Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improved MFCC and LPC algorithm for bundelkhandi isolated digit speech recognition

Automatic speech recognition in different languages, spoken in different areas of any country, is one of the major research area in the field of signal processing. This paper presents an improved MFCC algorithm for Bundelkhandi digit speech recognition. Here speech digit features are extracted by using modified Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficient algorithm (MFCC). In this modified MFCC algorithm, one additional filter, named as 1-D median filter, is used. Now this modified MFCC algorithm is applied on Bundelkhandi digits dataset to gather the speech features. Similarly 1-D Median filter is used with LPC algorithm to capture the Bundelkhandi digits dataset. Finally speech features, which are collected from modified MFCC and modified LPC algorithm, are combined and used as an input to back propagation neural network for recognizing particular digits. Experiments are performed on Bundelkhandi digit dataset (0 to 9), made with the help of sound recorder. These results show that proposed algorithm performance is better than simple MFCC and LPC algorithm.
Asymmetric CRLH cells for compact /wide band triple band antenna for different wireless services

In this paper, the use of different asymmetric composite right/left handed antennas is presented. Two different geometries are reported for triple band and small antenna size. The asymmetric configuration is created by using two opposite meandered line inductors and two / three interdigital capacitors. The antennas have omnidirectional pattern at the three bands which makes the antenna suitable for applications in different Wi-Fi/WiMAX applications. Prototype has been fabricated in order to validate the simulation results.
Placental IGF‐I, IGFBP‐1, zinc, and iron, and maternal and infant anthropometry at birth

Aim: To correlate placental protein levels of insulin‐like growth factor (IGF)‐I and insulin‐like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)‐1, with previously determined levels of IGF‐I and IGF‐II mRNA expression, and the micronutrients zinc and iron, and maternal and newborn anthropometry.
Technology Leadership, Brand Equity, and Customer Loyalty in Mobile Banking: Moderating Role of Need for Uniqueness

Most of previous studies on mobile banking focus on the initial adoption by drawing upon the technology acceptance theories, while the post-adoption issues (e.g., loyalty) have been rarely examined. To fill this research gap, based on brand equity theory and symbolic value theory, we propose a research model to articulate the relationship between technology leadership, brand equity, and customer loyalty, as well as the moderating role of need for uniqueness. A survey from users of two mobile banking service providers was conducted to empirically examine the proposed research model and hypotheses. The results show that (1) technology leadership positively affects brand equity which in turn positively affects customer loyalty, and (2) need for uniqueness strengthens the relationship between technology leadership and brand equity and between brand equity and customer loyalty. The implications for theory and practice are also discussed.
Globe Browsing: Contextualized Spatio-Temporal Planetary Surface Visualization

Results of planetary mapping are often shared openly for use in scientific research and mission planning. In its raw format, however, the data is not accessible to non-experts due to the difficulty in grasping the context and the intricate acquisition process. We present work on tailoring and integration of multiple data processing and visualization methods to interactively contextualize geospatial surface data of celestial bodies for use in science communication. As our approach handles dynamic data sources, streamed from online repositories, we are significantly shortening the time between discovery and dissemination of data and results. We describe the image acquisition pipeline, the pre-processing steps to derive a 2.5D terrain, and a chunked level-of-detail, out-of-core rendering approach to enable interactive exploration of global maps and high-resolution digital terrain models. The results are demonstrated for three different celestial bodies. The first case addresses high-resolution map data on the surface of Mars. A second case is showing dynamic processes, such as concurrent weather conditions on Earth that require temporal datasets. As a final example we use data from the New Horizons spacecraft which acquired images during a single flyby of Pluto. We visualize the acquisition process as well as the resulting surface data. Our work has been implemented in the OpenSpace software [8], which enables interactive presentations in a range of environments such as immersive dome theaters, interactive touch tables, and virtual reality headsets.
Optimal resource allocation for Gaussian relay channel with energy harvesting constraints

