Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How to select a good voice for TTS

Even though the perceived quality of a speaker’s natural voice does not necessarily guarantee the quality of synthesized speech, it is required to select a certain number of candidates based on their natural voice before moving to the evaluation stage of synthesized sentences. This paper describes a male speaker selection procedure for unit selection synthesis systems in English and Japanese based on perceptive evaluation and acoustic measurements of the speakers’ natural voice. A perceptive evaluation is performed on eight professional voice talents of each language. A total of twenty native-speaker listeners are recruited in both languages and each listener is asked to rate on eight analytical factors by using a five-scale score and rank three best speakers. Acoustic measurement focuses on the voice quality by extracting two measures from Long Term Average Spectrum (LTAS), the so-called Speakers Formant (SPF), which corresponds to the peak intensity between 3 kHz and 4 kHz, and the Alpha ratio (AR), which is the lower level difference between 0 and 1 kHz and 1 and 4 kHz ranges. The perceptive evaluation results show a very strong correlation between the total score and the preference in both languages, 0.9183 in English and 0.8589 in Japanese. The correlations between the perceptive evaluation and acoustic measurements are moderate with respect to SPF and AR, 0.473 and -0.494 in English, and 0.288 and -0.263 in Japanese.
Genetic Algorithm‐Based Variable Selection in Prediction of Hot Metal Desulfurization Kinetics

Sulfur is considered as one of the main impurities in hot metal and hot metal desulfurization is often carried out using injection of fine‐grade desulfurization reagent. The selection of variables used for predicting the course of hot metal desulphurization requires expert knowledge. However, it is difficult to model the complex interactions in the process and to evaluate a high number of possible variable subsets with manual variable selection techniques. As the amount of data gathered from the process increases, manual variable selection becomes too time‐consuming and might lead to a suboptimal prediction model. The objective of this work is to execute an automatic variable selection procedure for prediction of hot metal desulfurization based on an industrial scale data set. The variable selection problem is formulated as a constrained optimization problem, in which the objective function is formulated based on repeated leave‐multiple‐out cross‐validation. The implemented solution strategy is a binary‐coded genetic algorithm (GA). By making use of the developed model, the effect of the main production variables on the rate and efficiency of primary hot metal desulfurization is quantified. The variables related to properties of the reagent and the injection parameters were found to be of great importance.
Adaptive Spatial-Spectral Feature Learning for Hyperspectral Image Classification

The combination of spectral and spatial information provides an effective way to improve the hyperspectral image (HSI) classification. However, the local spatial contexture changes with different neighborhood regions over the HSI image plane, and methods with fixed weights to integrate spatial information for all neighborhood regions could result in inaccurate spatial features, leading to adverse effects on classification performance. To address this issue, a novel adaptive spatial–spectral feature learning network (ASSFL) has been proposed to reflect spatial contexture changes and learn robust adaptive features in this paper. In the implementation of the proposed method, a convolution neural network (CNN) is first applied to learn weight features for each pixel within a hyperspectral patch and adaptive weights can be obtained based on a softmax normalization. Then, the shallow joint adaptive features can be acquired according to these weights. After that, a stacked auto-encoder (SAE) is proposed to further extract deeper hierarchical features for the final classification. The experimental results on four benchmark HSI data sets demonstrate that the proposed method can achieve competitive classification results compared with other existing classifiers.
Effects of Early Androgens on Sex-Typed Activities and Interests in Adolescents with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

The goal of this study was to examine the relation of early androgen exposure to sex-typed activities and interests in adolescence. Participants aged 9-19 years included 24 girls and 18 boys with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and 16 unaffected sisters and 24 unaffected brothers who served as controls. Using standardized questionnaires, adolescents reported on their participation in sex-typed activities and interest in sex-typed occupations, and parents reported on the adolescents' activities. As hypothesized, girls with CAH showed sex-atypical preferences: increased interest in male-typical activities and careers and reduced interest in female-typical activities and careers compared to the unexposed control girls. These results extend findings of sex-atypical play in young girls with CAH and suggest that the sex-atypical activities and interests of females with CAH reflect direct effects of androgens on the developing brain rather than social responses to virilized genitalia. These results also suggest that population sex differences in activities and interests arise in part from sex differences in early androgens.
AWARENESS ABOUT THALASSEMIA: A SURVEY REPORT

