Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Towards the Development of Segment Level Speech Overlap Detection Using Convolutional Neural Network

There are various factors that affects the performance of a speech processing system and one of these is the presence of overlapped speech. It occurs when a certain segment contains more than one speaker, thus altering the information of a segment. This study is part of an ongoing research that aims to detect overlapped speech on segment level. This paper presents the performance of two variations of convolutional neural network (CNN) models for frame level overlapped speech detection using Augmented Multi-party Interaction (AMI) ES2002a corpus. The dataset is split into 70% for training and 30% for testing. In the experiments performed, the fluctuation of the loss and accuracy during the modified CNN model development is not as stable as the conventional CNN model but it outperformed the conventional CNN model with an accuracy of 87.02% and 86.18% respectively. For future works, other speech features for segment-wise detection of overlapped speech will be explored.
Fast BlockMatching Registration with Entropy-based Similarity

This paper describes the implementation of a multidimensional block-matching nonrigid registration algorithm. The main features of the algorithm are its simplicity, its free form nature, the modularity of the similarity measure, which makes it possible using local entropy-based similarity measures and the avoidance of the optimization module. The algorithm implementation described in this paper is based on the method by Suarez et al. This paper, which has already been submitted to the Insight Journal, is accompanied with the source code, input data, parameters and output data used for validating the algorithm described in it.
Stratigraphy and Zircon Provenance of a Late Paleoproterozoic Terrestrial Sequence underlying the Xiong'er Volcanics in the Southern North China Craton

The late Paleoproterozoic Dagushi Formation comprises a fluvial‐lacustrine succession and represents the initial fill of the Xiong'er Basin in the southern North China Craton. Employing integrated outcrop surveys and detrital zircon U‐Pb‐Hf dating, this study examines the provenance and depositional setting of the Dagushi Formation. Five major depositional facies, including braided channel, distributary channel, subaqueous stream/mouth bar, pro‐delta and shallow lake, were identified, based on lithofacies and associations. They were interpreted as representing a braided river delta‐lacustrine system. The ages of the last metamorphic event of the basement, covering volcanics and the youngest zircon together constrain a depositional age of ca. 1.79 Ga for the Dagushi Formation. Zircon age distributions reveal a provenance change from ca. 2.7–2.5 Ga rocks in the lower part, to ca. 2.3–1.9 Ga sources in the middle‐upper part of the Dagushi Formation. Considering the vertical sedimentology, this provenance change could be induced by the rising water‐level caused by a tectonic subsidence. The ca. 2.7–2.5 Ga zircons are suggested to be locally sourced from the late Neoarchean–Paleoproterozoic metamorphic basement. The northeast Zhongtiao Mts area (current co‐ordinates) is supposed to have appeared as a paleo‐uplift and served as a source area for the Paleoproterozoic grains. The Dagushi Formation records an early ‘underfilled’ stage of the Xiong'er Rift.
Analyses of laser de-icing methods for power systems

Laser de-icing is a new non-contact method for electrical system component deicing.A finite element model of laser de-icing was used to analyze the effect of laser de-icing and ascertain the theoretical basis for choosing the best laser de-icing parameters.The model simulates the temperature and stress fields in the ice during the laser de-icing process.The temperature and stress fields and the penetration rates are given for different initial temperatures,laser powers and beam widths.Specific requirements are given for choosing reasonable parameters to improve laser de-icing.
Awareness and adoption of sustainable land management practices among smallholder maize farmers in Mpumalanga province of South Africa

ABSTRACT Sustainable land management practices (SLMPs) are important for ensuring environmental protection, food security, poverty alleviation, and economic growth in a nation. The study employed a triple hurdle regression model to analyze the drivers influencing farmers’ awareness and adoption and level of adoption of SLMPs. The results show that farm input source, availability of farm inputs, extension frequency, water sources and marital status, are vital for increasing awareness. It is thus, recommended that actions and policies at public and private levels should be aimed at promoting and improving SLMPs.
Digital Media Platform as Online Food Taste Stimulator: A Proposed Conceptual Model

