surrounding counties. Conclusions The spatiotemporal clustering areas of the disease identified in this way were relatively stable, and imminent public health planning and resource allocation should be focused within those areas.
Algorithm XXX : VTDIRECT 95 : Serial and Parallel Codes for the Global Optimization Algorithm DIRECT

VTDIRECT95 is a Fortran 95 implementation of D. R. Jones’ deterministic global optimization algorithm called DIRECT, which is widely used in multidisciplinary engineering design, biological science, and physical science applications. The package includes both a serial code and a datadistributed massively parallel code for different problem scales and optimization (exploration vs. exploitation) goals. Dynamic data structures are used to organize local data, handle unpredictable memory requirements, reduce the memory usage, and share the data across multiple processors. The parallel code employs a multilevel functional and data parallelism to boost concurrency and mitigate the data dependency, thus improving the load balancing and scalability. In addition, checkpointing features are integrated into both versions to provide fault tolerance and hot restarts. Important algorithm modifications and design considerations are discussed regarding data structures, parallel schemes, error handling, and portability. Using several benchmark functions and real-world applications, the software is evaluated on different systems in terms of optimization effectiveness, data structure efficiency, parallel performance, and checkpointing overhead. The package organization and usage are also described in detail.
Delayed Diagnosis of Critical Congenital Heart Defects: Trends and Associated Factors

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine trends in timing of diagnosis of critical congenital heart defects (CCHDs) and factors associated with delayed diagnosis (diagnosis after discharge home following delivery). METHODS: We examined a population-based retrospective cohort of CCHD cases among live births identified through the Massachusetts Birth Defects Monitoring Program. Congenital heart defects were considered critical if the infant received corrective surgery, interventional catheterization, palliative care, or died as a result of the defect within 12 months of birth. Timing of initial diagnosis was classified as prenatal, postnatal before discharge home, or delayed. Demographic, perinatal, and mortality information was obtained from the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. Prevalence ratios (PRs) were used to examine associations with delayed diagnosis. RESULTS: Among 460 467 live births to Massachusetts residents between 2004 and 2009, we identified 916 CCHD cases, of which 126 (13.8%) had delayed diagnosis. Rates of prenatal CCHD diagnosis increased from 44.9% in 2004 to 63.8% in 2009, whereas rates of delayed diagnosis decreased from 17.1% to 10.6% over the same time period. Among cases with delayed diagnosis, the most common defects were coarctation, pulmonary valve stenosis, and tetralogy of Fallot. Delayed diagnosis was associated with delivery outside a tertiary hospital (adjusted PR: 3.6 [95% confidence interval: 2.5–5.2]) and isolated CCHD (adjusted PR: 1.7 [95% confidence interval: 1.1–2.7]). CONCLUSIONS: Despite increasing prenatal diagnosis of CCHDs, delayed diagnosis still occurs in over 10% of cases. Understanding factors associated with delayed diagnosis could help to improve prenatal and postnatal screening efforts, including pulse oximetry testing.
Measures of Information

This paper builds an integrated framework of measures of information based on the Model for Information (MfI) developed by the author. Since truth is expressed using information, an analysis of truth depends on the nature of information and its limitations. These limitations include those implied by the geometry of information and those implied by the relativity of information. This paper proposes an approach to truth and truthlikeness that takes these limitations into account by incorporating measures of the quality of information. Another measure of information is the amount of information. This has played a role in two important theoretical difficulties—the Bar-Hillel Carnap paradox and the “scandal of deduction”. This paper further provides an analysis of the amount of information, based on MfI, and shows how the MfI approach can resolve these difficulties.
Double Dissociation of Auditory Attention and Visual Scanning in Long Term Survivors of Childhood Cerebellar Tumor: A Deterministic Tractography and Volumetric Study of the Cerebellar-Frontal and the Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus Pathways