Objective: To determine the awareness among student of Pharm D, MBBS and general population with thalassemia major (TM) regarding the disease. Methods: This (cross sectional) study was conducted among students of MBBS, Pharm. D in different private and government sector universities in Karachi having close ended questions related to their knowledge about thalassemia from Sep 2013 to October 2013. Different Parents were interviewed using a pre designed questionnaire. Questions regarding duration of illness, screening of blood awareness regarding, mode of transmission of disease, prevention and treatment were asked. Results: We’ve determined the awareness ratio and found out that the awareness rate of thalassemia was not up to the mark as we thought. Among 200 populations only 22% of the people had good knowledge about thalassemia and rest 78% of people were not well aware of the disease as well as its consequences. Conclusion: From this survey we conclude that the awareness of people on thalassemia is negligible.
Hering-Breuer reflex and respiratory system compliance in the first year of life: a longitudinal study.

The airway occlusion technique for measuring passive respiratory mechanics in infants relies on an ability to evoke the Hering-Breuer lung inflation reflex (HBR). However, there is conflicting evidence regarding the persistence of the HBR beyond the early newborn period. This study was designed to assess maturational changes in HBR activity and passive total respiratory system compliance (Crs) in healthy infants during the 1st yr of life. The strength of the HBR was assessed from the relative change in expiratory time (TE) after brief end-inspiratory airway occlusions compared with resting TE during spontaneous breathing. Crs was measured using the multiple-occlusion technique. Paired measurements of HBR activity and Crs were obtained during sedated sleep in 30 infants at 4-8 wk and at 1 yr of age. Significant HBR activity during tidal breathing persisted throughout the 1st yr of life, with TE increasing during occlusion by at least 26% in every infant. However, the relative strength of the reflex response decreased from a mean of 88.3% (range, 34-160%) at approximately 6 wk to 50.3% (range, 26-125%) by 1 yr of age (P < 0.001). All infants showed an increase in Crs with age, with mean Crs increasing from 60.1 +/- 8.9 (SD) to 149.0 +/- 20.6 ml/kPa between 6 wk and 1 yr. However, there was no apparent relationship between the magnitude of decline in HBR response and the age-related changes in Crs. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Validating the distinction between computer addiction and engagement: online game playing and personality

This article considers validatory evidence for the previously made distinction between (pathological) computing-related addictions and (non-pathological) high engagement in computing activities, and an associated distinction between core and peripheral criteria for diagnosing computing-related addictions. Using data provided by 388 players of a massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG) via an online questionnaire, psychometric measures of engagement and addiction to the MMORPG taking into account the distinction between core and peripheral addiction criteria are shown to be differentially related to personality factors (extraversion, emotional stability, agreeableness, negative valence, and attractiveness). Addiction scale scores are shown to increase as negativity on all five personality characteristics increases, with these characteristics predicting 20% of the variance in addiction scores, but the same pattern is shown to occur for only one characteristic (negative valence) for the engagement scale, with personality characteristics predicting only around 2% of the variance in engagement scores. It is concluded that there is reasonable support for the distinctions between addiction and engagement and between core and peripheral criteria. Implications are discussed.
Data preparation for data mining

Data preparation is a fundamental stage of data analysis. While a lot of low-quality information is available in various data sources and on the Web, many organizations or companies are interested in how to transform the data into cleaned forms which can be used for high-profit purposes. This goal generates an urgent need for data analysis aimed at cleaning the raw data. In this paper, we first show the importance of data preparation in data analysis, then introduce some research achievements in the area of data preparation. Finally, we suggest some future directions of research and development.
STUDY ON NOISE PERCEPTION AND DISTRACTION IN OFFICE

