Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Degradation of Azo Dyes by Trametes villosa Laccase over Long Periods of Oxidative Conditions

ABSTRACT Trametes villosa laccase was used for direct azo dye degradation, and the reaction products that accumulated after 72 h of incubation were analyzed. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis showed the formation of phenolic compounds during the dye oxidation process as well as a large amount of polymerized products that retain azo group integrity. The amino-phenol reactions were also investigated by 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance and LC-MS analysis, and the polymerization character of laccase was shown. This study highlights the fact that laccases polymerize the reaction products obtained during long-term batch decolorization processes with azo dyes. These polymerized products provide unacceptable color levels in effluents, limiting the application of laccases as bioremediation agents.
Use of Vocal Source Features in Speaker Segmentation

This paper addresses the problem of speaker segmentation in telephone conversation. The segmentation is done in three steps: 1) preliminary segmentation to hypothesize speaker turning points; 2) clustering of segments; and 3) re-segmentation to determine speaker identity of each segment. It is found that vocal source related features are more speaker-discriminative than the conventional vocal tract related features for small amount of data. This motivates us to thoughtfully incorporate vocal source features into early stages of the speaker segmentation process, where decisions have to be made with limited data. Speaker segmentation experiments are carried out on 36 summed channel conversations in the NIST 2004 Speaker Recognition Evaluation. The proposed use of vocal source features leads to noticeable performance improvement
Revised Vertebral Count in the “Longest-Necked Vertebrate” Elasmosaurus platyurus Cope 1868, and Clarification of the Cervical-Dorsal Transition in Plesiosauria

Elasmosaurid plesiosaurians are renowned for their immensely long necks, and indeed, possessed the highest number of cervical vertebrae for any known vertebrate. Historically, the largest count has been attributed to the iconic Elasmosaurus platyurus from the Late Cretaceous of Kansas, but estimates for the total neck series in this taxon have varied between published reports. Accurately determining the number of vertebral centra vis-à-vis the maximum length of the neck in plesiosaurians has significant implications for phylogenetic character designations, as well as the inconsistent terminology applied to some osteological structures. With these issues in mind, we reassessed the holotype of E. platyurus as a model for standardizing the debated cervical-dorsal transition in plesiosaurians, and during this procedure, documented a “lost” cervical centrum. Our revision also advocates retention of the term “pectorals” to describe the usually three or more distinctive vertebrae close to the cranial margin of the forelimb girdle that bear a functional rib facet transected by the neurocentral suture, and thus conjointly formed by both the parapophysis on the centrum body and diapophysis from the neural arch (irrespective of rib length). This morphology is unambiguously distinguishable from standard cervicals, in which the functional rib facet is borne exclusively on the centrum, and dorsals in which the rib articulation is situated above the neurocentral suture and functionally borne only by the transverse process of the neural arch. Given these easily distinguishable definitions, the maximum number of neck vertebrae preserved in E. platyurus is 72; this is only three vertebrae shorter than the recently described Albertonectes, which together with E. platyurus constitute the “longest necked” animals ever to have lived.
A Secure Image Based Watermarking for 3 D Polygon Mesh 289

The proposed watermarking algorithm is based on geometrical properties of 3D mesh. The vertices of 3D mesh surface are categorized into flat, peak and deeper region. We first compare the perceivable distortion due to watermark insertion in the vertices of deep surfaces and the vertices belonging to either flat or peak surfaces. Our comparative analysis shows that insertion of watermark in deeper surface have less distortion in comparison to watermark insertion in flat and peak surfaces. In view of the fact, these vertices are categorized into three mutually exclusive groups. The first group (S1) is composed by the vertices of deeper area. For obtaining the vertices of second group (S2), the vertex normal is represented in IEEE-754 representation and n bit of mantissa is considered as ‘1’. The third set (S3) contains the remaining vertices. The vertices from S1 and S2 are selected for watermark embedding according to the secure code, which is obtained from hash function applied over the secure image (I). The vertices of S3 remain intact. The watermark embedding is done by re-positioning the selected vertices from their original positions according to the category they belong to. The robustness is assessed against different distortion and distortion-less attacks. The subjective (MoS) and objective (Hausdorff distance, RMS) assessment of watermarked object are also done to measure the extend of similarity between original object and watermarked object.
The way you say it, the way I feel it: emotional word processing in accented speech

