Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adaptive gain control and time warp for enhanced speech intelligibility under reverberation

Moderate and severe reverberation reduce speech intelligibility as a result of the overlap-masking effect, which constitutes the simultaneous observation of multiple delayed and attenuated copies of the speech signal. Recent progress has been made in ameliorating the degradation in intelligibility by adaptively controlling the signal gain as a function of both the signal statistics and the properties of the environment. While the intelligibility gain is at present small, it is significant and serves as a clear indication that reduced masking in non-stationary portions of the signal, under appropriate smoothness constraints, correlates well with an increase in intelligibility. A multi-modal modification framework is expected to improve performance further by i) introducing additional means to reduce masking in designated portions of the speech signal and ii) reducing signal distortion introduced by the use of a single modification modality. In particular we consider the combination of adaptive gain control and local time-warp dependent on the gain modification. A listening test shows that the proposed approach outperforms linear time warp. Objective validation results provide additional insight into the specifics of the proposed multi-modal modification approach.
Customer value in self-service kiosks: a systematic literature review

The purpose of this paper is to provide a cohesive overview of the available self-service and customer value literature, identify customer value in self-service kiosks (SSKs), and analyze this value from the customer experience perspective. ,The study comprises a systematic literature review of available works on customer value. ,The paper presents conclusions on the SSK’s technological forms, presence in industries, and conceptual state. The review also provides a cohesive inventory of customer value elements in SSKs. The in-depth analysis proposes two alternative models of the customer value creation process: linear and circular. ,The study reveals gaps stemming from the inconsistency and fragmented nature of previous research on customer value in SSKs. The gaps are treated as opportunities for future studies. ,By identifying new sources of competitive advantage and new ways to improve customer service strategies and experience management, the findings support managerial decision making at the stages of considering, implementing, and improving SSK networks. ,This study is the first to systematically review and provide an inventory of customer value elements in SSKs. It, therefore, offers new perspectives on customer value creation using self-service technology.
Intersectionality and an Intra-household Analysis of the Freedom to make Decisions on the Use of Household Products: Evidence from Rural Tanzania

This study uses intra-household and intersectionality theories to analyze the relative benefit that household member’s gain from the use of goods produced by households living along the Simiyu River in Tanzania’s Meatu District. The ability to benefit from the use of goods produced by a household is defined as the freedom that a person has concerning decision-making about the goods that are produced within the household. Data were collected from different household members, including household heads, spouses and children who were 18 years and older and who were involved in the production of goods. The study findings highlight that the ability to benefit from the use of goods produced by a household differs between men and women, the old and young, and between members who have a different relationship to the household head, which suggests that differences in social identities associated with age, gender and marital status are important. Furthermore, some people are positioned at the intersection of different social identities, associated with age, gender and marital status, and thus they experience multiple effects. For example, due to their gender, marital status and age, older unmarried women are less likely to benefit from the use of goods produced by a household. The study concludes that the impact of social identities is not homogeneous across all household members.
AIMC 2017 Asia International Multidisciplinary Conference EXPLAINING VENTURE CAPITAL AND TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION IN EU COUNTRIES THROUGH DYNAMIC MODELING

Technology commercialization is envisioned as an important indicator of economic growth through academic environment. The assurance of financial capital to accelerate the technology commercialization is a big challenge for European countries and above that, European Venture Capital (VC) market has not been fully exploited according to its potential. Using a dynamic model approach on 21 European Union countries data from 2007 to 2013, we found an empirical stance for an interaction between research and development (R&D) expenditure and VC for accelerating technology commercialization in the form of contemporary patents and startups. The results depict that venture capitalists are more oriented towards startups as compared to patenting activity. The application of dynamic model approach helped to generalize the results across Europe and for other developed countries. Particularly, the study argues that a contemporary knowledge and simulation of VC in framing the innovation system and promising the business formation is much desired. In line with the perspective of innovation led ecosystem, an active contribution and understanding of VC would also be acknowledged. © 2018 Published by Future Academy www.FutureAcademy. org.UK
Cooperation Strategies for Partly Wireless C-RAN

