Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Signal-adaptive switching of overlap ratio in audio transform coding

Contemporary perceptual audio coders, all of which apply the modified discrete cosine transform (MDCT), with an overlap ratio of 50%, for frequency-domain quantization, provide good coding quality even at low bit-rates. However, relatively long frames are required for acceptable low-rate performance also for quasi-stationary harmonic input, leading to increased algorithmic latency and reduced temporal coding resolution. This paper investigates the alternative approach of employing the extended lapped transform (ELT), with 75% overlap ratio, on such input. To maintain a high time resolution for coding of transient segments, the ELT definition is modified such that frame-wise switching between ELT (for quasi-stationary) and MDCT coding (for non-stationary or non-tonal regions), with complete time-domain aliasing cancelation and no increase in frame length, becomes possible. A new ELT window function with improved side-lobe rejection to avoid framing artifacts is also derived. Blind subjective evaluation of the switched-ratio proposal confirms the benefit of the signal-adaptive design.
GYNAECOLOGY CASE REPORTS

Case report A 74-year-old para 4+1, type 2 diabetic was referred by her GP with uncontrolled diabetes, pyrexia and profuse vaginal discharge. The GP had inserted a 70-mm ring pessary 2 days prior to admission because of a history suggesting utero-vaginal prolapse. This fell out 2 hours later. On admission she gave a history of worsening urge and stress incontinence, frequency and nocturia. Clinical examination revealed a 2 cm×1 cm ulcer (Figure 1) eroding through the anterior vaginal wall into the bladder, resulting in a vesicovaginal ® stula. The rest of the lower genital tract although atrophic was unremarkable. This ulcer was felt to be the cause of her symptoms. A biopsy and cystoscopy were performed and the clinical impression of a benign ulcer was con® rmed. Histologically, changes compatible with trauma from a ring pessary were also described. Cystoscopy showed no evidence of a bladder tumour and a cystogram delineated the vesicovaginal ® stula. The patient was managed conservatively with an indwelling catheter and topical oestrogen cream. Over the next 10 weeks the ulcer healed but the ® stula, although persisting, had reduced in size. A surgical approach has now been planned to rectify this.
Adolescent cigarette smoking: a developmental analysis of influences.

This study investigated the influence of various factors associated with smoking behaviour among a randomly selected sample of 3000 Dublin post-primary school pupils. A specific focus was the extent to which these influences change with age during adolescence (13-17 years). Normative influences on smoking behaviour increased up to age 15-16 years and then declined. This curvilinear pattern seems largely due to the rise and decline of peer influences over these years. On the other hand, the influence of parents (both in terms of parental example and approval) is constant over this period. Beliefs about the consequences of smoking were also affected by age. The distinctive contribution of such beliefs to the prediction of smoking doubled during the years under consideration. These results have important implications for the understanding of susceptibility to social influence during adolescence and for the design of effective smoking prevention programmes.
Iterative Label Propagation on facial images

In this paper a novel method is introduced for propagating person identity labels on facial images in an iterative manner. The proposed method takes into account information about the data structure, obtained through clustering. This information is exploited in two ways: to regulate the similarity strength between the data and to indicate which samples should be selected for label propagation initialization. The proposed method can also find application in label propagation on multiple graphs. The performance of the proposed Iterative Label Propagation (ILP) method was evaluated on facial images extracted from stereo movies. Experimental results showed that the proposed method outperforms state of the art methods either when only one or both video channels are used for label propagation.
HDA18 Affects Cell Fate in Arabidopsis Root Epidermis via Histone Acetylation at Four Kinase Genes[W]

HDA18 has deacetylase activity and affects epidermal cell patterning of Arabidopsis roots by regulating the transcription of a set of kinase genes. This set of kinase genes functions in a positional information relay system. Both down- and upregulation of HDA18 expression result in the same phenotype and increase the expression the kinase genes. The differentiation of hair (H) and non-hair (N) cells in the Arabidopsis thaliana root epidermis is dependent on positional relationships with underlying cortical cells. We previously found that histone acetylation relays positional information and that a mutant altered in the histone deacetylase gene family member HISTONE DEACETYLASE 18 (HDA18) exhibits altered H and N epidermal cell patterning. Here, we report that HDA18 has in vitro histone deacetylase activity and that both mutation and overexpression of HDA18 led to cells at the N position having H fate. The HDA18 protein physically interacted with histones related to a specific group of kinase genes, which are demonstrated in this study to be components of a positional information relay system. Both down- and upregulation of HDA18 increased transcription of the targeted kinase genes. Interestingly, the acetylation levels of histone 3 lysine 9 (H3K9), histone 3 lysine 14 (H3K14) and histone 3 lysine 18 (H3K18) at the kinase genes were differentially affected by down- or upregulation of HDA18, which explains why the transcription levels of the four HDA18-target kinase genes increased in all lines with altered HDA18 expression. Our results reveal the surprisingly complex mechanism by which HDA18 affects cellular patterning in Arabidopsis root epidermis.
New operators for optimized orientation estimation