In this paper, we study the three-node Gaussian relay channel with decode-and-forward (DF) relaying, in which the source and relay nodes transmit with power drawn from energy-harvesting sources. Assuming a deterministic energy-harvesting model under which the energy arrival time and the harvested amount are known prior to transmission, the throughput maximization problem over a finite horizon of N transmission blocks is investigated. We consider the nodelay-constrained (NDC) traffic case, for which the relay can store the decoded information from the source with arbitrary delay before forwarding it to the destination in each N-block transmission. Although the formulated problem is non-convex, we prove the optimality of a separation principle for the source and relay power allocation over time, based upon which a two-stage algorithm is developed to obtain the optimal source and relay power profiles separately.
Acyl glucuronidation and glucosidation of a new and selective endothelin ET(A) receptor antagonist in human liver microsomes.

Compound A [(+)-(5S,6R,7R)-2-isopropylamino-7-[4-methoxy-2-((2R)-3-methoxy-2-methylpropyl)-5-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl) cyclopenteno [1,2-b] pyridine 6-carboxylic acid] is a new and selective endothelin ET(A) receptor antagonist. It underwent significant acyl glucuronidation and acyl glucosidation in human liver microsomes supplemented with UDP-glucuronic acid (UDPGA) and UDP-glucose (UDPG). These two conjugations were observed in a panel of human liver microsomal samples (n = 16) that gave rise to varying activities but with no significant correlation with each other in the native and activator-treated microsomal preparations (r(2) <or= 0.4, p > 0.05). The lack of correlation may be explained by the involvement of multiple UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs; UGT1A1, 1A3, 1A9, 2B7 and 2B15) in the glucuronidation but essentially solely UGT2B7 in the glucosidation. Both reactions conformed to monophasic Michaelis-Menten kinetics in human liver microsomes. The glucuronidation reaction exhibited apparent K(m) values (mean +/- S.E.) for compound A and UDPGA of 8.4 +/- 0.6 and 605 +/- 35 microM, respectively, whereas the values for the glucosidation reaction were 10.2 +/- 1.5 and 670 +/- 120 microM, respectively. In both pooled human liver microsomes and expressed UGT2B7, UDPG and UDPGA competitively inhibited their counterpart conjugations with K(i) values close to their K(m) values, indicating a comparable affinity of the enzyme toward these two nucleotide sugars. We herein report a drug acyl glucoside formed in human liver microsomes at a considerable turnover rate and provide the evidence for a UGT isoform (UGT2B7) capable of transferring both glucuronic acid and glucose from UDPGA and UDPG to an aglycone.
One Health approach to cost-effective rabies control in India

Over 20,000 rabies deaths occur annually in India, representing one-third of global human rabies. The Indian state of Tamil Nadu has pioneered a “One Health” committee to address the challenge of rabies in dogs and humans. Currently, rabies control in Tamil Nadu involves postexposure vaccination of humans after dog bites, whereas potential supplemental approaches include canine vaccination and sterilization. We developed a data-driven rabies transmission model fit to human rabies autopsy data and human rabies surveillance data from Tamil Nadu. Integrating local estimates for canine demography and costs, we predicted the impact of canine vaccination and sterilization on human health outcomes and evaluated cost-effectiveness according to the WHO criteria for India, which correspond to thresholds of $1,582 and $4,746 per disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for very cost-effective and cost-effective strategies, respectively. We found that highly feasible strategies focused on stray dogs, vaccinating as few as 7% of dogs annually, could very cost-effectively reduce human rabies deaths by 70% within 5 y, and a modest expansion to vaccinating 13% of stray dogs could cost-effectively reduce human rabies by almost 90%. Through integration over parameter uncertainty, we find that, for a cost-effectiveness threshold above $1,400 per DALY, canine interventions are at least 95% likely to be optimal. If owners are willing to bring dogs to central point campaigns at double the rate that campaign teams can capture strays, expanded annual targets become cost-effective. This case study of cost-effective canine interventions in Tamil Nadu may have applicability to other settings in India and beyond.
Three component time reversal: Focusing vector components using a scalar source