This letter presents a variant of cloud radio access network (C-RAN) architecture, which we term partly wireless C-RAN (PW-CRAN). It is characterized by extra radio nodes connected through the existing remote radio heads. Because of the newly connected nodes and the consequent additional delay, the operation of PW-CRAN requires different approaches compared with that of the typical C-RAN. Specifically, the effect of delayed channel state information on the suitability of network cooperation should be identified. To tackle this problem, we introduce two representative cooperation strategies and evaluate the performance with regard to the delay via simulations. Numerical results suggest that it is better to exclude the extra nodes from cooperation if they incur excess delay. Furthermore, whether the delay is deemed excessive depends on the interference environment. Hence, we provide quantified guidelines on the cooperation strategy of PW-CRAN.
Best Practices for Construction and Repair of Bridge Approaches and Departures

Current Situation Bridge approaches and departures are those areas where the end of a concrete bridge surface meets an asphalt pavement. Because of differences in the material properties and foundation types that support these two driving surfaces, the asphalt near the bridge is more susceptible to various kinds of distress, such as fatigue cracking and/or rutting, that can make the road rougher and less safe, requiring repeated maintenance and repair.
Trends in prescribing and utilization of statins and other lipid lowering drugs across Europe 1997-2003.

AIMS To describe trends in utilization and prescribing of statins and other lipid lowering drugs across Europe from data in routine administrative databases. METHODS Observational study in EU member states and Norway. Comparison of annual utilization data for lipid lowering agents by class and drug from national administrative databases for reimbursement over the period 1997-2003, measured in DDDs per 1000 inhabitants/day. Prescribed daily doses (PDD) of statins obtained from a commercial database (IMS Health) for 2000 and 2003, and used to calculate numbers of "patient treatment days" (PTD) in each country in each year. Analysis of PTD to explain increased utilization of statins. RESULTS Use of lipid lowering agents varied among countries (in 2003, highest in Ireland and Norway, and lowest in Italy), but increased in all countries studied (between 2000 and 2003 by 274% in Ireland and by 56% in France). This increase was entirely due to increases in statin use. Prescribed daily doses of statins increased in all countries for which data was available between 2000 and 2003, but still usually fell below the doses used in the major trials of statins. As a result, the numbers of PTDs increased to a lesser extent than suggested by utilization (e.g. by 192% in Ireland and by 35% in France). One-third of the total rise in utilization was explained by increased PDD, and two-thirds by an increase in numbers of PTDs. Statins dominated the markets in all countries, although fibrates remained strong in France and Belgium (approximately 25% of all lipid lowering agents) and to a lesser extent Germany (10%). CONCLUSIONS Use of statins across Europe has increased hugely over the study period. Some of the increase in use is due to higher prescribed daily doses, but two-thirds is due to increases in numbers of patient days of treatment, either due to more patients treated or less likely to better compliance.
Experimental study of SOS-based generator for low impedance load

This paper presents results of the experimental examination of a generator outfitted with a semiconductor opening switch operating with a low impedance (4-5 ohm) load. The pulse amplitude reaches 50 kV at the half-height length of the semisquare pulse equal to 100 ns. The generator was examined at the pulse repetition rate of 5 Hz. The average output power at the load is up to 250 W. The output assembly of the generator comprises a pumping capacitor, a magnetic switch, a semiconductor opening switch, and a semisquare pulse generation circuit. The output assembly receives energy via a spark gap from an intermediate storage. The intermediate storage is charged by a pulsed thyristor charging unit having a step-up pulse transformer. The paper describes the test installation including the circuitry, the operating principle and characteristics of the constituent elements. It also furnishes results of the experiments on the transfer of energy in the generator elements, operation of the spark gap and the semiconductor opening switch, generation of the output pulse, and the energy loss.
Y-Chromosome microsatellites variation in bali cattle (Bos sondaicus) population (variasi mikrosatelit kromosom y pada populasi sapi bali)

