Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Speaker verification inspired by the physiology of hearing using spiking self‐organising map

In this paper, a speaker verification algorithm, which is inspired by the physiology of hearing in the human auditory system, is proposed. The algorithm uses a modified self‐organising map composed of spiking neurons. The architecture of the algorithm imitates the biomechanical mechanism of the human auditory system, which converts the speech signal from sound vibration waves into electrical spikes inside the cochlea. The paper also suggests a spike‐based rank order coding input feature vector, which is designed to be representative of the real biological spike trains found within the human auditory nerve. During the training phase, the winner neuron in the proposed Spiking Self‐Organising Map is updated only when its activity exceeds a specified threshold. The algorithm is evaluated using 50 speakers from the Centre for Spoken Language Understanding (CSLU2002) speaker verification database and shows a speaker verification performance of 90.1%. This compares favourably with previous non‐spiking self‐organising map that used Discrete Fourier Transform‐based input feature vector with the same dataset.
Evaluation of Hunter-Harvested White-Tailed Deer for Evidence of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus Infection in Alabama

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is one of the most relevant pathogens affecting today's cattle industries. Although great strides have been made in understanding this virus in cattle, little is known about the role of wildlife in the epidemiology of BVDV. While persistently infected cattle are the most important reservoir, free-ranging ungulates may become infected with BVDV as demonstrated by serosurveys and experimental infections. Therefore, free-ranging wildlife may maintain BVDV as the result of an independent cycle and may serve as a reservoir for the virus. Systematic studies on prevalence of BVDV-specific antibodies or frequency of persistent BVDV infection in North American wildlife are sparse, and no information is available from the southeastern United States. The objective of this study was to evaluate blood and skin samples from hunter-harvested white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) for evidence of BVDV infection. Virus-neutralizing antibodies were detected in 2 of 165 serum samples. Skin biopsy immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed on samples from 406 deer using a BVDV-specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) (15c5), and BVDV antigen was detected in one sample. A similar IHC staining pattern was obtained using a second BVDV MAb (3.12F1). Viral antigen distribution in the skin sample of this deer resembled that found in persistently infected cattle and in a previously described persistently infected white-tailed deer; thus, the deer was presumed to be persistently infected. Evidence of BVDV infection in free-ranging white-tailed deer should encourage further systematic investigation of the prevalence of BVDV in wildlife.
Improved Light Extraction Efficiency in AlGaInP Light-Emitting Diodes by Applying a Periodic Texture on the Surface

In this letter, AlGaInP-GaP-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were fabricated with an Si substrate and an SiO2-ITO-Ag omni-directional reflector using a metal-to-metal bonding technique. To enhance light extraction efficiency, a periodic texture was applied to the (Al0.5Ga0.5)0.5In0. 5P surface layer of AlGaInP-Si LEDs by photolithography and a wet etching process. The exterior of the etched texture consists of a series of bowl-shaped recesses. With a 350-mA current injection, the typical output power of the AlGaInP-Si LEDs with and without the textured surface (LED-I and LED-II, respectively) were measured at approximately 118 and 81 mW, respectively, when the LED chips were bonded on the TO 46 without resin encapsulation. The enhancement of output power in LED-I can be attributed to a multitude of bowl-shaped notches on the surface, which resulted in a reduction of the reabsorption probability of the photons due to the fact that the photon path length in LED-I is shorter than in LED-II before the photons escape into the free space.
A Model System of Error Commission, Detection and Correction for High Precision Error Coupling in the Error Monitoring and Processing System: Role of Glycemic Allostasis Regulation

