Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Maximum likelihood stochastic transformation adaptation for medium and small data sets

Speaker adaptation is recognized as an essential part of today? s large-vocabulary automatic speech recognition systems. A family of techniques that has been extensively applied for limited adaptation data is transformation-based adaptation. In transformation-based adaptation we partition our parameter space in a set of classes, estimate a transform (usually linear) for each class and apply the same transform to all the components of the class. It is known, however, that additional gains can be made if we do not constrain the components of each class to use the same transform. In this paper two speaker adaptation algorithms are described. First, instead of estimating one linear transform for each class (as maximum likelihood linear regression (MLLR) does, for example) we estimate multiple linear transforms per class of models and a transform weights vector which is specific to each component (Gaussians in our case). This in effect means that each component receives its own transform without having to estimate each one of them independently. This scheme, termed maximum likelihood stochastic transformation (MLST) achieves a good trade-off between robustness and acoustic resolution. MLST is evaluated on the Wall Street Journal(WSJ) corpus for non-native speakers and it is shown that in the case of 40 adaptation sentences the algorithm outperforms MLLR by more than 13%. In the second half of this paper, we introduce a variant of the MLST designed to operate under sparsity of data. Since the majority of the adaptation parameters are the transformations, we estimate them on the training speakers and adapt to a new speaker by estimating the transform weights only. First we cluster the speakers in a number of sets and estimate the transformations on each cluster. The new speaker will use transformations from all clusters to perform adaptation. This method, termed basis transformation, can be seen as a speaker similarity scheme. Experimental results on the WSJ show that when basis transformation is cascaded with MLLR marginal gains can be obtained from MLLR only, for adaptation of native speakers.
Intrinsic Motivation in Party Politics : Explaining the full range of political behavior

The proliferation of new parties since the 1960’s poses a challenge to established models of party behavior: too often, too many parties lose in elections. This seemingly nonstrategic behavior contributes to lively democratic societies, but is poorly understood by existing theories on political parties. This dissertation argues that insights from Self-Determination Theory can augment existing rational choice models of political behavior, and makes three specific contributions to better understanding the full range of political behavior. The first contribution shows that the empirical literature on the strategic entry of new parties is based on biased data, and that many findings from the strategic entry literature are likely driven by voter behavior rather than party behavior. The contribution argues that by excluding small and unsuccessful parties, the existing literature is based on data that systematically excludes observations that would contradict the strategic entry hypothesis. Once appropriate statistical models are applied to unbiased data, no support for strategic party entry is found. The second contribution uses an email experiment to observe whether successful and unsuccessful direct candidates have different sensitivities to extrinsic incentives. The experiment finds that unsuccessful candidates reply less often, but that – in contrast to successful candidates – they do not discriminate between responses that promise extrinsic benefits and those that do not. These findings are explained with the framework of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation from Self-Determination Theory. According to this framework, intrinsic motivation is lost in more competitive environments. Thus, the discriminating behavior of successful candidates is explained by lower levels of intrinsic motivation. The third contribution examines whether the framework of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation can help to understand party survival. Here, it is argued that party formation is a product of intrinsic motivation, but that once a party receives enough votes to win extrinsic benefit, intrinsic motivation is crowded out. Hence, such parties will only survive if extrinsic motivation can compensate for this loss. The analysis shows that the lifespan of parties that won enough votes to receive public party financing heavily depends on electoral success, while the survival of parties that have never received public financing depends much less on electoral success. The presented research suggests that, similar to the paradox of voting, there is a paradox of candidacy. It is argued that the intrinsic–extrinsic motivation framework can help to resolve this paradox and that the crowding-out effect represents a particularly interesting addition to existing theories.
Study on Incidence of Needle Stick Injury and Factors Associated with this Problem among Medical Students