The present study examined whether processing words with affective connotations in a listener's native language may be modulated by accented speech. To address this question, we used the Event Related Potential (ERP) technique and recorded the cerebral activity of Spanish native listeners, who performed a semantic categorization task, while listening to positive, negative and neutral words produced in standard Spanish or in four foreign accents. The behavioral results yielded longer latencies for emotional than for neutral words in both native and foreign-accented speech, with no difference between positive and negative words. The electrophysiological results replicated previous findings from the emotional language literature, with the amplitude of the Late Positive Complex (LPC), associated with emotional language processing, being larger (more positive) for emotional than for neutral words at posterior scalp sites. Interestingly, foreign-accented speech was found to interfere with the processing of positive valence and go along with a negativity bias, possibly suggesting heightened attention to negative words. The manipulation employed in the present study provides an interesting perspective on the effects of accented speech on processing affective-laden information. It shows that higher order semantic processes that involve emotion-related aspects are sensitive to a speaker's accent.
Free DNA in the serum of cancer patients and the effect of therapy.

A radioimmunoassay for ng quantities of DNA was developed. [125l]lododeoxyuridine-labeled DNA was used as the antigen, and the serum of a lupus erythematosus patient served as the source of antibody. The level of free DNA in the serum of 173 patients with various types of cancer and in 55 healthy individuals was determined by this radioimmunoassay. DNA concentration in the normal controls had a range of 0 to 100 ng/ml with a mean of 13 +/- 3 ng/ml (S.E.). For comparison purposes, the range of 0 to 50 ng/ml was designated as normal, and 93% of controls were found in this range. In the cancer patients, the DNA concentration ranged from zero to mug levels with a mean of 180 +/- 38 ng/ml. Fifty % of the patients values were found in the range of 0 to 50 ng/ml; the other 50% were between 50 and 5000 ng/ml. No correlation could be seen between DNA levels and the size or location of the primary tumor. Significantly higher DNA levels, however, were found in the serum of patients with metastatic disease (mean of 209 +/- 39 ng/ml), as compared to nonmetastatic patients (mean 100 +/- 30, p less than 0.02). After radiation therapy in lymphoma, lung, ovary, uterus, and cervical tumors, the levels decreased in 66 to 90% of the patients, whereas in glioma, breast, colon, and rectal tumors, the DNA levels decreased only in 16 to 33% of the patients. Generally, the decrease in DNA concene of tumor size and reduction of pain. Conversely, when DNA levels either increased or remained unchanged, a lack of response to the treatment was noted. Of 17 patients who died within a year, 13 showed DNA levels that remained high or unchanged, whereas only 4 showed lower levels during treatment. Persistent high or increasing DNA levels in the circulation, therefore, may signal a relapse and are probably a poor prognostic sign. The relatively high percentage (50%) of cancer patients with apparently normal DNA levels would suggest that this test may have low diagnostic value. It should be pointed out, however, that all these patients represent a selected group considered for radiation therapy, usually after surgery and/or chemotherapy. It is possible that a better correlation between DNA levels and cancer will be obtained prior to the initiation of treatment. On the other hand, DNA in the serum may be an important tool for the evaluation of therapy or the comparison of different regimens.
Computation of Invariant Tori by the Fourier Methods

In this paper, we study systems of functional equations (FEs) and first-order partial differential equations (PDEs) suggested in [SIAM J. Sci. Statist. Comput. , 12 (1991), pp. 607--647 and SIAM J. Numer. Anal. , 29 (1992), pp. 1741--1768] as approximations for the computation of invariant tori. The main new ideas of this paper are, first, to investigate these systems in the setting of Hilbert spaces rather than in the setting of Banach spaces and, then, to employ Fourier methods instead of difference methods for a numerical solution. Based on the setting of Sobolev spaces Hs(Tp), proper conditions for the PDE and FE systems to be dissipative are described, and some regularity results for the FE system are proved. We studied two kinds of Fourier methods, the spectral method and the pseudospectral method, in detail under dissipativity conditions. Convergence and optimal error estimates are shown theoretically for these Fourier methods in the case of general linear systems. Numerical results for three examples provided in the last section indicate that the Fourier method behaves very well not only for smooth solutions but also for nonsmooth solutions.
ReMP TCP: Low latency multipath TCP

More and more Internet-enabled devices, such as server instances or smartphones, have multiple network interfaces. Multipath TCP (MPTCP) has proven to increase bandwidth for these devices, while remaining compatible with the existing network infrastructure and applications. For interactive applications and services, however, low latency and low jitter often is more important than bandwidth. In this paper, we rethink the MPTCP approach, focusing on end-to-end latency and jitter. We propose ReMP TCP, an MPTCP extension that sends data redundantly over multiple paths in the network. Exchanging bandwidth for latency, this approach guarantees the lowest possible latency in existing best-effort networks. The integration into the MPTCP protocol provides benefits such as transparent end-to-end connection establishment, multipath-enabled congestion control, and the prevention of head of line blocking. We discuss end-to-end latency in multipath environments considering both queuing delays and packet drops. Further, we evaluate the performance of our ReMP TCP Linux Kernel implementation for data center and mobile scenarios in Mininet and real world experiments. We show for a real world mobile scenario in a stressed environment that ReMP TCP can halve the average round-trip time and reduce its standard deviation by a factor of 19.
A Novel Exploration Algorithm Based on a Improvement Strategy

