Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phonology Modelling for Expressive Speech Synthesis: a Review

Expressive speech processing is an important scientific problem as expressivity introduces a lot of variability into speech. This variability leads to a degradation of speech application performances. Variations are reflected in the linguistic, phonological and acoustic sides of speech. However our main interest is on phonology, more precisely the study of pronunciation and of disfluencies. Both of these fields have huge impacts on speech. This report is a bibliographical review of the state of the art in expressivity and phonology modelling. Although the main focus will be on speech synthesis, we will discuss works about automatic speech recognition as well because expressivity modelling in phonology is a cross-domain problem.
IMGVM: An Image Oriented Virtual Machine forc Real-Time Computer Vision

In this paper a simple architecture for an image oriented virtual machine targeted to computer vision applications is introduced. This virtual machine provides a low level approach to image processing working on very high level data structures which allows developers to setup the sequence of processing actions in an easy way. Additionally, this architecture provides a common environment for prototyping and production systems simplifying the deployment process of the final application.
Meteorological conditions influence short‐term survival and dispersal in a reinforced bird population

A high immediate mortality rate of released animals is an important cause of translocation failure (‘release cost’). Post-release dispersal (i.e. the movements from the release site to the first breeding site) has recently been identified as another source of local translocation failure. In spite of their potential effects on conservation program outcomes, little is known about the quantitative effects of these two sources of translocation failure and their interactions with environmental factors and management designs. [br/] Based on long-term monitoring data of captive-bred North African houbara bustards Chlamydotis undulata undulata (hereafter, houbara) over large spatial scales, we investigated the relative effects of release (e.g. release group size, period of release), individual (e.g. sex and body condition) and meteorological (e.g. temperature and rainfall) conditions on post-release survival (n = 957 individuals) and dispersal (n = 436 individuals). [br/] We found that (i) rainfall and ambient air temperature had, respectively, a negative and a positive effect on houbara post-release dispersal distance; (ii) in interaction with the release period, harsh meteorological conditions had negative impact on the survival of houbara; (iii) density-dependent processes influenced the pattern of departure from the release site; and (iv) post-release dispersal distance was male-biased, as natal dispersal of wild birds (although the dispersal patterns and movements may be influenced by different processes in captive-bred and in wild birds). [br/] Synthesis and applications. Our results demonstrate that post-release dispersal and mortality costs in translocated species may be mediated by meteorological factors, which in turn can be buffered by the release method. As the consequences of translocation programs on population dynamics depend primarily upon release costs and colonization process, we suggest that their potential interactions with meteorological conditions must be carefully addressed in future programs (i) through monitoring of short-term post-release mortality to understand its link with environmental conditions, (ii) by carefully choosing the season of release to minimize exposition of inexperienced individuals to harsh conditions and (iii) by generalizing the use of long-term weather forecast to adapt release effort and staggering releases over several years to buffer meteorological effects.
Métodos de diagnóstico em modelos logísticos trinomiais

The trinomial logistic models can be interpreted as a natural extension of the traditional binomial logistic model to situations in which the response allows only three possible results. We first introduce the trinomial logistic models and then some inferential aspects, such as estimation and hypothesis testing are discussed. Goodness-of-fit measures are also given. However, the aim of this work is the presentation of some diagnostic procedures for trinomial logistic models. We show that methods developed for binomial logistic models can adapted straightforward for trinomial models. The development of direct methods, even though possible, in general requires more complex calculation. Some of these direct methods, such as evaluation of residuals, measures of high leverage points, deletion methods and local influence are presented. Comparisons between adapted and direct methods are made via examples with real data.
A micro-power precision switched-capacitor charge meter system for implantable medical devices

Estimating the remaining capacity of the battery for implantable medical devices such as pacemakers, defibrillators, and neuro-stimulators is critical information. This paper presents a precision system, which can be a part of an integrated circuit of an implantable medical device, to monitor the charge depletion. The system consists of a sensing resistor, a precision voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), and an accumulating counter. A jitter-free micro-power precision voltage controlled oscillator is designed for this particular system. The oscillator consists of a fully differential, double-sampling bilinear switched-capacitor integrator with a fully differential compactor/latch. When operating with a 256 Hz sampling frequency, the VCO consumes less than 100 nA. The circuit can operate with a single 1.8 V power supply. This micro-power operation makes the circuit ideal for implantable medical devices at the end of the life of their batteries. The VCO was fabricated in the MOSIS 2-/spl mu/m, double-polysilicon, double-metal P-well CMOS process. Finally, the experimental data of the implemented circuit is reported. The linearity of the VCO is examined, and it is shown the oscillator is capable of sensing input voltages as small as 50 /spl mu/Vs. The dynamic range of the VCO is 60 dB.
The Architectural Information Map: Semantic modeling in conceptual architectural design

