Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Automatic Speech Recognition using different Neural Network Architectures – A Survey

— Speech is the vocalized form of communication based on lexical syntax. Each spoken word is a phonetic combination of vowels and consonants. Automatic Speech Recognition can be defined as computer-driven transcriptions of speech into human readable text. As it is an emerging technique many researchers are attracted to this and achieved progress to a certain extent in recent years. This survey paper aims at explaining the architecture of Deep Neural Network, Convolutional Neural Network and Recurrent Neural Network and their performance in the field of Automatic Speech Recognition. We also summarise main contributions of various researchers during 2010 – 2016 on Acoustic Modeling and Language Modeling (main components of Automatic Speech Recognition) using these architectures and pointing out their impact in ASR. We conclude this paper with a comparative study regarding the advantages of the architectures discussed during the survey with respect to Word Error Rate (WER), Phone Error Rate (PER) etc. in the area of Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR).
Antifibrinolytic Therapy in Surgery for Congenital Heart Disease

The efficacy of the serine protease inhibitor, aprotinin, and the lysine analogs, &egr;-aminocaproic acid and tranexamic acid, in reducing bleeding and transfusion in adults undergoing cardiac surgery is well established. Although children undergoing cardiac surgery are clearly at high risk for bleeding and transfusion, the risks and benefits of this therapy for the pediatric population are less well understood. There is a reasonable body of literature examining antifibrinolytic therapy in congenital heart surgery, but the large variability in patients studied, procedures, methods, and dosing schemes makes a quantitative analysis of this literature impractical. A qualitative review of this literature reveals significant support for the efficacy of all three drugs for decreasing bleeding and transfusion in congenital heart surgery, likely with more benefit in certain populations. Limited data suggest that there is no difference in efficacy among the three drugs, although aprotinin may have unique antiinflammatory effects that are of benefit in pediatric patients. There is not enough evidence to draw any conclusions about the safety of these drugs in children, although it appears that the risk of anaphylaxis with aprotinin in children may be less than in adults. Dosing schemes used for these drugs have been variable and not always based on sound pharmacologic principles, despite available pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data. Further research should be directed toward establishing safety, evaluating the relative efficacy of the two classes of drugs, proving benefit in specific patient groups, and better defining effective dosing schemes.
Supply chain resilience: a multi-level framework

ABSTRACT There is increasing research interest on how to build resilient supply chains. Despite this widespread interest, very few studies have directly explored resilience at different levels of analysis. The goal of this paper is to bridge that gap by developing a multi-level framework that describes supply chain resilience as a higher-level construct, arising out of the coalescing of resilience at the individual, organisational, and inter-organisational levels. The paper develops a multilevel framework focusing on key antecedents and moderators of resilience at the individual, organisational and supply chain levels. The framework includes cross-level interactions and demonstrates how behaviours at lower levels have an upward influence on supply chain resilience. Both practitioners and researchers would benefit from a multilevel approach because such frameworks account for interactions and complexities between variables at different levels and in so doing directs attention to important areas where we can intervene to build resilient supply chains.
Compact Modeling of Negative  $V_{t}$  Shift Disturb in NAND Flash Memories

The negative Vt shift disturb is one of the new scaling limiters for the NAND Flash technology, since it severely affects the reliability of ultra-scaled products, lowering the read margin between the distributions in multilevel cell architectures. However, even if the phenomenon was thoroughly investigated, it lacks a proper model to be exploited for the development of tailored management solutions. In this paper, we have developed a compact model for the negative Vt shift disturb simulation in NAND Flash arrays. The model accurately reproduces experimental data retrieved on a 26-nm technology. The application of the model for the fast and accurate statistical assessments of the reliability loss induced by the disturb is shown through the execution of Monte Carlo simulations.
Differential influence of the E4 adenoviral genes on viral and cellular promoters

Strong and stable transgene expression is fundamental to the success of recombinant adenovirus vectors in human gene therapy. However, control of transgene expression is a complex process, involving both viral and cellular factors. In this study, the influence of the E4 adenoviral region on the activity of various promoters was investigated in vitro and in vivo.
Nightmare Frequency and Femininity/Masculinity

Several large-scale studies showed that women tend to report nightmares more often than men. Despite this robust finding, empirically tested interpretations of these sex differences are lacking. Levin and Nielsen put forward the hypothesis that sex-specific socialization might be one of the risk factors for nightmare occurrence. The present findings of an online survey indicate that expressivity/femininity and instrumentality/masculinity were related to nightmare frequency and, thus, supported this hypothesis. Since the sex difference in nightmare frequency was not fully explained by these two variables, future studies should investigate other variables — in addition to sex-role orientation — like depressive symptoms, history of sexual and/or physical abuse, ruminative coping styles, and physiological measures of processing emotional stimuli within the brain.
Inhibitory effects of SR 49059 on oxytocin‐and vasopressin‐induced uterine contractions in non‐pregnant women

