Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
LANGUAGE RECOGNITION USING PHONE LATTICES

This paper proposes a new phone lattice based method for automatic language recognition from speech data. By using phone lattices some approximations usually made by language identiﬁcation (LID) systems relying on phonotactic constraints to simplify the training and decoding processes can be avoided. We demonstrate the use of phone lattices both in training and testing signiﬁcantly improves the accuracy of a phonotactically based LID system. Performance is further enhancedby using a neural network to combine the results of multiple phone recognizers. Using three phone recognizers with context independent phone models, the system achieves an equal error rate of 2.7% on the Eval03 NIST detection test (30s segment, primary condition) with an overall decoding process that runs faster than real-time (0.5xRT).
Analysis of the thymidine kinase genes from acyclovir-resistant mutants of varicella-zoster virus isolated from patients with AIDS

Patients with AIDS often experience recurrent infections with varicella-zoster virus (VZV) requiring repeated or prolonged treatment with acyclovir (ACV), which may lead to the development of ACV resistance. The ACV resistance of isolates recovered from such patients is associated with diminished VZV thymidine kinase (TK) function. We determined the nucleotide sequences of the TK genes of 12 ACV-resistant VZV strains purified from nine patients with AIDS. Five VZV strains contained nucleotide deletions in their TK genes, introducing a premature termination codon which is expected to result in the production of a truncated protein. No detectable full-length TK protein could be immunoprecipitated from extracts of cells infected with these virus strains. These TK-deficient strains were cross resistant to the TK-dependent antiviral agents ACV, 9-(4-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethylbutyl-yl)guanine (penciclovir), and 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-E-5-(2-bromovinyl) uracil (BVaraU). The remaining seven strains each contained a nucleotide change that resulted in an amino acid substitution in the TK protein. These substitutions occurred throughout the TK protein, namely, in the ATP-binding site, the nucleoside-binding site, between the two binding sites, and at the carboxy terminus of the protein. We determined the effects of these mutations on the stability of TK protein expression in virus-infected cells and on the sensitivity of mutants to the TK-dependent antiviral agents ACV, BVaraU, and penciclovir.
Decentralization and school improvement : can we fulfill the promise?

School governance in the United States - historical puzzles and anomalies, David Tyack school decentralization - who gains? who loses? , Richard F. Elmore control versus legitimation - the politics of ambivalence, Hans N. Weiler de-institutionalization and school decentralization - making the same mistake twice, Dan A. Lewis fiscal decentralization and accountability in education - experiences in four countries, Donald R. Winkler decentralization in two school districts - challenging the standard paradigm, Jane Hannaway school improvement - is privatization the answer? , Martin Carnoy employee involvement in industrial decision making - lessons for public schools, Clair Brown epilogue - reframing the debate, Martin Carnoy and Jane Hannaway.
Problematic Internet use among Spanish adolescents: The predictive role of Internet preference and family relationships:

Inasmuch as adolescents are intensive Internet users, concern about the negative effects of Internet on their social wellbeing and their daily lives has also become a matter of social interest. Based on a representative sample of 2077 Spanish adolescents, this study analyses the influence on perceived discomfort from lack of online access and the negative consequences on daily lives as perceived by the adolescents themselves of two factors: on the one hand, preferences for online communication and, on the other, how they regard their family relationships, controlling other factors that the literature associates with problematic Internet use. The results of various logistic regression studies indicate that both factors influence the analysed indicators in distinctive ways and the implications are discussed.
Role of DNA methylation in hybrid vigor in Arabidopsis thaliana

Significance Hybrid vigor is an important phenomenon in basic genetics and in agricultural practice, but the bases of the superior performance of the hybrid relative to its parents in biomass and seed production remain elusive. In recent years, it has been suggested that epigenetic controls on levels of gene action are involved. Using mutants of genes involved in DNA methylation, we show that RNA polymerase IV or methyltransferase I do not contribute to the generation of the heterotic phenotype but that decrease in DNA methylation 1, a nucleosome remodeller with an effect on DNA methylation level, is required to produce a full level of hybrid vigor. Hybrid vigor or heterosis refers to the superior performance of F1 hybrid plants over their parents. Heterosis is particularly important in the production systems of major crops. Recent studies have suggested that epigenetic regulation such as DNA methylation is involved in heterosis, but the molecular mechanism of heterosis is still unclear. To address the epigenetic contribution to heterosis in Arabidopsis thaliana, we used mutant genes that have roles in DNA methylation. Hybrids between C24 and Columbia-0 (Col) without RNA polymerase IV (Pol IV) or methyltransferase I (MET1) function did not reduce the level of biomass heterosis (as evaluated by rosette diameter). Hybrids with a mutation in decrease in dna methylation 1 (ddm1) showed a decreased heterosis level. Vegetative heterosis in the ddm1 mutant hybrid was reduced but not eliminated; a complete reduction could result if there was a change in methylation at all loci critical for generating the level of heterosis, whereas if only a proportion of the loci have methylation changes there may only be a partial reduction in heterosis.
Assessment of Language and Literacy: A Process of Hypothesis Testing for Individual Differences