Very much like Tokyo, Hong Kong is a densely populated city. Over 70% of gross floor area on non domestic buildings whether new built or alteration work in Hong Kong are for commercial purpose (Building Department 2007). The demand is continue to grow. Acoustics issues such as noise in the office remains one of the most prevalence annoying source in office whether in enclosed or in open plan office. Such noise issues, some how affect productivity, and had generated dissatisfaction at some level and they were not very well understood, and seldom put into discussion for acoustic improvement in the process of a design project. There is very little information on noise perception in offices provided in Hong Kong since there is less Post Occupancy Evaluation was carried out to understand acoustic quality in most offices in Hong Kong. A study on understanding on what the noise is, with or without content and their relationship with spatial and physical attributes in regards with end users is essential. A field study and survey on the satisfactory on acoustic issues and quality were conducted for analysis and result and to inform potential solutions on space planning.
Combined Rotor-Position Estimation and Temperature Monitoring in Sensorless, Synchronous Reluctance Motor Drives

A novel approach of exploiting the stator-temperature-monitoring system to perform sensorless rotor-position estimation is described in this paper. The rotor position is, in fact, estimated by processing the voltages induced in thermistor cablings, which are modified in order to work as search coils (SCs). Using SCs, some typical drawbacks of sensorless position-estimation techniques based on the manipulation of fundamental components of stator voltages and currents, such as those related to inverter non-linearities, stator-resistance voltage drops, magnetic saturation and cross-coupling, can be overcome or mitigated. According to the proposed approach, a rotor-position-tracking technique for synchronous reluctance motor drives is developed independently from motor parameters. Such a sensorless rotor-position-estimation technique can be directly used to build up a sensorless controller or to improve the performance of conventional model based sensorless control systems. Simulations and experimental tests confirm the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Beta-catenin nuclear expression correlates with cyclin D1 expression in primary and metastatic synovial sarcoma: a tissue microarray study.

CONTEXT The association between aberrant (nuclear) beta-catenin expression and cyclin D1 accumulation has been demonstrated in diverse neoplasms. In synovial sarcoma (SS), aberrant beta-catenin expression has prognostic relevance, but the association with cyclin D1 has not been established. The SYT-SSX fusion protein, unique to SS, may independently increase cyclin D1. OBJECTIVE To determine whether nuclear beta-catenin is associated with cyclin D1 overexpression in SS and whether primary and metastatic SS differ in the expression of these markers. DESIGN We incorporated 82 tumors initially diagnosed as SS into a tissue array. Fluorescence in situ hybridization with custom probes was used to select t(X;18) positive tumors. Clinical data, tumor type and outcome were tabulated. The tumors were tested for the association between nuclear beta-catenin and cyclin D1 immunostaining. Primary and metastatic tumors were compared. RESULTS Fifty-one tumors (41 primary and 10 metastatic) from 43 patients demonstrated t(X;18). Cyclin D1 staining was identified in 21 (59%) primary and 8 (80%) metastatic tumors, respectively, and nuclear beta-catenin in 24 (41%) primary and 7 (70%) metastatic tumors, respectively. No significant difference was noted between primary and metastatic tumors with respect to the above markers. The presence of nuclear beta-catenin showed a significant association with cyclin D1 expression (P < .001). A small number of cyclin D1 cases were negative for nuclear beta-catenin but positive for phosphorylated Akt. CONCLUSIONS Increased cyclin D1 in SS may be driven by abnormally expressed beta-catenin, similar to other neoplasms. The pattern of expression of these markers is established early during tumorigenesis.
Reduced alpha‐synuclein in cerebrospinal fluid in synucleinopathies: Evidence from a meta‐analysis