This paper focuses on directional textures. It provides a new framework for the design of convolution masks dedicated to orientation estimation. We propose a new technique based on the combination of two complementary operators: a gradient-based operator which is adapted to sloped regions and a valleyness detector which fits the crests and valleys. On each operator, a double optimization procedure is carried out with respect to bias and noise sensitivity reduction. The procedure is generic and applies to any kind of underlying directional texture. Experiments on a synthetic sine wave texture and on natural textures are provided and show the efficiency and the relevance of our approach.
Rapid cell-free forward engineering of novel genetic ring oscillators

While complex dynamic biological networks control gene expression in all living organisms, the forward engineering of comparable synthetic networks remains challenging. The current paradigm of characterizing synthetic networks in cells results in lengthy design-build-test cycles, minimal data collection, and poor quantitative characterization. Cell-free systems are appealing alternative environments, but it remains questionable whether biological networks behave similarly in cell-free systems and in cells. We characterized in a cell-free system the ‘repressilator’, a three-node synthetic oscillator. We then engineered novel three, four, and five-gene ring architectures, from characterization of circuit components to rapid analysis of complete networks. When implemented in cells, our novel 3-node networks produced population-wide oscillations and 95% of 5-node oscillator cells oscillated for up to 72 hr. Oscillation periods in cells matched the cell-free system results for all networks tested. An alternate forward engineering paradigm using cell-free systems can thus accurately capture cellular behavior. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.09771. 001
Processing of /i/ and /u/ in Italian cochlear-implant children: a behavioral and neurophysiologic study

Cochlear implants partially restore auditory sensation in individuals affected by severe to profound hearing loss. We investigated vowel detection, identification, and discrimination in a group of congenitally-deafened, unilaterally-implanted, Italian children and in a group of age-matched controls, by combining behavioral and neurophysiologic measures. Comparable vowel identification and discrimination performance emerged for cochlear-implant and normalhearing children at the behavioral level. At the neurophysiologic level, on the other hand, cochlear-implant children appeared to lag behind their age-matched normalhearing peers for vowel detection and identification, but not for vowel discrimination. Length of cochlear implant use significantly affected vowel processing at the neurophysiologic level, although not systematically. Index Terms: vowel processing, behavioral measures, neurophysiologic measures, Italian cochlear-implants children.
Calculation of dielectrophoretic force acting on biological cells and on micro- and nanoparticles

It is presented a theory that permits to calculate the ac dielectrophoretic force acting on biological cells and other micro- and nanoparticles of arbitrary shape. The theory includes intrinsically all the higher-order terms of dielectrophoretic force without additional computation costs. For sufficiently small electric field gradients the dielectrophoretic force is weighted by the induced cell dipole moment that depends on both shape and electric parameters of the cell. Examples of red blood cells are given.
Review paper FROM BASIC TO CONTEMPORARY SEMEN ANALYSIS: LIMITATIONS AND VARIABILITY

Fertility has been a core issue for the survival of human race since pre-historic ancient times. A couple who has failed to conceive or has been unable to induce pregnancy within one year of regular unprotected intercourse in the fertile phase of menstrual cycle are said to be infertile . Of the total infertile couples who seek evaluation for infertility, a large part of infertility is accounted by the male factor A general and obvious cause of male infertility is impaired sperm atozoal function. Semen analysis is the first step towards assessment of a male’s reproductive potential. Analysis of seminal parameters help in providing important clinical i nformation regarding spermatogenesis, the functional competence of spermatozoa and also the secretory pattern of accessory genital glands. Although the clinicians base their initial diagnosis upon the fundamental information provided by analysis of these sperm parameters, yet more advanced sperm function tests are required for an exact diagnosis of the root cause of infertility in the male.
Answering SPARQL queries via Tensor Calculus

