Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Automatic Prediction of Speech Evaluation Metrics for Dysarthric Speech

During the last decades, automatic speech processing systems witnessed an important progress and achieved remarkable reliability. As a result, such technologies have been exploited in new areas and applications including medical practice. In disordered speech evaluation context, perceptual evaluation is still the most common method used in clinical practice for the diagnosing and the following of the condition progression of patients despite its well documented limits (such as subjectivity). In this paper, we propose an automatic approach for the prediction of dysarthric speech evaluation metrics (intelligibility, severity, articulation impairment) based on the representation of the speech acoustics in the total variability subspace based on the i-vectors paradigm. The proposed approach, evaluated on 129 French dysarthric speakers from the DesPhoAPady and VML databases, is proven to be efficient for the modeling of patient's production and capable of detecting the evolution of speech quality. Also, low RMSE and high correlation measures are obtained between automatically predicted metrics and perceptual evaluations.
Fault ride-through performance evaluation of an interleaved grid-connected converter employing low switching frequency

This paper presents the performance evaluation under grid voltage sags of a two parallel-interleaved grid-connected converters employing low switching frequency. A current controller based on the synchronous reference frame including voltage feed-forward is used. The dominant frequency components from the direct- and quadrature-axis voltage Vd and Vq are eliminated by using an adaptive moving average filter. The dynamic performance of the converter during voltage sags is improved using an adaptive approach which minimizes the filter delay during the faults. The presented results conclude the performance of the converter system.
Draft Genome Sequences of Two Gammaproteobacterial Methanotrophs Isolated from Rice Ecosystems

ABSTRACT The genomes of the aerobic methanotrophs “Methyloterricola oryzae” strain 73aT and Methylomagnum ishizawai strain 175 were sequenced. Both strains were isolated from rice plants. Methyloterricola oryzae strain 73aT represents the first isolate of rice paddy cluster I, and strain 175 is the second representative of the recently described genus Methylomagnum.
Real-time Multiple Refraction by Using Image-Space Technology

In photorealistic rendering, refraction is a vital optical phenomenon for transparent objects. This study proposes a real-time image-space method for approximate multiple refraction. First, a depth-peeling technique is used to disassemble a 3D polygonal model into four layers of normal and depth textures. Next, a modified ray-height-field intersection algorithm is employed to resolve discontinuities between the layers and compute the intersection, refraction, and total internal reflection. Finally, an environment map with a refraction vector is used to compute the final shading. The image space and shader technique enables generating a maximum of four bounces to increase the refraction detail and handle more complex scenes compared with those examined in previous methods. We performed several experiments with various scenes and the results showed the feasibility and quality of the proposed multi-refraction method. In addition, the rendering efficiency was demonstrated by comparing the proposed method with GPU-based ray tracing.
Short Interest, Insider Trading, and Stock Returns

We examine the effects of short selling and the combined effects of two forms of informed trading - short selling and insider trading on stock price movements in the Hong Kong stock market. Short selling in Hong Kong is characterized by a high frequency of transactions. We provide empirical evidence that short-selling transactions carry information that signals a future decrease in the share price. We also find that insider purchasing helps to mitigate the negative impact of short-selling transactions. Our regression results show that the magnitude of abnormal losses is related to the value of the short-selling transaction, the presence of insider purchasing, and whether the security being sold is also an optioned stock.
Enhancing Strategic IT Alignment through Common Language: Using the Terminology of the Resource-based View or the Capability-based View?

Despite all the studies on alignment in the past 30 years, alignment is still CIOs’ top concern, denoting the lack of prescriptive studies on antecedents of alignment. Particularly, shared language between CIO and top management team is one of the most important yet neglected antecedent of alignment. While previous studies suggest CIOs avoid technical language and use business terminologies, they do not provide further details. The purpose of this study is to prescribe guidance for CIOs regarding the terminologies that should be used in a conversation with the top management team. Leveraging the literature on strategic management, we suggest CIOs apply the nomenclature of theories of Resource-based View or Capability-base View instead of technical jargons. Moreover, using the Semantic Memory Theory, we hypothesized that applying the nomenclature of Capability-based View results in higher top managers’ understanding of the role of IT. An experiment is suggested to evaluate the hypotheses.
Changes in excitability of motor cortical circuitry in patients with parkinson's disease

