Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Speech dereverberation based on blind estimation of a reverberation filter

Single-channel speech dereverberation has been a challenging problem. In this letter, we describe a frequency-domain algorithm which efficiently estimates an acoustic reverberation filter to dereverberate speech by using its inverse filter. Since a reverberation filter is generally much shorter than the corresponding dereverberation filter, the algorithm may converge into a more exact filter and remove reverberant components better than the conventional methods. Simulation on noisy reverberant speech illustrates that the described method can improve speech dereverberation performance in comparison with the method which estimates a dereverberation filter.
A SURVEY OF MICRO-ACTUATOR TECHNOLOGIES FOR FUTURE SPACECRAFT MISSIONS

This survey looks at ten different methods of transforming energy into motion, and their applicability for miniature spacecraft. They include: • Electromagnetic • Electrostatic • Thermomechanical • Phase Change • Piezoelectric • Shape Memory • Magnetostrictive • Electrorheological • Electrohydrodynamic • Diamagnetism Additional actuator technologies not covered in this paper include magnetohydrodynamic, shape changing polymers, and biological methods (living tissues, muscle cells, etc.)
Development of a dual-mode mobile robot system for practical applications

This paper addresses a Coaxial Couple Wheeled Robot platform with a dual-mode for practical applications both as a personal transporter and a robot patrolman. This CCWR has two modes: the patrol mode as CCWR-P and the transporter mode as CCWR-T. In order to achieve fast switching between the two modes, modular design approach is adopted, and mechanism as well as the designed controller are developed and demonstrated. The system is divided into four separate parts, and independent functional modules can be quickly assembled for different target applications. Integration hardware is focused here, as well as the implementation of the controllers. For the robot control, a compact states feedback controller is proposed in this paper, and then the robot can track the desired inputs. Finally, the running experiments indoor and outdoor proved that the robot platform can move smoothly with the two modes and furthermore the robot can execute the tasks of transporting and patrol.
A case study in the meta-reasoning procedure ND

A new technique for improving the efficiency of propositional reasoning procedures is presented. The meta-search procedure, ND, is parameterized by a search procedure P and a real number for controlling the way in which P is applied to the given problem. Experiments using SATO on the domain of Crossword Puzzle Construction (CPC) illustrate the potential for ND. Variations of and future experiments with ND are discussed.
Diabetes Mellitus Induces Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology: Histopathological Evidence from Animal Models

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the major causative disease of dementia and is characterized pathologically by the accumulation of senile plaques (SPs) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in the brain. Although genetic studies show that β-amyloid protein (Aβ), the major component of SPs, is the key factor underlying AD pathogenesis, it remains unclear why advanced age often leads to AD. Interestingly, several epidemiological and clinical studies show that type II diabetes mellitus (DM) patients are more likely to exhibit increased susceptibility to AD. Moreover, growing evidence suggests that there are several connections between the neuropathology that underlies AD and DM, and there is evidence that the experimental induction of DM can cause cognitive dysfunction, even in rodent animal models. This mini-review summarizes histopathological evidence that DM induces AD pathology in animal models and discusses the possibility that aberrant insulin signaling is a key factor in the induction of AD pathology.
The Interaction between Plants and Bacteria in the Remediation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons: An Environmental Perspective

Widespread pollution of terrestrial ecosystems with petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs) has generated a need for remediation and, given that many PHCs are biodegradable, bio- and phyto-remediation are often viable approaches for active and passive remediation. This review focuses on phytoremediation with particular interest on the interactions between and use of plant-associated bacteria to restore PHC polluted sites. Plant-associated bacteria include endophytic, phyllospheric, and rhizospheric bacteria, and cooperation between these bacteria and their host plants allows for greater plant survivability and treatment outcomes in contaminated sites. Bacterially driven PHC bioremediation is attributed to the presence of diverse suites of metabolic genes for aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, along with a broader suite of physiological properties including biosurfactant production, biofilm formation, chemotaxis to hydrocarbons, and flexibility in cell-surface hydrophobicity. In soils impacted by PHC contamination, microbial bioremediation generally relies on the addition of high-energy electron acceptors (e.g., oxygen) and fertilization to supply limiting nutrients (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium) in the face of excess PHC carbon. As an alternative, the addition of plants can greatly improve bioremediation rates and outcomes as plants provide microbial habitats, improve soil porosity (thereby increasing mass transfer of substrates and electron acceptors), and exchange limiting nutrients with their microbial counterparts. In return, plant-associated microorganisms improve plant growth by reducing soil toxicity through contaminant removal, producing plant growth promoting metabolites, liberating sequestered plant nutrients from soil, fixing nitrogen, and more generally establishing the foundations of soil nutrient cycling. In a practical and applied sense, the collective action of plants and their associated microorganisms is advantageous for remediation of PHC contaminated soil in terms of overall cost and success rates for in situ implementation in a diversity of environments. Mechanistically, there remain biological unknowns that present challenges for applying bio- and phyto-remediation technologies without having a deep prior understanding of individual target sites. In this review, evidence from traditional and modern omics technologies is discussed to provide a framework for plant–microbe interactions during PHC remediation. The potential for integrating multiple molecular and computational techniques to evaluate linkages between microbial communities, plant communities and ecosystem processes is explored with an eye on improving phytoremediation of PHC contaminated sites.
Performance evaluation of soft handoff for multimedia services in intelligent transportation systems based on CDMA

