Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of first language dialect in the production of second language German vowels

Abstract A methodological shortcoming in previous second language (L2) acquisition studies has been that researchers have assumed an overly homogenous first language (L1) ignoring dialect differences. In the current study English and German vowel production data were collected from 72 English-speaking learners of German from three distinct North American English dialect regions – the Inland North, North Central, and Western Canada. Following Flege (e.g., 1995), who proposed that L2 segments with L1 counterparts would be more difficult to perceive and produce than new L2 segments, we show that subjects did not transfer their L1 /u/ to German but rather produced the German counterpart in a manner expected in neither German nor English. Instead, this was reflected in terms of formant (F1, F2 or F3) values that varied according to the L1 dialect of the learner. In particular, learners from the North Central dialect region whose English /u/ was produced with the lowest F2 values – though not significantly different from the Inland North learners' /u/ – produced the German /u:/ with the highest F2 values of all three dialect regions. Speakers from all dialect regions were also able to manipulate their acoustic space to allow for the addition of the new German segment /y:/; however, they differed in how they ultimately established the German /u:/–/y:/ contrast. Learners from the two American dialect regions contrasted these vowels according to F2 values, while learners from Western Canada made the contrast utilizing F3. Based on these results, we conclude that L2 vowel formant values differ by dialect region even when the learners' L1 dialects differ only subtly. Lastly, results provide further evidence that this influence is not simply the result of direct L1 transfer.
FFT/IFFT implementation using Vivado™ HLS

High level synthesis tools are an attractive option for rapid prototyping and implementation of hardware designs. In this paper we present a case study of using such a tool for the design and implementation of an FFT core for use in a wireless modem. The optimizations used for directing the conversion of C code to hardware are discussed and the impact of the different directives is analyzed. The resulting hardware architecture is competitive with the highly optimized IP core available from Xilinx for their FPGAs in terms of the hardware requirements while achieving a slightly better latency for the same configuration.
Protein composition of human epididymosomes collected during surgical vasectomy reversal: a proteomic and genomic approach.

BACKGROUND The epididymal epithelium secretes membranous vesicles, called epididymosomes, with which a complex mixture of proteins is associated. These vesicles transfer to spermatozoa selected proteins involved in sperm maturation. Epididymosomes in the human excurrent duct have been described, but their protein composition and possible functions are unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS Epididymosomes were collected during vasovasostomy procedures, purified and submitted to liquid chromatography with hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. From all the mass spectra generated, 1022 peptides allowed the identification of 146 different proteins. Identification of some of these proteins was confirmed by western blots. Furthermore, western blot showed that the protein composition of epididymosomes differed from that characterizing prostasomes; membranous vesicles secreted by the prostate. Organization of the epididymosomes proteome according to common functional features suggests that epididymosomes have multiple functions. In order to understand the origin of epididymosomes collected distally, microarray databases of caput, corpus and cauda epididymidis were analysed to determine where along the excurrent duct the encoded proteins associated to epididymosomes are synthesised. Results suggest that some proteins synthesized in the caput and corpus epididymidis are associated with epididymosomes collected distally. CONCLUSIONS Epididymosomes thus transit along the excurrent duct, and vesicles collected distally represent a mixed population.
Deep Nearest Class Mean Model for Incremental Odor Classification

In recent years, more machine learning algorithms have been applied to odor classification. These odor classification algorithms usually assume that the training data sets are static. However, for some odor recognition tasks, new odor classes continually emerge. That is, the odor data sets are dynamically growing while both training samples and number of classes are increasing over time. Motivated by this concern, this paper proposes a deep nearest class mean (DNCM) model based on the deep learning framework and the nearest class mean method. The proposed model not only leverages deep neural network to extract deep features but also able to dynamically integrate new classes over time. In our experiments, the DNCM model was initially trained with 10 classes, then 25 new classes are integrated. Experiment results demonstrate that the proposed model is very efficient for incremental odor classification, especially for new classes with only a small number of training examples.
Designing digital IIR low-pass differentiators with multi-objective optimization

In this paper we examine the possibility of designing IIR low-pass differentiators by approaching it as a weighted multi-objective optimization problem and solving it with an unbiased metaheuristic search algorithm. By collecting several solutions with different sets of weights we are able to make a thorough comparison of different design strategies. We present possible designs that are realizable with (1) cascading classical IIR low-pass filters with appropriate operators, and (2) non-cascaded general IIR differentiator designs. Elliptical filters are found to be the most magnitude-optimal among the first type. However, the non-cascaded approach found more optimal IIR differentiators at the expense of a more complicated search. Finally, we present some non-cascaded general designs that compare favorably with the available designs given in literature, and which we reason are nearly optimal.
USAGE OF STUDENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (SAMS); A case study of user perceptions at an Australia university

