Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Experiments on Chinese speech recognition with tonal models and pitch estimation using the Mandarin speecon data

Automatic speech recognition of a tonal and syllabic language such as Chinese Mandarin poses new challenges but also offers new opportunities. We present approaches and experimental results concerning the choice of base units for acoustic modeling, pitch estimation and how to integrate pitch estimates into the modeling framework. The experimental evaluations are carried out both on rather clean headset data and on noisy and reverberant distant talking speech data. Results show that tonal base units offer a word error rate reduction of more than 30% compared to toneless base units. This holds for both phoneme models and initial-ﬁnal models. The integration of pitch as an additional feature stream yields another remarkable improvement of more than 20% over the best tonal baseline system. In a two-stream modeling approach, the pitch stream distributions can be strongly tied such that the overall model size increases only very moderately.
In-situ activation of nano-silica and its foam stabilization mechanism

Abstract The in situ activation of silica nanoparticles (NPs) by adsorption of an anionic surfactant, nonylphenol-substituted decylsulfonate (C10-NPAS), has been studied. The mechanism whereby such NPs stabilize foams has been elucidated. Traditional static foam tests were carried out, focusing on the influence of stirring intensity on the stability characteristics of the foams. A freezing method has been applied for the first time to fix aqueous foams, and an anticipated mechanism has been verified. It was found that higher stirring intensity results in a finer foam and thinner foam lamellae, and the distribution of NPs is inhomogeneous therein. The foam stabilizing effect of NPs is more noticeable for thinner foam films. The anticipated mechanism, whereby partial aggregation of nano-SiO2 is beneficial to foam stability, has been verified by observing SEM images. Due to the strong hydrogen bonds interactions, C10-NPAS has the ability to activate NPs in situ and to stabilize negative charge thereon, making it potentially applicable in oilfields. The obtained results may expedite the development of super-long-term stable foams and potential application of NPs in enhanced oil recovery technology.
STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING OF HISTORICAL STRUCTURES AND NEW TECHNIQUES FOR DATA ANALYSIS

Structural health monitoring of historical structures typically involves collecting continuous vibration data with very low signal-to-noise ratios (SNR). Fourier-based standard spectral analysis techniques are not appropriate to analyze such data, because low SNR can cause large errors in spectral analysis, particularly when they involve spectral ratios. This is particularly true for historical structures, because most historical structures are fairly massif and rigid. In this paper, we demonstrate the types and the magnitudes of errors that the standard spectral analysis can produce, and introduces several new techniques to analyze ambient vibration data. They include leastsquares approximations of Fourier transforms, correlation-based methods, and eigen-based methods. The superiority of the new methods over the spectral analysis methods is demonstrated by using a records from a historical mosque in Istanbul.
Virtual Robot for Interactive Gait Training Improving Regularity and Dynamic Stability of the Stride Patterns

In this paper, we analyzed the gait support procedure of the lower limb's disturbance by our proposed gait support robot "Walk-Mate". "Walk-Mate" is a virtual locomotion robot, which supports the handicapped gait motion by presenting acoustic rhythmic stimuli controlled dynamically by its user's gait motion. We focused on the hemiplegia of lower limb and measured improvement of bilateral asymmetry with Walk-Mate's support. As the results, we found that the improvement procedure is realized by following characteristic two mechanisms; Short-term control with about 10 seconds of timescale for the improvement of the phase characteristics of the footstep rhythm and Long-term control with about a minute of timescale for the improvement of the complexity of gait motion pattern. Therefore the result suggests that Walk-Mate's rhythmic control mechanism is effective to improve the gait disturbance, from the viewpoints of the rhythm and complexity of gait, and that the improvements are realized by a two-level hierarchical control mechanism in interaction with the dynamic environment.
In utero alcohol exposure: functional and structural brain damage.

