Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vowels formants analysis allows straightforward detection of high arousal emotions

Recently, automatic emotion recognition from speech has achieved growing interest within the human-machine interaction research community. Most part of emotion recognition methods use context independent frame-level analysis or turn-level analysis. In this article, we introduce context dependent vowel level analysis applied for emotion classification. An average first formant value extracted on vowel level has been used as unidimensional acoustic feature vector. The Neyman-Pearson criterion has been used for classification purpose. Our classifier is able to detect high-arousal emotions with small error rates. Within our research we proved that the smallest emotional unit should be the vowel instead of the word. We find out that using vowel level analysis can be an important issue during developing a robust emotion classifier. Also, our research can be useful for developing robust affective speech recognition methods and high quality emotional speech synthesis systems.
Analytical motion blur rasterization with compression

We present a rasterizer, based on time-dependent edge equations, that computes analytical visibility in order to render accurate motion blur. The theory for doing the computations in a rasterization framework is derived in detail, and then implemented. To keep the frame buffer requirements low, we also present a new oracle-based compression algorithm for the time intervals. Our results are promising in that high quality motion blurred scenes can be rendered using a rasterizer with rather low memory requirements. Our resulting images contain motion blur for both opaque and transparent objects.
Plane extraction using Point Cloud data for service robot

This paper describes an plane extraction method using point cloud data to perceive an unknown object for a service robot. Recently, depth sensors are used to perceive 3D space for a robot. A depth sensor have been used to recognize unknown environment, such as surface reconstruction, model fitting and so on. Point Cloud Library is typical open source library to deal with 3D point cloud data. However, robot perception for grasping have limitations with high computational costs and low-accuracy for perceiving small objects. Therefore, we propose the PSO-based plane detection method with RG to reconstruct an object from a combination of detected planes. To verify accuracy and computational cost for the plane detection of unknown object, we show that the proposed method has higher accuracy and less computational cost for the proposed method.
Aboveground biomass and nitrogen allocation of ten deciduous southern Appalachian tree species

Allometric equations were developed for mature trees of 10 deciduous species (Acer rubrum L., Betula lenta L., Carya spp., Cornus florida L., Liriodendron tulipifera L., Oxydendrum arboreum(L.) DC. , Quercus alba L. , Quercus coccinea Muenchh. , Quercus prinus L. , and Quercus rubra L. ) at the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory in western North Carolina, U.S.A. These equations included the following dependent variables: stem wood mass, stem bark mass, branch mass, total wood mass, foliage mass, total biomass, foliage area, stem surface area, sapwood volume, and total tree volume. High correlation coefficients ( R 2 ) were observed for all variables versus stem diameter, with the highest being for total tree biomass, which ranged from 0.981 for Oxydendrum arboreumto 0.999 for Quercus coccinea. Foliage area had the lowest R 2 values, ranging from 0.555 for Quercus alba to 0.962 for Betula lenta. When all species were combined, correlation coefficients ranged from 0.822 for foliage area to 0.986 for total wood mass, total tree biomass, and total tree volume. Species with ring versus diffuse/semiring porous wood anatomy exhibited higher leaf area with a given cross-sectional sapwood area as well as lower total sapwood volume. Liriodendron tulipifera contained one of the highest foliar nitrogen concentrations and had consistently low branch, bark, sapwood, and heartwood nitrogen contents. For a tree diameter of 50 cm, Carya spp. exhibited the highest total nitrogen content whereas Liriodendron tulipifera exhibited the lowest. Resume : Des equations allometriques ont ete developpees pour les arbres matures de 10 especes a feuilles caduques (Acer rubrum L., Betula lenta L., Carya spp., Cornus florida L., Liriodendron tulipifera L., Oxydendrum arboreum(L.) DC. , Quercus alba L. , Quercus coccinea Muenchh. , Quercus prinus L. et Quercus rubra L. ) au laboratoire hydrologique de Coweeta, dans l'ouest de la Caroline du Nord, aux Etats-Unis. Ces equations incluaient les variables dependantes suivantes : la masse du bois dans le tronc, la masse de l'ecorce sur le tronc, la masse des branches, la masse totale du bois, la masse du feuillage, la biomasse totale, la surface foliaire, la superficie de la surface du tronc, le volume de bois d'aubier et le volume total de l'arbre. Toutes les variables etaient etroitement correlees ( R 2 ) avec le
The Expressive Power of Finitely Many Generalized Quanti ersAnuj

