Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and evaluation of conversational characteristics in speech synthesis

Conventional synthetic voices can synthesise neutral read aloud speech well. But, to make synthetic speech more suitable for a wider range of applications, the voices need to express more than just the word identity. We need to develop voices that can partake in a conversation and express, e.g. agreement, disagreement, hesitation, in a natural and believable manner. In speech synthesis there are currently two dominating frameworks: unit selection and HMM-based speech synthesis. Both frameworks utilise recordings of human speech to build synthetic voices. Despite the fact that the content of the recordings determines the segmental and prosodic phenomena that can be synthesised, surprisingly little research has been made on utilising the corpus to extend the limited behaviour of conventional synthetic voices. In this thesis we will show how natural sounding conversational characteristics can be added to both unit selection and HMM-based synthetic voices, by adding speech from a spontaneous conversation to the voices. We recorded a spontaneous conversation, and by manually transcribing and selecting utterances we obtained approximately two thousand utterances from it. These conversational utterances were rich in conversational speech phenomena, but they lacked the general coverage that allows unit selection and HMM-based synthesis techniques to synthesise high quality speech. Therefore we investigated a number of blending approaches in the synthetic voices, where the conversational utterances were augmented with conventional read aloud speech. The synthetic voices that contained conversational speech were contrasted with conventional voices without conversational speech. The perceptual evaluations showed that the conversational voices were generally perceived by listeners as having a more conversational style than the conventional voices. This conversational style was largely due to the conversational voices’ ability to synthesise utterances that contained conversational speech phenomena in a more natural manner than the conventional voices. Additionally, we conducted an experiment that showed that natural sounding conversational characteristics in synthetic speech can convey pragmatic information, in our case an impression of certainty or uncertainty, about a topic to a listener. The conclusion drawn is that the limited behaviour of conventional synthetic voices can be enriched by utilising conversational speech in both unit selection and HMM-based speech synthesis.
Polyaniline synthesized with functionalized sulfonic acids for blends manufacture

Polyaniline (PAni), an electronic conductive polymer, has poor mechanical properties, such as low tensile, compressive and flexural strength that render PAni a non-ideal material to be processed for practical applications. Desired properties of polyaniline can be enhanced by mixing it with a polymer that has good mechanical properties. In this work, PAni was synthesised using functionalized sulfonic acids like camphorsulfonic acid (CSA) and dodecilbenzene sulfonic acid (DBSA) in order to promote PAni doping and improve its solubility, making possible conductive blends manufacture. The different forms of PAni were characterized by infra-red spectroscopy, thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy and conductivity measurements. A conductive blend composed of PAni/DBSA and lower density polyethylene (LDPE) was obtained via solubilization method and its thermal, morphological and electrical properties were investigated. Concentrations as low as 5 wt. (%) of PAni was able to lead to electrical conductivities of PAni/LDPE blends in the range of 10-3 S.cm-1, showing great potential to be used in antistatic packing, electromagnetic shielding, anti-corrosion shielding or as a semiconductor.
Mistletoe for cancer?

Mistletoe extracts are widely used in the treatment of cancer. The results of clinical trials are however highly inconsistent. We therefore conducted a systematic review of all randomised clinical trials of this unconventional therapy. Eight databases were searched to identify all studies that met our inclusion/exclusion criteria. Data were independently validated and extracted by 2 authors and checked by the 3rd according to predefined criteria. Statistical pooling was not possible because of the heterogeneity of the primary studies. Therefore a narrative systematic review was conducted. Ten trials could be included. Most of the studies had considerable weaknesses in terms of study design, reporting or both. Some of the weaker studies implied benefits of mistletoe extracts, particularly in terms of quality of life. None of the methodologically stronger trials exhibited efficacy in terms of quality of life, survival or other outcome measures. Rigorous trials of mistletoe extracts fail to demonstrate efficacy of this therapy. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Optimum Neural Network Architecture for Precipitation Prediction of Myanmar

pe r fo r m a n c e u s ing Roo t Me a n Squ a r e E rr o r (RMSE), expe r imen ta l r e s ul ts s ignifi c a n t ly s how t h at 3 inpu ts -10 hidden s -1 ou t pu t a r c hi t e c t u r e model give s t he b e st p r edi c t ion r e s ul t fo r mon t hly p r e c ipi tat ion in My a nm a r .
Changes of brainstem and perimesencephalic cistern: dynamic predictor of outcome in severe head injury.

