Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Speech Parameter Generation Algorithm Considering Global Variance for HMM-Based Speech Synthesis

This paper describes a novel parameter generation algorithm for an HMM-based speech synthesis technique. The conventional algorithm generates a parameter trajectory of static features that maximizes the likelihood of a given HMM for the parameter sequence consisting of the static and dynamic features under an explicit constraint between those two features. The generated trajectory is often excessively smoothed due to the statistical processing. Using the over-smoothed speech parameters usually causes muffled sounds. In order to alleviate the over-smoothing effect, we propose a generation algorithm considering not only the HMM likelihood maximized in the conventional algorithm but also a likelihood for a global variance (GV) of the generated trajectory. The latter likelihood works as a penalty for the over-smoothing, i.e., a reduction of the GV of the generated trajectory. The result of a perceptual evaluation demonstrates that the proposed algorithm causes considerably large improvements in the naturalness of synthetic speech.
Regenerative steady-state simulation of discrete-event systems

The regenerative method possesses certain asymptotic properties that dominate those of other steady-state simulation output analysis methods, such as batch means. Therefore, applying the regenerative method to steady-state discrete-event system simulations is of great interest. In this paper, we survey the state of the art in this area. The main difficulty in applying the regenerative method in our context is perhaps in identifying regenerative cycle boundaries. We examine this issue through the use of the "smoothness index. " Regenerative cycles are easily identified in systems with unit smoothness index, but this is typically not the case for systems with nonunit smoothness index. We show that "most" (in a certain precise sense) discrete-event simulations will have nonunit smoothness index, and extend the asymptotic theory of regenerative simulation estimators to this context.
Performance analysis of poisson cellular networks with lognormal shadowed Rayleigh fading

This paper analyzes downlink coverage probability and spectral efficiency of Poisson cellular networks with lognormal shadowed Rayleigh fading, provided each user is associated to the closest base station (BS). Both location-dependent and cell area wide aspects of the coverage probability and spectral efficiency metrics are presented. Performance impact of system parameters such as frequency reuse factor, transmission probability, and Signal to Interference Ratio (SIR) gap from Shannon capacity are characterized. Numerical results support the view that shadowing significantly degrades the performance. The cell area wide spectral efficiency decreases by 37% when the shadowing standard deviation increases from 0dB to 12dB. Finally, the derived results on location-dependent metrics are applied to Fractional Frequency Reuse (FFR) optimal partitioning in terms of system spectral efficiency, which is found dependent on system parameters such as SIR gap from Shannon capacity. It is also numerically shown that the FFR significantly improves the (link) spectral efficiency for cell edge users. For a user far away from its associated BS (at a distance 3 times the radius of average cell area) and considering SIR gap from Shannon capacity of 3dB, FFR(1,3) improves the (link) spectral efficiency by 239% compared to the universal reuse factor.
Robust adaptive path following of underactuated ships

Robust path following is an issue of vital practical importance to the ship industry. In the paper, a nonlinear robust adaptive control strategy is developed to force an underactuated surface ship to follow a predefined path at a desired speed, despite the presence of environmental disturbances induced by wave, wind and ocean-current. The proposed controller is scalable and is designed using Lyapunov's direct method and the popular backstepping and parameter projection techniques. Whilst proving closed-loop stability, we obtain a new stability result for nonlinear cascade systems with non-vanishing uncertainties. It is shown that our developed control strategy is easily extendible to situations of practical importance such as parking and point-to-point navigation.
A Survey of Programming Languages and Platforms for Multi-Agent Systems

away from the underlying programming language in favour of using graphical means of programming, such as wizards and statecharts. Platforms. Closed frameworks such as DESIRE, strongly based on a platform, provide more complete solutions than others such as Jadex or TuCSoN. They usually offer an agent architecture and a system model, very useful for novel developers, together with the communication infrasA SURVEY OF LANGUAGES AND PLATFORMS. Informatica 30 (2006) 33–44 41 tructure and a range of robust services, such as directory facilitators, agent management services, and monitoring facilities. As a drawback, closed frameworks limit the development. For example, the design approach of the framework may not fit certain domain problems. Perhaps that is the reason why most researchers tend to use more open solutions. Currently, the most popular solution is to use JADE as underlying agent infrastructure combined with some other (higher-level) approach to program the agents’ behaviour. When dealing with more general frameworks (rather than tied to a platform), their use (i.e., defining the agents that will run within it, together with the required services and resources) should be automated as much as possible, in part to free the developer from low-level details (e.g. location of the configuration files, their concrete syntax, etc.). Despite this, few existing frameworks have IDE support. Concerning the paradigm of communication used, there are several on offer, often being an important issue when choosing which framework to adopt. TuCSoN is representative of tuple-centred communication, JADE of message passing, and DESIRE of data flow among processes. The various approaches mentioned along this survey indicate that there is still much work to be done. Among the major challenges faced by this research community are: – The conception and development of specialised debugging tools, in particular for cognitive agent languages; – The integration of agent tools into existing IDEs, rather than starting from scratch; – The separation of MAS frameworks from agent platforms, so that each framework can be used for deploying systems on a variety of platforms. – The dissemination of the MAS programming paradigm, so that programmers have a better understanding of its foundations as well as practical characteristics. We believe that the recent developments surveyed here show a lively interest in this area of research. Despite the large number of open issues and challenges, we expect that the experience gathered in developing MAS with these tools will take us closer to a more mature programming paradigm. Arguably, this is one of the few concrete ways for allowing wider audiences to use in practice, and in a systematic way, the various techniques that the MAS research community has developed over the last two decades.
Characterization and In Vitro and In Vivo Assessment of a Novel Cellulose Acetate-Coated Mg-Based Alloy for Orthopedic Applications