In this paper we present a strategy for the problem of exploring an unknown 2D environment. Existing techniques can be methodical, goal oriented or non-reactive to additional knowledge received at each new viewpoint. We present an approach which is not goal driven, but rather seeks new unseen areas to view and explore. The novelty of the strategy presented is the use of a view-improvement technique along with an optimal viewpoint planning method for the calculation and selection of the next-best-viewpoint. The strategy is designed for a sensor system with a limited field-of-view. Example explorations are presented and we demonstrate that the strategy finds new areas to view without exhaustive searching.
Prospects for Alkaline Anion‐Exchange Membranes in Low Temperature Fuel Cells

This article introduces the radical approach of applying alkaline anion‐exchange membranes (AAEMs) to meet the current challenges with regards to direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). A review of the literature is presented with regards to the testing of fuel cells with alkaline membranes (fuelled with hydrogen or methanol) and also to candidate alkaline anion‐exchange membranes for such an application. A brief review of the directly related patent literature is also included. Current and future research challenges are identified along with potential strategies to overcome them. Finally, the advantages and challenges with the direct electrochemical oxidation of alternative fuels are discussed, along with how the application of alkaline membranes in such fuel cells may assist in improving performance and fuel efficiency.
Technology, Management and Systems of Innovation

Part 1 Technological knowledge: the nature of technology sectoral patterns of technical change - towards a taxonomy and a theory the continuing, widespread (and neglected) importance of improvements in mechanical technologies. Part 2 Management: what we know about the strategic management of technology the technological competencies of the world's largest firms - complex and path-dependent, but not much variety multi-technology corporations -why they have "distributed" rather than "distinctive core" competencies technologies, products and organization in the innovating firm - what Adam Smith tells us and Joseph Schumpeter doesn't large firms in the production of the world's technology - an important case of "non-globalization". Part 3 Systems of innovation: the size distribution of innovating firms in the UK - 1945-1983 "chips" and "trajectories" - how does the semiconductor influence the sources and directions of technical change? uneven (and divergent) technological accumulation among advanced countries - evidence and a framework of explanation what makes basic research economically useful? national policies for technical change - where are the increasing returns to economic research?
A component‐based framework for radio‐astronomical imaging software systems

This paper describes a component‐based framework for radio‐astronomical imaging software systems. We consider optimal re‐use strategies for packages of disparate architectures brought together within a modern component framework. In this practical case study, the legacy codes include both procedural and object‐oriented architectures. We consider also the special requirements on scientific component middleware, with a specific focus on high‐performance computing. We present an example application in this component architecture and outline future development planned for this project. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Circulating tumor-derived mutant mitochondrial DNA: a predictive biomarker of clinical prognosis in human squamous cell carcinoma

While circulating tumor-derived molecules have been identified in a variety of malignant tumors, it is sometimes difficult to detect the molecular targets due to the lower serum concentration. We report that evaluation of circulating tumor-derived mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) seems to have novel efficiency for detecting tumoral micrometastasis. In murine xenografting human oral cancer cells, human mtDNAs could be quantitatively detected from multiple organs and blood samples whereas human nucleic DNAs could not. We also determined if this mtDNA blood test was relevant for patients with oral cancer with no histologic evidence of tumoral cells in their surgical margins. For this, mtDNA from normal and tumorous tissues and serum mtDNA obtained pre and postoperatively was examined at three different regions including the displacement loop, 12S-rRNA, and 16S-rRNA. All recurring patients had significantly higher amounts of mutant mtDNAs in the tumoral tissues compared with the non-recurring group. More importantly, on the blood test with the cut-off point by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, while the vast majority of serum mtDNA samples obtained postoperatively in the recurring cases maintained significantly higher amounts of mutant mtDNAs, the non-recurring cases did not, and they showed good prognosis. This is the first report of this approach for managing patients after resection of oral tumors, and may have substantial diagnostic potential for other tumoral types.
Social network analysis and information fusion for anti-terrorism