Alpha‐synuclein plays a key role in the pathology of synucleinopathies including Parkinson's disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). However, whether alpha‐synuclein level in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) could distinguish synucleinopathies from progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is still a contentious issue. A comprehensive literature search yielded nine eligible studies. We expressed the between‐group difference of the concentration of alpha‐synuclein in CSF as the standardized mean difference. The proportion of variation attributable to heterogeneity was computed and expressed as I2. Nine studies involved 537 controls, 843 PD, 130 MSA, and 98 PSP patients. The overall effect of PD on alpha‐synuclein in CSF was significantly different from normal control or disease control (standardized mean difference = –0.67, P < 0.00001). These studies were heterogeneous (I2 = 40%). Alpha‐synuclein in CSF in MSA was significantly reduced relative to controls with heterogeneous studies (standardized mean difference = –0.75, P < 0.0001; I2 = 62%). In contrast, no significant difference of alpha‐synuclein in CSF was observed between PSP and controls with heterogeneous studies (standardized mean difference = –0.28, P = 0.13; I2 = 53%). Alpha‐synuclein in CSF was significantly reduced in synucleinopathies compared with PSP (“PD vs. PSP”: standardized mean difference = –0.38, P = 0.001; “MSA vs. PSP”: standardized mean difference = –0.66, P < 0.00001). The included studies were homogeneous (I2 = 0%). Our study showed that alpha‐synuclein levels in CSF in synucleinopathies was significantly lower than in PSP. This finding provides insights into the pathophysiological difference between synucleinopathies and PSP as well as possibility of development of a tool for differential diagnosis between MSA and PSP using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and similar methods. © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Epileptiform Activity in Electroencephalogram of Normal Children

Abstract Objectives This prospective cohort study assessed the prevalence of epileptiform discharges (EDs) in a cohort of healthy Egyptian children aged 1 to 18 years. Methods Children with a history of unprovoked seizure disorders, family history of epilepsy, neurological or psychological disorder, or any other chronic illness were excluded. Digital electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded under resting condition for a minimum of 20 minutes including activation methods. Results The study included 1,382 healthy Egyptian children with no history of unprovoked seizures. Twenty-nine normal children had EDs, which represents 2.1% of total number of studied children. Centrotemporal spikes were detected in 19 children. The prevalence of EDs was significantly higher in children aged 6 to 12 years (3.59%) compared with children aged 13 to 18 years (1.2%) and children aged 1 to 5 years (0.45%). Conclusions EDs can be observed in nonepileptic normal children. Centrotemporal spikes are the most common epileptiform pattern in EEG of normal children. None of normal children with EDs developed seizures or other neurological disorders during follow-up.
Comparison of the carcass characteristics and meat quality of lambs produced from Texel and Rouge de l’Ouest ewes and their crosses

An experiment was undertaken to compare the carcass characteristics and meat quality of lambs from crossbred ewes produced by crossing Texel sires with Rouge de l’Ouest dams and Rouge sires with Texel dams, relative to lambs from purebred Texel and Rouge ewes. The ewes were crossed with Texel or Rouge sires and the relative performance of the sires assessed in terms of lamb carcass quality. Ewe and ram genotype had a significant effect on conformation classification. Lambs from Texel ewes had a greater conformation classification (4·0) than lambs from Rouge ewes (3·4, s.e. 0·09) (P <0·001) and Texel-sired lambs had a greater conformation classification (4·0) than Rouge-sired lambs (3·6, s.e. 0·06) (P <0·001). Fat depth was significantly influenced by ewe genotype with lambs from Texel × Rouge ewes having greater fat depths compared with lambs from Texel ewes (longissimus dorsi 2·3 and 1·9 (s.e.0·12) mm respectively) (P <0·05). Chemical composition of the carcass and meat quality measurements were unaffected by ewe or ram genotype. Significant heterosis effects on lamb live-weight gain (21 g/day; 15%) (P <0·01) from birth to slaughter, age at slaughter (–37 days; –12%) (P <0·01), weight of perinephric and retroperitoneal fat (76 g; 38%) (P <0·01) and fat depth over the longissimus dorsi (0·3 mm; 16%) and gluteus medius (0·5 mm; 17%; P <0·05) were obtained. The results from this study demonstrate that significant heterosis effects, particularly in terms of lamb growth rate, can be achieved by crossing Rouge and Texel breeds. In addition lambs from hybrid ewes have similar conformation characteristics to the Texel breed which has been intensively selected for carcass characteristics.
Evaluation of the Staph-Zym system with staphylococci isolated from bovine intramammary infections

