Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Special Sound Detection for emergency phones

Most emergency phones can be activated by a button press. However, to press the button requires the person needing help to touch the phone physically, which causes infeasibilities in practice: 1) it is hard for someone unfamiliar with the environment to locate an emergency phone quickly, and 2) even if the person knows where the phone is, she/he has to run a certain distance to reach it. Therefore, if an emergency phone is equipped with a sensor which can monitor special events such as a scream for help or a gun shooting, its capability of security surveillance will be increased tremendously. In this paper, we present a Special Sound Detection (SSD) algorithm we have successfully built and prototyped. The prototype is robust and yet simple to implement. The accuracy of detecting screams within a distance of 100 feet is 98.6%. For gunshots within 500 meters, the accuracy is 99.1%. The design of the algorithm is highly modular. It can be extended to detect other types of special sounds by adding relevant training samples.
Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) sperm morphometry and function after repeated freezing and thawing

This work examines the effects of subsequent cycles of freezing–thawing on giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) sperm morphometry and function, and assesses whether density‐gradient centrifugation (DGC) can increase the number of freezing–thawing cycles this sperm can withstand. A sperm sample was collected by electroejaculation from a mature giant panda and subjected to five freezing–thawing cycles. Although repeated freezing–thawing negatively affected (P < 0.05) sperm motility and membrane integrity, in both nonselected and DCG‐selected sperm samples, >60% of the sperm cells in both treatments showed acrosome integrity even after the fifth freezing cycle. In fresh semen, the sperm head length was 4.7 μm, the head width 3.6 μm, area 14.3 μm2 and perimeter length 14.1 μm. The present results suggest that giant panda sperm trends to be resistant to repeated freezing–thawing, even without DGC selection.
On Degrees of Freedom of the Cognitive MIMO Two-Interfering Multiple-Access Channels

This paper characterizes the exact spatial Degrees of Freedom (DoF) region of the two-user multiple-input-multiple-output two-interfering multiple-access channels (2-IMACs), which models the uplink transmission in cellular networks, for three scenarios. The first scenario is the 2-IMAC without cognition, for which the achievability is generalized for more than two transmitters in each multiple-access channel. The two-user 2-IMACs' DoF regions are also derived for two different genie-aided cognition scenarios. Here, zero forcing by transmitters and interference alignment are studied in a network with more than two transmitters, whereas previous works dealt with two-transmitter networks. We also perform a comparative analysis on the DoF of the three scenarios.
Creatine supplementation during pulmonary rehabilitation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background: Skeletal muscle wasting and dysfunction are strong independent predictors of mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Creatine nutritional supplementation produces increased muscle mass and exercise performance in health. A controlled study was performed to look for similar effects in 38 patients with COPD. Methods: Thirty eight patients with COPD (mean (SD) forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) 46 (15)% predicted) were randomised to receive placebo (glucose polymer 40.7 g) or creatine (creatine monohydrate 5.7 g, glucose 35 g) supplements in a double blind trial. After 2 weeks loading (one dose three times daily), patients participated in an outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation programme combined with maintenance (once daily) supplementation. Pulmonary function, body composition, and exercise performance (peripheral muscle strength and endurance, shuttle walking, cycle ergometry) took place at baseline (n = 38), post loading (n = 36), and post rehabilitation (n = 25). Results: No difference was found in whole body exercise performance between the groups: for example, incremental shuttle walk distance mean −23.1 m (95% CI −71.7 to 25.5) post loading and −21.5 m (95% CI −90.6 to 47.7) post rehabilitation. Creatine increased fat-free mass by 1.09 kg (95% CI 0.43 to 1.74) post loading and 1.62 kg (95% CI 0.47 to 2.77) post rehabilitation. Peripheral muscle performance improved: knee extensor strength 4.2 N.m (95% CI 1.4 to 7.1) and endurance 411.1 J (95% CI 129.9 to 692.4) post loading, knee extensor strength 7.3 N.m (95% CI 0.69 to 13.92) and endurance 854.3 J (95% CI 131.3 to 1577.4) post rehabilitation. Creatine improved health status between baseline and post rehabilitation (St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire total score −7.7 (95% CI −14.9 to −0.5)). Conclusions: Creatine supplementation led to increases in fat-free mass, peripheral muscle strength and endurance, health status, but not exercise capacity. Creatine may constitute a new ergogenic treatment in COPD.
The Value of the Tax Subsidy on Risky Debt

