Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of autocorrelation lag ranges on robust speech recognition

It is generally believed that the lower-lag autocorrelation coefficients carry information about the spectral envelope and the higher-lag autocorrelation coefficients are more related to pitch information. In this paper, we use lower-lag and higher-lag ranges of the autocorrelation function separately for deriving speech recognition features, and investigate their role in terms of speech recognition performance. The state-of-the-art MFCC (mel frequency cepstral coefficient) features use the whole autocorrelation function in their computation and are used here as a benchmark in our experiments. Our recognition results from the Aurora II corpus show that the higher-lag autocorrelation coefficients perform as well as the whole autocorrelation function for clean speech, and provide better performance for noisy speech, while lower-lag autocorrelation coefficients are not as effective in this aspect.
Systematic literature review on ICF from 2001 to 2009: its use, implementation and operationalisation

Purpose. To present a systematic literature review on the state of the art of the utilisation of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) since its release in 2001. Method. The search was conducted through EMBASE, MEDLINE and PsychInfo covering the period between 2001 and December 2009. Papers were included if ICF was mentioned in title or abstract. Papers focussing on the ICF-CY and clinical research on children and youth only were excluded. Papers were assigned to six different groups covering the wide scenario of ICF application. Results. A total of 672 papers, coming from 34 countries and 211 different journals, were included in the analysis. The majority of publications (30.8%) were conceptual papers or papers reporting clinical and rehabilitation studies (25.9%). One-third of the papers were published in 2008 and 2009. Conclusions. The ICF contributed to the development of research on functioning and on disability in clinical, rehabilitation as well as in several other contexts, such as disability eligibility and employment. Diffusion of ICF research and use in a great variety of fields and scientific journals is a proof that a cultural change and a new conceptualisation of functioning and disability is happening.
Regulation of exocytosis by the exocyst subunit Sec6 and the SM protein Sec1

The Sec6 subunit of the multisubunit exocyst tethering complex interacts with the Sec1/Munc18 protein Sec1 and with the t-SNARE Sec9. Assembly of the exocyst upon vesicle arrival at sites of secretion is proposed to release Sec9 for SNARE complex assembly and to recruit Sec1 for interaction with SNARE complexes to facilitate fusion.
Action and Perception Are Temporally Coupled by a Common Mechanism That Leads to a Timing Misperception

We move our eyes to explore the world, but visual areas determining where to look next (action) are different from those determining what we are seeing (perception). Whether, or how, action and perception are temporally coordinated is not known. The preparation time course of an action (e.g., a saccade) has been widely studied with the gap/overlap paradigm with temporal asynchronies (TA) between peripheral target onset and fixation point offset (gap, synchronous, or overlap). However, whether the subjects perceive the gap or overlap, and when they perceive it, has not been studied. We adapted the gap/overlap paradigm to study the temporal coupling of action and perception. Human subjects made saccades to targets with different TAs with respect to fixation point offset and reported whether they perceived the stimuli as separated by a gap or overlapped in time. Both saccadic and perceptual report reaction times changed in the same way as a function of TA. The TA dependencies of the time change for action and perception were very similar, suggesting a common neural substrate. Unexpectedly, in the perceptual task, subjects misperceived lights overlapping by less than ∼100 ms as separated in time (overlap seen as gap). We present an attention-perception model with a map of prominence in the superior colliculus that modulates the stimulus signal's effectiveness in the action and perception pathways. This common source of modulation determines how competition between stimuli is resolved, causes the TA dependence of action and perception to be the same, and causes the misperception.
Using the STL - the C++ standard template library ; conforms to 1998 ANSI C++ standard (2. ed.)

From the Publisher: The Standard Template Library (the STL) is part of the standard library for the C++ programming language. It provides a collection of generic data structures and algorithms written in C++ and has been adopted by the ANSI committee for the standardization of C++. As part of the C++ library, it is supported by all modern C++ compilers. "This book provides a comprehensive int5roduction to the STL pitched at the level of readers already familiar with C++. It presents a thorough overview of the capabilities of the STL, detailed discussions of the use of containers, descriptions of the algorithms and how they may be used, and descriptions of how the STL may be extended. An appendix provides an alphabetical reference to the entire STL. As a result, programmers of C++ and students coming to the STL for the first time will find this an extremely hands-on text.
A semantic proofreading tool for all languages based on a text repository 1

A method for finding lexical, syntactic or semantic errors in text in any language is introduced. It is based on a large text repository. The idea is to “follow everybody else”, that is, to compare the sentence offered by the user to the similar sentences in the text repository and suggesting alternative words when appropriate. This concept offers the possibility of taking proofreading further than what is possible with standard spell- and grammar checkers. A prototype for such a system has been developed. This includes a spider that traverses the Web and stores the retrieved text; a builder that creates a convenient index structure for the text repository and the part that analyses the user’s sentence, offering suggestions for improvement.
Modeling and Analysis of Real World Networks using Kronecker Graphs