Study on Incidence of Needle Stick Injury and Factors Associated with This Problem among Medical Students: Mohamad Yaakob Norsayani, et al. Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), Malaysia—Medical students face the threat of needle stick injury with the consequent risk of acquiring blood‐borne infection by pathogens such as HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C while performing their clinical activities in the hospitals. A cross‐sectional study was conducted among 417 final year medical students from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), University Malaya (UM) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). The aims of the study were to determine the incidence of cases and episodes of needle stick injury among them in the past year. This study was also done to find out the factors that might be associated with the occurrence of this problem. The factors were sociodemographic factors, duration of exposure, level of knowledge of blood‐borne diseases and Universal Precaution, perception of risk of blood‐borne diseases and level of practice of Universal Precaution. The incidence of needle stick injury among medical students was 14.1% (59 cases). The total number of episodes of needle stick injury was 87 and the incidence of episodes among respondents was high i.e. 20.9%. The highest incidence of episodes of needle stick injury occurred in Obstetric & Gynaecology postings, followed by Medicine and Surgery. For clinical procedures, venepuncture had the highest incidence followed by setting up drips and giving parenteral injections. The results showed the students who had needle stick injury (cases) had lower scores in the practice of Universal Precautions than non‐cases (p<0.05). There was a significant association between the level of practice of Universal Precautions and the number of episodes of needle stick injury, i.e. the higher the score for the practice of Universal Precautions, the lower the number of episodes (β=–2.03 × 10–2, p<0.05). This study showed that medical students are at risk of needle stick injury and blood‐borne infections during their clinical activities while performing procedures on patients especially for those who were poor at practising Universal Precautions. Therefore some preventive measures should be taken by the management of the universities and medical students to avoid the occurrence of these problems.
Physician Satisfaction Following Electronic Health Record Adoption in Three Massachusetts Communities

Background Despite mandates and incentives for electronic health record (EHR) adoption, little is known about factors predicting physicians’ satisfaction following EHR implementation. Objective To measure predictors of physician satisfaction following EHR adoption. Methods A total of 163 physicians completed a mailed survey before and after EHR implementation through a statewide pilot project in Massachusetts. Multivariable logistic regression identified predictors of physician satisfaction with their current practice situation in 2009 and generalized estimating equations accounted for clustering. Results The response rate was 77% in 2005 and 68% in 2009. In 2005, prior to EHR adoption, 28% of physicians were very satisfied with their current practice situation compared to 25% in 2009, following EHR adoption (P < .001). In multivariate analysis, physician satisfaction following EHR adoption was correlated with self-reported ease of EHR implementation (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 5.7, 95% CI 2.1 - 16), resources for practice improvement (adjusted OR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.2 - 6.1), pre-intervention satisfaction (adjusted OR = 4.8, 95% CI 1.5 - 15), and stress (adjusted OR = 5.3, 95% CI 1.1 - 25). Male physicians reported lower satisfaction following EHR adoption (adjusted OR = 0.3, 95% CI 0.2 - 0.6). Conclusions Interventions to expand EHR use should consider additional support for practices with fewer resources for improvement and ensure ease of EHR implementation. EHR adoption may be a factor in alleviating physicians’ stress. Addressing physicians’ satisfaction prior to practice transformation and anticipating greater dissatisfaction among male physicians will be essential to retaining the physician workforce and ensuring the quality of care they deliver.
Lion (Panthera leo) and caracal (Caracal caracal) type IIx single muscle fibre force and power exceed that of trained humans

SUMMARY This study investigated for the first time maximum force production, shortening velocity (Vmax) and power output in permeabilised single muscle fibres at 12°C from lion, Panthera leo (Linnaeus 1758), and caracal, Caracal caracal (Schreber 1776), and compared the values with those from human cyclists. Additionally, the use and validation of previously frozen tissue for contractile experiments is reported. Only type IIx muscle fibres were identified in the caracal sample, whereas type IIx and only two type I fibres were found in the lion sample. Only pure type I and IIa, and hybrid type IIax fibres were identified in the human samples – there were no pure type IIx fibres. Nevertheless, compared with all the human fibre types, the lion and caracal fibres were smaller (P<0.01) in cross-sectional area (human: 6194±230 μm2, lion: 3008±151 μm2, caracal: 2583±221 μm2). On average, the felid type IIx fibres produced significantly greater force (191–211 kN m−2) and ~3 times more power (29.0–30.3 kN m−2 fibre lengths s−1) than the human IIax fibres (100–150 kN m−2, 4–11 kN m−2 fibre lengths s−1). Vmax values of the lion type IIx fibres were also higher than those of human type IIax fibres. The findings suggest that the same fibre type may differ substantially between species and potential explanations are discussed.
Genetic and lifestyle influences on memory, brain structure, and dementia

