Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Voice conversion using linear prediction coefficients and artificial neural network

This paper describes the implementation of voice conversion system using linear prediction coefficients (LPC) and artificial neural networks (ANN). In this work, microphone recorded parallel speech utterances are used for voice conversion. Linear prediction coefficients are extracted from the speech utterance of the source and target speakers using linear prediction analysis. Auto associative neural networks (AANN) are configured and used for the transformation of LP coefficients from the source speaker to target speaker. LP residual obtained from target speaker and transformed LP coefficients are used to reconstruct the transformed speech. Mean opinion score and student t-test tests are conducted to evaluate the performance of voice conversion system. Evaluation of voice conversion system is performed in all 4 cases; such as male-to-male, male-to-female, female-to male and female-to-female. The test results show that the quality of transformed speech is good and AANN's have properly transformed LP coefficients of the source to that target speaker.
The synaptic ribbon is critical for sound encoding at high rates and with temporal precision

We studied the role of the synaptic ribbon for sound encoding at the synapses between inner hair cells (IHCs) and spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) in mice lacking RIBEYE (RBEKO/KO). Electron and immunofluorescence microscopy revealed a lack of synaptic ribbons and an assembly of several small active zones (AZs) at each synaptic contact. Spontaneous and sound-evoked firing rates of SGNs and their compound action potential were reduced, indicating impaired transmission at ribbonless IHC-SGN synapses. The temporal precision of sound encoding was impaired and the recovery of SGN-firing from adaptation indicated slowed synaptic vesicle (SV) replenishment. Activation of Ca2+-channels was shifted to more depolarized potentials and exocytosis was reduced for weak depolarizations. Presynaptic Ca2+-signals showed a broader spread, compatible with the altered Ca2+-channel clustering observed by super-resolution immunofluorescence microscopy. We postulate that RIBEYE disruption is partially compensated by multi-AZ organization. The remaining synaptic deficit indicates ribbon function in SV-replenishment and Ca2+-channel regulation.
Why We Need Postmortem Analysis of Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices

The prevalence of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs), pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) is increasing. However, postmortem analysis of CIEDs is not performed routinely. Fourteen consecutive CIEDs were analyzed. The indication for and date of implantation, technical data, CIED reprogramming, heart rhythm disturbances, patient demographics and medical consultations were investigated. Death during the first year after implantation was seen in 54%, whereof 71% consulted a physician within 10 days before death. The time of death was attributed to a particular day in 29%. There was a relationship between CIEDs and cause/manner of death in 50%. Although limited by a small sample size, this study advocates the routine postmortem CIED analysis for forensic and clinical purposes in selected cases. Patients with CIEDs seem to show an increased risk of death during the first year after implantation. The analysis of CIEDs can be helpful in evaluating the time/cause/manner of death.
Generalized Hypertree Decomposition for solving non binary CSP with compressed table constraints

Many real-world problems can be modelled as Constraint Satisfaction Problems (CSPs). Although CSP is NP-complete, it has been proved that non binary CSP instances may be efficiently solved if they are representable as Generalized Hypertree Decomposition (GHD) with small width. Algorithms for solving CSPs based on a GHD consider an extensional representation of constraints together with join and semi-join operations giving rise to new large constraint tables (or relations) needed to be temporarily saved. Extensional representation of constraints is quite natural and adapted to the specification of real problems but unfortunately limits significantly the practical performance of these algorithms. The present work tackles this problem using a compact representation of constraint tables. Consequently, to make algorithms compatible with this compact representation, new “compressed join” and “compressed semi-join” operations have to be defined. This last step constitutes our main contribution which, as far as we know, has never been presented. The correctness of this approach is proved and validated on multiple benchmarks. Experimental results show that using compressed relations and compressed operations improves significantly the practical performance of the basic algorithm proposed by Gottlob et al . for solving non binary CSPs with a Generalized Hypertree Decomposition.
Effects of birth cohort and age on body composition in a sample of community-based elderly.