It has been observed that self-similarity is an emergent property of many real world networks such as WWW, e-mail and biological networks. These networks show properties such as heavy tails for the inand out-degree distribution, heavy tails for the eigenvalues and eigenvectors, small diameters, and densification and shrinking diameters over time. Recently, Kronecker Graphs have been shown to elegantly model these networks, while being mathematically tractable [3]. In this project, we explored the property of self-similarity exhibited by real world networks like Twitter and popular real world datasets like Memetracker. The goal of the paper is to analyze fractal and self-similar properties of real world and Kronecker graphs by applying methods such as Box counting, Bifurcation ratio using Horton-Strahler index, Hurst exponent.
Quality control of laser welds of tailored blanks using guided waves and EMATs

In modern design of automobile bodies reduction in weight and maximisation of the structural stiffness and passive safety are the main challenge. The ‘tailored blank’ has contributed to achieving a significant weight reduction in recent years. Single flat sheets are joined by laser welding into the desired configuration without filler wire. Usually the quality of the welds is assured by precise preparation of the plate edges and measurement of two of the process parameters. However, due to process deviations, defects occur, which make non-destructive testing (NDT) necessary. These defects include incomplete welding, lack of fusion, misalignment of the weld, holes and porosity. The paper presents a versatile ultrasonic (UT) inspection technique designed for in-line inspection of laser welds of tailored blanks. Conventional ultrasonic tetsing is ruled out because of the necessary liquid coupling medium. Therefore, the proposed inspection approach is based on the application of guided ultrasonic (plate) waves with shear horizontal polarisation excited and detected by couplant-free electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs).
Multiscale simulation of sliding contacts between two rough sealing surfaces

A multiscale method based on numerical computation of finite element method (FEM) and movable cellular automata (MCA) is proposed. The proposed method aims to investigate the sliding contact of sealing rings in macroscale and microscale within a unified framework. The multiscale FEM–MCA coupling method based on mechanical and dynamic parameter transition has superior features such as multiscale time and multiscale space, which improve the efficiency of simulation significantly. Several certain positions of the sealing ring under different operating conditions were selected based on the thermal and structural responses obtained through FEM. Using the proposed multiscale method, we visualized and investigated several types of frictional information in microscale. Coefficients of friction (CoF) of all the cases were calculated and compared. The results indicate that the formation of a mechanically mixed layer (MML) has a significant function in reducing friction force. The thickness of the MML depends on the relative sliding velocity and external pressure. The CoF variations in the microscale model caused by the effects of MML differ from their macroscopic behaviors, but are in accordance with conventional friction theories.
A Chronology of International Business Cycles Through Non-Parametric Decoding

This paper introduces a new empirical strategy for the characterization of business cycles. It combines non-parametric decoding methods that classify a series into expansions and recessions but does not require specification of the underlying stochastic process generating the data. It then uses network analysis to combine the signals obtained from different economic indicators to generate a unique chronology. These methods generate a record of peak and trough dates comparable, and in one sense superior, to the NBER’s own chronology. The methods are then applied to 22 OECD countries to obtain a global business cycle chronology.
A Fast Measuring Method for the Inner Diameter of Coaxial Holes

A new method for fast diameter measurement of coaxial holes is studied. The paper describes a multi-layer measuring rod that installs a single laser displacement sensor (LDS) on each layer. This method is easy to implement by rotating the measuring rod, and immune from detecting the measuring rod’s rotation angles, so all diameters of coaxial holes can be calculated by sensors’ values. While revolving, the changing angles of each sensor’s laser beams are approximately equal in the rod’s radial direction so that the over-determined nonlinear equations of multi-layer holes for fitting circles can be established. The mathematical model of the measuring rod is established, all parameters that affect the accuracy of measurement are analyzed and simulated. In the experiment, the validity of the method is verified, the inner diameter measuring precision of 28 μm is achieved by 20 μm linearity LDS. The measuring rod has advantages of convenient operation and easy manufacture, according to the actual diameters of coaxial holes, and also the varying number of holes, LDS’s mounting location can be adjusted for different parts. It is convenient for rapid diameter measurement in industrial use.
Multifractal Analysis of Calcium Silicate Hydrate (C–S–H) Mapped by X‐ray Diffraction Microtomography