Pregnant rats were intubated with alcohol throughout gestation. Control animals received vehicle and were pair-fed. At birth, all offspring were surrogate-fostered to nontreated dams. At 11 weeks of age, alcohol-exposed animals did not perform as well in a two-way shock avoidance task. The brains of these animals also exhibited significant deficits in dendritic structure in the area of the hippocampus. These behavioral observations may be a counterpart to the learning deficits associated with fetal alcohol effects, e.g., fetal alcohol syndrome in humans and animals, and the neuroanatomical observations suggest a structural basis for these learning deficits.
The dissimilation of the carbohydrate reserves of a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The utilization of storage carbohydrate by yeast carbon yeast, liberation of ml. of yeast suspension. The initial dry weight of 3 ml. of the brewing yeast suspension was 7-78 mg. and the total carbohydrate content was 17-7 ,moles. The corresponding figures for the respiration-deficient yeast were 6-12 mg. and 15jmoles. Results are expressed in ,umoles. The duration of the experiments was 60 min. for (a) the brewing yeast and 150 min. for (b) the respiration-deficient mutant. The conversion of folic acid into tetrahydrofolic acid by liver enzymes is mediated
Neural Modeling of Multi-Predicate Interactions for Japanese Predicate Argument Structure Analysis

The performance of Japanese predicate argument structure (PAS) analysis has improved in recent years thanks to the joint modeling of interactions between multiple predicates. However, this approach relies heavily on syntactic information predicted by parsers, and suffers from errorpropagation. To remedy this problem, we introduce a model that uses grid-type recurrent neural networks. The proposed model automatically induces features sensitive to multi-predicate interactions from the word sequence information of a sentence. Experiments on the NAIST Text Corpus demonstrate that without syntactic information, our model outperforms previous syntax-dependent models.
Blood pressure variability and kidney disease: another vicious circle?

B lood pressure (BP) is a physiological entity characterized by significant variations over time. The extent of these variations was initially considered to be mostly a nuisance affecting the accuracy of individual’s BP status assessment. However, over the years, BP variability (BPV) has been increasingly acknowledged as a phenomenon with important pathophysiological relevance, reflecting the efficiency of cardiovascular control mechanisms in modulating BP values, including both central neural and humoral ‘rhythms’ (e.g. circadian changes) and the response to environmental perturbations. More recently, based on the consideration that excessive BP oscillations may represent a stressful stimulus for the cardiovascular system, it has also been suggested that an increased BPV might be a risk factor for cardiovascular events, independent of mean BP levels. A large number of studies have indeed supported this possibility [1,2]. Although initially most studies focused on short-term BPV (within 24 h), subsequently the concept of BPV was extended to longer periods of time. Today a considerable amount of evidence is available showing that increased variability of BP values, whether assessed on a beat-by-beat basis, by 24-h monitoring, weekly through repeated home measurements or during and across clinic visits over months or years, independently predicts outcome [2–4]. Nonetheless, the pathophysiological bases underlying increased BPV are far from being adequately understood and the knowledge on BPV predictors is still incomplete [2]. A number of interacting intrinsic and environmental factors may be involved, and to make things more complex, their relative contribution depends on the time frame in which BPV is assessed. As an example, alterations of autonomic neural control of circulation are more likely to be involved in short-term BPV, whereas impact of ambient temperature
Accurate Statistical Description of Random Dopant-Induced Threshold Voltage Variability

We have studied the detailed threshold voltage distribution in a state-of-the-art n-channel MOSFET in the presence of random discrete dopants. A ground-breaking sample of 100 000 transistors with statistically unique random dopant distributions were simulated using the Glasgow 3-D device simulator and advanced grid computing technologies. The results indicate that the threshold voltage distribution deviates substantially from a Gaussian distribution, which may have significant implications for the margins used in circuit design, particularly in SRAM cells.
Postactivation potentiation in endurance-trained male athletes.