Purpose: Older school-aged children and adolescents with persistent language and literacy impairments vary in their individual profiles of linguistic strengths and weaknesses. Given the multidimensional nature and complexity of language, designing an assessment protocol capable of uncovering linguistic variation is challenging. A process of clinical reasoning characterized as hypothesis testing is described to assist in language and literacy assessment. In-depth and explanatory assessment can contribute to establishing a common language across professionals and disciplines concerned with these impairments. Methods: Hypothesis testing relies on(a) review of research on language impairment variations found in the school-aged population and (b) careful analysis of content and form of commonly used assessment tools. A case study illustrates application of this material with a 10-year-old child. Results: Major sources of language variation include language and reading profiles, linguistic components and levels (word, sentence, text),gatekeeping factors, and explanations of language and literacy impairments. Three hypotheses and assessment tools that would be useful in attempts to confirm each hypothesis are described. Conclusions: Uncovering the “core” features of a persistent language and/or literacy impairment is difficult. Casting the process as one of testing hypotheses derived from research and analysis of testing tools has the potential to (a) assist language clinicians in determining best assessment practices and (b) improve communication among professionals.
Modeling device manufacturing uncertainty in Electromagnetic Simulations

This work presents a technique for modeling of the effects of manufacturing uncertainty into Electromagnetic Simulations of microwave devices. The procedure combines the Unscented Transform (UT) with EM Simulations. The use of the UT allows efficient use of computational resources for the characterization of the random variables modeling the uncertainty. The technique is validated with the modeling of tolerance errors of an assembled microstrip pseudo-elliptic filter into the response of the electromagnetic simulation.
Proteasome- and Ethanol-Dependent Regulation of HCV-Infection Pathogenesis

This paper reviews the role of the catabolism of HCV and signaling proteins in HCV protection and the involvement of ethanol in HCV-proteasome interactions. HCV specifically infects hepatocytes, and intracellularly expressed HCV proteins generate oxidative stress, which is further exacerbated by heavy drinking. The proteasome is the principal proteolytic system in cells, and its activity is sensitive to the level of cellular oxidative stress. Not only host proteins, but some HCV proteins are degraded by the proteasome, which, in turn, controls HCV propagation and is crucial for the elimination of the virus. Ubiquitylation of HCV proteins usually leads to the prevention of HCV propagation, while accumulation of undegraded viral proteins in the nuclear compartment exacerbates infection pathogenesis. Proteasome activity also regulates both innate and adaptive immunity in HCV-infected cells. In addition, the proteasome/immunoproteasome is activated by interferons, which also induce “early” and “late” interferon-sensitive genes (ISGs) with anti-viral properties. Cleaving viral proteins to peptides in professional immune antigen presenting cells and infected (“target”) hepatocytes that express the MHC class I-antigenic peptide complex, the proteasome regulates the clearance of infected hepatocytes by the immune system. Alcohol exposure prevents peptide cleavage by generating metabolites that impair proteasome activity, thereby providing escape mechanisms that interfere with efficient viral clearance to promote the persistence of HCV-infection.
Low-complexity scheduling strategy for wireless multiuser multiple-input multiple-output downlink system

A new volume-based user selection algorithm with low complexity is proposed for a multiuser multiple-input and multiple-output downlink system based on block diagonalisation precoding. The new algorithm achieving this reduced computational complexity is compared with other user selection algorithms, such as semi-orthogonal user selection (SUS) and capacity-based user selection algorithms. The proposed algorithm stems from the new volume-based user selection method that uses the product of the diagonal elements in the upper-triangular matrix obtained via Householder reduction procedure of QR factorisation to the selected users channel matrix. The computational effort of the new algorithm is reduced by one-fourth compared with SUS algorithm. Compared with the capacity-based algorithm, the proposed algorithm does not need to perform the singular value decomposition operation and water-filling algorithm during each user selection step, and hence, significantly reduces the computational time. If the maximum number of supportable users is K, the calculation results show that the capacity-based algorithm has 4K times the complexity of the proposed algorithm. Furthermore, the simulation results demonstrate that the volume-based algorithm displays better capacity performance than the SUS algorithm, and the sum-rate capacity of the volume-based algorithm is comparable with that of the capacity-based algorithm but with much less computational complexity.
Decentralized regulation for a class of large-scale networks with saturation