Seven Y chromosome specific microsatellites were typed in a sample of 36 unrelated males from Bali cattle breed. Analysis variation of microsatellites marker in Bali cattle were determinate from PCR products by using 7 primer pairs that flanking microsatellites (INRA008, INRA057, INRA062, INRA124, INRA126, DYS 199, and INRA 189). PCR products were separated by 10% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), and silver staining method was used to detect allele polymorphism at each locus. From two different geographical breed origin showed that Bali cattle from Bali island has higher heterozygous (h=0.33) level than Lombok island (h=0.30), but the number of allele was few (only two alleles) in all of locus. It is indicated that Bali cattle from two geographical origins were not significant in genetic variation. We know that Y chromosomal microsatellite in general has tend to specific allele in breed comparing to autosomal chromosome, because allele come from only male or Y sex chromosome and it contrary to autosomal chromosome where allele is contributed from male and female. FAO has specified that minimum four distinct alleles per locus for proficient judgment of genetic differences between breeds and this study we only used one breed, so it may not significantly to discriminate in Bali cattle population. For next study we need more Y chromosomal microsatellite marker to discriminate more Indonesian breeds related to tracing the genetic potential and because males animal has roles in genetic spreading which can have an enormous impact on highly selected domestic animal populations. (Animal Production 11(3): 149-154 (2009) Key Words : Bali cattle , Y chromosome, microsatellite, allele
PENGARUH KUALITAS PELAYANAN, KEPERCAYAAN DAN FASILITAS KAMPUS TERHADAP KEPUASAN DAN DAMPAKNYA KEPADA LOYALITAS MAHASISWA POLITEKNIK INDONESIA VENEZUELA

ABSTRACT This study aimed to analyze the influence of the service quality, student’s trust and campus facilities to the satisfaction of students and its impact on student loyalty at polytechnic Indonesia Venezuela. The samples were 230 respondents active status as a student in Indonesia Polytechnic campus Venezuela. Collecting data using questionnaires and then the data were analyzed with AMOS software using statistical tools Structural Equition Modelling (SEM). The study found that the services quality, student’s trust and campus facilities effect on student satisfaction. The direct effect of these three variables on the satisfaction of students rated significantly. Service quality, and campus facilities affect the loyalty of students, while the students trust has no influence on student loyalty at Polytechnic Indonesia Venezuela. Student satisfaction effect on student loyalty. The direct effect of student satisfaction to student loyalty rated significantly. It can be concluded that student satisfaction can act as an intervening variable between the loyalty of students on the one side with the services quality, student trust and campus facilities on the other side. Keywords : Service Quality, Trust, Facilities, Student Satisfaction, Student Loyalty
UvA-DARE ( Digital Academic Repository ) Other-regarding Preferences , Group Identity and Political Participation : an experiment

We experimentally study the relationship between other-regarding preferences, group identity and political participation. In doing so, we propose a novel group identity induction procedure that succeeds in creating environments where in-group bias is either high or low. At the individual level, we find that both altruistic subjects and group identifiers participate above average. The most competitive subjects participate much less often than other types, while the most altruistic subjects manage to sustain high participation levels. At the aggregate level, we observe only few statistically significant differences between environments where group identity is high and low. This suggests that the higher participation observed in field settings for close-knit (political) groups might be due to underlying mobilization processes rather than a heightened sense of group-belonging.
Prediction of Loan Defaulters in Micro Finance Using Social Network Data

Faced with growing competition in the micro financing market and higher operational risk, it is ever more important for an MFI to be able to leverage less conventional customer data to improve the efficiency of their lending models. Most MFIs are active in developing countries where fonancial history is generally non existent on their user base which increases the difficulty in assessing the credit worthiness of individuals. Instead, an alternative source of data such as mobile phone call and SMS logs can be utilised to assist with this problem. In this study, call and SMS logs from the borrowers of a MFI operating in the Kenyan marketplace are featurised and used to train various classification models. The results show how such data is a valuable commodity in predicting the default class, particularly when relationship tie-strength features are introduced. The inuence of an existing borrower's loan outcome on a new loan applicant within their social network is also modelled using the spreading activation method as an alternative approach to traditional classification, but results indicate that they are not effective.
Genome Sequence of Torovirus Identified from a Pig with Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus from the United States

ABSTRACT Porcine torovirus (PToV) strain PToV-NPL/2013 was identified from a pig that tested positive for porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV). The spike protein-encoding gene from PToV-NPL/2013 had 92% identity with PToV-SH1, suggesting that PToV circulating in the United States is slightly different from the isolates circulating in China. To our knowledge, this is the first report of PToV in the United States.
The Social Ecological Model as a Framework for Determinants of 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Uptake in the US