PURPOSE The purpose of the study was to determine whether postactivation potentiation (PAP) was enhanced in the trained muscles of male endurance athletes. METHODS Triathletes (TRI), distance runners (RUN), active controls (AC), and sedentary control subjects (SED) (N = 10 per group) performed 10-s maximal isometric contractions (MVC) of the elbow extensor and ankle plantarflexor muscles. Maximal twitch contractions were evoked (percutaneous stimulation) before and during a 5-min period after the MVC. PAP was measured as the percentage change in peak twitch torque post-MVC. RESULTS TRI, who train both upper and lower limb muscles, had enhanced (relative to SED) PAP in both elbow extensor and plantarflexor muscles. In RUN, who train only the lower limbs, enhanced PAP was restricted to the plantarflexors. AC, whose main activity was upper and lower limb weight training, also had enhanced PAP in both muscle groups, although the enhancement in the plantarflexors was not as great as in TRI and RUN. CONCLUSION PAP is enhanced in endurance athletes. Enhanced PAP may counteract fatigue during endurance exercise. The mechanism(s) responsible for the enhanced PAP remain to be determined.
Primary Ovarian Mucinous Carcinoma of Intestinal Type: Significance of Pattern of Invasion and Immunohistochemical Expression Profile in a Series of 31 Cases

Primary ovarian mucinous carcinomas of the intestinal type are uncommon and earlier reports have included cases diagnosed according to older, less stringent, criteria (which would now be considered borderline tumors) and variable numbers of cases of metastatic adenocarcinoma. This study was conducted to identify all cases of primary mucinous carcinoma of the ovary in a population-based registry, diagnosed according to WHO 2003 criteria, and to characterize their histologic features, immunohistochemical expression profile, and outcome. Thirty-one cases of primary ovarian mucinous carcinoma were included in this study. Immunostaining for 33 markers was performed. Mean age of the patients was 55.4±13.5 years. Thirty tumors were stage I or II at presentation. Twenty-six of 31 (83.9%) tumors had expansile stromal invasion, 4 of 31 (12.9%) showed destructive invasion, and 1 of 31 (3.2%) had anaplastic carcinoma in a mural nodule. All cases with destructive invasion showed grade 3 nuclear atypia whereas only 3 of 26 (11.5%) cases with expansile invasion had grade 3 nuclear atypia (P=0.0003). At follow-up, 6 of 26 patients (23.1%) with tumors showing expansile invasion experienced a recurrence, compared with 1 of 4 patients (25%) with destructive invasion and the single patient (100%) with anaplastic carcinoma. There was CK7 positivity in 26 of 31 cases (86.7%), and CK20 and Cdx-2 were each positive in 33.3% of cases. D2-40, calretinin, mesothelin, CA-125, Pax-8, TTF, and WT1 were completely negative in all cases. NHERF1 staining was present in 19 of 26 cases (73%) and its expression was associated with poor prognosis (P=0.05). Our findings support current diagnostic criteria for primary ovarian mucinous carcinoma, that is, the presence of expansile invasion, in the absence of destructive invasion, warrants a diagnosis of carcinoma. A large majority of mucinous carcinomas show only an expansile pattern of invasion and are confined to the pelvis at diagnosis.
Causes of leukocytosis in liver transplant recipients: relevance in clinical practice.

BACKGROUND Leukocytosis without a recognizable etiology often poses a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma in transplant recipients. METHODS Fifty consecutive episodes of leukocytosis in 47 liver transplant recipients were prospectively assessed. RESULTS Leukocytosis was documented in 70% (33/47) of the patients, whereas 30% (14/47) of the patients never developed leukocytosis. Three distinctive etiologies accounted for 82% of the episodes. Thirty-two percent (16/50) of the episodes occurred between 1 and 3 days after transplantation, were unaccompanied by fever, and resolved spontaneously within 2 days. Infections accounted for 28% (14/50) of the episodes of leukocytosis; median time to onset was 25 days after transplantation, and fever occurred in 57%. In 22% (11/50) of the episodes, a characteristic leukocytosis occurred 7-14 days after transplantation (in the absence of documented infections or rejection) that was unaccompanied by fever, and resolved spontaneously without antibiotics; the platelet count of these patients was significantly higher than those of postoperative (P < 0.01) or infectious leukocytosis (P < 0.05). Resolution of pretransplant hypersplenism, with the release of sequestered splenic granulocytes and platelets, was the likely cause. Rejection and corticosteroid boluses accounted for 4% and 8% of the episodes, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Timing of onset and awareness of the patterns of leukocytosis can be valuable in the evaluation of posttransplant leukocytosis. Stable patients with leukocytosis, but without fever or documented infections, in the immediate postoperative period and between 7 and 14 days after transplantation, need not be empirically treated with antibiotics.
The Bobath concept – did globalization reduce it to a Chinese whisper?

