Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Topic-based speaker recognition for German parliamentary speeches

In the last decade, high-level features for speaker recognition have become a research focus, as they are believed to alleviate the weak point of the classical spectral/cepstral-feature-based approaches: mismatch in acoustic conditions or channel between training and test data. Identification cues such as prosody, pronunciation, and idiolect have been successfully investigated. Semantic speaker recognition, such as identifying people by the topics they frequently talk about, has not found an equal amount of attention. However, it is a promising approach, especially for broadcast data and multimedia archives, where prominent speakers can be expected to often talk about their specific subjects. This paper reports on our experiments with topic-based speaker recognition on German parliamentary speeches. Text transcripts of speeches of federal ministers were used to train speaker models based on word frequencies. For recognition, these models were applied to automatic speech recognition transcripts of parliamentary speeches and could identify the correct speaker surprisingly well, with an EER of 13.8%. Fusing this approach with a classical GMM-UBM system (with EER 14.3%) yields an improved EER of 8.6%.
Temperature-sensitive mutant of adenovirus type 2 blocked in virion assembly: accumulation of light intermediate particles

A temperature-sensitive mutant of human adenovirus type 2, ts112, was isolated and characterized, ts112 was blocked in a late function required for virus maturation. At restrictive temperature, it accumulated light precursor particles that were able to mature into infectious virions upon temperature shift-down. Use of a mild extraction procedure and a reversible fixation by a cleavable diimido ester permitted the isolation and analysis of these labile intermediates in the adenovirus assembly. These accumulated particles had a sedimentation coefficient of about 600S and a buoyant density of 1.315 g/cm3 in CsCl. They contained a DNA fragment of 7--11S and two nonvirion proteins having molecular weights of 50,000 (50K) and 39.000 (39K), respectively. They resembled in composition and morphology the light intermediate particles found in wild-type adenovirus 2, which were identified as precursors of heavy intermediates, preceding the young virions. The ts112 lesion was apparently located at the exit of either the 50K and/or 39K proteins and at the entry of viral DNA.
Computational, spectroscopic, and resonant mirror biosensor analysis of the interaction of adrenodoxin with native and tryptophan‐modified NADPH‐adrenodoxin reductase

In steroid hydroxylation system in adrenal cortex mitochondria, NADPH‐adrenodoxin reductase (AR) and adrenodoxin (Adx) form a short electron‐transport chain that transfers electrons from NADPH to cytochromes P‐450 through FAD in AR and [2Fe‐2S] cluster in Adx. The formation of [AR/Adx] complex is essential for the electron transfer mechanism in which previous studies suggested that AR tryptophan (Trp) residue(s) might be implicated. In this study, we modified AR Trps by N‐bromosuccinimide (NBS) and studied AR binding to Adx by a resonant mirror biosensor. Chemical modification of tryptophans caused inhibition of electron transport. The modified protein (AR*) retained the native secondary structure but showed a lower affinity towards Adx with respect to AR. Activity measurements and fluorescence data indicated that one Trp residue of AR may be involved in the electron transferring activity of the protein. Computational analysis of AR and [AR/Adx] complex structures suggested that Trp193 and Trp420 are the residues with the highest probability to undergo NBS‐modification. In particular, the modification of Trp420 hampers the correct reorientation of AR* molecule necessary to form the native [AR/Adx] complex that is catalytically essential for electron transfer from FAD in AR to [2Fe‐2S] cluster in Adx. The data support an incorrect assembly of [AR*/Adx] complex as the cause of electron transport inhibition. Proteins 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Transcription Factor TCF7L2 Genetic Study in the French Population

