Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Robust Romanian language automatic speech recognizer

In this paper there are presenting solutions for increasing environmental robustness of a Romanian language continuous speech recognizer, previously built [1], [2] as a man-machine dialogue system. Multistyle training strategy is used to train the recognizer with various levels of artificial noise added on the clean speech. Experimental results prove that this scheme strongly increase the system robustness to additive noise.
Sambandet mellan ociviliserat beteende på arbetsplatser och psykisk hälsa

This master thesis in psychology is part of a research project financed by the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare (FORTE). The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between workplace incivility and mental health. It was also of importance if the instigator of incivility was a superior or a colleague and whether this affected the relationship between incivility and mental health. Furthermore, the purpose was to investigate if women and men differed in the amount of reported incivility and if sex had an influence on the relationship between incivility and mental health. The third purpose was to evaluate the reliability of Workplace Incivility Scale (WIS) and the hybrid scale General Mental Health (GPH). To answer the research questions a quantitative survey including 225 participants was conducted. The results showed a negative relationship between incivility and mental health and this relationship was stronger if superiors were the instigators of incivility. However, the sex of the participants was of no importance for the reported amount of incivility or the relationship between incivility and mental health. The reliability of WIS and GPH was psychometrically sound with alpha values of . 89 and . 91. One important conclusion was the identification of the difficulty to distinguish incivility from bullying. More central is the conclusion that incivility has a negative influence on people’s mental health and that superiors have an important role for the psychosocial workplace environment.
The effects of pre-harvest application of aminoethoxyvinylglycine on the bioactive compounds and fruit quality of ‘Fortune’ plum variety during cold storage

The effects of pre-harvest aminoethoxyvinylglycine treatments on fruit quality parameters and bioactive compounds of ‘Fortune’ plum during cold storage were investigated. Two different aminoethoxyvinylglycine doses were applied to plum trees two weeks prior to the estimated harvest date, and harvested fruit samples were kept in cold storage at 0 oC temperature and with 90 ± 5% relative humidity for 4 weeks. Lightness (L*) and hue angle values decreased in all treatments during cold storage. Weight loss (%) was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) with 100 mg/L aminoethoxyvinylglycine treatment at the end of the storage. Fruit firmness at the end of the storage was significantly increased with aminoethoxyvinylglycine treatments. Total phenolics and total antioxidant activity were increased with aminoethoxyvinylglycine treatments till the 21st day of storage and decreased by the 28th day. Total phenolics and total antioxidant activity were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) with the 200 mg/L aminoethoxyvinylglycine treatment at the end of storage. Rutin was significantly decreased with 100 mg/L aminoethoxyvinylglycine treatment at the end of cold storage.
Learning environment dynamics from self-adaptation: a preliminary investigation

We present an experimental study that shows a relationship between the dynamics of the environment and the adaptation of strategy parameters. Experiments conducted on two adaptive evolutionary strategies SA-ES and CMA-ES on the dynamic sphere function, show that the nature of the movements of the function's optimum are reflected in the evolution of the mutation steps. Three types of movements are presented: constant, linear and quadratic velocity, in all, the evolution of mutation steps during adaptation reflect distinctly the nature of the movements. Furthermore with CMA-ES, the direction of movement of the optimum can be extracted.
The Effect of Creatine Supplementation on Anaerobic Performance in Moderately Active Men

The effect of creatine monohydrate (Cr) supplementation on anaerobic performance was investigated in 21 (treatment = 11; placebo = 10) moderately active males. Supplementation included 20 g·d−1 of Cr or a placebo (PLA) for 6 days. Anaerobic performance was assessed by time to fatigue in an anaerobic speed test (AST = 8 mph at a 20% grade). Four 15-second bouts of high-intensity treadmill running preceded the AST to ensure phosphocreatine store depletion. All tests were separated by 30 seconds of passive recovery. Analysis of variance with repeated measures on the time factor demonstrated no significant treatment effects (p > 0.05) in the dependent variables AST performance, body mass, or blood lactate. However, there was a significant interaction for plasma ammonia (p = 0.03), indicating a decreased plasma ammonia in the post-Cr group. Although it is expected that the phosphocreatine, glycolytic, and possibly the aerobic energy pathways contribute to the performance in this exercise protocol, these data suggest that Cr supplementation is ineffective in increasing performance in repeated, short-term, high-intensity anaerobic running.
Therapeutic ways with words

