Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Probabilistic Interaction Model for Multipitch Tracking With Factorial Hidden Markov Models

We present a simple and efficient feature modeling approach for tracking the pitch of two simultaneously active speakers. We model the spectrogram features of single speakers using Gaussian mixture models in combination with the minimum description length model selection criterion. To obtain a probabilistic representation for the speech mixture spectrogram features of both speakers, we employ the mixture maximization model (MIXMAX) and, as an alternative, a linear interaction model. A factorial hidden Markov model is applied for tracking pitch over time. This statistical model can be used for applications beyond speech, whenever the interaction between individual sources can be represented as MIXMAX or linear model. For tracking, we use the loopy max-sum algorithm, and provide empirical comparisons to exact methods. Furthermore, we discuss a scheduling mechanism of loopy belief propagation for online tracking. We demonstrate experimental results using Mocha-TIMIT as well as data from the speech separation challenge provided by Cooke We show the excellent performance of the proposed method in comparison to a well known multipitch tracking algorithm based on correlogram features. Using speaker-dependent models, the proposed method improves the accuracy of correct speaker assignment, which is important for single-channel speech separation. In particular, we are able to reduce the overall tracking error by 51% relative for the speaker-dependent case. Moreover, we use the estimated pitch trajectories to perform single-channel source separation, and demonstrate the beneficial effect of correct speaker assignment on speech separation performance.
X marks the spot : Structural and functional brain mapping in a genetically defined group at high risk of autism symptoms (47,XXY), and a comparison with idiopathic autism spectrum disorder

Klinefelter syndrome (47,XXY) is associated with a wide range of behavioral problems, including autism symptomatology. In the current thesis, brain structure and function were assesed in boys with 47,XXY, boys with idiopathic autism spectrum disorder, and non-clinical controls, using multiple imaging techniques. The goal was to assess the mechanisms underlying social dysfunction in 47,XXY, and to investigate to what degree these mechanisms differ from those in individuals with idiopathic autism. The results show that individuals with 47,XXY show characteristic deviations in brain structure and function associated with higher order cognitive functions, social emotional information processing, and language processing. Additionally, while boys with 47,XXY show considerable overlap with boys with idiopathic ASD in autism symptomatology, there are specific differences in the underlying neural mechanisms that revolve around the frontal lobes and insular cortices. These findings may have implications for intervention studies (e.g. focused on real time fMRI neurofeedback), as well as clinical practice. It may impact the selection of mental health care strategies that take into account this variability in mechanisms underlying social dysfunction in individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
Efficient time synchronization of 1588v2 technology in packet network

To support system-wide synchronization accuracy and precision in the sub-microsecond range without using GPS technique, the Precise Time Protocol (PTP) standard IEEE-1588V2 is introduced. Various factors affect the clock synchronization precision, such as the location of timestamp point, frequency difference between Master and Slave, delay asymmetry and error accumulation. In this paper, we analyze these factors and propose an implementation of 1588v2 over UDP in Ethernet. This implement method efficiently reduces the effect of the above factors and guarantees the time and frequency synchronization precision supported by PTP.
Coalbed methane: Clean energy for the world

Oilfield Review Summer 2009: 21, no. 2. Copyright © 2009 Schlumberger. For help in preparation of this article, thanks to Drazenko Boskovic, Calgary; Peter Clark, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa; Rick Lewis, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; and Kevin England, Doug Pipchuk, Prachur Sah, Steven Segal and Felix Soepyan, Sugar Land. CBMA, CemNET, ClearFRAC, CoalFRAC, ECLIPSE, ECS, FMI, LiteCRETE, Litho-Density, Multi Express, OSC, PeriScope, Petrel, PowerDrive and ThorFRAC are marks of Schlumberger. Z-Pinnate is a mark of CDX Gas LLC. When humans discovered rocks that could provide warmth and fuel cooking fires, coal was likely viewed as a gift from the gods. Extracting coalbed methane (CBM) from underground coal seams may not have the same significance to modern man, but this source for natural gas certainly seems like a gift to a world in need of clean energy supplies. Because today’s oil and gas industry recognizes the value of this unconventional resource, CBM exploration and development, once uniquely North American, are now under way on a global scale.
Refining the Role of Social Support in First-time Mothers’ Development of Parental Self-efficacy

