Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Catalog-based single-channel speech-music separation for automatic speech recognition

In this study, we analyze the effect of the catalog-based single-channel speech-music separation method, which we proposed previously, on speech recognition performance. In the proposed method, assuming that we know a catalog of the background music, we developed a generative model for the superposed speech and music spectrograms. We represent the speech spectrogram by a Non-negative Matrix Factorization (NMF) model and the music spectrogram by a conditional Poisson Mixture Model (PMM). In this paper, we propose to recover the speech signals from the mixed signal in time-domain by detecting the active catalog frames using the catalog-based method. We compare the performances of 3 different signal reconstruction techniques; Expectation-Based, Posterior-Based and Time-Domain reconstruction. Moreover, we compare the performance of our system with the performance of the traditional NMF model. Our method outperforms the NMF method in ASR performance and separation performance in most experimental conditions.
Exploring Attentional Dynamics in Animated Programming Environments: Trajectories, Variability, and Predictors

Researchers have proposed that the ability to pay attention to teachers’ instruction is a prerequisite for learning. However, meaningful learning is often challenged by the presence of rule-breaking behaviors. In this study, we argue that although students exhibit different attention-related behaviors in all instructional settings, some behaviors are unique to a typical classroom. It is still unclear what factors uniquely determine students’ attention-related behaviors in animated programming environments because of the paucity of research evidence in this area. This study investigates students’ attention-related behaviors during animated programming instruction, including attentional growth trajectory, the nature of differences in attention-related behaviors, and predictors of these behaviors. Our analysis involved 8 classroom videos that collected the programming activities of 30 university students in our previous study. The video files were annotated on a one-dimensional, continuous scale, yielding 1,920 timestamped data points. The data on attentional trajectories and differences in attention-related behaviors were analyzed using latent and multi-level growth modeling, respectively, while data focusing on the predictors of attentional processes were analyzed using the Random Forest machine learning algorithm. We found that students’ attentional growth trajectory is linear and accelerates toward on-task events. However, these behaviors vary within and between students, leading to differences in attention-related behaviors. The results also revealed that individual and instructional characteristics predict the differences in attention-related behaviors. The findings highlight the importance of structured topics, safe classroom environments, quality instructional support, and interactive multimedia objects that activate students’ memory, eliminate task difficulty, and reduce the amount of mental resources required for meaningful learning.
Point-based Dynamic Programming for DEC-POMDPs

We introduce point-based dynamic programming (DP) for decentralized partially observable Markov decision processes (DEC-POMDPs), a new discrete DP algorithm for planning strategies for cooperative multi-agent systems. Our approach makes a connection between optimal DP algorithms for partially observable stochastic games, and point-based approximations for single-agent POMDPs. We show for the first time how relevant multi-agent belief states can be computed. Building on this insight, we then show how the linear programming part in current multi-agent DP algorithms can be avoided, and how multi-agent DP can thus be applied to solve larger problems. We derive both an optimal and an approximated version of our algorithm, and we show its efficiency on test examples from the literature.
Implications for practice: challenges for healthcare leaders in fostering patient safety

Although various government and regulatory organisations have identified practices that may enhance patient safety, there is little empirical or theoretical research to inform the decisions of healthcare leaders seeking to create patient safety programmes within their hospitals and clinics. In order to understand the challenges facing hospital and health system executives, we describe the experience of the Executive Session on Patient Safety. The executives identified five major problems in leading patient safety: 1) how should executives structure their organisations to deliver safe care? 2) how should executives monitor and measure their organisation’s safety performance? 3) how should executives spread and sustain patient safety innovation? 4) how should executives manage the relationship with the external environment? and 5) how should executives manage their own behaviour in order to lead for safety? The organisational infrastructure needed for safer care is being developed by practitioners out in the field as a matter of necessity. Strengthening the scientific basis for organisational leadership in patient safety is a vital but neglected area of study.
A Survey of Bioinspired Jumping Robot: Takeoff, Air Posture Adjustment, and Landing Buffer

A bioinspired jumping robot has a strong ability to overcome obstacles. It can be applied to the occasion with complex and changeable environment, such as detection of planet surface, postdisaster relief, and military reconnaissance. So the bioinspired jumping robot has broad application prospect. The jumping process of the robot can be divided into three stages: takeoff, air posture adjustment, and landing buffer. The motivation of this review is to investigate the research results of the most published bioinspired jumping robots for these three stages. Then, the movement performance of the bioinspired jumping robots is analyzed and compared quantitatively. Then, the limitation of the research on bioinspired jumping robots is discussed, such as the research on the mechanism of biological motion is not thorough enough, the research method about structural design, material applications, and control are still traditional, and energy utilization is low, which make the robots far from practical applications. Finally, the development trend is summarized. This review provides a reference for further research of bioinspired jumping robots.
Kinetics of the hydrogen abstraction CHO + Alkane → HCHO + Alkyl reaction class: an application of the reaction class transition state theory

