Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Speech enhancement in car noise envoronment based on an analysis-synthesis approach using harmonic noise model

This paper presents a speech enhancement method based on an analysis-synthesis framework using harmonic noise model (HNM) in car noise environment. The major advantages of this method are effective suppression of car noise even in very low signal-to-noise ratio environments and mitigation of “musical tones” which are generally introduced by conventional methods. In this paper, we devise a complete analysis-synthesis based speech enhancement system, and give details in HNM modeling, parameter estimation, and car noise adaptation. Subjective evaluation results show that the proposed method exhibits better noise suppression ability over conventional approaches without obvious degradation of speech quality.
Secure Cluster Head Sensor Elections Using Signal Strength Estimation and Ordered Transmissions

In clustered sensor networks, electing CHs (Cluster Heads) in a secure manner is very important because they collect data from sensors and send the aggregated data to the sink. If a compromised node is elected as a CH, it can illegally acquire data from all the members and even send forged data to the sink. Nevertheless, most of the existing CH election schemes have not treated the problem of the secure CH election. Recently, random value based protocols have been proposed to resolve the secure CH election problem. However, these schemes cannot prevent an attacker from suppressing its contribution for the change of CH election result and from selectively forwarding its contribution for the disagreement of CH election result. In this paper, we propose a modified random value scheme to prevent these disturbances. Our scheme dynamically adjusts the forwarding order of contributions and discards a received contribution when its signal strength is lower than the specified level to prevent these malicious actions. The simulation results have shown that our scheme effectively prevents attackers from changing and splitting an agreement of CH election result. Also, they have shown that our scheme is relatively energy-efficient than other schemes.
Comparison of the anti‐inflammatory properties of formoterol, salbutamol and salmeterol in guinea‐pig skin and lung

1 We have compared some anti‐inflammatory properties of formoterol, salbutamol and salmeterol in guinea‐pig skin and lung. 2 Intradermal formoterol (1 × 10−10 to 1 × 10−8 mol/site), salbutamol (1 × 10−8 and 1 × 10−7 mol/site) and salmeterol (1 × 10−8 and 1 × 10−7 mol/site) inhibited bradykinin‐induced plasma protein extravasation (PPE) in guinea‐pig skin. A maximally effective dose of formoterol (1 × 10−9 mol/site) and salbutamol (1 × 10−8 mol/site) inhibited PPE in guinea‐pig skin for 2–4 h and 1–2 h respectively, whereas salmeterol (1 × 10−8 mol/site) was effective for >6 h. 3 Inhaled formoterol (nebuliser concentration 0.1 to 100 μg ml−1) inhibited histamine‐induced plasma protein extravasation (PPE) in guinea‐pig lung, with significant inhibition being observed at 10 and 100 μg ml−1. Formoterol (100 μg ml−1) inhibited PPE in guinea‐pig lung for 2–4 h, a duration of action intermediate between that previously obtained for salbutamol (1 h) and salmeterol (>6 h). 4 Formoterol, like salbutamol, had no effect on neutrophil accumulation or granulocyte‐dependent PPE (zymosan‐induced) in guinea‐pig skin. Formoterol inhibited neutrophil accumulation (lipopolysaccharide‐induced) in guinea‐pig lung but at doses greater than those required to inhibit granulocyte‐independent PPE (histamine‐induced). In contrast, salmeterol inhibited neutrophil accumulation and granulocyte‐dependent PPE in guinea‐pig skin and inhibited neutrophil accumulation in guinea‐pig lung at doses which inhibit granulocyte‐independent PPE. 5 Inhaled formoterol (nebuliser concentration 100 μg ml−1) and salmeterol (100 μg ml−1) both inhibited PAF‐induced eosinophil accumulation in guinea‐pig lung. However, unlike salmeterol, this effect of formoterol was observed only at suprabronchodilator doses. 6 We conclude that to inhibit neutrophil accumulation, at doses which inhibit granulocyte‐independent PPE, agonists acting at β‐adrenoceptors on vascular endothelium require a duration of action greater than that of salbutamol and formoterol. However, we speculate that the mechanism of inhibition of eosinophil accumulation in guinea‐pig lung by β2‐adrenoceptor agonists may involve an action on β2‐adrenoceptors on a cell type other than the endothelial cell.
Estimation of Unsteady Aerodynamics in the Wake of a Freely Flying European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

