Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
LPC prediction error--Analysis of its variation with the position of the analysis frame

The LPC prediction error provides one measure of the success of linear prediction analysis in modeling a speech signal. Although a great deal is known about the properties of the prediction error, relatively little has been published about its variation as a function of the position of the analysis frame. In this paper it is shown that a fairly substantial variation in the prediction error is obtained within a single frame (i.e., 10 ms), independent of the analysis method (i.e., the covariance, autocorrelation, or lattice method). The implication of this result is that standard methods of LPC analysis may be inadequate for some applications. This is because the error signal is generally uniformly sampled at a low rate (on the order of 100 Hz), and this can lead to aliased results because of the variation of the error signal within the frame. For applications such as word recognition with frame-to-frame distance calculations using the prediction error, the errors due to uniform sampling can accrue. For speech synthesis applications, the effect of uniform sampling of the error signal is a small, but noticeable roughness in the synthetic speech. Various techniques for reducing the intraframe variation of the prediction error are discussed.
Evidence for a T Tauri Phase in Young Brown Dwarfs

As part of a multifaceted program to investigate the origin and early evolution of substellar objects, we present high-resolution Keck optical spectra of 14 very low mass sources in the IC 348 young cluster and the Taurus star-forming cloud. All of our targets, which span a range of spectral types from M5 to M8, exhibit moderate to very strong Hα emission. In half of the IC 348 objects, the Hα profiles are broad and asymmetric, indicative of ongoing accretion. Of these, IC 348-355 (M8) is the lowest mass object to date to show accretion-like Hα. Three of our ~M6 IC 348 targets with broad Hα also harbor broad O I (8446 Å) and Ca II (8662 Å) emission, and one shows broad He I (6678 Å) emission; these features are usually seen in strongly accreting classical T Tauri stars. We find that in very low mass accretors, the Hα profile may be somewhat narrower than that in higher mass stars. We propose that low accretion rates combined with small infall velocities at very low masses can conspire to produce this effect. In the nonaccretors in our sample, Hα emission is commensurate with, or higher than, saturated levels in field M dwarfs of similar spectral type. Our results constitute the most compelling evidence to date that young brown dwarfs undergo a T Tauri-like accretion phase similar to that in stars. This is consistent with a common origin for most low-mass stars, brown dwarfs, and isolated planetary mass objects.
Cocaine Serves as a Peripheral Interoceptive Conditioned Stimulus for Central Glutamate and Dopamine Release

Intravenous injections of cocaine HCl are habit-forming because, among their many actions, they elevate extracellular dopamine levels in the terminal fields of the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system. This action, thought to be very important for cocaine's strong addiction liability, is believed to have very short latency and is assumed to reflect rapid brain entry and pharmacokinetics of the drug. However, while intravenous cocaine HCl has almost immediate effects on behavior and extracellular dopamine levels, recent evidence suggests that its central pharmacological effects are not evident until 10 or more seconds after IV injection. Thus the immediate effects of a given intravenous cocaine injection on extracellular dopamine concentration and behavior appear to occur before there is sufficient time for cocaine to act centrally as a dopamine uptake inhibitor. To explore the contribution of peripheral effects of cocaine to the early activation of the dopamine system, we used brain microdialysis to measure the effects of cocaine methiodide (MI)—a cocaine analogue that does not cross the blood brain barrier—on glutamate (excitatory) input to the dopamine cells. IP injections of cocaine MI were ineffective in cocaine-naïve animals but stimulated ventral tegmental glutamate release in rats previously trained to lever-press for cocaine HCl. This peripherally triggered glutamate input was sufficient to reinstate cocaine-seeking in previously trained animals that had undergone extinction of the habit. These findings offer an explanation for short-latency behavioral responses and immediate dopamine elevations seen following cocaine injections in cocaine-experienced but not cocaine-naïve animals.
Imaging Characteristics of Dacryocystocele Diagnosed after Surgery for Sinonasal Cancer