The kinetics of the hydrogen abstraction at alkanes by formyl radicals is investigated using the reaction class transition state theory (RC-TST) approach combined with the linear energy relationship (LER) or the barrier height grouping (BHG). The rate constants of a reaction in this class can be estimated through those of the reference reaction, CHO + C2H6, which are obtained from rate constants of the reaction that involves the smallest species, namely CHO + CH4, using the explicit RC-TST scaling. The thermal rate constants of this smallest reaction are evaluated at the canonical variational transition state theory (CVT) with the corrections from the small-curvature tunneling (SCT) and hindered rotation (HR) treatments. Our analyses indicate that less than 40% systematic errors, on the average, exist in the predicted rate constants using both the LER approach, where only reaction energy is needed, and the BHG approach, where no additional information is needed; while comparing to explicit rate calculations the differences are less than 60%.
ReStore: symptom based soft error detection in microprocessors

Device scaling and large scale integration have led to growing concerns about soft errors in microprocessors. To date, in all but the most demanding applications, implementing parity and ECC for caches and other large, regular SRAM structures have been sufficient to stem the growing soft error tide. This will not be the case for long, and questions remain as to the best way to detect and recover from soft errors in the remainder of the processor - in particular, the less structured execution core. In this work, we propose the ReStore architecture, which leverages existing performance enhancing checkpointing hardware to recover from soft error events in a low cost fashion. Error detection in the ReStore architecture is novel: symptoms that hint at the presence of soft errors trigger restoration of a previous checkpoint. Example symptoms include exceptions, control flow mis-speculations, and cache or translation look-aside buffer misses. Compared to conventional soft error detection via full replication, the ReStore framework incurs little overhead, but sacrifices some amount of error coverage. These attributes make it an ideal means to provide very cost effective error coverage for processor applications that can tolerate a nonzero, but small, soft error failure rate. Our evaluation of an example ReStore implementation exhibits a 2x increase in MTBE (mean time between failures) over a standard pipeline with minimal hardware and performance overheads. The MTBF increases by 7x if ReStore is coupled with parity protection for certain pipeline structures.
Image Transmission and Hiding Through OFDM System With Different Encrypted Schemes

in this paper, an efficient way for transmission of encrypted images with a Fast Fourier transform (FFT) version of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system is studied. A comparison between encrypted images transmitted with FFT-OFDM system by using two famous encryption algorithms (i.e. Data Encryption Standard (DES) and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)) is presented. The aim of this comparison is to select the most appropriate encryption algorithm for efficient transmission of encrypted images. While performing the simulation experiments, the peak signal-to-ratio (PSNR) at the receiver is considered as an evaluation metric for examining the decrypted image quality. Form simulation results, it has been observed that, DES encryption algorithm is very much efficient in transmitting encrypted images through FFT-OFDM system over wireless radio channel. Keywords-FFT, OFDM , AES, DES __________________________________________________*****_________________________________________________
Formulation and validation of Candesartan cilexetil-loaded nanosuspension to enhance solubility

The following research aimed to enhance solubility by loading candesartan cilexetil into nanosuspension. Candesartan cilexetil-loaded nanosuspension was prepared with the aid of Design-Expert® software. A technique of solvent evaporation was employed to produce nanosuspensions from hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC E5), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP K-30), and poloxamer (PXM 188). The optimised nanosuspensions’ particle size and polydispersity index (PDI) were 64.65 nm and 0.059, respectively. The entrapment efficacy (EE %) and drug loading (DL %) were 86.75 and 10.17%, respectively. The atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed spherical and smooth nanoparticles. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed pure, crystalline and conjugated drugs inside the nanosuspension. The release study confirmed 90% release within 10 min. No significant changes in particle sizes over three months were found, indicating stable nanoparticles. Saturated solubility of the candesartan cilexetil powder and loaded nanosuspension was 63.3 ± 6 and 344.7 ± 16 µg. ml-1, respectively, revealing more than five times increase in solubility. Candesartan cilexetil-loaded nanosuspensions were successfully prepared using different combinations of PVP K-30, HPMC E-5 and PXM 188 in various concentrations. Solubility was enhanced by loading the payload into nanosuspensions.
Development of model for DC link filter design

In the literature, the approach for DC link design is based on steady-state rated power operation of the converter application. In this study, an approach is proposed for designing the filter considering the requirements for dynamic conditions. This approach considers: excessive ripple current, power loss on DC link components and DC link voltage drop causing performance loss during dynamic conditions for a motor driver. To analyze DC link operation in dynamic conditions, a simplified model is developed for simulating the drive-motor combination. This model can be used to model any motor driver by changing the model parameters and it is independent from control parameters of driver. The model is verified through comparison of the results obtained via simulation and experimental tests.
Tacrine, a reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, induces myopathy