Research has established that a mother’s beliefs about her ability to plan and carry out the activities of parenting, or parental self-efficacy (Porter & Hsu, 2003), has important implications both for herself and for her child (for a review see Jones & Prinz, 2005). Less clear, however, is how parental self-efficacy is constructed during the prenatal period, and how mothers themselves experience and understand these developments. The present longitudinal survey and interview study was conducted with a sample of 82 U.S. first-time expectant mothers who were predominantly European American, well-educated, and partnered to men. It examined a) the development of parental self-efficacy from the 2nd trimester to early postpartum, b) whether the quality of prenatal care provider interactions predicted parental self-efficacy, when controlling for known predictors such as social support and depression, and c) postpartum interviews with two mothers to understand their lived experiences of social support and developing efficacy beliefs. Quantitative findings indicated a non-significant increase in parental self-efficacy across time. Second trimester parental self-efficacy was associated with social support and later parental self-efficacy, but not with depression. Further, provider empowerment, an aspect of the quality of prenatal provider interactions, significantly predicted 3rd trimester parental self-efficacy, but not postpartum parental self-efficacy. Findings from the qualitative analysis highlighted the importance of friends and family for social support during pregnancy and early parenthood, and how such interactions served to support the development of parental self-efficacy. Further, the mothers identified a variety of other contributors to their feelings of efficacy in reading and responding to their babies’ cues. Implications for future research, policy, and practice are discussed.
Factors Affecting the Application of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Distance Education

The aim of this study is to determine the factors and problems associated with the growth of Information and Communication Technologies(ICT)in developing countries and examine the Turkish distance Education System from the point of the factors such as cultural;political;economic;technological.The study,firstly,introduces some applications and problems of instructional technology and distance education in some developed countries and Turkey as a developing country;than examines Turkish distance education system,Open Education Faculty(OEF),from the points of factors such as cultural,political,economic and technological.
Feasibility Evaluation of a Secured Architecture for 2-Party Mobile Payments (SA2pMP)

Mobile technology has already had a major impact on the financial industry. With the growing acceptance of mobile transactions, security issues require more attention. The proposed secured architecture for 2-party mobile payments (SA2pMP) was designed to satisfy the four properties of confidentiality, authentication, integrity and non-repudiation that are demanded by any secure system. As an extension following [1] and [2], a PC-based simulation is conducted to evaluate the feasibility of the proposed architecture. This paper introduces the computer based simulation and the feasibility evaluation process. In terms of criteria based on the time delay and the code size, SA2pMP is demonstrated feasible for implementation in Java ME enabled CLDC-1.1 mobile devices.
Indirect Knowledge-Based Approach to Non-Rigid Multi-Modal Registration of Medical Images

Information acquired using different medical imaging techniques (e.g., MRI, PET, CT, etc.) can be combined to get a clear understanding of the overall condition of a patient for the purpose of diagnosis. Registering images from different modalities without a priori knowledge is difficult since the images may have very different intensity mappings and structural characteristics. This paper presents a novel approach to the multi-modal registration of medical images through the use of a priori knowledge to align medical images using an indirect mapping. The proposed algorithm uses stored information from successful alignment results to infer a relationship between the input images from different modalities. This relationship is then used to estimate the transformations needed to align the medical images together. Experimental results show that a high level of accuracy can be achieved using the proposed algorithm to align medical images from different modalities.
Venlafaxine Attenuates Heat Hyperalgesia Independent of Adenosine or Opioid System in a Rat Model of Peripheral Neuropathy