We consider extensions of rst order logic (FO) and xed point logic (FP) by means of generalized quanti-ers in the sense of Lindstrr om. We show that adding a nite set of such quantiiers to FP fails to capture PTIME, even over a xed signature. This strengthens results in 10] and 15]. We also prove a stronger version of this result for PSPACE, which enables us to establish a weak version of a conjecture formulated in 16]. These results are obtained by deening a notion of element type for bounded variable logics with nitely many generalized quantiiers. Using these, we characterize the classes of nite structures over which the innnitary logic L ! 1! extended by a nite set of generalized quantiiers Q is no more expressive than rst order logic extended by the quantiiers in Q.
VCO design for 60 GHz applications using differential shielded inductors in 0.13 μm CMOS

With the increasing interest in 60 GHz applications, low-cost CMOS circuit solutions emerge. The poor performance of CMOS devices at millimeter-wave frequencies complicates the design. In this work, we present two low-area VCOs covering the license-free 60 GHz band, using differential shielded (slow-wave) transmission line inductors. We discuss design and provide compact modeling of these inductors, compatible with stringent metal density rules of scaled CMOS. Measured phase noise below -90 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset is achieved, at a consumption of 3.9 mW at 1 V. The tuning range exceeds 10 %, for a tuning voltage restricted from ground to the supply.
Asurvey of routing techniques formobile communications networks

Mobile wireless networks pose interesting challenges for routing system design. To produce feasible routes in a mobile wireless network, a routing system must be able to accommodate roving users, changing network topology, and fluctuating link quality. We discuss the impact of node mobility and wireless communication on routing system design, and we survey the set of techniques employed in or proposed for routing in mobile wireless networks.
2012 European Thyroid Association Guidelines for Metastatic Medullary Thyroid Cancer

Distant metastases are the main cause of death in patients with medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). These 21 recommendations focus on MTC patients with distant metastases and a detailed follow-up protocol of patients with biochemical or imaging evidence of disease, selection criteria for treatment, and treatment modalities, including local and systemic treatments based on the results of recent trials. Asymptomatic patients with low tumor burden and stable disease may benefit from local treatment modalities and can be followed up at regular intervals of time. Imaging is usually performed every 6–12 months, or at longer intervals of time depending on the doubling times of serum calcitonin and carcinoembryonic antigen levels. Patients with symptoms, large tumor burden and progression on imaging should receive systemic treatment. Indeed, major progress has recently been achieved with novel targeted therapies using kinase inhibitors directed against RET and VEGFR, but further research is needed to improve the outcome of these patients.
Integrated info-security for vehicular networks

The emerging vehicular networks in the forms of Intra-Vehicle (InV), Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V), and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) communications are fast becoming a reality and critical data is being exchanged with-inside and with-outside vehicle via vehicular networks. In this paper, we propose integrated info-security solutions for vehicular networks. The proposed solutions will ensure that data exchanged with-inside and with-outside the vehicle is protected from abuse and security attacks. The solution will design an Integrated Data Security Gatekeeper with wire interfaces and wireless interfaces. With wire/wireless interfaces, the Gatekeeper will connect to the various networks and sensors inside a vehicle, and communicate with infrastructure and other vehicles for various applications, such as active safety, infotainment, traffic control, remote diagnosis, etc; With wireless interfaces, the Gatekeeper will harmoniously integrate with brought-in devices and beamed-in services.
Drug Persistency Patterns for Patients Treated With Rivastigmine or Donepezil in Usual Care Settings

OBJECTIVES: To compare levels of persistency with 2 cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitors rivastigmine and donepezil for the treatment of Alzheimers' disease (AD) through the use of administrative claims data. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study identified treatment-naive, community-based AD patients having an initial prescription (index event) for rivastigmine or donepezil between June and December 2000, in the United States, from pharmacy claims in a proprietary administrative claims database. Patients were excluded if they received either drug during the 180 days prior to their index prescription or if they did not have continuous plan enrollment during this period and for at least 90 days following the index date. The probability of treatment discontinuation within the first 60 days of treatment was estimated. Time to treatment discontinuation was analyzed for the cohort of patients that remained on therapy for 60 days as well as for subgroups of the cohort reaching either approved or maximum recommended doses of donepezil or rivastigmine. Treatment discontinuation was defined as either a stop of therapy (no prescription refill within 60 days of estimated completion of prior prescription) or a switch to an alternative AD drug. Kaplan-Meier survival and proportional hazard model analyses were performed. Proportion of days covered (PDC) by an AD therapy was also evaluated in each quarter during the first year of follow-up. RESULTS: Of the newly treated AD study population, 30.4% (171/563) of rivastigmine patients and 31.2% (583/1,871) of donepezil patients discontinued treatment within 60 days of starting therapy (P=0.72). For the cohort of patients that remained on therapy 60 days, the mean time to treatment discontinuation was 331 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 307-355) for rivastigmine patients (n=392) versus 337 days (95% CI, 322-352) for donepezil patients (n=1288). The proportion of patients with a PDC e80% after 12 months of follow-up was 23% for the donepezil group and 19% for the rivastigmine group (P=0.34). For the cohort subgroup that reached an approved dose, the mean time to treatment discontinuation was 346 days (95% CI, 318-374) for rivastigmine patients (n=282) versus 338 days (95% CI, 323-353) for donepezil patients (n=1,283). For the cohort subgroup that reached the maximum recommended dose, the mean time to treatment discontinuation was 396 days (95% CI, 343-449) for rivastigmine patients (n=61) versus 364 days (95% CI, 344-384) for donepezil patients (n=712). CONCLUSIONS: Newly treated AD patients in a usual care setting who initiate therapy with either rivastigmine or donepezil have similar levels of persistency with treatment.
The evolution of coronal mass ejections in the inner heliosphere: Implementing the spheromak model with EUHFORIA

