Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extraction of pinna spectral notches in the median plane of a virtual spherical microphone array

In this paper, a fast method for the extraction of pinna spectral notches (PSN) in the median plane of a virtual spherical microphone array is discussed. In general, PSN can be extracted from the Head Related Impulse Response (HRIR) measured by a spherical array of microphones. However, the PSN extracted herein are computationally complex and also not accurate at lower elevation angles. This work proposes a novel approach to reconstruct the HRIR using microphones over the median plane of a virtual spherical array. The virtual spherical array itself is simulated using the Fourier Bessel series (FBS). Subsequently, these HRIRs are used to extract the PSN. This method is computationally efficient since it is done over the median plane rather than over the complete sphere. On the other hand, it is also accurate due to the utilization of the Fourier Bessel series in the extraction of the PSN. Experimental results obtained on the CIPIC database indicate a high degree of resemblance to the actual pinna walls, even at the lower elevation angles. The results are motivating enough for the method to be considered for resolving elevation ambiguity in 3D audio.
Research on effect on target searching of image guided missile's terminal maneuver

Probability of penetration of image guided missile can increase greatly if the missile does terminal maneuver, but the terminal maneuver may have effects on target searching of missile. To study the effect the centroid model of missile doing typical terminal weaving maneuver was built and the model of target movement and parallel search law were built too. Based on the models the effect of terminal weaving maneuver on search area, movement speed of image on monitor screen and the probability of target entering the IFOV of seeker were analyzed through simulation. Simulation results show the effect on target searching of terminal weaving maneuver is little when image guided missile attacks the target with low velocity, which provides important reference for overall design of missile.
DISPERSAL OF INVERTEBRATES AMONG TEMPORARY PONDS: ARE GENETIC ESTIMATES ACCURATE?

Dispersal is difficult to quantify in most temporary pond invertebrates. As a consequence, researchers often infer the movement of individuals from indirect estimates of gene flow. Here, we review the assumptions associated with the most common gene flow estimate, which approximates migration using a simple island model and assumes equilibrium. Particular attention is focused on empirical studies of temporary pond invertebrates, where nonequilibrium conditions may be particularly important. When populations have not reached a long-term equilibrium between the migration of genes and random drift, estimates of movement can be biased dramatically. Eight comparative and theoretical tests for ascertaining these biases are described here. In some cases, specific hypotheses regarding contemporary and historical processes can also be tested statistically using computer simulations. Although the accuracy of gene flow estimates in temporary pond species varies widely, empirical and theoretical methods for assessing.
Multimodal Music Mood Classification Using Audio and Lyrics

In this paper we present a study on music mood classification using audio and lyrics information. The mood of a song is expressed by means of musical features but a relevant part also seems to be conveyed by the lyrics. We evaluate each factor independently and explore the possibility to combine both, using natural language processing and music information retrieval techniques. We show that standard distance-based methods and latent semantic analysis are able to classify the lyrics significantly better than random, but the performance is still quite inferior to that of audio-based techniques. We then introduce a method based on differences between language models that gives performances closer to audio-based classifiers. Moreover, integrating this in a multimodal system (audio+text) allows an improvement in the overall performance. We demonstrate that lyrics and audio information are complementary, and can be combined to improve a classification system.
Probing Buried Defects in Extreme Ultraviolet Multilayer Blanks Using Ultrasound Holography

Imaging high-resolution subsurface defects nondestructively in Mo-Si multilayer (ML) blanks used in extreme ultraviolet lithography is a challenge and no known metrology tools are available to identify such defects in a nondestructive way. The understanding of their growth mechanism during ML deposition necessitates the monitoring of these defects, which can then lead to fabricating defect-free ML blanks. Here, we report for the first time, a unique and novel application of scanning near-field ultrasound holography (SNFUH) in nondestructive imaging of high-resolution e-beam patterned lines and bumps buried under Mo/Si ML film stacks used for ultraviolet lithography. Our results indicate the successful identification of buried defects under ML blanks using SNFUH.
Blog Hotness Evaluation Model Based on Text Opinion Analysis

