Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation and optimization of F0-adaptive spectral envelope estimation based on spectral smoothing with peak emphasis

A new spectral estimation method which improves processed sound quality of STRAIGHT, a speech analysis, modification and re-synthesis framework widely used for high-quality speech and singing manipulations, is proposed. Application of the proposed method to TANDEM-STRAIGHT, a completely reformulated version of STRAIGHT, yielded the best spectral envelope approximation among conventional methods such as LPC, cepstrum and legacy-STRAIGHT. TANDEM-STRAIGHT consists of two parts, a temporarily stable power spectrum estimation method of periodic signals (TANDEM) and a spectral envelope calculation method based on consistent sampling theory. The proposed method uses F0-adaptive smoothing and compensation of logarithmic power spectrum, for improving approximation accuracy of spectral peaks, which effects on the quality of re-synthesized sound. A series of simulations was conducted to optimize internal parameters of the proposed method. The optimized system was evaluated and compared with conventional methods using stylized spectra and simulated speech spectra. The evaluation was based on a spectral distance measure proposed by Itakura and Saitou with modification to perceptually relevant ERBNnumber frequency axis. The following set of spectra were used. Power spectra calculated from vocal tract area functions measured using MRI data with LF-model excitation spectra were used as the grand truth and spectral distances between this target and the estimated spectra were evaluated. A set of periodic pulse train was used for excitation signal in this case. These evaluation results indicated that the proposed method yields the smallest spectrum distance among conventional methods such as LPC, cepstrum and legacy-STRAIGHT.
Classification driven Assisted Screening for cervical cancer using deep neural network

Automating cervical cancer screening has the potential to reduce high mortality rates due to cervical cancer, especially in developing countries. The most promising of these techniques is assisted screening in which preliminary analysis is validated by a pathologist. Assisted screening requires classification algorithms for initial screening that is later validated by a pathologist. It also needs attention, detection or segmentation algorithms for drawing attention of pathologists to important regions. Existing algorithms for cervical cancer screening focus on classification of individual cells . This focus leads to need for accurate segmentation of cells and inability to use extracellular information. In this work we propose a segmentation free deep learning algorithm for classification of PAP smear images. The proposed algorithm uses the intrinsic information in the network to generate a map of important regions for the pathologist to look into. This map is generated with sub image resolution while the training data contains annotations at the image level only. Our analysis on a dataset of around 14000 images validate the approach of assisted screening in reducing the pathologist workload by a large factor.
Reports on Progress in Physics The hydrodynamics of swimming microorganisms

Cell motility in viscous fluids is ubiquitous and affects many biological processes, including reproduction, infection and the marine life ecosystem. Here we review the biophysical and mechanical principles of locomotion at the small scales relevant to cell swimming, tens of micrometers and below. At this scale, inertia is unimportant and the Reynolds number is small. Our emphasis is on the simple physical picture and fundamental flow physics phenomena in this regime. We first give a brief overview of the mechanisms for swimming motility, and of the basic properties of flows at low Reynolds number, paying special attention to aspects most relevant for swimming such as resistance matrices for solid bodies, flow singularities and kinematic requirements for net translation. Then we review classical theoretical work on cell motility, in particular early calculations of swimming kinematics with prescribed stroke and the application of resistive force theory and slender-body theory to flagellar locomotion. After examining the physical means by which flagella are actuated, we outline areas of active research, including hydrodynamic interactions, biological locomotion in complex fluids, the design of small-scale artificial swimmers and the optimization of locomotion strategies. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version) This article was invited by Christoph Schmidt.
Synthesis and analysis of fuzzy diagnostic systems for railway bridges

This paper deals with the use of fuzzy logic for building of classification models for the technical condition evaluation of bridge objects, both their superstructure and substructure. The proposed models have hierarchical architecture, built of the Mamdani's fuzzy inference systems. The models were validated on a data set of real bridges in operation. In the modelling process, the analysis of bridge rating methods in the Czech Republic and abroad was applied. The analysis of the number and shapes of input and output membership functions of given fuzzy sets was carried out, and the numbers of fuzzy inference rules were determined. On the basis of the achieved results, the utility of the presented method of soft computing in the evaluation of the bridge technical conditions was proved.
Contribution to Modeling Smart Grid Problem with the Constraint Satisfaction Problem Formalism