In acoustics, it is known that, for a given response signal at an arbitrary location, reciprocity and time reversal (TR) can be used to focus high levels of acoustic energy at that position. In solid media, elastic waves generally induce different disturbances in three directions. In this paper, both experimental and numerical wave propagation results for solid materials demonstrate the ability to use a scalar source, a three component detector and the reciprocal TR process to selectively focus each of the different vector components, either individually or collectively. The principle is explained from an analytical point of view. The numerical and experimental study demonstrates excellent temporal and spatial focalization. Applications of the selective vector component focusing can be found in damage imaging techniques using both linear or nonlinear ultrasonic waves.
Multiclass common spatial pattern with artifacts removal methodology for EEG signals

Common Spatial Pattern (SP) algorithm has been proved to be effective in Brain Computer Interface (BCI) for extracting features from Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals used in motor imagery tasks, but it is vulnerable to noise and the problem of over-fitting. Many algorithms have been devised to regularize CSP for two class problem, however they have not been effective when applied to multiclass CSP. The features extracted using the CSP are non-stationary in nature which increases the difficulty during classification. We propose a method to remove trials that are affected by noise before calculating the CSP. This helps in calculating eigenvectors which generates better CSP. To handle the non-stationarity in the EEG signal, Self-Regulated Interval Type-2 Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (SRIT2NFIS) was proposed in the literature for two class EEG classification problem. This paper extends the SRIT2NFIS to Multiclass CSP using Joint Approximate Diagonalization (JAD). The results are presented on standard dataset.
Coupling of a bifunctional peptide R13 to OTMCS-PEI copolymer as a gene vector increases transfection efficiency and tumor targeting

Background A degradable polyethylenimine (PEI) derivative coupled to a bifunctional peptide R13 was developed to solve the transfection efficiency versus cytotoxicity and tumor-targeting problems of PEI when used as a gene vector. Methods We crossed-linked low molecular weight PEI with N-octyl-N-quaternary chitosan (OTMCS) to synthesize a degradable PEI derivative (OTMCS-PEI), and then used a bifunctional peptide, RGDC-TAT (49–57) called R13 to modify OTMCS-PEI so as to prepare a new gene vector, OTMCS-PEI-R13. This new gene vector was characterized by various physicochemical methods. Its cytotoxicity and gene transfection efficiency were also determined both in vitro and in vivo. Results The vector showed controlled degradation and excellent buffering capacity. The particle size of the OTMCS-PEI-R13/DNA complexes was around 150–250 nm and the zeta potential ranged from 10 mV to 30 mV. The polymer could protect plasmid DNA from being digested by DNase I at a concentration of 23.5 U DNase I/μg DNA. Further, the polymer was resistant to dissociation induced by 50% fetal bovine serum and 400 μg/mL sodium heparin. Compared with PEI 25 kDa, the OTMCS-PEI-R13/DNA complexes showed higher transfection efficiency both in vitro and in vivo. Further, compared with OTMCS-PEI, distribution of OTMCS-PEI-R13 at tumor sites was markedly enhanced, indicating the tumor-targeting specificity of R13. Conclusion OTMCS-PEI-R13 could be a potential candidate as a safe and efficient gene delivery carrier for gene therapy.
Off-Path Attacking the Web

We show how an off-path (spoofing-only) attacker can perform cross-site scripting (XSS), cross-site request forgery (CSRF) and site spoofing/defacement attacks, without requiring vulnerabilities in either web-browser or server, and circumventing known defenses. The attacks are practical and require a puppet (malicious script in browser sandbox) running on a victim client machine, and an attacker capable of IP-spoofing on the Internet. Our attacks are based on a technique that allows an off-path attacker to efficiently learn the sequence numbers of both the client and server in a TCP connection. This technique exploits the fact that many computers, in particular those running (any recent version of) Windows, use a global IP-ID counter, which provides a side channel allowing efficient exposure of the connection sequence numbers. We present results of experiments evaluating the learning technique and the attacks that exploit it. We also present practical defenses that can be deployed at the firewall level, either at the client or server end; no changes to existing TCP/IP stacks are required.
Pyrosequencing-Based Assessment of Bacterial Community Structure Along Different Management Types in German Forest and Grassland Soils

