Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mobile audio coding using lattice vector quantization based on Gaussian mixture model

In the paper, we describe a new lattice vector quantization algorithm based on Gaussian mixture model applied in mobile audio coding. In the algorithm, we uses Gaussian mixture model to classify the immittance spectral frequency parameters of the input signal to the divided M different Gaussian component according to probability density of different lattice vectors. And then for each Gaussian component, we will design a lattice vector to quantize the corresponding signal. Also, we adopt an optimal bit allocation algorithm based on the rate-distortion theory of the input signal. We demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed algorithm in the application of speech spectrum quantization in mobile audio coding. Experiments on encoding multiple audio test sequences show that the quantitative method that we present provides rather good performance and less storage space with moderate increase in computation complexity when compared with conventional quantization scheme used in AMR-WB+ audio codec.
When cell cycle meets development

The recent Company of Biologists workshop ‘Growth, Division and Differentiation: Understanding Developmental Control’, which was held in September 2011 at Wiston House, West Sussex, UK, brought together researchers aiming to understand cell proliferation and differentiation in various metazoans, ranging from flies to mice. Here, we review the common themes that emerged from the meeting, highlighting novel insights into the interplay between regulators of cell proliferation and differentiation during development.
Impact of natural control agents of the citrus leafminer Phyllocnistis citrella on lemon trees varies among seasons

Abstract Studies on insect natural enemies and their effects on host populations are of immense practical value in pest management. Predation and parasitism on a citrus pest, the leafminer Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton, were evaluated by sampling over 3 years in four locations within a world leading lemon producing area in Northwest Argentina. Both mortality factors showed seasonal trends consistent across locations, with predation exerting earlier and more sustained pressure than parasitism, which showed wider seasonal variations. The dominant parasitoids, native Cirrospilus neotropicus and introduced Ageniaspis citricola, showed different seasonal trends: C. neotropicus was dominant in spring whereas A. citricola superseded it in autumn and winter. Although parasitism rates were relatively low, the native C. neotropicus revealed favourable features as potential control agent, by showing density-dependence, parasitism rates comparable with those of the specific A. citricola during part of the cycle, and earlier synchronization with the host. The study provides highly relevant information for a sustainable management of this worldwide pest, for which biological control is considered the best long-term option.
Nature on the Edge? Marine Ecotourism in Peripheral Coastal Areas

Embedded in the ecotourism concept is 'marine ecotourism': ecotourism that takes place in marine and coastal environments. Much marine ecotourism activity occurs in parts of the world that would be considered 'peripheral' in spatial, temporal and economic terms; yet to date no one has attempted to draw together the concepts of marine ecotourism and peripherality. In particular, why might marine ecotourism be considered an especially appropriate strategy for coastal peripheral areas? This paper introduces the concept of ecotourism in the marine and coastal context. It then examines what is meant by the term 'peripherality' and outlines some of the challenges and opportunities it can bring to coastal locations. A particular focus is on the EU's main policy responses to the peripherality dimension of its regional 'problem'. The paper then discusses the potentials and pitfalls of marine ecotourism as a sustainable development option for coastal peripheral areas. A case study of West Clare, Ireland, is drawn upon to give context to some of the opportunities and challenges of ecotourism in peripheral areas. A conclusion is that marine ecotourism can potentially form part – but, realistically, only a part – of an appropriate strategy for addressing the problems faced by coastal peripheral areas.
Europeanisation and conflict networks: private sector development in post-conflict Bosnia–Herzegovina

Focusing on conflict legacy, this article contributes to the study of domestic mediating conditions as an explanation of “shallow Europeanisation” in the Western Balkans, defined as a disconnect between European rules and local practices. It critiques the prevalent neo-Weberian understanding of state capacity, which highlights rule-enforcement capability of state institutions, but reduces conflict legacy to a question of resources. The article argues that a relational approach to state capacity which attributes its strength to enduring ties among state and non-state actors better captures the challenge to European Union (EU)-driven domestic transformation in a post-conflict context. A case study of the Hercegovina Holding is used to unravel a Bosnian Croat network originating during the 1992–1995 Bosnian war. The empirical evidence of the network's operation illustrates how key EU benchmarks for private sector development can be undermined, making a case for a more rigorous conceptualisation of conflict legacy as a domestic constraint on the EU's leverage.
Assessing the need for a pre‐exposure prophylaxis programme using the social media app Grindr®

HIV pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is not approved in Switzerland and therefore must be paid for by the users themselves. We conducted a survey to find out whether men who have sex with men (MSM) in Switzerland are already taking PrEP, or are considering using it, and whether it is being taken under medical supervision or not.
Tumour vasculature as a target for anticancer therapy.