Wing flapping is one of the most widespread propulsion methods found in nature; however, the current understanding of the aerodynamics in bird wakes is incomplete. The role of the unsteady motion in the flow and its contribution to the aerodynamics is still an open question. In the current study, the wake of a freely flying European starling has been investigated using long-duration high-speed Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) in the near wake. Kinematic analysis of the wings and body of the bird has been performed using additional high-speed cameras that recorded the bird movement simultaneously with the PIV measurements. The wake evolution of four complete wingbeats has been characterized through reconstruction of the time-resolved data, and the aerodynamics in the wake have been analyzed in terms of the streamwise forces acting on the bird. The profile drag from classical aerodynamics was found to be positive during most of the wingbeat cycle, yet kinematic images show that the bird does not decelerate. It is shown that unsteady aerodynamics are necessary to satisfy the drag/thrust balance by approximating the unsteady drag term. These findings may shed light on the flight efficiency of birds by providing a partial answer to how they minimize drag during flapping flight.
An approach to improve the resolution of defect-based diagnosis

Presents a practical approach to improve the resolution of defect-based diagnosis. To diagnose the faulty chips, various techniques are needed as well as modeling the defects precisely. In this paper, some techniques using the layout information, a multi-test diagnosis method, and a testing method for the delay fault are discussed, and some experimental results of actual chips are shown. The resolution of the diagnosing test patterns is also discussed.
A hybrid hierarchical approach for multi-layer global routing

In this paper, we propose a hybrid hierarchical global router for multi-layer VLSI's, which executes routing and layering simultaneously. This novel approach, a hybrid hierarchical global router, is a combination of a topdown and a bottomup hierarchical routers, and resolves defects of a naive topdown approach. We also show experimental results, which demonstrate the superiority of the hybrid hierarchical approach. <<ETX>>
Assessment management in large courses

When large engineering courses assess work marked by several markers, issues of consistency often arise. Data was collected from a first year Mathematical Modeling course of 467 students, where 18 markers were employed to mark the 10 weekly assignments. Control scripts were also marked by the lecturer and compared with the results from each marker. An acceptable level of variability was established by correlating the assignment data with final examination marks for each student group. The resulting thresholds will, in future, be used to quickly identify markers who may need additional training or guidance. Lecturers were also asked to mark a small number of student scripts to act as exemplars for the markers. This approach gave the lecturer a previously unavailable opportunity to trial and modify the marking schedule before it was given to the markers. The results of this study have lead to improvements in the way markers are supported and monitored within the local engineering department, but could also be of relevance to other departments and disciplines. The engagement of lecturers in creating exemplar marked assignments has also proved an excellent opportunity to increase the engagement of teaching staff with the assessment process and hence the student learning experience.
The price of stability for network design with fair cost allocation

Network design is a fundamental problem for which it is important to understand the effects of strategic behavior. Given a collection of self-interested agents who want to form a network connecting certain endpoints, the set of stable solutions - the Nash equilibria - may look quite different from the centrally enforced optimum. We study the quality of the best Nash equilibrium, and refer to the ratio of its cost to the optimum network cost as the price of stability. The best Nash equilibrium solution has a natural meaning of stability in this context - it is the optimal solution that can be proposed from which no user will "defect". We consider the price of stability for network design with respect to one of the most widely-studied protocols for network cost allocation, in which the cost of each edge is divided equally between users whose connections make use of it; this fair-division scheme can be derived from the Shapley value, and has a number of basic economic motivations. We show that the price of stability for network design with respect to this fair cost allocation is O(log k), where k is the number of users, and that a good Nash equilibrium can be achieved via best-response dynamics in which users iteratively defect from a starting solution. This establishes that the fair cost allocation protocol is in fact a useful mechanism for inducing strategic behavior to form near-optimal equilibria. We discuss connections to the class of potential games defined by Monderer and Shapley, and extend our results to cases in which users are seeking to balance network design costs with latencies in the constructed network, with stronger results when the network has only delays and no construction costs. We also present bounds on the convergence time of best-response dynamics, and discuss extensions to a weighted game.
Ionically Conducting Two‐Dimensional Heterostructures

