Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantizer optimization in hybrid digital-analog transmission of analog source signals

The paper proposes a system for combined source-channel coding for transmitting continuous amplitude source symbols on a discrete time, continuous amplitude channel. Two channel symbols are generated for each source symbol. The channel contains additive, white, Gaussian noise, and the measure of quality is the MSE of the reconstructed signal. The coder quantizes the symbols and transmits both the quantized symbol and the quantization error. The quantizer representation values and decision levels are optimized numerically. The results indicate that the use of a uniform quantizer is nearly optimal for a uniformly distributed source. Comparison to another combined source-channel coder designed for a binary channel reveals that the proposed system performs significantly better than the reference systems, more than 5 dB for every channel SNR above 15 dB.
New Complementation Constructs for Inducible and Constitutive Gene Expression in Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis

ABSTRACT We have created new complementation constructs for use in Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis. The constructs contain regions of homology with the chromosome and direct the insertion of a gene of interest into the intergenic region between the genes iga and trpB. In order to increase the available options for gene expression in Neisseria, we designed the constructs to contain one of three different promoters. One of the constructs contains the isopropyl-β-d-thiogalactopyranoside-inducible lac promoter, which has been widely used in Neisseria. We also designed a construct that contains the strong, constitutive promoter from the gonococcal opaB gene. The third construct contains a tetracycline-inducible promoter, a novel use of this promoter in Neisseria. We demonstrate that anhydrotetracycline can be used to induce gene expression in the pathogenic Neisseria at very low concentrations and without negatively affecting the growth of the organisms. We use these constructs to complement an arginine auxotrophy in N. gonorrhoeae as well as to express a translational fusion of alkaline phosphatase with TraW. TraW is a component of the gonococcal type IV secretion system, and we demonstrate that TraW localizes to the periplasm.
The Arabic Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale

Dear Editor, We read with interest the findings by Phan et al. In particular, we were intrigued by the marked improvement in sensitivity and specificity of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-depression subscale (HADS-D) sub-scale postmodification. A number of published reports, as well as our experience, have pointed out several problems with the current version of the Arabic (HADS). The four-point response scale has been reversed in four items, namely ‘I can laugh and see the funny side of things’, ‘worrying thoughts go through my mind’, ‘I feel restless as if I have to be on the move’ and ‘I look forward with enjoyment to things’. A cohort of 143 patients was given the current Arabic HADS while waiting in a tertiary neurology outpatient clinic in Saudi Arabia (Alamri, unpublished). After recalculating the scores of the four items above, it was found that 14 (9.8%) patients were misdiagnosed as having either depression or anxiety, whereas 12 (8.4%) patients were dismissed as normal when in fact they scored above the cut-off scores of definite cases. The resultant miscalculation in many patients’ scores has resulted in the misdiagnosis of many patients and misplacement of available medical care. This included wasted time and medical resources on patients less likely to have anxiety or depression and missed opportunities to treat patients more likely to have anxiety or depression. Moreover, the current version uses words that might be too colloquial or too ambiguous for an Arab patient. For example, the word ‘‘tension’’ that is translated to the Arabic word ‘‘dheeg’’ can apply to both depression and anxiety. Also, many Arab patients perceive the phrase ‘‘I get a sort of frightened feeling like ‘butterflies’ in the stomach’’ as if it asks about acute abdominal pain or the literal presence of butterflies. Another difficulty with the current translation is its failure to capture the Arab social context and local traditional expressions into account. For instance, many Arab patients respond negatively to the item ‘‘I can enjoy a good book or radio or television programme’’ simply due to the fact that patient, like many other Arab patients, does not usually engage in such activities (as opposed to enjoying time with family and friends, e.g.). These linguistic and sociocultural barriers inherent to translation, in addition to the relatively high prevalence of illiteracy have led to a use of the scale that is vastly different to that for which it was originally developed. Arab researchers now very often have to read out the questions to the patients, explain the different choices and assist the patients to choose an appropriate answer. Not only is this timeand labour-intense, it also makes patients overthink their answer rather than giving immediate answers, all of which defy the very purpose of the HADS.
Validity and reliability of strain gauge measurement of volitional quadriceps force in patients with COPD

