Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
FPGA-BASED EMBEDDED SOLUTION FOR AUTOMATIC SPEECH RECOGNITION

Speech recognition can prove a valuable asset to many industrial processes as it is a natural form of command input. Automatic speech recognition (ASR) is the ability of machines to derive commands from input speech. ASR systems can ease the amount of training required by system operators, as one simply needs to say what needs to be done. A typical speech recognition system can be segmented into a front-end which performs feature extraction by vector quantization and a backend which is essentially an implementation of a pattern matching algorithm. The composite system can thus be configured to run a series of operations on recognition of speech input. Recent work in the field of ASR implementation has facilitated the migration of ASR from the pure software approach to a mixture of software and dedicated hardware IP cores, as well as the far extreme of the pure hardware approach. The embedded approach will allow ASR to be implemented on cheaper systems because complex operating systems would no longer be required. Present paper discusses the generic speech recognition system, the potential benefits of the embedded approach which seeks to deliver reliable real time use of continuous speech recognition and the current trends in hardware implementation of ASR with a keen focus on field programmable gate array (FPGA). The FPGA based approach can provide a cheap implementation platform for integrating control rooms, inventory taking devices and other input intensive areas.
Cloning and Functional Characterization of an NAD+-Dependent DNA Ligase from Staphylococcus aureus

ABSTRACT A Staphylococcus aureus mutant conditionally defective in DNA ligase was identified by isolation of complementing plasmid clones that encode the S. aureus ligA gene. Orthologues of the putative S. aureus NAD+-dependent DNA ligase could be identified in the genomes of Bacillus stearothermophilus and other gram-positive bacteria and confirmed the presence of four conserved amino acid motifs, including motif I, KXDG with lysine 112, which is believed to be the proposed site of adenylation. DNA sequence comparison of the ligA genes from wild type and temperature-sensitive S. aureus strain NT64 identified a single base alteration that is predicted to result in the amino acid substitution E46G. The S. aureus ligA gene was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli, and the enzyme was purified to near homogeneity. NAD+-dependent DNA ligase activity was demonstrated with the purified enzyme by measuring ligation of 32P-labeled 30-mer and 29-mer oligonucleotides annealed to a complementary strand of DNA. Limited proteolysis of purified S. aureus DNA ligase by thermolysin produced products with apparent molecular masses of 40, 22, and 21 kDa. The fragments were purified and characterized by N-terminal sequencing and mass analysis. The N-terminal fragment (40 kDa) was found to be fully adenylated. A fragment from residues 1 to 315 was expressed as a His-tagged fusion in E. coli and purified for functional analysis. Following deadenylation with nicotinamide mononucleotide, the purified fragment could self-adenylate but lacked detectable DNA binding activity. The 21- and 22-kDa C-terminal fragments, which lacked the last 76 amino acids of the DNA ligase, had no adenylation activity or DNA binding activity. The intact 30-kDa C terminus of the S. aureus LigA protein expressed in E. coli did demonstrate DNA binding activity. These observations suggest that, as in the case with the NAD+-dependent DNA ligase fromB. stearothermophilus, two independent functional domains exist in S. aureus DNA ligase, consisting of separate adenylation and DNA binding activities. They also demonstrate a role for the extreme C terminus of the ligase in DNA binding. As there is much evidence to suggest that DNA ligase is essential for bacterial survival, its discovery in the important human pathogen S. aureus indicates its potential as a broad-spectrum antibacterial target for the identification of novel antibiotics.
Cytochrome P450-type Hydroxylation and Epoxidation in a Tyrosine-liganded Hemoprotein, Catalase-related Allene Oxide Synthase*

Background: Tyrosine-liganded hemoproteins typically are hydroperoxidases. They do not oxygenate their substrates. Results: In the presence of an oxygen donor, tyrosine-liganded allene oxide synthase stereospecifically oxygenated polyunsaturated fatty acids. Conclusion: A catalase-related enzyme can act as a monooxygenase. Significance: A catalase hemoprotein, with tyrosine as the proximal heme ligand, can exhibit monooxygenase activity, a property usually associated with a cysteinate heme ligand, as in cytochromes P450. The ability of hemoproteins to catalyze epoxidation or hydroxylation reactions is usually associated with a cysteine as the proximal ligand to the heme, as in cytochrome P450 or nitric oxide synthase. Catalase-related allene oxide synthase (cAOS) from the coral Plexaura homomalla, like catalase itself, has tyrosine as the proximal heme ligand. Its natural reaction is to convert 8R-hydroperoxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (8R-HPETE) to an allene epoxide, a reaction activated by the ferric heme, forming product via the FeIV–OH intermediate, Compound II. Here we oxidized cAOS to Compound I (FeV=O) using the oxygen donor iodosylbenzene and investigated the catalytic competence of the enzyme. 8R-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (8R-HETE), the hydroxy analog of the natural substrate, normally unreactive with cAOS, was thereby epoxidized stereospecifically on the 9,10 double bond to form 8R-hydroxy-9R,10R-trans-epoxy-eicosa-5Z,11Z,14Z-trienoic acid as the predominant product; the turnover was 1/s using 100 μm iodosylbenzene. The enantiomer, 8S-HETE, was epoxidized stereospecifically, although with less regiospecificity, and was hydroxylated on the 13- and 16-carbons. Arachidonic acid was converted to two major products, 8R-HETE and 8R,9S-eicosatrienoic acid (8R,9S-EET), plus other chiral monoepoxides and bis-allylic 10S-HETE. Linoleic acid was epoxidized, whereas stearic acid was not metabolized. We conclude that when cAOS is charged with an oxygen donor, it can act as a stereospecific monooxygenase. Our results indicate that in the tyrosine-liganded cAOS, a catalase-related hemoprotein in which a polyunsaturated fatty acid can enter the active site, the enzyme has the potential to mimic the activities of typical P450 epoxygenases and some capabilities of P450 hydroxylases.
Extending Huffman coding for multilingual text compression

Summary form only given. We propose two new algorithms that are based on the 16-bit or 32-bit sampling character set and on the unique features of languages with a large number of distinct characters to improve the data compression ratios for multilingual text documents. We choose Chinese language using 16 bit character sampling as the representative language in our study. The first approach, called the static Chinese Huffman coding, introduces the concept of a single Chinese character in the Huffman tree. Experimental results showed that the improvement in compression ratio obtained. The second approach, called the dictionary-based Chinese Huffman coding, includes the concept of Chinese words in the Huffman coding.
Nerve Growth Factor Activates Mast Cells Through the Collaborative Interaction with Lysophosphatidylserine Expressed on the Membrane Surface of Activated Platelets1

Effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) on platelet-associated mast cell activation was investigated. Although neither NGF alone nor platelets alone induced significant 5-hydroxytriptamine (5-HT) release from rat peritoneal mast cells, marked 5-HT release was detected when costimulated with NGF and calcium ionophore-activated platelets. This response reached maximal levels as early as 5 min after the initiation of the coincubation and was completely blocked by anti-NGF Ab or by an inhibitor for a tyrosine kinase of the trkA NGF receptor. Paraformaldehyde-fixed platelets activated with either calcium ionophore or thrombin exhibited the collaborative ability, suggesting the possible involvement of some membrane molecules expressed on activated platelets in mast cell activation. Because activation of platelets induced expression of phosphatidylserine (PS) and/or lysoPS on membrane surface, and since lysoPS, unlike PS, initiated the NGF-induced 5-HT release, lysoPS expressed on activated platelets may be involved in the mast cell activation. Moreover, intradermal injection of NGF and activated platelets into the rat skin increased local vascular permeability. These findings suggested that NGF collaboratively worked with membrane lysoPS of activated platelets to induce mast cell activation. Thus, NGF released in response to inflammatory stimuli may contribute to mast cell activation in collaboration with locally activated platelets in the process of inflammations and tissue repair.
Weight loss intervention trials in women with breast cancer: a systematic review

Obesity has been associated with poor health outcomes in breast cancer survivors. Thus, weight loss is recommended for overweight and obese survivors. We systematically reviewed studies (published up to July 2013) that evaluated behaviourally based, weight loss interventions in women with breast cancer exclusively. Completed randomized trials, single‐arm trials and ongoing trials were reviewed. Within‐group and between‐group differences for weight loss were extracted, as was data on secondary outcomes, i.e. clinical biomarkers, patient‐reported outcomes, adverse events. Ten completed randomized trials, four single‐arm trials and five ongoing trials were identified. Statistically significant within‐group weight loss was observed over periods of 2 to 18 months in 13 of the 14 trials, with six randomized and two single‐arm trials observing mean weight loss ≥5%. Clinical biomarkers, psychosocial and patient‐reported outcomes were measured in a small number of studies. No serious adverse events were reported. Only two trials assessed maintenance of intervention effects after the end‐of‐intervention and none reported on cost‐effectiveness. The studies included in this review suggest that weight loss is feasible to achieve and is safe in women following treatment for breast cancer. Future studies should assess (and be powered for) a range of biomarker and patient‐reported outcomes, and be designed to inform translation into practice.
Update on Nonlinear Collimation Schemes for the LHC

In this paper we review the status of the studies on nonlinear collimation schemes for the LHC. Concretely we describe the design of a nonlinear optics for betatron cleaning in IR7. The aim is to investigate alternative nonlinear collimation systems to reduce the collimator-induced impedance that may limit the beam intensity towards the LHC luminosity upgrade. The performance of the LHC nonlinear collimation system is studied by means of tracking simulations and compared with the present LHC system. Furthermore, the advantages and possible limitations of such nonlinear collimation scheme are discussed.
A platform for user empowerment through Self Ecological Momentary Assessment / Intervention

This paper presents a software platform for semi-automatic life-style self-monitoring, analysis and intervention. Our approach focuses on user empowerment, engaging them into improving their own well-being. We provide a set of software tools which allow users to: (1) collect data from their daily lives, based on Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) techniques; (2) carry out interventions in their daily habits, with time/location aware notifications based on Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMI) techniques and (3) obtain insights –which help them in the task of defining those interventions¬ using visual analytics techniques. The contribution of this work is the EMA/EMI techniques being used by the user itself, opposed to conventional researcher-centered approaches.
Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is an important public health problem and is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Therefore, treatment of this condition is of paramount importance. The treatment of OSA includes general and behavioural measures, mechanical measures including continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), Bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) and Oral Appliances (OA), pharmacological treatment and surgical procedures. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment reverses the repetitive upper airway obstruction of sleep apnea and associated daytime sleepiness and is the most effective treatment for OSA. However maintaining patient adherence to CPAP therapy is a challenge. Weight loss should be recommended to overweight patients with OSA, as it has been shown that weight reduction has additional health benefits. Treatment of underlying medical conditions such as hypothyroidism or acromegaly has profound effect on apnea/hypopnea index. A subset of patients with OSA may benefit from supplemental oxygen and positional therapy. Presently, there are no effective pharmacotherapeutic agents for treatment of patients with OSA and the role of surgical treatment in OSA is controversial. However, pharmacological treatment of persisting residual sleepiness, despite adequate positive airway pressure therapy delivery and adherence, is indicated and may improve daytime sleepiness.
Chemodectoma in the region of the aortic bifurcation

J. P. was admitted to St. John’s Hospital, Lewisham, in January, 1963, when she was zz years of age, having noticed an abdominal swelling for about z years; this was causing no distress, though she was just conscious of its presence at times; she went to see her doctor when she was planning to be married. A mass was palpable in the centre of the abdomen, movable from side to side but not up and down. No other abnormality was found. The tumour was thought possibly to be an omental cyst. All investigations were negative, except that the chest radiograph showed three small rounded opacities in the lung fields. On 3 Jan., 1963, laparotomy was performed (H. I. Le B.) and revealed a vascular retroperitoneal tumour 10 cm. in diameter overlying the aortic bifurcation. There was no sign of disease elsewhere in the abdomen. After preliminary dissection the mass was found to be firmly adherent to the front of the aorta and a nodule could be felt in the lumen of the inferior vena cava (Fig. I). In order to separate the tumour from the aorta it was necessary to excise the outer layer of the arterial wall over a small area, F I G . 3. -Chest radiograph taken on 22 Jan., 1963. showing three rounded deposits. Fifteen months later the two visible metastases in the left lung were removed with two others not shown on the film.
Three‐dimensional MR spectroscopic imaging using adiabatic spin echo and hypergeometric dual‐band suppression for metabolic mapping over the entire brain

Large lipid and water signals in MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) complicate brain metabolite quantification. In this study, we combined adiabatic hypergeometric dual‐band (HGDB) lipid and water suppression with gradient offset independent adiabatic (GOIA) spin echo to improve three‐dimensional (3D) MRSI of the entire brain.
The output current analysis and its applications in the interleaved boost converter

This paper presents a new analysis methodology to quantify the output current and output capacitor ripple current for the interleaved boost converter with an arbitrary number of phases operating in both continuous conduction mode (CCM) and discontinuous conduction mode (DCM). As the result, all the possible output waveforms of the output current are presented. This analysis result can be used as a design tool to optimize the output capacitor selection considering the output capacitor ripple current handling capability and the tradeoff between decreasing the output voltage ripple and reducing the size and cost. This proposed analysis model and design consideration guideline has been verified by simulation and experiment.
GeoMoB — A geo location based browser for secured mobile banking

With banks reaching its users via mobile banking, it is becoming one of the essential feature that is demanded by almost every smartphone user. Mobile banking via a mobile browser is similar to internet banking. Browsing-based threats for smartphones are just the same as those for personal computers, elevating the need to focus on mobile security. Among the several authentication schemes, geolocation authentication is gaining importance as it is found most suitable for mobile devices. In this paper, GeoMoB, a dedicated secure mobile browser for mobile banking that makes use of multifactor authentication is designed and developed. GeoMoB features a geolocation based authentication scheme which ensures security of mobile transactions based on the user location. In addition to the existing two factor authentication scheme using user ID, password and OTP, the mobile number and geolocation is used to authenticate the user. The geolocation intimates the banks location from where the transaction is going to be performed thus helping banks to ensure secure transactions. The geolocation of the user is acquired through the network provider and hence the need for using GSM is eliminated. The multifactor authentication used in GeoMoB ensures security while performing mobile transaction and prevents users from various attacks.
Uplink resource allocation algorithms with fractional power control as power constraints for OFDMA system

In this paper, two algorithms in resource allocation with fractional power control scheme are proposed and evaluated. In these algorithms, we joint chunk allocation and unequal power allocation in one chunk by considering fractional power control scheme as power constraint on each user to improve the sum of spectral efficiency of users and fairness among users. In order to evaluate our proposed algorithms, we compare the performances of our proposed algorithms with those of the previous algorithms with fractional power control scheme as power constraint in each user. From the simulation results are shown that our proposed algorithms can improve the sum of spectral efficiency and fairness among users in macrocell urban and suburban condition.
Is the Price of Money Managers Too Low?

Although established money managers operate in an environment which seems competitive, they also seem to be very profitable. The present value of the expected future profits from managing a collection of funds is equal to the value of the assets under management multiplied by the profit margin, assuming that the managed funds will remain in business forever, and that there will be zero asset flow into and out of the funds, zero excess returns net of trading costs, a fixed management fee proportional to the assets under management and a fixed profit margin for the management company. A profit margin of 30% seems empirically reasonable, but money management companies seem to trade at 2-4% of assets under management. Attempts to reconcile the two figures are not compelling, which is disturbing considering the centrality of the present value formula to finance and economics. Another computation suggests that holders of actively managed funds typically lose about 12% (18%) of their assets if they hold the fund for 20 (30) years, as compared with a loss of less than 3% (5%) for low-cost index fund investors for similar holding periods.
Improved Quadrature Duobinary System Performance Using Multi-Modulus Equalization

Quadrature duobinary (QDB) signals can be generated from strongly filtered quadrature phase shift keying whose constellation becomes a 9-ary quadrature amplitude modulation. In this letter, the performance of multi-modulus equalization (MMEQ) to suppress noise and crosstalk for this QDB signal is experimentally investigated and compared with that of the constant-modulus equalization (CMEQ) with post filtering, under different filter bandwidth and carrier spacing. The results show that the MMEQ scheme has better performance for noise and crosstalk suppression, resulting in improved filtering tolerance. This improved filtering tolerance is demonstrated in an 8-channel 112-Gb/s wavelength-division-multiplexing experiment with a 25-GHz grid over 2640-km single-mode fiber. Compared with the regular CMEQ with the post filtering scheme, 1-dB optical signal-to-noise ratio improvement at the bit-error-ratio (BER) of <formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$1\times 10^{-3}$</tex></formula> and 32% increased transmission distance at the BER level of <formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$3.8\times 10^{-3}$</tex> </formula> for forward-error-correction are obtained for the MMEQ scheme.
Load Balancing Techniques in Cloud Computing: A Study

Cloud Computing is an emerging computing paradigm. It aims to share data, calculations, and service transparently over a scalable network of nodes. Cloud Computing is nothing but a collection of computing resources and services pooled together over internet and is provided to the users on pay-as-needed basis. In cloud computing, load balancing is required to distribute the dynamic local workload evenly across all the nodes. It helps to achieve a high user satisfaction and resource utilization ratio by ensuring an efficient and fair allocation of every computing resource. Proper load balancing aids in minimizing resource consumption, implementing fail-over, enabling scalability, avoiding bottlenecks and over-provisioning etc. It helps in optimal utilization of resources and hence in enhancing the performance of the system. A few existing scheduling algorithms can maintain load balancing and provide better strategies through efficient job scheduling and resource allocation techniques as well. In order to gain maximum profits with optimized load balancing algorithms, it is necessary to utilize resources efficiently. This paper discusses some of the existing load balancing algorithms in cloud computing and also their challenges.
Escherichia coli genes expressed preferentially in an aquatic environment

Enteric bacteria are frequently found in aquatic environments, where they may pose a risk to human health. Although bacterial survival and persistence in such habitats has been studied extensively, there is almost no information about bacterial adaptation to these conditions at the level of changes in gene expression. As a first exploration of this field, we have carried out a screen designed to identify Escherichia coli genes that show increased expression in an aquatic environment. The screen was performed by subtractive hybridization on a genomic library and led to the identification of several RNA species more abundant in cells inoculated in this medium than in stationary‐ phase cultures after growth in rich medium. The genes identified include specific tRNA operons and a gene of unknown function, gapC, with similarities to glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenases. E. coli K‐12 strains appear to have accumulated mutations in gapC, which may impede its translation, whereas natural isolates have an intact gapC gene. Sequence comparison of gapC with related genes suggests its acquisition by horizontal gene transfer from Gram‐positive bacteria.