Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The a priori SDR Estimation Techniques with Reduced Speech Distortion for Acoustic Echo and Noise Suppression

This paper proposes an enhanced method for estimating the a priori Signal-to-Disturbance Ratio (SDR) to be employed in the Acoustic Echo and Noise Suppression (AENS) system for full-duplex hands-free communications. The proposed a priori SDR estimation technique is modified based upon the Two-Step Noise Reduction (TSNR) algorithm to suppress the background noise while preserving speech spectral components. In addition, a practical approach to determine accurately the Echo Spectrum Variance (ESV) is presented based upon the linear relationship assumption between the power spectrum of far-end speech and acoustic echo signals. The ESV estimation technique is then employed to alleviate the acoustic echo problem. The performance of the AENS system that employs these two proposed estimation techniques is evaluated through the Echo Attenuation (EA), Noise Attenuation (NA), and two speech distortion measures. Simulation results based upon real speech signals guarantee that our improved AENS system is able to mitigate efficiently the problem of acoustic echo and background noise, while preserving the speech quality and speech intelligibility.
Organizational climate research: a proposed approach focused on banking institutions

Purpose – The use of the general satisfaction index (GSI) concept is a great way to measure the organizational climate. However, the traditional concept has an inaccurate calculation approach. In order to review this concept, the purpose of this paper is to propose a methodology to obtain this index through a more appropriate mathematical approach, supported by some linear algebra concepts. For this purpose, an organizational climate survey was carried out in a bank agency to exemplify application of this method. Each step of the application was detailed, as well as the intermediate results achieved. Among its principal benefits are: improved accuracy to obtain the GSI; the possibility of a comparison with a minimum required rate for the decision-making process; and the possibility of identifying the order of priority of the organizational climate dimensions that mostly need improvements. Design/methodology/approach – The working method was divided into three parts. The first part consists of the collecti.
The growth hormone receptor gene‐disrupted mouse fails to respond to an intermittent fasting diet

The interaction of longevity‐conferring genes with longevity‐conferring diets is poorly understood. The growth hormone receptor gene‐disrupted (GHR‐KO) mouse is long lived; and this longevity is not responsive to 30% caloric restriction, in contrast to wild‐type animals from the same strain. To determine whether this may have been limited to a particular level of dietary restriction, we subjected GHR‐KO mice to a different dietary restriction regimen, an intermittent fasting diet. The intermittent fasting diet increased the survivorship and improved insulin sensitivity of normal males, but failed to affect either parameter in GHR‐KO mice. From the results of two paradigms of dietary restriction, we postulate that GHR‐KO mice would be resistant to any manner of dietary restriction; potentially due to their inability to further enhance insulin sensitivity. Insulin sensitivity may be a mechanism and/or a marker of the lifespan extending potential of an intervention.
Usability Evaluation of Human–Biometric–Sensor Interaction using Fuzzy Model

— Usability measure user preferences and performance of interaction with a system. Criteria for usability evaluation vary system to system depending upon the selection among wide variety of usability parameters. To enhance the acceptability of biometric based identification among large population usability evaluation of Human-Biometrics Sensor Interaction (HBSI) is highly important. This paper proposed a fuzzy based usability evaluation method for HBSI. Effectiveness, Efficiency and user satisfaction are considered the most accurate one for taking quick decision of usability analysis of HBSI. Each of the attribute is better judged by linguistic values as compared to numerical values. Therefore, these attributes are best describes by fuzzy aspects. This paper develops a fuzzy model for usability evaluation of application software using these attributes.
Le troisième sexe

"L'existence d'un troisieme sexe, c'est la these defendue par Bernard Saladin d'Anglure a partir de ses travaux inities chez les Inuit dans les annees 60. Chez ces derniers, certains enfants recevant le nom d'ancetres du sexe oppose sont "travestis" jusqu'a leur puberte. D'autres, selon les accoucheuses ont la capacite de changer de sexe en naissant, appeles sipiniit (de sipi, "se fendre"). Il s'agit de garcons, le plus souvent, qui se transforment en filles. [. ] Mais il arrive aussi qu'au s.
Competitive Analysis on Financial Leasing Problem

In the on-line financial leasing problem, an on-line player, who is the leaser, is given the job of deciding whether to buy the equipment initially or to rent it according to the financial leasing contract, without knowing the future interest rates over the whole rental time. This paper studies the on-line financial leasing problem from the perspective of competitive analysis theory. To begin with, based on the formulation of relevant parameters, a Financial Leasing Competitive Algorithm is established. Following that, corollary and numerical examples concerning competitive analysis for this algorithm are given. Finally, some future research directions are pointed out.
The thermal limits to life on Earth