The development of a blood supply is crucial to the growth and metastasis of cancer. The factors involved in this are complex, however tumour hypoxia and macrophage infiltration are responsible for the synthesis of pro-angiogenic cytokines such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the fibroblast growth factors. These factors stimulate proliferation of vascular endothelial cells, the synthesis of proteases such as urokinase type plasminogen activator (uPA) and the matrix metalloproteases, which result in digestion of the extracellular matrix and allow endothelial cell invasion. Endothelial cell motility is promoted by binding of extracellular matrix proteins such as vitronectin and fibronectin to integrins expressed on the plasma membrane of endothelial cells. Interfering with any of these steps may inhibit the process of angiogenesis and drugs aimed at modulation of angiogenesis are currently undergoing evaluation in early clinical studies. This paper reviews our current understanding of angiogenesis and how it may be used as a target for the treatment of cancer.
[Relationship between episodic memory and resting-state brain functional connectivity network in patients with Alzheimer's disease and mild cognition impairment].

OBJECTIVE To explore the relationship between the scores of episodic memory (EM) encoding and retrieving and the resting-state changes of brain functional connectivity (FC) network of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognition impairment (MCI) patients. METHODS All subjects were recruited from special care clinic and ward and health physical examination center, Qingdao Huanxiu Community and Affiliated Hospital, Medical College of Qingdao university from January 2009 to July 2012.They were divided into AD group (n = 16), MCI group (n = 24) and normal control (NC) group (n = 24). The resting-state fMRI scans were performed with GE3.0T to acquire the blood oxygenation level dependent signals for EM encoding and retrieving. The two-sample t test was conducted between the groups and linear correlation analysis performed between EM and FC. RESULTS Compared to the NC group, the AD and MCI groups exhibited decreased FC to posterior cingulated cortex (PCC) mainly in bilateral lateral temporal lobe, medial prefrontal cortex and right insula.Increased regions existed in posterior cerebellar lobe. Compared with the MCI group, the AD group showed decreased FC to PCC in medial prefrontal cortex, bilateral insulas, right inferior temporal gyrus and right fusiform gyrus.And increased regions lied in posterior cerebellar lobe, right occipital lobe and left superior parietal lobule. Compared with the NC group, the MCI group exhibited decreased FC to PCC in left lingualis gyrus, left frontal lobe, right middle temporal gyrus and corpus callosum.And increased regions lied in posterior cerebellar lobe.EM encoding scores (%) (AD group 34 ± 20, MCI group 47 ± 17, NC group 69 ± 15) were significantly different among three groups (P < 0.05). And retrieving scores (%) (AD group 31 ± 18, MCI group 57 ± 22, NC group 81 ± 16) were significantly different among three groups (P < 0.05). Altered functional connectivity regions of left triangle orbital-inferior frontal gyrus (r = 0.642 98), left cuneus (r = 0.642 98) and left caudate nucleus (r = 0.642 68) showed positive correlations with the EM encoding scores in AD group (all P < 0.005). Other groups were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION The resting-state FC networks of AD and MCI groups show significant differences. The MCI and AD patients have progressively decreased scores of episodic memory encoding and retrieving.And the declines of episodic memory encoding and partial regions of resting-state FC network are positively correlated in the AD group.
Comparison of Subtyping Methods for Differentiating Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Isolates Obtained from Food Animal Sources

ABSTRACT Molecular characterization (e.g., DNA-based typing methods) of Salmonella isolates is frequently employed to compare and distinguish clinical isolates recovered from animals and from patients with food-borne disease and nosocomial infections. In this study, we compared the abilities of different phenotyping and genotyping methods to distinguish isolates of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium from different food animal sources. One hundred twenty-eight S. enterica serovar Typhimurium strains isolated from cattle, pigs, chickens, and turkeys or derived food products were characterized using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), repetitive element PCR (Rep-PCR), multilocus sequence typing (MLST), plasmid profiling, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Among the 128 Salmonella isolates tested, we observed 84 Rep-PCR profiles, 86 PFGE patterns, 89 MLST patterns, 36 plasmid profiles, and 38 susceptibility profiles. The molecular typing methods, i.e., PFGE, MLST, and Rep-PCR, demonstrated the best discriminatory power among Salmonella isolates. However, no apparent correlation was evident between the results of one molecular typing method and those of the others, suggesting that a combination of multiple methods is needed to differentiate S. enterica serovar Typhimurium isolates that genetically cluster according to one particular typing method.
Asymmetric Information and Trading Strategies: Testing Behavior on the Primary and Secondary T-Bond Markets Around Auction Days