Smart Grids are electricity distribution networks that use intelligent IT methods to match the adequacy between consumer demand and provider offer (electric power plants and various clean energy sources such as wind turbines and solar panels). Smart Grids are derived from the fact that the use of electricity is not stable throughout the day. There are schedules where the use of electricity remains minimal, and others the opposite. Hence the need to optimize the use of electricity. In silence periods (work), solar panels or wind turbines will be enough to power the small number of devices that are running. The modeling of these networks using computer methods is a rather complex task, due to the large amount of informations offered by these networks and their complexity. Especially since it consists of multiple levels: i) the local level (house, building), ii) the microgrid level (the intermediate between locals and the third level) and iii) the level of transmission and distribution. But a mathematical solution can solve this kind of problem. Among the concepts, modeling such problem mathematically is the CSP (for Constraint Satisfaction Problem). In this paper we propose a CSP modeling of the local level of the Smart Grid problem. The results show the effectiveness of our contribution.
Endocan and the respiratory system: a review

Endocan, formerly called endothelial cell-specific molecule 1, is an endothelial cell-associated proteoglycan that is preferentially expressed by renal and pulmonary endothelium. It is upregulated by proangiogenic molecules as well as by pro-inflammatory cytokines, and since it reflects endothelial activation and dysfunction, it is regarded as a novel tissue and blood-based relevant biomarker. As such, it is increasingly being researched and evaluated in a wide spectrum of healthy and disease pathophysiological processes. Here, we review the present scientific knowledge on endocan, with emphasis on the evidence that underlines its possible clinical value as a prognostic marker in several malignant, inflammatory and obstructive disorders of the respiratory system.
Body fat assessed from total body density and its estimation from skinfold thickness: measurements on 481 men and women aged from 16 to 72 Years

1. Skinfold thicknesses at four sites – biceps, triceps, subscapular and supra-iliac – and total body density (by underwater weighing) were measured on 209 males and 272 females aged from 16 to 72 years. The fat content varied from 5 to 50% of body-weight in the men and from 10 to 61% in the women. 2. When the results were plotted it was found necessary to use the logarithm of skinfold measurements in order to achieve a linear relationship with body density. 3. Linear regression equations were calculated for the estimation of body density, and hence body fat, using single skinfolds and all possible sums of two or more skinfolds. Separate equations for the different age-groupings are given. A table is derived where percentage body fat can be read off corresponding to differing values for the total of the four standard skinfolds. This table is subdivided for sex and for age. 4. The possible reasons for the altered position of the regression lines with sex and age, and the validation of the use of body density measurements, are discussed.
Compensation in Complex Variables for Microgrid Power Flow

The solution of the distribution network power flow in practical applications is based either on the forward–backward sweep method for radial networks, or the current injection method for meshed networks. While the power flow in microgrids that operate in grid-connected mode could be resolved using the above-mentioned approaches, their operation in island mode would require simulating local generation droop controllers for sharing the complex power load and network loss among the generators. This letter proposes a complex power compensation approach, which is based on Wirtinger calculus, for extending the applicability of practical distribution power flow methods to microgrids operating in island mode. Supporting numerical results are reported on microgrids with up to 3139 nodes.
Asparagus officinalis extract controls blood glucose by improving insulin secretion and β-cell function in streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic rats

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anti-diabetic mechanism of Asparagus officinalis, a dietary agent used for the management of diabetes. Streptozotocin (90 mg/kg) was injected in 2-d-old Wistar rat pups to induce non-obese type 2 diabetes. After confirmation of diabetes on the 13th week, diabetic rats were treated with a methanolic extract of A. officinalis seeds (250 and 500 mg/kg per d) or glibenclamide for 28 d. After the treatment, fasting blood glucose, serum insulin and total antioxidant status were measured. The pancreas was examined by haematoxylin–eosin staining and immunostained β- and α-cells were observed using a fluorescence microscope. Treatment of the diabetic rats with the A. officinalis extract at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg suppressed the elevated blood glucose in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The 500 mg/kg, but not 250 mg/kg, dose significantly improved serum insulin levels in the diabetic rats. The insulin:glucose ratio was significantly increased at both doses in the A. officinalis-treated rats. Both qualitative and quantitative improvements in β-cell function were found in the islets of the A. officinalis-treated rats. The extract showed potent antioxidant activity in an in vitro assay and also improved the total antioxidant status in vivo. In most cases, the efficacy of A. officinalis (500 mg/kg) was very similar to a standard anti-diabetic drug, glibenclamide. Thus, the present study suggests that A. officinalis extract exerts anti-diabetic effects by improving insulin secretion and β-cell function, as well as the antioxidant status.
Chemically controlled aggregation of pluripotent stem cells

Abstract Heterogeneity in pluripotent stem cell (PSC) aggregation leads to variability in mass transfer and signaling gradients between aggregates, which results in heterogeneous differentiation and therefore variability in product quality and yield. We have characterized a chemical‐based method to control aggregate size within a specific, tunable range with low heterogeneity, thereby reducing process variability in PSC expansion. This method enables controlled, scalable, stirred suspension‐based manufacturing of PSC cultures that are critical for the translation of regenerative medicine strategies to clinical products.
The design and implementation of tripwire: a file system integrity checker