We are witnessing the evolution of the Web from a worldwide information space of linked documents to a global knowledge base, composed of semantically interconnected resources (to date, 25 billion RDF triples, interlinked by around 395 million RDF links). RDF comes equipped with the SPARQL language for querying data in RDF format. Using so-called triple patterns as building blocks, SPARQL queries search for specified patterns in the RDF data. Although many aspects of the challenges faced in large-scale RDF data management have already been studied in the database research community, current approaches provide centralized hard-coded solutions, with high consumption of resources; moreover, these exhibit very limited flexibility dealing with queries, at various levels of granularity and complexity (e.g. so-called non-conjunctive queries that use SPARQL’s UNION or OPTIONAL). In this paper we propose a general model for answering SPARQL queries based on the first principles of linear algebra, in particular on tensorial calculus. Leveraging our abstract algebraic framework, our technique allows both quick decentralized processing, and centralized massive analysis. Experimental results show that our approach, utilizing recent linear algebra techniques—tailored to performance and accuracy as required in applied mathematics and physics fields—can process analysis efficiently, when compared to recent approaches. In particular, we are able to carry out the required computations even in high memory constrained environments, such as on mobile devices. Moreover, when dealing with massive amounts of data, we are capable of exploiting recent parallel and distributed technologies, subdividing our tensor objects into sub-blocks, and processing them independently.
Selection of optimal wavelet packet transforms for object-based coding

An algorithm for optimal selection of wavelet packet transforms for object-based coding is presented in this paper. The method exploits the object statistics at each GOP or scene period and estimate an optimal wavelet packet tree and an optimal quantizer for each object so that a) objects of importance (e.g., foreground) are transmitted with higher bit rate (quality) than the background objects, while b) the total transmitted rate does not violate the constraints defined by the network requirements. Furthermore, since the proposed approach estimates object statistics over a GOP or a scene period (an optimal wavelet packet is assigned to each object), the algorithm does not result in a simple bit re-allocation from the background to foreground object but also increases object quality for the same bit rate.
Introducing 3D Vision and Computer Graphics to Archaeological Workflow - an Applicable Framework

A number of amplitude converters (1) in a telecommunication system are supervised during the normal operation of the system by means of three comparison arrangements (4, 6, 9). The first and the second of the comparison arrangements has its inputs (5 and 7) connected to the inputs and the outputs, respectively, of two of the converters. The third comparison arrangement (9) has its inputs (8) connected to the outputs of the first and the second comparison arrangement and generates an alarm signal if the first comparison arrangement (4) signals a relation between two supervised in-signals, which deviates acceptably from a comparison result set value, and if the second comparison arrangement (6) signals a relation between the two out-signals which deviates unacceptably from a set value. The maximally accepted deviation from the set value of the second comparison arrangement is chosen taken into account the operation tolerance limits of the converters and to the maximally accepted deviation of the first comparison arrangement which is determined so that a smooth supervision is obtained.
Rethinking the Effects of Financial Liberalization

During the last few decades, many emerging markets have lifted restrictions on cross-border financial transactions. The conventional view was that this would allow these countries to: (i) receive capital inflows from advanced countries that would finance higher investment and growth; (ii) insure against aggregate shocks and reduce consumption volatility; and (iii) accelerate the development of domestic financial markets and achieve a more efficient domestic allocation of capital and better sharing of individual risks. However, the evidence suggests that this conventional view was wrong. In this paper, we present a simple model that can account for the observed effects of financial liberalization. The model emphasizes the role of imperfect enforcement of domestic debts and the interactions between domestic and international financial transactions. In the model, financial liberalization might lead to different outcomes: (i) domestic capital flight and ambiguous effects on net capital flows, investment, and growth; (ii) large capital inflows and higher investment and growth; or (iii) volatile capital flows and unstable domestic financial markets. The model shows how these outcomes depend on the level of development, the depth of domestic financial markets, and the quality of institutions
Differential expression of claudin tight junction proteins in the human cortical nephron

Background. In renal tubules, paracellular permeability is tightly controlled to facilitate solute absorption and urinary concentration and is regulated by tight junctions, which incorporate claudin proteins. There is very limited information confirming the localization of these proteins in the human renal cortex. Most data is inferred from mouse, bovine and rabbit studies and differences exist between mouse and other species. Methods. A survey of claudin staining was performed on human kidney cortex embedded in glycolmethacrylate resin to enhance tissue morphology and facilitate the cutting of 2 µm serial sections. Results. Claudin-2, -10 and -11 antibodies labelled renal tubular epithelial cells, correlating with Lotus tetragonolobus and N-cadherin positive proximal tubules. Claudin-3, -10, -11 and -16 antibodies strongly stained a population of tubules that were positive for Tamm Horsfall protein on adjacent sections, confirming expression in the thick ascending limb of the Loop of Henle. Claudin-3, -4 and -8 antibodies reacted with tubules that correlated with the distal nephron markers, E-cadherin, epithelial membrane antigen and Dolichos biflorus and claudin-3, -4, -7 and -8 with the distal tubule marker, calbindin, and the collecting duct marker, aquaporin-2. Claudin-14 was localized in distal convoluted tubules, correlating positively with calbindin but negatively with aquaporin-2, whereas claudin-1 staining was identified in the parietal epithelium of Bowman's capsule, distal convoluted tubule and collecting duct. Cellular and tight junction localization of claudin staining in renal tubules was heterogeneous and is discussed. Conclusions. Complex variation in the expression of human claudins likely determines paracellular permeability in the kidney. Altered claudin expression may influence pathologies involving abnormalities of absorption.
Analysis and Evaluation of the ColorLogin Graphical Password Scheme