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A dacryocystocele forms when tears accumulate within the lacrimal sac as a result of an obstruction more distally in the lacrimal drainage apparatus, which may occur as a complication of sinonasal surgery. The purpose of this study was to define the imaging characteristics of a postoperative dacryocystocele occurring after surgery for sinonasal cancer and to review the anatomy of the nasolacrimal drainage apparatus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the clinical records and imaging findings of 8 patients who underwent surgery for sinonasal cancer and were diagnosed with a postoperative dacryocystocele between August 2001 and November 2005. The imaging studies performed at the time of diagnosis of dacryocystocele were CT in 6 patients and MR imaging in 2 patients. RESULTS: On both CT and MR imaging, dacryocystoceles had a characteristic appearance of a fluid collection with thin rim enhancement along the course of the affected nasolacrimal duct, with no adjacent solid components. In none of the patients was the dacryocystocele confused with a recurrent tumor. CONCLUSION: Dacryocystocele after surgery for sinonasal cancer has a characteristic appearance on CT and MR imaging. Familiarity with this complication of sinonasal surgery and its appearance on imaging will enable radiologists to avoid misinterpreting dacryocystocele as a recurrent tumor or another process.
On the Optimum Number of Hops in a Multi-Hop DS-CDMA Virtual Cellular Network using On-Demand Channel Assignment

A multi-hop virtual cellular network (VCN) was proposed for future mobile communication systems. In VCN, there are two methods of channel assignment; the pre-assignment and on-demand channel assignment. In this paper we will give a simple comparison of the two methods and give a reason why we will focus our research on the on-demand channel assignment from now-on. In a multi-hop VCN using on-demand channel assignment, increasing the number of hops leads to a less transmit power of the multi-hop links and hence to a decreased interference to other users, this can decrease the call blocking probability. On the other hand, increasing the number of the call links might increase the blocking probability of this call. In this paper, we give an analysis about this tradeoff and show the impact of the number of hops on the blocking probability of a DS-CDMA multi-hop VCN. Simulation results are presented to show that there is an optimum value of number of hops depending on some network conditions.
Designing courseware on algorithms for active learning with virtual board games

We present a method for designing courseware on algorithms for active learning with virtual board games. Our goal is to build algorithm courseware that integrates explanation with animation and makes the student an active participant. We give hints for structuring the material into sections and mixing presentation with exercises. We present our ideas for a new form of visual interactive exercise and a cardboard game prototype with which we tested our ideas.
Combined effects of soy isoflavones and milk basic protein on bone mineral density in hind-limb unloaded mice

We examined whether the combination of isoflavone and milk basic protein both are reported to be effective for bone metabolism, prevents bone loss induced by skeletal hind-limb unloading in mice. Female ddY strain mice, aged 8 weeks, were divided into six groups (n = 6–8 each): (1) normally housed group, (2) loading group, (3) hind-limb unloading group fed a control diet, (4) hind-limb unloading group fed a 0.2% isoflavone conjugates diet, (5) hind-limb unloading group fed a 1.0% milk basic protein diet, and (6) hind-limb unloading group fed a 0.2% isoflavone conjugates and 1.0% milk basic protein diet. After 3 weeks, femoral bone mineral density was markedly reduced in unloading mice. The combination of isoflavone and milk basic protein showed cooperative effects in preventing bone loss and milk basic protein inhibited the increased expression of osteogenic genes in bone marrow cells in unloading mice. These results suggest that the combination of soy isoflavone and milk basic protein may be useful for bone health in subjects with disabling conditions as well as astronauts.
SPECIFIC CARCINOEMBRYONIC ANTIGENS OF THE HUMAN DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

A wide variety of human adult and fetal tissues were studied by immune-diffusion techniques in agar gel to determine whether they contained the tumor-specific antigen(s) previously found in coionic cancers. In the adult tissues it was demonstrated that identical antigens were present in all tested specimens of malignant tumors of the entodermally derived epithelium of the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas, but were absent from all other tested adult tissues. The common antigenic constituents, therefore, represent system-specific cancer antigens of the human digestive system. System-specific cancer antigens have not previously been demonstrated in humans. Experiments with fetal tissues demonstrated that identical antigens were also present in fetal gut, liver, and pancreas between 2 and 6 months of gestation. These components were named "carcinoembryonic" antigens of the human digestive system. On the basis of the present findings and the recent work regarding control of the expression of genetic potentialities in various types of cells, it was concluded that the carcinoembryonic antigens represent cellular constituents which are repressed during the course of differentiation of the normal digestive system epithelium and reappear in the corresponding malignant cells by a process of derepressive-dedifferentiation.
Familial Mediterranean Fever: Recent Developments in Pathogenesis and New Recommendations for Management