At the heart of most computer systems is a file system. The file system contains user data, executable programs, configuration and authorization information, and (usually) the base executable version of the operating system itself. The ability to monitor file systems for unauthorized or unexpected changes gives system administrators valuable data for protecting and maintaining their systems. However, in environments of many networked heterogeneous platforms with different policies and software, the task of monitoring changes becomes quite daunting. Tripwire is tool that aids UNIX system administrators and users in monitoring a designated set of files and directories for any changes. Used with system files on a regular (e.g., daily) basis, Tripwire can notify system administrators of corrupted or altered files, so corrective actions may be taken in a timely manner. Tripwire may also be used on user or group files or databases to signal changes. This paper describes the design and implementation of the Tripwire tool. It uses interchangeable “signature” (usually, message digest) routines to identify changes in files, and is highly configurable. Tripwire is no-cost software, available on the Internet, and is currently in use on thousands of machines around the world.
Using Network Metrics in Soccer: A Macro-Analysis

Abstract The aim of this study was to propose a set of network methods to measure the specific properties of a team. These metrics were organised at macro-analysis levels. The interactions between teammates were collected and then processed following the analysis levels herein announced. Overall, 577 offensive plays were analysed from five matches. The network density showed an ambiguous relationship among the team, mainly during the 2nd half. The mean values of density for all matches were 0.48 in the 1st half, 0.32 in the 2nd half and 0.34 for the whole match. The heterogeneity coefficient for the overall matches rounded to 0.47 and it was also observed that this increased in all matches in the 2nd half. The centralisation values showed that there was no ‘star topology’. The results suggest that each node (i.e., each player) had nearly the same connectivity, mainly in the 1st half. Nevertheless, the values increased in the 2nd half, showing a decreasing participation of all players at the same level. Briefly, these metrics showed that it is possible to identify how players connect with each other and the kind and strength of the connections between them. In summary, it may be concluded that network metrics can be a powerful tool to help coaches understand team’s specific properties and support decision-making to improve the sports training process based on match analysis.
Coordinated Control Method for DFIG-Based Wind Farm to Provide Primary Frequency Regulation Service

With the rapid growth of wind power penetration, system operators are required to enforce grid codes that implement frequency regulation of wind farms. This paper presents a distributed cooperation framework for a doubly fed induction generator based wind farm to participate in primary frequency regulation, including imitated inertia and droop characteristics similar to conventional plants. Compared with centralized schemes, the control efficiency is significantly improved. To realize fast distributed coordination and optimal power distribution among wind turbines (WTs), a distributed Newton method is developed, which only requires WTs to exchange limited information with their neighbors over a sparse communication network, and has a super-linear convergence rate. By introducing an index of state of energy, this method can adequately exploit the kinetic energy of all WTs without loss of security. The simulation results indicate that the method exhibits satisfying dynamic performance and reliability, and the system frequency can be stabilized faster when the wind farm controlled by the proposed method participates in frequency control.
Active capacitor voltage balancing control for three-level flying capacitor boost converter

The average-behavior circuit model of three-level flying capacitor boost converter (FCBC) is presented in this paper. The small-signal transfer functions of three-level FCBC are first obtained that are including two control signals as the input signals and including the output voltage and the capacitor voltage as the output signals. Besides, the voltage regulating controller is a proportional-integral (PI-type) controller and the voltage balancing controller is a proportional (P-type) controller. Based on the small-signal analysis of three-level FCBC, the closed-loop transfer functions can be obtained and the controller parameters can be selected as well. All the algorithms are implemented in a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) chip. The simulation and experimental results validate the capacitor voltage balancing capability of the proposed method.
Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens of the Caribbean: Current Understanding and Future Directions for More Comprehensive Surveillance

Ticks are obligate hematophagous arthropods of significant importance to human and veterinary medicine. They transmit a vast array of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and helminths. Most epidemiological data on ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in the West Indies are limited to common livestock pathogens such as Ehrlichia ruminantium, Babesia spp. (i.e., B. bovis and B. bigemina), and Anaplasma marginale, and less information is available on companion animal pathogens. Of note, human tick-borne diseases (TBDs) remain almost completely uncharacterized in the West Indies. Information on TBP presence in wildlife is also missing. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review of the ticks and TBPs affecting human and animal health in the Caribbean, and introduce the challenges associated with understanding TBD epidemiology and implementing successful TBD management in this region. In particular, we stress the need for innovative and versatile surveillance tools using high-throughput pathogen detection (e.g., high-throughput real-time microfluidic PCR). The use of such tools in large epidemiological surveys will likely improve TBD prevention and control programs in the Caribbean.
Synthesis of Iron Oxide Nanostructures via Carbothermal Reaction of Fe Microspheres Generated by Infrared Pulsed Laser Ablation