Aiming at the deficiencies of traditional blog hotness evaluation methods, the paper presents a blog hotness evaluation model based on text opinion analysis (named BHEM-TOA). The model not only considers the number of reviews, comments and publication time of the blog topic, but also focuses on the comment opinion. BHEM-TOA emphasizes subjective opinions of reviewers about the blog topic. It utilizes the text opinion analysis method based on Chinese characters to extract opinioned comments, gets supportive and oppositive circumstances about the blog topic, then combines with the number of reviews, comments and publication time to realize blog hotness evaluation. To validate the performance of BHEM-TOA, the experiment constructs two data corpuses called TOAC and BHEC, and the experimental results demonstrate that BHEM-TOA could more precisely and comprehensively evaluate the hotness of the blog than traditional methods.
Hyperlink network analysis: A new method for the study of social structure on the web

This paper identifies hyperlink network analysis (HNA) as a newly emerging methodology. It suggests that social (or communication) structures on the web may be analyzed based on the hyperlinks among websites. Hyperlink network analysis has advantages in describing emerging structures among social actors on the web. In order to examine what constitutes hyperlink network analysis, this paper reviews prior research on the topic. Further, it describes the data-gathering techniques for those interested in hyperlink network analysis.
Estimation of Mortality among HIV-infected people on antiretroviral therapy treatment in east Africa: a sampling based approach in an observational, multisite, cohort study.

BACKGROUND Mortality after initiation of antiretroviral treatment (ART) among HIV-infected patients in resource limited settings is a critical measure of the effectiveness and comparative effectiveness of the global public health response. Unknown outcomes due to high loss to follow-up (LTFU) preclude accurate accounting of deaths and limit our understanding of effectiveness. METHODS We evaluated in HIV-infected adults on ART in 14 clinics in five settings in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania using a sampling-based approach in which we intensively traced a random sample of lost patients (> 90 days late for last scheduled visit) and incorporated their vital status outcomes into analyses of the entire clinic population through probability-weighted survival analyses. FINDINGS We followed 34,277 adults on ART from Mbarara and Kampala, Uganda; Eldoret and Kisumu, Kenya; and Morogoro, Tanzania. The median age was 35 years, 34% were men, and median pre-therapy CD4 count was 154 cells/μl. Overall 5,780 (17%) were LTFU, 991 (17%) were randomly selected for tracing and vital status was ascertained in 860 of 991 (87%). Incorporating outcomes among the lost increased estimated 3-year mortality from 3.9% (95% CI: 3.6%-4.2%) to 12.5% (95% CI: 11.8%-13.3%). The sample-corrected, unadjusted 3-year mortality across settings ranged from 7.2% in Mbarara to 23.6% in Morogoro. After adjustment for age, sex, pre-therapy CD4 value, and WHO stage, the sample-corrected hazard ratio comparing the setting with highest vs. lowest mortality was 2.2 (95% CI: 1.5-3.4) and the risk difference for death at 3 years was 11% (95% CI: 5.0%-17.7%). INTERPRETATION A sampling based approach is widely feasible and important for understanding mortality after starting ART. After adjustment for measured biological drivers, mortality differs substantially across settings despite delivery of a similar clinical package of treatment. Implementation research to understand the systems, community, and patient behaviors driving these differences is urgently needed.
Perceived Global Trends Cognition and Management Competencies of Master in Business Administration Students