This research focuses on the acquisition, representation, sharing and reuse of design information and knowledge in the conceptual phase of architectural design, and targets the creation of situated digital environments where communities of architectural practice communicate and collaborate using this information and knowledge. The utilizable outputs of the research are the ArcIMap method and model, and the four prototype applications embedded in education and practice.
Morphology and molecular phylogeny of Coolia tropicalis, Coolia malayensis and a new lineage of the Coolia canariensis species complex (Dinophyceae) isolated from Brazil

ABSTRACT The morphology and molecular phylogenetic relationships of Coolia species isolated from Brazil, including C. malayensis, C. tropicalis and a new lineage of the Coolia canariensis complex, are presented. Morphology was investigated by light and scanning electron microscopy. No significant morphological differences between the Brazilian strains and other geographically distant strains of C. malayensis and C. tropicalis were observed. In LSU and ITS rDNA phylogenies C. malayensis and C. tropicalis sequences from Brazil branched within the clade of these species with strains isolated from elsewhere. Phylogenetic relationships (LSU rDNA) within the C. canariensis species complex support the existence of three cryptic species. No morphological difference was discernible among species in this complex. Additional molecular, morphological and toxin data from globally distributed isolates should be acquired to strengthen our knowledge of the C. canariensis species complex.
A Fast Search Method of Nearest Target Object in Road Networks

This paper proposes a fast method, called cyclic optimal multi-step method, for searching nearest target object in the road network under the spatial database, in which both target objects and road network are indexed by R-trees. This method consists of filtering and refinement steps, which run cyclically. By using this method, the nearest search begins from selecting a target with the shortest straight-line, measured from a source, as the candidate for path search and then determines a search region which contains the selected candidate target and road-based path. To implement this method, a priority queue is introduced to record nodes of R-tree and candidate objects, and also a variable which indicates the radius of search region is done to record the mediate results in searching the minimum path. In this case, the key by which the elements on the queue are to be ordered is the distance from the source object. Since in our method the path search process is limited only inside the search region and moreover only the object located at the head of the queue is considered, the search process is greatly accelerated.
QoS management for an enhanced VoIP platform using R-factor and network load estimation functionality

This paper presents the QoS management for an enhanced VoIP platform based on H.323/MGCP interworking. This enhanced VoIP platform bears a call agent/gatekeeper that centrally controls one or more media gateways. The QoS management is based on a software module that resides on the call agent, terminates and processes the RTCP stream of each connection and extracts the appropriate results. These results trigger the QoS management software module to instruct the call agent to take the appropriate actions in order to retain or to improve a certain voice quality for the connections. This is achieved by using the MGCP commands of the call agent and by changing the voice codec used on the connection so that the compression used for the voice packets is bigger and the bandwidth consumption is lower. The algorithm proposed for the QoS management is based on the E-model and the R-factor recommended by the ITU-T. This paper presents the structure of the QoS management module, the algorithm itself and outlines the architecture of the enhanced VoIP platform that uses this QoS module.
SHMEM+ and SCF: System-level programming models for scalable reconfigurable computing

of Dissertation Presented to the Graduate School of the University of Florida in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy SHMEM+ AND SCF: SYSTEM-LEVEL PROGRAMMING MODELS FOR SCALABLE RECONFIGURABLE COMPUTING By Vikas Aggarwal May 2011 Chair: Alan D. George Cochair: Greg Stitt Major: Electrical and Computer Engineering Heterogeneous computing systems comprised of FPGAs coupled with standard microprocessors are becoming an increasingly popular solution for building future high-performance computing (HPC) and high-performance embedded computing (HPEC) systems due to their higher performance and energy efficiency versus their CPU-only counterparts. Unfortunately, the time and difficulty associated with developing scalable, parallel applications for reconfigurable computing (RC) platforms is often prohibitive, making it difficult to exploit the potential gains in performance and energy savings. Design and implementation of applications for these systems involve many system-wide considerations such as algorithm decomposition and architecture mappings to exploit multiple levels of parallelism, inter-device communication and control, and system-level debug and verification. Thus, system-level languages with constructs for expressing multiple levels and forms of parallelism are vital for productive implementation of designs. In order to improve a developer’s productivity as well as the portability of scalable RC applications, we propose and analyze two different approaches for establishing communication in parallel RC applications. The first approach extends the traditional partitioned, global-address-space (PGAS) model to a multilevel abstraction by integrating a hierarchy of multiple memory components present in reconfigurable HPC
Two Similarity Metrics for Medical Subject Headings (MeSH):

