Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Acoustic echo canceller with high speech quality

Acoustic echo cancellers utilizing adaptive finite impulse response (FIR) filters conventionally incorporate learning identification (LI) also called the normalized least mean square (NLMS) adaptation algorithm. This echo cancellers have a serious problem in that colored signal input and incremental tap length degrade their echo cancellation characteristics. In this paper, a new adaptation algorithm combining reductive correlation and variable loop gain methods is proposed. The proposed algorithm is shown in the simulation to have good convergence characteristics compared to conventional methods. Furthermore, a sub-band echo canceller is proposed in which the input signal is separated into several sub-band signals in the frequency domain. Using this echo canceller, the computation quantity per sampling period in a processing module can be greatly reduced. Finally, the relationship between the overall echo cancellation performance and the characteristics of the sub-band filters is clarified.
Multi-Threaded Nested DFS

Recent development in computer hardware has brought more wide-spread emergence of shared-memory, multi-core systems. These architectures offer opportunities to speed up various tasks -- among others LTL model checking. We have implemented several parallel algorithms for shared-memory LTL model checking, based on Nested DFS and distributed-memory algorithms. To achieve good scalability, we have devised and experimentally evaluated several implementation techniques, which we present in the thesis.
Awareness of Gestational Diabetes among Antenatal Women at The King Fahd Military Medical Complex Hospital in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has recently gained increasing attention among researchers and health professionals. This growing interest is attributed to the rising rate in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) during pregnancy and puerperium and later on, as established in GDM patients. Materials and methods: patients engaged in this survey were informed verbally that their involvement was voluntary, and that completing the distributed questionnaires implied that they had agreed to take part in the study, using questionnaires administered data were gathered by an obstetrics and gynecology doctor, questionnaire was designed following a comprehensive discussion with a team of experts in the field of GDM as it was tested via a pilot study to insure it’s reliability. The final copy of the questionnaire that was used in the actual study included 25 questions, a score of one was assigned to each correct answer and zero to each incorrect or “I don’t know” answer. A higher score showed that the respondent had better knowledge about GDM. Conclusion: This research found a considerable lack of awareness about GDM of the pregnant women interviewed. Moreover, the results showed that the respondents were aware that GDM is related to certain factors such as advanced maternal age, overweight, and obesity, among others. It was noted that the lack of awareness and knowledge among pregnant women led to poor self-care and management of GDM, which reflects unmet needs.
Recruitment and retention of US South Asians for an epidemiologic cohort: Experience from the MASALA study

Abstract Introduction: There are few longitudinal studies about South Asians (SAs) and little information about recruitment and retention approaches for this ethnic group. Methods: We followed 906 SAs enrolled in the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) cohort for 5 years. Surviving participants were invited for a second clinical exam from 2015 to 2018. A new wave of participants was recruited during 2017–2018. We assessed the yields from different methods of recruitment and retention. Results: A total of 759 (83%) completed the second clinical exam, and 258 new participants were enrolled. Providing a nearby community hospital location for the study exam, offering cab/shared ride reimbursement, and conducting home visits were the most effective methods for enhancing retention. New participant recruitment targeted women and individuals with lower socioeconomic status, and we found that participant referrals and active community engagement were most effective. Mailing invitational letters to those identified by electronic health records had very low yield. Conclusion: Recruitment and retention strategies that address transportation barriers and increase community engagement will help increase the representation of SAs in health research.
Death 24x a Second: Stillness and the Moving Image

Book synopsis: In Death 24x a Second, Laura Mulvey addresses some of the key questions of film theory, spectatorship and narrative. New media technologies, such as video and DVD, have transformed the way we experience film, and the viewers’ relationship to film image and cinema’s narrative structure has also been fundamentally altered. These technologies give viewers the means to control both image and story, so that films produced to be seen collectively and followed in a linear fashion may be found to contain unexpected (even unintended) pleasures. The tension between the still frame and the moving image coincides with the cinema’s capacity to capture the appearance of life and preserve it after death. Mulvey proposes that with the arrival of new technologies and new ways of experiencing the cinematic image, film’s hidden stillness comes to the fore, thereby acquiring a new accessibility and visibility. The individual frame, the projected film’s best-kept secret, can now be revealed, by anyone, at the simple touch of a button. As Mulvey argues, easy access to repetition, slow motion and the freeze-frame may well shift the spectator’s pleasure to a fetishistic rather than a voyeuristic investment in the cinematic object. The manipulation of the cinematic image by the viewer also makes visible cinema’s material and aesthetic attributes. By exploring how new technologies can give new life to ‘old’ cinema, Death 24x a Second offers an original re-evaluation of film’s history and also its historical usefulness.
Visual observations of floating macro litter around Italy (Mediterranean Sea)