Error commission, detection, and correction are the products of the activities of a complex neural network referred to the error monitoring and processing system (EMPS) diffusely located in different brain regions. High-precision error coupling is the hallmark of EMPS functioning that is the result of effective neural processing and monitoring of error signals. Error commission, detection and correction as generic entities of the neural network of EMPS are influenced by some factors classified under two broad categories: endogenous and endogenous. We had previously reported the effect of exogenous and endogenous alcohol as well as other factors that may affect this system. It is imperative to note that cells regulating the activities of the brain (including regions responsible for EMPS) rely mainly on the metabolic substrate "glucose" to ensure adequate functioning. More importantly, it is not just the availability of glucose that ensures adequate functioning of neurons, but the process by which glycemia stabilization is achieved through the balancing of glucose consumption rate and release into the blood stream under a variety of physiological stressors (cognitive or mental workload e.g. mental work executed by participants in an experimental conditions over a period 4-6 hours on fasting) to maintain the "set point". This process that is referred to glycemic allostasis involves the utilization of glucose molecules to maintain the anatomo-physiological integrity of cells comprising the neural network of EMPS. Unfortunately, little attention has been given to the allostatic regulation of glycemia that is necessary to ensure adequate functioning and provide high precision error coupling in the EMPS. In this paper, we produced a model system of error commission, detection, and correction and examine the possible effects and mechanisms of glycemic allostasis regulation on error coupling in the EMPS.
Economic Analysis of Post-Harvest Loss and Marketing Efficiency in Guava (cv. Allahabad safeda) in Karnataka

Post-harvest losses (PHL) in guava (cv. Allahabad safeda) were estimated at the field and retail levels in Karnataka, and impact of this loss on marketing efficiency was studied. Results indicated that the total PHL was 13.29% consisting of field-level loss (9.17%) and retail level loss (4.12%). The producer's share was 51.52% and PHL, when included as an item of cost, reduced the share to 45.80%. PHL also reduced marketing efficiency index from 1.06 to 0.88, thereby indicating the importance of PHL and scope for minimizing it to improve the efficiency of the marketing system in guava.
The yeast PRP19 protein is not tightly associated with small nuclear RNAs, but appears to associate with the spliceosome after binding of U2 to the pre-mRNA and prior to formation of the functional spliceosome

We have previously shown that the yeast PRP19 protein is associated with the spliceosome during the splicing reaction by immunoprecipitation studies with anti-PRP19 antibody. We have extended such studies by using extracts depleted of specific splicing factors to investigate the step of the spliceosome assembly process that PRP19 is involved in. PRP19 was not associated with the splicing complexes formed in U2- or U6-depleted extracts but was associated with the splicing complex formed in heat-inactivated prp2 extracts. This finding indicates that PRP19 becomes associated with the splicing complexes after or concomitant with binding of the U6 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (snRNP) to the precursor RNA and before formation of the functional spliceosome. We further analyzed whether PRP19 is an integral component of snRNPs. We have constructed a strain in which an epitope of nine amino acid residues recognized by a well-characterized monoclonal antibody, 12CA5, is linked to the carboxyl terminus of the wild-type PRP19 protein. Immunoprecipitation of the splicing extracts with anti-PRP19 antibody or precipitation of the extracts prepared from the epitope-tagged strain with the 12CA5 antibody did not precipitate significant amounts of snRNAs. Addition of micrococcal nuclease-treated extracts to the PRP19-depleted extract restored its splicing activity. These results indicate that PRP19 is not tightly associated with any of the snRNAs required for the splicing reaction. No non-snRNP protein factor has been demonstrated to participate in either step of the spliceosome assembly pathway that PRP19 might be involved in. Thus, PRP19 represents a novel splicing factor.
Btf and TRAP150 have distinct roles in regulating subcellular mRNA distribution