An investigation of Calcium Silicate Hydrate (C–S–H) topological distribution and modes of precipitation is performed by combining X-ray powder diffraction tomography, performed on an ordinary Portland cement sample, with a numerical scheme that simulates C–S–H precipitation. C–S–H distribution maps obtained both experimentally and numerically are analyzed by means of a quantitative method based on the principles of multifractal systems. The combination of these methods allows C–S–H spatial distribution and modes of precipitation and aggregation to be assessed quantitatively. In particular, the multifractal spectra obtained from the digital images of the cement paste microstructure, act as a structural probe, which is able to quantify the tendency of C–S–H to form clusters. The results of this combined approach suggest that a multifractal network forms by aggregation of C–S–H clusters heterogeneously nucleated on clinker grains and preexisting clusters that are partly homogeneously nucleated in the porous space.
WAVELET SCALAR QUANTIZATION

-----------------------------------------ABSTRACT----------------------------------------------------- Fingerprints are today the most widely used biometric features for personal identification. With the increasing usage of biometric systems the question arises naturally how to store and handle the acquired sensor data. Our algorithm for the digitized images is based on adaptive uniform scalar quantization of discrete wavelet transform sub band decomposition. This technique referred to as the wavelet scalar quantization method. The algorithm produces archival quality images at compression ratios of around 15 to 1 and will allow the current database of paper finger print cards to be replaced by digital imagery. A compliance testing program is also being implemented to ensure high standards of image quality and interchangeability of data between different implementations.
Multidimensional Screening with Complementary Activities: Regulating a Monopolist with Unknown Cost and Unknown Preference for Empire Building

We study the optimal regulation of a monopolist when intrinsic efficiency (intrinsic cost) and empire building tendency (marginal utility of output) are private information, but actual cost (the difference between intrinsic cost and effort level) is observable. This is a problem of multidimensional screening with complementary activities. Results are not only driven by the prior probabilities of the four possible types, but also by the relative magnitude of the uncertainty along the two dimensions of private information. If the marginal utility of output varies much more (less) across managers than the intrinsic marginal cost, there is empire building (efficiency) dominance. In that case, an inefficient empire builder produces more (less) and at lower (higher) marginal cost than an efficient money-seeker. It is only when variabilities are similar that there may be the natural ranking of activities (empire builders produce more, while efficient managers produce at a lower cost).
Alterations in Polyadenylation and Its Implications for Endocrine Disease

Introduction: Polyadenylation is the process in which the pre-mRNA is cleaved at the poly(A) site and a poly(A) tail is added – a process necessary for normal mRNA formation. Genes with multiple poly(A) sites can undergo alternative polyadenylation (APA), producing distinct mRNA isoforms with different 3′ untranslated regions (3′ UTRs) and in some cases different coding regions. Two thirds of all human genes undergo APA. The efficiency of the polyadenylation process regulates gene expression and APA plays an important part in post-transcriptional regulation, as the 3′ UTR contains various cis-elements associated with post-transcriptional regulation, such as target sites for micro-RNAs and RNA-binding proteins. Implications of alterations in polyadenylation for endocrine disease: Alterations in polyadenylation have been found to be causative of neonatal diabetes and IPEX (immune dysfunction, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X-linked) and to be associated with type I and II diabetes, pre-eclampsia, fragile X-associated premature ovarian insufficiency, ectopic Cushing syndrome, and many cancer diseases, including several types of endocrine tumor diseases. Perspectives: Recent developments in high-throughput sequencing have made it possible to characterize polyadenylation genome-wide. Antisense elements inhibiting or enhancing specific poly(A) site usage can induce desired alterations in polyadenylation, and thus hold the promise of new therapeutic approaches. Summary: This review gives a detailed description of alterations in polyadenylation in endocrine disease, an overview of the current literature on polyadenylation and summarizes the clinical implications of the current state of research in this field.
Hallucinating faces: TensorPatch super-resolution and coupled residue compensation

In this paper, we propose a new face hallucination framework based on image patches, which integrates two novel statistical super-resolution models. Considering that image patches reflect the combined effect of personal characteristics and patch-location, we first formulate a TensorPatch model based on multilinear analysis to explicitly model the interaction between multiple constituent factors. Motivated by locally linear embedding, we develop an enhanced multilinear patch hallucination algorithm, which efficiently exploits the local distribution structure in the sample space. To better preserve face subtle details, we derive the coupled PCA algorithm to learn the relation between high-resolution residue and low-resolution residue, which is utilized for compensate the error residue in hallucinated images. Experiments demonstrate that our framework on one hand well maintains the global facial structures, on the other hand recovers the detailed facial traits in high quality.
Cloned glutamate receptors.