We report the results of a visual survey of floating natural (NML) and anthropogenic (AML) macro-litter (>2.5 cm) performed in the central part of the Mediterranean Sea during a dual-use campaign onboard the Italian Navy tall ship “Amerigo Vespucci” which circumnavigated the Italian peninsula during May-June 2016. The distribution, abundance and composition of floating marine litter were assessed using a 10 m fixed-width strip transect method. Over 88 h of transect counts were performed, for a total of 168 transects, covering an overall survey length of 1026.35 km. 4756 anthropogenic litter items were counted during the transects, 96.9 % of which were classified as plastic items. Floating litter was found throughout the entire study area with densities ranging from 0 to 9205 items/km2 and with a mean abundance of 492 AML items/km2 and 77 NML items/km2 across all surveyed locations. Maximum AML densities (>3500 items/km2) were recorded in the Adriatic Sea, while the lowest densities (<50 items/km2) were found along the coastline of Sardinia and in the Strait of Messina. Our results document the ubiquitous presence of floating plastic litter around the Italian peninsula and underline the need to expand our knowledge about the main sources, transport, accumulation and fate of marine litter in the entire Mediterranean region.
A mechanistic model for the negative binomial distribution of single-cell mRNA counts

Several tools analyze the outcome of single-cell RNA-seq experiments, and they often assume a probability distribution for the observed sequencing counts. It is an open question of which is the most appropriate discrete distribution, not only in terms of model estimation, but also regarding interpretability, complexity and biological plausibility of inherent assumptions. To address the question of interpretability, we investigate mechanistic transcription and degradation models underlying commonly used discrete probability distributions. Known bottom-up approaches infer steady-state probability distributions such as Poisson or Poisson-beta distributions from different underlying transcription-degradation models. By turning this procedure upside down, we show how to infer a corresponding biological model from a given probability distribution, here the negative binomial distribution. Realistic mechanistic models underlying this distributional assumption are unknown so far. Our results indicate that the negative binomial distribution arises as steady-state distribution from a mechanistic model that produces mRNA molecules in bursts. We empirically show that it provides a convenient trade-off between computational complexity and biological simplicity. Graphical Abstract
Automatic fingerprint classification system using fuzzy neural techniques

The paper presents a fingerprint classification system and its performance in an identification system. The classification scheme is based on fingerprint feature extraction, which involves encoding the singular points (Core and Delta) together with their relative positions and directions obtained from a binarised fingerprint image. Image analysis is carried in four stages, namely, segmentation, directional image estimation, singular-point extraction and feature encoding. A fuzzy-neural network classifier is used to implement the classification of input feature codes according to the well known Henry system. Fingerprint images from NIST-4 database were tested and, 98.5% classification accuracy was obtained for the five class-problem.
Total Laryngectomy with Horizontal Mechanical Closure of the Pharyngoesophagectomy: Evaluation of the Effectiveness in Elderly Patients

Abstract Introduction The main modalities of surgical treatment for laryngeal cancer include transoral laser microsurgery (TLM), open preservation surgery, and total laryngectomy (TL). In the elderly, for the presence of comorbidities, the surgical approach more appropriate in many cases remains TL. The use of a stapler for the closure of the esophagus has been introduced to reduce surgical time and postoperative complications such as pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF). Objective In the present study, we have evaluated the effectiveness of the use of the horizontal mechanical pharyngoesophageal closure in patients who underwent TL. Methods This nonrandomized study was performed on consecutive patients with histopathologically proven squamous cell endolaryngeal carcinoma. The TL was performed using a linear stapler to mechanically suture the pharyngotomy using the semiclosed technique. Results A total of 33 patients underwent TL, and 13 of them underwent neck dissection. A total of 15 patients (45.4%) were ≤70 years old, and 18 were > 70 years old. Analyzing the results in relation to age, patients > 70 years old showed tumors at an earlier stage than those aged ≤70 years old. Furthermore, in this group there was a greater number of patients who had comorbidities (p = 0.014). In total, we had 2 (6%) cases of PCF in 6.6% in the group ≤70 years old, and in 5.5% of the group > 70 years old (p = 1.00). Conclusions The use of the stapler for the horizontal closure of the pharyngoesophagectomy in the patients subjected to TL is proven to be useful and safe even when used in elderly patients.
Phage therapy to inactivate multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa

Phage therapy, bacteriophage, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, multidrug resistant bacteria, human skin, wound infections With the increase in antibiotic resistance and after several years of abandonment, the use of bacteriophages (phages), as antimicrobial agents, to destroy bacteria began to arouse interest in the scientific community. This has led to a huge phage research in different fields and currently several studies are ongoing with animals and humans. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen, which frequently colonizes wounds infections. It has been estimated that a high number of deaths caused by wound infections results of bacterial infection, often by antibiotic-resistant P. aeruginosa. The main target of this work was to explore the potential of phages in controlling multidrug-resistant (MDR) P. aeruginosa strains in vitro and ex vivo (human skin). A new bacteriophages (PA709) was isolated from sewage water samples collected from Hospital Universitário de Coimbra (HUC). A phage suspension (10 PFU mL) was obtained using the clinical strain P. aeruginosa 709 as host. After the characterization of the phage candidate, their capacity to lyse other MDR P. aeruginosa clinical isolates from Aveiro, Matosinhos and Coimbra was investigated. The ability of the phage to cause inactivation of P. aeruginosa 709 was evaluated in vitro and in ex vivo (human skin), at 37°C, using a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 0.5 to 50. In the in vitro assays, the effect of a second dose application, added after 4 hours of incubation, was also tested. The lytic phage PA709 has an icosahedral head with a long contractile tail and a DNA molecule as nucleic acid, a morphology characteristic of members of the Myoviridae family. The phage PA709 show a relatively broad host range (infects 30% of the 51 MDR P. aeruginosa clinical isolates), infecting different genotypes isolated in the three hospitals (Matosinhos, Aveiro and Coimbra). For the best MOI, the number of MDR P. aeruginosa 709 in the human skin in the presence of the phage decreased 4 logs after 2 hours of incubation. The application of a second dose of phage did not increase the efficiency of the therapy. These results show that the phage PA709 was seen to have rapid lytic activity but the number of bacteria gradually increased after that. The occurrence of lysogeny and the development of resistance of the host to the phages could explain the bacterial re-growth. However, no evidence of lysogeny was observed after addition of mitomycin C and no resistant to PA709 phage was detected. In conclusion, phage PA709 presents some interesting features, namely high efficiency in the inactivation of MDR P. aeruginosa , a broad host range and high stability in stock suspensions and in ex vivo human skin. All these attributes make this phage very promising for the treatment of P. aeruginosa skin wound infections. However, more phages should be isolated in the future, for the formulation of cocktails which might improve the inactivation efficiency against P. aeruginosa human skin infections.
Iris recognition technology

IriScan Inc. has for the past two years, been developing an identification/verification system capable of positively identifying and verifying the identity of individuals without physical contact or a person in the loop. Personal identification has historically been based on what a person possesses (a card); knows (a Personal Identification Number); or is (an inherent physiological or behavioral characteristic). Facial features (both infra-red signatures and geometry), fingerprints, hand geometry, vein patterns, retinal patterns, voice patterns, and signature dynamics have all been explored as biometric identifiers with varying levels of success. All but voice end facial recognition require contact or have been characterized by some as invasive or intrusive. Many have suffered from high cost and unsatisfactory error rates. A new technology, using the unique patterns of the human Iris, shows promise of overcoming previous shortcomings and providing positive identification of an individual without contact or invasion, at extremely high confidence levels. The video-based system locates the eye and Iris; evaluates the degree of occlusion by eyelid and spectral reflection; determines the quality of image focus; and determines the center and boundary of the pupil and the limbus (outer edge of the iris) for processing
Foundations of Cryptography: Volume 1, Basic Tools

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Multimedia Streaming Technology n 4G Mobile Communication Systems

The popularity and evolution of mobile devices like laptops, mobile phones and Personal Digital Assistants (PDA), and the evolution of fast mobile networks in the last decade, have made it possible to increase the complexity of mobile applications and services provided to end-users. It is also a spectacular growth in multimedia communication especially via the World Wide Web. This paper explore some of the current technology of mobile devices, mobile networks and multimedia systems, and is based on the exploration outline some issues for design and development of mobile multimedia systems in 4G Mobile Communication System. Fourth-generation mobile communication systems will combine standardized streaming with a range of unique services to provide high-quality content (Multimedia) that meets the specific needs of the rapidly growing mobile market. By offering higher data-transmission rates up to 20 Mbps more than 3G for wide-area coverage and local-area coverage, 4G systems will be able to provide high quality streamed content to the rapidly growing mobile market. (Abstract)
Dominant Maxim violations in 'Behind the Lawyer Profession' of Hitam Putih Talk Show