The effect of corporate taxes on the market value of a levered firm continues to be a central issue in recent contributions in finance theory (e.g., Miller 1977; DeAngelo and Masulis 1980; Kim 1982; Modigliani 1982). In these and other studies (e.g., Krause and Litzenberger 1973; Scott 1976; Brennan and Schwartz 1978; Kim 1978), the relationship between market value and capital structure is established by formulating a tax subsidy function that specifies the partial effect of debt on the expected tax savings at the corporate level under the existing U.S. tax code. A working assumption in most of these studies is that both principal and interest are tax deductible. This assumption is made in the spirit of the original Modigliani and Miller (1963) formulation in which debt is taken to be perpetual and riskless. Indeed, it is well known that the tax shield provided by the deduction of principal in a singleperiod framework has the same value as the tax shield from interest deductions in the case of perpetual and riskless debt. Under this assumption, it is shown that in the absence of non-debtThis paper examines the relationship between leverage and the value of the firm, when non-debt-related tax shields are available and the corporate tax is levied as an income tax. In a previous paper, De Angelo and Masulis argue that, in the presence of nondebt-related tax shields, the relationship between debt and firm value is concave, resulting in an interior optimal capital structure when there is a tax-induced differential in the cost of corporate debt. Their result derives from the fact that they assume the payment of debt principal and non-debt-related depreciation charges are deductible. However, the former deduction is consistent with a wealth tax, while the latter is consistent only with an income tax. We show that if the interest alone is deductible, the debt-firm value function is convex, resulting in corner solutions to the capital structure problem. * The authors wish to thank Richard Castanias, Richard Green, Lemma Senbet, and especially an anonymous referee for helpful comments, and Richard Green and Robert Dammon for computational assistance.
Focal tracer uptake: a potential artifact in contrast-enhanced dual-modality PET/CT scans.

UNLABELLED This study was performed to evaluate a possible artifact related to the administration of intravascular contrast agent in dual-modality PET/CT imaging. METHODS Thirty oncology patients underwent whole-body PET/CT. CT images, which were collected in the presence of intravenous and oral iodinated contrast agent, were used for PET attenuation correction. PET images were assessed for the artifact, defined as a region of high count rate on attenuation-corrected images in accurate coregistration with a contrast-enhanced blood vessel. Intravascular enhancement of thoracic veins was quantified by application of regions of interest, and quantities in patients with the artifact (group 1) and without the artifact (group 2) were correlated. Body surface area was calculated for all patients. RESULTS The contrast-induced PET artifact was present in 4 (13%) of 30 patients. Mean density differences in intravascular enhancement were highly significant (P < 0.001) in a comparison of group 1 (2,262 +/- 304 Hounsfield units [HU]) and group 2 (1,058 +/- 209 HU). Body surface area was significantly lower (P = 0.035) in the patients of group 1 (1.67 +/- 0.11 m(2)) than in the patients of group 2 (2.01 +/- 0.18 m(2)). CONCLUSION Contrast-enhanced dual-modality PET/CT examinations may result in a PET artifact that is due to the transient bolus passage of undiluted intravenous contrast agent.
Transmembrane Voltage Changes Produced by Real and Virtual Electrodes During Monophasic Defibrillation Shock Delivered by an Implantable Electrode

Defibrillation Shock‐Induced Virtual Electrodes. Introduction: Epicardial point stimulation produces nonuniform changes in the trans membrane voltage of surrounding cells with simultaneous occurrence of areas of transient positive and negative polarization. This is the phenomenon of virtual electrode. We sought to characterize the responses of epicardial ventricular tissue to the application of monophasic electric shocks from an internal transvenous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) lead.
Energy storage for frequency regulation on the electric grid

ANCILLARY services such as frequency regulation are required for reliable operation of the electric grid. Currently, the same traditional thermal generators that supply bulk power also perform nearly all frequency regulation. Instead, using high power energy storage resources to provide frequency regulation can allow traditional thermal generators to operate more smoothly. However, using energy storage alone for frequency regulation would require an unreasonably large energy storage capacity. Duration curves for energy capacity and instantaneous ramp rate are used to evaluate the requirements and benefits of using energy storage for a component of frequency regulation. Filtering is used to separate the portion of a frequency regulation control signal suitable for provision by an energy storage unit from the portion suitable for provision by traditional thermal generating resources. Not all frequency regulation signals are equally amenable to the filtering approach used here. Data from two U.S. control areas are used to demonstrate the techniques and the results are compared. Thesis Supervisor: James L. Kirtley, Jr. Title: Professor
Nitrate sensing and uptake in Arabidopsis are enhanced by ABI2, a phosphatase inactivated by the stress hormone abscisic acid