Abstract Living organisms on Earth are characterized by three necessary features: a set of internal instructions encoded in DNA (software), a suite of proteins and associated macromolecules providing a boundary and internal structure (hardware), and a flux of energy. In addition, they replicate themselves through reproduction, a process that renders evolutionary change inevitable in a resource-limited world. Temperature has a profound effect on all of these features, and yet life is sufficiently adaptable to be found almost everywhere water is liquid. The thermal limits to survival are well documented for many types of organisms, but the thermal limits to completion of the life cycle are much more difficult to establish, especially for organisms that inhabit thermally variable environments. Current data suggest that the thermal limits to completion of the life cycle differ between the three major domains of life, bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes. At the very highest temperatures only archaea are found with the current high-temperature limit for growth being 122 °C. Bacteria can grow up to 100 °C, but no eukaryote appears to be able to complete its life cycle above ∼60 °C and most not above 40 °C. The lower thermal limit for growth in bacteria, archaea, unicellular eukaryotes where ice is present appears to be set by vitrification of the cell interior, and lies at ∼−20 °C. Lichens appear to be able to grow down to ∼−10 °C. Higher plants and invertebrates living at high latitudes can survive down to ∼−70 °C, but the lower limit for completion of the life cycle in multicellular organisms appears to be ∼−2 °C.
Approaching MALDI molecular imaging for clinical proteomic research: current state and fields of application

MALDI imaging mass spectrometry (‘MALDI imaging’) is an increasingly recognized technique for biomarker research. After years of method development in the scientific community, the technique is now increasingly applied in clinical research. In this article, we discuss the use of MALDI imaging in clinical proteomics and put it in context with classical proteomics techniques. We also highlight a number of upcoming challenges for personalized medicine, development of targeted therapies and diagnostic molecular pathology where MALDI imaging could help.
Optimize Cloud Resources Framework for Workflow Scheduling By Swarm Intelligence

To completely misuse the utilizations of cloud, different difficulties should be tended to where planning is one among them. Albeit catholic research has been done on Workflow Scheduling, there are not very many edges customized for Cloud environments. For some essential standards of Cloud, for example, flexibility and heterogeneity existing work neglects to meet ideal arrangement. Hence our work concentrates on the booking techniques for logical work process on IaaS cloud. We display a calculation in view of the metaheuristic optimization system where the best of two calculations Ant colony Optimization (ACO) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) are converged to enhance locally and internationally which limits the general work process time (makespan) and diminishes the cost. Our heuristic is assessed utilizing CloudSim and a few understood logical work processes of various sizes. The outcomes demonstrate that our approach performs better when contrasted with PSO calculation.
Overexpression of nerve growth factor in skin causes preferential increases among innervation to specific sensory targets

The impact of increased levels of skin‐derived nerve growth factor (NGF) neurotrophin on sensory and sympathetic innervation to the mouse mystacial pad and postero‐orbital vibrissae was determined. Consistent with an approximate doubling of neuron number in trigeminal and superior cervical ganglia, many components of the sensory and sympathetic innervation were substantially enhanced. Although the increased number of neurons raised the possibility that all types of innervation were increased, immunohistochemical analysis indicated that enhanced NGF production had a differential effect upon sensory innervation, primarily increasing unmyelinated innervation. This increased innervation occurred in specific locations known to be innervated by small, unmyelinated fibers, suggesting that NGF modulated sensory innervation density, but not targeting. In contrast, sympathetic innervation was not only increased but also was distributed to some aberrant locations. In the intervibrissal fur of the mystacial pad, both the number of sensory axons and branches appeared increased, whereas in vibrissal follicle sinus complexes, only branching increased. In some areas, sensory ending density was lower than expected based upon the size of the source nerve bundles suggesting that many axons and branches were surviving but failing to form functional endings. Furthermore, the immunochemical profile of innervation was altered in some sensory populations as demonstrated by the coexistence of RT‐97 neurofilament labeling in calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP) positive axons, by the loss of substance P colocalization in some CGRP axons, and by an absence of neuropeptide Y labeling in tyrosine hydroxylase positive sympathetic axons. Collectively, these results indicate that the NGF mediated increase in neuron number may be selective for particular sets of innervation and that increases among some populations may result from phenotypic switching. J. Comp. Neurol. 387:489–506, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Determining model complexity using image transforms in a top-down and bottom-up approach