Despite their good biocompatibility and adequate mechanical behavior, the main limitation of Mg alloys might be their high degradation rates in a physiological environment. In this study, a novel Mg-based alloy exhibiting an elastic modulus E = 42 GPa, Mg-1Ca-0.2Mn-0.6Zr, was synthesized and thermo-mechanically processed. In order to improve its performance as a temporary bone implant, a coating based on cellulose acetate (CA) was realized by using the dipping method. The formation of the polymer coating was demonstrated by FT-IR, XPS, SEM and corrosion behavior comparative analyses of both uncoated and CA-coated alloys. The potentiodynamic polarization test revealed that the CA coating significantly improved the corrosion resistance of the Mg alloy. Using a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments, the biocompatibility of both groups of biomaterials was assessed. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the media containing their extracts showed good cytocompatibility on MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts in terms of cell adhesion and spreading, viability, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. In vivo studies conducted in rats revealed that the intramedullary coated implant for fixation of femur fracture was more efficient in inducing bone regeneration than the uncoated one. In this manner, the present study suggests that the CA-coated Mg-based alloy holds promise for orthopedic aplications.
Modeling mm- to X-ray flare emission from Sagittarius A*

Context. We report on new modeling results based on the mm- to X-ray emission of the SgrA* counterpart associated with the massive∼4×10 6 M⊙ black hole at the Galactic Center. Aims. We investigate the physical processes responsible for the variable emission from SgrA*. Methods. Our modeling is based on simultaneous observations carried out on 07 July, 2004, using the NACO adaptive optics (AO) instrument at the European Southern Observatory’s Very Lar ge Telescope ⋆ and the ACIS-I instrument aboard the Chandra X-ray Observatory as well as the Submillimeter Array SMA ⋆⋆ on Mauna Kea, Hawaii, and the Very Large Array ⋆⋆⋆ in New Mexico. Results. The observations revealed several flare events in all wavele ngth domains. Here we show that the flare emission can be described with a combination of a synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) model followed by an adiabatic expansion of the source components. The SSC emission at NIR and X-ray wavelengths involves up-scattered sub-millimeter photons from a compact source component. At the start of the flare, spectra of these components peak at fre quencies between several 100 GHz and 2 THz. The adiabatic expansion then accounts for the variable emission observed at sub-mm/mm wavelengths. The derived physical quantities that describe the flare emission give a blob expansion speed of vexp∼ 0.005c, magnetic field of B around 60 G or less and spectral indic es ofα=0.8 to 1.4, corresponding to a particle spectral index p∼2.6 to 3.8. Conclusions. A combined SSC and adiabatic expansion model can fully account for the observed flare flux densities and delay times covering the spectral range from the X-ray to the mm-radio domain. The derived model parameters suggest that the adiabatic expansion takes place in source components that have a bulk motion larger than vexp or the expanding material contributes to a corona or disk, confined to the immediate surroundings of SgrA*.
GVH Reactivity of Spleen Cells from Neonatally Thymectomized Mice