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is the most common monogenic autoinflammatory disease (AID) affecting mainly the ethnic groups originating from Mediterranean basin. The disease is characterized by self-limited inflammatory attacks of fever and polyserositis along with elevated acute phase reactants. FMF is inherited autosomal recessively; however, a significant proportion of heterozygotes also express the phenotype. FMF is caused by mutations in the MEFV gene coding for pyrin, which is a component of inflammasome functioning in inflammatory response and production of interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Recent studies have shown that pyrin recognizes bacterial modifications in Rho GTPases, which results in inflammasome activation and increase in IL-1β. Pyrin does not directly recognize Rho modification but probably affected by Rho effector kinase, which is a downstream event in the actin cytoskeleton pathway. Recently, an international group of experts has published the recommendations for the management of FMF. Colchicine is the mainstay of FMF treatment, and its regular use prevents attacks and controls subclinical inflammation in the majority of patients. Furthermore, it decreases the long-term risk of amyloidosis. However, a minority of FMF patients fail to response or tolerate colchicine treatment. Anti-interleukin-1 drugs could be considered in these patients. One should keep in mind the possibility of non-compliance in colchicine-non-responders. Although FMF is a relatively well-described AID and almost 20 years has passed since the discovery of the MEFV gene, there are still a number of unsolved problems about it such as the exact mechanism of the disease, symptomatic heterozygotes and their treatment, and the optimal management of colchicine resistance.
Aspect polarity recognition of movie and product reviews in Malayalam

This paper proposes an aspect based approach for sentiment analysis in Malayalam movie and product reviews. Sentiment Analysis is a cognitive process in which user's feeling and emotions are extracted. Now a day's people use social networking sites to discuss about movie reviews and product reviews so that internet itself can act as a recommendation system for its users. Thus social media monitoring, and VoC (Voice of the Customer) to track customer reviews, survey responses, competitors etc are becoming important day by day. Web has also become a medium for business analytics and situations in which text needs to be analyzed. Here comes the significance of Sentiment Analysis. Only polarity classification done by normal sentiment analysis task doesn't contribute much to the users. If the system also finds the aspect on which the user is commenting sentiment analysis task become more useful. The significance of aspect based sentiment analysis comes here. This system does sentence level aspect based sentiment analysis in Malayalam with 84.7% accuracy for Malayalam movie and product reviews.
Comparative Advertising and Retailer Participation ∗

Studies find that about 20-30% of all advertising is comparative in nature. Many of the comparisons are on products sold with the help of retailers. For a retailer, a manufacturer’s comparative ad campaign is a double-edged sword: an increase in its sales of the favored manufacturer’s product is often accompanied by a decrease in its sales of the product of comparison. In this paper, we consider when a retailer will gain from, and when it will lose from, a manufacturer’s comparative ad campaign. Since the success of the manufacturer’s campaign will often depend on enlisting the support of its retailers, we also consider a retailer’s participation decision (will the retailer inform consumers of the manufacturer’s campaign at the point-of-sale). We find that (1) a retailer may want to participate in the manufacturer’s campaign even if the campaign makes it worse off, (2) the group of consumers to whom the comparative ads are targeted is crucial in determining whether a retailer gains or loses, (3) the same comparative ad campaign can affect a retailer’s profit and participation decision differently depending on the market share of the manufacturer whose product is favored, and (4) the more positive the comparative ad campaign, the more likely a retailer will benefit from the ad campaign and participate in it.
Comparison of the terrestrial cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya sp. NIES-2104 and the freshwater Leptolyngbya boryana PCC 6306 genomes

The cyanobacterial genus Leptolyngbya is widely distributed throughout terrestrial environments and freshwater. Because environmental factors, such as oxygen level, available water content, and light intensity, vary between soil surface and water bodies, terrestrial Leptolyngbya should have genomic differences with freshwater species to adapt to a land habitat. To study the genomic features of Leptolyngbya species, we determined the complete genome sequence of the terrestrial strain Leptolyngbya sp. NIES-2104 and compared it with that of the near-complete sequence of the freshwater Leptolyngbya boryana PCC 6306. The greatest differences between these two strains were the presence or absence of a nitrogen fixation gene cluster for anaerobic nitrogen fixation and several genes for tetrapyrrole synthesis, which can operate under micro-oxic conditions. These differences might reflect differences in oxygen levels where these strains live. Both strains have the genes for trehalose biosynthesis, but only Leptolyngbya sp. NIES-2104 has genetic capacity to produce a mycosporine-like amino acid, mycosporine-glycine. Mycosporine-glycine has an antioxidant action, which may contribute to adaptation to terrestrial conditions. These features of the genomes yielded additional insights into the classification and physiological characteristics of these strains.
Arbitrarily layered micro-facet surfaces