Primarily opioidergic and adenosine mechanisms are considered to be involved in the antinociceptive effects of antidepressants. This study was designed to determine the efficacy of acute venlafaxine administration in alleviating symptoms of neuropathic pain and the role of endogenous adenosine and opioid systems in this effect of venlafaxine. We have evaluated the effect of caffeine, a non-selective adenosine A1 and A2 receptor antagonist and naloxone as an antagonist of opioid receptors on the antinociceptive effects of venlafaxine. Chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve resulted in thermal hyperalgesia, mechanical and cold allodynia in the rats. Animals were received on the 7th day after surgery, when the model had been fully established, venlafaxine (20 and 40 mg/Kg i.p.), or venlafaxine (40 mg/Kg) in combination with caffeine (5 mg/Kg i.p.) or naloxone (1 mg/Kg s.c.). Rats were tested for thermal reaction latencies, mechanical and cold allodynia 45 min after drug injection. Acute venlafaxine (40 mg/Kg i.p.) administration consistently decreased the thermal hyperalgesia and this effect was not blocked by concomitant caffeine or naloxone administration. There was no effect by either drug or the drug combination on the tactile and cold allodynia. The results of this study indicate that venlafaxine (40 mg/Kg i.p.) is effective in alleviating thermal hyperalgesia and this effect is independent through manipulation of adenosine or opioid system. This observation demonstrates that venlafaxine, which is a mixed inhibitor of norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake, differs from the other antidepressants in the mechanism of its antinociception action.
CC Chemokine Receptor 7–dependent and –independent Pathways for Lymphocyte Homing

Cognate interaction of chemokine receptor CCR7 on lymphocytes with its ligands CCL19 and CCL21 expressed on high endothelial venules (HEVs) is essential for effective migration of T and B cells across HEVs into secondary lymphoid organs. Plt mice, which lack expression of CCL19 and CCL21-ser, both ligands for CCR7 on HEVs, as well as CCR7-deficient mice, have a defective cell migration and reduced homing of lymphocytes. FTY720, a novel immunosuppressant, causes a reduction of lymphocytes in peripheral blood and tissues and their sequestration into lymphoid tissues. In this study we demonstrate that FTY720 rescues the homing defect in both CCR7−/− mice and plt mice. After FTY720 treatment, the number of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells as well as B cells in peripheral blood is reduced while pertussis toxin–sensitive homing into peripheral lymph nodes, mesenteric lymph node, and Peyer's patches is increased. Immunohistology demonstrates that FTY720 enables these cells to enter lymphoid tissue through HEVs. Thus, our data suggest an alternative G-αi-dependent, CCR7-CCL19/CCL21-independent mechanism for lymphocyte homing through HEVs which is strongly augmented in the presence of FTY720.
Context in industrial software engineering research

In order to draw valid conclusions when aggregating evidence it is important to describe the context in which industrial studies were conducted. This paper structures the context for empirical industrial studies and provides a checklist. The aim is to aid researchers in making informed decisions concerning which parts of the context to include in the descriptions. Furthermore, descriptions of industrial studies were surveyed.
The Impact of Expertise and Investment Familiarity on Investors' Use of Online Financial Report Information

In this study we use a unique dataset to examine whether professional and nonprofessional investors use different online quarterly financial information when making investment decisions, and whether the online information they use depends on whether they are researching a new investment or evaluating a current investment. Our results suggest that professional investors prefer to view PDF-formatted quarterly reports and tend to rely directly on the financial statements compared with nonprofessional investors who prefer to view HTML-formatted reports and have a tendency to rely more on management's discussion of the quarter's results. Our results also suggest that, for nonprofessional investors, investment familiarity (i.e., whether they are evaluating a current investment or researching a new investment) strongly affects the type of financial information they view within a firm's quarterly reports. Our results have implications for the design of experimental studies, and provide information useful to managers, financial report users, standard setters, and researchers as they attempt to better understand the types of information that professional and nonprofessional investors use when making investment decisions.
Fatty acid composition of Turbatrix aceti and its use in feeding regimes of Coregonus maraena (Bloch, 1779): is it really a suitable alternative to Artemia nauplii?