Using the technique of transcranial magnetic stimulation over the motor areas of cortex and recording electromyographic (EMG) responses from the first dorsal interosseous muscle, we measured the excitability of corticocortical inhibitory circuits at rest using a double pulse paradigm, in 11 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) studied both on (ON) and off (OFF) (after overnight withdrawal) their normal medication and in 10 age‐matched control subjects. There was a significant decrease in the amount of corticocortical inhibition at short (1–5 msec) interstimulus intervals in patients relative to their controls, which improved after L‐dopa intake. For comparison with previous reports using transcranial magnetic stimulation we also measured the duration of the EMG silent period when stimuli were given to voluntarily active muscle, and the threshold for evoking an EMG response in both the active and relaxed states. There was no change in the threshold for evoking EMG responses whether muscles were active or relaxed. However, the silent period was significantly prolonged when ON compared with OFF, although in neither state was the duration significantly different from that seen in normals. We suggest that there may be abnormalities of motor cortical inhibitory mechanisms in patients with Parkinson's disease that are not readily detected using threshold or silent period measurements alone.
Market Pressure, Control Rights, and Innovation

There has been significant controversy over the desirability of anti-takeover protection devices, such as poison pills and golden parachutes. These devices are usually viewed negatively because they are associated with entrenchment and insider rent extraction. This position, however, is subject to debate. Insider protection, for instance, has the advantage of transferring control to better-informed insiders. In fact, in this paper we show that insider protection can arise endogenously as an optimal contracting device. Our main result is that the optimality of insider protection depends crucially on the degree of innovation of the firm's activities, with insider protection being desirable only under significant innovation. For highly innovative projects, in particular, a takeover bid can be optimally rejected even when it offers a significant premium over the market price of the firm.
The logic of New Zealand business : strategy, structure and performance

Why have a minority of New Zealand companies consistently performed better than others? This study brings together original data on company strategy, structure, ownership and performance to reveal the underlying logic which is central to answering the question. It examines what major New Zealand companies have been doing in terms of business strategy and structure; why they have acted in the way they have, in the light of ownership changes and past financial performance; and the impact of these decisions on their subsequent performance, as measured in profitability and growth. The authors reveal combinations of strategy and structure that have led to sustained superior performance in a range of industries.
An Information Privacy Examination of the Practices of Pharmaceutical Companies Regarding Use of Information Collected Through Their Websites

The research problem that this proposed research study will address is the proliferation of online privacy violations by companies (Anton, Earp, & Young, 2010; Li, Sarathy, & Xu, 2011; Nam, Song, Lee, & Park, 2006; Nhan, Kinkade, & Burns, 2009; Peltier, Milne, & Phelps, 2009). Westin (1967) noted that information privacy is defined as “the right of individuals, groups, or institutions, to determine for themselves when, how, and to what extent information about them is communicated to others” (p. 7). Jafar and Abdullat (2009) noted that “the personal information privacy of an individual is violated when electronic personal information that was entrusted to third parties is electronically shared or crossed referenced with other parties without the consent of the individual” (p. 126). Specifically, consumers continue to be concerned with unsolicited email, identity theft, and negligent information loss through the selling and unauthorized use of their information when using the Internet (Anton et al., 2010; Lanier & Saini, 2008; Pollach, 2007). RESEARCH PROBLEM
An Apriori-like algorithm for Extracting Fuzzy Association Rules between Keyphrases in Text Documents

In this paper we present an algorithm for extracting fuzzy association rules between weighted keyphrases in collections of text documents. First, we discuss some classical approaches to association rule extraction and then we show the fuzzy association rules algorithm. The proposed method integrates the fuzzy set concept and the apriori algorithm. The algorithm emphasizes the distinction between three important parameters: the support of a rule, its strength, and its confidence. It searches for rules containing different number of phrases and having confidence level and strength level above certain thresholds. The algorithm makes the distinction between a small number of occurrences with high support intersections and large number of occurrences with low support intersections. Finally we present results of initial experiments on real-world data that illustrate the usefulness of the proposed approach.
Relational Experiences of Family Caregivers Providing Home-Based End-of-Life Care

The multiple relationships involved in home-based end-of-life care have received little systematic analysis. As part of a focused ethnographic study examining client–caregiver–provider relational care experiences within the sociocultural context of home-based end-of-life care, this article describes the provision of end-of-life care to older adults with advanced cancer from the perspective of family caregivers. Data were collected through in-depth interviews (n = 16) with 4 family caregivers and participant observations in each of the 4 households over a 6- to 8-month period. Family caregiving in home-based end-of-life care was portrayed in this study as 3 dialectical relational care experiences: (1) prioritizing care recipient needs–ignoring own needs, (2) feeling connected–feeling isolated, and (3) juggling to manage–struggling to survive. Study findings suggest that the sociocultural context of end-of-life care is not conducive to quality care and provide several insights for future directions in nursing practice, policy, and research.
GPCR Screening via ERK 1/2: A Novel Platform for Screening G Protein–Coupled Receptors