Student and Administrative Management Systems (SAMS) have been widely implemented in educational institutions and universities worldwide. SAMS is designed to assist and improve performed by administrators, academics, and students. However, with widespread usage of these systems in universities throughout the world, the evaluation of the task-enhancing features of such systems to users becomes critical. The objective of this study is to explore the use of SAMS as perceived by users as; academics, administrative staffs, system administrators, and students in Australia university (AU). The examination uncovered the difficulties associated with SAMS usage and resultant actions undertaken by users. These users were facing more difficulty to use the systems due to such the misfits from the implementation and organization setting. In respond, workarounds take place when the system can not delivery or support to the usage.
Polyol formation and NADPH-dependent reductases in dog retinal capillary pericytes and endothelial cells.

PURPOSE Dogs fed a diet containing 30% galactose experience retinal vascular changes similar to those in human diabetic retinopathy, with selective pericyte loss as an initial lesion. In the present study the relationship among reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-dependent reductases, polyol formation, and flux through the polyol pathway in cultured dog retinal capillary cells were investigated. METHODS Pericytes and endothelial cells were cultured from retina of beagle dogs. NADPH-dependent reductases were characterized by chromatofocusing after gel filtration. Sugars in cultured cells were analyzed by gas chromatography, and flux through the polyol pathway was investigated by 19F nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) with 3-fluoro-3-deoxy-D-glucose (3FG) as a substrate. The presence of aldose reductase and sorbitol dehydrogenase in these cells was examined by northern blot analysis. RESULTS Two distinct peaks corresponding to aldose reductase and aldehyde reductase, the latter being dominant, were observed in pericytes by chromatofocusing. Culture in medium containing either 10 mM D-galactose or 30 mM D-glucose resulted in the accumulation of sugar alcohol in pericytes that was markedly reduced by aldose reductase inhibitors. 19F NMR spectra obtained from pericytes cultured for 5 days in medium containing 2 mM 3FG displayed the marked accumulation of 3-fluoro-deoxysorbitol but not 3-fluoro-deoxyfructose. No 3FG metabolism was observed in similarly cultured endothelial cells. With northern blot analysis, aldose reductase was detected in pericytes but not in endothelial cells. Sorbitol dehydrogenase was below the detectable limit in pericytes and endothelial cells. CONCLUSIONS Aldose, aldehyde, and glyceraldehyde reductases are present in dog retinal capillary pericytes, with aldehyde reductase being the major reductase present. Polyol accumulation easily occurs in pericytes but not in endothelial cells.
Identification and the postwar world.

War can be overcome only when individuals identify themselves with supra-national groups more strongly than with mutually exclusive, competing national groups. Identification with a world federation will be enhanced if all people possess (1) common features (a world language and basic common education in world problems); (2) common rituals and symbols (flag, world anthem, common currency and postage); (3) common goals (better distribution of goods, avoidance of war and famine); (4) symbols of home, family, and local groups in the world government; (5) common enemies (disturbers of the peace) and an efficient police force combining the romantic appeal of the Northwest Mounted and the Red Cross. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)
White side test: A simple and rapid test for evaluation of nonspecific bacterial genital infections of repeat breeding cattle

The objective of the present study was to determine the grades of nonspecific bacterial infection of genitalia of repeat breeding cattle by a simple and rapid test under field condition. For this purpose, a total of 100 crossbred Jersey cows comprising of 80 repeat breeding animals presented for treatment and 20 normal cyclic (control group) animals presented for artificial insemination at their first service were selected. Estrual cervical mucus from all the animals was collected at 8 to 12 hr after the onset of behavioral estrus and subjected to white side test (WST) and bacteriological examination. The results of WST showed only 15% of control group had infection but the remaining 85% were free of it. In contrast, the majority of repeat breeding animals (57/80) showed infection (71.25%) and only 28.75% animals were free of infection. In bacterial culture, 60 (75.00%) from the 80 repeat breeding animals were found positive, and 20 (25.00%) were free of bacteria. All the three samples of control group that showed no color reaction in WST had also no growth in bacterial culture. The WST results showed a positive (p < 0.01) correlation of 0.48 with bacterial culture. It is thus concluded that under field condition WST can be used as a prime modality for ascertaining nonspecific bacterial infection of repeat breeding cattle before subjecting them to any antibiotic therapy thereby reducing the cost of diagnosis and treatment.
The Political Theory of the Constitution