How complex should a spatial or spatial-temporal geostatistical model be in order to suit the purpose for which it is used? This is a common question to all applications of geostatistical modeling whether it is mining, petroleum, environmental or any other. How many grid-blocks, how many indicator categories should we use? Surprisingly very few general and flexible tools are available to start addressing this important question. We propose a general framework for determining a suitable spatial model complexity on the basis of distances obtained from a series of image transformations and the linear combinations of these distances thereof. This general framework is applied in two workflows, namely Top-down and Bottom-Up to reach a simple enough set of models and demonstrated in an illustrative case. Introduction Increasing number of data sources, computational power, together with encountering reservoirs that are challenging to produce have led engineers to build increasingly complex geomodels. In this paper, we design a methodology for determining model complexity. Often model complexity is not even considered and models are built to accommodate all sources of data at a level of high detail. These models become computationally burdensome in particular for forward functions such as reservoir simulators. Moreover, one of our goals of collecting data from the reservoir, that is falsifying the models we have generated (Tarantola, 2005), becomes even more cumbersome. When a model is falsified one cannot know if the reason for falsifying a model is due to those details or due to a misunderstanding of the reservoir mechanisms at a larger scale. This problem is not encountered in simple models which contain only the main understanding of the reservoir.
Optimum adaptive beamformer design with controlled quiescent pattern by antenna selection

In this paper, we consider the design of optimum sparse adaptive beamformer with controlled quiescent beampattern for multiple sources in interference-free environment. The two measures of the maximum output signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and approximately equal gains towards all sources incident on the array are applied for optimality. We combine both adaptive and deterministic approaches to sparse array design to offer the most general design metric for beamformers. We propose an iterative linear fractional programming method to solve the non-convex antenna selection problem associated with the proposed metric. Simulation examples confirm that the array configuration plays a vital role in determining the beamforming performance in interference-free scenarios.
Classification et segmentation de textes par arbres de décision Application à la recherche documentaire

RESUME. La plupart des moteurs de recherche documentaire renvoient en reponse a une requete une liste ordonnee de documents. Cette liste etant souvent tres longue, les utilisateurs ne peuvent pas examiner tous les documents proposes. De ce fait, il leur arrive de ne pas consulter des documents pertinents mal positionnes. Apres avoir decrit le systeme de recherche SIAC developpe au LIA, nous presentons un algorithme de classification thematique. Applique aux documents ramenes a partir d’une requete, il permet d’organiser la liste des reponses et d’ameliorer la pertinence de la recherche. Une evaluation faite durant la campagne Amaryllis’99 est presentee. A partir de la classification, une segmentation thematique des documents est realisee. Elle permet d’effectuer une nouvelle recherche sur des zones documentaires plus fines que les documents et d’isoler l’information pertinente a l’interieur d’un texte. On montre a cette occasion que l’utilisation combinee de mesures de similarites ameliore fortement les resultats de la recherche documentaire.
Meeting embryonic requirements of broilers throughout incubation: a review

During incubation of chicken embryos, environmental conditions, such as temperature, relative humidity, and CO 2 concentration, must be controlled to meet embryonic requirements that change during the different phases of embryonic development. In the current review, the effects of embryo temperature, egg weight loss, and CO 2 concentration on hatchability, hatchling quality, and subsequent performance are discussed from an embryonic point of view. In addition, new insights related to the incubation process are described. Several studies have shown that a constant eggshell temperature (EST) of 37.5 to 38.0°C throughout incubation results in the highest hatchability, hatchling quality, and subsequent performance. Egg weight loss must be between 6.5 and 14.0% of the initial egg weight, to obtain an adequate air cell size before the embryo internally pips. An increased CO 2 concentration during the developmental phase of incubation (first 10 days) can accelerate embryonic development and hatchability, but the physiological mechanisms of this acceleration are not completely understood. Effects of ar increased CO 2 concentration during late incubation also need further investigation. The preincubation warming profile, thermal manipulation, and in ovo feeding are new insights related to the incubation process and show that the optimal situation for the embryo during incubation highly depends on the conditions of the eggs before (storage duration) and during incubation (environmental conditions) and on the conditions of the chickens after hatching (environmental temperature).
Commensal microbes provide first line defense against Listeria monocytogenes infection

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen that causes septicemia, meningitis and chorioamnionitis and is associated with high mortality. Immunocompetent humans and animals, however, can tolerate high doses of L. monocytogenes without developing systemic disease. The intestinal microbiota provides colonization resistance against many orally acquired pathogens, and antibiotic-mediated depletion of the microbiota reduces host resistance to infection. Here we show that a diverse microbiota markedly reduces Listeria monocytogenes colonization of the gut lumen and prevents systemic dissemination. Antibiotic administration to mice before low dose oral inoculation increases L. monocytogenes growth in the intestine. In immunodeficient or chemotherapy-treated mice, the intestinal microbiota provides nonredundant defense against lethal, disseminated infection. We have assembled a consortium of commensal bacteria belonging to the Clostridiales order, which exerts in vitro antilisterial activity and confers in vivo resistance upon transfer into germ free mice. Thus, we demonstrate a defensive role of the gut microbiota against Listeria monocytogenes infection and identify intestinal commensal species that, by enhancing resistance against this pathogen, represent potential probiotics.
A smart pressure-sensitive insole that reminds you to walk correctly: An orthotic-less treatment for over pronation

We equipped an insole with a force sensor that can detect in real time when a foot over pronates. When such behavior is detected, we warn the user so they can correct their posture by using their own muscles. The effectiveness of this novel way to correct over pronation posture is evaluated over a two-week period. The use of vibrotactile feedback reduces over pronation by 30% to 50% during the first week. The natural benefits of the proposed method vs. use of passive orthotics are also presented.
New TNM staging criteria for head and neck tumors.