Vol. No. Abstract The social media and its visual content serve as a great platform for digital marketing. However, many may inadvertently miss the opportunity to stimulate food taste experience using visuals as the attribute. This paper presents a conceptual model that can serve as a reference on visual attributes that should be considered when using digital images to stimulate taste experience via digital platform. Using qualitative approach, we undertook three major steps; a literature review of related research was conducted to capture the positioning of digital platform in sharing food or taste experience, an expert interview with a professional food photographer to gain his insight and experience on data visual strategies, and finally the findings from both sources led to conceptual modelling highlighting not only technical consideration but also philosophical motivation in constructing a visual image that stimulates taste experience. We found that food visuals could trigger food taste experience provided elements such as lighting, focus, color, framing, visual perception theory and social media ethics are accommodated. Nevertheless, the conceptual model is still in its infancy, with further studies required to enhance the proposed model.
Realization and Application of PID Controller in S7-300 PLC

PID control algorithm has a wide range of application in process of industrial automatic control system.The principle of PID controller is analyzed and Siemens S7-300 PID controller algorithm and logic are studied with the steam heating system for the study.The steam heating system makes the heater temperature automatic control become a reality with PID function block in S7-300 PLC and has got good control performance in practical applications.
Fast and Scalable Global Convergence in Single-Optimum Decentralized Coordination Problems

Over the past few years, the scientific community has been studying the usefulness of evolutionary game theory to solve distributed control problems. In this article, we analyze a simple version of the best experienced payoff (BEP) algorithm, a revision protocol that has recently been proposed in the evolutionary game theory literature. This revision protocol is simple, completely decentralized, and has minimum information requirements. Here, we prove that adding some noise to this protocol can lead to efficient results in single-optimum coordination problems in little time, even in large populations of agents. We also test the algorithm under a wide range of different conditions using computer simulation. In particular, we consider different numbers of agents and strategies, and we analyze the robustness of the algorithm to different updating schemes (e.g., synchronous versus asynchronous) and to different types of interaction networks (e.g., ring, preferential attachment, small world, and complete). In all the cases, using the noisy version of BEP, the agents quickly approach a small neighborhood of the optimal state from every initial condition and spend most of the time in that neighborhood.
Analysis of Laboratory Environmental Test Report and Its Writing Requirement

The main contents in environmental test report were discussed through analysing the usage,characteristic and writing requirement of two types of environmental test reports.The modus operandi of writing single item environmental test report,single item environmental test evaluation report and writing the consistency analysis report according multi single item test evaluation report were introduced,which was provided in Part 1,Environment Management and Control,DEF STAN 0035 Environmental Handbook for Defense Materiel in UK.Opinion and suggestion were put forward in the end.
Design and Analysis of a Hybrid Circularly Polarized Multi-Band MIMO Antenna for Sub 6 GHz Applications W

In this article, a hybrid circularly polarized MultipleInput Multiple-Output (MIMO) antenna for multi-band operation from 2.3 to 9.2 GHz with an impedance bandwidth of 7 GHz is proposed and investigated experimentally. The designed MIMO antenna model has a compact size of 20mm×40mm×1.6mm on the FR-4 substrate. The microstrip feed of the proposed slot antenna consists of a tapered structure, and the radiating element consists of the inverted Lshaped slots, which were opened on both sides of the radiating elements to introduce notches at the sub-6 GHz frequencies. L-shaped stubs are also introduced on another side of the substrate in the common ground plane to attain high isolation between the radiating elements of the proposed antenna. In the operating band from 2.3 to 9.2 GHz, isolation of less than -20 dB is achieved by the proposed model. The performance of the circularly polarized MIMO antenna in terms of RHCP and LHCP radiation patterns, axial ratio, surface current distributions, isolation between the ports, diversity gain (DG), envelope correlation coefficient (ECC), total active reflection coefficient (TARC), and peak gain are studied and presented in this work. The obtained characteristics of the proposed antenna make it suitable for sub-6GHz frequency applications. Keywords—Axial Ratio (AR), Circular Polarization, MIMO Antenna, SEA ( Single Element Antenna)
Magic Lining: Crafting Multidisciplinary Experiential Knowledge by Changing Wearer’s Body-Perception through Vibrotactile Clothing

Our complex and rapidly changing world presents us with profound societal challenges, but also offers tremendous opportunities for new technology to respond to those challenges. Several recent EU initiatives have enabled participants from a diverse array of disciplines to engage in common spaces for developing solutions to existing challenges and to imagine possible futures. This includes collaborations between the arts and sciences, fields which have traditionally contributed very different forms of knowledge, methodology, results and measures of success. They also speak very different languages. Magic Lining is a collaborative project involving participants from the fields of e-textile design, neuroscience and human-computer interaction (HCI). Magic Lining combines the findings of their respective disciplines to develop a ‘vibrotactile’ garment utilising soft, interactive materials and is designed to alter the wearer’s perception of their own body. Here we explain the process of designing the first prototype garment—a dress that produces in its wearer the sensation that their body is made of some of other material (stone, air, etc.) and in turn elicits various perceptual and emotional responses (feeling strong, feeling calm, etc.). We reflect on the collaborative process, highlighting the multidisciplinary team’s experience in finding a common space and language for sharing cognitive and experiential knowledge. We share our insights into the various outcomes of the collaboration, giving also our views on the benefits and on potential improvements for this kind of process.
Digital transformation of the higher education sector in maldives

