Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Statistical Sample-Based Approach to GMM-Based Voice Conversion Using Tied-Covariance Acoustic Models

This paper presents a novel statistical sample-based approach for Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM)-based Voice Conversion (VC). Although GMM-based VC has the promising flexibility of model adaptation, quality in converted speech is significantly worse than that of natural speech. This paper addresses the problem of inaccurate modeling, which is one of the main reasons causing the quality degradation. Recently, we have proposed statistical sample-based speech synthesis using rich context models for high-quality and flexible Hidden Markov Model (HMM)-based Text-To-Speech (TTS) synthesis. This method makes it possible not only to produce high-quality speech by introducing ideas from unit selection synthesis, but also to preserve flexibility of the original HMM-based TTS. In this paper, we apply this idea to GMM-based VC. The rich context models are first trained for individual joint speech feature vectors, and then we gather them mixture by mixture to form a Rich context-GMM (R-GMM). In conversion, an iterative generation algorithm using R-GMMs is used to convert speech parameters, after initialization using over-trained probability distributions. Because the proposed method utilizes individual speech features, and its formulation is the same as that of conventional GMMbased VC, it makes it possible to produce high-quality speech while keeping flexibility of the original GMM-based VC. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method yields significant improvements in term of speech quality and speaker individuality in converted speech. key words: GMM-based voice conversion, sample-based speech synthesis, speech parameter conversion, rich context model
Determinants of Obesity: Results from a Longitudinal Study of Adolescents and Adults Living in an Urban Area

This study examined the relation of cigarette smoking, psychological symptoms (e.g., depressive symptoms, anxiety), physical activity, and body mass index (BMI) separately by sex. The sample consisted of 815 African Americans and Puerto Ricans (324 males, 491 females). The participants were originally 14 years of age, and were followed to 32 years of age, and gave information on smoking, depressive symptoms, anxiety, physical activity, and BMI. Structural equation modeling showed that for males cigarette smoking in mid/late adolescence was related to cigarette smoking in emerging adulthood and early adulthood. Finally, cigarette smoking in early adulthood was negatively related to BMI in adulthood only for male participants. For female participants, cigarette smoking in adolescence was related to psychological symptoms (e.g., depressive symptoms, anxiety) in emerging adulthood and early adulthood. Psychological symptoms in early adulthood predicted less physical activity in adulthood, which in turn, was related to BMI. With one exception, all of the standardized coefficients were statistically significant. Implications for preventive interventions are discussed.
Stakeholder Engagement in Competency Framework Development in Health Professions: A Systematic Review

Competency framework development in health professions has downstream implications for all relevant stakeholders, from the professionals themselves, to organisations, and most importantly end users of services. However, there is little guidance related to what stakeholders might be involved in the competency development process, and when. This review aimed to systematically review literature related to competency framework development methodology in health, to identify the breadth and purpose of key stakeholders commonly involved in the process. Studies were identified using five electronic databases (MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and ERIC) and a search of websites of organisations involved in curriculum or regulation using keywords related to competency frameworks. The total yield from all databases was 10,625 results, with 73 articles included in the final review. Most articles were from Australia (30%) and were conducted in the nursing (34%) profession. Unsurprisingly, practitioners (86%) and academics (75%) were typically engaged as stakeholders in competency framework development. While many competency frameworks were described as patient-focused, only 14 (19%) studies elected to include service users as stakeholders. Similarly, despite the multi-disciplinary focus described in some frameworks, only nine (12%) studies involved practitioners from other professions. Limiting the conceptualisation of competence to that determined by members of the profession itself may not provide the depth of insight required to capture the complexity of healthcare and address the needs of important stakeholder groups. Future methodology should attempt to engage a variety of relevant stakeholders such as external health professions and the community to match professional education to health service demands. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd. york.ac. uk/PROSPERO/display_record. php? RecordID=128350
Working Lands and Winter Tourists in the Rocky Mountain West: A Travel Cost, Contingent Behaviour and Input–Output Analysis

Using a contingent behaviour survey approach informed by revealed travel cost data, this study explores the connection between private land use decisions and the quality and quantity of the tourism experience in Gunnison, Colorado, USA. The authors ask winter tourists about their expenditure patterns and other features of their visit. They then describe the process of agricultural land conversion to residential or commercial development and ask tourists whether they would change the duration of their visit were farms and ranches converted to second homes and tourism-related businesses. The authors infer the direct expected economic impact of private land conversion on the winter tourism industry in Gunnison County. They then use tourists' stated expenditure patterns and reported change in visitation to derive the total, direct, indirect and induced impact of private land use change on the local economy through winter tourism visitation using a county level input–output analysis. The analysis also captures the extent to which tourists view private and public lands as providing complementary versus substitute goods and services, a potential issue of concern for county planners across high natural amenity and mountainous regions where public lands play a dominant role.
A biomagnetic system for in vivo cancer imaging