BACKGROUND The effect of the recent obesity epidemic on body composition remains unknown. Furthermore, age-related changes in body composition are still unclear. OBJECTIVE The objective was to simultaneously examine the effects of birth cohort and age on body composition. DESIGN A total of 1786 well-functioning, community-based whites and blacks (52% women and 35% blacks) aged 70-79 y from the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry annually from 1997 to 2003. RESULTS At baseline, mean +/- SD percentage body fat, fat mass, and lean mass (bone-free) were 28 +/- 5%, 24 +/- 7 kg, and 56 +/- 7 kg, respectively, for men and 39 +/- 6%, 28 +/- 9 kg, and 40 +/- 6 kg for women. Mixed models were used to assess the effects of cohort and age-related changes on body composition. Later cohorts in men had a greater percentage body fat (0.32% per birth year, P < 0.0001) than did earlier cohorts. This cohort effect was due to a greater increase in fat mass than in lean mass (0.45 kg and 0.17 kg/birth year, respectively). With increasing age, percentage body fat in men initially increased and then leveled off. This age-related change was due to an accelerated decrease in lean mass and an initial increase and a later decrease in fat mass. Similar but less extreme effects of cohort and age were observed in women. CONCLUSIONS The combination of effects of both birth cohort and age leads to bigger body size and less lean mass in the elderly.
Directed evolution can rapidly improve the activity of chimeric assembly-line enzymes

Nonribosomal peptides (NRPs) are produced by NRP synthetase (NRPS) enzymes that function as molecular assembly lines. The modular architecture of NRPSs suggests that a domain responsible for activating a building block could be replaced with a domain from a foreign NRPS to create a chimeric assembly line that produces a new variant of a natural NRP. However, such chimeric NRPS modules are often heavily impaired, impeding efforts to create novel NRP variants by swapping domains from different modules or organisms. Here we show that impaired chimeric NRPSs can be functionally restored by directed evolution. Using rounds of mutagenesis coupled with in vivo screens for NRP production, we rapidly isolated variants of two different chimeric NRPSs with ≈10-fold improvements in enzyme activity and product yield, including one that produces new derivatives of the potent NRP/polyketide antibiotic andrimid. Because functional restoration in these examples required only modest library sizes (103 to 104 clones) and three or fewer rounds of screening, our approach may be widely applicable even for NRPSs from genetically challenging hosts.
Paneth and intestinal stem cells preserve their functional integrity during worsening of acute cellular rejection in small bowel transplantation

Graft survival after small bowel transplantation remains impaired due to acute cellular rejection (ACR), the leading cause of graft loss. Although it was shown that the number of enteroendocrine progenitor cells in intestinal crypts was reduced during mild ACR, no results of Paneth and intestinal stem cells localized at the crypt bottom have been shown so far. Therefore, we wanted to elucidate integrity and functionality of the Paneth and stem cells during different degrees of ACR, and to assess whether these cells are the primary targets of the rejection process. We compared biopsies from ITx patients with no, mild, or moderate ACR by immunohistochemistry and quantitative PCR. Our results show that numbers of Paneth and stem cells remain constant in all study groups, whereas the transit‐amplifying zone is the most impaired zone during ACR. We detected an unchanged level of antimicrobial peptides in Paneth cells and similar numbers of Ki‐67+ IL‐22R+ stem cells revealing cell functionality in moderate ACR samples. We conclude that Paneth and stem cells are not primary target cells during ACR. IL‐22R+ Ki‐67+ stem cells might be an interesting target cell population for protection and regeneration of the epithelial monolayer during/after a severe ACR in ITx patients.
Nanowire‐based structures for infrared to ultraviolet emitters studied by cathodoluminescence