To support multimedia services in intelligent transportation systems (ITS), CDMA based radio-on-fiber road-vehicle communication systems were proposed. Soft handoff should be provided for multimedia services because these services are required to guarantee real-time property and quality of service (QoS). The performance evaluation of soft handoff is important in view of system management such as determination of optimal resource allocation, cell configuration, and admission strategy. But, the performance evaluation of soft handoff when multimedia services are serviced has not been previously researched, even though there have been some previous works for voice-call service. In this paper, we develop a new analytical model of soft handoff when multimedia services are served in CDMA based ITS. We evaluate the performance of soft handoff scheme by analytical and simulational method. Blocking probability, handoff failure probability and carried traffic are obtained.
Virtual Reality System for Industrial Training

In this paper, a virtual reality training system for maintenance of industrial equipment is presented. Since equipment are usually designed with CAD tools, it is feasible to create the virtual reality model. Despite of the virtual reality system itself, seting up an industrial related training system implies several processes in order to transform initial computer aided design model into interactive models suitable for training processes. Our virtual training system is being developed following two main implementation approaches. On one hand a commercial tool (Eon Professional) is being used. On the other, the same system is being developed using open-source tools. Both approaches are described in this paper.
Fas Gene Mutation in the Progression of Adult T Cell Leukemia

Fas antigen (Apo-1/CD95) is an apoptosis-signaling cell surface receptor belonging to the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily. Adult T cell leukemia (ATL) cells express Fas antigen and show apoptosis after treatment with an anti-Fas monoclonal antibody. We established the ATL cell line KOB, which showed resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis, and found that KOB expressed two forms of Fas mRNA, the normal form and a truncated form. The truncated transcript lacked 20 base pairs at exon 9, resulting in a frame shift and the generation of a premature stop codon at amino acid 239. The same mutation was detected in primary ascitic cells and peripheral blood cells. The mutation was not detected in lymph node cells, however, although all of the primary ATL cells were of the same clonal origin. A retroviral-mediated gene transfer of the truncated Fas to Jurkat cells rendered the cells resistant to Fas-mediated apoptosis, suggesting a dominant negative interference mechanism. These results indicate that an ATL subclone acquires a Fas mutation in the lymph nodes, enabling the subclone to escape from apoptosis mediated by the Fas/Fas ligand system and proliferate in the body. Mutation of the Fas gene may be one of the mechanisms underlying the progression of ATL.
Copper content of grape and wine from Italian farms

The copper content of grape and wine from 16 wine-farms in Italy was studied during the harvest of 2003. The influence of the number of copper applications, the period between the last application and harvest, and the total amount of copper applied was examined. Of the total number of samples analysed, 13% of grape samples and 18% of wine samples exceeded the maximum residue level (MRL). The total amount of copper applied and the number of days between the last application and harvest explained 44% of the concentration of copper in grape. This low correlation may be due to other influencing factors, such as meteorology and the application method. In 2003, conditions were unusually dry and the recommended safety interval for copper application (20 days) was not sufficient to guarantee a residue level in grape below the MRL (20 mg kg−1). In order to reduce the probability of copper residues being close to the MRL, a period of 40–50 days between the last application and harvest is suggested. Furthermore, the copper content of grape and wine was not dependent on the pest management strategy of the farm (conventional, integrated or organic). A more important factor influencing copper residue levels may be that copper applications are made in response to the prediction of a disease outbreak rather than being dependent on the pest management strategy in place. No difference in copper content was observed between red and white grape or wine.
Phasin Proteins Activate Aeromonas caviae Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) Synthase but Not Ralstonia eutropha PHA Synthase