— Due to the massive developments in information technology, the world as we know it has been massively changing and evolving. This revolution has been named Industrial Revolution 4.0. IR4.0 shrinks the gap between the digital, more technical world and the physical world. The higher education institutes are now being forced to move into a more digital form of education because if they are not, they are found institutes that are too stubborn to move on from the traditional method of education. The more modern technologies such as data analysis, artificial intelligence and other technologies such as cloud computing need to be concentrated on while going through digital transformation. This paper includes an outlook on digitization, benefits of digital transformation, challenges of implementation, how to have a smooth transition to a more digital environment and the different mechanisms that are in place, that could be improved. Because of the fact that as the generations pass, more and more of the students are getting tech savvy, so, if there is any time to implement digital transformation, it is now. This study will be focused on the Maldives and as it is a small island nation, it comes with a set of challenges that other countries most probably do not have.
Temporal dynamism in country of origin effect The malleability of Italians’ perceptions regarding the British sixties

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to enrich country of origin (COO) effect in international marketing theory by adding the understanding of temporal dynamism into COO research. Design/methodology/approach – Utilizing a qualitative and interdisciplinary phenomenological approach, this paper analyses historical and contemporary sources triangulated with contemporary primary interview data. The example of how perceptions of Italians about the values typical of the British Sixties varied over time periods is presented. Findings – COO perceptions are both malleable and in evolution. Results show that values from earlier peak periods of appeal can be combined and recombined differently over time due to the varying historical and contemporary resonances of COO values. Research limitations/implications – This study focuses on COO applied to two product areas, fashion and music, over a limited time period, in a two-country study and so the findings are not fully generalizable, but rather are transferable to similar contexts. Practical implications – The fact that COO is neither static nor atemporal facilitates a segmented approach for international marketing managers to review and renew international brands. This enriched COO theory provides a rich and variable resource for developing and revitalizing brands. Originality/value –The major contribution of this paper is that temporal dynamism, never before discussed in international marketing theory, renders COO theory more timeless; this addresses some critiques recently made about its relevance and practicality. The second contribution is the original research design that models interdisciplinary scholarship, enabling a thorough historical look at international marketing.
Bayesian Estimation of real-time Epidemic Growth Rates using Gaussian Processes: local dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in England

Quantitative assessments of the recent state of an epidemic and short-term projections into the near future are key public health tools that have substantial policy impacts, helping to determine if existing control measures are sufficient or need to be strengthened. Key to these quantitative assessments is the ability to rapidly and robustly measure the speed with which the epidemic is growing or decaying. Frequently, epidemiological trends are addressed in terms of the (time-varying) reproductive number R. Here, we take a more parsimonious approach and calculate the exponential growth rate, r, using a Bayesian hierarchical model to fit a Gaussian process to the epidemiological data. We show how the method can be employed when only case data from positive tests are available, and the improvement gained by including the total number of tests as a measure of heterogeneous testing effort. Although the methods are generic, we apply them to SARS-CoV-2 cases and testing in England, making use of the available high-resolution spatio-temporal data to determine long-term patterns of national growth, highlight regional growth and spatial heterogeneity.
Determination of the fetal age through progesterone level in Dromedary camels (Camelus dromederius)

Few studies were carried out concerning the hormonal profile during gestation in humped camel. The aim of the present work was to study the levels of progesterone hormone at the determined ages humped camel. The fetuses were collected from Cairo abattoir at different gestational ages and taken to the laboratory where the fetal age were determined by crown vertebral rump length (CVR), the developmental standard morphometrically methods were used. Biometrically the weight of the fetus, CVR increased with the advancement of gestational ages (1 st trimester to the 3 rd. trimester). The hormonal profile of progesterone was estimated by RIA. The progesterone values showed increasing pattern of 1.8 ± 0.79 ng/ml, 2.38 ± 1.00 ng/ml and 2.95 ± 1.3 ng/ml for the first (up to 4 months), second (4 to 8 months) and third stage of pregnancy (9 months up to full term) respectively. Moreover, this pregnancy may be confirmed by the ultrasound. While in the second stage of pregnancy (4-8 month) it is quite difficult to detect the age of the fetus by ultrasonography; since the fetus is large in size the hormonal level may be of value to determine (approximately) the fetal age.
Convolution Neural Networks for Point-of-Care Diagnostics of Bacterial Infections in Blood