Aims. We introduce a new model for coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that has been implemented in the magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) inner heliosphere model EUHFORIA. Utilising a linear force-free spheromak (LFFS) solution, the model provides an intrinsic magnetic field structure for the CME. As a result, the new model has the potential to predict the magnetic components of CMEs at Earth. In this paper, we present the implementation of the new model and show the capability of the new model. Methods. We present initial validation runs for the new magnetised CME model by considering the same set of events as used in the initial validation run of EUHFORIA that employed the Cone model. In particular, we have focused on modelling the CME that was responsible for creating the largest geomagnetic disturbance (Dst index). Two scenarios are discussed: one where a single magnetised CME is launched and another in which we launch all five Earth-directed CMEs that were observed during the considered time period. Four out of the five CMEs were modelled using the Cone model. Results. In the first run, where the propagation of a single magnetized CME is considered, we find that the magnetic field components at Earth are well reproduced as compared to in-situ spacecraft data. Considering a virtual spacecraft that is separated approximately seven heliographic degrees from the position of Earth, we note that the centre of the magnetic cloud is missing Earth and a considerably larger magnetic field strength can be found when shifting to that location. For the second run, launching four Cone CMEs and one LFFS CME, we notice that the simulated magnetised CME is arriving at the same time as in the corresponding full Cone model run. We find that to achieve this, the speed of the CME needs to be reduced in order to compensate for the expansion of the CME due to the addition of the magnetic field inside the CME. The reduced initial speed of the CME and the added magnetic field structure give rise to a very similar propagation of the CME with approximately the same arrival time at 1 au. In contrast to the Cone model, however, the magnetised CME is able to predict the magnetic field components at Earth. However, due to the interaction between the Cone model CMEs and the magnetised CME, the magnetic field amplitude is significantly lower than for the run using a single magnetised CME. Conclusions. We have presented the LFFS model that is able to simulate and predict the magnetic field components and the propagation of magnetised CMEs in the inner heliosphere and at Earth. We note that shifting towards a virtual spacecraft in the neighbourhood of Earth can give rise to much stronger magnetic field components. This gives the option of adding a grid of virtual spacecrafts to give a range of values for the magnetic field components.
Specification Testing in Hawkes Models

We propose various specification tests for Hawkes models based on the Lagrange Multiplier (LM) principle. Hawkes models can be used to model the occurrence of extreme events in financial markets. Our specific testing focus is on extending a univariate model to a multivariate model, that is, we examine whether there is a conditional dependence between extreme events in markets. Simulations show that the test has good size and power, in particular for sample sizes that are typically encountered in practice. Applying the specification test for dependence to US stocks, bonds and exchange rate data, we find strong evidence for cross-excitation within segments as well as between segments. Therefore, we recommend that univariate Hawkes models be extended to account for the cross-triggering phenomenon.
THE EFFECT OF MUSIC THERAPY ON SLEEP QUALITY AMONG CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS

Abstract The priority of handling children with chronic illness is to improve the quality of life by paying attention the symptoms that arise during treatment, one of which is the sleep problem. The purpose of this study to identify the effect of music therapy for the sleep quality of children with chronic illness. This study used a quasi experiment. Sample size was 30 childrens were divided into experimental group and control group. Respondents were given music therapy in 30-45 minutes before bed for 4 days. Sleep quality is measured by using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). There was a significant mean difference regarding PSQI score in experimental and control group. It was found that the experimental group score was higher compared with the control group (p=0,001). Thus music therapy could be used as an alternative intervention to improve the sleep quality to improve the quality of life of children with chronic illness. Key words : children, chronic illness, music therapy, sleep quality
The Snark is a Boojum: the continuing problem of drug resistance in the antiangiogenic era.