It is believed that graphical passwords are more memorable than traditional textual passwords, but usually seen as complex and time-consuming for users. Furthermore, most of the existing graphical password schemes are vulnerable to spyware and shoulder surfing. ColorLogin uses color, a method not previously considered, to decrease login time. Multiple colors are used to confuse the peepers, while not burdening the legitimate users. Meanwhile, the scheme is resistant to shoulder surfing and intersection attack to a certain extent. This paper analyzes and evaluates the ColorLogin scheme using some experiments.
The Influence of Perceived Social Competence on School Beginners' Emergent Academic Intrinsic Motivation.

Children's intrinsic motivation for school work has been recognized as an important contributor and predictor of school achievement. It is characterized by enjoyment and valuing of learning for the inherent pleasure its accomplishment brings. Important features include curiosity, persistence, autonomy, a mastery orientation, and a preference for challenging tasks. Most intrinsic motivation research has focused on college students, adolescents, and children in middle childhood. This study targeted school beginners. Young children vary in the extent to which they are intrinsically motivated toward academic work, but the development of this motivation is not fully understood. The study's participants were 48 boys and 35 girls from 8 first-year classes in 5 Auckland (New Zealand) elementary schools. Measures included: (1) academic compet-nce; (2) social competence; (3) perceived social competence; (4) perceived academic competence; (5) academic intrinsic motivation; and (6) teacher questionnaire. The study showed children's perceptions of their social competence as the largest contributor to their intrinsic motivation for school work. Children's social behavior, as perceived by their teachers, was also strongly related to academic performance. Contains 31 references. (BGC) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *******************;:*************************************************** U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Onto l Educahona! Research and hniyovemeni EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) '<This document has been reproduced as received from the poison or organ:ration originating it. 0 Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy The Influence of Perceived Social Competence on School Beginners' Emergent Academic Intrinsic Motivation
Learning Job Skills from Colleagues at Work: Evidence from a Field Experiment Using Teacher Performance Data

We study a program designed to encourage learning from coworkers among school teachers. In an experiment, we document gains in job performance when high- and low-skilled teachers are paired and asked to work together on improving their skills. Pairs are matched on specific skills measured in prior evaluations. Each pair includes a target teacher who scores low in one or more of 19 skills and a partner who scores high in (many of) the target’s deficient skills. Student achievement improved 0.12 standard deviations in low-skilled teachers’ classrooms. Improvements are likely the result of target teachers learning skills from their partner. (JEL I21, J24, J45, M53)
Switching characterization of SiC half bridge module for high power density converter

To drive SiC power module with high-speed switching, the stray inductance becomes a key factor in converter design. In this work, the stray inductances of module and peripheral circuits are investigated by simulation and measurement. With the loop stray inductance of 29.2 nH, the module is tested up to 800 V and 50 A with insignificant EMI issues of ringing and overshoot. And the dv/dt ratios at turn-off and turn-on transitions are 23.6 and 12 V/ns respectively without shoot-through issue. The relationship between the switching loss and load current is also derived, which can be used in the future optimization of converter efficiency.
Comparison of Monte Carlo methods for fluorescence molecular tomography-computational efficiency.

PURPOSE The Monte Carlo method is an accurate model for time-resolved quantitative fluorescence tomography. However, this method suffers from low computational efficiency due to the large number of photons required for reliable statistics. This paper presents a comparison study on the computational efficiency of three Monte Carlo-based methods for time-domain fluorescence molecular tomography. METHODS The methods investigated to generate time-gated Jacobians were the perturbation Monte Carlo (pMC) method, the adjoint Monte Carlo (aMC) method and the mid-way Monte Carlo (mMC) method. The effects of the different parameters that affect the computation time and statistics reliability were evaluated. Also, the methods were applied to a set of experimental data for tomographic application. RESULTS In silico results establish that, the investigated parameters affect the computational time for the three methods differently (linearly, quadratically, or not significantly). Moreover, the noise level of the Jacobian varies when these parameters change. The experimental results in preclinical settings demonstrates the feasibility of using both aMC and pMC methods for time-resolved whole body studies in small animals within a few hours. CONCLUSIONS Among the three Monte Carlo methods, the mMC method is a computationally prohibitive technique that is not well suited for time-domain fluorescence tomography applications. The pMC method is advantageous over the aMC method when the early gates are employed and large number of detectors is present. Alternatively, the aMC method is the method of choice when a small number of source-detector pairs are used.