By incorporating the free-swimming nematode Turbatrix aceti into early feeding regimes of the European whitefish Coregonus maraena, the suitability of this nematode species was investigated as an alternative to Artemia nauplii. During a 14-day feeding trial in a total of 25 aquaria each 1.7 L (each treatment n = 5, 255 larvae/tank) T. aceti was used either as the sole live food or in combination with Artemia nauplii or microdiet to determine the effect of T. aceti on growth performance and survival rate of C. maraena. By analysing the fatty acid composition of T. aceti prior to and after enrichment with INVE spresso® it was investigated whether the amount of n3-polyunsaturated fatty acids (n3-PUFA) in T. aceti could be further enhanced. Supplementation of Artemia nauplii with T. aceti increased growth significantly within the first 5 days of rearing in comparison to the non-supplemented food treatments (14.39 ± 0.15 mm compared to 13.44 ± 0.18 mm; mean ± SE). However, growth and survival of juvenile C. maraena on nematode-supplemented Artemia nauplii did not differ significantly from non-supplemented Artemia nauplii at the end of the 14-day rearing period (15.22 ± 0.15 mm compared to 14.86 ± 0.24 mm). All feeding treatments containing Artemia nauplii showed significantly higher growth and lower mortality at the end of the experiment in comparison to diets containing only the microdiet or T. aceti or a combination thereof. The overall low performance of T. aceti alone can most likely be explained by an insufficient capacity of C. maraena to digest this nematode species efficiently. Enrichment with INVE spresso® successfully increased the proportion of DHA in the T. aceti tissue. The results reveal that T. aceti cannot be considered a full alternative to Artemia nauplii, at least not in the rearing of C. maraena, but might be a useful vector of essential fatty acids within the early rearing period of this and potentially other fish species when provided as live food along with Artemia nauplii.
Civic Conscience, Selective Conscientious Objection and Lack of Choice

Most democratic states tolerate, to various extents, conscientious objection. The same states tend not to tolerate acts of civil disobedience and what they perceive as selective conscientious objection. In this paper it is claimed that the dichotomy between civil disobedience and conscientious objection is often misguided; that the existence of a &#8220;civic conscience&#8221; makes it impossible to differentiate between conscientious objection and civil disobedience; and that there is no such thing as &#8220;selective&#8221; conscientious objection&#8212;or that classifying an objection as &#8220;selective&#8221; has no significant moral or practical implications. These claims are supported by a preliminary, more general argument according to which conscientious objection is and should be tolerated because the objector lacks the ability to choose his conscience and to decide whether to act upon it. The lack&#8208;of&#8208;choice argument, it is claimed, applies equally to all types of conscientious objection, including those that are mistakenly called &#8220;selective&#8221; objection. It also applies to one type of civil disobedience. As a result, if a state is willing to tolerate non&#8208;selective conscientious objection, it may and at times must also tolerate selective conscientious objection and (one type of) civil disobedience and to a similar degree (all other things being equal).
Hypoglycemia and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and All-Cause Mortality in Insulin-Treated People With Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes: A Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE Hypoglycemia has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) events and all-cause mortality. This study assessed whether, in a nationally representative population, there is an association between hypoglycemia, the risk of CV events, and all-cause mortality among insulin-treated people with type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This retrospective cohort study used data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink database and included all insulin-treated patients (≥30 years of age) with a diagnosis of diabetes. RESULTS In patients who experienced hypoglycemia, hazard ratios (HRs) for CV events in people with type 1 diabetes were 1.51 (95% CI 0.83, 2.75; P = ns) and 1.61 (1.17, 2.22), respectively, for those with and without a history of CV disease (CVD) before the index date. In people with type 2 diabetes, the HRs for patients with and without a history of CVD were 1.60 (1.21, 2.12) and 1.49 (1.23, 1.82), respectively. For all-cause mortality, HRs in people with type 1 diabetes were 1.98 (1.25, 3.17), and 2.03 (1.66, 2.47), respectively, for those with and without a history of CVD. Among people with type 2 diabetes, HRs were 1.74 (1.39, 2.18) and 2.48 (2.21, 2.79), respectively, for those with and without a history of CVD. The median time (interquartile range) from first hypoglycemia event to first CV event was 1.5 years (0.5, 3.5 years) and 1.5 years (0.5, 3.0 years), respectively, for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS Hypoglycemia is associated with an increased risk of CV events and all-cause mortality in insulin-treated patients with diabetes. The relationship between hypoglycemia and CV outcomes and mortality exists over a long period.
European Geosciences Union 2002 Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions Protocol for the development of the Master Chemical Mechanism , MCM v 3 ( Part B ) : tropospheric degradation of aromatic volatile organic compounds