An array of highly sensitive biomagnetic sensors of the superconducting quantum interference detector (SQUID) type can identify disease in vivo by detecting and imaging microscopic amounts of nanoparticles. We describe in detail procedures and parameters necessary for implementation of in vivo detection through the use of antibody-labelled magnetic nanoparticles as well as methods of determining magnetic nanoparticle properties. We discuss the weak field magnetic sensor SQUID system, the method of generating the magnetic polarization pulse to align the magnetic moments of the nanoparticles, and the measurement techniques to measure their magnetic remanence fields following this pulsed field. We compare these results to theoretical calculations and predict optimal properties of nanoparticles for in vivo detection.
Analysis of a Quantitative Method of Determining Faculty Salaries.

Several researchers have systematically examined the factors that relate to faculty promotions and salary increases. In this paper, the authors report on a faculty-evaluation system used at the College of Business Administration of the University of Georgia. Using a linear regression model to analyze the data, they considered the effects of publications, teaching experience, departmental affiliation, school from which Ph.D. was granted, and teaching effectiveness on the faculty member's salary. They found that variables not included in the quantitative reward system were statistically significant. The impact of teaching effectiveness (as measured by student evaluations of faculty) varied over the four-year period covered, the quality of teaching actually having a negative influence during some years.
The Female Immigrant Labour Supply: The Effect of an In‐Work Benefit

We explore the effect of an in-work benefit on the labour supply of single immigrant women in Sweden. Using a simulation approach, we find that, on average, the in-work benefit has no effect on the labour supply of these women. However, women with low incomes increase their labour supply, a response that is the strongest among non-European and Eastern and Southern European women, and is mainly a result of increased participation in the labour market. High-income earners slightly reduce their working hours. Thus, the results suggest that the in-work benefit may strengthen the labour market attachment of low-income immigrant women.
Hypophosphatemia-Induced Seizure in a Child With Diabetic Ketoacidosis

We report an unusual case of hypophosphatemia-related seizure in a child with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). A 1-year-old type 1 diabetic boy with hyperglycemia, ketoacidosis, and dehydration was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit. After having received fluid replacement using isotonic solution with added potassium and continuous intravenous insulin administration according to the protocol for DKA, the patient was conscious, awake, and fed with breast milk. After 20 hours of pediatric intensive care unit stay, he presented 2 tonic-clonic seizures followed by apnea. One hour later, he had cardiorespiratory arrest, requiring cardiovascular support and mechanical ventilation. Serum phosphorus concentration was 1.0 mg/dL, and severe hypophosphatemia was diagnosed. Subsequent to intravenous phosphate replacement, he showed improved neurological and hemodynamic statuses. No other cause of cerebral complication was found. He had no neurologic lesions and was discharged. Although hypophosphatemia is a common complication of DKA treatment, phosphate supplementation has not been routinely recommended in the treatment of DKA. Early recognition and treatment of severe hypophosphatemia in the treatment of DKA are important to reduce the risk of neurological complications.
Market structure impacts on market distortions from domestic subsidies: the U. S. cotton case.

This analysis uses a residual demand elasticity model to measure market power in the international cotton market. The results indicate that China exerts significant market power and affects cotton prices. Those results, combined with a partial equilibrium model of the international cotton market, are used to evaluate the welfare consequences of U.S. cotton subsidy policies for major cotton exporters under alternative assumptions about global market structure. The results indicate that the effects of U.S. subsidies on the world cotton price are much smaller under an imperfectly competitive international market than under a perfectly competitive market scenario; the former appears to be a realistic case.
Strategic corporate social responsibility initiatives: a framework template developed from evidences from India

It is not a very rational proposition for firm managers, to not to preach and practice strategic corporate social responsibility (SCSR) in the developed world. In the present day world which is witnessing increased competitive pressure as well as increased expectation for doing corporate social responsibility (CSR), it makes more pragmatic sense to indulge in SCSR rather than just CSR. But the context of developing countries in terms of practice of SCSR had remained unexplored. In this article, the author attempts to capture the practice of SCSR in India, a developing country and an emerging economy. This article presents the state of affairs of SCSR in India based upon the reflection of CSR managers on the themes of the nature of CSR activities, its characteristics and benefits.
Selecting cloud computing service provider with fuzzy AHP