This study investigated the validity and reliability of fixed strain gauge measurements of isometric quadriceps force in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A total cohort of 138 patients with COPD were assessed. To determine validity, maximal volitional quadriceps force was evaluated during isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) manoeuvre via a fixed strain gauge dynamometer and compared to (a) potentiated non-volitional quadriceps force obtained via magnetic stimulation of the femoral nerve (twitch (Tw); n = 92) and (b) volitional computerized dynamometry (Biodex; n = 46) and analysed via correlation coefficients. Test–retest and absolute reliability were determined via calculations of intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs), smallest real differences (SRDs) and standard errors of measurement (SEMs). For this, MVC recordings in each device were performed across two test sessions separated by a period of 7 days (n = 46). Strain gauge measures of MVC demonstrated very large correlation with Tw and Biodex results (r = 0.86 and 0.88, respectively, both p < 0.0001). ICC, SEM and SRD were numerically comparable between strain gauge and Biodex devices (ICC = 0.96 vs. 0.93; SEM = 8.50 vs. 10.54 N·m and SRD = 23.59 vs. 29.22 N·m, respectively). The results support that strain gauge measures of quadriceps force are valid and reliable in patients with COPD.
Effects of varenicline therapy in combination with advanced behavioral support on smoking cessation and quality of life in inpatients with acute exacerbation of COPD, bronchial asthma, or community-acquired pneumonia: A prospective, open-label, preference-based, 52-week, follow-up trial

Quitting smoking is the most important element in the therapeutic management of chronic respiratory diseases. Combining pharmacotherapy with behavioral support increases smoking cessation success rates. In addition, hospitalized smokers have increased motivation to quit. We investigated the efficacy on smoking cessation, of varenicline in combination with behavioral support, in smokers hospitalized due to (a) acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or (b) bronchial asthma attack, or (c) community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The method used is prospective, open-label, preference-based, parallel group, 52-week trial. Patients chose the smoking cessation intervention they preferred: a standard regimen of varenicline combined with post-discharge advanced behavioral support (group A) or one private consultation session during hospitalization (group B). Follow-up phone calls were scheduled in weeks 1, 2, and 4 and months 3, 6, and 9. The final hospital visit was performed in week 52. Primary outcome was success rate defined as the percentage (%) of smoking abstinence at week 52 and secondary outcomes were (a) changes in quality of life (QoL) indicated by the scores on the Short Form 36 (SF36) questionnaire and (b) predictors of smoking abstinence investigated with multiple binary logistic regression. One hundred one patients were enrolled, 44 (43.6%) in group A and 57 (56.4%) in group B. Respective abstinence rates were 54.5% and 15.8% at week 12 and 52.3% and 14.0% at week 52. Scores on SF36 were statistically significantly increased in both groups. Predictors of smoking abstinence were varenicline (odds ratio (OR) 7.29; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.15, 24.77; p = 0.001), age (OR 1.07; 95%CI 1.00, 1.15; p = 0.042), Fagerstrom score (OR 0.37; 95%CI 0.20, 0.68; p = 0.001), SF36 domains “vitality” (OR 1.12; 95%CI 1.04, 1.21; p = 0.003), and “social functioning” (OR 0.95; 95%CI 0.90, 1.00; p = 0.041). Varenicline in combination with behavioral support resulted in high abstinence rates inpatients hospitalized for exacerbation of COPD, asthma attack, or CAP, and improved QoL.
Pitch tracking and tone features for Mandarin speech recognition

Tone modeling is a critical component for Mandarin large-vocabulary continuous-speech recognition systems. This paper presents an efficient real-time pitch tracker and a set of tone features that achieve a vast 30% reduction of the character error rate (CER), compared to the non-tonal baseline. To our knowledge, this is the highest improvement from tones ever reported for Mandarin. The paper first discusses adapting a known pitch-tracking algorithm for real-time operation. Second, we study the derivation of tone features for Mandarin LVCSR. Compared to the baseline vector (F/sub 0/, /spl Delta/F/sub 0/), our best tone features lead to a 28% reduction of tone errors. Results are shown for three LVCSR databases, including the Chinese 1998 National Performance Assessment (Project 863) and the Taiwan telephony database "MAT. " Performance of Western-language systems is reached, and for the "863 System Performance Test," our system achieves 1.5% CER.
Construction Methods for Asymmetric and Multiblock Space–Time Codes

In this paper, the need for the construction of asymmetric and multiblock space-time codes is discussed. Above the trivial puncturing method, i.e., switching off the extra layers in the symmetric multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) setting, two more sophisticated asymmetric construction methods are proposed. The first method, called the block diagonal method (BDM), can be converted to produce multiblock space-time codes that achieve the diversity-multiplexing tradeoff (DMT). It is also shown that maximizing the density of the newly proposed block diagonal asymmetric space-time (AST) codes is equivalent to minimizing the discriminant of a certain order, a result that also holds as such for the multiblock codes. An implicit lower bound for the density is provided and made explicit for an important special case that contains e.g., the systems equipped with 4Tx +2Rx antennas. Further, an explicit scheme achieving the bound is given. Another method proposed here is the smart puncturing method (SPM) that generalizes the subfield construction method proposed in earlier work by Hollanti and Ranto and applies to any number of transmitting and lesser receiving antennas. The use of the general methods is demonstrated by building explicit, sphere decodable codes using different cyclic division algebras (CDAs). Computer simulations verify that the newly proposed methods can compete with the trivial puncturing method, and in some cases clearly outperform it. The conquering construction exploiting maximal orders improves upon the punctured perfect code and the DjABBA code as well as the Icosian code. Also extensive DMT analysis is provided.
Subspace Pursuit for Compressive Sensing: Closing the Gap Between Performance and Complexity