In the context of revealing interfacial effects on ion conduction, thin films are extremely worthwhile due to defined geometry. Of particular interest are heterostructures as they offer symmetric boundary conditions and a high density of hetero‐interfaces. The recent progress in this field is reviewed. Materials classes under concern include halides and oxides, and refer to various degrees of disorder and different mobilities. Even though in its infancy, the field of ionic heterostructures is already characterized by a variety of results of fundamental importance and of technological relevance.
Effects of lowering extracellular and cytosolic pH on calcium fluxes, cytosolic calcium levels, and transmitter release in presynaptic nerve terminals isolated from rat brain

We examined the effects of extracellular and intracellular pH changes on the influx of radioactive 45Ca, the concentration of ionized Ca (pCai) as monitored with the Ca-sensitive fluorescent indicator fura-2, and the efflux of dopamine in presynaptic nerve endings (synaptosomes) isolated from rat brain corpora striata and preloaded with [3H]dopamine. Cytosolic pH (pHi) was monitored by loading the synaptosomes with the H+-sensitive fluorescent indicator 2',7'- bis(carboxyethyl)-5,6-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF) (see Nachshen, D. A., and P. Drapeau, 1988, Journal of General Physiology, 91:289-303). An abrupt decrease of the pH of the external medium, from 7.4 to 5.5, produced a slow decrease of pHi (over a 5-min period) from an initial value of 7.2 to a steady state level of approximately 5.8. When 20 mM acetate was present in acidic media, pHi dropped as fast as could be measured (within 2 s) to a level similar to that reached (more slowly) in the absence of acetate. It was therefore possible to lower pHi over short time periods to different levels depending on whether or not acetate was present upon extracellular acidification. Extracellular acidification to pH 5.5 (in the absence of acetate) had no significant effect on pCai and dopamine release over a 30-s period (pHi = 6.4). Acidification in the presence of acetate lowered pHi to 5.8 without affecting pCai, but dopamine efflux increased approximately 20-fold. This increase in basal dopamine release was also observed in the absence of extracellular Ca. Thus, intraterminal, but not extracellular, acidification could stimulate the efflux of dopamine in a Ca-independent manner. The high Q10 (3.6) of acid-stimulated dopamine efflux in the presence of nomifensine (which blocks the dopamine carrier) was consistent with an activation of vesicular dopamine release by H+. When synaptosomes were both depolarized for 2 s in high- K (77.5 mM) solutions and acidified (in the absence of acetate), there was a parallel block of 45Ca entry and evoked dopamine release (50% block at pH 6.0 with 0.2 mM external Ca). When acetate was included in the acidic media to further reduce pHi, Ca entry remained blocked, but evoked dopamine release was increased. Therefore, extracellular, but not cytosolic, acidification inhibited the release of dopamine by blocking voltage-gated Ca channels. The stimulation by cytosolic acidification of both basal and evoked dopamine release suggests that vesicular release in resting and depolarized synaptosomes was directly activated by cytoplasmic H+.
Fucus vesiculosus induced hyperthyroidism in a patient undergoing concomitant treatment with lithium