Cloud Computing (CC) service providers are becoming more popular as the demand for outsourcing information and communication technology (iCT) section of enterprises has increased. Selecting the most appropriate service provider for an enterprise depends on many criteria that are based on the strategies, requirements, and resources of the enterprise. Since this decision problem is dependent on various conflicting criteria and a decision-maker has to choose the best alternative while satisfying these criteria; therefore, it can be modeled as a Multi-criteria Decision Making (MCDM) problem. In this research, a pilot case study is conducted in which the CC service provider selection problem is modeled as a MCDM problem and Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchical Process (FAHP) which is the most widely used methodology in the domain of MCDM, is implemented to select the most appropriate service provider.
An Example of a Good but Partially Successful OR Engagement: Improving Outpatient Clinic Operations

We undertook a study to improve the running of hospital outpatient clinics that were regularly overbooked, overrun, and had excessive patient waiting times. The methodology adopted entailed a mixture of qualitative and quantitative approaches, but was problem-driven and so only emerged as the project developed. We generated a number of proposals for the improved running of the clinics during the project, some implemented and some not. For future studies we would recommend that a flexible and open-minded approach is adopted. This may well involve an initial, mainly qualitative, study followed by the application of a series of modest models-occasionally more sophisticated modeling may be appropriate. We would also recommend that the benefits of such studies are not judged solely in terms of one-off implementation leading to measurable improvements in performance. They should also be seen as part of an overall process of improving health care practices.
CDS-Bond Basis and Bond Return Predictability

We examine the predictive power of the CDS-bond basis for future corporate bond returns. We find that residual basis, the part of the CDS-bond basis that cannot be explained by a wide range of market frictions such as counterparty risk, funding risk, and liquidity risk, strongly negatively predicts excess returns. Controlling for systematic risk factors, including credit risk and liquidity risk, we find that a bond portfolio formed on the residual basis generates a significant abnormal bond return of 1.79% at the 20-day horizon. The abnormal returns due to the residual basis reflect mispricing rather than missing systematic risk factors. These results are robust to different horizons and sample periods and to the various characteristics of bonds. Overall, our results imply a beneficial role of CDS in the bond market as the existence of mispricing between CDS and bonds results in a subsequent price convergence in bonds.
Nanotechnology for Targeted Therapy of Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is the major cause of heart attack and stroke that are the leading causes of death in the world. Nanomedicine is a powerful tool that can be engineered to target atherosclerotic plaques for therapeutic and diagnosis purposes. In this review, advances in designing nanoparticles with therapeutic effects on atherosclerotic plaques known as atheroprotective nanomedicine have been summarized to stimulate further development and future translation.
Counter-Cyclical and Counter-Inflation Monetary Policy Rules and Comovement Properties of Money Growth

This paper shows that counter-cyclical and counter-inflation monetary policy rules are crucial for monetary business cycle models to match the observed negative (or weak) correlation of the growth rate of money and output, inflation, and the interest rate at business cycle frequencies, which were reported as puzzling in Cooley and Hansen (1998) under the AR-1 money growth rate rule. The results are robust for both flexible and sticky price models. Regarding the relative performance of the realistic and/or estimated monetary policy rules in matching the comovement properties of money growth, the feedback interest rate setting rule on output and inflation, which is consistent with a simple VAR model, outperforms the policy rule suggested by Taylor (1993), the forward-looking monetary policy rule as in Clarida, Gali, and Gertler (2000), the feedback money growth rate rules on output and inflation, and the feedback money growth rate rules on productivity shocks.
Aspects of milk yield adjustment in the parameter estimation for genetic evaluation of survival

Presently, the national evaluation for fertility in Ireland is carried out for calving interval and survival using a 13 trait animal model. Breeding values are predicted from a joint analysis of calving interval, survival and milk yield in the first 3 lactations and 4 linear type traits (Angularity, Body condition score, Foot Angle and Udder depth) as predictors of calving interval and survival (Olori et al., 2002 and Pool et al., 2002).
Degradation of EE2 by Different Consortium of Enriched Nitrifying Activated Sludge