Discovery of novel agonists and antagonists for G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) relies heavily on cell-based assays because determination of functional consequences of receptor engagement is often desirable. Currently, there are several key parameters measured to achieve this, including mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ and formation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate or inositol triphosphate. However, no single assay platform is suitable for all situations, and all of the assays have limitations. The authors have developed a new high-throughput homogeneous assay platform for GPCR discovery as an alternative to current assays, which employs detection of phosphorylation of the key signaling molecule p42/44 MAP kinase (ERK 1/2). The authors show that ERK 1/2 is consistently activated in cells stimulated by Gq-coupled GPCRs and provides a new high-throughput platform for screening GPCR drug candidates. The activation of ERK 1/2 in Gq-coupled GPCR systems generates comparable pharmacological data for receptor agonist and antagonist data obtained by other GPCR activation measurement techniques.
Chemical/Structural Modification of Canola Oil and Canola Biodiesel: Kinetic Studies and Biodegradability of the Alkoxides

Canola oil and canola biodiesel derived alkoxides are prepared in the present investigation through a series of structural modifications. Epoxidation of canola oil and canola biodiesel were carried out by hydrogen peroxide using IR-120 as an acidic catalyst. The alkoxylation of epoxidized feedstocks was promoted using 2-propanol and tert-Butyl alcohol in the presence of montmorillonite catalyst and optimum reaction conditions were obtained for complete epoxide conversion to alkoxylated products as follows: reaction temperature of 90 °C, epoxide to alcohol molar ratio of 1:6, and reaction time between 6 and 8 h. The products were identified with one- and two-dimensional Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) techniques, and the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of the alkoxylation reactions were also investigated. The thermo-oxidative stability, rheology, biodegradability and lubricity properties of the prepared alkoxides were determined using American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and American Oil Chemists Society (AOCS) standard methods. Structural modification of the feedstocks enhanced the significant properties for lubrication and exhibited their potential application as gear and engine oils.
Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Proteinuria in Overweight and Obese Children and Adolescents

Objectives: To assess whether sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in overweight children and adolescents has an additional effect on the spectrum of urinary albumin to protein loss, as markers of early kidney dysfunction. Methods: Prospective study in a clinical sample of overweight children and adolescents. Each subject underwent anthropometry, blood sampling, oral glucose tolerance test and polysomnography. From a 24-hour urine collection, albumin excretion rate and total urinary protein to creatinine ratio (UPCR) were calculated. Results: 94 nondiabetic subjects were included (mean age = 11.0 ± 2.5, 42 boys). Average BMI z-score was 2.25 ± 0.47 (26 overweight subjects and 68 obese subjects). There was no difference in albumin excretion rate or UPCR between subjects with and without SDB. None of the SDB parameters correlated with the transformed albumin excretion rate or UPCR. Albumin excretion rate significantly correlated with fasting insulin and C-peptide and with post-challenge glucose, insulin and C-peptide levels, while UPCR correlated with fasting and post-challenge C-peptide levels. Multiple regression indicated that post-challenge glucose levels were the most important predictors of albumin excretion rate. Conclusion: Insulin resistance, and not SDB, was associated with increased levels of albuminuria, indicating early renal dysfunction, in this clinical sample of overweight children and adolescents.
Performance Evaluation of Page Migration Scheme for NVRAM-Based Wireless Sensor Nodes

A wireless sensor network consists of low-powered and multifunctional sensor nodes. Since each sensor node is operated by a battery, the energy management has become one of the critical design challenges in wireless sensor networks. Some recent studies have shown that DRAM-based main memory spends a significant portion of the total system power. In this paper, we studied a buffer management scheme for hybrid main memory that combines low-power nonvolatile RAM (NVRAM) and DRAM in order to reduce the energy consumption in a sensor node. Though NVRAMs consume less power than volatile memories, they have common problems in write performance. The proposed scheme employs the page migration technique in order to reduce the write operations on NVRAM part of hybrid main memory. We have performed simulation studies and showed that the proposed page migration scheme outperforms the legacy buffer management schemes in terms of the number of write operations on NVRAM.
graphTPP: A multivariate based method for interactive graph layout and analysis

Graph layout is the process of creating a visual representation of a graph through a node-link diagram. Node-attribute graphs have additional data stored on the nodes which describe certain properties of the nodes called attributes. Typical force-directed representations often produce hairball-like structures that neither aid in understanding the graph's topology nor the relationship to its attributes. The aim of this research was to investigate the use of node-attributes for graph layout in order to improve the analysis process and to give further insight into the graph over purely topological layouts. In this article we present graphTPP, a graph based extension to targeted projection pursuit (TPP) --- an interactive, linear, dimension reduction technique --- as a method for graph layout and subsequent further analysis. TPP allows users to control the projection and is optimised for clustering. Three case studies were conducted in the areas of influence graphs, network security, and citation networks. In each case graphTPP was shown to outperform standard force-directed techniques and even other dimension reduction methods in terms of clarity of clustered structure in the layout, the association between the structure and the attributes and the insights elicited in each domain area.
Fund Performance Evaluation in Greece Revisited: Evidence from the Impact of Operational Attributes