Recently, the transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene has been associated with type 2 diabetes in subjects of European origin in the DeCode study. We genotyped the two most associated variants (rs7903146 and rs12255372) in 2,367 French type 2 diabetic subjects and in 2,499 control subjects. Both the T-allele of rs7903146 and the T-allele of rs12255372 significantly increase type 2 diabetes risk with an allelic odds ratio (OR) of 1.69 (95% CI 1.55–1.83) (P = 6.0 × 10−35) and 1.60 (1.47–1.74) (P = 7.6 × 10−28), respectively. In nonobese type 2 diabetic subjects (BMI <30 kg/m2, n = 1,346), the ORs increased to 1.89 (1.72–2.09) (P = 2.1 × 10−38) and 1.79 (1.62–1.97) (P = 5.7 × 10−31), respectively. The rs7903146 T at-risk allele associates with decreased BMI and earlier age at diagnosis in the type 2 diabetic subjects (P = 8.0 × 10−3 and P = 3.8 × 10−4, respectively), which is supported by quantitative family-based association tests. TCF7L2 is expressed in most human tissues, including mature pancreatic β-cells, with the exception of the skeletal muscle. In the subcutaneous and omental fat from obese type 2 diabetic subjects, TCF7L2 expression significantly decreased compared with obese normoglycemic individuals. During rat fetal β-cell differentiation, TCF7L2 expression pattern mimics the key marker NGN3 (neurogenin 3), suggesting a role in islet development. These data provide evidence that TCF7L2 is a major determinant of type 2 diabetes risk in European populations and suggests that this transcription factor plays a key role in glucose homeostasis.
Breakdown of liquids in long gaps: influence of distance, impulse shape, liquid nature, and interpretation of measurements

Breakdown measurements are carried out in liquids under point-sphere and pointplane electrode geometries, over a large range of gap distances up to 35 cm. Non-polar hydrocarbon liquids with different chemical structures are studied: saturated, aromatic, polyaromatic, mineral oils, and ester. Two high voltage impulse shapes are used: the standard lightning impulse (LI), and a specific “step” impulse (ST). Step impulses are favorable to interpret breakdown measurements since the applied voltage remains constant while prebreakdown streamers propagate. Conversely, with lightning impulse and long gaps the propagation of streamers with a low propagation velocity (a few km/s) is quenched due to the rapidly decaying voltage. In this case, breakdown can result only from the propagation of faster streamers, which appear in very different conditions according to the liquid nature. The results obtained allow us to interpret the large variations of breakdown voltage observed in large gaps, when either the high voltage impulse shape or the liquid nature is changed. These results also help to define proper conditions for testing and comparing liquids. Testing with lightning impulse in short gaps, such as in standard tests, does not provides data relevant for very high voltage applications.
Practical difficulties in the management of hepatitis B in the Asia–Pacific region

The Asia–Pacific Expert Committee on Hepatitis B Management recently reviewed the impact of hepatitis B in the region and assessed the differences and similarities observed in the practical management of the disease in individual Asia–Pacific countries. Hepatitis B is a major health concern in the Asia–Pacific region, and of all chronically infected carriers worldwide, approximately 75% are found in Asia. The disease poses a considerable burden on healthcare systems, and is likely to remain a cause of substantial morbidity and mortality for several decades. Disease prevention activities, including screening and vaccination programs, have been implemented successfully in some Asia–Pacific countries and similar measures are being established in other parts of the region. The management of hepatitis B in the Asia–Pacific varies throughout the region, with each country confronting different issues related to treatment options, disease monitoring and duration of therapy. The influence of cost, availability of diagnostic equipment, and patient awareness and compliance are of additional concern. Although guidelines such as those developed by the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver have been created to address problems encountered in the management of hepatitis B, many physicians in the region still find it difficult to make satisfactory management decisions because of the treatment choices available. This article examines the different approaches to hepatitis B management in a number of Asia–Pacific countries, and highlights the difficulties that can arise when adhering to treatment guidelines and disease prevention solutions that have proved to be successful in the region.
The age‐related increase in low‐grade systemic inflammation (Inflammaging) is not driven by cytomegalovirus infection