Iron oxide nanostructures were synthesized using the carbothermal reaction of Fe microspheres generated by infrared pulsed laser ablation. The Fe microspheres were successfully deposited on Si(100) substrates by laser ablation of the Fe metal target using Nd:YAG pulsed laser operating at λ = 1064 nm. By varying the deposition time (number of pulses), Fe microspheres can be prepared with sizes ranging from 400 nm to 10 µm. Carbothermal reaction of these microspheres at high temperatures results in the self-assembly of iron oxide nanostructures, which grow radially outward from the Fe surface. Nanoflakes appear to grow on small Fe microspheres, whereas nanowires with lengths up to 4.0 μm formed on the large Fe microspheres. Composition analyses indicate that the Fe microspheres were covered with an Fe3O4 thin layer, which converted into Fe2O3 nanowires under carbothermal reactions. The apparent radial or outward growth of Fe2O3 nanowires was attributed to the compressive stresses generated across the Fe/Fe3O4/Fe2O3 interfaces during the carbothermal heat treatment, which provides the chemical driving force for Fe diffusion. Based on these results, plausible thermodynamic and kinetic considerations of the driving force for the growth of Fe2O3 nanostructures were discussed.
Acute Biliary Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory disease of the pancreas. The etiology and pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis have been intensively investigated for centuries worldwide. It can be initiated by several factors, including gallstones, alcohol, trauma, infections and hereditary factors. About 75% of pancreatitis is caused by gallstones or alcohol. In this chapter we discuss the causes, diagnosis, imaging findings, therapy, and complications of acute biliary pancreatitis.
Measuring absorptivity of ceramic materials at high temperatures in Gyrotron Ceramics Sintering System

The development of processes based on the microwave heating of materials requires knowledge of the dielectric properties of the materials and their temperature dependences. In this work we measure the microwave radiation absorption coefficient in alumina-based ceramic materials over a wide range of temperatures. The method is based on comparing the Q-factors of an unloaded resonator and a resonator with an absorbing sample placed inside [1], [2]. In our experiments the working chamber of the gyrotron complex is in fact a multimode (L>>λ) untuned resonator [3]. A distinctive feature of this method is the use of radiation simultaneously for both diagnosis of properties (measurement of the absorption coefficient) and heating of the sample. In the experiments we investigated absorptivity of two types of alumina ceramics materials: A0 (> 99.5% Al2O3) and AZ11 (88% Al2O3 + 11% ZrO2 + 1% Y2O3). Samples of both compositions were presintered in a resistive heating furnace to a density of about 80% of the theoretical density (the porosity was near 20%). Basing on the measured absorptivity and theoretical calculations of the absorption coefficients of the samples under conditions of omnidirectional microwave irradiation and the dielectric characteristics of materials of complex composition, the loss tangents of the studied materials were determined. The Q-factor of the resonator was measured using a microwave power meter connected to the resonator through a small cross-section aperture. The measured power P is proportional to the intensity of the electromagnetic field inside the resonator. Comparing the values of the power meter signals in cases of an unloaded resonator and a resonator loaded with a sample, it is possible to determine the ratio of the Qfactors in these two cases (the index 0 refers to the unloaded resonator) QQ QQ0 = PP PP0 . (1)
Fabrication and Characterization of Polyethylene Nanocomposite Films Containing Zinc Oxide (ZnO) Nanoparticles Synthesized by a Cost-Effective and Safe Method

Abstract ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized through a cost-effective and safe method followed by fabrication and characterization of polyethylene/ZnO nanocomposite films and investigation of their properties. The morphology and size of the synthesized nanoparticles were evaluated by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). It was found that nanoparticles with a plate-like morphology with an average thickness of 50-70 nm were synthesized. The nanocomposites were characterized by using Fourier transform infrared analysis (FTIR) and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV-VIS). In addition, the effects of the amount of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) on the mechanical properties of the films and particles and their antibacterial properties against a gram-negative bacterium (Escherichia coli) and gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) were investigated. In the case of nanoparticles, one more gram-positive bacterium (Staphylococcus aureus) was studied. The results demonstrated an inhibition of growth of all bacteria in a broth medium for both the nanoparticles and nanocomposites. The FE-SEM micrographs revealed that by increasing the nanofiller content an inferior quality of dispersion was obtained which was reflected in the lower tensile strength of the nanocomposites compared to the pure PE. It was demonstrated that the addition of poly ethylene graft maleic anhydride (PE-g-MA), as compatibiliser, improved the dispersion state of the nanoparticles and, consequently, the ultimate mechanical properties. In addition, it was shown that the fabricated nanocomposites exhibited considerable UV-shielding properties.