Research on influenza vaccine uptake has focused largely on intrapersonal determinants (perceived risk, past vaccine acceptance, perceived vaccine safety) and on physician recommendation. We utilized a social ecological framework to examine influenza vaccine uptake during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. Surveying an adult population (n=2079) in January 2010 with significant oversamples of African Americans and Hispanics, we found that 18.4% (95% CI 15.6– 21.5) had gotten the 2009 H1N1 vaccine. Variables at each level of the social ecological model were significant predictors of uptake as well as of intent to get the vaccine. The intrapersonal level explained 53%, the interpersonal explained 47%, the institutional level explained 34%, and the policy and community levels each explained 8% of the variance associated with vaccine uptake. The levels together explained 65% of the variance, suggesting that interventions targeting multiple levels of the framework would be more effective than interventions aimed at a single level.
The Complex EGI: A New Representation for 3-D Pose Determination

The complex extended Gaussian image (CEGI), a 3D object representation that can be used to determine the pose of an object, is described. In this representation, the weight associated with each outward surface normal is a complex weight. The normal distance of the surface from the predefined origin is encoded as the phase of the weight, whereas the magnitude of the weight is the visible area of the surface. This approach decouples the orientation and translation determination into two distinct least-squares problems. The justification for using such a scheme is twofold: it not only allows the pose of the object to be extracted, but it also distinguishes a convex object from a nonconvex object having the same EGI representation. The CEGI scheme has the advantage of not requiring explicit spatial object-model surface correspondence in determining object orientation and translation. Experiments involving synthetic data of two polyhedral and two smooth objects are presented to illustrate the feasibility of this method. >
Outbreak of Q fever, Florac, Southern France, Spring 2007.

INTRODUCTION In May 2007, five patients with Q fever-like symptoms were reported in an agricultural educational center in the rural southern French town of Florac. An investigation was undertaken to identify the outbreak source and risk factors for infection, and to implement control measures. MATERIALS AND METHODS We undertook active case finding. Patients were defined as individuals with an unexplained fever of ≥38.5°C who lived in, worked in, or visited Florac between April 1 and June 30, 2007. Patients were confirmed by a positive Q fever serology test. A cross-sectional survey with a seroprevalence component was carried out in the educational center and surrounding area. A standardized questionnaire on known risk factors for the infection was used and serological testing was carried out on finger prick blood specimens from participants. The veterinary services investigated local herds within a 5-mile radius using polymerase chain reaction and serological tests. RESULTS One hundred twenty-two people were included in the cross-sectional survey. Eighteen serologically confirmed acute cases were identified, of whom 12 were from the educational center. The statistical analysis showed an independent association between acute infection and living or working near an area where manure had been spread (p = 0.0.042) and male gender (p = 0.022). Frequenting the educational center's canteen was also associated with infection (p = 0.008) among staff and students. The veterinary investigations identified 11 of the 26 tested flocks of goats and sheep as seropositive for Coxiella burnetii, including 2 ovine flocks located northwest of Florac that had high shedding levels of the bacterium. DISCUSSION The observed excess of cases of Q fever in Florac, an area endemic for this infection, in spring 2007 could be explained by an aerial transmission from infectious ovine flocks situated close to the town. All local herd owners were re-educated about the risks and prevention practices for Q fever.
Rapid photolytic release of adenosine 5'-triphosphate from a protected analogue: utilization by the Na:K pump of human red blood cell ghosts.

2-Nitrobenzyl phosphate and 1-(2-nitro)phenylethyl phosphate have been synthesized and demonstrated to be suitable as photolabile sources of inorganic phosphate. The same protecting groups were attached to the terminal phosphate of adenosine 5'-triphosphate. These caged ATP compounds released adenosine 5'-triphosphate on illumination at 340 nm in aqueous solution and P/sup 3/-1-(2-nitro)phenylethyl-ATP gave about a 70 percent yield in under 30 s. The unphotolyzed caged ATP was neither a substrate nor inhibitor of purified renal Na,K-ATPase (EC 3.61.3). Following photolysis in the presence of the enzyme, the liberated ATP was hydrolyzed but at an inhibited rate. The photo-dependent inhibition could be eliminated by prior addition of glutathione or bisulfite to the irradiated solution. Caged ATP was incorporated into resealed human erythrocyte ghosts prepared from red blood cells depleted of internal energy stores. While the NA : K pump was unable to use incorporated caged ATP as a substrate, the ATP liberated by photolysis activated the pump as evidenced by measurements of K-dependent, ouabain-sensitive Na efflux. Thus the caged ATP can be used as a stable source of ATP unmetabolizable by intracellular ATPases until the ATP is released following photolytic irradiation.