In the present paper, we have created and characterized several similarity metrics for relating any two Medical Subject Headings (MeSH terms) to each other. The article-based metric measures the tendency of two MeSH terms to appear in the MEDLINE record of the same article. The author-based metric measures the tendency of two MeSH terms to appear in the body of articles written by the same individual (using the 2009 Author-ity author name disambiguation dataset as a gold standard). The two metrics are only modestly correlated with each other (r = 0.50), indicating that they capture different aspects of term usage. The article-based metric provides a measure of semantic relatedness, and MeSH term pairs that co-occur more often than expected by chance may reflect relations between the two terms. In contrast, the author metric is indicative of how individuals practice science, and may have value for author name disambiguation and studies of scientific discovery. We have calculated article metrics for all MeSH terms appearing in at least 25 articles in MEDLINE (as of 2014) and author metrics for MeSH terms published as of 2009. The dataset is freely available for download and can be queried at http://arrowsmith.psych.uic.edu/arrowsmith_uic/mesh_pair_metrics. html.
The C.elegans AWA Olfactory Neuron Fires Calcium-Mediated All-or-None Action Potentials

We find, unexpectedly, that C. elegans neurons can encode information through regenerative all-or-none action potentials. In a survey of current-voltage relationships in C. elegans neurons, we discovered that AWA olfactory neurons generate membrane potential spikes with defining characteristics of action potentials. Ion substitution experiments, pharmacology, and mutant analysis identified a voltage-gated CaV1 calcium channel and a Shaker-type potassium channel that underlie action potential dynamics in AWA. Simultaneous patch-clamp recording and calcium imaging in AWA revealed spike-associated calcium signals that were also observed after odor stimulation of intact animals, suggesting that natural odor stimuli induce AWA action potentials. The stimulus regimes that elicited action potentials match AWA’s proposed specialized function in climbing odor gradients. Our results provide evidence that C. elegans can use digital as well as analog coding schemes, expand the computational repertoire of its nervous system, and inform future modeling of its neural coding and network dynamics.
Implementing a Behaviour Tree Analysis Tool Using Eclipse Development Frameworks

Over the last 7 years a team at the Griffin University, Software Quality Institute, lead by Professor Geoff Dromey, has developed the Behaviour Tree Analysis technique, which provides a method of analysing and documenting requirements and behaviour of large and complex systems. For complex systems these trees become very large and are difficult to use, expand, review and master. This leads to serious problems with respect to the usability of this technique. Eclipse is an open source community, whose projects are focused on building an open development platform comprised of extensible frameworks, tools and runtimes for building, deploying and managing software across the development lifecycle. The availability of a robust integrated stack of open source components accessible from within the Eclipse Rich Client Platform (RCP) acts as a powerful enabler for modern software development. This presentation will provide an overview of the Behaviour Tree Analysis technique and the advantages it provides to the specification of large systems. The presentation will also describe the results of using the Eclipse RCP and a number of the Application Development Frameworks to develop a feature rich graphical environment capable of supporting industry scale analysis and training, useable by Griffith University consultants and Raytheon Australia engineers. The presentation will summarise the significant benefits experienced during the development of the analysis tool and a discussion of the problems that required resolution during the project.
Antibiotics and food in the American press

The emergence of antimicrobial resistant infections from food is well documented in the scientific literature but, in this kind of matter, the public opinion is an important policy driver and is vastly forged by traditional media. Here, we propose a text mining study through about 500 articles from two reference daily U.S. newspapers to assess the media coverage of this issue. Our results indicate that, since the middle of the 80s, the two journals considered here adopted a very different narrative around the issue, echoing civil society concerns in one case and the official discourse in the other.
Calcium imaging reveals coordinated simple spike pauses in populations of Cerebellar Purkinje cells

