Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
By Humming System using Convolutional Neural Network

In this paper, we propose a note-based query by humming (QBH) system with Hidden Markov Model (HMM) and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) since note-based systems are much more efficient than the traditional frame-based systems. A note-based QBH system has two main components: humming transcription and candidate melody retrieval. For humming transcription, we are the first to use a hybrid model using HMM and CNN. We use CNN for its ability to learn the features directly from raw audio data and for being able to model the locality and variability often present in a note and we use HMM for handling the variability across the timeaxis. For candidate melody retrieval, we use locality sensitive hashing to narrow down the candidates for retrieval and dynamic time warping and earth mover’s distance for the final ranking of the selected candidates. We show that our HMM-CNN humming transcription system outperforms other state of the art humming transcription systems by ∼ 2% using the transcription evaluation framework by Molina et. al and our overall query by humming system has a Mean Reciprocal Rank of 0.92 using the standard MIREX dataset, which is higher than other state of the art note-based query by humming systems.
Transaction Size, Order Submission and Price Preferences Around Stock Splits

We analyse the effect of splits on stock liquidity. The results show a drop in trading volume and depth and an increase in the relative bid-ask spread. We detect a change in trading composition, with an increase in the smallest transactions, mainly on the buyer side of shares whose prices fall significantly after the split. The information asymmetry does not diminish, given that the adverse selection component of the effective spread reduces only insignificantly for the full sample. Finally there are not significant changes in the percentage of orders that provide liquidity to the market. These findings indicate that splits, despite higher transaction costs, encourage the entry of small investors attracted by the lower stock prices.
Whose Market? Understanding the demand for Extra Care Housing: A Strategic Approach

This paper highlights the findings from a recent Housing Learning and Improvement Network questionnaire and draws out some of the implications for commissioners, developers, funders and providers of extra care housing. We hope that the findings will be of interest to private sector developers and will provide a stimulus to local authorities to review the extent to which their strategies facilitate private sector development of extra care housing models.
A dimer of BPV‐1 E2 containing a protease resistant core interacts with its DNA target.

The E2 proteins encoded by papillomaviruses interact with the viral DNA to regulate its transcription. In the present study, we have constructed bacterial vectors expressing the full‐length or N‐terminal truncated BPV‐1 E2 proteins under the control of an inducible promoter. By UV cross‐linking experiments we show that a dimer of the intact or truncated E2 protein interacts with a single palindromic site ACCGNNNNCGGT. The DNA‐binding domain of E2 can be reduced to a small protease resistant core. Methylation interference studies show that this C‐terminal domain interacts with the major groove of the DNA by contacting two consecutive guanine residues in both halves of the palindrome. Although one binding site is sufficient for high affinity binding in vitro or in vivo, two E2 binding sites are required for transcriptional activation in eukaryotic cells.
The derivation of two additional human embryonic stem cell lines from day 3 embryos with low morphological scores.

BACKGROUND Immune rejection can lead to the failure of human embryonic stem cell (hES cell) transplantation. One approach to address the problem is to establish hES cell line banks. Due to the limited source of human embryos and to ethical reasons, the hES cell lines are not readily available. This study was undertaken to determine whether discarded day 3 embryos with low morphological scores could develop into blastocysts and produce hES cell lines. METHODS A total of 130 day 3 embryos with low morphological scores were cultured to blastocyst stage, and inner cell masses (ICM) were isolated by immunosurgery. Colonies derived from the ICM were passaged every 4-7 days and evaluated for cell surface markers, differentiation potentials and karyotypes. RESULTS A total of 19 blastocysts were obtained from 130 embryos (quality score <16), which resulted in the formation of 10 ICM, and two cell lines. Both cell lines satisfied the criteria that characterize pluripotent hES cells. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that a subset with poor quality day 3 embryos judged on the basis of morphological assessment can form blastocysts and give rise to hES cell lines.
Physiological predictors of performance in cross‐country skiing from treadmill tests in male and female subjects