The present study, employing a survivorship-bias free dataset, assesses the performance of Greek domestic equity funds during the period June 2001-December 2009 controlling for the thin trading risk that is inherent in the Greek stock market. Augmenting Carhart’s multi benchmark model (1997) with a stock–level liquidity factor we document the absence of skills among domestic equity fund managers. However, at a fund level, we detect evidence of a statistically and economically significant outperformance that might be related to a conjectured incentive effect. In a second stage analysis, we examine the relationship between fund performance and a series of cost and operational attributes employing the robust quantile regression method. Cross sectional results demonstrate a significant inverse relationship between fund performance and expenses. Moreover, our findings show that the larger the fund the lower the performance.
Evolution of specialization in a spatially continuous environment

We study the evolution of specialization in a spatially continuous (one‐dimensional) environment divided into two habitats; we use a general trade‐off function relating fitnesses in the two habitats and illustrate our results with two classical trade‐off functions. We show that the population can either reach an intermediate value of the trait and be moderately adapted to both habitats (1 generalist), or split into two locally adapted subpopulations (2 specialists). We recover the qualitative results obtained with simpler metapopulation models with island migration: the evolutionary outcome depends on the concavity of the trade‐off, on the proportion of each habitat and on migration. Our quantitative prediction on migration, however, depends on isolation by distance. Our spatially explicit model may thus be particularly useful to describe the evolutionary dynamics of specialization in, perhaps, more realistic ecological scenarios.
Agreeing on What? Creating Joint Accounts of Strategic Change

This paper addresses a fundamental conundrum at the heart of meaning making: How is agreement to change achieved amid multiple, coexisting meanings? This challenge is particularly salient when proposing a new strategic initiative as it introduces new meanings that must coexist with multiple prevailing meanings. Yet, prior literature on meaning-making processes places different emphases on the extent to which agreement to a new initiative requires shared meaning across diverse organizational members. We propose the concept of a joint account as the means through which an agreement to change may be achieved that accommodates multiple, coexisting meanings that satisfy diverse constituents’ vested interests. Based on the findings from an ethnographic study of a university’s strategic planning process, we develop a framework that demonstrates two different patterns in the microprocesses of meaning making. These patterns extend our understanding about the way vested interests enable or constrain the construction of a joint account. In doing so, we contribute to knowledge about resistance, ambiguity, and lack of agreement to a proposed change.
Link-enabled cited references

Cited references form an integral part of scholarly articles. They are included in the digital versions of course, but they do not necessarily provide any extra functionality. The most essential digital feature is to make the cited references hot‐linked. This article looks at the implementation of cited references in full‐text databases offered directly by the publishers (or their digital facilitators) and some of the largest commercial aggregators.
Hypertension and Cerebral Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Small Vessel Disease

Background and Purpose— Hypertension is a risk factor for cerebral small vessel disease, which includes white matter lesions (WML) and lacunar infarcts. These lesions are frequently observed on MRI scans of elderly people and play a role in cognitive decline. Preferably, one would like to evaluate the effect of hypertension before fluid-attenuated inversion recovery visible macrostructural lesions occur, possibly by investigating its effect on the microstructural integrity of the white matter. Diffusion tensor imaging provides measures of structural integrity. Methods— In 503 patients with small vessel disease, aged between 50 and 85 years, we cross-sectionally studied the relation between blood pressure, hypertension, and hypertension treatment status and diffusion tensor imaging parameters in both normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) and WMLs. All of the subjects underwent 1.5-T MRI and diffusion tensor imaging scanning. Fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity were calculated in both NAWM and WMLs. Results— Increased blood pressure and hypertension were significantly related to lower fractional anisotropy in both NAWM and WMLs and to higher mean diffusivity in WMLs. For hypertensives, odds ratios for the risk of impaired microstructural integrity (fractional anisotropy) were 3.1 (95% CI: 1.8 to 5.7) and 2.1 (95% CI: 1.2 to 3.5) in NAWM and WMLs, respectively, compared with normotensives. Fractional anisotropy odds ratios for treated uncontrolled subjects were 6.5 (95% CI: 3.3 to 12.7) and 2.7 (95% CI: 1.5 to 5.1) in NAWM and WMLs, respectively, compared with normotensives. Conclusions— Our data show that diffusion tensor imaging may be an appropriate tool to monitor the effect of blood pressure and the response to treatment on white matter integrity, probably even before the development of WMLs on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery.