Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Acoustic models for online blind source dereverberation using sequential Monte Carlo methods

Reverberation and noise cause significant deterioration of audio quality and intelligibility to signals recorded in acoustic environments. Noise is usually modeled as a common signal observed in the room and independent of room acoustics. However, this simplistic model cannot necessarily capture the effects of separate noise sources at different locations in the room. This paper proposes a noise model that considers distinct noise sources whose individual acoustic impulse responses are separated into source-sensor specific and common acoustical resonances. Further to noise, the signal is distorted by reverberation. Using parametric models of the system, recursive expressions of the filtering distribution can be derived. Based on these results, a sequential Monte Carlo approach for online dereverberation and enhancement is proposed. Simulation results for speech are presented to verify the effectiveness of the model and method.
Iterative signal processing for mitigation of wideband ADC nonidealities in cognitive radio receiver

Large input signal dynamics is an essential problem in modern wideband communication receivers such as cognitive radios. If the receiver front-end and analog-to-digital interface cannot respond to varying conditions, a high amount of nonlinear distortion is caused due to the clipping. This paper proposes a robust digital signal processing method to iteratively remove unintentional clipping distortion in OFDM receivers. Using computer simulations it is shown that the symbol error ratio of a heavily clipped signal in a fading channel situation can be reduced practically to the level of an equivalent non-clipped signal. In other words, the proposed method can remove all the essential clipping distortion.
Identity under challenge: Examining user’s responses to computerized information systems

Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to examine how people respond when their identity is challenged as they use computerized information systems in organizational settings. Using the critical realism perspective, the author built on the identity control theory and suggested a set of generative mechanisms that shed light on how individuals respond to the challenges that information technology (IT) poses to their identities when performing their jobs and how it affects their sense of self. Design/methodology/approach - – The author conducted a field study in a Canadian health-care institution with the objective to examine how doctors and nurses coped with challenges posed by an Electronic Health Records system to their identities and how these systems shaped their identities. The author’s data are essentially qualitative. The author used retroduction as a mode off inference which combines both induction and deduction. The author hypothesized a set of identity mechanisms that are enacted as a response to a threat posed by IT in the work place. The author uses the evidence from the field study to verify the existence of these mechanisms and uncover new constructs and relationships that could enrich the understanding of the phenomenon. Findings - – The results allowed to verify and provide an updated view of the proposed generative mechanisms that are triggered when identity is put to challenge by IT in the workplace. The identified mechanisms are, identity adjusting, IT threat neutralizing and emotion regulating. Their outcomes, which are, reinforced identity, redefined identity, ambivalent identity and anti-identity are much dependent on the availability and the breadth of personal and organizational resources people have at their disposal. Originality/value - – The research offers a vantage point on how identities unfold in the course of interaction with technology. It contributes by providing empirically grounded mechanisms that shed light on how people response to threats posed by computerized information systems to identity and the various self-conceptions that ensue.
Towards Interactive Visual Analysis of Microscopic-Level Simulation Data

In this work, we aim at facilitating the analysis of spatial simulations of particles at the microscopic level. This level poses significant challenges to interactive visual analysis tools. On the one hand, the data may contain up to 100.000 data points, and on the other hand, the data exhibit Brownian motion. As a first step to deal with these challenges, we apply well-accepted techniques to visualize the data and to allow analysts to interact with the data and their visual representation. Preliminary results from a spatial simulation of protein‐lipid-raft interaction indicate that interactive visual solutions are indeed a useful addition to the modeling and simulation toolbox.
A Value Based Business Process Management Network Model

As in the foundation and principles for complex process science and engineering, a major problem is the lack of formal specification language to treat the dynamics of modeling complex processes with its simulations, emulations and enactments. This paper defines a formal specification language which allows integrating the complex thinking with software engineering principles for guiding the characterization of minimum requirements to design technology within living complex processes. There is a lack of research in the literature referring to the model process structural complexity. Such a model complex process can be directed toward acquiring good maintainability attributes according to the principles of complex process science and engineering. In this work a Value Based Business Process Management Network Model VBPMN is developed to acquire directly from the target complex process codes the knowledge hidden among and within composite and elementary complex processes.
Increasing and Decreasing the Ultrastability of Bacterial Chemotaxis Core Signaling Complexes by Modifying Protein−Protein Contacts