We study how dealers behave when there exist parallel markets for the same asset that are characterized by very different degrees of transparency. We show that the optimal trading strategy, depending on the features of the less transparent market, may involve price manipulation. Informed dealers may refrain from trading in the more transparent market in order to exploit their informational advantage in the less transparent one, or they may use the more transparent market in order to manipulate prices. We prove that both strategies (hiding and price manipulation) increase market depth in the more transparent market. We empirically test these conclusions on the Italian Treasury bond market. We estimate dealers strategies jointly on both the primary and the secondary markets. We show that informed dealers place sell orders with other dealers at the time they have higher informational advantage. At the same time they aggressively place bids in the primary market and buy back when the primary market closes. This strategy generates losses in the more transparent market (secondary market) for the period when the less transparent market (primary market) is open and then produces gains once the possibility of affecting the primary market is over. We show that market depth in the more transparent market increases as a results of these strategies.
Direction of a Bite Force Determines the Pattern of Activity in Jaw-closing Muscles

Human individuals were hypothesized to use the same pattern of jaw muscle activity to produce the same bite force. To test this hypothesis, we used a 2-mm-thick force transducer to monitor the magnitude and direction of a bite force between a single pair of occluding first molars. Five subjects performed standardized bite force tasks. Six different magnitudes were tested, each in five directions. The surface electromyographic (EMG) activity in the left and right masseter and temporalis muscles was recorded, integrated, and normalized. Ratios of the EMG activity of paired muscles (e.g., the ratio of working temporalis and working masseter) were calculated for each bite force task. Each ratio was roughly constant for each direction of bite force, regardless of its magnitude. In contrast, when the magnitude of bite force was the same but the directions were different, the ratio was not constant. We conclude that the direction of a bite force, not its magnitude, determines the pattern of activity of jaw-closing muscles. The shared patterns of muscle activation may be the result of a subconscious optimization of jaw muscle forces to improve efficiency.
Production of New Greek Oregano Clones and Analysis of Their Essential Oils

ABSTRACT A gas liquid chromatographic analysis of the essential oils from four new Greek Oregano clones revealed that carvacrol was the predominant constituent in all clones, representing extremely high percentages of the oils (from 79.5% in a clone named Athos to 93% in a clone named Olympus). The thymol content ranged from 0.04 to 0.55 percent among the tested clones. Phenols (carvacrol and thymol) and γ-terpinene and p-cymene were main constituents of the oils. These new clones are considered of superior quality as compared with other oregano cultivars currently grown in Greece. The clone named Olympus was the most efficient of the clones tested, having a high dry weight yield and a crushed oregano product high in essential oil and carvacrol.
Countervailing Power and Consumer Prices

This paper considers the importance of countervailing power, manifested as the effects of increased retail concentration on consumer prices and welfare within a market setting where imperfectly competitive retailers negotiate intermediate prices with a monopoly supplier. Only when retailer services are regarded as very close substitutes do final prices fall following a reduction in the number of retailers. Even in these circumstances, the social benefits of countervailing power may not be realized as the supplier may seek to protect its profits by using a refusal to supply restraint to engage in exclusive trading. Copyright 1997 by Royal Economic Society.
Profit Measures and Methods of Economic Analysis for Capital Project Selection

The distinction between profit measures for capital investment and methods of economic analysis for project selection is discussed. Various methods of analysis for the selection of alternatives without budget constraints are examined. The selection of independent projects under budget constraints is also considered. The examination of the assumptions and issues related to the objective of profit maximization should clarify some misunderstandings often found in the literature of engineering economy.
Correlations of metabolic rate and body acceleration in three species of coastal sharks under contrasting temperature regimes

ABSTRACT The ability to produce estimates of the metabolic rate of free-ranging animals is fundamental to the study of their ecology. However, measuring the energy expenditure of animals in the field has proved difficult, especially for aquatic taxa. Accelerometry presents a means of translating metabolic rates measured in the laboratory to individuals studied in the field, pending appropriate laboratory calibrations. Such calibrations have only been performed on a few fish species to date, and only one where the effects of temperature were accounted for. Here, we present calibrations between activity, measured as overall dynamic body acceleration (ODBA), and metabolic rate, measured through respirometry, for nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum), lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris) and blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus). Calibrations were made at a range of volitional swimming speeds and experimental temperatures. Linear mixed models were used to determine a predictive equation for metabolic rate based on measured ODBA values, with the optimal model using ODBA in combination with activity state and temperature to predict metabolic rate in lemon and nurse sharks, and ODBA and temperature to predict metabolic rate in blacktip sharks. This study lays the groundwork for calculating the metabolic rate of these species in the wild using acceleration data. Summary: Calibrations between metabolic rate, body acceleration and temperature in three coastal sharks offer a tool to estimate field metabolic rates in these species.
Glycine transport accounts for the differential role of glycine vs. d‐serine at NMDA receptor coagonist sites in the salamander retina