Aging is accompanied by the development of low‐grade systemic inflammation, termed ‘inflammaging’, characterized by raised serum C‐reactive protein (CRP) and pro‐inflammatory cytokines. Importantly, inflammaging is implicated in the pathogenesis of several of the major age‐related diseases including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and dementia and is associated with increased mortality. The incidence of infection with the persistent herpes virus cytomegalovirus (CMV) also increases with age. Cross‐sectional studies have proposed CMV infection as a significant driver of inflammaging, but a definitive case for CMV as a causative agent in inflammaging has not yet been made. We studied longitudinally 249 subjects (153 men, 96 women) who participated in the Hertfordshire Ageing Study at baseline (1993/5, mean age 67·5 years) and at 10 year follow‐up. At both times, anthropometric measurements were made and subjects provided blood samples for analysis of inflammatory status and CMV seropositivity. In the cohort as a whole, serum CRP (P < 0·02) and pro‐inflammatory cytokines TNFα (P < 0·001) and IL‐6 (P < 0·001) were increased between baseline and follow‐up sampling whereas levels of the anti‐inflammatory cytokine IL‐10 were decreased (P < 0·001). These changes to cytokine status over time occurred equally in the 60% of subjects who were seropositive for CMV at baseline and follow‐up, the 8% who were CMV negative at baseline but who became CMV positive by the 10 year follow‐up, and also in the 32% who were CMV seronegative throughout. We conclude that CMV infection is not a primary causative factor in the age‐related increase in systemic inflammation.
Prognosis for penetrating keratoplasty in iridocorneal endothelial syndrome.

BACKGROUND Iridocorneal endothelial syndrome is characterized by the proliferation and spreading of an abnormal corneal endothelial membrane across the iridocorneal angle and iris surface, resulting in iridocorneal adhesions, glaucoma, pupillary distortion, varying degrees of iris atrophy, and occasionally corneal decomposition with edema. These changes may possibly affect the long-term prognosis of penetrating keratoplasty in an adverse fashion. METHODS We reviewed the clinical course of 12 consecutive eyes (12 patients) which underwent penetrating keratoplasty for corneal edema associated with the iridocorneal endothelial syndrome (mean postoperative follow up = 30 months). RESULTS The grafts remained clear in 10 patients (83%) and the visual acuity was 20/40 or better in nine patients (75%). The endothelial cell losses averaged 13% at 6 months and 17% at 1 year after surgery. Simultaneous extracapsular cataract extraction and posterior chamber lens implantation at the time of keratoplasty posed no measurable compromise to the overall postoperative prognosis. Causes of poor visual acuity after surgery included glaucoma and graft failure (immune and nonimmune). CONCLUSIONS The prognosis of penetrating keratoplasty in the iridocorneal endothelial syndrome appears to be very favorable in the majority of eyes.
A Hybrid Method to Study the Substrate Integrated Waveguide Circuit

A hybrid method is proposed to study the substrate integrated waveguide circuit. It combines the eigen function expansion method and the method of moments. The field scattered by a cylinder, either dielectric of metalic, is expanded by a series of cylindrical eigen functions. Those field due to a given cylinder can be easily transformed onto the surface of another cylinder by applying the additional theorem of the Hankel or Bessel functions. The waveguide port is treated in a method of moments way. It is divided into many sub-ports, each with a constant current density. The evaluation of the field observed on a sub-port and due to a sub-port is the same as the traditional method of moments. The evaluation of the field observed on a cylinder surface due to a sub-port is done by dividing the sub-port into many line sources at different locations, and applying the coordinate system transformation. A rectangular matrix is constructed after applying the boundary conditions and the orthogonality of the exponential functions, and the final S matrix can be obtained using matrix partitioning and manipulations. As examples, two substrate integrated waveguide filters are successfully studied by using the proposed method, and the results are verified by using HFSS.
Quelques algorithmes de cryptanalyse du registre filtré

L'objet de cette these est de proposer de nouvelles cryptanalyses a clair connu des registres filtres. Les deux composantes de ce systeme de chiffrement - fonction booleenne et registre a decalage - sont supposees connues du cryptanalyste, qui a par ailleurs acces a un fragment de la sequence de pseudo-alea en sortie de la fonction. Son objectif est d'identifier l'etat initial du registre. Dans un premier chapitre, nous rappelons les proprietes du registre filtre. Un etat de l'art des attaques non-algebriques de ce systeme est presente en second lieu. Suit un chapitre qui presente les fondements du decodage iteratif, quelques resultats de simulation permettant d'evaluer l'impact de differents parametres du systeme ainsi qu'une nouvelle attaque inspiree du principe iteratif. Les cryptanalyses developpees dans le quatrieme chapitre se caracterisent par l'utilisation inhabituelle d'un treillis. Enfin, dans un dernier chapitre, nous presentons deux algorithmes, le "SOJA" et le "Probability-Matching", qui exploitent conjointement la structure de la fonction booleenne et l'existence d'equations vectorielles.
Biodynamics. Influence of gender, power, and hand position on pelvic motion during seated cycling.

INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE An understanding of normal pelvic motion during seated cycling is relevant to saddle design and bicycle fitting. In this study, we investigated the effects of gender, power, and hand position on pelvic motion throughout a pedal stroke. We also investigated whether anthropometric factors could explain any interindividual differences observed. METHODS Twelve experienced male and 14 experienced female cyclists participated. Each subject was custom fitted to a stationary bicycle and then rode the bicycle at three power outputs (100, 150, and 200 W), with their hands in the tops and drops position. The kinematics of a triad of motion-capture markers, located on posterior pelvic landmarks, were used to characterize pelvic motion. RESULTS The largest angular excursions were observed in the nonsagittal planes, with the pelvis rotating internally (approximately 3 degrees ) and rolling laterally ( approximately 2 degrees ) toward the downstroke. These pelvic rotations caused the hip on the downstroke side to translate anteriorly and inferiorly. Compared with males, females exhibited greater average anterior pelvic tilt in the drops hand position (males: 21 +/- 3 degrees ; females: 24 +/- 4 degrees ; P = 0.036). Interindividual differences in pelvic motion could not be independently explained by measures of ischial tuberosity width or hamstring flexibility. However, average anterior pelvic tilt was negatively correlated with lumbar flexibility among the males (r = 0.75; P = 0.024), suggesting that this may be an important factor to consider in bicycle fitting. CONCLUSIONS We observed substantial pelvic motion during seated cycling, with experienced female road cyclists exhibiting greater average anterior tilt than their male counterparts. Pelvic motion seems to arise naturally during seated cycling and should be considered when designing saddles and establishing bicycle-fitting procedures.
Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy Among Patients With HIV: A Critical Link Between Behavioral and Biomedical Sciences

Summary: Rapid advances in biomedical science, such as pharmaceutical developments for HIV disease, must be integrated with advances in behavioral science to further our understanding of medication adherence. This article evaluates the current state of the science in adherence to antiretroviral therapy for persons with HIV. The primary objectives are to 1) identify critical determinants of adherence, and 2) describe interventions to improve adherence. Adherence is a complex dynamic behavior influenced by characteristics of the patient, treatment regimen, disease, patient‐provider relationship, and clinical setting. Therefore, the most promising interventions are multifaceted and target different locations in this matrix simultaneously. Unfortunately, nonadherence remains a formidable barrier in the management of HIV, resulting in the development of resistance and drug failure. Moreover, adherence is a public health concern, with implications for the transmission of HIV in general and the transmission of drug‐resistant strains of HIV specifically. Despite substantial attention to adherence in recent years, much more remains to be done to better understand and promote adherence to antiretroviral therapy through effective interventions. From this integration of biomedical and behavioral science, effective clinical interventions can be developed and implemented to enhance the health of patients with HIV.
SIRT3 Deacetylates Ceramide Synthases