The chemosensory signaling array of bacterial chemotaxis is composed of functional core units containing two receptor trimers of dimers, a homodimeric CheA kinase, and two CheW adaptor proteins. In vitro reconstitutions generate individual, functional core units and larger functional assemblies, including dimers, hexagons, and hexagonal arrays. Such reconstituted complexes have been shown to have both quasi-stable and ultrastable populations that decay with lifetimes of 1–2 days and ∼3 weeks at 22 °C, respectively, where decay results primarily from proteolysis of the bound kinase [Erbse, A. H. , and Falke, J. J. (2009) Biochemistry 48, 6975–6987; Slivka, P. F. , and Falke, J. J. (2012) Biochemistry 51, 10218–10228]. In this work, we show that the ultrastable population can be destabilized to the quasi-stable level via the introduction of a bulky tryptophan residue at either one of two essential protein–protein interfaces within the core unit: the receptor–kinase contact or kinase–adaptor interface 1. Moreover, we demonstrate that the quasi-stable population can be made ultrastable via the introduction of a disulfide bond that covalently stabilizes the latter interface. The resulting disulfide at least doubles the functional lifetime of the ultrastable population, to ≥5.9 weeks at 22 °C, by protecting the kinase from endogenous and exogenous proteases. Together, these results indicate that the ultrastability of reconstituted core complexes requires well-formed contacts among the receptor, kinase, and adaptor proteins, whereas quasi-stability arises from less perfect contacts that allow slow proteolysis of the bound kinase. Furthermore, the results reveal that ultrastability, and perhaps the size or order of chemosensory complexes and arrays, can be increased by an engineered disulfide bond that covalently cross-links a key interface. Overall, it appears that native ultrastability has evolved to provide an optimal rather than maximal level of kinetic durability, suggesting that altered selective pressure could either increase or decrease the functional lifetime of core complexes.
Variogram Analysis of the Spatial Genetic Structure of Continuous Populations Using Multilocus Microsatellite Data

A geostatistical perspective on spatial genetic structure may explain methodological issues of quantifying spatial genetic structure and suggest new approaches to addressing them. We use a variogram approach to (i) derive a spatial partitioning of molecular variance, gene diversity, and genotypic diversity for microsatellite data under the infinite allele model (IAM) and the stepwise mutation model (SMM), (ii) develop a weighting of sampling units to reflect ploidy levels or multiple sampling of genets, and (iii) show how variograms summarize the spatial genetic structure within a population under isolation-by-distance. The methods are illustrated with data from a population of the epiphytic lichen Lobaria pulmonaria, using six microsatellite markers. Variogram-based analysis not only avoids bias due to the underestimation of population variance in the presence of spatial autocorrelation, but also provides estimates of population genetic diversity and the degree and extent of spatial genetic structure accounting for autocorrelation.
Demystifying Computing with Magic, part III

One man's "magic" is another man's engineering. -- Robert A. Heinlein Some beginning students have fuzzy mental models of how the computer works, or worse, sincerely believe that the computer works unpredictably, "by magic". We seek to demystify computing for these students using analogy, by showing them something that even magic itself isn't really mystical, it is just computation. This is a continuation of our standing-room only SIGCSE 2012 and SIGCSE 2013 special sessions. Magic is one of the most colorful examples of "unplugged" (i.e., without-computer, active learning) activities. It adds a unique facet in that it holds a hidden secret that the audience can be challenged to unfold. Once solved, students are often enthusiastic to perform the magic in front of others. In this session, we will share a variety of new magic tricks whose answer is grounded in computer science: modulo arithmetic, human-computer interfaces, algorithms, binary encoding, invariants, etc. For each trick, we will have an interactive discussion of its underlying computing fundamentals, and tips for successful showmanship. Audience participation will be critical, for helping us perform the magic, discussing the solution, and contributing other magic tricks.
Circulating KL-6 levels in patients with drug induced pneumonitis

Background: The circulating level of KL-6/MUC1 is a sensitive marker for various interstitial lung diseases. Previous case reports have suggested that KL-6 may also be increased in some patients with drug induced pneumonitis. A study was undertaken to determine whether serum KL-6 could be a marker for particular types of drug induced pneumonitis. Methods: The findings of high resolution computed tomographic (HRCT) chest scans of 30 patients with drug induced pneumonitis were reviewed separately by two independent observers. The pneumonitis was classified into four predominant patterns: widespread bilateral consolidation (diffuse alveolar damage, DAD; n=7), fibrosis with or without consolidation (chronic interstitial pneumonia, CIP; n=11), consolidation without fibrosis (bronchiolitis obliterans organising pneumonia or eosinophilic pneumonia, BOOP/EP; n=8), and diffuse ground glass opacities without fibrosis (hypersensitivity pneumonitis, HP; n=4). Serum KL-6 levels were measured by a sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The overall sensitivity of serum KL-6 in detecting drug induced lung disease was 53.3%, which was lower than its sensitivity in detecting other interstitial lung diseases. However, the KL-6 level was increased in most patients with a DAD or CIP pattern (16/18; 88.9%) and was closely correlated with their clinical course. In contrast, serum KL-6 levels were within the normal range in all patients with a BOOP/EP or HP pattern. Conclusions: Particular patterns detected by HRCT scanning, such as DAD and CIP but not the BOOP/EP or HP patterns, are associated with increased circulating KL-6 levels in drug induced pneumonitis. Serum KL-6 levels may reflect the clinical activity of the particular disorders.
Between Frame Setting and Frame Sending: How Journalists Contribute to News Frames

