Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improving the performance of far-field speaker verification using multi-condition training: the case of GMM-UBM and i-vector systems

While considerable work has been done to characterize the detrimental effects of channel variability on automatic speaker veriﬁcation (ASV) performance, little attention has been paid to the effects of room reverberation. This paper investigates the effects of room acoustics on the performance of two far-ﬁeld ASV systems: GMM-UBM (Gaussian mixture model - universal background model) and i-vector. We show that ASV performance is severely affected by reverberation, particularly for i-vector based systems. Three multi-condition training methods are then investigated to mitigate such detrimental effects. The ﬁrst uses matched train/test speaker models based on esti-mated reverberation time (RT) values. The second utilizes two-condition training where clean and reverberant models are used. Lastly, a four-condition training setup is proposed where models for clean, mild, moderate, and severe reverberation levels are used. Experimental results show the ﬁrst and third multi-condition training methods providing signiﬁcant gains in performance relative to the baseline, with the latter being more suitable for practical resource-constrained far-ﬁeld applications. and i-vector – as well as three multi-condition training paradigms to combat the effects of room reverberation on ASV performance.
Exoskeletal spine and shoulder girdle for full body exoskeletons with human versatility

Currently, wearers of full body exoskeletons are hindered in their ability to use their upper body as desired due to the rigid back parts used in these devices. In order to maximize their versatility the design and preliminary testing is shown of an exoskeletal spine mechanism, called “exo-spine”, that allows the wearer to move all degrees of freedom of his spine and shoulder girdle. Based on the primary forces to be supported during lifting, identified as gravity forces from loads lifted in front of the wearer, as well as functional degrees of freedom, which is a control strategy used by our central nervous system, this mechanism can be actuated using only one motor to provide the required support. Experiments indicate a substantial, although not problematic amount of friction as well as further requirements for the control of the assisting force. Besides improving exoskeletons its basic structure and design principles may be successfully applied to rehabilitation as well.
Towards automatic and independent internet services configuration

Contemporary network management frameworks have limited high-level functionalities. This makes administrator's manual intervention a common necessity, which is a highly complex activity for heterogeneous networks. State of the art research projects deal with methodologies to create high-level intelligent management systems that attenuates administrator's dependence. But making real implementations is a difficult task. It lack's middle-level abstractions, that facilitates the access to the network services and devices low-level management interfaces. Here we propose an Automated and Distributed Network Service Configuration subsystem that using mid-level independent representations, abstracts the Internet services (and devices) implementation details and promotes the development of real independent high-level representations that can be applied to any management context. To prove such configuration management independence an automated and independent Domain Name Service configuration replication prototype tool was built. Experiments showed that aside the implementation independent configuration management it increases significantly the network resilience to service failures or performance degradation by providing real operational gains when compared against current, manual-based, configuration management tools.
Energy efficient partitioning of dynamic reconfigurable MRAM-FPGAs

Emerging non-volatile Magnetic Random Access Memory (MRAM) is a promising alternative for replacement of SRAM-based configuration bits of conventional FPGAs. However, the costs of reconfiguration in MRAM-FPGAs are typically higher than SRAM-FPGAs due to the high write latency and energy of MRAM. In this paper, a novel energy-efficient partitioning technique is proposed to minimize the number of reconfigurations and content updates for dynamic reconfigurable MRAM-FPGAs. The simulation results show that the proposed technique significantly reduces the reconfiguration energy (up to 68.1% on average) as compared to the existing partitioning techniques.
Convex Optimization for Scene Understanding

In this paper we give a convex optimization approach for scene understanding. Since segmentation, object recognition and scene labeling strongly benefit from each other we propose to solve these tasks within a single convex optimization problem. In contrast to previous approaches we do not rely on pre-processing techniques such as object detectors or super pixels. The central idea is to integrate a hierarchical label prior and a set of convex constraints into the segmentation approach, which combine the three tasks by introducing high-level scene information. Instead of learning label co-occurrences from limited benchmark training data, the hierarchical prior comes naturally with the way humans see their surroundings.
Humanoid Balancing Behavior Featured by Underactuated Foot Motion