Transcription of protein-coding genes in mammalian cells is coordinated with pre-mRNA processing as well as the assembly and nuclear export of mRNPs. Btf (BCLAF1) and TRAP150 (THRAP3) were previously reported to associate with in vitro spliced mRNPs and also as a part of the spliceosome, suggesting they are involved in pre-mRNA processing. Btf and TRAP150 are serine-arginine-rich (SR) proteins with significant sequence similarity, but the extent of their functional overlap is not yet clear. We show that both Btf and TRAP150 localize at a constitutively active β-tropomyosin (BTM) reporter minigene locus in mammalian cells. Both proteins also localize at a U2OS 2–6-3 reporter gene locus in a RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) transcription-dependent manner. While Btf and TRAP150 showed some overlap with reporter RNA and other pre-mRNA processing factors at transcription loci, they showed the most precise overlap with the exon junction complex (EJC) protein Magoh. Since EJC components have roles in nuclear export, we examined nuclear/cytoplasmic mRNA distribution after Btf or TRAP150 knockdown. Btf depletion caused an increase of β-tropomyosin minigene reporter transcripts in the cytoplasm as well as global increase of endogenous polyadenylated RNA in the cytoplasm, while TRAP150 depletion did not. We provide evidence that Btf has functions distinct from TRAP150 in regulating the subcellular distribution of mRNAs in human cells.
Identification of an A-to-G missense mutation in exon 2 of the UGT1 gene complex that causes Crigler-Najjar syndrome type 2.

Crigler-Najjar syndrome is an inborn error of metabolism that is characterized by severe unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. The disease is caused by a deficiency in the hepatic enzyme bilirubin UDP-glucoronosyl-transferase (UGT), which is responsible for the safe elimination of the toxic heme breakdown product bilirubin from the body via bile. Two types of the disease have been classified according to their clinical severity. Crigler-Najjar syndrome type 2 (CN-2) is a less severe form of the disease that is caused by a reduced ability to glucoronidate bilirubin, with serium bilirubin levels ranging from 60 to 340 [mu]M. The recent identification of a large gene locus termed UGT1 that encodes two bilirubin UGTs (UGT1*1 and UGT1*4) and two phenol UGTs (UGT1*02 and UGT1*6) has provided the tools for studying hereditary unconjugated hyperbilirubinemias. Recent analysis of five unrelated CN-1 patients has revealed the presence of several mutations in the UGT1 gene complex. Here, the authors present the first report of a mutation identified in a CN-2 patient and discuss the correlation of this mutation with the severity of the disease. The missense mutation identified in exon 2 of the CN-2 patient's DNA that is shared by several UGT1 genes is predicted to change a glutaminemore » codon (CAG) to an arginine codon (CGG) at residue 331 of the bilirubin UGT isoenzymes, UGT1*1 and UGT1*4, and residue 329 of UGT1*02 and residue 327 of UGT1*6 of the phenol UGT isoenzymes. This agreed with enzymological and immunochemical studies, which demonstrated that the expression of all UGT1 proteins was affected in the CN-2 patient. 12 refs., 1 fig.« less
Fig1p Facilitates Ca2+ Influx and Cell Fusion during Mating of Saccharomyces cerevisiae*

During the mating process of yeast cells, two Ca2+ influx pathways become activated. The resulting elevation of cytosolic free Ca2+ activates downstream signaling factors that promote long term survival of unmated cells, but the roles of Ca2+ in conjugation have not been described. The high affinity Ca2+ influx system is composed of Cch1p and Mid1p and sensitive to feedback inhibition by calcineurin, a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase. To identify components and regulators of the low affinity Ca2+ influx system (LACS), we screened a collection of pheromone-responsive genes that when deleted lead to defects in LACS activity but not high affinity Ca2+ influx system activity. Numerous factors implicated in polarized morphogenesis and cell fusion (Fus1p, Fus2p, Rvs161p, Bni1p, Spa2p, and Pea2p) were found to be necessary for LACS activity. Each of these factors was also required for activation of the cell integrity mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade during the response to α-factor. Interestingly a polytopic plasma membrane protein, Fig1p, was required for LACS activity but not required for activation of Mpk1p mitogen-activated protein kinase. Mpk1p was not required for LACS activity, suggesting Mpk1p and Fig1p define two independent branches in the pheromone response pathways. Fig1p-deficient mutants exhibit defects in the cell-cell fusion step of mating, but unlike other fus1 and fus2 mutants the fusion defect of fig1 mutants can be largely suppressed by high Ca2+ conditions, which bypass the requirement for LACS. These findings suggest Fig1p is an important component or regulator of LACS and provide the first evidence for a role of Ca2+ signals in the cell fusion step of mating.
The Changing Role of Research and Education in New Zealand Universities