Experimental evidence supports the role of mitochondrial ceramide accumulation as a cause of mitochondrial dysfunction and brain injury after stroke. Herein, we report that SIRT3 regulates mitochondrial ceramide biosynthesis via deacetylation of ceramide synthase (CerS) 1, 2, and 6. Reciprocal immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that CerS1, CerS2, and CerS6, but not CerS4, are associated with SIRT3 in cerebral mitochondria. Furthermore, CerS1, -2, and -6 are hyperacetylated in the mitochondria of SIRT3-null mice, and SIRT3 directly deacetylates the ceramide synthases in a NAD+-dependent manner that increases enzyme activity. Investigation of the SIRT3 role in mitochondrial response to brain ischemia/reperfusion (IR) showed that SIRT3-mediated deacetylation of ceramide synthases increased enzyme activity and ceramide accumulation after IR. Functional studies demonstrated that absence of SIRT3 rescued the IR-induced blockade of the electron transport chain at the level of complex III, attenuated mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization, and decreased reactive oxygen species generation and protein carbonyls in mitochondria. Importantly, Sirt3 gene ablation reduced the brain injury after IR. These data support the hypothesis that IR triggers SIRT3-dependent deacetylation of ceramide synthases and the elevation of ceramide, which could inhibit complex III, leading to increased reactive oxygen species generation and brain injury. The results of these studies highlight a novel mechanism of SIRT3 involvement in modulating mitochondrial ceramide biosynthesis and suggest an important role of SIRT3 in mitochondrial dysfunction and brain injury after experimental stroke.
Cells Expressing Early Cardiac Markers Reside in the Bone Marrow and Are Mobilized Into the Peripheral Blood After Myocardial Infarction

The concept that bone marrow (BM)–derived cells participate in cardiac regeneration remains highly controversial and the identity of the specific cell type(s) involved remains unknown. In this study, we report that the postnatal BM contains a mobile pool of cells that express early cardiac lineage markers (Nkx2.5/Csx, GATA-4, and MEF2C). These cells are present in significant amounts in BM harvested from young mice but their abundance decreases with age; in addition, the responsiveness of these cells to gradients of motomorphogens SDF-1, HGF, and LIF changes with age. FACS analysis, combined with analysis of early cardiac markers at the mRNA and protein levels, revealed that cells expressing these markers reside in the nonadherent, nonhematopoietic CXCR4+/Sca-1+/lin−/CD45− mononuclear cell (MNC) fraction in mice and in the CXCR4+/CD34+/AC133+/CD45− BMMNC fraction in humans. These cells are mobilized into the peripheral blood after myocardial infarction and chemoattracted to the infarcted myocardium in an SDF-1-CXCR4–, HGF-c-Met–, and LIF-LIF-R–dependent manner. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that the postnatal BM harbors a nonhematopoietic population of cells that express markers for cardiac differentiation. We propose that these potential cardiac progenitors may account for the myocardial regenerative effects of BM. The present findings provide a novel paradigm that could reconcile current controversies and a rationale for investigating the use of BM-derived cardiac progenitors for myocardial regeneration.
Fyn, Yes, and Syk Phosphorylation Sites in c-Cbl Map to the Same Tyrosine Residues That Become Phosphorylated in Activated T Cells*

Protooncogenic protein c-Cbl undergoes tyrosine phosphorylation in response to stimulation through the receptors for antigens, immunoglobulins, cytokines, and growth factors as well as through the integrins. Tyrosine phosphorylation of c-Cbl may play a functional role in signal transduction, since c-Cbl interacts with many crucial signaling molecules including protein-tyrosine kinases, adaptor proteins, and phosphatidylinositol 3′-kinase. Therefore, it is essential for our understanding of the functions of c-Cbl in signal transduction to identify its tyrosine phosphorylation sites, to determine the protein-tyrosine kinases that phosphorylate these sites, and to elucidate the role of these sites in the interactions of c-Cbl with other signaling proteins. In this report, we demonstrate that tyrosines 700, 731, and 774 are the major tyrosine phosphorylation sites of c-Cbl in T cells in response to pervanadate treatment, as well as in response to TcR/CD3 ligation. Coexpression experiments in COS cells demonstrate that among T cell-expressed Src- and Syk-related protein-tyrosine kinases, Fyn, Yes, and Syk appear to play a major role in phosphorylation of c-Cbl, whereas Lck and Zap phosphorylate c-Cbl ineffectively. Fyn, Yes, and Syk phosphorylate the same sites of c-Cbl that become phosphorylated in stimulated T cells. Among these kinases, Fyn and Yes demonstrate strong binding to c-Cbl, which involves both phosphotyrosine-dependent and phosphotyrosine-independent mechanisms.