In order to study which parameter that best corresponds to performance during cross‐country skiing, seven male and nine female cross‐country skiers were tested with treadmill tests. Parameters measured or computed by metabolic gas measurements were the anaerobic threshold (AT), threshold of decompensated metabolic acidosis (TDMA), the exercise intensity where the Respiratory exchange ratio reaches 1.0 (R = 1) and peak oxygen (O2) uptake (VO2peak). Onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA, 4 mmol·l−1 blood lactate) was also measured. The various parameters were measured in percentage of maximal heart rate, percentage of peak O2 uptake, VO2 ml·kg−1·min−1, VO2 ml·min−1·kg−2/3 and VO2 l·min−1. Results from four large competitions were also collected to rank the subjects. With correlation analysis, it was revealed that in male subjects a high OBLA was associated with good ranking results (r = (−0.829) − (−0.964); P < 0.05–0.001). In female subjects, the best association with competition results was found for R = 1 (r = (−0.715) − (−0.810); P < 0.05). Concerning VO2 measurements, for male subjects the unit l·min−1 is suggested to be used and for female subjects either the units l·min−1, ml·min−1·kg−2/3, or ml·kg−1·min−1 could be used when predicting performance in cross‐country skiing. In conclusion, treadmill tests can be used for the prediction of performance in cross‐country skiing. Further, various parameters from treadmill tests in men and women are best used as predictors of performance in cross‐country skiing.
Blend: a Novel Combined MT Metric Based on Direct Assessment — CASICT-DCU submission to WMT17 Metrics Task

Existing metrics to evaluate the quality of Machine Translation hypotheses take different perspectives into account. DPM-Fcomb, a metric combining the merits of a range of metrics, achieved the best performance for evaluation of to-English language pairs in the previous two years of WMT Metrics Shared Tasks. This year, we submit a novel combined metric, Blend, to WMT17 Metrics task. Compared to DPMFcomb, Blend includes the following adaptations: i) We use DA human evaluation to guide the training process with a vast reduction in required training data, while still achieving improved performance when evaluated on WMT16 to-English language pairs; ii) We carry out experiments to explore the contribution of metrics incorporated in Blend, in order to ﬁnd a trade-off between performance and efﬁciency.
Financial Repression and Economic Reform in China

This book covers the first decade of economic reform in China by examining the various financial aspects of post-reform development, including the reform of banking institutions, the role of interest rate and monetary policy. By studying and reading the early stages of economic and financial reforms in China, one can understand the way the China authority is conducting its monetary, fiscal and financial policies today. For example, the manipulation of state-owned enterprise debts and the subsequent increase in provincial debts. The way banks and financial institutions have been reformed and the internationalization of Chinese banking institutions.
Mutual Fund Shareholder Response to Market Disruptions

With the rapid growth in mutual funds in the 1990s, economist Henry Kaufman and others2 have expressed the concern that mutual funds may now pose a systemic risk to financial markets. They fear that a large and sudden drop in stock or bond prices could cause massive redemptions of mutual fund shares that would force portfolio managers to dump securities, thereby sending securities prices well below their fundamental values. To lessen the potential for mutual funds to be a destabilizing force in financial markets, Kaufman has recommended that mutual fund redemptions be subject to a waiting period of sixty or ninety days.
Postmortem Time and Storage Temperature Affect the Concentrations of Hypoxanthine, other Purines, Pyrimidines, and Nucleosides in Avian and Porcine Vitreous Humor

ABSTRACT: An HPLC method was used to determine whether postmortem time and storage temperature affect the concentrations of purines, pyrimidines, and nucleosides in avian and porcine vitreous humor. Inosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine, uric acid, uracil, uridine, and thymine were identified in the vitreous humor of chickens (Gallus domestlcus). Time from death to sample collection (0-192 h) influenced the concentrations of all seven compounds (p < 0.01 to < 0.0001). The storage temperature of chicken carcasses before sampling (6 or 20°C) had a significant influence on the concentrations of inosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine, uric acid, uracil, and thymine (p < 0.05 to < 0.0001). The interaction of postmortem time with temperature was significant for all seven compounds (p<0.01), with the rate of increase in concentration over time being higher at 20 than 6°C. At 0 h postmortem, the vitreous humor of pigs (Sus scrofa) contained detectable levels of hypoxanthine, uracil, and uridine. Inosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine, guanosine, guanine, uracil, and uridine were detected after storage of pig eyes for 24 h at 20°C. Between 0 and 24 h postmortem, there was a 22-fold increase in hypoxanthine concentration and a 13-fold increase in uracil concentration (p < 0.0001). It was concluded that postmortem time and temperature are factors that must be taken into consideration when making comparisons of purines, pyrimidines, and nucleosides between groups and in relating postmortem vitreous humor hypoxanthine concentrations to antemortem hypoxia.
Race and employee engagement in a diversified South African retail group