Santander 4 IFIMAV Santander 67 Fucus vesiculosus induced hyperthyroidism in a patient undergoing concomitant treatment with lithium Introduction. Fucus vesiculosus is a marine alga rich in iodine, which is being used in alternative medicine as a laxative, diuretic, and as a complement for weight loss diets. Case report. We report the case of a 60-year old male patient, diagnosed with bipolar disorder and under treatment with lithium concomitantly with a herbal preparation, including Fucus vesiculosus, as a laxative. He developed hyperthyroidism that remitted once the herbal preparation was withdrawn. Conclusion. Fucus vesiculosus may cause hyperthyroidism given its high iodine content. Herbal preparations should be taken in account when treating a patient due to the possibility of adverse effects and interactions with other drugs. Hipertiroidismo inducido por la ingestión de Fucus vesiculosus en un paciente en tratamiento concomitante con litio paración herbal en la que se incluía el Fucus vesiculosus como laxante, y que desarrolló un hipertiroidismo que remitió una vez la preparación herbal fue retirada. Conclusiones. El Fucus vesiculosus puede producir hipertiroidismo debido a su alto contenido en iodo. Las preparaciones herbales deben ser tenidas en cuenta cuan-do tratamos a un paciente debido a la posibilidad de efec-tos adversos e interacciones con otros fármacos.
Product Development Studies on Sonocrystallized Curcumin for the Treatment of Gastric Cancer

Curcumin suffers from the limitation of poor solubility and low dissolution that can lead to limited applications. The investigation was aimed to substantiate the potentiality of melt sonocrystallized gastroretentive tablets of curcumin. Melt sonocrystallized curcumin (MSC CMN) was developed and its therapeutic potential was validated by in vitro cytotoxicity studies against Human oral cancer cell line KB. MSC curcumin was then formulated as floating tablet and evaluated. MSC form of CMN exhibited 2.36-fold and 2.40-fold solubility enhancement in distilled water and phosphate buffer, pH 4.5, respectively, better flow properties and intrinsic dissolution rate (0.242 ± 1.42 and 0.195 ± 1.26 mg/cm2/min) in comparison to its original form. The GI50 value of MSC CMN was found to be less than 10, specifying inhibition of growth more effectively at its least concentration by 50%. The gastroretentive-floating tablet (Formulation F4) displayed controlled drug release (96.22% ± 1.43%) for over 12 h. The present study revealed melt sonocrystallization can be used to produce particles with superior biopharmaceutical properties without the use of organic solvents or the addition of other excipients, and amenable to formulation in to a pharmaceutical dosage form.
On Synchronization of Opportunistic Radio OFDM Systems

In this paper we present a study on pilot aided time and frequency synchronization for opportunistic radio (OR) OFDM systems which apply adaptive subcarrier allocation techniques to either avoid narrow band interference or to prevent licensed spectrum owners (so called primary users) from harmful disturbance. The variable subcarrier allocation of OR OFDM requires adaptive preamble designs to use state-of-the-art OFDM synchronization methods. Since these synchronization algorithms mainly require repetitive time-domain pilot structures, the novel task of providing repetitive pilot signals under arbitrary sub-carrier allocations is addressed in the paper. Furthermore we analyze the stochastic characteristics of the OR-OFDM carrier frequency offset synchronization procedure.
Barrier layer dependence of self-annealing effect in directly electroplated copper films

This work investigated the self-annealing effect of Cu directly electrodeposited on CoMo based barriers with different atomic ratios of Co to Mo. Cu electroplated on barrier with higher Co content expressed lower resistivity and resistance drop as well as higher texture coefficient of Cu (111). Comparisons are made between Cu electroplated directly on barriers and Cu on Cu seed. The resistivity of Cu electroplated on Co is close to that of Cu plated on Cu seed layer. Results show that with higher texture coefficient of (111) the Cu films will have lower resistance change during self-annealing.
Topic detection for language model adaptation of highly-inflected languages by using a fuzzy comparison function