Background. Compounds that block uterine oxytocin and vasopressin V1a receptors have a therapeutic potential in preterm labor and primary dysmenorrhoea. The orally active vasopressin V1a receptor antagonist, SR49059, inhibits the effect of vasopressin on human uterine activity in vivo, but the influence on the response to oxytocin is unknown.
Synthesis, Characterization of Nano MnO 2 and its Adsorption Characteristics Over an Azo Dye

Nano MnO2 powder was synthesized by low temperature solution combustion method using oxalyl dihydrazide (ODH) fuel. The final product was well characterized by Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for crystallographic purity, phase formation and surface morphology respectively. PXRD results show that pure MnO2 was synthesized at 300 0C with no other impurities. SEM micrograph shows the product has highly porous structure with large voids, typical of combustion derived material. An adsorption characteristic of the porous MnO2 was studied over direct green dye (DG). The optimum dose of MnO2 for removal of 10 ppm DG azo dye was found to be 0.4 g L-1
User experience with commercial music services: An empirical exploration

The music information retrieval (MIR) community has long understood the role of evaluation as a critical component for successful information retrieval systems. Over the past several years, it has also become evident that user‐centered evaluation based on realistic tasks is essential for creating systems that are commercially marketable. Although user‐oriented research has been increasing, the MIR field is still lacking in holistic, user‐centered approaches to evaluating music services beyond measuring the performance of search or classification algorithms. In light of this need, we conducted a user study exploring how users evaluate their overall experience with existing popular commercial music services, asking about their interactions with the system as well as situational and personal characteristics. In this paper, we present a qualitative heuristic evaluation of commercial music services based on Jakob Nielsen's 10 usability heuristics for user interface design, and also discuss 8 additional criteria that may be used for the holistic evaluation of user experience in MIR systems. Finally, we recommend areas of future user research raised by trends and patterns that surfaced from this user study.
A fuzzy model for assessing the risk exposure of procuring infrastructure mega-projects through public-private partnership: The case of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge

Considering the rapid urbanization growth rate particularly in developing countries, the number of infrastructure mega-projects over the past years has risen tremendously. Essentially, because infrastructure megaprojects require huge investment funds, better management skills, well qualified and experienced international expertise and technology innovation, they are mostly preferred to be procured using the PPP method compare to the use of the traditional bid-build system. In this regard, this paper aims to develop a fuzzy evaluation model for assessing the suitability of procuring infrastructure mega-projects through PPP by considering their risk exposure. The main body of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) is used as a case project to demonstrate the practicality of the risk evaluation model. The risk evaluation model consists of four critical risk groupings, these include, construction and land risks, commercial risks, operational risks and political risks. Using the risk evaluation equation, a risk index of 4.53 out of 5.00 is computed for the selected project if it is procured through the PPP scheme. This outcome shows that the case project is not suitable for the PPP approach because its risk exposure is very high. The model developed will enable PPP practitioners to predict the likely risk exposure of procuring infrastructure megaprojects through the PPP scheme.
The introduction of implant dentistry in the South Pacific Islands of Fiji.

Fiji is a Micronesian island group in the South Pacific Ocean, approximately 2000km from Auckland and about one-third of the way from New Zealand to Hawaii. It has a population of 945,000. It is considered by the World Bank to be a developing country. Only limited specific information is available about the quality of dental health care in the South Pacific Islands. Overall, though, there is a lack of dentists in the region, as demonstrated by the low dentist-to-population ratio1. There are currently approximately over 100 dentists and over 60 therapists in Fiji2. The Commonwealth Dental Association assesses the dentist–topopulation ratio as approximately 1:9,000 in Fiji, which is far fewer than in Australia or New Zealand3. The Fiji National Oral Health Survey showed that 55-64-year-olds had an average of 14 missing teeth, but few wore removable partial dentures, and only 2.6% of the population wore complete dentures4. As in other developing countries, oral health care provision for Fijians operates at both extremes, ranging from a high Western standard of oral health care for a rather small portion of the population in the private sector, to the majority being offered primarily exodontia without restoration in the government service. There are notable inequalities in oral health and inequities in service provision by financial status. The Fiji School of Medicine (FSM) is the primary provider of formal oral health education in the South Pacific Islands. The School’s programmes have been supported by grants from AusAid and other international development agencies, while the quality of education has been monitored by the University of the South Pacific (USP) with the assistance of external examiners from New Zealand and Australia5,6. In 2010, the FSM amalgamated with five other tertiary institutions in Fiji to form the Fiji National University; this will be the conferring body for all bachelors and higher degrees undertaken in the FSM7.
Experiments to Examine the Situated Nature of Geoscientific Concepts