In this paper, we study a nonlinear large-scale network model with saturation constraints on both the control input and the state variables. We achieve buffer queue length regulation against unknown inter-node traffic interferences via a decentralized saturated control law. Motivated by physical characteristics of communication networks, two conditions regarding the inter-node traffic are discussed, namely a Lipschitz-type condition and a "PE" condition. Under these conditions, by using sliding-mode type controllers, the regulation error of every node converges asymptotically to zero for all feasible initial queue lengths. Our main (global) regulation result is based on an interesting extension of the popular Young's inequality to the case with saturation.
Computer-assisted rehabilitation of attention in patients with multiple sclerosis: results of a randomized, double-blind trial

Background: There is controversial information on the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation in multiple sclerosis (MS). Objective: The objective of this paper is to test a home-based computerized program for retraining attention dysfunction in MS. Methods: Relapsing–remitting patients who failed > 2 tests of attention on an extensive neuropsychological battery were randomized to specific or nonspecific computerized training (ST, n-ST), in one-hour sessions, twice a week for three months. Outcome measures included neuropsychological assessment, depression, fatigue, everyday activities and a visual analogue scale assessing attentive performance (VAS). Assessments were repeated after the interventions and after a further three months. Statistical analysis included the analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures. Results: Eighty-eight out of 102 randomized patients completed the study (69 women, age 40.9 ± 11.5 years, disease duration 13.0 ± 8.7 years, Expanded Disability Status Scale score 2.7 ± 1.5). Fifty-five patients were randomized to ST, 33 to n-ST. A benefit of the ST was observed on the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (p < 0.002). However, patient self-report did not reveal differences between ST and n-ST patient groups. Conclusion: Although our program trained different attention components, we could detect some improvements exclusively on tasks of sustained attention. Moreover, patient self-perceived results may be independent of the training program.
X-device query processing by bitwise distribution

The diversity of hardware components within a single system calls for strategies for efficient cross-device data processing. For example, existing approaches to CPU/GPU co-processing distribute individual relational operators to the "most appropriate" device. While pleasantly simple, this strategy has a number of problems: it may leave the "inappropriate" devices idle while overloading the "appropriate" device and putting a high pressure on the PCI bus. To address these issues we distribute data among the devices by partially decomposing relations at the granularity of individual bits. Each of the resulting bit-partitions is stored and processed on one of the available devices. Using this strategy, we implemented a processor for spatial range queries that makes efficient use of all available devices. The performance gains achieved indicate that bitwise distribution makes a good cross-device processing strategy.
The Augmented Knight ’ s Castle – Integrating Mobile and Pervasive Computing Technologies into Traditional Toy Environments

The Augmented Knight’s Castle is an augmented toy environment that enriches the children’s pretend play by using background music, sound effects, verbal commentary of toys, and different forms of tactile and visual feedback in reaction to the children’s play. Moreover, interactive learning experiences can be integrated into the play (e.g. to teach songs and poems or to provide the child with facts about the Middle Ages). We describe the different possibilities that are realized in our augmented playset, based on various mobile and pervasive computing technologies. Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is used to automatically and unobtrusively identify toys in the playset. Mobile phones and “smart toys” equipped with sensors and RFID readers are introduced into the playset to enhance the play and to provoke further interaction.
Efficiently Using Cost Maps For Planning Complex Maneuvers

We have recently developed an algorithm for generating complex dynamically-feasible maneuvers for autonomous vehicles traveling at high speeds over large distances. Our approach is based on performing anytime incremental search on a multi-resolution, dynamically-feasible lattice state space. It has been implemented on an autonomous passenger vehicle that competed in, and won, the Urban Challenge. Much of the speed and robustness of our approach owes to the clever design and use of grid-based cost maps that were used throughout the planning process. In this paper, we explain the design and use of these various grid-based cost maps. Comments Dave Ferguson and Maxim Likhachev, " Efficiently Using Cost Maps For Planning Complex Maneuvers, " Proceedings of International Conference on Robotics and Automation Workshop on Planning with Cost Maps, 2008. This conference paper is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn. edu/grasp_papers/20 Efficiently Using Cost Maps For Planning Complex Maneuvers
Adolescents' Expressed Meanings of Music in and out of School