Background Soil bacteria are important drivers for nearly all biogeochemical cycles in terrestrial ecosystems and participate in most nutrient transformations in soil. In contrast to the importance of soil bacteria for ecosystem functioning, we understand little how different management types affect the soil bacterial community composition. Methodology/Principal Findings We used pyrosequencing-based analysis of the V2-V3 16S rRNA gene region to identify changes in bacterial diversity and community structure in nine forest and nine grassland soils from the Schwäbische Alb that covered six different management types. The dataset comprised 598,962 sequences that were affiliated to the domain Bacteria. The number of classified sequences per sample ranged from 23,515 to 39,259. Bacterial diversity was more phylum rich in grassland soils than in forest soils. The dominant taxonomic groups across all samples (>1% of all sequences) were Acidobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, and Firmicutes. Significant variations in relative abundances of bacterial phyla and proteobacterial classes, including Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Verrucomicrobia, Cyanobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes and Alphaproteobacteria, between the land use types forest and grassland were observed. At the genus level, significant differences were also recorded for the dominant genera Phenylobacter, Bacillus, Kribbella, Streptomyces, Agromyces, and Defluviicoccus. In addition, soil bacterial community structure showed significant differences between beech and spruce forest soils. The relative abundances of bacterial groups at different taxonomic levels correlated with soil pH, but little or no relationships to management type and other soil properties were found. Conclusions/Significance Soil bacterial community composition and diversity of the six analyzed management types showed significant differences between the land use types grassland and forest. Furthermore, bacterial community structure was largely driven by tree species and soil pH.
The Research of the Facial Expression Recognition Method for Human-Computer Interaction Based on the Gabor Features of the Key Regions

According to the fact that the Gabor features of the global face image are interfered easily, the method of facial expression recognition based on the Gabor transforming to the key area of the human face image was discussed. The face features location was achieved by the active shape model and the Gabor features of the local area of the key points relation to expression was extracted. On the basis, the PCA was utilized to realize dimensional reduction of the Gabor features. On the end, the facial expression recognition was realized based on the support vector machine. Compared with the global face image Gabor features, experimental results demonstrate that Gabor features of the key area of human face image can increase the accuracy of the facial expression recognition effectively. Copyright © 2014 IFSA Publishing, S. L.
Repression of exogenous gene expression by the retinoic acid target gene G0S2

The G0/G1 switch gene 2 (G0S2) is rapidly induced by all-trans-retinoic acid (RA)-treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and other cells. G0S2 regulates lipolysis via inhibition of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL). This study found that retinoic acid receptor (RAR), but not retinoid X receptor (RXR) agonists induced G0S2 expression in APL cells. Novel G0S2 functions were uncovered that included repression of exogenous gene expression and transcriptional activity. Transient G0S2 transfection repressed the activities of multiple reporter constructs (including the retinoid-regulated species RARβ, UBE1L and G0S2); this occurred in diverse cell contexts. This inhibition was antagonized by siRNA-mediated G0S2 knockdown. To determine the inhibitory effects were not due to transient G0S2 expression, G0S2 was stably overex-pressed in cells without appreciable basal G0S2 expression. As expected, this repressed transcriptional activities. Intriguingly, transfection of G0S2 did not affect endogenous RARβ, UBE1L or G0S2 expression. Hence, only exogenously expressed genes were affected by G0S2. The domain responsible for this repression was localized to the G0S2 hydrophobic domain (HD). This was the same region responsible for the ability of G0S2 to inhibit ATGL activity. Whether an interaction with ATGL accounted for this new G0S2 activity was studied. Mimicking the inhibition of ATGL by oleic acid treatment that increased lipid droplet size or ATGL siRNA knockdown did not recapitulate G0S2 repressive effects. Engineered gain of ATGL expression did not rescue G0S2 transcriptional repression either. Thus, transcriptional repression by G0S2 did not depend on the ability of G0S2 to inhibit ATGL. Subcellular localization studies revealed that endogenous and exogenously-expressed G0S2 proteins were localized to the cytoplasm, particularly in the perinuclear region. Expression of a mutant G0S2 species that lacked the HD domain altered cytosolic G0S2 localization. This linked G0S2 subcellular localization to G0S2 transcriptional repression. The potential mechanisms responsible for this G0S2 repression are examined.
A Functional Variant of Tandem Repeats in Human Telomerase Gene Was Associated with Survival of Patients with Early Stages of Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