Today’s successful manager must stay abreast with important global trends and should possess the needed managerial competence in information technology, cross-functional abilities, leadership, emotional intelligence, finance, quantitative techniques, communication, interpersonal relationship, and cross-cultural transactions. This correlation study investigated if the students of Master in Business Administration in various graduate schools in Davao City have been upholding these competencies. A self-assessment questionnaire was used to measure perceived global trends cognition and management competencies of the students. This study that included students who were holding supervisory positions in their respective companies evaluated their self-perceived global trends cognition as only adequate or satisfactory and so with their self-perceived managerial competence. The data indicated a strong association between variables (r=0.79). Squaring the correlation coefficient denoted that 62 percent of the variation in managerial competence was explained by global trends cognition. The satisfactory level of the participants for both variables pointed out that they had not yet attained the highest level in their cognition of global trends and competence in the management of their respective organizations.
Joint super-resolution and compression artifact reduction based on dual-learning

We propose a novel integrated framework to combine the self-learning super-resolution (SR) with dual-learning noise-reduction (NR) for compressed images. Contrary to existing learning based denoising approach, dual-learning based joint SR and NR is proposed by adding a denoised training set. It makes the proposed framework more suitable for highly compressed noise by referring to closer patch in a training set. Also, it is robust for SR artifacts since the joint framework is designed in such a way that one could learn a process to simultaneously perform NR and SR. Experimental results show that the proposed joint SR and NR framework can achieve higher objective and subjective qualities, compared with individual processing of NR and SR.
Identification of TNIP1 Polymorphisms by High Resolution Melting Analysis with Unlabelled Probe: Association with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Background. TNFα-induced protein 3 (TNFAIP3) interacting with protein 1 (TNIP1) acts as a negative regulator of NF-κB and plays an important role in maintaining the homeostasis of immune system. A recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) showed that the polymorphism of TNIP1 was associated with the disease risk of SLE in Caucasian. In this study, we investigated whether the association of TNIP1 with SLE was replicated in Chinese population. Methods. The association of TNIP1 SNP rs7708392 (G/C) was determined by high resolution melting (HRM) analysis with unlabeled probe in 285 SLE patients and 336 healthy controls. Results. A new SNP rs79937737 located on 5 bp upstream of rs7708392 was discovered during the HRM analysis. No association of rs7708392 or rs79937737 with the disease risk of SLE was found. Furthermore, rs7708392 and rs79937737 were in weak linkage disequilibrium (LD). Hypotypes analysis of the two SNPs also showed no association with SLE in Chinese population. Conclusions. High resolution melting analysis with unlabeled probes proves to be a powerful and efficient genotyping method for identifying and screening SNPs. No association of rs7708392 or rs79937737 with the disease risk of SLE was observed in Chinese population.
X marks the task: Helping developers navigate to the right task

Open Source Software (OSS) has become a major model for software development today. In OSS, software is developed by individuals that contribute their time and experience to the project of their preference using shared repositories. The success of each project (or repository) depends on factors such as increasing their workforce, and allowing its contributors to find an appropriate task.
The extreme C‐terminus is required for secretion of both the native polygalacturonase (PehA) and PehA‐Bla hybrid proteins in Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora

A set of gene fusions was constructed between the pehA gene encoding the secreted endopolygalacturonase (PehA) and the bla gene coding for a normally periplasmic β‐lactamase (Bla). The resulting hybrid proteins were specifically and actively routed out of the cells via the Out‐terminal branch of the general secretory pathway (GSP) in Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora (Ecc), provided that no more than the last two amino acids (aa) of the PehA domain were excluded from the fusion. However, both PehA‐Bla hybrid proteins and PehA variants lacking at least four aa from the C‐terminus of the PehA accumulated in the periplasm. Also, overexpression of the gene fusions prevented extracellular targeting of the hybrid proteins. Site‐directed mutagenesis of the codons −4 and −3 (encoding Asn‐373 and Val‐374, respectively) from the end of the pehA gene and analysis of the protein products suggested that the Val‐374 was important both for the structure and secretion of PehA, while the Asn‐373 proved to be insignificant. We conclude that: (i) the GSP of Ecc is capable of secreting heterologous proteins; (ii) as the PehA protein can accommodate C‐terminal extensions, secretion can occur with no part of the proposed targeting signal lying within the C‐terminal extremity of a secreted molecule; and (iii) residues within the C‐terminus of PehA play a role in secretion, possibly through stabilization of a structure needed for proper exposition of the proposed targeting motif.
Binary Symbol Recovery Via  $\ell_{\infty}$ Minimization in Faster-Than-Nyquist Signaling Systems