This study aimed to determine the significance of music and music education to middle and high school adolescents, including those enrolled and not enrolled in school music programs. Of particular interest were their expressed meanings of music both in and out of school, with attention to adolescent views on the role of music in identity formation, the musical and nonmusical benefits for adolescents of their engagement with music, the curricular content of secondary school music programs, and the qualities of music teachers in facilitating music-learning experiences in middle and high school classes. An examination of essays, statements, and reflections in response to a national essay content was undertaken using an inductive approach to analyze content through the triangulation of interpretations by the investigators. Five principal themes were identified within the expressed meanings of music by adolescents: (a) identity formation in and through music, (b) emotional benefits, (c) music's life benefits, including character-building and life skills, (d) social benefits, and (e) positive and negative impressions of school music programs and their teachers. Overwhelming support was expressed for music as a necessary component of adolescent life, with support for and comments to probe concerning the work of music educators in secondary school programs.
High‐frequency stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus restores neural and behavioral functions during reaction time task in a rat model of Parkinson's disease

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been used in the clinic to treat Parkinson's disease (PD) and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Our previous work has shown that DBS in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) can improve major motor deficits, and induce a variety of neural responses in rats with unilateral dopamine (DA) lesions. In the present study, we examined the effect of STN DBS on reaction time (RT) performance and parallel changes in neural activity in the cortico‐basal ganglia regions of partially bilateral DA‐ lesioned rats. We recorded neural activity with a multiple‐channel single‐unit electrode system in the primary motor cortex (MI), the STN, and the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) during RT test. RT performance was severely impaired following bilateral injection of 6‐OHDA into the dorsolateral part of the striatum. In parallel with such behavioral impairments, the number of responsive neurons to different behavioral events was remarkably decreased after DA lesion. Bilateral STN DBS improved RT performance in 6‐OHDA lesioned rats, and restored operational behavior‐related neural responses in cortico‐basal ganglia regions. These behavioral and electrophysiological effects of DBS lasted nearly an hour after DBS termination. These results demonstrate that a partial DA lesion‐induced impairment of RT performance is associated with changes in neural activity in the cortico‐basal ganglia circuit. Furthermore, STN DBS can reverse changes in behavior and neural activity caused by partial DA depletion. The observed long‐lasting beneficial effect of STN DBS suggests the involvement of the mechanism of neural plasticity in modulating cortico‐basal ganglia circuits. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Designing Open Source Business Intelligence for Public Administrations

Business intelligence approaches are standard in private organisations. In public administrations, however, only first steps towards such intelligent managing support are undertaken. Deficits become apparent especially in the move of implementing new public management approaches, such as new accounting systems or an output-oriented management. While public administrations are often obliged to implement such approaches in order to collect management-relevant data, there is little support regarding how to employ these new structures in terms of an intelligent business management. Here, balanced scorecards (BSC) can provide a valuable business intelligence instrument. Core problems that such an approach faces in the domain of public administrations are domain specific requirements, data collection problems in a heterogeneous systems environment, and financial limitations due to budgetary restrictions. Our design science-oriented case study on BSC implementation in public administrations introduces a solution which bases on an open source approach and addresses the problem of data collection by BSC and project management software integration. A case study analysis identifies generalisable issues which can potentially be applied to other situational and organisational contexts. Summary of Arguments • Paradigmatic changes in public administration management, for instance, regarding the accounting system (Neues Kommunales Finanzmanagement) or output-oriented management (Neues Steuerungsmodell), reveal severe deficits in strategic thinking in public agencies. • Balanced Scorecards (BSC), if adapted to the specific context of public administrations, are a valuable instrument for implementing strategic thinking in these organisations.
An in depth look at LU-decomposition on modern multi-socket hardware

Modern hardware makes new demands on algorithms. To properly utilize multi-socket architectures with non-trivial cache hierarchies, algorithms have to be designed with the hardware’s strengths, and weaknesses in mind. If properly addressed, modern hardware offers new, and interesting optimization possibilities. In this thesis we present a new scheduling approach, using the example of an LU-decomposition. Our scheduler considers data reuse opportunities between different subtasks, and schedules these subtasks in a way that lets them share common inputs through the L3 cache. The LU-decomposition of matrices is one of the most important numerical algorithms. It is used for matrix inversion, to compute the determinant of a matrix, and to solve systems of linear equations. The algorithm for LU-decomposition is also representative for many other numerical computations. This is the reason, why it is part of the famous LINPACK benchmark, that is used to rank the most powerful supercomputers in the TOP500 list. It is important, to improve the performance of the LU-decomposition, without decreasing its numerical accuracy. Therefore, we use the same numerical algorithm for the LU-decomposition as PLASMA (Parallel Linear Algebra for Scalable Multi-core Architectures), which is a current state of the art implementation. By adapting the scheduling scheme, to take better advantage of data sharing, we achieve performance increases between 15%, and 29%.