6 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION . 7 1.1 Employee Engagement . 7 1.2 Engagement and Race Groups . 8 1.3 Purpose of the Study . 10 1.4 Objective of this Study . 11 1.5 Hypothesises. 11 1.6 Limitations . 12 1.7 Overview of Chapters. 12 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW . 14 2.1 Conceptual Framework . 15 2.2 Employee Engagement . 16 2.2.1 Theories of Employee Engagement . 17 2.2.2 Engagement and Related Constructs . 20 2.3 Performance Management. 22 2.4 Work/Life Balance . 23 2.5 Commitment . 23
Poly I:C Induces Development of Diabetes Mellitus in BB Rat

Polyinosinic polycytidilic acid (poly I:C), an inducer of α-interferon, accelerates the development of diabetes in diabetes-prone (DP) BioBreeding (BB) rats. This study investigates the effect of administering poly I:C to a diabetes-resistant (DR) strain of BB rats. We compared the incidence of diabetes, the degree of insulitis, the number of NK cells, helper-inducer cells, cytotoxic-suppressor cells, Ia+ T cells, RT6.1+ T cells, and NK cell bioactivity in DR rats treated with saline and with a 5 micrograms/g body wt (poly-5) dose and a 10 micrograms/g body wt (poly-10) dose of poly I:C. The incidence of diabetes was also compared with that of DP rats receiving poly-5. We found that both doses of poly I:C significantly induce the development of diabetes in the DR BB rat. However, treatment of DR rats with the higher dose induces a greater rate of development of diabetes and earlier onset of diabetes than the lower poly-5 dose. The rate of diabetes development and the mean age of onset were similar in poly-10–treated DR and poly-5–treated DP rats. A significant degree of insulitis occurred in all the poly I:C–treated DR rats, even those not developing diabetes. Peripheral blood NK cell number was greater in poly I:C than in saline-treated rats, after 2 wk of treatment and when killed. The percentage of OX19+ peripheral blood mononuclear cells expressing RT6.1 allotype or Ia antigen were similar in poly I:C– and saline-treated rats. of diabetes in poly-10–treated DR rats and poly-5–treated DP rats is consistent with a similar mechanism of poly I:C action in the DR and DP BB rats. Although the specific mechanism is not defined, NK cell numbers are elevated with poly I:C treatment. Alterations in RT6.1+ and la+ T cells do not appear to play a role.
Non-surgical root canal treatment of dens invaginatus type 2 in a maxillary lateral incisor.

AIM To describe the clinical management of an unusual dens invaginatus type 2. SUMMARY A case of dens invaginatus in a maxillary lateral incisor with a periapical lesion is reported. The patient presented with pain and localized swelling. Despite the complex anatomy and diagnosis of dens invaginatus, non-surgical root canal treatment was performed successfully. KEY LEARNING POINTS * Dens invaginatus may be presented in many forms, and the aetiology of this phenomenon is not fully understood. * Due to abnormal anatomical configuration, dens invaginatus presents technical difficulties in its clinical management. * Non-surgical root canal treatment can be performed successfully.
Callianassa trilobata (Crustacea: Thalassinidea) influences abundance of meiofauna and biomass, composition, and physiologic state of microbial communities within its burrow