The preceding paper (1) describes an example of synergistic interaction between two cell populations that mediate a cellular immune reaction, the graft-vs.-host (GVH) reaction. Mixtures of spleen cells obtained from NZB/B1 mice at two different stages of an autoimmune disease were shown to produce GVH reactions far greater than could be accounted for by summation of the separate activities of either population (1). The demonstration that the GVH activity of a weakly reactive lymphoid cell population could be enhanced by addition of appropriate numbers of cells obtained from lymphoid tissue comparatively rich in GVH activity suggested that at least two cell types were required to effect a GVH reaction. This hypothesis would be strengthened considerably if synergy could be demonstrated using cells from mice without disease. To this end, the GVH activity of different combinations of lymphoid cells from Balb/c mice was examined. Previous studies from this laboratory have shown that cells from different lymphoid tissues of mice possess substantially different GVH activity (2). Further, it is known that the GVH activity of lymphoid cells obtained from mice soon after birth (3, 4) or from adult mice that have undergone neonatal thymectomy (5) is markedly reduced or absent. In the present study, appropriate proportions of adult spleen and femoral lymph node cells are shown to act synergistically with thymus cells and with spleen cells from neonatally thymectomized animals. In one case, two populations of lymphoid cells that produced no detectable reactions when injected separately in large numbers were able to produce significant GVH reactions when combined.
Efficacy of Onabotulinum Toxin A (Botox) versus Abobotulinum Toxin A (Dysport) Using a Conversion Factor (1 : 2.5) in Treatment of Primary Palmar Hyperhidrosis

Background. Two preparations of botulinum A toxin (BTX-A) are commercially available for the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis (PPH): Botox (Allergan; 100 U/vial) and Dysport (Ipsen Limited; 500 U/vial), which are not bioequivalent. Results regarding an appropriate conversion factor between them are controversial. Objectives. This paper aims to compare the efficacy of Botox and Dysport in PPH using a conversion factor of 1 : 2.5. Methods. Eight patients with severe PPH received intradermal injections of Botox in one palm and Dysport in the other in the same session. Clinical assessment was performed at baseline and posttreatment for 8 months using Minor's iodine starch test, Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS), and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) test. Results. At 3 weeks, a significant decrease in sweating for both preparations was noted which was more pronounced with Dysport compared with Botox. At 8 weeks, this difference turned insignificant. Continued evaluation showed similar improvement in both palms with a nonsignificant difference. Patients with longer disease duration were more liable to relapse. Conclusion. The efficacy and safety of Botox and Dysport injections were similar using a conversion factor of 1 : 2.5. There was a trend towards a more rapid action after Dysport treatment but without significant importance.
Overlap of autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary cirrhosis: an evaluation of a modified scoring system

OBJECTIVE:The coexistence of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) as an overlap syndrome has been previously described. The ability to detect AIH overlap with a revised version of the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group (IAHG) scoring system, however, remains unknown. Our specific aim was to evaluate the revised IAHG scoring system and its ability to identify AIH overlap in PBC.METHODS:One hundred forty-one PBC patients with first-time visits to the Mayo Clinic from January 1, 1990 to December 31, 1992 were evaluated. The calculation of individual revised IAHG scores was performed and compared to original IAHG scores.RESULTS:Among 137 PBC patients with available liver histologies, use of the original IAHG scoring system detected “definite” and “probable” AIH overlap among 2.2% and 62% of cases, respectively. Application of the revised IAHG scoring system, however, revealed no individuals (0%) with definite AIH overlap (>15 points). Twenty-six subjects (19%) fulfilled IAHG criteria for probable AIH overlap (10–15 points). The presence of antinuclear antibody and/or smooth muscle antibody positivity (p = 0.05), other autoimmune disorders (p < 0.01), and total histological score (p < 0.001) were significantly greater in the PBC plus probable AIH group than in subjects with PBC alone.CONCLUSION:A reduction in the prevalence of definite (2.2% vs 0%) and probable (62% vs.19%) AIH overlap among PBC subjects was observed with use of the revised IAHG scoring system relative to the original criteria. Applicability of the revised IAHG scoring system, however, remains questionable, as nearly 20% of PBC patients will be classified with probable AIH overlap.
Tensor-CUR decompositions for tensor-based data

Motivated by numerous applications in which the data may be modeled by a variable subscripted by three or more indices, we develop a tensor-based extension of the matrix CUR decomposition. The tensor-CUR decomposition is most relevant as a data analysis tool when the data consist of one mode that is qualitatively different than the others. In this case, the tensor-CUR decomposition approximately expresses the original data tensor in terms of a basis consisting of underlying subtensors that are actual data elements and thus that have natural interpretation in terms ofthe processes generating the data. In order to demonstrate the general applicability of this tensor decomposition, we apply it to problems in two diverse domains of data analysis: hyperspectral medical image analysis and consumer recommendation system analysis. In the hyperspectral data application, the tensor-CUR decomposition is used to compress the data, and we show that classification quality is not substantially reduced even after substantial data compression. In the recommendation system application, the tensor-CUR decomposition is used to reconstruct missing entries in a user-product-product preference tensor, and we show that high quality recommendations can be made on the basis of a small number of basis users and a small number of product-product comparisons from a new user.
Two scenarios for productive learning environments in the workplace