Abstract : We propose a new method for reconstruction of sparse signals with and without noisy perturbations, termed the subspace pursuit algorithm. The algorithm has two important characteristics: low computational complexity, comparable to that of orthogonal matching pursuit techniques, and reconstruction accuracy of the same order as that of LP optimization methods. The presented analysis shows that in the noiseless setting, the proposed algorithm can exactly reconstruct arbitrary sparse signals provided that the sensing matrix satisfies the restricted isometry property with a constant parameter. In the noisy setting and in the case that the signal is not exactly sparse it can be shown that the mean squared error of the reconstruction is upper bounded by constant multiples of the measurement and signal perturbation energies.
Voice conversion algorithm based on Gaussian mixture model with dynamic frequency warping of STRAIGHT spectrum

In the voice conversion algorithm based on the Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) applied to STRAIGHT, quality of converted speech is degraded because the converted spectrum is exceedingly smooth. We propose the GMM-based algorithm with dynamic frequency warping to avoid the over-smoothing. We also propose an addition of the weighted residual spectrum, which is the difference between the GMM-based converted spectrum and the frequency-warped spectrum, to avoid the deterioration of conversion-accuracy on speaker individuality. Results of the evaluation experiments clarify that the converted speech quality is better than that of the GMM-based algorithm, and the conversion-accuracy on speaker individuality is the same as that of the GMM-based algorithm in the proposed method with the properly-weighted residual spectrum.
Resilience in Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse

Objective. This review article summarizes empirical research on resilience in survivors of child sexual abuse (CSA) and discusses protective factors that are associated with adaptive functioning in spite of sexual victimization. Methods. A literature search to identify studies published up to November 2013 was performed within the databases PsycINFO, MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, and PSYNDEXplus. Additional relevant studies were retrieved using a snowball technique. A total of 37 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final sample. Results. In the studies included in this review, the percentage of CSA survivors who were found to have a normal level of functioning despite a history of sexual abuse ranged from 10% to 53%. The protective factors that had the best empirical support were found to be education, interpersonal and emotional competence, control beliefs, active coping, optimism, social attachment, external attribution of blame, and most importantly, support from the family and the wider social environment. Conclusions. Preventive and clinical interventions for survivors of CSA should utilize psychoeducation and cognitive strategies that are adapted to the developmental level of the victim and that seek to enhance social support from significant others. Future research should focus on longitudinal research designs considering resilience rather as a dynamic process with multiple dimensions in a social and developmental context.
Relational Patterns Between Caregivers With PTSD and Their Nonexposed Children

The question as to whether or not children can be affected by the traumatization of their parents has been the topic of a long-standing debate. This article provides a critical review of 72 research studies on traumatized parents with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the parent–child interaction, and the impact on their nonexposed child (0–18 years). The evidence suggests that traumatization can cause parenting limitations, and these limitations can disrupt the development of the young child. From the studies reviewed several patterns emerged: Relational patterns of traumatized parents who are observed to be emotionally less available and who perceive their children more negatively than parents without symptoms of PTSD; relational patterns of children who at a young age are easily deregulated or distressed and at an older age are reported to face more difficulties in their psychosocial development than children of parents without symptoms of PTSD; and relational patterns that show remarkable similarities to relational patterns between depressed or anxious parents and their children. Mechanisms such as mentalization, attachment, physiological factors, and the cycle of abuse offer a valuable perspective to further our understanding of the relational patterns. This article builds on previous work by discussing the emerged patterns between traumatized parents and their nonexposed children from a relational and transactional perspective.
Gastric Helicobacters in Domestic Animals and Nonhuman Primates and Their Significance for Human Health