ABSTRACT Ontologies are being developed in many geoscientific domains. They are typically populated with two types of concepts: upper-level concepts that apply across many or all domains, and domain concepts that apply only within a specific domain. Previous work has refined this distinction by identifying a particular type of domain concept, called a situated concept, which is dependent on specific processes (natural, social, scientific, or possibly machine) for its meaning and is instantiated amongst entities within a specific geographical and historical context. In this paper we present new support for situated geoscientific concepts, building on our previous research that argues for the importance of situations in the development and use of concepts related to geoscientific field mapping. The new results are obtained by using statistical techniques to further analyze three geologists' field data over time, to better test the hypothesis that the concepts developed by the geologists to classify objects on the map are in fact situated. The field data are compared to each other, and to the concepts developed by the team. Differences found between and within individuals' data for three map concepts provide strong support for the idea that the concepts are variably influenced by data, theory, and natural and human situations. From this increased corroboration of situated concepts we suggest two implications for domain ontologies: (1) a delineation between situated domain concepts and non-situated domain concepts; and (2) recognition that representation of reliable meaning involves the capture of historical and geographical context for situated concepts.
TOTAL INTRAVENOUS ANESTHESIA: ADVANTAGES FOR INTRACRANIAL SURGERY

OBJECTIVE Although volatile anesthetics have been widely accepted in anesthetic management for neurosurgery, they reduce vascular resistance, resulting in increased cerebral blood flow and increased intracranial pressure (ICP). In patients with elevated ICP who undergo craniotomy, the increase in ICP during surgery from inhaled anesthetics can make the surgery more difficult, thereby increasing the risk of ischemic cerebral insults. Total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) using propofol and analgesic drugs (remifentanil or fentanyl) and excluding simultaneous administration of any inhaled drugs is being used in patients undergoing craniotomy because of its potential to reduce ICP and ease access to the operative site. METHODS We reviewed the literature and describe our experience with TIVA, with emphasis on hemodynamic stability, effects on ICP, emergence from anesthesia, extubation times, and return of cognitive function in patients undergoing craniotomy for space-occupying lesions. RESULTS TIVA with propofol is similar to inhaled anesthetics with regard to hemodynamic stability, emergence times, extubation times, early cognitive function, and adverse events. In several prospective, randomized clinical trials, evidence suggests that ICP is decreased and cerebral perfusion pressure is increased in patients receiving TIVA when compared with those receiving volatile anesthetics during elective craniotomy procedures. CONCLUSION The impact of TIVA on ICP, brain swelling, and access to the operative site in patients with severely elevated ICP has yet to be evaluated and is the subject of a future study at our institution.
Functional variants in ADH1B and ALDH2 coupled with alcohol and smoking synergistically enhance esophageal cancer risk.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is prevalent among Asian populations, with marked regional variations in incidence and mortality. Patients with ESCC have a very poor prognosis, but detection of ESCC at earlier stages could improve clinical outcome. Therefore, identification of epidemiologic factors that influence the development of ESCC would facilitate prevention and/or early detection of the disease. METHODS We performed a 2-step genome-wide association study with subsequent replication analysis using a total of 1070 Japanese ESCC cases and 2836 controls. We also used logistic regression analysis to estimate the effect of gene-gene and gene-environmental interactions. RESULTS We identified the significant associations of ESCC with 4q21-23 and 12q24 regions, which include nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in ADH1B (rs1229984, P = 6.76 x 10(-35)) and ALDH2 (rs671, P = 3.68 x 10(-68)) that were previously shown to be associated with ESCC susceptibility. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed SNP rs671, rs1229984, alcohol drinking, and smoking as the independent risk factors for ESCC (odds ratios of 1.66, 1.85, 1.92, and 1.79, respectively). Moreover, individuals who had both genetic and lifestyle-related risk factors had a nearly 190 times higher risk of ESCC than those who had neither of these. CONCLUSIONS We found 2 known functional variants involved in the metabolism of alcohol and tobacco by-products as the most significant risk factors for the development of ESCC in a Japanese population. The individuals carrying both risk genotypes have a higher baseline risk of ESCC that is substantially increased by 2 lifestyle risk factors.
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC OBSERVATIONS OF A MUCOPOLYSACCHARIDE COATING ON HUMAN CORNEAL ENDOTHELIUM

Scanning electron microscopic observations of human corneal endothelium revealed a binding of ruthenium red‐osmium tetroxide to a material on the inner surface of the endothelial cells on the cornea and the trabecular meshwork. The coating material was partially digested by proteolytic enzymes.
Factors influencing BIM adoption in emerging markets – the case of India