Most people know that therapists listen to people discuss their problems, and that they are paid for their services. Yet few people who have not undergone therapy know what actually goes on in these sessions, or have any idea about how talking to a stranger can be beneficial to one's mental health. What is therapeutic about therapeutic discourse? Why is the therapy hour such a powerful influence in peoples' lives if all they do is talk? Who talks, and what about? To answer some of these questions from a linguistic stand-point, Kathleen Ferrara analyses samples of psychotherapeutic discourse between several therapists and their clients. She focuses on cohesion and the joint construction of digalogue to get at her main concern of just how talk can be therapeutic, and at the same time addresses recent concerns in the study of conversation. Her thesis is that repetition and continuity are resources of language which speakers can recombine in various ways to create meaning within a given social context, and she looks at the many ways these cohesive devices are used in therapy speech. Therapeutic Ways with Words should appeal not only to linguists and people concerned with language in the professions, but to the large audience connected to psychotherapy. 'The scholarship reflected in the manuscript is not just sound, but creative; not just up-to-date, but up to the minute. Ferrara offers insightful treatments of data just begging for attention in light of recent developments in discourse analysis, and thus contributes cutting-edge results . It represents the kind of research we need much more of in linguistics today. " Neal Norrick, Professor of English-Linguistics, Northern Illinois University
A Selective Allosteric Potentiator of Metabotropic Glutamate (mGlu) 2 Receptors Has Effects Similar to an Orthosteric mGlu2/3 Receptor Agonist in Mouse Models Predictive of Antipsychotic Activity

Recent studies suggest that agonists of group II metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors (mGlu2/3) have potential utility as novel therapeutic agents for treatment of psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and schizophrenia. Agonists of mGlu2/3 receptors block amphetamine- and phencyclidine (PCP)-induced hyperlocomotor activity in rodents, two actions that may predict potential antipsychotic activity of these compounds. We now report that LY487379 [N-(4-(2-methoxyphenoxy)phenyl)-N-(2,2,2-trifluoroethylsulfonyl)pyrid-3-ylmethylamine], a recently described selective allosteric potentiator of mGlu2 receptor, has behavioral effects similar to mGlu2/3 receptor agonists. LY487379 and LY379268 [(–)-2-oxa-4-aminobicyclo[3.1. 0]hexane-4,6-dicarboxylate], an ortho-steric mGlu2/3 receptor agonist, induced similar dose-dependent reductions in PCP- and amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotor activity in C57BL6/J mice at doses that did not significantly alter spontaneous locomotor activity. These effects were blocked by the mGlu2/3 receptor antagonist LY341495 [(2S)-2-amino-2-[(1S,2S)-2-carboxycycloprop-1-yl]-3-(xanth-9-yl) propanoic acid]. LY487379 had a short duration of action compared with LY379268. Furthermore, unlike the mGlu2/3 agonist, LY487379 reversed amphetamine-induced disruption of prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle reflex. When LY379268 was given chronically, it failed to block amphetamine- and PCP-induced hyperlocomotor activity. The finding that the effects of an orthosteric mGlu2/3 receptor agonist in these models can be mimicked by a selective allosteric potentiator of mGlu2 suggests that these effects are mediated by the mGlu2 receptor subtype. Furthermore, these data raise the possibility that a selective allosteric potentiator of mGlu2 receptor could have utility as a novel approach for the treatment of schizophrenia.
The Spreading Hand Autosegment of American Sign Language

The Hand Tier (HT) model presented here can account for sign language sign structure by showing hand configuration associating with location and movement on the segmental tier. This model preserves the structural and functional importance of location, movement, and hand configuration, and reveals special properties of the hand tier, which spreads across signs according to its own timetable. Structural relationships among signs in the lexicon, as well as productive phonological and morphological rules, provide evidence that this model can account for surface data in a way that reveals key information about the core of ASL structure.
A design of deep reification

This short paper presents our design of deep reification, which is a reflection mechanism for computation offloading. As heterogeneous computing is getting popular, several systems have been proposed and implemented for offloading a part of Java program to an external processor such as GPU. Deep reification provides the common functionality among those systems so that it will help their development. It dynamically extracts abstract syntax trees of offloaded methods as well as offloaded objects and class definitions. These methods, objects, and classes are deeply copied to be sent to an external processor. Deep reification also allows user programmers to annotate offloaded code to give optimization hints to the offloading system built with deep reification.
The Performance Implications of Financial and Non‐Financial Rewards: An Asian Nordic Comparison