SUMMARY Helicobacters other than Helicobacter pylori have been associated with gastritis, gastric ulcers, and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma in humans. These very fastidious microorganisms with a typical large spiral-shaped morphology were provisionally designated “H. heilmannii,” but in fact they comprise at least five different Helicobacter species, all of which are known to colonize the gastric mucosa of animals. H. suis, which has been isolated from the stomachs of pigs, is the most prevalent gastric non-H. pylori Helicobacter species in humans. Other gastric non-H. pylori helicobacters colonizing the human stomach are H. felis, H. salomonis, H. bizzozeronii, and the still-uncultivable “Candidatus Helicobacter heilmannii. ” These microorganisms are often detected in the stomachs of dogs and cats. “Candidatus Helicobacter bovis” is highly prevalent in the abomasums of cattle but has only occasionally been detected in the stomachs of humans. There are clear indications that gastric non-H. pylori Helicobacter infections in humans originate from animals, and it is likely that transmission to humans occurs through direct contact. Little is known about the virulence factors of these microorganisms. The recent successes with in vitro isolation of non-H. pylori helicobacters from domestic animals open new perspectives for studying these microorganisms and their interactions with the host.
Acinetobacter baumannii: Emergence of a Successful Pathogen

SUMMARY Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged as a highly troublesome pathogen for many institutions globally. As a consequence of its immense ability to acquire or upregulate antibiotic drug resistance determinants, it has justifiably been propelled to the forefront of scientific attention. Apart from its predilection for the seriously ill within intensive care units, A. baumannii has more recently caused a range of infectious syndromes in military personnel injured in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. This review details the significant advances that have been made in our understanding of this remarkable organism over the last 10 years, including current taxonomy and species identification, issues with susceptibility testing, mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, global epidemiology, clinical impact of infection, host-pathogen interactions, and infection control and therapeutic considerations.
“What Should We Tell the Children About Relationships and Sex?”©: Development of a Program for Parents Using Intervention Mapping

This article describes the development of an intervention that aims to increase the quantity and quality of parent—child communication about sex and relationships. The intervention has been designed as part of a local strategic approach to teenage pregnancy and sexual health. The process and findings of Intervention Mapping (IM), a tool for the development of theory-and evidence-based interventions, are presented. The process involves a detailed assessment of the difficulties parents experience in communicating with their children about sex and relationships. The findings are translated into program and change objectives that specify what parents need to do to improve their communication. Theory-based practical strategies most likely to bring about the desired behavioral change are then identified and pretested. The intervention developed consists of a six-session facilitator-led program that targets parents’ attitudes, knowledge, communication skills, and self-efficacy. Following on from Bartholomew’s seminal work on IM, this article develops and extends the application of this process by presenting explicit detail on the behavioral change techniques used and their theoretical underpinnings. The strengths and weaknesses of IM as a process for the development of health behavior interventions are discussed.
Face recognition using discrete wavelet graph

We propose a face recognition algorithm using the discrete wavelet face graph. Similar to the Gabor face graph, the method uses the elastic bunch graph matching process to locate fiducial points, but adopts different jet features using a discrete wavelet transform. Following the FERET identification protocol, 2340 face images are used to compare the recognition performance of the two methods. Experimental results show that the DWT face graph has comparable performance as the Gabor face graph. However, with fast computation and compact data structure, the DWT face graph has a unique advantage in real-time applications.
Comparison of Recombinant Trypanosoma cruzi Peptide Mixtures versus Multiepitope Chimeric Proteins as Sensitizing Antigens for Immunodiagnosis

ABSTRACT The aim of this work was to determine the best strategy to display antigens (Ags) on immunochemical devices to improve test selectivity and sensitivity. We comparatively evaluated five Trypanosoma cruzi antigenic recombinant peptides, chose the three more sensitive ones, built up chimeras bearing these selected Ags, and systematically compared by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay the performance of the assortments of those peptides with that of the multiepitope constructions bearing all those peptides lineally fused. The better-performing Ags that were compared included peptides homologous to the previously described T. cruzi flagellar repetitive Ag (here named RP1), shed acute-phase Ag (RP2), B13 (RP5), and the chimeric recombinant proteins CP1 and CP2, bearing repetitions of RP1-RP2 and RP1-RP2-RP5, respectively. The diagnostic performances of these Ags were assessed for discrimination efficiency by the formula +OD/cutoff value (where +OD is the mean optical density value of the positive serum samples tested), in comparison with each other either alone, in mixtures, or as peptide-fused chimeras and with total parasite homogenate (TPH). The discrimination efficiency values obtained for CP1 and CP2 were 25% and 52% higher, respectively, than those of their individual-Ag mixtures. CP2 was the only Ag that showed enhanced discrimination efficiency between Chagas' disease-positive and -negative samples, compared with TPH. This study highlights the convenience of performing immunochemical assays using hybrid, single-molecule, chimeric Ags instead of peptide mixtures. CP2 preliminary tests rendered 98.6% sensitivity when evaluated with a 141-Chagas' disease-positive serum sample panel and 99.4% specificity when assessed with a 164-Chagas' disease-negative serum sample panel containing 15 samples from individuals infected with Leishmania spp.