Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Unsupervised NAP Training Data Design for Speaker Recognition

The Nuisance Attribute Projection (NAP) with labeled data provides an effective approach for improving the speaker recognition performance in the state-of-art speaker recognition system by removing unwanted speaker channel and handsets variation. However, the requirement for the labeled NAP training data may limit its practical application. In this paper, we propose an unsupervised clustering strategy to design NAP training data without a priori knowledge about channel and speaker information. A fast clustering and purifying algorithm is introduced to group the unlabeled NAP training data into speaker dependent clusters to drive the NAP training data. The GMM-SVM based speaker recognition system is adopted to evaluate the performance. The system with the unsupervised NAP training data design achieves a similar performance with that using labeled NAP training data on both SRE06 1conv-1conv all English trials and SRE08 short2-short3 Tel-Tel All English trials subtasks.
Differences in Innate Defense Mechanisms in Endotoxemia and Polymicrobial Septic Peritonitis

ABSTRACT Loss, reduction, or enhancement of the ability to respond to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has no influence on survival of mice in a model of postoperative polymicrobial septic peritonitis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). This was demonstrated by using either mice with a defective Tlr4 gene, which encodes the critical receptor molecule for LPS responses, or mice deficient for LPS binding protein (LBP) or mice sensitized to LPS byPropionibacterium acnes. Though interleukin-12 (IL-12) and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) play an important role in the sensitivity to LPS as well as in the resistance to several infections, loss of these cytokine pathways does not affect survival after CLP. Thus, neutralization of neither endogenous IL-12 nor IFN-γ altered mortality. In addition, IFN-γ receptor-deficient mice demonstrated the same sensitivity to CLP as mice with a functional IFN-γ receptor. However, administration of IFN-γ at the time of operation or pretreatment of both IFN-γ-sensitive and IFN-γ-resistant mice with IL-12 significantly enhanced mortality. This indicates that in the present infection model activation of innate defense mechanisms is not dependent on LPS recognition and does not require endogenous IL-12 or IFN-γ function. Indeed, exogenous application of these two mediators had deleterious effects.
Power allocation over time-varying multi-user multi-relay amplify-and-forward networks

In this study, power allocation over time-varying multi-user multi-relay amplify-and-forward networks is studied. Specifically, stochastic network sum-rate, max–min rate power allocation and total power minimisation problems are formulated. However, solving such stochastic problems relies on perfect global instantaneous channel state information (CSI), and thus entails complex computations and excessive communication overheads. To circumvent these issues, second-order statistics of the CSI (i.e. partial CSI) are utilised to transform the stochastic formulations into deterministic optimisation problems in terms of ergodic capacity while satisfying quality-of-service constraints via target outage probability. The obtained optimal deterministic problems are non-convex and thus are computationally prohibitive. However, at high enough signal-to-noise ratio, such problems can be transformed into asymptotically convex ones, and thus solved efficiently. Simulation results illustrate that the proposed approximate deterministic power allocation reformulations closely agree with their optimal exact deterministic and dynamic counterparts.
In Brief