The role of universities in conducting research and education has changed considerably in order to embrace twenty-first century knowledge and skills required for global economy. New forms of analytical reasoning and innovative thinking are required to meet future challenges. Most universities are not sufficiently equipped to make necessary structural adjustments or to cope up with these new challenges. Teaching and research activities that commensurate with production of skilled and knowledgeable work force for a modern economy requires repositioning of the higher educational system. This paper reviews the dynamic changes in New Zealand’s higher education system and revisits the role universities in producing reliable knowledge. It discusses the way in which education underpins economic and social development and its role in entirety as a hermeneutic package which is recursive, persuasive and a continuum of learning from primary, secondary, tertiary education through to lifelong learning. The universities have responsibilities to provide intellectual leadership in shaping knowledge economy for sustainable futures and environmentally responsible entrepreneurial nations—not as institutions just awarding academic degrees.
Analysis of CMOS inhibitory synapse with varying neurotransmitter concentration, reuptake time and spread delay

Biologically-realistic synapses serve the role of computation, modification and communication, which makes it an important pillar of spike-based neuron model. Various circuit implementations of different types of synapse exist depending on different functions and applications. This paper simulates Biomimetic Real-Time Cortex Project design of synapse using SPICE code showing theoretical analysis using commercially available nano length CMOS technology using SPICE circuit simulator. This circuit is implemented by modeling different mechanism of a neuron which includes that of neurotransmitter release, reuptake mechanism and spread delay which tracks the behavior of cortical neuron using electronic control signals.
Fatigue Reliability Analysis of Sn–Ag–Cu Solder Joints Subject to Thermal Cycling

In this paper, thermal cycling tests and finite-element analysis (FEA) for a plastic ball grid array package with Sn-3.8Ag-0.7Cu lead-free solder joints have been performed. The solder joint fatigue lives were predicted and compared by using different 2-D and 3-D FEA models. The effects of solder constitutive models and fatigue life models on solder fatigue life prediction have been investigated. In order to obtain fatigue parameters, new averaging volumes were proposed for the solder fatigue life prediction. Different reference temperatures were simulated to investigate its effect on the solder fatigue life prediction. The effect of intermetallic compound thickness on solder joint fatigue life prediction was also investigated.
Portfolio Design and the Goal of Immunization

In this paper, we analyze the influence of portfolio design on the goal of immunization in Spanish bond portfolios. Extending the work of Fooladi and Roberts (1992) and Bierwag et al. (1993), we test a wide set of strategies which includes duration-matching strategies and strategies based on the M-squared of Fong and Vasicek (1984) and the M-absolute of Nawalkha and Chambers (1996). We attempt to evaluate the effectiveness of these dispersion measures and justify the improvements in immunization when portfolios include a bond maturing near the horizon date.
Determination of the site of first strand transfer during Moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcription and identification of strand transfer‐associated reverse transcriptase errors

Reverse transcriptase must perform two specialized template switches during retroviral DNA synthesis. Here, we used Moloney murine leukemia virus‐based vectors to examine the site of one of these switches during intracellular reverse transcription. Consistent with original models for reverse transcription, but in contrast to previous experimental data, we observed that this first strand transfer nearly always occurred precisely at the 5′ end of genomic RNA. This finding allowed us to use first strand transfer to study the classes of errors that reverse transcriptase can and/or does make when it switches templates at a defined position during viral DNA synthesis. We found that errors occurred at the site of first strand transfer ∼1000‐fold more frequently than reported average reverse transcriptase error rates for template‐internal positions. We then analyzed replication products of specialized vectors that were designed to test possible origins for the switch‐associated errors. Our results suggest that at least some errors arose via non‐templated nucleotide addition followed by mismatch extension at the point of strand transfer. We discuss the significance of our findings as they relate to the possible contribution that template switch‐associated errors may make to retroviral mutation rates.
Detection of flow limitation in obstructive sleep apnea with an artificial neural network