A novel control synthesis is proposed for humanoids to demonstrate unique foot-tilting behaviors that are comparable to humans in balance recovery. Our study of model-based behaviors explains the underlying mechanism and the significance of foot tilting well. Our main algorithms are composed of impedance control at the center of mass, virtual stoppers that prevent overtilting of the feet, and postural control for the torso. The proof of concept focuses on the sagittal scenario and the proposed control is effective to produce human-like balancing behaviors characterized by active foot tilting. The successful replication of this behavior on a real humanoid proves the feasibility of deliberately controlled underactuation. The experimental validation was rigorously performed, and the data from the submodules and the entire control were presented and analyzed.
Efficient fluorescence quenching in electrochemically exfoliated graphene decorated with gold nanoparticles

High surface area graphene sheets were obtained by electrochemical exfoliation of graphite in an acid medium under constant potential conditions. Filtration and centrifugation processes played an important role in order to obtain stable dispersions in water. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy imaging revealed highly exfoliated crystalline samples of ∼5 μm. Raman, Fourier transform infrared and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy further confirmed the high quality of the exfoliated material. The electrochemically exfoliated graphene (EEG) was decorated with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using sodium cholate as a buffer layer. This approach allowed for a non-covalent functionalization without altering the desirable electronic properties of the EEG. The AuNP-EEG samples were characterized with various techniques including absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy. These samples displayed a fluorescence signal using an excitation wavelength of 290 nm. The calculated quantum yield (Φ) for these samples was 40.04%, a high efficiency compared to previous studies using solution processable graphene.
Dynamic nonlinear behavior characterization for wideband RF transmitters using augmented Hammerstein models

This paper presents an augmented Hammerstein nonlinear model intended for characterization of the dynamic nonlinear behaviors of the wideband RF transmitter. With the substitution of the linear filter used in the conventional Hammerstein model by a weakly nonlinear filter, the augmented Hammerstein model shows a better capability to account for all of the sources of the memory effects. A transmitter prototype, which consists of a Vector Signal Generator (VSG: Agilent ESG E4438C) and an L- band 60-Watt GaAs FET push-pull amplifier, utilized in this paper for model validation. By comparing the accuracy of the augmented Hammerstein model with that of the traditional one under a two carrier WCDMA excitation condition, the validation results demonstrate the superiority of this new dynamic nonlinear model to the conventional one.
Identification of Amino Acid Residues within GABAAReceptor β Subunits that Mediate Both Homomeric and Heteromeric Receptor Expression

GABAA receptors are believed to be heteropentamers that can be constructed from six subunit classes: α(1–6), β(1–4), γ(1–3), δ, ε, and π. Given that individual neurons often express multiple receptor subunits, it is important to understand how these receptors assemble. To determine which domains of receptor subunits control assembly, we have exploited the differing capabilities of the β2 and β3 subunits to form functional cell surface homomeric receptors. Using a chimeric approach, we have identified four amino acids in the N-terminal domain of the β3 subunit that mediate functional cell surface expression of this subunit compared with β2, which is retained within the endoplasmic reticulum. Substitution of these four amino acids—glycine 171, lysine 173, glutamate 179, and arginine 180—into the β2 subunit was sufficient to enable the β2 subunit to homo-oligomerize. The effect of this putative “assembly signal” on the production of heteromeric receptors composed of αβ and βγ subunits was also analyzed. This signal was not critical for the formation of receptors composed of either α1β2 or α1β3 subunits, suggesting that mutation of these residues did not disrupt subunit folding. However, this signal was important in the formation of βγ2 receptors. These residues did not seem to affect the initial association of β2 and γ2 subunits but appeared to be important for the subsequent production of functional receptors. Our studies identify, for the first time, key residues within the N-terminal domains of receptor β subunits that mediate the selective assembly of GABAA receptors.
Automated Generation of HDL Implementations of Dadda and Wallace Tree Multipliers

Convolutional Neural Networks are being studied to provide features such as real time image recognition. One of the key operations to support HW implementations of this type of network is the multiplication. Despite the high number of operations required by Convolutional Neural Networks, they became feasible in the past years due the high availability of computing power, present on devices such as Graphic Processing Units. However, those implementations are unsuitable for energy constrained scenarios, such as embedded devices. FPGAs are programmable devices that are being considered as a low power alternative for GPUs. This work proposes and implement a generator of two fast combinatorial multipliers: Dadda and Wallace tree. Our generator is capable of generating structural descriptions of both designs for any operand width, an operation considered unfeasible by hand. We evaluated our generator using two low-cost FPGA platforms, easily found on the market.
Korean Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Dry Eye: Development and Validation of Clinical Efficacy