OBJECTIVES Based on the findings in computed tomography scans, we defined a grading system that is well correlated to the changes of the brainstem and its perimesencephalic cistern during intracranial hypertension. MATERIALS AND METHODS The grades are defined as follows: Grade 0 is normal, grade 1 represents widening of the perimesencephalic cistern without brainstem change, grade 2 represents obliteration of the cistern without brainstem change, grade 3 represents a deformed brainstem; grade 4 represents brainstem density change, and grade 5 represents any combination of grades 3 and 4. As a comparison to the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) system, we examined this new system in 334 cases, in which 138 cases were classified as severe head injuries. RESULTS In cases of mild head injury (GCS score > 8), this new system was correlated to the GCS system well in grades 0 to 2. In cases of severe head injury, the prediction of outcome is better in our system because it is well correlated to dynamic change of intracranial hypertension, especially in cases with nonsurgical masses of grades 3 and 5. CONCLUSIONS Our grading system is easy to use, and is well correlated to give an accurate prediction of outcome in cases with severe head injury based primarily on the results of an initial computed tomography scan, even without clinical information, and it should play a role in the classification of head injury.
Fluticasone propionate aerosol: efficacy in patients with mild to moderate asthma. Fluticasone Propionate Asthma Study Group.

BACKGROUND This double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study investigated the efficacy and tolerability of fluticasone propionate aerosol (25, 50, or 100 mg bid for 12 weeks) administered as primary maintenance therapy to patients whose mild to moderate asthma was inadequately controlled by as-needed use of an inhaled beta-agonist. RESULTS At all clinic visits, fluticasone propionate compared with placebo was associated with significant (P<.05) improvement in pulmonary function indexed by forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) as well as fewer night awakenings and less use of rescue albuterol. Values for patient-measured morning peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR) were significantly (P<.05) higher and the use of rescue albuterol was significantly (P<.05) lower beginning 3 to 5 days after initiation of therapy in the groups treated with fluticasone propionate, compared with the placebo group. Maximal improvement in FEV1 was achieved during the second week of treatment and maintained throughout the course of therapy. Differences among the three fluticasone propionate dosing groups for these efficacy measures were not statistically significant. The incidence of adverse events was similar across groups. CONCLUSIONS These data indicate that fluticasone propionate aerosol is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for asthma and significantly improves pulmonary function within days of initiation of treatment in patients whose asthma is inadequately controlled with as-needed beta-agonists.
The Inactive Form of a Yeast Casein Kinase I Suppresses the Secretory Defect of the sec12 Mutant

Sec12p is the guanine nucleotide exchange factor of Sar1 GTPase and functions at the very upstream in the vesicle budding reactions from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We previously identified three yeast loci, RST1, RST2, andRST3, whose mutations suppressed the temperature-sensitive growth of the sec12–4 mutant (Nakano, A. (1996)J. Biochem. (Tokyo) 120, 642–646). In the present study, we cloned the wild-type RST2 gene by complementation of the cold-sensitive phenotype of therst2–1 mutant. RST2 turned out to be identical to HRR25, a gene encoding a dual-specificity casein kinase I in yeast. The rst2–1 mutation, which is now renamedhrr25–2, was due to the T176I amino acid replacement in the kinase domain. This mutation remedied not only the temperature-sensitive growth but also the defect of ER-to-Golgi protein transport of sec12. Immunoprecipitation of the hemagglutinin-tagged Hrr25–2 protein and a subsequent protein kinase assay showed that the kinase activity of the mutant protein was markedly reduced. The overproduction of another kinase-minus mutant of Hrr25p (Hrr25p K38A) slightly suppressed the growth defect ofsec12–4 as well. These observations suggest that the reduction of the kinase activity in the mutant protein is important for the suppression of sec12. We propose that Hrr25p negatively regulates the vesicle budding from the ER.
Electric field control of backward spin waves in thin ferromagnetic film

We investigate a possibility of an electric field control of spin waves in ultrathin magnetic film. The effects under consideration are due to the influence of a constant external electric field on the spin orbital interaction between spins of magnetic ions. It is shown the possibility of controlling by constant electric field both the nonreciprocity in the propagation of a spin wave along a thin ferromagnet film and the possibility of switching between forward and backward types of wave.
The two PAR leucine zipper proteins, TEF and DBP, display similar circadian and tissue‐specific expression, but have different target promoter preferences.