During sleep, the development of a plateau on the inspiratory airflow/time contour provides a non-invasive indicator of airway collapsibility. Humans recognize this abnormal contour easily, and this study replicates this with an artificial neural network (ANN) using a normalized shape. Five 10 min segments were selected from each of 18 sleep records (respiratory airflow measured with a nasal cannula) with varying degrees of sleep disordered breathing. Each breath was visually scored for shape, and breaths split randomly into a training and test set. Equally spaced, peak amplitude normalized flow values (representing breath shape) formed the only input to a back propagation ANN. Following training, breath-by-breath agreement of the ANN with the manual classification was tabulated for the training and test sets separately. Agreement of the ANN was 89% in the training set and 70.6% in the test set. When the categories of ‘probably normal’ and ‘normal’, and ‘probably flow limited’ and ‘flow limited’ were combined, the agreement increased to 92.7% and 89.4% respectively, similar to the intra- and inter-rater agreements obtained by a visual classification of these breaths. On a naive dataset, the agreement of the ANN to visual classification was 57.7% overall and 82.4% when the categories were collapsed. A neural network based only on the shape of inspiratory airflow succeeded in classifying breaths as to the presence/absence of flow limitation. This approach could be used to provide a standardized, reproducible and automated means of detecting elevated upper airway resistance.
Fractional-order PIλDµ controller tuned by coefficient diagram method and particle swarm optimization algorithms for SO2 emission control process

Environmental impacts are increased on human/animal health day by day. This research work focussed on the implementation of advanced control theory for the reduction of SO2 coming out from thermal power plants. Flue gas desulphurization technique in which packed column is used for gas–liquid mass transfer by externally adding H2O2 with H2SO4 as the scrubbing liquid. The concept of fractional calculus has tremendous potential to improve the controller performance. Hence, the fractional calculus is incorporated with coefficient diagram method to tune the proportional–integral–derivative controller, and it is named as fractional-order-based coefficient diagram method (FOCDM-PIλDµ) controller. Flow rate of externally added H2O2 is regulated by fractional-order-based coefficient diagram method PIλDµ controller tuned by particle swarm optimization algorithm. The performance of fractional-order-based coefficient diagram method controller is analysed and compared with the classical controllers such as Ziegler–Nichols proportional–integral–derivative and coefficient diagram method–based proportional–integral–derivative controller in a lab-scale SO2 emission control experimental setup.
Educators’ Experiences Identifying Pain Among Students in Special Education Settings

If special educators cannot identify pain in students with intellectual disability (ID), students cannot be referred to the school nurse for assessment and management. The purpose of this study was to examine how special educators identify pain in the school setting. Twenty-four special educators participated in focus groups aiming to (1) identify educators’ observations and perceptions of pain in students with ID and (2) determine the decision-making processes educators use to determine the need for student presentation or referral to the health office. Overall, special educators know students well enough to differentiate pain-related behaviors from normal well-child behaviors, prioritize student safety, and draw on personal experiences with pain when addressing pain in students with ID. Special educators welcome opportunities to learn more about pain in children with ID. Teachers, nurses, and other professionals should share knowledge about and experiences of working with students in pain to improve practices.
A moving pole-placement compensation design method to increase the bandwidth of RC-damper-based dual “Buck-Boost” AC/DC converter

Recently, an LCL-filter-based dual “Buck-Boost” AC/DC converter for DC Nano-grid with three terminal outputs was proposed. Since it is a high order filter based single-phase converter, a RC damper is adopted to keep the system stable. This converter has two work modes: “Boost” and “Buck”. During the “Buck” mode, the control-to-grid current transfer function of this dual “Buck-Boost” AC/DC converter has a movable zero, which is related to the input power and the output DC voltage. When the input power increases, the movable zero will slide to the lower frequency range. And then, the gain between the cut-off frequency point and the resonant frequency of LCL filter will swell up, resulting in reduced amplitude margin and suppressed bandwidth of system. Based on the theoretical analysis, a new dynamic pole placement compensation control design method is proposed for this dual AC/DC converter with an RC damper. The effectivity is verified through simulation and experimental results on an 110V/ 1000 W prototype.