Framing has grown into a thriving approach to analyze media content and effects. Research on frame building is less well developed. In particular, journalists' contributions to shaping the frames in the news deserve further analysis. This article conceptualizes these contributions to creating news frames: Journalistic framing practices are situated on a continuum between frame setting and frame sending. Journalists frame their articles more or less in line with their own interpretations. The challenge for research is to identify the conditions that determine the degree of journalistic frame setting. The article therefore identifies mechanisms and factors that play a role in determining to what degree journalistic frame enactment takes place.
Dysregulation of CalDAG-GEFI and CalDAG-GEFII predicts the severity of motor side-effects induced by anti-parkinsonian therapy

Voluntary movement difficulties in Parkinson's disease are initially relieved by l-DOPA therapy, but with disease progression, the repeated l-DOPA treatments can produce debilitating motor abnormalities known as l-DOPA-induced dyskinesias. We show here that 2 striatum-enriched regulators of the Ras/Rap/ERK MAP kinase signal transduction cascade, matrix-enriched CalDAG-GEFI and striosome-enriched CalDAG-GEFII (also known as RasGRP), are strongly and inversely dysregulated in proportion to the severity of abnormal movements induced by l-DOPA in a rat model of parkinsonism. In the dopamine-depleted striatum, the l-DOPA treatments produce down-regulation of CalDAG-GEFI and up-regulation of CalDAG-GEFII mRNAs and proteins, and quantification of the mRNA levels shows that these changes are closely correlated with the severity of the dyskinesias. As these CalDAG-GEFs control ERK cascades, which are implicated in l-DOPA-induced dyskinesias, and have differential compartmental expression patterns in the striatum, we suggest that they may be key molecules involved in the expression of the dyskinesias. They thus represent promising new therapeutic targets for limiting the motor complications induced by l-DOPA therapy.
Single dose intratympanic mesna application inhibits propylene glycol induced cholesteatoma formation.

OBJECTIVE Mesna (i.e. sodium 2-mercaptoethanesulfonate; C2H5NaO3S2) has been used in otological surgery such as cholesteatoma dissection and tympanic membrane lateralisation in atelectatic ears. However, this study aimed to investigate its effect on cholesteatoma formation. METHODS A total of 20 Wistar rats were divided into two groups of 10 animals. The right and left ears of control animals were treated with saline (saline control group; n = 10 ears) and propylene glycol plus saline (propylene glycol control group; n = 10 ears), respectively. In the mesna group, both ears were treated with propylene glycol plus mesna (n = 20 ears). On days 1, 8 and 15, the saline control group had intratympanic injections of 0.2 ml saline and the propylene glycol control and mesna groups had intratympanic injections of 0.2 ml 100 per cent propylene glycol. On day 22, the propylene glycol control group had a single intratympanic injection of 0.2 ml saline and the mesna group had a single intratympanic injection of 10 per cent mesna. Animals were killed 12 weeks after the last injection and the temporal bones were sent for histopathological evaluation. RESULTS The cholesteatoma formation rate was 88 per cent in the propylene glycol control group, but was significantly lower in the mesna group (p = 0.01). There were no significant differences in granulation tissue formation (p = 0.498), cyst formation in the bulla (p = 0.381), fibrosis (p = 0.072) and epithelial hyperplasia (p = 0.081) among experimental groups. CONCLUSION Intratympanic propylene glycol administration is an effective method of promoting experimental cholesteatoma formation. Administration of a single dose of intratympanic mesna inhibited cholesteatoma formation in an animal model.
A Fine-Grained Analysis of Millimeter-Wave Device-to-Device Networks