The application of molecular cloning technology to the study of the glutamate receptor system has led to an explosion of knowledge about the structure, expression, and function of this most important fast excitatory transmitter system in the mammalian brain. The first functional ionotropic glutamate receptor was cloned in 1989 (Hollmann et al 1989) , and the results of this molecular-based approach over the past three years are the focus of this review. We discuss the implications of and the new questions raised by this work-which is probably only a glance at this fascinating and complex signaling system found in brains from the snails to man. Glutamate receptors are found throughout the mammalian brain, where they constitute the major excitatory transmitter system. The longest-known and best-studied glutamate receptors are ligand-gated ion channels, also called ionotropic glutamate receptors , which are permeable to cations. They have traditionally been classified into three broad subtypes based upon pharmaco­ logical and electrophysiological data: a-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4isoxazole propionate (AMPA) receptors, kainate (KA) receptors , and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Recently, however, a family of G protein-coupled glutamate receptors , which are also called metabotropic glutamate or transl -aminocyclopentanel ,3-dicarboxylate (tACPD) recep­ tors, was identified (Sugiyama et al 1987) . (For reviews of the classification and the pharmacological and electrophysiological properties of glutamate receptors see Mayer & Westbrook 1987, Collingridge & Lester 1989, Honore 1989, Monaghan et al 1989, Wroblewski & Danysz 1 989, Hansen &
Aspects of multivariate statistical theorywith the application to change detection

This paper proposes a new method for change detection measurement includingwhole SAR imagingmodes such as PolIn- SAR, partial PolInSAR and InSAR in a set of multi-temporalmultidimensional SAR images. The method is based on the special case of Kullback-Leibler (KL-divergence) test, known as Mutual Information. In order to develop an algorithm, firstly the joint distribution of PolInSAR data set, based on the second order statistics has been derived. Such a derivation accounts for the whole multi-temporal SAR images. Then the mutual information is used to measure the difference between the joint density of multi-temporal PolSAR data sets and their marginal density known as complex Wishart distribution. A comparison between the proposed and the other well-known change detection (e.g. cross correlation) technique is shown by means of real data, describing the advantages due to the fact that the proposed change detector involves almost every facet of the applied change detection.
Dual Role of TOC1 in the Control of Circadian and Photomorphogenic Responses in Arabidopsis Online version contains Web-only data. Article, publication date, and citation information can be found at www.plantcell.org/cgi/doi/10.1105/tpc.006734.

To examine the role of the TOC1 (TIMING OF CAB EXPRESSION1) gene in the Arabidopsis circadian system, we generated a series of transgenic plants expressing a gradation in TOC1 levels. Silencing of the TOC1 gene causes arrhythmia in constant darkness and in various intensities of red light, whereas in blue light, the clock runs faster in silenced plants than in wild-type plants. Increments in TOC1 gene dosage delayed the pace of the clock, whereas TOC1 overexpression abolished rhythmicity in all light conditions tested. Our results show that TOC1 RNA interference and toc1-2 mutant plants displayed an important reduction in sensitivity to red and far-red light in the control of hypocotyl elongation, whereas increments in TOC1 gene dosage clearly enhanced light sensitivity. Furthermore, the red light–mediated induction of CCA1/LHY expression was decreased in TOC1 RNA interference and toc1-2 mutant plants, indicating a role for TOC1 in the phytochrome regulation of circadian gene expression. We conclude that TOC1 is an important component of the circadian clock in Arabidopsis with a crucial function in the integration of light signals to control circadian and morphogenic responses.
In Vitro Repression of Brca 1-associated RING Domain Gene , Bard 1 , Induces Phenotypic Changes in Mammary Epithelial Cells

BRCA1-associated RING domain (BARD1) was identified as a protein interacting with the breast cancer gene product BRCA1. The identification of tumorigenic missense mutations within BRCA1 that impair the formation of BARD1–BRCA1 complexes, and of BARD1 mutations in breast carcinomas, sustain the view that BARD1 is involved in BRCA1 mediated tumor suppression. We have cloned the murine Bard1 gene and determined that its expression in different tissues correlates with the expression profile of Brca1 . To investigate the function of Bard1 , we have reduced Bard1 gene expression in TAC-2 cells, a murine mammary epithelial cell line that retains morphogenetic properties characteristic of normal breast epithelium. Partial repression of Bard1 , achieved by the transfection of TAC-2 cells with plasmids constitutively expressing ribozymes or antisense RNAs, resulted in marked phenotypic changes, consisting of altered cell shape, increased cell size, high frequency of multinucleated cells, and aberrant cell cycle progression. Furthermore, Bard1 -repressed cell clones overcame contact inhibition of cell proliferation when grown in monolayer cultures and lost the capacity to form luminal structures in three-dimensional collagen gels. These results demonstrate that Bard1 repression induces complex changes in mammary epithelial cell properties which are suggestive of a premalignant phenotype.