Background. Right cerebellar-left frontal (RC-LF) white matter integrity (WMI) has been associated with working memory. Right Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus II (SLF II) WMI has been associated with visual attention. These relationships have held true for neurotypical controls and brain tumor survivors. The current study examined the relationships between RC-LF WMI and processing speed, attention, and working memory. SLF II WMI and visual attention were included as a control tract and task to demonstrate a correlational double dissociation. This study also examined the relationship between the volume of brain regions within the RC-LF network and RC-LF WMI. Methods. Adult survivors of childhood brain tumors (n= 29, age: M=22 years (SD= 5), 45% female) were treated with neurosurgery, and combinations of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Ageand gender-matched controls (n=29) were also included. Tests of auditory attention span, working memory, visual attention, and processing speed served as cognitive measures. Participants completed a 3T MRI diffusion imaging scan. WMI (FA, RD) and volume served as neuroimaging measures. In the survivor group, partial correlations between WMI and cognitive scores included controlling for type of treatment. Results. A correlational double dissociation was found. RC-LF WMI was associated with auditory attention span (FA: r=.42, p=.03; RD: r=-.50, p=.01), and was not associated with visual attention (FA: r=-.11, p=.59; RD: r=-.11, p=.57). SLF II FA WMI was associated with visual attention (FA: r=.44, p=.02; RD: r=-.17, p=.40), and was not associated with auditory attention span (FA: r=.24, p=.22; RD: r=-.10, p=.62). The relationship between RC-LF WMI and auditory attention span robustly dissociated from working memory and visual attention. In the radiation group, thalamic-frontal segment of RC-LF WMI associated with the volumetric measures of each structure of the RC-LF pathway, whereas in the no radiation group cerebellar-rubral segment of RC-LF WMI associated with the volumetric measures. Conclusions. The current study advances the understanding of structural brain changes following cerebellar tumor resection and treatment because the results show that RC-LF WMI is associated with auditory attention span rather that working memory, provide evidence for a correlational double dissociation, and suggest distinct relationships between WMI and volume based on treatment. INDEX WORDS: Brain tumor, Structural MRI, Diffusion tractography, Cerebellum, Neurocognitive outcomes, Radiation treatment DOUBLE DISSOCIATION OF AUDITORY ATTENTION AND VISUAL SCANNING IN LONG TERM SURVIVORS OF CHILDHOOD CEREBELLAR TUMOR: A DETERMINISTIC TRACTOGRAPHY AND VOLUMETRIC STUDY OF THE CEREBELLAR-FRONTAL AND THE SUPERIOR LONGITUDINAL FASCICULUS PATHWAYS
Supermassive black holes from OASIS and SAURON integral-field kinematics

Abstract Supermassive black holes are a key element in our understanding of how galaxies form. Most of the progress in this very active field of research is based on just ~30 determination of black hole masses, accumulated over the past decade. We illustrate how integral-field spectroscopy, and in particular our OASIS modeling effort can help improve the current situation.
Personnel systems in Japanese local governments

Personnel systems and policies can have a substantial influence on the quality of local government. This paper shows that Japanese local governments provide stable, and well-paid careers. Indeed, pay scales are slightly higher than those of central government staff. As a result, Japanese local governments have attracted good staff into their ranks, and built up strong human resource capacity over time. Moreover, the tendency for a brain drain to the central government has been restrained. Also, the similarity of personnel systems across local government units has led to a convergence of skill bases across such units over time.
Multi-Vehicle Cooperative Control Using Mixed Integer Linear Programming

We present methods to synthesize cooperative strategies for multi-vehicle control problems using mixed integer linear programming. Complex multi-vehicle control problems are expressed as mixed logical dynamical systems. Optimal strategies for these systems are then solved for using mixed integer linear programming. We motivate the methods on problems derived from an adversarial game between two teams of robots called RoboFlag. We assume the strategy for one team is fixed and governed by state machines. The strategy for the other team is generated using our methods. Finally, we perform an average case computational complexity study on our approach.
Quality Attributes of Cowpea Seeds Stored with Neem and Moringa Seed Oils

The quality attributes of cowpea seeds stored with neem and moringa seed oils were investigated using various concentrations (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 ml) of pure neem, pure moringa and mixtures of neem and moringa seed oils in ratios of 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3. The treated cowpea seeds were stored for a period of 180 days. During this period, data were collected monthly on insect mortality, number of emergence holes per seed and weight of cowpea seeds. At the end of the sixth month of storage, seed viability was determined. Data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and least significant difference (LSD) test was used to compare means that were significantly different at P<0.05. The treatments minimized weight loss in stored cowpea grains compared with the control samples. Number of emergence holes were fewer (<1.3) in all the treated samples compared with the emergence holes in control samples (16.33). The mixture of neem-moringa seed oils gave better cowpea seed preservation than the pure oils. The higher concentration of these oils used for cowpea storage, resulted in better preservation of seeds, however the less percentage germination was recorded. For cowpea grains stored for consumption, mixtures of neem-moringa oil at ratio of 1:2 or 1:3 is recommended but for cowpea seed meant for planting, storage with pure neem or mixture of neem-moringa oils at a concentration of 0.5 and 1.0 ml/200 g cowpea seed should be used.
Exploratory Research on the Success Factors and Challenges of Smart City Projects

As urbanization and its consequences become the issue of modern cities, the concept of Smart City comes as the solution. Though a lot of researches on the topic is don e, still no clear definition is given for both: Smart City itself and the factors of a successful Smart City. While most of the literature centers the role of ICT it is not a sufficient condition for a city to become Smart; the role of intellectual capital is underestimated. Using a collection of Smart City definitions across the time and providing concrete cases, this research seeks to bridge definition gaps and creates a tool for understanding Smart Cities. Drawing on the findings of several case studies, this research derives several explanatory factors. The citizen’s engagement and governance are identified as the two key success factors of Smart City Projects along with ICT and other factors as enablers. The research has purpose as follows: 1) To bridge definition gaps of the “Smart City” by defining the term “Smart City,” based on existing concepts and characteristic mechanisms across times. ; 2) To develop an analytical tool for Smart City success factors through Explanatory Variables. ; and 3) To identify major challenges and barriers of Smart City Projects implementations and to provide recommendations and solutions, based on existing governmental initiatives and pilot projects. The research contributes to the knowledge of smart cities and ICT integration for urbanization issues solution. By applying the findings of this research at the managerial lev el stakeholders may benefit by getting higher efficiency of the Smart City Projects and by utilizing knowledge and values of a Smart City Projects in a prioritized way.
IRREGULARITIES OF DISTRIBUTION OF DIGITAL (0,1)-SEQUENCES IN PRIME BASE

In this paper, as an application of our recent results to appear elsewhere [5], we compare digital (0, 1)-sequences generated by nonsingular upper triangular matrices in arbitrary prime bases to van der Corput sequences and show these last ones are the worst distributed with respect to the star discrepancy, the extreme discrepancy, the L2-discrepancy and the diaphony. Moreover, we obtain digital (0, 1)-sequences in arbitrary prime bases with very good extreme discrepancy, quite comparable to the best generalized van der Corput sequences already found in preceding studies ([2] and [4]).
The experience of university students in cultivating mindfulness : what helps and hinders