Nanowires are structures with features on the nanoscale, and it is therefore essential to study their properties on that scale. We present optical data from a variety of nanowire‐based structures using cathodoluminescence imaging and spectroscopy. One important feature of nanowires is the stacking sequence of the crystal, either zincblede, wurtzite or a mix of the two. We show that this has an impact on the optical properties. In radial quantum wells, the thickness can be controlled on a monolayer level, in the case of flat side facets of the nanowires. With rough side facets, the quantum well collapses into quantum dots, as revealed by cathodoluminescence imaging. In order to extend the emission wavelength of light‐emitting diodes into the ultraviolet or to cover the whole visible range, we use nanowire‐seeded truncated pyramids as bases for these devices, based on either GaInN (visible) and AlGaN (ultraviolet).
Body composition in children with celiac disease and the effects of a gluten-free diet: a prospective case-control study.

BACKGROUND Celiac disease is the most common cause of malnutrition in children of Western countries. OBJECTIVE The objective was to measure body composition in children at the time celiac disease was diagnosed and after consumption of a gluten-free diet (GFD). DESIGN We assessed body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in 29 children and adolescents with a mean (+/-SD) age of 9.5 +/- 3.4 y at the time celiac disease was diagnosed and in a subset of 20 patients after 1.2 +/- 0.2 y of a GFD. We also studied 23 patients aged 21.2 +/- 4.6 y who consumed a GFD for 10.6 +/- 4.5 y. Each patient was matched with a healthy control subject of the same age and sex. RESULTS Untreated patients weighed less than control subjects (P = 0.04). Fat mass and bone mineral content were lower in the patients than in the control subjects (P < 0.01), as was lean mass of the limbs (P = 0.0013). After approximately 1 y of the GFD, there were no significant differences in body-composition values between patients and control subjects. Similarly, body-composition values of celiac disease patients who consumed the GFD long term were comparable with those of healthy subjects. CONCLUSIONS Remarkable abnormalities in body composition were found in children at the time of diagnosis of celiac disease. Appropriate dietary treatment reverses body-composition abnormalities quickly and the beneficial effects of gluten withdrawal are persistent. Because these results are harder to achieve if celiac disease is first diagnosed in adulthood, efforts to encourage early diagnosis of celiac disease should be made.
Posttransplant oxygen inhalation improves the outcome of subcutaneous islet transplantation: A promising clinical alternative to the conventional intrahepatic site

Subcutaneous tissue is a promising site for islet transplantation, due to its large area and accessibility, which allows minimally invasive procedures for transplantation, graft monitoring, and removal of malignancies as needed. However, relative to the conventional intrahepatic transplantation site, the subcutaneous site requires a large number of islets to achieve engraftment success and diabetes reversal, due to hypoxia and low vascularity. We report that the efficiency of subcutaneous islet transplantation in a Lewis rat model is significantly improved by treating recipients with inhaled 50% oxygen, in conjunction with prevascularization of the graft bed by agarose–basic fibroblast growth factor. Administration of 50% oxygen increased oxygen tension in the subcutaneous site to 140 mm Hg, compared to 45 mm Hg under ambient air. In vitro, islets cultured under 140 mm Hg oxygen showed reduced central necrosis and increased insulin release, compared to those maintained in 45 mm Hg oxygen. Six hundred syngeneic islets subcutaneously transplanted into the prevascularized graft bed reversed diabetes when combined with postoperative 50% oxygen inhalation for 3 days, a number comparable to that required for intrahepatic transplantation; in the absence of oxygen treatment, diabetes was not reversed. Thus, we show oxygen inhalation to be a simple and promising approach to successfully establishing subcutaneous islet transplantation.
A HCl/alcohol formulation increased 5‐aminolevulinic acid skin distribution using an ex vivo full thickness porcine skin model