This study empirically investigated culture's consequences on employee perceptions of the performance implications of financial and non‐financial rewards. Using a sample (n = 568) drawn from the banking industry in Finland and Hong Kong, we found that although the effects and predictive capability of culture (i.e. masculinity–femininity, individualism–collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, and power distance) offered some important insights, a range of other contextual factors (i.e. organizational, institutional, economic) wielded influence over and shaped reward–performance values, preferences, and behaviours. The emergence of these new paradigms necessitates that the US centric economic and behavioural theories (e.g. exchange) that underpin reward–performance be revisited and extended if they are to be applicable in the international context. Understanding the influence of a range of contextual forces is therefore critical to multinational organizations attempting to implement effective reward strategies aimed at achieving a diverse set of performance priorities. In addition to these novel theoretical and practical contributions, this study also paves the way for future research in this promising area of management studies.
A Bivariate Measure of Redundant Information

We define a measure of redundant information based on projections in the space of probability distributions. Redundant information between random variables is information that is shared between those variables. But, in contrast to mutual information, redundant information denotes information that is shared about the outcome of a third variable. Formalizing this concept, and being able to measure it, is required for the non-negative decomposition of mutual information into redundant and synergistic information. Previous attempts to formalize redundant or synergistic information struggle to capture some desired properties. We introduce a new formalism for redundant information and prove that it satisfies all the properties necessary outlined in earlier work, as well as an additional criterion that we propose to be necessary to capture redundancy. We also demonstrate the behavior of this new measure for several examples, compare it to previous measures, and apply it to the decomposition of transfer entropy.
Evaluation of porosity in microwave-processed acrylic resin using a photographic method.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM The effect of microwave polymerization on the porosity of denture base resin has not been fully determined. PURPOSE This study investigated the effect of microwave energy on the porosity of 2 heat-activated denture base resins. MATERIAL AND METHODS Two heat-activated denture base resins, one conventional (Paladon 65) and one designed for microwave polymerization (Acron MC), were used to prepare 50 test specimens. Five groups of 10 specimens each were established: Group A (Paladon 65, water bath); Group B(1) (Paladon 65, short microwave cycle); Group B(2) (Paladon 65, long microwave cycle); Group C(1) (Acron MC, short microwave cycle); and Group C(2) (Acron MC, long microwave cycle). Half of the specimens in each group were 3 mm thick, the other half 6 mm thick. After being polymerized, specimens were cut so that 3 cross-sectional areas were formed (S(1), S(2), and S(3)). These surfaces were polished and photographed under a microscope at x100 magnification. On the developed photographs, the area of each pore was measured with a digital planimeter, and the total area of pores per surface was calculated in percentage form. The total number of pores on each surface and the topographical distribution of the pores also were recorded. A 3-factor repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to compare porosity data, and a 1-way analysis of variance was performed to determine possible interactions between groups based on material and specimen thickness (P<.05). The effect of surface area on porosity data was analyzed with the use of contrasts. RESULTS Group A specimens exhibited no pores. In the thicker specimens of Groups B(1) and B(2), giant pores (area as great as 3.69 mm(2)) and small, gaseous pores of almost uniform shape and size were found. In Groups C(1) and C(2), only the smaller pores were found; these were not clinically significant. Of the observed surfaces, 75.3% were free of pores and 24.7% contained at least one pore. In a selected group of pore-bearing surfaces, the majority (81%) had pores located near the center. The thicker specimens in Group B exhibited the greatest amount of porosity (P<.0001); Group C specimens exhibited the least porosity. Repeated-measures analysis of variance showed that polymerization cycle had no effect on porosity (P=.19). The 3 other factors (material, specimen thickness, and surface) and all possible interactions among them were significant (P<.05). Among the surfaces, S(1) and S(2) exhibited the highest total mean value of porosity (0.71% and 0.74%, respectively) and S(3) the lowest (0.025%). S(3) showed a different pattern of porosity than S(1) and S(2). CONCLUSION Within the limitations of this in vitro study, minor porosity was identified in thin and more severe porosity in thicker areas of conventional resin specimens that underwent microwave polymerization. The resin designed specifically for microwave polymerization exhibited no clinically significant porosity.
Rapid Morphological Change in the Masticatory Structures of an Important Ecosystem Service Provider