ABSTRACT In this study, we performed in vitro and in vivo activity assays of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthases (PhaCs) in the presence of phasin proteins (PhaPs), which revealed that PhaPs are activators of PhaC derived from Aeromonas caviae (PhaCAc). In in vitro assays, among the three PhaCs tested, PhaCAc was significantly activated when PhaPs were added at the beginning of polymerization (prepolymerization PhaCAc), whereas the prepolymerization PhaCRe (derived from Ralstonia eutropha) and PhaCDa (Delftia acidovorans) showed reduced activity with PhaPs. The PhaP-activated PhaCAc showed a slight shift of substrate preference toward 3-hydroxyhexanoyl-CoA (C6). PhaPAc also activated PhaCAc when it was added during polymerization (polymer-elongating PhaCAc), while this effect was not observed for PhaCRe. In an in vivo assay using Escherichia coli TOP10 as the host strain, the effect of PhaPAc expression on PHA synthesis by PhaCAc or PhaCRe was examined. As PhaPAc expression increased, PHA production was increased by up to 2.3-fold in the PhaCAc-expressing strain, whereas it was slightly increased in the PhaCRe-expressing strain. Taken together, this study provides evidence that PhaPs function as activators for PhaCAc both in vitro and in vivo but do not activate PhaCRe. This activating effect may be attributed to the new role of PhaPs in the polymerization reaction by PhaCAc.
Influences of Earthworm community dynamics on soil structure, carbon distribution, solute transport, and leachate production in Ohio Agroecosystems /

The activity o f earthworm species and communities can have major impacts on soil structure, infiltration, and biogeochemical cycles, and can thereby influence agricultural productivity. I investigated the effects o f deep-burrowing earthworm species on earthworm community structure and selected soil and soil hydraulic properties of chisel-disk and ridge-tilled cropping systems (n=3) established in 1991 in Pike County, Ohio. Cropping systems were managed under rotations o f com {Zea mays L. )-soybean {Glycine max Merr. ) for the chisel-till cultivation (CS chisel-till), or a com-soybean— wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-hairy vetch (Viccia villosa L.) cover-crop for the ridgetillage cultivation (CSW ridge-till). Earthworm communities were experimentally manipulated from the fall o f 1993 to spring 1997 in field enclosures by making bi-annual additions of predominantly deep-burrowing Lumbricus terrestris L. , or leaving enclosures unmodified in each tillage system. I evaluated the population dynamics o f dominant species from anecic (L. terrestris), endogeic (Octolasion tyrtaeum S.), and epigeic {Lumbricus rubellus Hofifin. ) earthworm ecological groups. Biomass and population density of L. terrestris increased in earthworm addition compared to ambient enclosures. CSW ridge-till cropping supported a community that was similar in terms of diversity to CS chisel-till, yet there was greater density and biomass in CSW ridge-till. Earthworm addition treatments in CS chisel-till were dominated by L. terrestris. Surface
Detection and Clinical Significance of Lymph Node Micrometastasis in Gastric Cardia Adenocarcinoma

OBJECTIVES: Lymph node micro metastasis was investigated in gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA) patients without lymph node metastasis on routine pathological examination. The relationship between micrometastasis and clinicopathological features was also evaluated. METHODS: A total of 349 lymph nodes were obtained from 45 patients with GCA. Micrometastases were detected by immunohistochemical staining for the markers cytokeratin 19 (CK19) and CD44 variant 6 (CD44v6). RESULTS: A total of 33 lymph nodes (9.5%) from 15 patients (33.3%) were positive for CK19. Of these, 27 lymph nodes (7.7%) from 12 patients (26.7%) were also positive for CD44v6. Micrometastasis was significantly related to depth of tumour invasion and Lauren classification (intestinal or diffuse). The recurrence rate was significantly higher and 2-year survival rate significantly lower in patients with than in those without lymph node micrometastasis, showing the necessity of detecting micrometastasis in GCA patients who test negative for lymph node metastasis on routine examination. CONCLUSION: CK19 and CD44v6 were shown to be good markers for micrometastasis detection.
Pharmaceuticals and pesticides in rural community drinking waters of Quebec, Canada – a regional study on the susceptibility to source contamination