In this study, we demonstrate that d‐serine interacts with N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor (NMDAR) coagonist sites of retinal ganglion cells of the tiger salamander retina by showing that exogenous d‐serine overcomes the competitive antagonism of 7‐chlorokynurenic acid for this site. Additionally, we show that exogenous d‐serine was more than 30 times as effective at potentiating NMDAR currents compared with glycine. We thus examined the importance of glycine transport through the application of selective antagonists of the GlyT1 (NFPS) and GlyT2 (ALX‐5670) transport systems, while simultaneously evaluating the degree of occupancy of the NMDAR coagonist binding sites. Analysis was carried out with electrophysiological recordings from the inner retina, including whole‐cell recordings from retinal ganglion cells and extracellular recordings of the proximal negative field potential. Blocking the GlyT2 transport system had no effect on the light‐evoked NMDAR currents or on the sensitivity of these currents to exogenous d‐serine. In contrast, when the GlyT1 system was blocked, the coagonist sites of NMDARs showed full occupancy. These findings clearly establish the importance of the GlyT1 transporter as an essential component for maintaining the coagonist sites of NMDARs in a non‐saturated state. The normal, unsaturated state of the NMDAR coagonist binding sites allows modulation of the NMDAR currents, by release of either d‐serine or glycine. These results are discussed in light of contemporary findings which favor d‐serine over glycine as the major coagonist of the NMDARs found in ganglion cells of the tiger salamander retina.
Assessment and comparison of anemia of chronic disease in healthy subjects and chronic periodontitis patients: A clinical and hematological study

Background: Bacteremia is associated with periodontal diseases whose extent is related to the severity of inflammation in periodontal tissues. The purpose of this study was to assess and compare the various blood parameters in healthy subjects and severe chronic periodontitis patients. Materials and Methods: 100 patients with severe chronic periodontitis (test group) and 100 periodontally healthy subjects (control group) in the age group 35-60 years participated in the study. Blood parameters were recorded with blood samples drawn from the antecubital fossa by venous puncture. Results: Periodontitis group showed lower erythrocyte count and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and increased total leukocyte count (TLC) and neutrophil, lymphocyte, and eosinophil count, compared to the healthy control group. Conclusions: To conclude, periodontitis may tend toward anemia and there is marked leukocytosis due to increased number of circulating neutrophils and lymphocytes.
New oral anticoagulants and neuraxial regional anesthesia

Purpose of review As the increased use of new oral anticoagulants may put patients at particular risk of bleeding, experts suggested strategies to perform neuraxial anesthesia as well tolerated as possible. This review summarizes different approaches. Recent findings Data from licensing studies, drug pharmacology, registries, authorities and expert opinions are available and covered by the article. Spinal epidural hematoma formation associated with neuraxial blocks is rare. There has been no epidural hematoma described in the scientific literature with the concurrent use of new oral anticoagulants and neuroaxial anesthesia yet. Summary A simplified approach covering recent recommendations is given which may aid well tolerated use of neuraxial blocks in patients taking new oral anticoagulants.
Regional Differences in Mortgage Demand and Mortgage Instrument Choice in the UK

Koblyakova A. , Hutchison N. and Tiwari P. Regional differences in mortgage demand and mortgage instrument choice in the UK, Regional Studies. This paper presents empirical evidence of regional variations in mortgage choice decisions within the UK's mortgage sector. Utilizing British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) data for the years 2001, 2007 and 2008, the paper suggests that a household's decision to choose a variable rate mortgage is more likely to occur in areas with lower incomes and affordability rates, such as Northern England, Scotland and Wales. Since variable rate mortgages are more sensitive to income and monetary policy shocks, the disproportional distribution of variable contracts within the mortgage sector may have a differential impact on the regions.
Membrane Stability during Biopreservation of Blood Cells

Storage methods, which can be taken into consideration for red blood cells and platelets, include liquid storage, cryopreservation and freeze-drying. Red blood cells can be hypothermically stored at refrigerated temperatures, whereas platelets are chilling sensitive and therefore cannot be stored at temperatures below 20°C. Here we give an overview of available cryopreservation and freeze-drying procedures for blood cells and discuss the effects of these procedures on cells, particularly on cellular membranes. Cryopreservation and freeze-drying may result in chemical and structural modifications of cellular membranes. Membranes undergo phase and permeability changes during freezing and drying. Cryo- and lyoprotective agents prevent membrane damage by different mechanisms. Cryoprotective agents are preferentially excluded from membrane surfaces. They decrease the activation energy for water transport during freezing and control the rate of cellular dehydration. Lyoprotectants are thought to stabilize membranes during drying by forming direct hydrogen bonding interactions with phospholipid head groups. In addition, lyoprotectants can form a glassy state at room temperature. Recently liposomes have been investigated to stabilize blood cells during freezing and freeze-drying. Liposomes modify the composition of cellular membranes by lipid and cholesterol transfer, which can stabilize or destabilize the low temperature response of cells.