Tacrine, an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor that has been used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, increases available acetylcholine (Ach) levels in the synaptic cleft thereby enhancing the activity of cholinergic pathways. However, excessive stimulation of nicotinic receptors at the neuromuscular junction results in muscle deterioration. We tested whether reversible AChE inhibitors such as tacrine may induce similar effects. In the present study, tacrine administration (7.5 mg/kg twice daily) to rats produces a 20 and 30-fold increase in the number of degenerating cells in leg and diaphragm muscle, respectively, as compared to control. This myopathy is significantly decreased by co-administration of tacrine with the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor L-NAME. These results show that tacrine can induce myopathy which may be mediated by increased NO production.
Ethanol vigor test to assess physiological quality of annual ryegrass seeds

This preliminary study aimed to establish a procedure to evaluate ryegrass seed vigor by ethanol test. Five annual ryegrass seed lots, cv. BRS Ponteio, were used. Ethanol content was quantified using an adapted ethyl meter (mg.L-1). Results were compared to germination test, first germination count, seedling emergence, electrical conductivity, and respiratory activity of the seeds. On the basis of the preliminary results of this study, it can be concluded that the ethanol technique can be used to determine seed vigor. This technique allows for precise data collection in less time than standard germination test and field emergence. The data collected using the ethanol test were in agreement with data obtained from tests of seed viability and vigor.
Degenerate two-phase incompressibleflow problems III:Perturbation analysisand numerical experiments

This is the third paper of a three-part series where we develop and analyze a finite element approximation for a degenerate elliptic-parabolic partial differential system which describes the flow of two incompressible, immiscible fluids in porous media. The approximation uses a mixed finite element method for the pressure equation and a Galerkin finite element method for the saturation equation. It is based on a regularization of the saturation equation. In the first paper [15] we analyzed the regularized differential system and presented numerical results. In the second paper [16] we obtained error estimates. In the present paper we describe a perturbation analysis for the saturation equation and numerical experiments for complementing this analysis.
Leaking privacy and shadow profiles in online social networks

A data-driven audit shows how the data of the users of an online social network predict personal information of nonusers. Social interaction and data integration in the digital society can affect the control that individuals have on their privacy. Social networking sites can access data from other services, including user contact lists where nonusers are listed too. Although most research on online privacy has focused on inference of personal information of users, this data integration poses the question of whether it is possible to predict personal information of nonusers. This article tests the shadow profile hypothesis, which postulates that the data given by the users of an online service predict personal information of nonusers. Using data from a disappeared social networking site, we perform a historical audit to evaluate whether personal data of nonusers could have been predicted with the personal data and contact lists shared by the users of the site. We analyze personal information of sexual orientation and relationship status, which follow regular mixing patterns in the social network. Going back in time over the growth of the network, we measure predictor performance as a function of network size and tendency of users to disclose their contact lists. This article presents robust evidence supporting the shadow profile hypothesis and reveals a multiplicative effect of network size and disclosure tendencies that accelerates the performance of predictors. These results call for new privacy paradigms that take into account the fact that individual privacy decisions do not happen in isolation and are mediated by the decisions of others.
Homologous Desensitization of Serotonin 5‐HT2 Receptor‐Stimulated Intracellular Calcium Mobilization in C6BU‐1 Glioma Cells via a Mechanism Involving a Calmodulin Pathway

Abstract: Serotonin 5‐HT2 receptor‐mediated intracellular Ca2+ mobilization was investigated in rat glioma C6BU‐1 cells. The receptors became desensitized after previous exposure to 5‐HT in a time‐and concentration‐dependent manner. The desensitization of 5‐HT2 receptor‐mediated intracellular signaling appeared to be homologous because previous exposure to 5‐HT did not alter the response to other transmitters such as thrombin or isoproterenol and because previous exposure to thrombin or isoproterenol did not diminish the response to 5‐HT. The desensitization induced by pretreatment with 5‐HT was potently prevented by the naphthalenesulfonamide derivative W‐7, a calmodulin antagonist, when it was cosupplied with 5‐HT. Furthermore, the preventive effect of W‐7 was greater than that of W‐5, a weak analogue of W‐7, and than that of H‐7, a nonselective inhibitor of protein kinases. These results suggest that 5‐HT2 receptor‐mediated Ca2+ mobilization can be desensitized homologously after prolonged exposure to 5‐HT in a calmodulin‐dependent manner in rat glioma C6BU‐1 cells.
FeoB2 Functions in Magnetosome Formation and Oxidative Stress Protection in Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense Strain MSR-1