Protocol for the development of the Master Chemical Mechanism, MCM v3 (Part B): tropospheric degradation of aromatic volatile organic compounds M. E. Jenkin, S. M. Saunders, V. Wagner, and M. J. Pilling Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Imperial College, Silwood Park, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7PY, UK School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK Disciplines of Chemistry and Geography, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia Received: 17 September 2002 – Accepted: 22 October 2002 – Published: 7 November 2002 Correspondence to: M. E. Jenkin (m.jenkin@ic.ac.uk)
Evaluation of the Sustaining Effects of Tai Chi Qigong in the Sixth Month in Promoting Psychosocial Health in COPD Patients: A Single-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives. To evaluate the sustaining effects of Tai Chi Qigong (TCQ) in improving the psychosocial health in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients in the sixth month. Background. COPD affects both physical and emotional aspects of life. Measures to minimize patients' suffering need to be implemented. Methods. 206 COPD patients were randomly assigned into three groups: TCQ group, exercise group, and control group. The TCQ group completed a three-month TCQ program, the exercise group practiced breathing and walking exercise, and the control group received usual care. Results. Significant group-by-time interactions in quality of life (QOL) using St. George's respiratory questionnaire (P = 0.002) and the perceived social support from friends using multidimensional scale of perceived social support (P = 0.04) were noted. Improvements were observed in the TCQ group only. Conclusions. TCQ has sustaining effects in improving psychosocial health; it is also a useful and appropriate exercise for COPD patients.
SCHOOL FINANCE REFORM: AID FORMULAS AND EQUITY OBJECTIVES

State education officials have implemented performance standards, but state education aid has not kept up. By focusing on the relationship between spending and property wealth, most existing aid formulas only partially account for cost differences across districts and, thus, fail to fully promote equity in school performance. This paper shows how to estimate comprehensive educational cost indexes that control for school district inefficiency and include them in state aid formulas. It also simulates for New York the impact of several aid formulas on educational performance and evaluates each formula using several equity criteria. The results indicate that outcome-based foundation formulas can achieve adequacy objectives, but that practical policies to promote vertical equity or wealth neutrality do not yet exist.
E-cadherin expression in squamous cell carcinomas of head and neck: inverse correlation with tumor dedifferentiation and lymph node metastasis.

Tissue sections of 32 squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the head and neck were investigated for the expression of the epithelium-specific cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin. We found that E-cadherin expression is inversely correlated both with the loss of differentiation of the tumor and with lymph node metastasis. The well-differentiated SCCs expressed E-cadherin, often as strongly as the normal stratified epithelium (12 cases were tested); the moderately differentiated SCCs expressed intermediate amounts of E-cadherin or were heterogeneous (15 cases were analyzed); whereas the poorly differentiated SCCs were all E-cadherin-negative (five cases were investigated). Furthermore, seven of eight infiltrated lymph nodes of SCCs were E-cadherin-negative. These data indicate that the loss of the cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin in fact plays an important role in the progression of human squamous cell carcinomas, i.e., that down-regulation of expression is associated with dedifferentiation and metastasis of the tumor cells in vivo.