A total of 148 staphylococci isolated from bovine intramammary infections were used to evaluate the Staph-Zym system (ROSCO, Taastrup, Denmark). The overall accuracy of the system was 91.9%. The system correctly identified all strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus simulans, and Staphylococcus xylosus and 95% of Staphylococcus intermedius strains. Of 33 Staphylococcus hyicus strains, 31 (93.9%) were classified correctly by the Staph-Zym system, as well as 8 (80%) of 10 Staphylococcus chromogenes strains. All 11 Staphylococcus epidermidis strains and the 1 Staphylococcus haemolyticus strain included in the study were identified, but the Staph-Zym system had difficulty distinguishing strains of Staphylococcus warneri and Staphylococcus hominis from other species in the S. epidermidis group. The Staph-Zym system correctly identified all six S. xylosus strains and two of three Staphyloccus sciuri strains. The Staph-Zym system was considered an acceptable alternative to conventional methods for identification of bovine mammary gland isolates.
Using real-worldness and cultural difference to enhance student learning in a Foundation Phase Life Skills module

Our aim was to explore how real-world experience, inclusive of engagement with cultural differences, influences the quality of students’ learning in a Life Skills module in pre-service Foundation Phase teacher education. The study was conducted with 147 students in their final year of the Bachelor of Education (Foundation Phase specialisation), at the University of the Free State. A case study design was employed to collect qualitative data by means of focus group discussions, open-ended questionnaires, and face-to-face semi-structured interviews. The findings of the study suggest that the use of the real world, as a context for authentic learning, enables meaning making, where students gain first-hand experience that allows them to engage with the complexities of preparing to teach in the Foundation Phase. Keywords : difference; Foundation Phase; learning; life skills; meaning; real-worldness
EP1 and EP4 Receptors Mediate Exocytosis Evoked by Prostaglandin E2 in Guinea‐Pig Antral Mucous Cells

Effects of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on exocytosis of mucin were studied in mucous cells isolated from guinea‐pig antrum using video‐microscopy. Stimulation with PGE2 elicited a sustained increase in the frequency of exocytotic events in a dose‐dependent manner, which was under regulation by both Ca2+ and cAMP. Stimulation with a selective prostanoid EP4 receptor agonist (ONO‐AEI‐329, 10 μM), which activates cAMP signals, elicited a sustained increase in the frequency of exocytotic events (30% of that evoked by 1 μM PGE2). Stimulation with an EP1 agonist (17‐P‐T‐PGE2, 1 μM), which activates Ca2+ signals, increased the frequency of exocytotic events to a lesser extent (5% of that evoked by 1 μM PGE2), while addition of an EP1 antagonist (ONO‐8713, 10 μM) decreased the frequency of exocytotic events (approximately 40% of that evoked by 1 μM PGE2). However, addition of the EP1 agonist potentiated the frequency of exocytotic events evoked by the EP4 agonist or forskolin (which elevates cAMP levels) and increased the sensitivity of the exocytotic events to forskolin. These results suggest that the Ca2+ signal activated via the EP1 receptor potentiates the cAMP‐regulated exocytotic events activated via the EP4 receptor during PGE2 stimulation, by increasing the sensitivity of the exocytotic response to cAMP. In conclusion, exocytotic events in PGE2‐stimulated antral mucous cells were regulated by interactions between EP1 and EP4 receptors.