If your Snark be a Snark, that is right: Fetch it home by all means-you may serve it with greens, And it's handy for striking a light. "But oh, beamish nephew, beware of the day, If your Snark be a Boojum! For then You will softly and suddenly vanish away, And never be met with again! " Lewis Carroll The Hunting of the Snark
Measuring Impulse Responses Containing Complete Spatial Information

Traditional impulse response measurements did capture limited spatial information. Often just omnidirectional sources and microphones are employed. In some cases it was attempted to get more spatial information employing directive transdudcers: known examples are binaural microphones, figure‐of‐8 microphones, and directive loudspeakers. However, these approaches are not scientifically based and do not provide an easy way to process and visualize the spatial information. On the other side, psychoacoustics studies demonstrated that ‘‘spatial hearing’’ is one of the dominant factors for the acoustic quality of rooms, particularly for theatres and concert halls. Of consequence, it is necessarily to reformulate the problem entirely, describing the transfer function between a source and a receiver as a time/space filter. This requires us to ‘‘sample’’ the impulse response not only in time, but also in space. This is possible employing spherical harmonics for describing, with a predefined accuracy, the directivi.
Bags-of-daglets for action recognition

Recent advances in human action recognition are focusing on fine-grained action categories in large video collections. With this current trend, one of the major issues is how to handle these large collections effectively and also efficiently. In this paper, we introduce a novel action recognition method based on mid-level components and directed acyclic graphs (DAGs). DAGs, taken from different videos, are efficiently processed in order to extract a large collection of spatio-temporal sub-patterns, of increasing complexities, referred to as daglets. The latter capture local appearances as well as causal structural relationships of interacting object-parts in video sequences. The main contribution of this work includes a daglet matching procedure and a DAG kernel that captures first and high order statistics of daglets into videos. When combined with support vector machines, this DAG kernel proved to be very effective in order to capture similarity between actions in videos and to successfully achieve action recognition on a standard challenging database.
Genetics of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Studies have demonstrated that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly heritable disorder. The evidence for this and the investigation into specific genetic risk factors associated with the disorder are discussed in this chapter. Both common and rare genetic risk variants have been identified for the disorder, although sample sizes have limited the discovery of such risk factors to date. Identification of additional risk factors, as well as further investigation to understand the role of these factors in the pathophysiology of ADHD, are now under way. As with other multifactorial disorders, there are both genetic and environmental risks associated with ADHD, and the interplay of these different risk types, as well as how they have been studied, is discussed. ADHD is a phenotypically heterogenous disorder, and the influences of comorbid conditions and developmental age on the genetic risk factors for the disorder are considered, as well as the genetic overlap between ADHD and other psychiatric conditions.
Integrating attribute and space characteristics in choropleth display and spatial data mining

This paper develops an interactive approach for exploratory spatial data analysis. Measures of attribute similarity and spatial proximity are combined in a clustering model to support the identification of patterns in spatial information. Relationships between the developed clustering approach, spatial data mining and choropleth display are discussed. Analysis of property crime rates in Brisbane, Australia is presented. A surprising finding in this research is that there are substantial inconsistencies in standard choropleth display options found in two widely used commercial geographical information systems, both in terms of definition and performance. The comparative results demonstrate the usefulness and appeal of the developed approach in a geographical information system environment for exploratory spatial data analysis.
Research Area Markets and Political Economy Working Group Institutions, States, Markets Forschungsschwerpunkt Markt Und Politische Ökonomie External Effects of Currency Unions

Argument: The paper argues that the introduction of the Euro has considerably reduced de facto monetary policy autonomy in non-ECU members. We start from a simple Mundellian model, in which currency unions raise economic efficiency but reduce monetary policy autonomy. Our main argument holds that governments in countries that did not join the currency union lose monetary policy autonomy if the establishment of a currency union increases the size of the key currency area. The increase in the size of the key currency area has two external effects on countries remaining outside the currency union: Firstly, it renders stable exchange-rates to the currency union slightly more important, because the value of goods imported from countries within the currency union increases and because the countries inside the union have more synchronized business cycles. Secondly and more importantly, we claim that any given change in the real interest-rate differential leads to an exchange-rate effect, which is larger the smaller the domestic currency area is relative to the key currency area. Consequently, governments in non-member countries have to pay a higher price if they seek to stimulate the domestic economy. Hypotheses: a) Exchange-rate effects on changes in the real interest rate differential are larger, if currency areas are less equal in size. b) Outsider countries more closely follow the interest-rate policy of the currency union than they had previously followed the monetary policy of the anchor currency. Empirics: We employ a panel-GARCH model to estimate the impact of changes in the key currency real interest rate on the real interest rate of other countries. Specifically, we analyze the influence of Germany's and the Eurozone's monetary policy on the monetary policy of Great Britain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland. Results: Our results support the assumptions underlying our model as well as our main argument. De facto monetary autonomy of countries remaining outside a currency union declines with the establishment of the union.