Cancers of the head and neck have always represented a unique perspective in cancer staging. Not only are these lesions numerous in terms of anatomic sites of origin, but, unlike most other major cancers, they frequently and readily lend themselves to adequate clinical assessment by visual inspection and palpation, which greatly facilitates documentation by the trained clinician. In addition, their location often involves treatment programs that focus on nonsurgical organ-preservation strategies, and thus anatomic and histological data for comprehensive pathologic staging are often not available. Nevertheless, the processes involved in surgical decision-making and radiotherapy treatment planning require meticulous assessment and documentation of the extent of locoregional disease. For all these reasons it is especially important to perform reliable and accurate pretreatment clinical staging of head and neck cancers. Also, many patients who succumb to head and neck cancer do so as a result of locoregional disease. Therefore, the staging system must take into account detailed local anatomic features that dictate management, since the degree of involvement of these structures by tumor may be as important as distant metastasis in threatening survival. For this reason the most recent cancer staging classification (6th edition) of the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) and the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) includes new criteria for the more advanced cases (e.g., T4 categories and stage IV disease). These criteria reflect the fact that in heterogeneous populations there is a realistic opportunity for cure in some patients but not in others. This review summarizes the criteria used in the new TNM for head and neck tumors, and outlines the rationale behind the current changes. It also provides some guidance regarding optimal source data to facilitate classification in the registry setting. In addition, the need for additional changes in the future is recognized.
LHCb detector performance

The LHCb detector is a forward spectrometer at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. The experiment is designed for precision measurements of CP violation and rare decays of beauty and charm hadrons. In this paper the performance of the various LHCb sub-detectors and the trigger system are described, using data taken from 2010 to 2012. It is shown that the design criteria of the experiment have been met. The excellent performance of the detector has allowed the LHCb collaboration to publish a wide range of physics results, demonstrating LHCb's unique role, both as a heavy flavour experiment and as a general purpose detector in the forward region.
Treating insulin resistance in hypertension with metformin reduces both blood pressure and metabolic risk factors

Abstract. Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinaemia may play an important role in both the development of hypertension and its accompanying metabolic aberrations. In order to investigate this possibility, nine non‐obese, non‐diabetic, non‐smoking, middle‐aged men with untreated hypertension were treated with metformin 850 mg b.i. d. for 6 weeks as a pilot study and within‐patient comparison. Metformin decreased total and LDL‐cholesterol (P< 0.01), triglyceride (P< 0.01), fasting plasma insulin (P< 0.01) and C‐peptide levels (P< 0.02). Glucose disposal, an indicator of insulin action measured by means of the euglycaemic clamp technique, increased (P< 0.001). Tissue plasminogen activator (t‐PA) activity increased (P< 0.02), and t‐PA antigen decreased (P< 0.01), whereas plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI‐1) and fibrinogen were unaffected by metformin treatment. Body weight remained unchanged. Withdrawal of metformin was associated with the return of both blood pressure and metabolism towards the initial levels. In conclusion, metformin treatment increased insulin action, lowered blood pressure, improved the metabolic risk factor profile and tended to increase the fibrinolytic activity in these mildly hypertensive subjects. These results support the view that insulin resistance plays a role in hypertension, and may open up a new field for the alleviation of abnormalities associated with cardiovascular disease.
Design of Gradient Oxide-Bypassed Superjunction Power MOSFET Devices

The superjunction MOSFET power devices, such as p-n column superjunction (named SJ or CoolMOS) devices and oxide-bypassed (OB) devices, are highly recognized for their higher blocking capability and lower on-state resistance. However, the performance of SJ devices is greatly handicapped due to difficulties in formation of perfect charge-balanced SJ p-n columns by the current process technology, especially for devices with small widths and voltage ratings below 180 V. OB devices can be an alternative in this voltage region, which utilize the well established oxide thickness control in fabrication instead of the difficult doping control as in SJ devices. However, OB drift region electric field distribution is not as optimal as that in SJ devices. Gradient oxide-bypassed (GOB) structure enhances the performance of OB devices so that it can achieve a performance comparable to that of an ideal p-n column SJ device in the medium voltage range, and at the same time, requires simple process technology. Complete descriptions on the GOB device and related design issues are presented in this paper. Fabrication issues are also discussed with possible sacrificial materials and etchants for making the vertical graded oxide sidewalls. Design cases for 80, 120, and 180 V GOB devices are also illustrated for better understanding in the device.