Abstract: Topical photodynamic therapy with 5‐aminolevulinic acid (5‐ALA) is a newly established treatment modality for epithelial skin cancer. Skin distribution of different 20% 5‐ALA formulations was investigated by detection of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) using an ex vivo porcine skin model. Fluorescence of PpIX was first detectable at 2 h after application of a 5‐ALA/HCl–alcohol solution, followed by a 5‐ALA gel ± 40% DMSO > 5‐ALA lipophilic ointment > 5‐ALA hydrophilic ointment at 4 h after application. Intensity of PpIX was 10‐fold higher after 5‐ALA/HCl–alcohol application in contrast to 5‐ALA hydrophilic ointment. Maxima of PpIX fluorescence were measured between 18 and 24 h after application. PpIX accumulation induced by 5‐ALA within the lower parts of the epidermis was increased in order of 5‐ALA hydrophilic ointment < 5‐ALA lipophilic ointment < 5‐ALA gel w/o DMSO < 5‐ALA gel with DMSO < 5‐ALA/HCl–alcohol. Illumination of skin incubated with different 5‐ALA formulations led to a marked increase of apoptotic cells in the epidermis depending on the penetration depth of the 5‐ALA formulations. A formulation containing short chain alcohols have been observed to increase the permeation and distribution of 5‐ALA. PpIX fluorescence was detected earlier yielding to photodynamic effective amounts of PpIX in the epidermis as compared with all other 5‐ALA formulations used. These data emphasizes the potential of investigating properties of new formulations using such a full thickness porcine skin model.
Under Consideration for Publication in Theory and Practice of Logic Programming Rewriting Recursive Aggregates in Answer Set Programming: Back to Monotonicity

Aggregation functions are widely used in answer set programming for representing and reasoning on knowledge involving sets of objects collectively. Current implementations simplify the structure of programs in order to optimize the overall performance. In particular, aggregates are rewritten into simpler forms known as monotone aggregates. Since the evaluation of normal programs with monotone aggregates is in general on a lower complexity level than the evaluation of normal programs with arbitrary aggregates, any faithful translation function must introduce disjunction in rule heads in some cases. However, no function of this kind is known. The paper closes this gap by introducing a polynomial, faithful, and modular translation for rewriting common aggregation functions into the simpler form accepted by current solvers. A prototype system allows for experimenting with arbitrary recursive aggregates, which are also supported in the recent version 4.5 of the grounder GRINGO, using the methods presented in this paper.
Prediction model of critical weight loss in cancer patients during particle therapy

Background and purpose The objective of this study is to investigate the predictors of critical weight loss in cancer patients receiving particle therapy, and build a prediction model based on its predictive factors. Materials and methods Patients receiving particle therapy were enroled between June 2015 and June 2016. Body weight was measured at the start and end of particle therapy. Association between critical weight loss (defined as >5%) during particle therapy and patients' demographic, clinical characteristic, pre-therapeutic nutrition risk screening (NRS 2002) and BMI were evaluated by logistic regression and decision tree analysis. Results Finally, 375 cancer patients receiving particle therapy were included. Mean weight loss was 0.55 kg, and 11.5% of patients experienced critical weight loss during particle therapy. The main predictors of critical weight loss during particle therapy were head and neck tumour location, total radiation dose ≥70 Gy on the primary tumour, and without post-surgery, as indicated by both logistic regression and decision tree analysis. Prediction model that includes tumour locations, total radiation dose and post-surgery had a good predictive ability, with the area under receiver operating characteristic curve 0.79 (95% CI: 0.71-0.88) and 0.78 (95% CI: 0.69-0.86) for decision tree and logistic regression model, respectively. Conclusions Cancer patients with head and neck tumour location, total radiation dose ≥70 Gy and without post-surgery were at higher risk of critical weight loss during particle therapy, and early intensive nutrition counselling or intervention should be target at this population.
Human serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol response to extended oral dosing with cholecalciferol.