— 17 α -ethinylestradiol (EE 2 ) is a recalcitrant micropollutant which is found in small amounts in municipal wastewater. But these small amounts still adversely affect for the reproductive function of aquatic organisms. Evidence in the past suggested that full-scale WWTPs equipped with nitrification process enhanced the removal of EE 2 in the municipal wastewater. EE 2 has been proven to be able to be transformed by ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) via co-metabolism. This research aims to clarify the EE 2 degradation pattern by different consortium of ammonia oxidizing microorganism (AOM) including AOA (ammonia oxidizing archaea) and investigate contribution between the existing ammonia monooxygenase (AMO) and new synthesized AOM. The result showed that AOA or AOB of N. oligotropha cluster in enriched nitrifying activated sludge (NAS) from 2mM and 5mM, commonly found in municipal WWTPs, could degrade EE 2 in wastewater via co-metabolism. Moreover, the investigation of the contribution between the existing ammonia monooxygenase (AMO) and new synthesized AOM demonstrated that the new synthesized AMO enzyme may perform ammonia oxidation rather than the existing AMO enzyme or the existing AMO enzyme may has a small amount to oxidize ammonia.
Ultrasound research scanner for real-time synthetic aperture data acquisition

Conventional ultrasound systems acquire ultrasound data sequentially one image line at a time. The architecture of these systems is therefore also sequential in nature and processes most of the data in a sequential pipeline. This often makes it difficult to implement radically different imaging strategies on the platforms and makes the scanners less accessible for research purposes. A system designed for imaging research flexibility is the prime concern. The possibility of sending out arbitrary signals and the storage of data from all transducer elements for 5 to 10 seconds allows clinical evaluation of synthetic aperture and 3D imaging. This paper describes a real-time system specifically designed for research purposes. The system can acquire multichannel data in real-time from multi-element ultrasound transducers, and can perform some real-time processing on the acquired data. The system is capable of performing real-time beamforming for conventional imaging methods using linear, phased, and convex arrays. Image acquisition modes can be intermixed, and this makes it possible to perform initial trials in a clinical environment with new imaging modalities for synthetic aperture imaging, 2D and 3D B-mode, and velocity imaging using advanced coded emissions. The system can be used with 128-element transducers and can excite 128 transducer elements and receive and sample data from 64 channels simultaneously at 40 MHz with 12-bit precision. Two-to-one multiplexing in receive can be used to cover 128 receive channels. Data can be beamformed in real time using the system's 80 signal processing units, or it can be stored directly in RAM. The system has 16 Gbytes RAM and can, thus, store more than 3.4 seconds of multichannel data. It is fully software programmable and its signal processing units can also be reconfigured under software control. The control of the system is done over a 100-Mbits/s Ethernet using C and Matlab. Programs for doing, e.g., B-mode imaging can be written directly in Matlab and executed on the system over the net from any workstation running Matlab. The overall system concept is presented along with its implementation and examples of B-mode and in vivo synthetic aperture flow imaging.
US composite economic indicator with nonlinear dynamics and the data subject to structural breaks

Composite economic indicator is a very useful tool designed to trace and predict the business cycle conditions. This paper studies possible extensions of this approach intended to cope with the potential data problems caused by various structural breaks affecting both level and volatility of the component series. The structural shifts are introduced in the composite economic indicator model via deterministic dummies capturing breaks in the observed variables' intercepts and in the residual variances of the specific factors. As an illustration the Post-Second World War US monthly macroeconomic series are utilized for which different specifications of the single-factor linear and regime-switching model are evaluated.
The Genome Database for Rosaceae (GDR): year 10 update

The Genome Database for Rosaceae (GDR, http:/www.rosaceae.org), the long-standing central repository and data mining resource for Rosaceae research, has been enhanced with new genomic, genetic and breeding data, and improved functionality. Whole genome sequences of apple, peach and strawberry are available to browse or download with a range of annotations, including gene model predictions, aligned transcripts, repetitive elements, polymorphisms, mapped genetic markers, mapped NCBI Rosaceae genes, gene homologs and association of InterPro protein domains, GO terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway terms. Annotated sequences can be queried using search interfaces and visualized using GBrowse. New expressed sequence tag unigene sets are available for major genera, and Pathway data are available through FragariaCyc, AppleCyc and PeachCyc databases. Synteny among the three sequenced genomes can be viewed using GBrowse_Syn. New markers, genetic maps and extensively curated qualitative/Mendelian and quantitative trait loci are available. Phenotype and genotype data from breeding projects and genetic diversity projects are also included. Improved search pages are available for marker, trait locus, genetic diversity and publication data. New search tools for breeders enable selection comparison and assistance with breeding decision making.