Productive learning is defined as learning that can be reused, in application to new problem situations in an organisation or for assimilation and reflection in structured learning situations such as courses. An important but underexploited form of productive learning relates to the capture and reuse of the tacit knowledge of members of an organisation. Two approaches for this reuse of tacit knowledge are discussed, along with instructional strategies and technologies to support the knowledge capture and reuse process within each of the approaches. In one of the illustrated approaches the emphasis is on how those in mentor or supervisor positions can more systematically support the diffusion of their own tacit knowledge to those of their mentees and in the process create new knowledge for reuse in other situations. In the second illustration, a change in orientation from knowledge transfer to knowledge creation and sharing in the formal training programmes of the organisation is the focus. An underlying database as well as easy-to-use tools for resource entry and indexing are key elements in facilitating the reuse of experience-based resources within and across both informal and formal learning.
Construction of a Prototype of a Volume Communications Environment

We are developing a volume communications environment, which is a teleimmersive collaboration environment on a grid infrastructure. The system is targeted to develop this tools; it is an integrated environment consisting of a real time information sharing system between remotely located researchers and a three-dimensional (3D) image-based real-time communication system. To evaluate the system’s functionality and performance, we have used it for real research problems, in the medical areas. This paper describes the current prototype and development status.
"Efficient" Subgradient Methods for General Convex Optimization

A subgradient method is presented for solving general convex optimization problems, the main requirement being that a strictly-feasible point is known. A feasible sequence of iterates is generated, which converges to within user-specified error of optimality. Feasibility is maintained with a line-search at each iteration, avoiding the need for orthogonal projections onto the feasible region (the operation that limits practicality of traditional subgradient methods). Lipschitz continuity is not required, yet the algorithm is shown to possess a convergence rate analogous to rates for traditional methods, albeit with error measured relatively, whereas traditionally error has been absolute. The algorithm is derived using an elementary framework that can be utilized to design other such algorithms.
Concerted Suppression of STAT3 and GSK3β Is Involved in Growth Inhibition of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer by Xanthatin

Xanthatin, a sesquiterpene lactone purified from Xanthium strumarium L. , possesses prominent anticancer activity. We found that disruption of GSK3β activity was essential for xanthatin to exert its anticancer properties in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), concurrent with preferable suppression of constitutive activation of STAT3. Interestingly, inactivation of the two signals are two mutually exclusive events in xanthatin-induced cell death. Moreover, we surprisingly found that exposure of xanthatin failed to trigger the presumable side effect of canonical Wnt/β-Catenin followed by GSK3β inactivation. We further observed that the downregulation of STAT3 was required for xanthatin to fine-tune the risk. Thus, the discovery of xanthatin, which has ability to simultaneously orchestrate two independent signaling cascades, may have important implications for screening promising drugs in cancer therapies.
Worker Skill Estimation in Team-Based Tasks

Many emerging applications such as collaborative editing, multi-player games, or fan-subbing require to form a team of experts to accomplish a task together. Existing research has investigated how to assign workers to such team-based tasks to ensure the best outcome assuming the skills of individual workers to be known. In this work, we investigate how to estimate individual worker's skill based on the outcome of the team-based tasks they have undertaken. We consider two popular skill aggregation functions and estimate the skill of the workers, where skill is either a deterministic value or a probability distribution. We propose efficient solutions for worker skill estimation using continuous and discrete optimization techniques. We present comprehensive experiments and validate the scalability and effectiveness of our proposed solutions using multiple real-world datasets.
Estimation and maintenance of measurement rates for multiple extended target tracking

In Gilholm et al.'s extended target model, the number of measurements generated by a target is Poisson distributed with measurement rate γ. Practical use of this extended target model in multiple extended target tracking algorithms requires a good estimate of γ. In this paper, we first give a Bayesian recursion for estimating γ using the well-known conjugate prior Gamma-distribution. In multiple extended target tracking, consideration of different measurement set associations to a single target makes Gamma-mixtures arise naturally. This causes a need for mixture reduction, and we consider the reduction of Gamma-mixtures by means of merging. Analytical minimization of the Kullback-Leibler divergence is used to compute the single Gamma distribution that best approximates a weighted sum of Gamma distributions. Results from simulations show the merits of the presented multiple target measurement-rate estimator. The Bayesian recursion and presented reduction algorithm have important implications for multiple extended target tracking, e.g. using the implementations of the extended target PHD filter.
Using Interpersonal Process Recall (IPR) to Examine the Effects of Equine Assisted Activities on the Personal and Professional Development of Student Therapists

Part of the Animal-Assisted Therapy Commons, Animal Studies Commons, Community-based Learning Commons, Community-based Research Commons, Counselor Education Commons, Curriculum and Social Inquiry Commons, Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons, Educational Psychology Commons, Family, Life Course, and Society Commons, Higher Education Commons, Psychology Commons, and the Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education Commons