ABSTRACT Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) synthesize unique organelles, the magnetosomes, which are intracellular nanometer-sized, membrane-enveloped magnetite. The biomineralization of magnetosomes involves the uptake of large amounts of iron. However, the iron metabolism of MTB is not well understood. The genome of the magnetotactic bacterium Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense strain MSR-1 contains two ferrous iron transport genes, feoB1 and feoB2. The FeoB1 protein was reported to be responsible mainly for the transport of ferrous iron and to play an accessory role in magnetosome formation. To determine the role of feoB2, we constructed an feoB2 deletion mutant (MSR-1 ΔfeoB2) and an feoB1 feoB2 double deletion mutant (MSR-1 NfeoB). The single feoB2 mutation did not affect magnetite crystal biomineralization. MSR-1 NfeoB had a significantly lower average magnetosome number per cell (∼65%) than MSR-1 ΔfeoB1, indicating that FeoB2 plays a role in magnetosome formation when the feoB1 gene is deleted. Our findings showed that FeoB1 has a greater ferrous iron transport ability than FeoB2 and revealed the differential roles of FeoB1 and FeoB2 in MSR-1 iron metabolism. Interestingly, compared to the wild type, the feoB mutants showed increased sensitivity to oxidative stress and lower activities of the enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase, indicating that the FeoB proteins help protect bacterial cells from oxidative stress.
Maghrebi Arabic dialect processing: an overview

Natural Language Processing for Arabic dialects has grown widely these last years. Indeed, several works were proposed dealing with all aspects of Natural Language Processing. However , some AD varieties have received more attention and have a growing collection of resources. Others varieties, such as Maghrebi, still lag behind in that respect. Maghrebi Arabic is the family of Arabic dialects spoken in the Maghreb region (principally Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco). In this work we are interested in these three languages. This paper presents a review of natural language processing for Maghrebi Arabic dialects.
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for Epstein–Barr virus‐associated T/natural killer‐cell lymphoproliferative disease in Japan

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)‐associated T/NK‐cell lymphoproliferative disease (LPD) has been linked to several different disorders. Its prognosis is generally poor and a treatment strategy has yet to be established. There are reports, however, that hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) can cure this disease. To clarify the current situation regarding allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‐HSCT) for EBV‐associated T/NK‐LPD, a nationwide survey was performed in Japan. Data for 74 patients were collected. There were 42 cases of chronic active EBV infection (CAEBV), 10 cases of EBV‐associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (EBV‐HLH), and 22 cases of EBV‐associated lymphoma/leukemia (EBV‐lymphoma/leukemia). Of those with CAEBV, 54% had the EBV‐infected T‐cell type and 59% with EBV‐lymphoma/leukemia had the EBV‐infected NK‐cell type. Most patients with EBV‐HLH and EBV‐lymphoma/leukemia received allo‐HSCT within 1 year after onset compared to only 14% of patients with CAEBV. The event‐free survival (EFS) rate following allo‐HSCT was 0.561 ± 0.086 for CAEBV, 0.614 ± 0.186 for EBV‐HLH, and 0.309 ± 0.107 for EBV‐lymphoma/leukemia. The EFS of allo‐HSCT with conventional conditioning was 0.488 ± 0.074 and with reduced‐intensity conditioning was 0.563 ± 0.124. Thus, in a substantial number of cases, EBV‐associated T/NK‐LPD can be cured by either allogeneic conventional stem cell transplantation or reduced‐intensity stem cell transplantation. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Am. J. Hematol. , 2008.
Comparative Pathway Annotation with Protein-DNA Interaction and Operon Information via Graph Tree Decomposition

Template-based comparative analysis is a viable approach to the prediction and annotation of pathways in genomes. Methods based solely on sequence similarity may not be effective enough; functional and structural information such as protein-DNA interactions and operons can prove useful in improving the prediction accuracy. In this paper, we present a novel approach to predicting pathways by seeking high overall sequence similarity, functional and structural consistency between the predicted pathways and their templates. In particular, the prediction problem is formulated into finding the maximum independent set (MIS) in the graph constructed based on operon or interaction structures as well as homologous relationships of the involved genes. On such graphs, the MIS problem is solved efficiently via non-trivial tree decomposition of the graphs. The developed algorithm is evaluated based on the annotation of 40 pathways in Escherichia coli (E. coli) K12 using those in Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) 168 as templates. It demonstrates overall accuracy that outperforms those of the methods based solely on sequence similarity or using structural information of the genome with integer programming.
A MAS approach to fusion of heterogeneous information

Distributed perception networks (DPN) are a MAS approach to large scale fusion of heterogeneous and noisy information. DPN agents can establish meaningful information filtering channels between the relevant information sources and the decision makers. Through specification of high level concepts, DPN agent organizations generate distributed Bayesian networks, which provide mappings between the observed symptoms and the hypotheses relevant to the decision making. In addition, DPNs support robust distributed inference as well as decentralized probabilistic resource allocation.