This study explored the experience of university students in cultivating mindfulness. University students face many unique academic, financial, social, and personal stressors in the pursuit of their educational goals. The literature suggests that the nature of mental health is changing for today’s students, with increasing prevalence, chronicity, complexity, and severity of psychological issues. University counselling centres serve a growing number of students with severe psychological problems, many presenting in crisis and requiring immediate response. This consistent rise in clients seen by centres, compounded with stretched resources and budgetary concerns, is causing many centres to incorporate different treatment modalities to address these challenges. Outcome research suggests that mindfulness is a beneficial intervention with university students, especially in reducing symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. However, there is limited qualitative research on the experience of university students in cultivating mindfulness, and no known published research on what facilitates and challenges students who participate in a mindfulness-based intervention as part of treatment at a university counselling centre. Fourteen participants were interviewed about what helps and hinders their cultivation of mindfulness. All participants had completed a Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction group as part of treatment through their university counselling centre. The Enhanced Critical Incident Technique was used to analyze the interviews, which produced 390 total incidents, with 195 helping incidents, 130 hindering incidents, and 65 wish list items. These incidents and wish list items were grouped into 19 categories. The 11 helping categories are Mindfulness Practice, Mindfulness Group, External Environment, Personal Strategies, Benefits of Mindfulness, Routine, Mindfulness Concept, Social Support, External Reminders, Inspirational Others, and Stress. The five hindering categories are Disruptions, Time, Tired, Emotion and Anxiety, and
Price Dividend Ratio Factors: Proxies for Long Run Risk

We evaluate the empirical support for a broad class of long run risk models using information in factors extracted through principal component analysis of the covariance matrix of log price dividend ratios of twenty five equity portfolios formed on Size and Book-to-Market. We identify two price-dividend ratio factor proxies for economy wide long run risk, one tracking the volatility of the growth rate in economy wide aggregate consumption, and the other predicting the growth rates in the stock index portfolio dividends and aggregate consumption, consistent with the implications of these models. We show that that the long run risk factor driving expected consumption growth is not recoverable from the cross section of excess returns alone. The price dividend ratio factors perform better than the stock index price dividend ratio and the corporate yield spread, and has information in addition to what is in the slope of the term structure of interest rates, in forecasting the growth rate in real time consumption and stock index dividends. The covariance of excess returns with factor innovations explain the cross section of excess returns on size, book/market, earnings/price ratio, long term reversal, and short term reversal sorted portfolios in a manner robust to look-ahead and useless factor biases. Our findings suggest that the widely used Fama and French (1993) three factor model and the long run risk models studied in the literature are not necessarily inconsistent with each other. They may be representing the same underlying phenomenon, but emphasizing different aspects of reality.
Immunopathological modifications in the rectal mucosa from an animal model of food allergy.

AIM The aim is to determine immunopathological modifications in rectal mucosa from rabbit after local challenge in sensitized animals with ovalbumin (OVA). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Thirty rabbits divided into three groups: G1: normal, G2: subcutaneously OVA sensitized, G3: sensitized, locally OVA challenged and sampled 4 hours after challenge. Specific anti-OVA IgE levels were evaluated by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis test (PCA). In each group 200 high microscopical power fields (HPF) were counted. Results were expressed as arithmetic mean and SE. Statistical analysis was made using Student t test. Anti-CD4, CD5, micro chain, CD25 and RLA II monoclonal antibodies were used. Avidin biotin horseradish peroxidase system was used. RESULTS CD 4: G1: 8.3 +/- 0.06; G2: 13.4 +/- 0.08 and G3: 8.25 +/- 0.06. CD 5: G1: 7.3 +/- 0.05; G2: 9.4 +/- 0.05 and G3: 11.3 +/- 0.06. CD 25: G1: 13 +/- 0.08; G2: 15.1 +/- 0.13 and G3: 25.5 +/- 0.15. mu chain: G1: 10.4 +/- 0.06; G2: 3.8 +/- 0.02 and G3: 6.0 +/- 0.10. RLA II (DR): G1: 11.6 +/- 0.05; G2: 19.2 +/- 0.09 and G3: 19.1 +/- 0.11. In all cases, experimental groups (G2 and G3) presented statistical significant differences vs. control group (G1) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Interleukin-2 receptor (CD25+ cells) increase in experimental groups. Cells expressing micro chain decreased in G2 and G3 likely due to activation of B cells and subsequent expression of other immunoglobulin chains in cell surface. RLA II expression is higher in G2 and G3. This receptor is considered an activation marker expressed by macrophages, T and B cells. We conclude that obtained data are important to elucidate immunopathology of local anaphylactic reaction in rectal mucosa from systemic sensitized animals.