Plethora of Secretory Amyloids Protein aggregation and the formation of amyloids are associated with several dozen pathological conditions in humans, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and type II diabetes. In addition, a few functional amyloid systems are known: the prions of fungi, the bacterial protein curli, the protein of chorion of the eggshell of silkworm, and the amyloid protein Pmel-17 involved in mammalian skin pigmentation. Now Maji et al. (p. 328, published online 18 June) propose that endocrine hormone peptides and proteins are stored in an amyloid-like state in secretory granules. Thus, the amyloid fold may represent a fundamental, ancient, and evolutionarily conserved protein structural motif that is capable of performing a wide variety of functions contributing to normal cell and tissue physiology. Peptide and protein hormones are stored in secretory granules in a nonpathological amyloid conformation. Amyloids are highly organized cross–β-sheet–rich protein or peptide aggregates that are associated with pathological conditions including Alzheimer’s disease and type II diabetes. However, amyloids may also have a normal biological function, as demonstrated by fungal prions, which are involved in prion replication, and the amyloid protein Pmel17, which is involved in mammalian skin pigmentation. We found that peptide and protein hormones in secretory granules of the endocrine system are stored in an amyloid-like cross–β-sheet–rich conformation. Thus, functional amyloids in the pituitary and other organs can contribute to normal cell and tissue physiology.
Analysis of Dietary Intake in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Parents and caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often report that their children are picky, restricted, and problem eaters. Additionally, it has been reported that children with ASD often experience gastrointestinal problems such as constipation, diarrhea, flatulence, cramping, bloating, and diffuse pain. These factors raise concern for nutritional status of children with ASD, given that the refusal to consume particular foods coupled with the inability to tolerate, digest, and absorb these foods can compromise an individual’s overall nutrition status. The aim of our study was to evaluate dietary intake in a group of 120 children aged 2-14 years who were served in an outpatient clinic over 18 months’ time. Anthropometric data and 3-day food diaries were collected and evaluated by a licensed, registered dietician. The results indicate that the majority of participants consumed adequate calories, protein, fats, and carbohydrates. However, the majority of participants were deficient in vitamins A, D, B1, and folate, as well as calcium, magnesium, iodine, and potassium. Essential fatty acid intake was insufficient for all but 6 of the participants. Overall, the study revealed deficits in several key nutrients for the majority of participants.
Accurate electrical simulation and design optimization for silicon interposer considering the MOS effect and eddy currents in the silicon substrate

In this paper, a group of coplanar lines on a silicon dioxide insulating layer on a nominally doped silicon substrate is simulated and measured. Electrical parameters extracted from published data are used and lead to substantially improved agreement with measurements. In addition, several models of redistribution layer (RDL) with different shape-TSVs (through silicon vias) are simulated, along with two different joint structures between TSV and RDL. Simulation result suggest that because the electrical length is very short reflection losses attributed to the structural details of the TSV may be ignored in the applicable frequency band of the TSV. In addition, several optimized transmission line structures are designed and simulated. Results suggest that design criteria used to optimize lines in organic substrates are not directly transferable to a silicon substrate. This paper shows a simple but effective method with which to analyze the influences exerted by the metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) capacitance at the TSV interface and eddy currents in the substrate on a transmission line. Finally, newly de-embedded test structures are provided to extract spice model parameters for TSV modeling.
Alterations in the DNA topoisomerase IV grlA gene responsible for quinolone resistance in Staphylococcus aureus

A 4.2-kb DNA fragment conferring quinolone resistance was cloned from a quinolone-resistant clinical isolate of Staphylococcus aureus and was shown to possess a part of the grlB gene and a mutated grlA gene. S-80-->F and E-84-->K mutations in the grlA gene product were responsible for the quinolone resistance. The mutated grlA genes responsible for quinolone resistance were dominant over the wild-type allele, irrespective of gene dosage in a transformation experiment with the grlA gene alone. However, dominance by mutated grlA genes depended on gene dosage when bacteria were transformed with the grlA and grlB genes in combination. Quinolone-resistant gyrA mutants were easily isolated from a strain, S. aureus RN4220, carrying a plasmid with the mutated grlA gene, though this was not the case for other S. aureus strains lacking the plasmid. The elimination of this plasmid from such quinolone-resistant gyrA mutants resulted in marked increases in quinolone susceptibility. These results suggest that both DNA gyrase and DNA topoisomerase IV may be targets of quinolones and that the quinolone susceptibility of organisms may be determined by which of these enzymes is most quinolone sensitive.
The effects of inorganic ions on the storage and uptake of H3-norepinephrine by rat heart slices.