SIR—The issues raised in the editorial by Margaret Mayston have been debated in recent years within the European Bobath Tutors’ Association (EBTA). The Bobath concept has kept abreast with fundamental shifts in healthcare, and has moved from a bio-medical model to a biopsycho-social model, albeit with great variation in how it translates in the clinic and management plans. In cited research, mostly from the late 1980s and 1990s, as well as more recent reviews, NeuroDevelopmental Therapy (NDT) is presented as seeking ‘to reduce hyper-reflexia by repositioning the limb on stretch, providing a local pattern-breaking effect mimicking spasticity reduction’ (p. 903). Bertha and Karel Bobath, well ahead of their time, admitted that this was an incorrect assumption 32 years ago. As Dr Mayston states, Bobath/NDT are not treatments but ‘systems of intervention’. In addition, the similarities and differences between NDT and Bobath have not been explored in depth, and cannot be accepted as the same. The following principles currently characterize the Bobath concept/school of thought:
A method for constructing parity-check matrices of non-binary quasi-cyclic LDPC codes

An algorithm for constructing parity-check matrices of non-binary quasi-cyclic low-density parity-check (NB QC-LDPC) codes is proposed. The algorithm finds short cycles in the base matrix and tries to eliminate them by selecting the circulants and the elements of GF(q). Firstly the algorithm tries to eliminate the cycles with the smallest number edges going outside the cycle. The efficiency of the algorithm is demonstrated by means of simulations. In particular, it was shown that NB QC-LDPC codes constructed with use of our algorithm loose less that 0.1 dB in comparison to the best NB LDPC codes.
Exhaled nitric oxide measurements: clinical application and interpretation

The use of exhaled nitric oxide measurements (FEno) in clinical practice is now coming of age. There are a number of theoretical and practical factors which have brought this about. Firstly, FEno is a good surrogate marker for eosinophilic airway inflammation. High FEno levels may be used to distinguish eosinophilic from non-eosinophilic pathologies. This information complements conventional pulmonary function testing in the assessment of patients with non-specific respiratory symptoms. Secondly, eosinophilic airway inflammation is steroid responsive. There are now sufficient data to justify the claim that FEno measurements may be used successfully to identify and monitor steroid response as well as steroid requirements in the diagnosis and management of airways disease. FEno measurements are also helpful in identifying patients who do/do not require ongoing treatment with inhaled steroids. Thirdly, portable nitric oxide analysers are now available, making routine testing a practical possibility. However, a number of issues still need to be resolved, including the diagnostic role of FEno in preschool children and the use of reference values versus individual FEno profiles in managing patients with difficult or severe asthma.
Polycation liposomes as a vector for potential intracellular delivery of microRNA

We previously developed a microRNA (miRNA) delivery system by using dicetyl phosphate‐tetraethylenepentamine‐based polycation liposomes (TEPA‐PCL), applied it to miR‐92a delivery, and demonstrated its gene‐silencing potential and effective anti‐angiogenic effects. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism of intracellular delivery of cholesterol‐grafted miR‐92a (miR‐92a‐C) into cells.
Spike initiation by transmembrane current: a white‐noise analysis.