A droplet of blood, when evaporated on a surface, leaves dried residue; the fractal patterns formed on the dried residues can act as markers for infection present in the blood. Exploiting the unique patterns found in the residues of a naturally dried droplet of blood, we propose a Point-of-Care (POC) diagnostic tool for detecting broad-spectrum of bacterial infections (such as Enterobacter aerogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella Typhi) in blood. The diagnosis process we propose is straightforward and can be performed with the following steps: A droplet of blood (healthy or infected) of volume range 0.5 to 2 microliter is allowed to dry on a clean glass surface and is imaged using a conventional optical microscope. A computer algorithm based on the framework of convolution neural network (CNN) is used to classify the captured images of dried blood droplets according to the bacterial infection. In total, our multiclass model reports an accuracy of 92% for detecting six bacterial species infections in the blood (with control being the uninfected or healthy blood). The high accuracy of detecting bacteria in the blood reported in this article is commensurate with the standard bacteriological tests. Thus, this article presents a proof-of-concept of a potential futuristic tool for a rapid and low-cost diagnosis of bacterial infection in the blood.
Genetic identification of bat species for pathogen surveillance across France

With more than 1400 chiropteran species identified to date, bats comprise one-fifth of all mammalian species worldwide. Many studies have associated viral zoonoses with 45 different species of bats in the EU, which cluster within 5 families of bats. For example, the Serotine bats are infected by European Bat 1 Lyssavirus throughout Europe while Myotis bats are shown infected by coronavirus, herpesvirus and paramyxovirus. Correct host species identification is important to increase our knowledge of the ecology and evolutionary pattern of bat viruses in the EU. Bat species identification is commonly determined using morphological keys. Morphological determination of bat species from bat carcasses can be limited in some cases, due to the state of decomposition or nearly indistinguishable morphological features in juvenile bats and can lead to misidentifications. The overall objective of our study was to identify insectivorous bat species using molecular biology tools with the amplification of the partial cytochrome b gene of mitochondrial DNA. Two types of samples were tested in this study, bat wing punches and bat faeces. A total of 163 bat wing punches representing 22 species, and 31 faecal pellets representing 7 species were included in the study. From the 163 bat wing punches tested, a total of 159 were genetically identified from amplification of the partial cyt b gene. All 31 faecal pellets were genetically identified based on the cyt b gene. A comparison between morphological and genetic determination showed 21 misidentifications from the 163 wing punches, representing ~12.5% of misidentifications of morphological determination compared with the genetic method, across 11 species. In addition, genetic determination allowed the identification of 24 out of 25 morphologically non-determined bat samples. Our findings demonstrate the importance of a genetic approach as an efficient and reliable method to identify bat species precisely.
Coronary artery bypass graft for stent occlusion in a patient with essential thrombocythemia

Abstract Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a rare myeloproliferative disorder characterized by pathologic expansion of the megakaryocytic elements in the bone marrow leading to persistent thrombocytosis and platelet dysfunction. The incidence of coronary artery disease can reach 9.4% and this is accompanied by high incidence of acute myocardial infractions. There are no clear guidelines for best management approach to these patients when cardiac surgery is planned. A case of ET required coronary artery bypass graft surgery for stent occlusion is presented with careful preoperative planning leading to full recovery with no complications.
Characterization and analysis of complete chloroplast genome of Clausena anisum-olens (Blanco) Merrill

Abstract In this study, the chloroplast genome (Cp) of Clausena anisum-olens ((Blanco) Merrill) was sequenced by high-throughput sequencing technology. We found that the length of the chloroplast genome of Clausena anisum-olens was 159,753 bp, and the total GC content was 38.7%, including a large single-copy (LSC) region of 87,623 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 17,986 bp, and 27,072 bp pairs of reverse repeats (IRS). The Cp genome encoded 129 genes, containing 86 protein-coding, 37 tRNA, and 6 rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis of the genome sequence showed that Clausena anisum-olens was closely related to Micromelum minutum and Glycosmis mauritiana.