Purpose: Elevated levels of human telomerase (hTERT) mRNA in tumors is a marker for poorer survival in patients with stage I non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A functional variant of MNS16A-short tandem repeats in hTERT (S allele) is associated with higher expression levels of hTERT mRNA compared with the MNS16A-long (L) allele. It is unknown, however, whether or not the hTERT MNS16A variant genotype predicts survival of NSCLC patients. Experimental Design: The hTERT genotypes of 808 patients with NSCLC were determined by direct PCR with genomic DNA. Overall median survival times were estimated by the life-table method, and the log-rank test was used to test for homogeneity of the survival curves. Both univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the associations between survival time and the hTERT genotype as well as other known risk factors. Results: The hTERT variant genotype was not associated with overall survival among the 808 patients. However, among 221 patients with stage I or II NSCLC, the S allele was associated with shorter survival time (P = 0.027, by log-rank test). The adjusted hazard ratios were 1.30 (95% confidence interval, 0.79-2.14; P = 0.310) for the SL-genotype and 2.34 (95% confidence interval, 1.20-4.56, P = 0.012) for the SS-genotype compared with the LL-genotype (P = 0.021 for trend test). These findings were not evident in 587 patients with stage III or IV NSCLC. Conclusion: The functional MNS16A-SS genotype may be a marker for poorer survival in early-stage NSCLC. Clin Cancer Res; 16(14); 3779–85. ©2010 AACR.
Developmental processes and the induction of cardiovascular function: conceptual aspects

The epidemiological basis of the developmental origins of disease concept is now widely accepted. The current impetus in research concerns establishing the underlying mechanisms. We discuss the wider biological nature of the phenomenon, with particular reference to ‘maternal effects’, the processes observed in many species by which the mother can induce phenotypic effects in her offspring. Animal models permit investigation of the induction of cardiovascular phenotypic attributes which resemble pathological effects in humans. We discuss the importance of transitions in aspects of the pre‐ versus the postnatal environment, with emphasis on nutrition and energy expenditure, and the critical role which the timing of environmental cues plays in inducing effects on the offspring. Coupled with the effects of specific maternal dietary components, the effects on the offspring are argued to involve epigenetic mechanisms. In this review we provide a conceptual framework for synthesising experimental and clinical data, important for considering the impact of the developmental origins concept in a life‐course approach to the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
A Brief Overview and History of Temporary Fillers: Evolution, Advantages, and Limitations

Summary: Facial soft-tissue augmentation by injection has become increasingly popular as a minimally invasive option for patients seeking cosmetic facial enhancement. Surgical rejuvenation procedures of the face often relate to a less than comprehensive solution to many of the changes that occur with age. Indeed, the surgical “lift,” while providing the opportunity for soft-tissue repositioning, often fails to provide volumetric restoration to the face that is lost with aging. Appreciating the necessity of replacing depleted soft tissue has allowed for a more comprehensive approach to total facial rejuvenation. Hundreds of filling agents are available worldwide, and the enormity of options has led to confusion about which agents work best, where, and why. The vast array of available soft-tissue filling agents can be distilled into two simple categories: nonpermanent and permanent. In this article, the authors mostly limit their discussion, consistent with the mission of this supplement, to the evolution of nonpermanent filling agents, providing a rationale for their emergence and their individual use.