The phosphatase ABI2 enables plants to efficiently uptake and respond to changes in nitrogen availability. Phosphatase promotes nitrate uptake Plants require nitrogen, either from the soil mostly in the form of nitrate (NO3−) or from a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria or fungi. Léran et al. identified ABI2, a phosphatase that is inhibited by the stress hormone abscisic acid (ABA), as a key positive regulator of the nitrate transporter NPF6.3. ABI2 dephosphorylated components of a calcium-sensing and kinase complex that phosphorylated and inhibited NPF6.3-dependent NO3− uptake, sensing, and signaling in roots. Because when dephosphorylated by ABI2 a related calcium-sensing kinase complex also stimulates K+ influx, the identification of this ABA-regulated phosphatase suggests a mechanism for integrating regulation of ionic balance and energy-consuming nitrate reduction during periods of plant stress. Living organisms sense and respond to changes in nutrient availability to cope with diverse environmental conditions. Nitrate (NO3−) is the main source of nitrogen for plants and is a major component in fertilizer. Unraveling the molecular basis of nitrate sensing and regulation of nitrate uptake should enable the development of strategies to increase the efficiency of nitrogen use and maximize nitrate uptake by plants, which would aid in reducing nitrate pollution. NPF6.3 (also known as NRT1.1), which functions as a nitrate sensor and transporter; the kinase CIPK23; and the calcium sensor CBL9 form a complex that is crucial for nitrate sensing in Arabidopsis thaliana. We identified two additional components that regulate nitrate transport, sensing, and signaling: the calcium sensor CBL1 and protein phosphatase 2C family member ABI2, which is inhibited by the stress-response hormone abscisic acid. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays and in vitro kinase assays revealed that ABI2 interacted with and dephosphorylated CIPK23 and CBL1. Coexpression studies in Xenopus oocytes and analysis of plants deficient in ABI2 indicated that ABI2 enhanced NPF6.3-dependent nitrate transport, nitrate sensing, and nitrate signaling. These findings suggest that ABI2 may functionally link stress-regulated control of growth and nitrate uptake and utilization, which are energy-expensive processes.
Market Manipulation: A Survey

Despite the significant attention that market manipulation has received in recent years many aspects of it are poorly understood. This article identifies from the theoretical and empirical literature what we do and do not know about market manipulation, and suggests directions for future research. We know that manipulation is possible and that it occurs in a wide variety of markets and circumstances. In contrast, we know little about how often manipulation occurs, its effects and how it responds to regulation. Suggested approaches for future research on these issues include: (i) collecting more comprehensive datasets of manipulation cases; (ii) using detection controlled estimation methods to overcome sample selection and partial observability problems; and (iii) conducting controlled experiments. This article also constructs a novel and broad taxonomy of the different types of market manipulation and discusses approaches to defining manipulation.
A New Approach for Assessing Dealership Performance: An Application for the Automotive Industry

The competitive nature of the contemporary business scenario requires productivity-driven organizations to be aware of the efficiency level of their dealers. The recent economic and financial crisis has highlighted the need for effective evaluation methods going beyond the limits of traditional performance assessment methodologies in the retail industry. The automotive industry is no exception to this logic. In this sector, traditional methods are often based only on market share performances, ignoring the key role of input-output ratios on the overall productivity of the parent company. Following this lead, in this paper we propose a method to evaluate the performance of dealerships taking into account both their market share performances and their efficiency. In order to assess dealership efficiency we use the DEA technique, and apply the proposed methodology to a multinational automotive company considering its Italian dealer network.
Dynamics of innovation in a regional system. The flow of industrial knowledge through analysis of the industrial property

The information contained in patent databases can be used to perceive the innovation strategy of a region. This paper proposed measures on patent analysis as method of measuring the flow of industrial knowledge in a region. The use of Tech- mining applied to the patent and the utility models databases which content the innovation requested by the companies in the area, permits visualized the flow of industrial knowledge along the years. It is possible to detect of knowledge transfers from traditional emergent sectors to emergent business. Although the results of one specific region case may be not be generally applicable due to the size of the region, this paper proposed a useful tool for visualizing the industrial innovation knowledge using Patents as indicator and tech-mining as analyzed tool. The knowledge of the industrial innovation flows, enables the establishing of vital conclusions as regards the finding of a definition for the innovation strategy of a region.
Completing the Audit Cycle: The Impact of an Electronic Reporting System on the Feedback Loop in Surgical Specialties

Introduction: The feedback loop of incident reporting is essential in improving patient care. Few studies have followed the loop around its cycle and little data are available concerning the impact of interventions. We investigated the feedback loop before and after the implementation of an electronic reporting system. Method: Data were collected before and after our intervention. Data were analyzed in terms of the percentage of incidents evaluated, the percentage of incidents resulting in action, whether correlations demonstrated an increased rate of action taken as incident risk score increased. Results: Prior to our intervention, 43% and 40% of incidents reported were evaluated and acted upon, respectively. Postintervention, the number of incidents reported increased by 198%. All incidents were evaluated and 66% were acted upon. Both pre‐ and postintervention, no correlations demonstrated an increase in action taken as incident severity increased. Conclusion: Our intervention resulted in a considerable increase in the number of incidents reported, evaluated, and acted upon. Such an effect would be expected to improve patient safety, although further studies are needed to definitively confirm this. We therefore recommend the use of electronic systems and further studies to evaluate their impact on patient safety.
A starting point for addressing product innovativeness in the Fuzzy Front–End