The two highly related PAR basic region leucine zipper proteins TEF and DBP accumulate according to a robust circadian rhythm in liver and kidney. In liver nuclei, the amplitude of daily oscillation has been estimated to be 50‐fold and 160‐fold for TEF and DBP, respectively. While DBP mRNA expression is the principal determinant of circadian DBP accumulation, the amplitude of TEF mRNA cycling is insufficient to explain circadian TEF fluctuation. Conceivably, daily variations in TEF degradation or nuclear translocation efficiency may explain the discrepancy between mRNA and protein accumulation. In vitro, TEF and DBP bind the same DNA sequences. Yet, in co‐transfection experiments, these two proteins exhibit different activation potentials for two reporter genes examined. While TEF stimulates transcription from the albumin promoter more potently than DBP, only DBP is capable of activating transcription efficiently from the cholesterol 7 alpha hydroxylase (C7alphaH) promoter. However, a TEF‐DBP fusion protein, carrying N‐terminal TEF sequences and the DNA binding/dimerization domain of DBP, enhances expression of the C7alphaH‐CAT reporter gene as strongly as wild‐type DBP. Our results suggest that the promoter environment, rather than the affinity with which PAR proteins recognize their cognate DNA sequences in vitro, determines the promoter preferences of TEF and DBP.
Rat epididymal sperm quantity, quality, and transit time after guanethidine-induced sympathectomy.

Guanethidine, a chemical that selectively abolishes peripheral noradrenergic nerves, was used to investigate the role of sympathetic innervation in the maintenance of epididymal sperm quantity and quality. Four groups of 10 adult male rats each were treated daily for 21 days, by i.p. injections, with either 0 (saline vehicle), 6.25, 12.5, or 25 mg/kg guanethidine. Norepinephrine content was reduced to undetectable levels in the cauda epididymidis in all guanethidine groups after 3 wk of treatment and was reduced to 7.4% of the control values after 1 wk of 6.25 mg/kg treatment. While body weight gain was significantly decreased at 12.5 and 25 mg/kg compared to that in controls, there was a significant increase in the weights of the seminal vesicles/coagulating glands in all treated groups. The number of homogenization-resistant spermatids per testis and the daily sperm production per testis remained unchanged. The weight of the epididymis was significantly increased at 6.25 and 12.5 mg/kg. Moreover, the number of cauda epididymal sperm and the transit time were increased significantly at 6.25 mg/kg (10.2 days) compared to values in the control cauda (6.3 days). Neither serum testosterone levels nor LH was affected in a dosage-related manner. There were no effects of guanethidine treatment on cauda epididymal sperm motility or morphology. A quantitative analysis of detergent-extracted cauda epididymal sperm proteins by SDS-PAGE revealed no differences, but there were diminutions in seven proteins in homogenates of caput/corpus tissue. Histologic analysis of testis and epididymis sections revealed no differences between control and denervated animals. In a subsequent experiment the lowest effective dosage (6.25 mg/kg) was given to rats for 1 wk, and an increased number of cauda epididymal sperm and a delay in sperm transit were observed. Our results indicate that low-dosage guanethidine exposure denervates the epididymis within 1 wk, thereby delaying epididymal transit; however, neither 1- nor 3-wk exposure produces qualitative changes in the sperm.
The diagnostic utility of D2‐40 for malignant mesothelioma versus pulmonary carcinoma with pleural involvement