In Canada, the presence of pharmaceuticals and pesticides in municipal drinking water has been examined primarily in larger urban centres which draw their supplies from surface water. However, few studies have examined this issue in smaller and rural communities, which represent nearly one-third of the Canadian population and which draw their drinking water mainly from groundwater. This study presents a regional-scale assessment of the presence of these contaminants in the drinking waters of 17 smaller rural communities, compared with two larger urban communities, in south-central Quebec. From a total of 70 chemicals examined, 15 compounds (nine pharmaceuticals and six pesticides) were detected. The three most frequently detected contaminants were caffeine, atrazine and naproxen, respectively, in 29%, 24% and 21% of the samples. Detections reported here for the first time in Quebec drinking water include the known human carcinogen cyclophosphamide and the fungicide thiabendazole. Maximum concentrations of pharmaceuticals ranged from 30 to 1,848 ng L−1 and of pesticides from 21 to 856 ng L−1. This study provides direct evidence that drinking water in smaller, rural communities of Quebec, Canada, whether sourced from groundwater or surface water, can contain measurable levels of pharmaceuticals and pesticides, indicative of their susceptibility to source contamination.This article has been made Open Access thanks to the kind support of CAWQ/ACQE (https://www.cawq.ca).
The Use of Calcimimetics for the Treatment of Secondary Hyperparathyroidism: A 10 Year Evidence Review

Until the discovery of calcimimetics, the management of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) relied exclusively on treatment with phosphate binders, vitamin D derivatives or surgical parathyroidectomy with limited success. The therapeutic use of calcimimetic agents, together with a better understanding of the pivotal role of the calcium‐sensing receptor (CaSR) in the physiological regulation of parathyroid gland function, substantially advanced the management of hyperparathyroidism in dialysis practice. Calcimimetics bind selectively to the CaSR receptor in parathyroid tissue and enhance the inhibitory effect of extracellular calcium ions on parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion, thereby reducing PTH levels even when serum calcium concentrations are normal or low. The availability of calcimimetic agents for clinical use has opened a new era in the management of patients with SHPT. Indeed, calcimimetic compounds have been shown to reduce PTH levels and to lower serum calcium concentrations in all forms of hyperparathyroidism, including primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and parathyroid carcinoma. Such findings underscore the critical importance of the CaSR as a therapeutic target in this family of clinical disorders. New calcimimetic agents are being developed that have the potential to offer improved efficacy and safety compared with currently available calcimimetic compounds.
Exploring heterogeneity in tumour data using Markov chain Monte Carlo

We describe a Bayesian approach to incorporate between‐individual heterogeneity associated with parameters of complicated biological models. We emphasize the use of the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method in this context and demonstrate the implementation and use of MCMC by analysis of simulated overdispersed Poisson counts and by analysis of an experimental data set on preneoplastic liver lesions (their number and sizes) in the presence of heterogeneity. These examples show that MCMC‐based estimates, derived from the posterior distribution with uniform priors, may agree well with maximum likelihood estimates (if available). However, with heterogeneous parameters, maximum likelihood estimates can be difficult to obtain, involving many integrations. In this case, the MCMC method offers substantial computational advantages. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Laboratory Diagnosis of Invasive Aspergillosis: From Diagnosis to Prediction of Outcome

Invasive aspergillosis (IA), an infection caused by fungi in the genus Aspergillus, is seen in patients with immunological deficits, particularly acute leukaemia and stem cell transplantation, and has been associated with high rates of mortality in previous years. Diagnosing IA has long been problematic owing to the inability to culture the main causal agent A. fumigatus from blood. Microscopic examination and culture of respiratory tract specimens have lacked sensitivity, and biopsy tissue for histopathological examination is rarely obtainable. Thus, for many years there has been a great interest in nonculture-based techniques such as the detection of galactomannan, β-D-glucan, and DNA by PCR-based methods. Recent meta-analyses suggest that these approaches have broadly similar performance parameters in terms of sensitivity and specificity to diagnose IA. Improvements have been made in our understanding of the limitations of antigen assays and the standardisation of PCR-based DNA detection. Thus, in more recent years, the debate has focussed on how these assays can be incorporated into diagnostic strategies to maximise improvements in outcome whilst limiting unnecessary use of antifungal therapy. Furthermore, there is a current interest in applying these tests to monitor the effectiveness of therapy after diagnosis and predict clinical outcomes. The search for improved markers for the early and sensitive diagnosis of IA continues to be a challenge.
The Effects of Family Religiosity, Parental Limit-setting, and Monitoring on Adolescent Substance Use

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to assess both the direct and indirect effects of family religiosity on adolescent substance use among African American and European American adolescents. For African American adolescents, the results indicated that parental limit-setting and monitoring mediated the relationship between family religiosity and adolescent substance use. As for European American adolescents, parental limit-setting and monitoring partially mediated the relationship between family religiosity and adolescent substance use. Implications for the development of interventions for African American and European American adolescents at risk for substance use are discussed.