The effects of various solutions of inorganic ions on the uptake and storage of H 3 -norepinephrine were studied in rat heart slices. Na † is an absolute requirement for the uptake and storage of norepinephrine, and Na + -deficient media cause the release of amine. Low extracellular [K + ] facilitates uptake and storage, whereas high extracellular [K + ] antagonizes the effect of Na + on uptake and storage. The efflux of H 3 -norepinephrine is increased in the absence of Ca + and is further enhanced by ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid. Ouabain blocks uptake more effectively than it increases efflux. These effects of ouabain are similar to the effects of K + -free media, suggesting a relationship between ouabain and a K + -activated process. The possibility that Na + is required for membrane transport as well as intracellular binding is discussed. Ouabain affects mainly the transport. The various ionic interrelationships observed for amine transport are similar to those described for amino acids and sugars. The mechanism of Nat-dependent transport is discussed in terms of existing hypotheses for the transport of sugars and amino acids by other tissues.
A combined multiphase electric drive and fast battery charger for Electric Vehicles

Currently, the main technical weaknesses of Electrical Vehicle (EV) are the limitation of the on-board energy storage and the time to recharge it. Despite of recent improvements in batteries, these drawbacks as well as the cost make the EV not yet attractive. Real challenges for Power Electronics engineers are not only the cost reduction through new system optimizations but also the autonomy increase through the global efficiency improvement and the introduction of a cheap fast on-board charger. This paper deals with a new concept of electric powertrain system which is configurable as a battery charger without additional power components. The interest of this particular solution is the full magnetic decoupling between the rotor and the stator during the charging mode which avoid a clutch system, and prevent the rotor from vibrating. The traction system solution is presented, the feasibility of this combination topology is studied and the effect of the electrical machine's windings configuration is analyzed. Some simulation results show the propulsion efficiency is also improved.
Accurate geometric correction of ATSR images

An accurate geometric correction algorithm of raw ATSR images is proposed in this paper. The proposed algorithm is divided into two modules: pre-correction and precision correction. In the pre-correction algorithm, the scanning geometry of the ATSR, ephemeris data and the Earth's shape and rotation were modeled mathematically. It corrected elliptically-distorted raw ATSR images and resulted in a mean collocation error of 1 pixel between the nadir and forward images. The proposed navigation model showed a better geolocation performance than ATSR image geometric correction algorithms currently in operation. The geometric errors in the pre-corrected images were reduced further by the precision correction algorithm. Coastlines were detected from the pre-corrected nadir and forward images and matched with map coastline data. The matched coastline pixels, GCPs, were combined with the pre-correction model to estimate the errors of the position, velocity and attitude of the satellite. An extended Kalman filter was used for the optimal estimation. The corrected images showed the collocation error of 0.4 pixel and the geolocation error of 0.7 pixel. The results were compared with those from a polynomial warping technique. It proved that the proposed precision correction algorithm gave better geometric correction performance than collocation algorithms based on a polynomial warping technique.
Depressed mood is not a risk factor for incident dementia in a community-based cohort.

OBJECTIVES To determine the relationship between depressed mood and the development of Alzheimer disease in cognitively normal individuals. DESIGN Longitudinal and observational. SETTING Community-based cohort study. PARTICIPANTS A total of 288 participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study-Cognition Study (mean age: 77.52, SD =3.65, range: 70-89). All of the participants were adjudicated as cognitively normal in 1998/1999, and all had at least three visits before 1998/1999 with measures of cognition and mood state. The mean length of follow-up from 1998-1999 to 2007 was 7.1 years (range: 1-9 years, median =9 years). MEASUREMENTS The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CESD) was used to index mood state, and the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MSE) was the index of cognitive function among participants before 1998/1999. These measures were considered in two ways: participants were classified according to: 1) whether they showed a high-negative correlation between their CESD and 3MSE scores (i.e., indicating that greater depression was linked to poorer cognition) and 2) whether they showed persistently elevated CESD scores. The study outcome, development of dementia (N = 48), was based on consensus classifications, which was based on detailed neuropsychological and neurological exams. RESULTS The authors could find no consistent relationship between mood state, either alone or in relation to cognitive status, and the subsequent development of dementia. Those individuals whose cognitive functions were highly correlated with their mood state were no more likely to develop dementia than other participants. Those who had persistently depressed mood were also no more likely to develop dementia than those without persistently depressed mood. CONCLUSION Within the confines of this prospective, community-based study of elderly adults, the authors could not find strong evidence to support the hypothesis that mood disturbance was linked with the development of dementia.
Effect of MexXY Overexpression on Ceftobiprole Susceptibility in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