Differentiating malignant mesothelioma (MM) from pulmonary carcinoma in pleural fluid cytology can be challenging. Recent studies have suggested that D2‐40, a novel lymphatic marker, may be a useful marker for mesothelial differentiation in surgical specimens. However, there are no available data regarding its utility in effusion cytology specimens. We investigated the utility of D2‐40 in pleural fluid cytology in differentiating MM from pulmonary carcinomas. Twenty cases of pleural effusion smears of surgically confirmed MM with their corresponding cell blocks were retrieved from the database of the hospital computer system. We also included 10 cases of metastatic pulmonary adenocarcinoma (PA) and 10 cases metastatic pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) involving the pleural fluid. Cell blocks were formalin‐fixed, paraffin embedded, and immunostained for TTF1, p63, calretinin, CK5/6, WT‐1, and D2‐40. Cases were scored as negative (<5% positivity) or positive (>5% moderate/strong positivity). The positive rates for TTF1, p63, calretinin, CK5/6, WT‐1, and D2‐40 were as follows: MM (0/20), (0/20), (17/20), (18/20), (19/20), (17/20), for PA (8/10), (0/10), (3/10), (0/10), (0/10), (0/10), and for PSCC (1/10), (10/10), (6/10), (10/10), (0/15), (0/10). The staining pattern for D2‐40 was characterized by thick membranous staining. Diffuse cytoplasmic staining by D2‐40 was seen in 2 cases of pulmonary carcinoma, counted as negative. Our study showed that in differentiating MM from PA, CK5/6, WT‐1, and D2‐40 have high specificity and sensitivity for MM. Although calretinin is a sensitive IHC marker for MM, it is not specific since it stained 30% of PA. Conversely, to differentiate between MM and PSCC, p63 and WT‐1 are the best available markers. We recommend a panel of CK5/6, p63, D2‐40, and WT‐1 to differentiate MM from pulmonary carcinomas in effusion cytology specimens. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2006; 34:801–806. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Immune Response in Copper Deficiency a

Copper plays an important, but as yet undetermined, role in immunologic function. Animal models of copper deficiency have shown that copper is important for antibody generation, for cell-mediated immunity, and for the generation of the inflammatory response. Impairment of immunity as a consequence of copper insufficiency is now firmly established. Laboratory animals on a low copper diet show an increased susceptibility to bacterial infections 1.2 and domestic animals with insufficient copper intake show decreased bactericidal activity, 3 impaired neutrophil function," and a higher susceptibility to infection. Previous studies in our laboratory showed that copper-deficient mice produced a lower number of antibody-producing cells against sheep red blood cell (sRBC) antigens," had decreased reactivity to both I-and B-cell mitogens, and were low responders in one-way mixed lymphocyte reactions. S The impairment of these capacities was correlated with the degree of copper deficiency.v " In addition, copper-deficient mice showed profound changes in the distribution of lymphocyte subsets in the spleen," and an impairment of cell-mediated immunity as judged by their inability to mount an immune response to malignant syngeneic lymphocytes. 10 We have shown that there is a variable response to the copper-deficient treatment 11 and that both temporal and genetic factors may be involved. I 1.12
Rotator Cuff Tear Arthropathy: Pathophysiology, Imaging Characteristics, and Treatment Options.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this article is to review the biomechanical properties of the rotator cuff and glenohumeral joint and the pathophysiology, imaging characteristics, and treatment options of rotator cuff tear arthropathy (RCTA). CONCLUSION Although multiple pathways have been proposed as causes of RCTA, the exact cause remains unclear. Increasing knowledge about the clinical diagnosis, imaging features, and indicators of severity improves recognition and treatment of this pathologic condition.
Changes in intraocular pressure and pupil size following intramuscular administration of hydromorphone hydrochloride and acepromazine in clinically normal dogs.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of intramuscularly administered hydromorphone hydrochloride and acepromazine on intraocular pressure (IOP) and pupil size (PS). ANIMALS STUDIED Seventeen dogs free of clinically relevant ocular abnormalities. PROCEDURE Measurements of IOP and PS were obtained and the dogs were injected intramuscularly with hydromorphone (0.04-0.08 mg/kg) and acepromazine (0.04 mg/kg). Measurements of IOP and PS were repeated 10 min and 25 min later. RESULTS Though a decreasing trend in IOP values was demonstrated, no significant difference was noted in IOP from the initial examination to examination following intramuscular administration of hydromorphone and acepromazine. Significant miosis was present in 16 of 17 dogs at 10 min and 25 min following administration of hydromorphone and acepromazine. CONCLUSION Hydromorphone (0.04-0.08 mg/kg) and acepromazine (0.04 mg/kg) cause significant miosis in dogs at 10 and 25 min following intramuscular administration.
Adjunctive use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for schizophrenia: a meta-analytic investigation of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE To meta-analytically assess the efficacy and tolerability of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) vs placebo in schizophrenia. METHOD Searching PubMed, PsycINFO, ISI Web of Science, and the US National Institute of Mental Health clinical trials registry from database inception to December 31, 2012, we conducted a systematic review/meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled studies assessing the efficacy of adjunctive NSAIDs. Primary outcome was the change in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score. Secondary outcomes included change in PANSS positive and negative subscores, all-cause discontinuation, and tolerability outcomes. Random effects, pooled, standardized mean changes (Hedges' g) and risk ratios were calculated. RESULTS Across 8 studies, including 3 unpublished reports (n = 774), the mean effect size for PANSS total score was -0.236 (95% CI: -0.484 to 0.012, P = .063, I(2) = 60.6%), showing only trend-level superiority for NSAIDs over placebo. The mean effect sizes for the PANSS positive and negative scores were -0.189 (95% CI: -0.373 to -0.005, P = .044) and -0.026 (95% CI: -0.169 to 0.117, P = .72), respectively. The relative risk for all-cause discontinuation was 1.13 (95% CI: 0.794 to 1.599, P = .503). Significant superiority of NSAIDs over placebo regarding PANSS total scores was moderated by aspirin treatment (N = 2, P = .017), inpatient status (N = 4, P = .029), first-episode status (N = 2, P = .048), and (in meta-regression analyses) lower PANSS negative subscores (N = 6, P = .026). INTERPRETATION These results indicate that adjunctive NSAIDs for schizophrenia may not benefit patients treated with first-line antipsychotics judged by PANSS total score change. NSAIDs may have benefits for positive symptoms, but the effect was minimal/small. However, due to a limited database, further controlled studies are needed, especially in first-episode patients.
Long‐term outcome of renal transplantation in adults with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis

Little information is available about the long‐term results of kidney transplantation in adults with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). The outcomes of 52 renal transplants performed between 1988 and 2008 in 47 adults with FSGS were compared with those of 104 matched controls (median follow‐up 93.4 vs. 109.4 months respectively). At 15 years, patient survival was 100% and graft survival 56% in FSGS patients vs. 88.3% and 64% respectively in controls (P = NS). FSGS recurred in 12 out of 52 grafts (23%) and led to graft failure in seven within 10 months (median). In the other five cases, proteinuria remitted and grafts are functioning 106 months (median) after transplantation. A second recurrence developed in five out of eight re‐transplanted patients (62.5%) who lost their first graft because of recurrence; only one graft was lost. Patients with recurrence were more frequently male subjects (83% vs. 40%, P = 0.02), younger at diagnosis of FSGS (16.3 ± 6.8 vs. 24.1 ± 11.5 years, P = 0.03) and of younger age at transplantation (28.4 ± 7.8 vs. 35.8 ± 12.2 years, P = 0.05). Treatment with plasmapheresis plus ACE inhibitors achieved either complete or partial remission in 80% of the cases. Long‐term patient and renal allograft survivals of adults with FSGS were comparable to those of controls. Recurrence was more frequent in young patients and in patients who lost a previous graft from recurrence. Graft loss resulting from a second recurrence is lower than expected.
TISSUE CULTURE OF CELLS ALREADY IN DNA SYNTHESIS FROM PATIENTS WITH INFECTIOUS MONONUCLEOSIS.

1. Peripheral blood cultures from patients with infectious mononucleosis contained approximately 50 times more cells incorporating tritiated thymidine at time 0 than normal cultures. 2. Cultures from these patients showed active cell division within the first 24 hours. No cell division was seen during this time in cultures of normal cells. 3. Cells dividing within the first 24 hours were identified as cells which had incorporated thymidine at time 0 by observation of metaphases containing tritiated thymidine. 4. Cell division ceased after 18-24 hours in the absence of phytohemagglutinin. 5. The data suggest that a population composed of immature lymphocytic cells in the circulation of patients with infectious mononucleosis is in the process of cell division. Proliferative capacity of peripheral blood cells cannot be studied adequately by ordinary morphologic technic.