The issue of binary symbol detection in faster-than-Nyquist signaling systems (also known as overcomplete frame-modulated digital transmission systems) is addressed in this paper. Through convex relaxation, the original combinatorial optimization problem is transformed to an l∞ minimization problem. Following this idea, we further propose lp approximation algorithms to efficiently tackle such a convex optimization problem. For noiseless case, the recoverability of l∞ minimization is analyzed. It is shown that the binary symbol vector b can be completely recovered via l∞ minimization if and only if there is a vector in the row space of the transmission matrix located in the same quadrant as - b. Otherwise, complete reconstruction via l∞ minimization is hopeless. At the same time, we give an upper bound to the reconstruction probability. For noisy case, the reconstruction probability is analyzed via the probability distribution function of indefinite quadratic form in Gaussian vectors. Numerical results are provided to study the detection performance of l∞ minimization. It is shown that, compared with semidefinite programming algorithm and linear minimum mean-squared error (LMMSE) method, the proposed l∞ minimization detection achieves a better performance-complexity trade-off.
Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy of Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor in Animal Models of Focal Cerebral Ischemia

Background and Purpose— Recent reports have described the efficacy of the hematopoietic growth factor granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in animal stroke models. Early clinical multicenter trials evaluating the effect of G-CSF in acute stroke and pilot clinical trials for the subacute phase are ongoing. To guide further development, a meta-analysis was performed to assess the effects of G-CSF on infarct size and sensorimotor deficits. Methods— Using electronic and manual searches of the literature, we identified studies describing the efficacy of G-CSF in animal models of focal cerebral ischemia. Two reviewers independently selected studies and extracted data on study quality, G-CSF doses, time of administration, and outcome measured as infarct volume and/or sensorimotor deficit. Data from all studies were pooled by meta-regression analyses. Results— Thirteen studies including 277 animals for infarct size calculation and 258 animals for assessment of sensorimotor deficit met the criteria for inclusion. Overall efficacy of G-CSF regarding infarct size reduction was 42%. Meta-regression analysis revealed a 0.8% (P<0.0001) decrease in infarct size per 1-&mgr;g/kg increase in G-CSF dose when applied within the first 6 hours and a 2.1% (P<0.0001) decrease when applied later than 6 hours after induction of ischemia with a significant (P=0.0004) greater infarct size reduction after delayed treatment. Sensorimotor deficits categorized into 3 subgroups improved between 24% and 40%. Conclusions— Our findings consolidate G-CSF as a drug that both reduces infarct size and enhances functional recovery. These effects are presumably dose dependent. In contrast to most other neuroprotectants, a beneficial outcome may also be achieved when treatment is delayed.
Range-to-go weighted optimal guidance with impact angle constraint and seeker's look angle limits

In this paper, an impact angle control guidance law, which considers simultaneously the impact angle and seeker's look angle constraints, is proposed for a constant speed missile against a stationary target. An optimal control theory with state variable inequality constraint is used to design the guidance law, for which a control energy performance index with the weighting function of the range-to-go is minimized. Various forms of guidance and trajectory shaping are possible by selecting a proper gain of the weighting function. To handle the seeker's look angle limits when the missile trajectory is highly curved by controlling the impact angle, the proposed guidance law generates three types of acceleration commands as the guidance phases: the first acceleration command for an initial guidance phase makes an initial seeker's look angle reach the maximum look angle; the second one for a midguidance phase maintains the maximum look angle; the final one for a terminal guidance phase intercepts the target with the desired impact angle. The performance of the proposed guidance law was investigated with nonlinear simulations for various engagement conditions.
Treatment of renal tumors with radiofrequency ablation.