Humans have altered the biotic and abiotic environmental conditions of most organisms. In some cases, such as intensive agriculture, an organism’s entire ecosystem is converted to novel conditions. Thus, it is striking that some species continue to thrive under such conditions. The prairie deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii) is an example of such an organism, and so we sought to understand what role evolutionary adaptation played in the success of this species, with particular interest in adaptations to novel foods. In order to understand the evolutionary history of this species’ masticatory structures, we examined the maxilla, zygomatic plate, and mandible of historic specimens collected prior to 1910 to specimens collected in 2012 and 2013. We found that mandibles, zygomatic plates, and maxilla have all changed significantly since 1910, and that morphological development has shifted significantly. We present compelling evidence that these differences are due to natural selection as a response to a novel and ubiquitous food source, waste grain (corn, Zea mays and soybean, Glycine max).
Measurement of bronchial elastance in resected sheep lungs

The elastance of bronchial segments in resected sheep lungs has been measured by the following method. A balloon mounted on a probe was introduced into a bronchus of 3-4 mm diameter, the elastance of the balloon itself having been determined previously. The changes in pressure in the balloon resulting from the addition of successive small volumes of saline to the balloon were recorded, and the slope of the resulting pressure/volume curve gave the elastance of balloon and bronchus. The bronchial elastance was found by subtracting the elastance of the balloon from the combined value. Estimates of bronchial elastance derived from repeated inflations of the balloon during a single insertion showed little variation. Considerable variation was found between bronchi in the same animal and between animals, the elastance ranging from 1·1 to 3·4 cm H2O/μ1 in the 25 bronchi studied. Repeated insertion of the balloon into the same bronchus was accompanied by a progressive increase in elastance; possible causes for this are discussed. It is hoped that the method may be applicable in man.
Fall over or sliding down?

In animations and virtual reality, contact models have been widely used in many areas like rigid body collision and soft body deformation. Contact happens on a locally optimal configuration which forms Vertex/Face (VF) and Vertex/Vertex (VV) contacts. Several optimal methods have been developed to this, such as Continuous Collision Detection (CCD) and Linear Complementarity Problem (LCP) with Gauss-Seidel iterative solver [Kaufman et al. 2008].
A framework for scoping eParticipation

Governments worldwide realize the importance of strengthening active participation of citizens in the political process. By recognizing the need for engaging the social intelligence of citizens, governments will be able to govern more effectively and credibly. The field of public participation has been recently enhanced with the adoption of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) thus leading to electronic participation (eParticipation). In this poster we propose and populate a framework that can be used to scope eParticipation and investigate its relation with traditional public participation. The structural elements of the framework include democratic processes, participation areas, participatory techniques, ICT tools and ICT technologies. The results allow obtaining a better understanding of the new field of eParticipation.
Spatial restriction of α4 integrin phosphorylation regulates lamellipodial stability and α4β1-dependent cell migration

Întegrins coordinate spatial signaling events essential for cell polarity and directed migration. Such signals from α4 integrins regulate cell migration in development and in leukocyte trafficking. Here, we report that efficient α4-mediated migration requires spatial control of α4 phosphorylation by protein kinase A, and hence localized inhibition of binding of the signaling adaptor, paxillin, to the integrin. In migrating cells, phosphorylated α4 accumulated along the leading edge. Blocking α4 phosphorylation by mutagenesis or by inhibition of protein kinase A drastically reduced α4-dependent migration and lamellipodial stability. α4 phosphorylation blocks paxillin binding in vitro; we now find that paxillin and phospho-α4 were in distinct clusters at the leading edge of migrating cells, whereas unphosphorylated α4 and paxillin colocalized along the lateral edges of those cells. Furthermore, enforced paxillin association with α4 inhibits migration and reduced lamellipodial stability. These results show that topographically specific integrin phosphorylation can control cell migration and polarization by spatial segregation of adaptor protein binding.
Linear Precoders for Nonregenerative Asymmetric Two-Way Relaying in Cellular Systems

In conventional two-way relaying (TWR), it is assumed that a user has data to send and receive simultaneously from the base station (BS) via a relay. In cellular systems, data flow between the BS and a user is usually not simultaneous, e.g., a transmit-only user (say, TUE) may have uplink data to send in the multiple access (MAC) phase, but may not have downlink data to receive in the broadcast (BC) phase. Such one-way data flow will reduce TWR to spectrally inefficient one-way relaying. The multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) asymmetric TWR (ATWR) protocol considered here restores the two-way data flow via a relay. In ATWR, the BC phase following the MAC phase of a TUE is used to send downlink data to a receive-only user (say, RUE). However, the RUE will not be able to cancel the back-propagating interference. We design a structured precoder at the relay to cancel this interference. The proposed precoder also triangularizes the end-to-end MIMO channels. The channel triangularization reduces the weighted sum-rate maximization and relay power minimization problems to power allocation problems, which are then cast as geometric programs. Simulation results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed precoder when compared with conventional solutions.