A new framework is proposed to construct corpus-based topic-adapted language models for large vocabulary speech recognition of highly-inﬂected Slovenian language. The proposed techniques can be applied to other Slavic languages, where words are formed by many different inﬂectional afﬁxatation. In this article an attempt to overcome two important difﬁculties of highly-inﬂected languages (high out-of-vocabulary rate and the problem of topic detection) is described. The ﬁrst problem is solved by the decomposition of words into stems and endings, and topic detection is improved by a novel approach for feature extraction based on soft comparison of words. The results of experiments on the second largest Slovenian newspaper news corpus Veˇcer show the decrease in perplexity by 17 % in average over a general word-based model.
Effect of a conditioning lesion on axonal sprout formation at nodes of ranvier

The effect of a conditioning lesion on the time‐course of axonal sprout formation after a subsequent testing lesion was evaluated in myelinated axons of the rat sciatic nerve. Transmission electron microscopy of longitudinal nerve sections was used to examine nodes of Ranvier located 200–500 μm proximal to the testing lesion. The conditioning lesion was a cut of the tibial nerve at the ankle; the testing lesion, made 2 weeks later, was a crush of the sciatic nerve at the hip. Sprouts were defined as unmyelinated evaginations of the nodal axolemma that (1) had reached the basement membrane of the Schwann cell, and (2) were located between the myelin sheath of the distal paranode and the basement membrane. Photomicrographs of the nodes at 9, 18, and 27 hours after the testing lesion were assigned to one of seven categories: normal, retracted, myelin degeneration, axonal degeneration, type A sprout formation (cytoskeleton absent), type B sprout formation (cytoskeleton present), and type B sprout degeneration. By 9 hours after the testing lesion, type B sprout formation was found in 9% of the nodes in control nerves (testing lesion alone) and 33% of those in conditioned nerves (P <.01). A 33% incidence of type B sprout formation was not reached in control nerves until 27 hours after the testing lesion. Since the conditioning lesion was located 50 mm distal to the testing lesion and did not induce neuronal death, earlier sprout formation can be attributed to a neuronal response to the conditioning lesion rather than to a putative factor that arises from pre‐degenerated fibers and acts on newly formed sprouts.
Enhanced results for web search

"Ten blue links" have defined web search results for the last fifteen years -- snippets of text combined with document titles and URLs. In this paper, we establish the notion of enhanced search results that extend web search results to include multimedia objects such as images and video, intent-specific key value pairs, and elements that allow the user to interact with the contents of a web page directly from the search results page. We show that users express a preference for enhanced results both explicitly, and when observed in their search behavior. We also demonstrate the effectiveness of enhanced results in helping users to assess the relevance of search results. Lastly, we show that we can efficiently generate enhanced results to cover a significant fraction of search result pages.
Plant Responses to Abiotic Stress Regulated by Histone Deacetylases

In eukaryotic cells, histone acetylation and deacetylation play an important role in the regulation of gene expression. Histone acetylation levels are modulated by histone acetyltransferases and histone deacetylases (HDACs). Recent studies indicate that HDACs play essential roles in the regulation of gene expression in plant response to environmental stress. In this review, we discussed the recent advance regarding the plant HDACs and their functions in the regulation of abiotic stress responses. The role of HDACs in autophagy was also discussed.
Antigenic relationships among several simian varicella-like viruses and varicella-zoster virus

Cross-neutralization and complement fixation tests demonstrated the immunological identity of the Delta herpesvirus, the 592S virus, the Liverpool vervet monkey virus, the herpesvirus of patas monkeys, and the Medical Lake macaque virus. These viruses were isolated from diverse outbreaks of varicella-like disease in simians and from various simian species. All of the simian viruses were shown to be related to human varicella-zoster (V-Z) virus, as evidenced by the fact that immunization of monkeys with each of the simian viruses elicited the production of both neutralizing and complement-fixing antibodies to V-Z virus. However, cross-complement fixation tests indicated that the simian viruses are not so closely related to V-Z virus as they are to one another. Varicella or zoster infections in humans produced neutralizing and complement-fixing antibody responses to each of the simian viruses; the responses were more marked in zoster infections than in varicella infections but, in most patients, antibody levels produced to the simian viruses were much lower than those to the homologous V-Z virus.