1. Those features of a transmembrane current correlated with spike initiation were examined in Aplysia neurones using a Gaussian white‐noise stimulus. This stimulus has the advantages that it presents numerous wave forms in random order without prejudgement as to their efficacies, and that it allows straightforward statistical calculations. 2. Stimulation with a repeating segment of Gaussian white‐noise current revealed remarkable invariance in the firing times of the tested neurones and indicated a high degree of reliability of their response. 3. Frequencies (less than 5 Hz) involved in spike triggering propagated faithfully for up to several millimetres, justifying intrasomatic current injection to examine spike initiation at the trigger locus. 4. Examination of current wave forms preceding spikes indicated that a wide variety could be effective. Hence, a statistical analysis was performed, including computation of probability densities, averages, standard deviations and correlation coefficients of pairs of current values. Each statistic was displayed as a function of time before the spike. 5. The average current trajectory preceding a spike was multiphasic and depended on the presence and polarity of a d.c. bias. An early relatively small inward‐ or outward‐going phase was followed by a large outward phase before the spike. The early phase tended to oppose the polarity of the d.c. bias. 6. The late outward phase of the average current trajectory reached a maximum 40‐‐75 msec before triggering the action potential (AP) and returned to near zero values at the moment of triggering. The fact that the current peak occurs in advance of the AP may be partially explained by a phase delay between the transmembrane current and potential. The failure of the average current trajectory to return to control values immediately following the peak argues for a positive role of the declining phase in spike triggering. 7. Probability densities preceding spikes were Gaussian, indicating that the average was also the most probable value. Although the densities were broad, confirming that spikes were preceded by a wide variety of current wave forms, their standard deviations were reduced significantly with respect to controls, suggesting preferred status of the average current trajectory in spike triggering. 8. The matrix of correlation coefficients between current pairs suggested that spikes tended to be preceded by wave forms that in part kept close to the average current trajectory and in part preserved its shape. 9. The average first and second derivatives of spike‐evoking epochs revealed that current slope and acceleration, respectively, were most crucial in the last 200 msec before spike triggering, and that these dynamic stimulus components were more important for a cell maintained under a depolarizing, rather than a hyperpolarizing bias. 10.
[Medicinal plants for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: a review of controlled clinical studies].

OBJECTIVE This work aimed to identify controlled trials, which evaluated effectiveness of herbal medicines in subjects suffering generalized anxiety disorder. METHOD Controlled studies (randomized, comparative with placebo and/or standard drug, double-blind) were sought through electronic and hand-searches. The word strategy used "plant OR phytomed* OR extract OR herbal OR medicinal (OR specific name plants)" e "anxie* OR anxioly* OR tranquil* OR GAD", limited to "human OR clinical trial OR randomized controlled trial OR meta-analysis OR review". The search was restricted to English language. RESULTS Piper methysticum presented an unequivocal anxiolytic effect, but most studies also included patients with other anxiety disorders (e.g. phobias). Isolated studies with Ginkgo biloba, Galphimia glauca, Matricaria recutita, Passiflora incarnata and Valeriana officinalis showed a potential use for anxious diseases. Despite this low number of studies, Ginkgo biloba and Matricaria recutita showed an effect size (Cohen's d=0.47 to 0.87) similar or higher to standard anxiolytics drugs (benzodiazepines, buspirone and antidepressants-0.17 to 0.38). No additional study with other plants was found. CONCLUSION Despite the therapeutic potential of medicinal plants in generalized anxiety disorder, very few controlled trials assessing herbal medicines in generalized anxiety disorder were found. Additionally, these studies present serious flaw design.
A case of probable Amiodarone-induced pancreatitis in the treatment of atrial fibrillation: a literature review and case report

ABSTRACT Amiodarone is an effective medication used in the treatment of several different arrhythmias. Its most well-known adverse effects include pulmonary fibrosis, thyroid dysfunction, and hepatotoxicity. A less common side effect is acute pancreatitis. A 67-year-old male being treated for atrial fibrillation in rapid ventricular response with Amiodarone developed acute epigastric abdominal pain 24 hours after initiation of therapy. He was diagnosed as having acute pancreatitis based on characteristic findings seen on an abdominal CT scan. Commonly encountered etiologies of pancreatitis were ruled out through a combination of the history, laboratory values, and imaging results. Based on the temporal association of the acute presentation and initiation of Amiodarone therapy, in conjunction with a lack of support for any other etiology, the diagnosis of Amiodarone-induced pancreatitis was made. Within 7 days following the cessation of Amiodarone therapy, the patient’s symptoms had completely resolved. Amiodarone-induced pancreatitis is an often overlooked medication association and is one that has been infrequently reported throughout the literature. Given the substantial morbidity and mortality associated with acute pancreatitis, and the ease of treatment (withdrawing Amiodarone), this is a critical side effect that should be recognized in the appropriate clinical setting.