Biochemical and traditional methods were used to determine the influence of Caflianassa trilobata on microbiological and meiofaunal communities within its large, hghly consolidated burrow. Sediment was collected from the lining of the shrimp's burrow, the burrow matrix, and ambient, subsurface sediment. The lining and matrix were composed of poorly sorted, fine-grained material compared to sandy ambient sediment. Meiofauna, predominantly nematodes, were most abundant in ambient sediment, not in the burrow as has been found for other species of macrofauna. Concentrations of chlorophyll a were very high in the lining, consistent with the suggestion that C. trilobata lines its burrow walls with seagrass. Analyses of lipids indicated that relative to the matrix and ambient sediment, the lining abounds with proand eukaryotic biomass. Thirty-four phospholipid, ester-linked fatty acids (PLFA) were identified and quantified. Fatty acids were assigned to functional groups of microorganisms to assess spatial variations in the absolute abundance and relative proportions of microbial populations. Dominance of prokaryotes was pronounced in all 3 areas, especially the matrix. The lining was the most aerobic location, but anaerobic microhabitats simultaneously allowed proliferation of sulfate-reducing bacteria, e. g. Desulfobacter. A radial trend was detected in the ratio of bacteria with terminally branched PLFA, typical of Gram-positive organisms, to those with unsaturated PLFA common to Gram-negative bacteria. The ratio increased from lining to matrix to ambient sediment. The ratios of tram to cls isomers of 16:lw7 indicated that prokaryotes in the matrix were starved. Through construction and maintenance of its burrow, C. trilobata determines not only the absolute and relative abundances of microbes in its sedimentary environment, but their physiologic state as well.
Pleasing frowns, disappointing smiles: an ERP investigation of counterempathy.

The biological predisposition to resonate emotionally with another person is regarded as a critical aspect of social interaction. There are, however, situations in which the emotional response to others is discordant with their emotional experience. Using event-related potentials, the present study investigated the neural underpinnings of this phenomenon, termed "counterempathy. " Participants played a card game under the belief that they were playing jointly with another player who sat in an adjoining room and whose smiles and frowns in response to winning or losing in the game they could observe on a computer screen. Depending upon the experimental setting, the other player's facial expressions conveyed either of two opposing values to the participant. In the empathic setting, his emotional expressions were congruent with the participant's outcome (win or loss), whereas in the counterempathic setting, they indicated incongruent outcomes. Results revealed a reversed pattern of brain responses to facial expressions between congruent and incongruent conditions at ~170 ms (N170) over the temporal cortex. That is, N170 was sensitive to frowns in the congruent condition and to smiles in the incongruent condition, both indicating losses for the participant. Furthermore, frowns in the incongruent condition yielded larger medial frontal negativity (MFN) over the medial prefrontal cortex, which correlated with the subjective pleasantness about one's own winning in the incongruent condition. These findings demonstrate that (1) counterempathic responses are associated with modulation of early sensory processing of emotional cues, (2) that MFN is sensitive to the detection of another person's loss during positive inequity, and (3) that MFN is associated with a pleasant feeling during positive inequity, which is possibly related to "Schadenfreude. "
Strategies for Spinal Cord Protection during Descending Thoracic and Thoracoabdominal Aortic Surgery: Up-to-date Experimental and Clinical Results - A review

Surgery of the descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aorta, apart from postoperative mortality, is threatened by spinal cord ischemic complications resulting in paraplegia or paraparesis. These, in turn, are associated with an increased risk of postoperative and late mortality. Signie cant advances in understanding the pathogenesis of spinal cord ischemic injury occurring after descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair hasled tothedevelopment of different strategies,whichinseveral seriesdecreasedthe rate of postoperative paraplegia to below 5%. However, since none of these methods alone seems to reduce to nil the riskof postoperative paraplegia, each ofthemshould be wisely supplemented by other neuroprotective maneuvers or drugs. This review article summarizes the current knowledge originating from experimental and clinical studies and the most signie cant advancements achieved in this e eld during the last decade. Furthermore, some of the mostusedsurgical approaches are presented in their fundamental steps.
Conservatism Management, Underpricing, and the Performance of Seasoned Equity Offerings