In this paper we present a method to combine several micro-facet based surface layers into a single unified, expressive BRDF model that is easy to use. The restriction to micro-facet based layers constitutes no loss of generality, since both perfectly specular and perfectly diffuse surfaces can be seen as limit cases of the micro-facet approach. Such multi-layered surfaces can be used to re-create the appearance of a wide range of different materials, and yield good results without having to perform explicit sub-surface scattering computations. This is achieved through suitable approximations and simplifications of the scattering within the simulated layered surface, while still taking absorption and total internal reflection into account. We also discuss the corresponding probability distribution function that is needed for sampling purposes, and investigate how the flexibility of this new approach is best put to use.
POS-tagging of Tunisian Dialect Using Standard Arabic Resources and Tools

Developing natural language processing tools usually requires a large number of resources (lexica, annotated corpora, etc.), which often do not exist for less-resourced languages. One way to overcome the problem of lack of resources is to devote substantial efforts to build new ones from scratch. Another approach is to exploit existing resources of closely related languages. In this paper, we focus on developing a part-of-speech tagger for the Tunisian Arabic dialect (TUN), a low-resource language, by exploiting its close-ness to Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), which has many state-of-the-art resources and tools. Our system achieved an accuracy of 89% (∼20% absolute improvement over an MSA tagger baseline).
Robust Fault Tolerant Control for Networked Control Systems with Uncertain Disturbance

The problem of robust fault-tolerant control for networked control systems (NCSs) is discussed in this paper. The uncertainty of network-induced delays is converted to the uncertainty of the parameter matrix, and in order to eliminate the effect of the asynchronism the states are transformed into the augmented states. Based on Lyapunov stability theory and linear matrix inequality (LMI), the sufficient conditions for closed-loop networked control systems with uncertain disturbance possessing robust integrity against sensor or actuator failures are given by adopting memoryless state feedback control law, and the robust fault-tolerant controller is designed via solving several linear matrix inequalities. Finally, numerical example is given to demonstrate effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed approach.
Towards an Integrated and Adaptive Risk Assessment Tool for Engineered Nanoparticles

An original and innovative approach to assess the risks associated to engineered nanoparticles is presented. The primary observations from the literature review are discussed and point out the interdependency of most risk factors. This sole fact justifies the need for an adequate analytical model to ensure a proper risk management for the development of an adaptive decision-making tool. With this objective, optimization-based modelling tests were first conducted in order to validate the feasibility of the method.
On the numerical accuracy of the boundary element method (EEG application)

The numerical accuracy of the boundary element (BE) method used to solve the volume conduction problem of nested compartments, each having a homogeneous conductivity, is studied. The following techniques for improving this accuracy are discussed: the handling of the auto solid angle element Omega /sup ii/, the overall refinement of the level of discreteness, the use of a locally refined discrete grid, the isolated problem approach, and an adaptive refined computation of the discrete surface integrals involved in the BE method. The effects of these techniques on the numerical accuracy of the computed electrical potentials are illustrated by taking a volume conductor consisting of four concentric spheres representing the head since for this model an analytical (exact) solution is available. The techniques are of importance for numerically computed electroencephalograms (EEGs) since the numerically computed surface EEGs are severely affected by the relatively low conductivity of the compartment representing the skull. <<ETX>>
A novel statistical and linguistic features based technique for keyword extraction

WWW is a decentralized, distributed and heterogeneous information resource. With increased availability of information through WWW, it is very difficult to read all documents to retrieve the desired results; therefore there is a need of summarization methods which can help in providing contents of a given document in a precise manner. Keywords of a document may provide a compact representation of a document's content. As a result various algorithms and systems intended to carry out automatic keywords extraction have been proposed in the recent past. However, the existing solutions require either training models or domain specific information for automatic keyword extraction. To cater to these shortcomings an innovative hybrid approach for automatic keyword extraction using statistical and linguistic features of a document has been proposed. This statistical and linguistic technique based keyword extraction works on an individual document without any prior parameter change and takes full advantage of all the features of the document to extract the keywords. The extracted keywords can than assist in domain specific indexing. The performance of the proposed method as compared to existing Keyword Extraction tools such as Dream web design etc. in terms of Precision and Recall are also presented in this paper.
Sequential Boosting for Learning a Random Forest Classifier

This paper introduces a novel tree induction algorithm called sequential Random Forest (sRF) to improve the detection accuracy of a standard Random Forest classifier. Observations have shown that the overall performance of a forest is strongly influenced by the number of training samples. The main idea is to sequentially adapt the number of training samples per class so that each tree better complements the existing trees in the whole forest. Further, we propose a weighted majority voting with respect to a class and tree specific error rate for decreasing the influence of poorly performing trees. The sRF algorithm shows competing results in comparison to state-of-the-art approaches using two datasets for object recognition, two standard machine learning datasets and three datasets for human action recognition.