0. Abstract We discuss how methods from social network analysis could be combined with methodologies from database mediator technology and information fusion in order to give police and other civil security decision-makers the ability to achieve predictive situation awareness and enable them to plan and execute their actions in a pro-active manner, instead of just reacting to the opponent’s actions. Techniques based on these ideas will be demonstrated in the EU PASR project HiTS/ISAC.
Domain adaptation for speech emotion recognition by sharing priors between related source and target classes

In speech emotion recognition (SER), speech data is usually captured from different scenarios, which often leads to significant performance degradation due to the inherent mismatch between training and test set. To cope with this problem, we propose a domain adaptation method called Sharing Priors between Related Source and Target classes (SPRST) based on a two-layer neural network. The classifier parameters, namely the weights of the second layer, are imposed the common priors between the related classes, so that the classes with few labeled data in target domain can borrow knowledge from the related classes in source domain. The method is evaluated on the INTERSPEECH 2009 Emotion Challenge two-class task. Experimental results show that our approach significantly improves the performance when only a small number of target labeled instances are available.
Nuclear spirals in galaxies: gas response to an asymmetric potential – II. Hydrodynamical models

Nuclear spirals naturally form as a gas response to non-axisymmetry in the galactic potential, even if the degree of this asymmetry is very small. Linear wave theory well describes weak nuclear spirals, but spirals induced by stronger asymmetries in the potential are clearly beyond the linear regime. Hydrodynamical models indicate spiral shocks in this latter case that, depending on how the spiral intersects the x 2 orbits, either get damped, leading to the formation of the nuclear ring, or get strengthened, and propagate towards the galaxy centre. A central massive black hole of sufficient mass can allow the spiral shocks to extend all the way to its immediate vicinity, and to generate gas inflow up to 0.03 M ○. yr -1 , which coincides with the accretion rates needed to power luminous local active galactic nuclei.
Uplink power control and interference management for the support of QoS applications

The next generation of cellular networks (Long Term Evolution [1]) uses SC-FDMA (Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access) on the uplink. In SC-FDMA, the uplink resources assigned to a user are called Resource Blocks (RBs) each of which consists of a set of consecutive subcarriers spanning all symbols available for data. Since at most one User Equipment (UE) is assigned to each RB then uplink transmissions within a sector are orthogonal. However, the transmission is affected by intersector interference since users in adjacent sectors may also have been assigned to the same RB. We assume that, within a site (i.e., basestation) interference cancellation is used to address this interference problem. However, for sectors across sites, interference management must be used to ensure efficient utilization of network resources. In this paper we investigate the issues of power allocation and interference management for the LTE uplink. In particular, we address the case in which QoS guarantees are made for uplink connections.
Accounting and public sector reforms: A study of a continuously evolving governmental agency in Australia

Purpose - The purpose of this research is to explore the role of accounting in the reform process of a continuously evolving governmental agency in the Australian state of New South Wales. Design/methodology/approach - Drawing on two complementary organizational change models, the paper investigates how the shifting objectives of the Department of Public Works and Services (DPWS) rendered its financial management and accountability systems inadequate and how “new” accounting technologies introduced to anchor the reform process clashed with bureaucratic procedures to create a very challenging context for the organization's management. The paper uses multiple research methods including interviews, archival material and observation to understand the reform process at the DPWS and its implications for public sector accounting and public sector management. Findings - The paper finds that the unique history and continuously evolving nature of the DPWS makes it an important context for re-examining the dynamics of change processes and the contribution of accounting technologies within that context. Since the late 1980s, the DPWS has transformed itself from a budget-dependent bureaucratic governmental agency to a business-oriented commercialized agency operating in a competitive environment. Research limitations/implications - Future research could be directed at understanding how cultural fragmentations are mended in this extremely challenging reform process. Further case studies employing the two organizational change models could provide additional insights in this area. Practical implications - The paper argues that the cultural fragmentation that is introduced by the reform of the Public Works Department and the diverse and often conflicting obligations of the sector have added to the complexities of managing the organization. Perhaps a transformational leadership-style might be appropriate for managing such a challenging context. Originality/value - This paper would be of value to researchers and practitioners with an interest in public sector reform and management.
The Watermarking Model for Relational Database Based on Watermarking Sharing

In this paper we propose a conceptual framework for relational database based on secret sharing technology. We offer a technique to break the main secret into multiple parts and hide them individually in a relational database. The Lagrange Interpolating Polynomial method is used to recover the shared secret. The (k, n) threshold scheme is used to decide the minimum number of parts required to recover the secret data completely. Through deep data analysis, experimental results show how the proposed scheme can offer robust mechanism to protect data loss especially for the tuples deleting.