Maxims are often violated in TV talk show programs, including Hitam Putih. This study is to find out the dominant maxim violations and their causes in the first segment of Behind the Lawyer Profession in Hitam Putih talk show. The source data in this qualitative study is the transcription of a conversation by a host/co-host and a guest (a famous Indonesian lawyer) with the duration of 08.25 minutes. The data are then analyzed by Grice’s four maxims quantitatively and interpreted qualitatively. The findings show 32 maxim violations including all four types. Of these violations, maxim of relevance is the most dominant since the speakers wanted to create jokes and humors.
Assessment of respiratory morbidity among loading and unloading workers exposed to cement dust

Background: A higher incidence of occupational diseases has been reported recently compared to the past years. One of the industries where workers are remarkably exposed to dust is cement industry. Several studies have been conducted to evaluate pulmonary functions and biochemical parameters of workers exposed to cement dust in factories and construction sites, but few were concentrated among loading and unloading workers of warehouses. Hence the present study was undertaken to find out the effect of cement dust among loading and unloading workers of cement warehouses.Methods: This study was conducted among 82 exposed (cement dust) and 82 non-exposed individuals. Frequency of symptoms, biochemical parameters and spirometric values were taken from all subjects. Spirometric parameters recorded were, forced vital capacity (FVC), Forced expiratory volume (FEV1), FEV1/FVC% and Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR). Results: Out of exposed group, 51.2% had cough, 46.3% had rhinitis 45.2% had breathlessness. FEV1 and FVC showed significant reduction while FEV1/FVC values were normal. No significant changes were seen in renal function tests or liver function tests. Mean value of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was found to be significantly increased.Conclusions: Compared to normal healthy adults the loading and unloading workers in cement warehouses showed restrictive lung disease and an increase in ESR representing a non-specific inflammatory change. A continuous bio monitoring of health status must be initiated for these employees and awareness campaigns regarding the exposure and use of standardized protective devices must be mandated.
Soil Adsorption and Volatility of Dinitroaniline Herbicides

Studies were conducted to determine both the extent and relative strengths of adsorption of twelve dinitroaniline herbicides to a Piano silt loam soil. The effects of soil on the growth of foxtail millet [Setaria italica (L.) Beauv. ] in vitro on agar media containing 1.0 and 0.1-μM concentrations of the various herbicides and on the relative phytotoxicities of herbicide vapors arising from the agar media to the same species were also measured. Although considerable differences in the extents and strengths of adsorption of the respective herbicides to soil were noted, correlations with herbicide performance under field conditions were low. Extrapolation of laboratory results to a Piano silt loam soil under field conditions suggests that field applications of 0.32 kg/ha of the respective herbicides might result in herbicide concentrations between 0.00062 and 0.026 ppmw in the soil solution. These concentrations appeared to be less than those necessary to produce substantial plant injury from most of the dinitroaniline herbicides. High correlations between the effects of herbicide vapors on growth of the foxtail millet under laboratory conditions and the relative effectiveness of seven of the herbicides under field conditions suggest that absorption of vapors of the dinitroaniline herbicides by plants may be more important than absorption of the herbicides from soil solutions.
Production and Evaluation of an Avian IgY Immunotoxin against CD133+ for Treatment of Carcinogenic Stem Cells in Malignant Glioma: IgY Immunotoxin for the Treatment of Glioblastoma

Background Glioblastoma is the most common malignant tumor of Central Nervous System. Despite the research in therapeutics, the prognosis is dismal. Malignant glioma stem cells (MGSCs) are a major cause of treatment failure and increasing tumor recurrence. In general, cancer stem cells (CSCs) express prominin-1 (CD133), considered as a potential therapeutic target. In this study, we produced an avian immunotoxin directed against the subpopulation of CD133+ CSCs within a malignant glioma. We used the avian IgY because it has various advantages as increased affinity to mammal antigens and inexpensive obtention of large amounts of specific antibodies (approximately 1 mg/per egg). The design, production, purification and use of IgY anti CD133 immunotoxin constitute an original goal of this research. Methods The immunodominant peptide of CD133 was designed to immunize hens; also, the extracellular domain of CD133 was cloned to probe the IgY antibodies. In parallel, a recombinant abrin A chain was produced in E. coli in order to join it to the Fc domain of the anti-CD133 IgY to conform the immunotoxin. This anti-CD133 IgY anti-tumor immunotoxin was tested in vitro and in vivo. Results. The cytotoxicity of the immunotoxin in vitro showed that IgY-abrin immunotoxin reduced 55% cell viability. After subcutaneous MGSCs implantation, the animals treated intraperitoneally or intratumorally with the IgY-abrin immunotoxin showed more than 50% decrease of tumor volume. Conclusion Results showed that the IgY-abrin immunotoxin had cytotoxic activity against CD133+ MGSCs and provides a novel approach for the immunotherapy of glioblastoma.