The brain’s control of movement is thought to involve coordinated activity between cerebellar Purkinje cells. The results reported here demonstrate that somatic Ca2+ imaging is a faithful reporter of Na+-dependent “simple spike” pauses and enables us to optically record changes in firing rates in populations of Purkinje cells. This simultaneous calcium imaging of populations of Purkinje cells reveals a striking spatial organization of pauses in Purkinje cell activity between neighboring cells. The source of this organization is shown to be the presynaptic GABAergic network and blocking GABAARs abolishes the synchrony. These data suggest that presynaptic interneurons synchronize (in)activity between neighboring Purkinje cells and thereby maximize their effect on downstream targets in the deep cerebellar nuclei.
A general model of temporary aquatic habitat use: Water phenology as a life history filter

Ghoti aims to serve as a forum for stimulating and pertinent ideas. Ghoti publishes succinct commentary and opinion that addresses important areas in fish and fisheries science. Ghoti contributions will be innovative and have a perspective that may lead to fresh and productive insight of concepts, issues and research agendas. All Ghoti contributions will be selected by the editors and peer reviewed.
Teletraffic engineering in a broad-band era

This paper gives an overview of the methods and models used for the performance evaluation of asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)-based broad-band integrated services digital networks (B-ISDN's). Because these methods rely heavily upon stochastic processes theory, the relevant concepts from this field are succinctly recalled. The first main topic is traffic modeling. Because of the large impact upon the performance of B-ISDN systems, the concept of traffic burstiness is discussed, and various definitions are given and compared. The most common stochastic traffic models are then discussed: ON-OFF, Markov modulated sources, and Markovian arrival process. The recent field of set-similar traffic is also reviewed. Another approach to source characterization is reviewed as well: bounded traffic models, which instead of a precise statistical description give a set of bounds on the cell generation process. The second main topic is the use of advanced queueing models for the performance evaluation of the ATM statistical multiplexer, the basic B-ISDN modeling concept underlying the design of switching elements, output buffers, rate adapters, etc. The three main solution methods for the statistical multiplexer are reviewed: matrix methods, generating function approach, and fluid flow approximation. This paper concludes with an overview of current topics in B-ISDN teletraffic research: connection admission control, buffer dimensioning, multiquality of service, cell discard schemes, rate-based flow control, per-virtual-connection queueing, and weighted fair queueing. The conciseness of this discussion is partially set off by references to recent review papers.
A mesoderm-independent role for Nodal signaling in convergence & extension gastrulation movements

During embryogenesis, the distinct morphogenetic cell behavior programs that shape tissues are influenced both by the fate of cells and their position with respect to the embryonic axes, making embryonic patterning a prerequisite for morphogenesis. These two essential processes must therefore be coordinated in space and time to ensure proper development, but mechanisms by which patterning information is translated to the cellular machinery that drives morphogenesis remain poorly understood. Here, we address the role of Nodal morphogen signaling at the intersection of cell fate specification, patterning, and anteroposterior (AP) axis extension in zebrafish gastrulae and embryonic explants. AP axis extension is impaired in Nodal-deficient embryos, but it is unclear whether this defect is strictly secondary to their severe mesendoderm deficiencies or also results from loss of Nodal signaling per se. We find that convergence & extension (C&E) gastrulation movements and underlying mediolateral (ML) cell polarization are reduced in the neuroectoderm of Nodal-deficient mutants and exacerbated by simultaneous disruption of Planar Cell Polarity (PCP) signaling, demonstrating at least partially parallel functions of Nodal and PCP. ML polarity of mutant neuroectoderm cells is not fully restored upon transplantation into wild-type gastrulae, demonstrating a cell autonomous, mesoderm-independent role for Nodal in neural cell polarization. This is further demonstrated by the ability of Nodal ligands to promote neuroectoderm-driven C&E of naïve blastoderm explants in a tissue-autonomous fashion. Finally, temporal manipulation of signaling reveals that Nodal contributes to neural C&E in explants after mesoderm is specified and promotes C&E even in the absence of mesoderm. Together these results reveal a mesoderm-independent, cell-autonomous role for Nodal signaling in neural C&E that may cooperate with previously-described mesoderm-dependent mechanisms to drive AP embryonic axis extension.