ABSTRACT Ceftobiprole, an anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus broad-spectrum cephalosporin, has activity (MIC for 50% of strains tested, ≤4 μg/ml) against many Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. A common mechanism of P. aeruginosa resistance to β-lactams, including cefepime and ceftazidime, is efflux via increased expression of Mex pumps, especially MexAB. MexXY has differential substrate specificity, recognizing cefepime but not ceftazidime. In ceftobiprole clinical studies, paired isolates of P. aeruginosa from four subjects demonstrated ceftobiprole MICs of 2 to 4 μg/ml at baseline but 16 μg/ml posttreatment, unrelated to β-lactamase levels. Within each pair, the level of mexXY RNA, but not mexAB, mexCD, and mexEF, increased by an average of 50-fold from baseline to posttreatment isolates. Sequencing of the negative regulatory gene mexZ indicated that each posttreatment isolate contained a mutation not present at baseline. mexXY expression as a primary ceftobiprole and cefepime resistance mechanism was further examined in isogenic pairs by using cloned mexXY and mexZ. Expression of cloned mexXY in strain PAO1 or in a baseline isolate increased the ceftobiprole MIC to that for the posttreatment isolate. In contrast, in posttreatment isolates, lowering mexXY expression via introduction of cloned mexZ decreased the ceftobiprole MIC to that for the baseline isolates. Similar changes were observed for cefepime. A spontaneous mutant selectively overexpressing mexXY displayed a fourfold elevation in its ceftobiprole MIC, while overexpression of mexAB, -CD, and -EF had a minimal effect. These data indicate that ceftobiprole, like cefepime, is an atypical β-lactam that is a substrate for the MexXY efflux pump in P. aeruginosa.
Acute Cellular Rejection with CD20‐Positive Lymphoid Clusters in Kidney Transplant Patients Following Lymphocyte Depletion

Lymphoid clusters (LC) containing CD20‐positive B cells in kidney allografts undergoing acute cellular rejection (ACR) have been identified in small studies as a prognostic factor for glucocorticoid resistance and graft loss. Allograft biopsies obtained during the first episode of ACR in 120 recipients were evaluated for LC, immunostained with CD20 antibody, and correlated with conventional histopathologic criteria, response to treatment and outcome. LC were found in 71 (59%) of the 120 biopsies. All contained CD20 positive B cells that accounted for 5–90% of the LC leukocyte content. The incidence of LC was highest in the patients who had no lymphoid depletion or had been treated with Thymoglobulin preconditioning (79% vs. 75%, respectively) compared to 37% in patients pretreated with Campath (p = 0.0001). Banff 1a/1b ACR were more frequent in the LC‐positive than the LC‐negative group (96% vs. 80%, respectively; p = 0.0051). With a posttransplant follow‐up of 953 ± 430 days, no significant differences were detected between LC‐postitive and LC‐negative groups in time to ACR, steroid resistance, serum creatinine and graft loss. CD20+LC did not portend glucocorticoid resistance or worse short to medium term outcomes. CD20+LC may represent a heterogenous collection in which there may be a small still to be fully defined unfavorable subgroup.
RESEARCH ON SINTERED FLY ASH AGGREGATE OF HIGH STRENGTH AND LOW ABSORPTION OF WATER

The paper presents research on a sintered fly ash aggregate manufactures through material orthogonal test and quick chilled firing schedule test. The test results indicated high strength and low water absorption. The lightweight aggregate concrete made using this aggregate may have compressive strength more than CL60, slump higher than 20 cm, 60 minutes slump loss less than 2 cm, and expandability higher than 50 cm. Those properties clearly meet the modern concrete requirements for high strength and pumpability.
Impact assessment of electric vehicle charging on a LV distribution system