Our current understanding of what a constitution is largely depends on the constructions which nineteenth-century constitutionalism placed upon it, locking the constitution into a series of complex relationships with liberal views of the modern nation state, parliamentary democracy, the rule of law and the market economy. As a political doctrine, constitutionalism is a modern invention. It comprises those theories which offer a series of principled arguments for the limitation of political power in general and of government’s sway over citizens in particular. In the course of the last two centuries, these limitations and their underlying principles have been partly embodied in the institutions and practices of the modern constitutional state. Constitutions have therefore been presented as the centre piece in the strategy for the limitation of power. They have often been invoked in order to legitimize, regulate and keep under control the powers that be, and regarded as the best means for the recognition and protection of the rights and liberties of the citizens. This interpretation of the modern constitutional state is correct in as far as it goes. Indeed, since ancient times there has been an intimate connection between the constitution and the idea of curbing human power. However, in emphasizing the negative limits imposed by constitutions, the contemporary view mistakenly takes the part for the whole. * In this essay I wish to offer a critical and more comprehensive understanding of the political theory of the modern constitution. I am also assuming that a ‘political theory of the constitution’ has at least three different objects: namely, the constitution as a political concept, constitutionalism as an ideological construction, and the constitutional state as a modern political formation. These have been too often confused with one another. Such a position is both historically and analytically untenable. The rest of this essay will mainly deal with the first two issues; but in the conclusion something will be said on the modern constitutional state and the challenges that lie ahead.
Evaluation of common elbow pathologies: a focus on physical examination

ABSTRACT Elbow tendinopathy accounts for the majority of elbow pathology in patients presenting to upper extremity and sports medicine surgeons. With increased participation in overhead sports in an aging population, the incidence of elbow injuries has risen. A comprehensive knowledge of elbow anatomy and biomechanical function of the elbow complex is prerequisite in the assessment of patients with elbow injuries; however, a thorough understanding of alternative and confounding pathologies is essential for accurate diagnosis. Because tendinopathy, tendonitis, and tendon tears have an anatomic basis for their pathology, a targeted history and meticulous physical examination often yields an accurate clinical diagnosis. The importance of physical examination and provocative examination maneuvers must be stressed in a technologically advanced era where clinical diagnosis is too commonly attained solely by advanced imaging modalities. A revived dedication to the physical examination may enhance our ability to correctly diagnose various pathologies about the elbow. Early and accurate clinical diagnosis is the first step in the proper initiation of treatment modalities and improvement in overall patient outcome.
A new fuzzy inference approach based on Mamdani inference using discrete type 2 fuzzy sets

Fuzzy system modeling (FSM) is one of the most prominent system modeling tools in analyzing the data in the presence of uncertainty. Linguistic fuzzy rulebase (LFR) structure, in which both the antecedent and consequent variables are represented by fuzzy sets, is the most well known fuzzy rulebase structure in the literature. The proposed FSM method identifies LFR system model by executing fuzzy C-Means (FCM) clustering method. One of the sources of uncertainty in system modeling is the uncertainty in selecting learning parameters. In order to capture this uncertainty in a more realistic way, the antecedent and consequent variables are represented by using type 2 fuzzy sets that are constructed by executing FCM method with different level of fuzziness, m, values. The proposed system modeling approach is applied on a well-known benchmark data set where the goal is to predict the price of a stock. After comparing the results with the ones obtained with other system modeling tools, it can be claimed successful results are achieved.
Modified Rapid Sequence Induction and Intubation: A Survey of United States Current Practice

BACKGROUND: Rapid sequence induction and intubation (RSII) is a technique commonly used to resist regurgitation of gastric contents and protect the airway. A modification of this technique is implemented in certain clinical circumstances. However, there is currently no standard definition for a modified RSII. Therefore, we surveyed clinicians at academic centers across the United States to establish a working definition of a modified RSII as well as the clinical scenarios in which it is being used. METHODS: A survey was created that queried the use and definition of modified RSII, and validated with test respondents. We then mailed the survey to all 131 anesthesia residency training programs across the United States. Logistic regression models were created to estimate the percentage of affirmative responses among respondents that performed modified RSII procedures and answered survey items in a consistent manner. Similar quantities were calculated by physician status (resident and attending). RESULTS: Four hundred ninety surveys were received from 58 institutions (44% institution response rate); 93% of respondents reported using a modified RSII, and of those 85% consistently completed the survey instrument. A majority of respondents (71%, CI: 63%–77%) reported administering oxygen before anesthesia induction, applying cricoid pressure, and attempting to ventilate the lungs via a facemask before securing the airway. Respondents noted that they would use a modified RSII procedure if the patient were either moderately or morbidly obese (each ∼59%, 53%–64%), had a history but no current symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (52%, 46%–57%), had a hiatal hernia (42%, 36%–48%) or were a trauma patient who had been NPO for at least 8 h (39%, 33%–45%). Similar RSII results were obtained when repeating the analysis on the subset that did not enforce the consistency requirements. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our survey we have established three defining features of a modified RSII: (1) oxygen administration before induction; (2) the use of cricoid pressure; and (3) an attempt to ventilate the patient's lungs before securing the airway. Although this definition seems intuitively obvious, no previous work has tested whether it is commonly accepted.
Characterisation of the liver progenitor cell niche in liver diseases: potential involvement of Wnt and Notch signalling