This doctoral thesis investigated genetic, inflammatory, and lifestyle influences on cognition, brain structure, and dementia. The influence of TOMM40 polymorphisms (Study I), a PICALM, BIN1 and CLU genetic risk score (GRS; Studies II, III), and inflammatory cytokines (Study IV) was assessed, as well as potential interactions with physical activity (Studies II-IV). All studies were based on the Swedish National study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (SNAC-K), including a subsample that had participated in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In Study I, the influence of TOMM40 polymorphisms (rs11556505 and rs2075650) on episodic memory and hippocampal volume was investigated. There was no independent influence of TOMM40 polymorphisms on episodic memory and hippocampal volume. However, carriers of an APOE ε4 allele who also harbored TOMM40 risk alleles relied more heavily on hippocampal volume for episodic memory performance. Study II confirmed our hypothesis that high genetic risk (GRS >4) based on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) candidate genes (PICALM rs3851179, rs541458, BIN1 rs744373, and CLU rs11136000) was associated with worse episodic memory performance in non-demented older adults. Interestingly, there was an interaction between physical activity and GRS. The combination of physical inactivity and high genetic risk was most detrimental to memory performance, whereas a high GRS could be compensated for by physical activity. In Study III, we investigated if the same GRS was associated with incident dementia, primarily AD. Despite the associations with memory performance in Study II, there was no effect of GRS on incident dementia during a follow-up period of 6 years. Nonetheless, we did replicate previous work showing that physical inactivity is associated with increased risk of dementia. Study IV investigated the influence of inflammatory cytokines and physical activity on graymatter volume and global cognitive decline. Although there was no relation between inflammatory cytokines and brain volume, high levels of IL-12p40 in individuals who were physically inactive were associated with smaller lateral prefrontal cortex and hippocampal volumes, as well as with global cognitive decline over 6 years. This suggests that levels of inflammation may be especially detrimental for brain and cognitive integrity in individuals who are physically inactive. In summary, the studies in this thesis suggest that physical inactivity is associated with reduced episodic memory performance, compromised structural brain volume, and dementia risk. Moreover, physical inactivity in combination with a high GRS or systemic inflammation was especially detrimental to episodic memory as well as to frontal and hippocampal volumes, respectively.
Motivating Students to Learn: Does Teacher Immediacy Matter?

The study looked into the possible usefulness of a counseling concept called “immediacy” in the classroom setting. Teacher immediacy refers to the verbal, non-verbal, and written behaviors of the teacher that draws the student to a close but professional relationship with him. Utilizing descriptive-correlational design, 226 students from randomly selected tertiary schools in Koronadal City, Philippines, answered a questionnaire on how preferred is teacher immediacy, what it meant, and how it relates to motivation to learn. Data showed students’ preference for the immediate teacher. Teachers who write “good luck” notes in test papers, who say “go on” during classroom discussions, and who smile were most preferred. Varied meanings were attached to the teacher immediacy behaviors, from friendly to controlling but regardless of meaning, students preferred teachers showing immediacy. Significant correlation between teacher immediacy and motivation to learn was found.The study yielded interesting cultural insights into the concept of teacher immediacy . It also recommended inclusion of teacher immediacy in teacher training, and make teacher-student relationship an important component of the learning process.
On Permutation Statistics and Hecke Algebra Characters

Irreducible characters of Hecke algebras of type A may be represented as reened counts of simple statistics on suitable subsets of permutations. Such formulas have been generalized to characters of other Coxeter groups and their Hecke algebras and to coinvariant algebras. In this paper we present several formulas, applications to combinatorial identities, and related problems. New results are given with proofs.
Studies on the Roles of Clathrin-Mediated Membrane Trafficking and Zinc Transporter Cis4 in the Transport of GPI-Anchored Proteins in Fission Yeast

We previously identified Cis4, a zinc transporter belonging to the cation diffusion facilitator protein family, and we demonstrated that Cis4 is implicated in Golgi membrane trafficking in fission yeast. Here, we identified three glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins, namely Ecm33, Aah3, and Gaz2, as multicopy suppressors of the MgCl2-sensitive phenotype of cis4-1 mutant. The phenotypes of ecm33, aah3 and gaz2 deletion cells were distinct from each other, and Cis4 overexpression suppressed Δecm33 phenotypes but did not suppress Δaah3 defects. Notably, green fluorescent protein-tagged Ecm33, which was observed at the cell surface in wild-type cells, mostly localized as intracellular dots that are presumed to be the Golgi and endosomes in membrane-trafficking mutants, including Δapm1, ypt3-i5, and chc1-1 mutants. Interestingly, all these membrane-trafficking mutants showed hypersensitivity to BE49385A, an inhibitor of Its8 that is involved in GPI-anchored protein synthesis. Taken together, these results suggest that GPI-anchored proteins are transported through a clathrin-mediated post-Golgi membrane trafficking pathway and that zinc transporter Cis4 may play roles in membrane trafficking of GPI-anchored proteins in fission yeast.
Is Scores Derived from the Most Internationally Applied Patient Safety Culture Assessment Tool Correct?