BACKGROUND The cholecalciferol inputs required to achieve or maintain any given serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol concentration are not known, particularly within ranges comparable to the probable physiologic supply of the vitamin. OBJECTIVES The objectives were to establish the quantitative relation between steady state cholecalciferol input and the resulting serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol concentration and to estimate the proportion of the daily requirement during winter that is met by cholecalciferol reserves in body tissue stores. DESIGN Cholecalciferol was administered daily in controlled oral doses labeled at 0, 25, 125, and 250 micro g cholecalciferol for approximately 20 wk during the winter to 67 men living in Omaha (41.2 degrees N latitude). The time course of serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol concentration was measured at intervals over the course of treatment. RESULTS From a mean baseline value of 70.3 nmol/L, equilibrium concentrations of serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol changed during the winter months in direct proportion to the dose, with a slope of approximately 0.70 nmol/L for each additional 1 micro g cholecalciferol input. The calculated oral input required to sustain the serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol concentration present before the study (ie, in the autumn) was 12.5 micro g (500 IU)/d, whereas the total amount from all sources (supplement, food, tissue stores) needed to sustain the starting 25-hydroxycholecalciferol concentration was estimated at approximately 96 micro g (approximately 3800 IU)/d. By difference, the tissue stores provided approximately 78-82 micro g/d. CONCLUSIONS Healthy men seem to use 3000-5000 IU cholecalciferol/d, apparently meeting > 80% of their winter cholecalciferol need with cutaneously synthesized accumulations from solar sources during the preceding summer months. Current recommended vitamin D inputs are inadequate to maintain serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol concentration in the absence of substantial cutaneous production of vitamin D.
The Structure of Supported Ionic Liquids at the Interface

Ionic liquids (ILs) may acceptably be defined as fluid semi-organic salts composed entirely of bulky asymmetric organic cations and organic or inorganic anions at or near room tem‐ perature. There is considerable consensus that a qualified IL must melt below 100 °C. Ionic liquids are salt, existing in the liquid phase at and around 298 K. A typical IL with a bulky organic cation (e.g., N-alkylpyridinium, N-N-dialkylimidazolium, alkylimidazolium, alkyl‐ phosphonium, and alkylammonium) is weakly coordinated to an organic or inorganic anion, such as BF4, Cl−, I−, AlCl4, PF6, NO3, CH3COO, CF3SO3, [(CF3SO2)2N], etc. to consti‐ tute a series of low melting ILs, as shown in Figure 1.
Charge storage in Co nanoclusters embedded in SiO2 by scanning force microscopy

Scanning force microscopy was used to study localized charge deposition and subsequent transport in Co nanoclusters embedded in SiO2 deposited on an n-type Si substrate. Co nanoclusters were charged by applying a bias voltage pulse between tip and sample, and electrostatic force microscopy was used to image charged areas, to determine quantitatively the amount of stored charge, and to characterize the discharging process. Charge was deposited controllably and reproducibly within areas ∼20–50 nm in radius, and an exponential decay in the peak charge density was observed. Longer decay times were measured for positive than for negative charge; this is interpreted as a consequence of the Coulomb-blockade energy associated with single-electron charging of the Co nanoclusters.
Characterization of Curing Stress Effects on Fracture Behavior of FRP Laminated Composites with Embedded Delaminations

A detailed study on the effect of curing stresses on interlaminar delamination crack growth behavior in fiber-reinforced polymeric (FRP) composites is presented. At a given applied load or displacement, the strain energy release rate distribution along the delamination front with and without considering the effects of curing stresses are compared. In this analysis, results are presented for elliptical delaminations embedded between plies of different orientations in the laminate. A full three-dimensional coupled-field finite element analysis has been conducted to study the delamination crack growth behavior due to curing stress effects. A superposition procedure along with the modified crack closure integral technique based on the concepts of linear elastic fracture mechanics is employed to evaluate the individual modes of strain energy release rates during delamination propagation. It has been observed that the residual thermal stresses developed during the curing stages in manufacturing of FRP laminated composites significantly affect the onset and growth of delamination. The asymmetric behavior of interlaminar fracture energy along the delamination front is found to depend upon the stacking sequence, neighboring ply orientation, thermoelastic anisotropy, and material heterogeneity at the interface of laminated composites.