BACKGROUND Radiofrequency (RF) energy has been investigated as a minimally invasive modality for ablating small renal tumors. Recent advances in the application of this technology have improved its safety and effectiveness. MATERIALS AND METHODS We describe the technology of RF application and review the current delivery systems as applied to renal tumor ablation. We also review relevant animal studies, which have revealed the natural history of ablated renal tissue. Finally, we examine recent human trials with an emphasis on longer-term follow-up, imaging, complications, and successful ablation according to tumor location within the kidney; i.e., central v peripheral. RESULTS Radiofrequency ablation can be performed safely in a minimally invasive fashion either percutaneously or laparoscopically. Energy delivery varies, and available systems include dry, wet, cooled-tip, and bipolar electrodes. Heat rise and subsequent charring in the tissue adjacent to the electrode is limited by temperature or impedance-based feedback systems. In animal studies, ablation results in complete cell kill, as judged by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide diaphorase staining. Clinical trials with intermediate follow-up show excellent success rates. Tumors >3 cm and central tumors have a higher recurrence rate after RFA than smaller, more peripheral tumors. CONCLUSIONS The current literature suggests that RFA is a promising minimally invasive method of treating small renal tumors. Nevertheless, long-term follow-up is still required, and questions remain regarding the optimal delivery system, duration of ablation, and method of surveillance.
Lessons from the World Trade Center disaster: airway disease presenting as restrictive dysfunction.

BACKGROUND The present study (1) characterizes a physiologic phenotype of restrictive dysfunction due to airway injury and (2) compares this phenotype to the phenotype of interstitial lung disease (ILD). METHODS This is a retrospective study of 54 persistently symptomatic subjects following World Trade Center (WTC) dust exposure. Inclusion criteria were reduced vital capacity (VC), FEV1/VC>77%, and normal chest roentgenogram. Measurements included spirometry, plethysmography, diffusing capacity of lung for carbon monoxide (Dlco), impulse oscillometry (IOS), inspiratory/expiratory CT scan, and lung compliance (n=16). RESULTS VC was reduced (46% to 83% predicted) because of the reduction of expiratory reserve volume (43%±26% predicted) with preservation of inspiratory capacity (IC) (85%±16% predicted). Total lung capacity (TLC) was reduced, confirming restriction (73%±8% predicted); however, elevated residual volume to TLC ratio (0.35±0.08) suggested air trapping (AT). Dlco was reduced (78%±15% predicted) with elevated Dlco/alveolar volume (5.3±0.8 [mL/mm Hg/min]/L). IOS demonstrated abnormalities in resistance and/or reactance in 50 of 54 subjects. CT scan demonstrated bronchial wall thickening and/or AT in 40 of 54 subjects; parenchymal disease was not evident in any subject. Specific compliance at functional residual capacity (FRC) (0.07±0.02 [L/cm H2O]/L) and recoil pressure (Pel) at TLC (27±7 cm H2O) were normal. In contrast to patients with ILD, lung expansion was not limited, since IC, Pel, and inspiratory muscle pressure were normal. Reduced TLC was attributable to reduced FRC, compatible with airway closure in the tidal range. CONCLUSIONS This study describes a distinct physiologic phenotype of restriction due to airway dysfunction. This pattern was observed following WTC dust exposure, has been reported in other clinical settings (eg, asthma), and should be incorporated into the definition of restrictive dysfunction.
Cellulose Synthase-Like Genes of Rice1

Identification of the biosynthetic enzymes involved in cell wall biosynthesis remains one of the major unsolved problems of plant biology. Of the major polysaccharides of the plant cell wall, pectins and hemicelluloses are synthesized in the Golgi, and callose and cellulose are synthesized at the