Using a modified Khan and Watts (2009) method, we find that accounting conservatism in years during which seasoned equity offerings (SEOs) occur is significantly lower than that in the same issuers’ pre-SEO periods or that for non-SEO issuers. The finding is robust to alternative conservatism measures based on the Basu (1997) method and the cumulative previous accruals method. The degree of conservatism and its changes around the time of SEOs are negatively associated with levels of governance and information asymmetry, consistent with the findings of prior studies. Issuers with low conservatism experience less underpricing, suggesting that investors naively extrapolate the effect of low conservatism on earnings. The level of conservatism during the year of an equity offering is negatively associated with post-SEO operating and stock return performance, indicating that SEO issuers with conservative accounting policies are likely to experience underperformance in the post-issue period. Our work adds to the literature by demonstrating that companies opportunistically manage levels of conservatism at the time of SEOs.
Effect of Small Focal Errors on Vision

Purpose. The aim of this study was to quantify the effects of small plus focal errors on the quality of vision of wearers who habitually wear either no correction, or a low powered, distance only correction. Methods. Patients wore spectacles with small errors deliberately included for a 2-day trial wear period; a short subjective questionnaire, and some laboratory measures of visual function were also used to assess the effects of these focus errors. Results. A significant number of wearers notice, and are dissatisfied with, focal errors in distance vision as small as +0.25 D, in both sphere and cylinder. Conclusion. This finding supports clinical practice in refining the refraction to the nearest 0.25 D. It suggests that for critical applications and for critical patients, the practice of slightly undercorrecting hypermetropes should be applied, so that patients can use a little of their own accommodation for optimal distance vision.
Absence of Replication-Competent Human-Tropic Porcine Endogenous Retroviruses in the Germ Line DNA of Inbred Miniature Swine

ABSTRACT The potential transmission of porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) has raised concern in the development of porcine xenotransplantation products. Our previous studies have resulted in the identification of animals within a research herd of inbred miniature swine that lack the capacity to transmit PERV to human cells in vitro. In contrast, other animals were capable of PERV transmission. The PERVs that were transmitted to human cells are recombinants between PERV-A and PERV-C in the post-VRA region of the envelope (B. A. Oldmixon, J. C. Wood, T. A. Ericsson, C. A. Wilson, M. E. White-Scharf, G. Andersson, J. L. Greenstein, H. J. Schuurman, and C. Patience, J. Virol. 76:3045-3048, 2002); these viruses we term PERV-A/C. This observation prompted us to determine whether these human-tropic replication-competent (HTRC) PERV-A/C recombinants were present in the genomic DNA of these miniature swine. Genomic DNA libraries were generated from one miniature swine that transmitted HTRC PERV as well as from one miniature swine that did not transmit HTRC PERV. HTRC PERV-A/C proviruses were not identified in the germ line DNAs of these pigs by using genomic mapping. Similarly, although PERV-A loci were identified in both libraries that possessed long env open reading frames, the Env proteins encoded by these loci were nonfunctional according to pseudotype assays. In the absence of a germ line source for HTRC PERV, further studies are warranted to assess the mechanisms by which HTRC PERV can be generated. Once identified, it may prove possible to generate animals with further reduced potential to produce HTRC PERV.
How Board Structure Influences the Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy of the Firm? Pakistan’s Perspective

The aim of this working paper is to identify the board structure types and variables that affect the corporate social responsibility strategy of the organizations. The main and core four types of board structures and determinants of corporate social responsibility strategy of the organizations have been identified in this working paper after studying and examining 35 research articles written by eminent scholars. These four types of board structure are: (1) having female directors on the board of directors greatly affects the corporate social responsibility strategy of the firms and such types of firms are appeared to be more philanthropic. (2) Outside or independent directors on board of directors also a major component in determining the organization’s corporate social responsibility strategy. (3) Tenure of directors also has positive effects on determination of corporate social responsibility strategy of the organizations and (4) Board size also plays an important role in planning and development of organization’s corporate social responsibility strategy. The other small variables and components of board structure also identified by the scholars but the main four are mentioned above. Substantial research gap exists for examining the affects of board composition and board structure in determining the corporate social responsibility strategy in the private and pubic sector organizations of Pakistan.