Product innovativeness is a primary contingent factor to be addressed for the development of flexible management for the front–end. However, due to complexity of this early phase of the innovation process, the definition of which attributes to customise is critical to support a contingent approach. Therefore, this study investigates front–end attributes that need to be customised to permit effective management for different degrees of innovation. To accomplish this aim, a literature review and five case studies were performed. The findings highlighted the front–end strategic and operational levels as factors influencing the front–end attributes related to product innovativeness. In conclusion, this study suggests that two front–end attributes should be customised: development activities and decision–making approach.
Immunization to prevent congenital cytomegalovirus infection.

INTRODUCTION A primary maternal cytomegalovirus (CMV) during pregnancy causes newborn disease that includes hearing deficit and/or mental retardation. SOURCES OF DATA Relevant published literature. AREAS OF AGREEMENT There are no biologic obstacles to immunization against fetal/placental infection with CMV. AREAS OF UNCERTAINTY CMV vaccine trials may be difficult due to a lack of public awareness of CMV. Vaccine trials that use fetal infection as an endpoint will be prolonged, since vaccination will need to occur preconception. AREAS TIMELY FOR DEVELOPING RESEARCH Vaccines in preclinical development include antigens of the CMV gB glycoprotein and the gH/gL UL128, 130 and 131 pentameric complex. These antigens induce antibodies that block viral entry into fibroblasts and endothelial/epithelial cells. Vaccines immunogenic in animals include an inactivated virus with a wild-type UL131 gene, a DNA vaccine using a wild-type UL130 gene and peptide vaccines using peptides from UL130 and 131. CONCLUSIONS In spite of these potential obstacles, successful evaluation of CMV vaccines is possible.
Bank Capital Regulation in Contemporary Banking Theory: A Review of the Literature

This paper reviews the theoretical literature on bank capital regulation and analyses some of the approaches to redesigning the 1988 Basle Accord on capital standards. The paper starts with a review of the literature on the design of the financial system and the existence of banks. It proceeds with a presentation of the market failures that justify banking regulation and an analysis of the mechanisms that have been suggested to deal with these failures. The paper then reviews the theoretical literature on bank capital regulation. This is followed by a brief history of capital regulation since the 1988 Basle Capital Accord and a presentation of both the alternative approaches that have been put forward on setting capital standards and the Basel Committee's proposal for a new capital adequacy framework.
Emotion and Concentration Integrated System: Applied to the Detection and Analysis of Consumer Preference

With the expansion of consumer market, the appearance becomes an important issue when consumers make decisions under the situation of similar qualities and contents. Accordingly, to attract consumers, companies cost and take much attention on product appearance. Compared to using questionnaires individually, obtaining humans’ thoughts directly from their brains can accurately grasp the actual preference of consumers, which can provide effective and precious decisions for companies. In this study, consumers’ brainwaves which are related to concentration and emotion are extracted by wearing a portable and wireless Electroencephalography (EEG) device. The extracted EEG data are then trained by using perceptron learning algorithm (PLA) to make the judgments of concentration and emotion work well with each subject. They are then applied to the detection and analysis of consumer preference. Finally, the questionnaires are also performed and used as the reference on training process. They are integrated with brainwaves data to create one prediction model which can improve the accuracy significantly. The Partial Least Squares is used to compare the correlation between different factors in the model, to ensure the test can accurately meet consumers’ thoughts.
Uptake of Glutamate and Cystine in C‐6 Glioma Cells and in Cultured Astrocytes

Abstract: The uptake of glutamate in rat glioma C‐6 cells and cultured astrocytes derived from rat cerebral hemispheres was found to be mediated by a Na+‐dependent and a Na+‐independent system. The Na+‐dependent system was inhibited by aspartate and was consistent with the commonly occurring system designated system X−ag. The Na+‐independent system was inhibited by cystine and was consistent with system x−c described in various types of cells in the periphery. It was also found that quisqualate selectively and competitively interfered with the Na+‐independent glutamate uptake. In C‐6 cells, the glutamate uptake via systems X−ag and x−c accounted for approximately 35% and 55% of the total uptake, respectively, at 0.05 mM glutamate. In cultured astrocytes, the glutamate uptake via system X−ag was very potent, whereas the uptake via system x−c was relatively weak and its contribution to the total uptake of glutamate seemed almost negligible. However, in both C‐6 cells and astrocytes, system x−c was necessary for the uptake of cystine, another substrate of system x−c. Cystine in the culture medium was an essential precursor of glutathione, and the inhibition of the cystine uptake by excess glutamate as a competitor led to a severe deficiency in glutathione, followed by cell degeneration.