Purpose To evaluate the clinical efficacy of newly developed guidelines for the diagnosis and management of dry eye. Methods This retrospective, multi-center, non-randomized, observational study included a total of 1,612 patients with dry eye disease who initially visited the clinics from March 2010 to August 2010. Korean guidelines for the diagnosis and management of dry eye were newly developed from concise, expert-consensus recommendations. Severity levels at initial and final visits were determined using the guidelines in patients with 90 ± 7 days of follow-up visits (n = 526). Groups with different clinical outcomes were compared with respect to clinical parameters, treatment modalities, and guideline compliance. Main outcome measures were ocular and visual symptoms, ocular surface disease index, global assessment by patient and physician, tear film break-up time, Schirmer-1 test score, ocular surface staining score at initial and final visits, clinical outcome after three months of treatment, and guideline compliance. Results Severity level was reduced in 47.37% of patients treated as recommended by the guidelines. Younger age (odd ratio [OR], 0.984; p = 0.044), higher severity level at initial visit, compliance to treatment recommendation (OR, 1.832; p = 0.047), and use of topical cyclosporine (OR, 1.838; p = 0.011) were significantly associated with improved clinical outcomes. Conclusions Korean guidelines for the diagnosis and management of dry eye can be used as a valid and effective tool for the treatment of dry eye disease.
Ten-Year Review of a Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial of Textured versus Smooth Subglandular Silicone Gel Breast Implants

Although textured silicone breast implants have been shown to reduce the incidence of capsular contracture, there is little evidence if this effect is maintained in the long term. It has been 10 years since the double-blind randomized trial in which 53 patients received either Mentor smooth (26) or textured silicone gel implants (27). Of the 14 patients who were not known to have developed a contracture in the smooth group, 11 were reviewed. Three had bilateral contractures. In the textured group, 18 of the 24 patients not known to have contractures were reviewed. None had developed contractures. At 10 years, the incidence of capsular contracture was 65 percent of patients with smooth implants (an increase of 6 percent on the 3-year results) and 11 percent for the textured implant patients (no change on the 3-year results). A database containing the details of 1100 patients reinforces these results by examining the differences in contracture rates of textured, smooth, and polyurethane-coated implants. The effect of submuscular placement on reducing contracture rates regardless of texturing is discussed, as is the apparent increase in capsular contracture in patients who smoke.
Control Theoretic Analysis of eXplicit Control Protocol with Short-Lived Traffic

The eXplicit Control Protocol (XCP) is a promising congestion control protocol that outperforms TCP in terms of efficiency, fairness, persistent queue length, and packet loss rate. XCP quantitatively informs senders how to adjust their sending rate, and assumes that all senders will respond. However, short-lived flows are often on the order of a few segments, they may be unresponsive to XCP feedback, and have negative impact on the system control loop. In this paper, a control theoretic analysis of the XCP properties is conducted in the presence of short-lived traffic. First, the original XCP model is modified to account for these unresponsive flows. Then, with the M/G/¿¿ model of short-lived traffic, their impact on the XCP control loop is analyzed, and theoretical results show that short-lived bursty traffic have the effect of reducing the available bandwidth and increasing the variances of long-lived XCP flows. Finally, theoretical results are verified using packet level simulations.
Origin of the onset of meandering of a straight river

In this paper, to explore the origin of the onset of meandering of a straight river, we, first, analyse the linear stability of a straight river. We discover that the natural perturbation modes of a straight river maintain an equilibrium state by confining themselves to an onset wavenumber band that is dependent on the flow regimes, aspect ratio, relative roughness number and Shields number. Then, we put forward a phenomenological description of the onset of meandering of a straight river. Its mechanism is governed by turbulent flow, with counter-rotation of neighbouring large-scale or macro-turbulent eddies in succession to generate the processes of alternating erosion and deposition of sediment grains of the riverbed. This concept is explained by a theorem (universal scaling law) stemming from the phenomenology of a turbulent energy cascade to provide a quantitative insight into the criterion for the onset of meandering of a straight river. It is revealed from this universal scaling law that, at the onset of meandering of a river, the longitudinal riverbed slope is a unique function of the river width, flow discharge and sediment grain size. This unique functional relationship is corroborated by the data obtained from the measurements in natural and model rivers.
UvA-DARE (Digital Academic Repository) An effective coherence measure to determine topical consistency in user-generated content