Enabling device-to-device (D2D) communications in millimeter-wave (mm-wave) networks is of critical importance for the next-generation mobile networks to support very high data rates (multi-gigabits-per-second) for mobile devices. In this paper, we provide a fine-grained performance analysis of the mm-wave D2D communication networks. Specifically, we first establish a general and tractable framework to investigate the performance of mm-wave D2D networks using the Poisson bipolar model integrated with several features of the mm-wave band. To show what fraction of users in the network achieve target reliability if the required signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) (or QoS requirement) is given, we derive the meta distributions of the SINR and the data rate. Interestingly, in mm-wave D2D networks, the standard beta approximation for the meta distribution does not work very well when highly directional antenna arrays are used or the node density is small. To resolve this issue, we provide a modified approximation by using higher moments of the conditional SINR distribution, which is shown to be closer to the exact result. On this basis, we also derive the mean local delay and spatial outage capacity to provide a comprehensive investigation on the impact of mm-wave features on the performance of D2D communication.
Gait analysis, bone and muscle density assessment for patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is performed with or without the use of bone cement. Facing the lack of reliable clinical guidelines on decision making whether a patient should receive THA with or without bone cement, a joint clinical and engineering approach is proposed here with the objective to assess patient recovery developing monitoring techniques based on gait analysis, measurements of bone mineral density and structural and functional changes of quadriceps muscles. A clinical trial was conducted with 36 volunteer patients that were undergoing THA surgery for the first time: 18 receiving cemented implant and 18 receiving non-cemented implant. The patients are scanned with Computer Tomographic (CT) modality prior-, immediately- and 12 months post-surgery. The CT data are further processed to segment muscles and bones for calculating bone mineral density (BMD). Quadriceps muscle density Hounsfield (HU) based value is calculated from the segmented file on healthy and operated leg before and after THA surgery. Furthermore clinical assessment is performed using gait analysis technologies such as a sensing carpet, wireless electrodes and video. Patients undergo these measurements prior-, 6 weeks post - and 52 weeks post-surgery. The preliminary results indicate computational tools and methods that are able to quantitatively analyze patient’s condition pre and post-surgery: The spatial parameters such as step length and stride length increase 6 weeks post op in the patient group receiving cemented implant while the angle in the toe in/out parameter decrease in both patient groups.
An Aristotelian-Thomistic Approach to Professional Ethics

The underlying causes of the global financial crisis of 2008 are numerous and complex and include structural, economic-technical, and personal decisions dimensions. Effectively, these causes reflect a failure in corporate governance mechanisms. This article makes a case for professional ethics in proposing a moral psychological approach that uses virtue ethics and moral principles that focuses on moral selfhood, in particular: an approach that reduces the moral gap between the real self and the ideal self. Such an approach equips one with the requisite moral and psychological preparedness in responding to adverse situations that represent excellent opportunities for personal growth and well-being. The ultimate solution to the global financial meltdown demands the development of the virtuous agent that entails perfecting “human nature as it is” (characterized by its susceptibility or proneness to error) and pursuing “human nature as it ought to be” (characterized by its natural inclination toward truth and moral goodness). Michael Macaulay and Surendra Arjoon, "An Aristotelian-Thomistic Approach to Professional Ethics," Journal of Markets & Morality 16, no. 2 (Fall 2013): 507-527
The role of rotational hand movements and general motor ability in children’s mental rotation performance

Mental rotation of visual images of body parts and abstract shapes can be influenced by simultaneous motor activity. Children in particular have a strong coupling between motor and cognitive processes. We investigated the influence of a rotational hand movement performed by rotating a knob on mental rotation performance in primary school-age children (N = 83; age range: 7.0–8.3 and 9.0–10.11 years). In addition, we assessed the role of motor ability in this relationship. Boys in the 7- to 8-year-old group were faster when mentally and manually rotating in the same direction than in the opposite direction. For girls and older children this effect was not found. A positive relationship was found between motor ability and accuracy on the mental rotation task: stronger motor ability related to improved mental rotation performance. In both age groups, children with more advanced motor abilities were more likely to adopt motor processes to solve mental rotation tasks if the mental rotation task was primed by a motor task. Our evidence supports the idea that an overlap between motor and visual cognitive processes in children is influenced by motor ability.
Response Features Determining Spike Times

Interpreting messages encoded in single neuronal responses requires knowing which features of the responses carry information. That the number of spikes is an important part of the code has long been obvious. In recent years, it has been shown that modulation of the firing rate with about 25 ms precision carries information that is not available from the total number of spikes across the whole response. It has been proposed that patterns of exactly timed (1 ms precision) spikes, such as repeating triplets or quadruplets, might carry information that is not available from knowing about spike count and rate modulation. A model using the spike count distribution, the low pass filtered PSTH (bandwidth below 30 Hz), and, to a small degree, the interspike interval distribution predicts the numbers and types of exactly-timed triplets and quadruplets that are indistinguishable from those found in the data. From this it can be concluded that the coarse (<30 Hz) sequential correlation structure over time gives rise to the exactly timed patterns present in the recorded spike trains. Because the coarse temporal structure predicts the fine temporal structure, the information carried by the fine temporal structure must be completely redundant with that carried by the coarse structure. Thus, the existence of precisely timed spike patterns carrying stimulus-related information does not imply control of spike timing at precise time scales.