ABSTRACT This paper studies the adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in emerging markets. The factors responsible for the adoption of BIM are studied in the context of Indian architectural firms. The mechanisms of diffusion of BIM are analyzed through a questionnaire survey based on the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework which broadly categorizes the influencing factors along these three dimensions. Data were collected through a web-based questionnaire survey. The 184 valid responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study found that full potential of BIM has been explored but not realized by many in the Indian construction sector. Findings of the study are analyzed and compared with other emerging and developed markets. Based on the survey results, recommendations for increasing the BIM adoption are provided. Further studies and learnings from mature markets can help Indian construction sector develop effective BIM implementation strategies.
Can we avoid inadvertent parathyroidectomy during thyroid surgery?

OBJECTIVES To identify risk factors of inadvertent parathyroidectomy (IP) during thyroid surgery with the aim of decreasing the incidence of this unpleasant complication and to evaluate the impact on temporary and permanent hypocalcaemia following bilateral thyroidectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS All consecutive thyroid surgical procedures performed at the Special Surgical Pathology Department of Padova General Hospital and Padova University during one year (January-December 2005) were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data as well as data on diagnosis, operative reports, pathology findings, and postoperative serum calcium values were collected. A total of 882 patients (F=685 M=197) were included in the study. The patients were divided into 2 groups: those with IP and those without IP, and their data were compared to find factors affecting the occurrence of IP. The impact of IP on residual early and late postoperative parathyroid function was assessed. Hypercalcaemic (calcium level below 2.10 mMol/L) patients were followed from 1 week to 3 years. RESULTS Seventy of 882 patients (7.9%) were found to have IP. In 11 cases (16% of IP cases and 1.2 % of entire series) the parathyroid glands were completely intrathyroidal. The results of bivariate analysis showed young age (p=0.037), malignant disease (p<0.0001), total thyroidectomy with lymph node dissection (p<0.0001), low weight of thyroid specimen (p<0.0001), and non-visualisation of any parathyroid gland at operation (p<0.0001) as predictive factors for IP. Multivariate analysis revealed significant correlation between IP and malignant disease (p=0.004), and between lymph node dissection and permanent postoperative hypocalcaemia (p=0.018). The incidence rate of transient and permanent hypocalcaemia was higher in IP than in those without. The mean diameter of excised parathyroid glands was 3.2 mm, suggesting more extended or difficult surgical procedures. CONCLUSION IP is not uncommon during thyroidectomy and is associated with a higher, though not statistically significant, incidence of transient and permanent postoperative hypocalcaemia. Malignant disease, lymph node dissection, non-visualization of any parathyroid gland at operation and younger age seem to be risk factors and should be considered by the surgeon. Further efforts must be taken to reduce the incidence beginning by avoiding parathyroid fragmentation.
Work Life Balance Practices and their impact on Employee Engagement & Turnover intention: A study of employees in the further education and training sector in Ireland

Work life balance practices are one of the key topics on HR agenda and are widely discussed by the scholar academics, employers and governments in the recent years. Increased interest in this area is caused by the fast pace of technological innovations, globalization and growing concerns over unbalanced work-family relationships that may adversely influence health and performance outcomes for organizations and individuals. The literature review presented in this study shows that work life balance programmes have multiple benefits for employees and organizations. They have bearing on job satisfaction, better productivity and improved retention. They also induce employee loyalty, engagement, commitment and support high performance culture. Companies encouraging use of work life balance policies to accommodate non- work activities in other life domains achieve better motivation from staff, reduced absenteeism rates and face lower recruitment and training costs in the organizational life cycle. This paper seeks to examine effects of WLB practices on employee engagement and turnover intension in Further Education and Training sector in Ireland. It has been discovered that there is a gap in the literature that would specifically focus on Irish FET sector playing a significant role in the growth of Irish economy and business enterprises. The author decided to use quantitative research methods for this study. Designated questionnaire was disseminated to a sample population comprised of female and male employees, single or in relationship, with or without children across all departments and grades within organization. Three scales deployed in the questionnaire are fully reliable instruments identified and adopted by the author following exhaustive validated research.
Work-related stress and health--risks, mechanisms and countermeasures.

Print ISSN: 0355-3140 Electronic ISSN: 1795-990X Copyright (c) Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health Editorial Scand J Work Environ Health 2006;32(6):413-419 doi:10.5271/sjweh.1047 Work-related stress and health—risks, mechanisms and countermeasures by Härmä M, Kompier MAJ, Vahtera J Affiliation: Centre of Expertise on Human Factors at Work, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland. mikko.harma@ttl.fi Refers to the following texts of the Journal: 2006;32(6):421-43