Load profile is well-known on a LV distribution feeder. However charging of electric vehicles will have a yet unforeseen impact on the system which must be dealt with. The appearance and wide penetration of this new load-type may cause problems on the distribution as well as on the transmission system. DSOs will have to deal with overloading protection and also power quality issues. The paper gives a brief summary of the main characteristics of electric vehicle charging, then follows with modelling and prediction of distribution system voltage distortion and load demand due to electric vehicle battery charging by means of computer simulation.
DRDet: Efficiently Making Data Races Deterministic

SUMMARY Strongly deterministic multithreading provides determin-ism for multithreaded programs even in the presence of data races. A common way to guarantee determinism for data races is to isolate threads by bu ﬀ ering shared memory accesses. Unfortunately, bu ﬀ ering all shared accesses is prohibitively costly. We propose an approach called DRDet to e ﬃ ciently make data races deterministic. DRDet leverages the insight that, instead of bu ﬀ ering all shared memory accesses, it is su ﬃ cient to only bu ﬀ er memory accesses involving data races. DRDet uses a sound data-race detector to detect all potential data races. These potential data races, along with all accesses which may access the same set of memory objects, are ﬂagged as data-race-involved accesses. Unsurprisingly, the imprecision of static analyses makes a large fraction of shared accesses to be data-race-involved. DRDet employs two optimizations which aim at reducing the number of accesses to be sent to query alias analysis. We implement DRDet on CoreDet, a state-of-the-art deterministic multithreading system. Our empirical evaluation shows that DRDet reduces the overhead of Core-Det by an average of 1.6X, without weakening determinism and scalability.
Seed removal in two coexisting oak species: ecological consequences of seed size, plant cover and seed-drop timing

Seed predation and dispersal can critically influence plant community structure and dynamics. Inter-specific differences arising at these early stages play a crucial role on tree recruitment patterns, which in turn could influence forest dynamics and species segregation in heterogeneous environments such as Mediterranean forests. We investigated removal rates from acorns set onto the ground in two coexisting Mediterranean oak speciesQuercus canariensis and Q. suberin southern Spain. We developed maximum likelihood estimators to investigate the main factors controlling probabilities of seed removal and to describe species-specific functional responses. To account for inter-specific differences in seed-drop timing, two experiments were established: a simultaneous exposure of acorns of the two species (synchronous experiments) and a seed exposure following their natural seed-drop phenology (diachronic experiments). A total of 1536 acorns were experimentally distributed along a wide and natural gradient of plant cover, and removal was periodically monitored for three months at two consecutive years (with contrasting differences in seed production and thus seed availability on the ground). The probability of seed removal increased with plant cover (leaf area index, LAI) for the two oak species. Inter-specific differences in acorn removal were higher in open areas and disappeared in closed microhabitats, especially during a non-mast year. Despite later seed-drop, Q. suber acorns were removed faster and at a higher proportion than those of Q. canariensis. The higher probability of seed removal for this species could be attributed to its larger seed size compared to Q. canariensis, as inter-specific differences were less pronounced when similar sized acorns were exposed. Inter-specific differences in seed removal, arising from seed size variability and microsite heterogeneity, could be of paramount importance in oak species niche separation, driving stand dynamics and composition along environmental gradients.
Current Treatment of DCIS

Abstract: Ductal carcinoma in-situ DCIS is a heterogeneous entity in breast neoplasm with unpredictable biological behavior. This poses challenge in the management of DCIS. Various trials on DCIS have shown good outcome with integral treatment of adequate surgery, radiotherapy and hormonal therapy. Identification of subgroup of DCIS for radiotherapy and hormonal therapy could improve recurrence rate, contralateral tumours incidence and perhaps overall survival. Various risk score calculations could help to direct radiotherapy and hormonal treatment verses surgery alone and to avoid over treatment. Oncotype DX assay could be a new way of risk calculation to direct types of DCIS treatment. The recent increased use of MRI could increase the detection of DCIS and a more accurate extent of disease estimation. This article is a summary of major literatures and major trials result for DCIS.