Abstract Background Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture, known as HSOPS, is an internationally well known and widely used tool for measuring patient safety culture in hospitals. It includes 12 dimensions with positive and negative wording questions. The distribution of these questions in different dimensions is uneven and provides the risk of acquiescence bias. The aim of this study was to assess the questionnaire against this bias. Methods Three hundred nurses were assigned into study and control groups randomly. Short form of HSOPS was distributed in the control group and totally reversed form of it was given to the study group. Percent positive scores and t-test were applied for data analysis. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS Version 16. Results Finally a total of 272 nurses completed the questionnaire. All dimensions with positive wording items in both groups had higher scores compared with their negative worded format. The first dimension “organizational learning and continued improvement” which had the only statistically significant difference, got 16.2% less score in the study group comparing the other group. In addition six out of 18 differences in questions were statistically significant. Conclusion The popular and widely used HSOPS is subject to acquiescence bias. The bias might lead to exaggerate the status of some patient safety culture composites. Balancing the number of positive and negative worded items in each composite could mitigate the mentioned bias and provide a more valid estimation of different elements of patient safety culture.
Social adversity in childhood and the risk of developing psychosis: a national cohort study.

OBJECTIVE There is conflicting evidence concerning the association of social childhood factors and subsequent psychosis. Previous studies have had inadequate designs. The aim of the present study was to describe a broad range of social factors during childhood and the risk of developing psychosis later in life in a national cohort. METHOD The study population consisted of all children born in Sweden in 1963-1983-2.1 million persons-in family households participating in the national census of 1970, 1980, 1985, or 1990. Hazard ratios were estimated for five different indicators of socioeconomic position (living in rented apartments, low socioeconomic status, single-parent households, unemployment, and households receiving social welfare benefits) from hospital admissions for schizophrenia and other psychoses during 1987-2002. RESULTS Increased age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratios for schizophrenia and other psychoses were found for all childhood socioeconomic indicators, ranking from lowest to highest hazard ratio: rented apartments, low socioeconomic status, single-parent households, unemployment, and households receiving social welfare benefits. Hazard ratios increased with an increasing number of adverse social factors present. Those with four measures of adversity had a 2.7-fold higher risk of schizophrenia than those with none. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that social adversity in childhood and fetal life is independently associated with the risk of developing schizophrenia and other psychoses later in life. The risks increased with an increasing number of exposures, suggesting a dose-response relationship.
Extending Tcl-Tk to provide a functional eye and hand for the Soar cognitive modelling architecture

It would extend the world that cognitive models can see if models could interact based on an interface language. We introduce a system designed to allow cognitive models to interact with any display written in Tcl/Tk, a common interface creation language. This approach can be viewed as extending cognitive architectures to include eyes and hands that exist in the world of Tcl/Tk. This system is most naturally used by Soar because Soar includes Tcl/Tk, but the eye/hand could be used by other architectures. We demonstrate an initial model that uses independently created on-screen phones. This model does the task itself and more accurately predicts a task time than GOMS. Findings from the implementation of Soar/Tcl-PM are used to explore current limitations of GOMS-type task analysis methodologies, possibilities for enhancing the communication between Soar and Tcl/Tk, and data gathering requirements for future cognitive modelling in this area.
Iterated Random Functions : Convergence Theorems

Iterated random functions are used to draw pictures, simulate large Ising models or likelihood function representation of hidden Markov models, among other applications. They offer a method for studying the steady state distribution of a Markov chain, and there is a simply unifying idea: the iterated random Lipschitz functions converge if the functions are contracting on the average. To be more precise, let (X, d) be a complete separable metric space and (Fn)n≥0 a sequence of i.i. d. random functions from X to X which are uniform Lipschitz, that is, Ln = supx6=y d(Fn(x), Fn(y))/d(x, y) <∞ a.s. Providing the mean contraction assumption E log L1 < 0 and E log + d(F1(x0), x0) <∞ for some x0 ∈ X, it is known that the forward iterations M n = Fn ◦ · · · ◦ F1(x), n ≥ 0, converge weakly to a unique stationary distribution π for each x ∈ X. The associated backward iterations M̂ n = F1 ◦ · · · ◦ Fn(x) are a.s. convergent to a random variable M̂∞ which does not depend on x and has distribution π. In this paper, we describe the essential results about asymptotic behavior of the iterated random functions M n . To start with, we summarize recent results regarding stochastic stability of iterated random functions. Then, we study limiting theorems for additive functions of a Markov chain that can be constructed as an iterated random functions, which include ergodic theorem, central limit theorem, quick convergence, Edgeworth expansion and renewal theorems. Three prototypical methods are introduced to prove limiting theorems: regeneration method, Poisson equation, and spectral theory for the transition operator. Several examples are given for illustration. AMS 2000 subject classifications. 60J05, 60J15, 60K05, 60G17.