When searching for blogs on a speciﬁc topic, information seekers prefer blogs that place a central focus on that topic over blogs whose mention of the topic is dif-fuse or incidental. In order to present users with better blog feed search results, we developed a measure of topical consistency that is able to capture whether or not a blog is topically focused. The measure, called the coherence score , is inspired by the genetics literature and captures the tightness of the clustering structure of a data set relative to a background collection. In a set of experiments on synthetic data, thecoherencescoreisshowntoprovideafaithfulreﬂectionof topic clustering structure. The properties that make the coherence score more appropriate than lexical cohesion, a common measure of topical structure, are discussed. Retrieval experiments show that integrating the coherence score as a prior in a language modeling-based approach to blog feed search improves retrieval effectiveness. The coherence score must, however, be used judiciously in order to avoid boost-ing the ranking of irrelevant but topically focused blogs. To this end, we experiment with a series of weighting schemes that adjust the contribution of the coherence score according to the relevance of a blog to the user query. An appropriate weighting scheme is able to improve retrieval performance. Finally, we show that the coherence score can be reliably estimated with a sample exceeding 20 posts in size. Consistent with this ﬁnding, experiments show that the best retrieval performance is achieved if coherence scores are used when a blog contains more than 20 posts.
TRANSCRIPTIONAL REGULATION OF THE PXR GENE: IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A FUNCTIONAL PEROXISOME PROLIFERATOR-ACTIVATED RECEPTOR α BINDING SITE WITHIN THE PROXIMAL PROMOTER OF PXR

The pregnane X receptor (PXR, NR1I2) is widely regarded as a central factor in the body's response to changes in the fluxome, the overall metabolite profile in the body. PXR expression is regulated by a number of chemicals at the transcriptional level; the majority of these chemicals are ligands for PXR and substrates for PXR target genes. However, transcriptional activators of PXR, such as clofibrate, do not seem to be PXR ligands or substrates for its target genes. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying both these expected and, more importantly, unexpected transcriptional activations is central to fully understanding the roles of PXR in the human body. We have carried out an in silico analysis of the human PXR proximal promoter, identifying putative protein/DNA interaction sites within the 2 kilobases (kb) 5′ to the putative transcription start site. These sites included several for liver-enriched transcription factors, such as the hepatic nuclear factors and CAAT-enhancer binding protein α, and chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor, commensurate with the high expression of PXR in liver. Furthermore, we identified putative binding sites for a number of ligand-activated transcription factors, suggesting that these factors may regulate PXR gene expression. Further analysis of this regulatory region has shown that transcriptional activation of PXR by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) is via a binding site located approximately 1.3 kb upstream of the putative transcription start site, with ablation of this site preventing PPARα-mediated activation of PXR gene expression. We present a model of how regulation of PXR gene expression by ligand-activated transcription factors may play a central role in the body's response to xenobiotic exposure.
A Practical UAV Remote Sensing Methodology to Generate Multispectral Orthophotos for Vineyards: Estimation of Spectral Reflectance Using Compact Digital Cameras

This paper explores the use of compact digital cameras to remotely estimate spectral reflectance based on unmanned aerial vehicle imagery. Two digital cameras, one unaltered and one altered, were used to collect four bands of spectral information blue, green, red, and near-infrared [NIR]. The altered camera had its internal hot mirror removed to allow the sensor to be additionally sensitive to NIR. Through on-ground experimentation with spectral targets and a spectroradiometer, the sensitivity and abilities of the cameras were observed. This information along with on-site collected spectral data were used to aid in converting aerial imagery digital numbers to estimates of scaled surface reflectance using the empirical line method. The resulting images were used to create spectrally-consistent orthophotomosaics of a vineyard study site. Individual bands were subsequently validated with in situ spectroradiometer data. Results show that red and NIR bands exhibited the best fit R2: 0.78 for red; 0.57 for NIR.
Development of a two-wheeled mobile tilting & balancing (MTB) robot

Two wheeled mobile balancing robot is a kind of under-actuation system that can maintain its posture and drive the robot with only two wheels. In order to overcome the limitation in turning velocity due to the centrifugal force effect, this paper proposes a tilting balancing mechanism which is to offset the centrifugal force by active tilting motions. The newly suggested two-wheeled mobile tilting and balancing robot (MTB) can prevent unnecessary slowdowns in turning motions and increase passenger's riding feelings. To validate the tilting effect, the equation of motion of the MTB robot is derived and analyzed and the hardware design is followed.