Background Hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) hold a great potential for therapeutic intervention for currently untreatable liver diseases. However, in human diseases molecular mechanisms involved in proliferation and differentiation of HPCs are poorly understood. Methods and results In the present study activated HPCs and their microenvironment (niche) were investigated in acute and chronic human liver disease by gene-expression analysis and immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence. Cryopreserved liver tissues were used from patients with parenchymal versus biliary diseases: acute necrotising hepatitis (AH), cirrhosis after hepatitis C infection, and primary biliary cirrhosis in order to study differentiation of HPCs towards hepatocytic versus biliary lineage. Keratin 7 positive HPCs/reactive ductules were captured by means of laser capture microdissection and gene-expression profiles were obtained by using a customised PCR array. Gene expression results were confirmed by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence double staining. In all disease groups, microdissected HPCs expressed progenitor cell markers such as KRT7, KRT19, NCAM, ABCG2, LIF, KIT, OCT4, CD44 and TERT. In AH, HPCs were most activated and showed a high expression of prominin-1 (CD133) and α-fetoprotein, and a strong activation of the Wnt pathway. In contrast to parenchymal diseases, HPCs in primary biliary cirrhosis (biliary differentiation) showed a high activation of Notch signalling. Conclusion A distinct pattern of HPC surface markers was found between acute and chronic liver diseases. Similar to what is known from animal experiments, strong evidence has been found signifying the role of Wnt signalling in proliferation of human HPCs whereas Notch signalling is involved in biliary differentiation. These pathways can be targeted in future therapies.
A General Theory for the Development of Creative Productivity Through the Pursuit of Ideal Acts of Learning1

This article presents a general theory for developing creative productivity in young learners by examining the interactions between and among the learner, the curriculum, and the teacher. Further interactions within the learner dimension of the theory are examined by analyzing the relationships between and among learners’ abilities, interests, and learning styles. Teacher interactions are examined by analyzing teachers’ knowledge of the discipline that they are teaching, instructional techniques, and the teachers’ “romance” with the discipline. The curriculum is examined by analyzing the structure of disciplines, the content and methodology of disciplines, and the discipline’s appeal to the imagination of students. Also proposed is a three-dimensional research paradigm for examining creative productivity: (a) the types of creativity we are attempting to develop, (b) the domains in which creative pursuits are carried out, and (c) the contextual variables that influence the creative process.
A deep ROSAT survey — XIV. X-ray emission from faint galaxies

We present a cross-correlation analysis to constrain the faint galaxy contribution to the cosmic X-ray background (XRB). Cross-correlating faint optical galaxy catalogues with unidentified X-ray sources from 3 deep ROSAT fields we find that B < 23 galaxies account for 20+-7 % of all X-ray sources to a flux limit of S(0.5-2.0 keV)=4x10^{-15} erg s-1 cm-2. To probe deeper, galaxies are then cross-correlated with the remaining unresolved X-ray images. A highly significant signal is obtained on each field. Allowing for the effect of the ROSAT point-spread function, and deconvolving the effect of galaxy clustering, we find that faint B < 23 galaxies directly account for 23+-3% of the unresolved XRB at 1keV. Using the optical magnitude of faint galaxies as probes of their redshift distribution, we find evidence for strong evolution in their X-ray luminosity, parameterised with the form L_x \propto (1+z)^3.2+-1.0. Extrapolation to z=2 will account for 40+-10% of the total XRB at 1keV. The nature of the emitting mechanism in these galaxies remains unclear, but we argue that obscured and/or low luminosity AGN provide the most natural explanation.
Genetics of microtubule systems

In most eucaryotes the tubulin genes comprise small multigene families with approximately equal numbers of genes for alpha- and beta-tubulin, the structural proteins of microtubules. The recent isolation of tubulin mutations in several species is proving to be a powerful tool for examining the structure and function of specific sets of microtubules. In Drosophila melanogaster, genetic analysis of a testis- specific beta-tubulin gene has shown that a single tubulin gene product may fulfill a number of different microtubule functions. In addition to tubulin mutations, mutations in other genes whose products are involved in the regulation or structure of specific microtubule arrays have also been isolated. The combination of analysis of both classes of mutations is beginning to allow a molecular description of the construction and function of three-dimensional cellular structures. In addition, such studies may also shed light on the evolutionary pressures that gave rise to and serve to maintain small families of genes encoding very similar proteins.