Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Periodicities of pitch perturbations in normal and pathologic larynges

Many researchers have been interested in the relationship between voice qualities and irregularities in the vibratory pattern of the vocal cords. The variations of the vibratory pattern are accompanied by transient pressure changes across the glottis, which are reflected acoustically in disturbances of fundamental frequency and amplitude patterns. von Leden, et al.,t reported in 1960 from a frame-by-frame analysis of ultra-high speed motion pictures that "the commonest observation in pathologic conditions is a strong tendency for frequent and rapid changes in the regularity of the vibratory pattern. " For normal voices, Lieberman described that pitch perturbations, i.e., small but rapid variations in the fundamental periodicity of the acoustic signal, did not remain constant; however, in normal subjects pitch perturbation never exceeded 0.5 msec in magnitude in the steady-state portions of long sustained vowels. Similar variations in the fundamental periodicity have been measured from acoustic wave forms by Fairbanks,s Rieberg and Saito, et al. Iwata and von Leden confirmed Lieberman's work, and determined that the 95 percent confidence limits of pitch perturbations in normal subjects ranged from -0.19 to +0.2 msec. In pathologic speech, Lieberman2 indicated that the magnitude of the pitch perturbation factor (magnitude of pitch perturbations exceeding 0.5 msec), might be useful in the detection of laryngeal disease. Smith and Lieberman also investigated the relationship between pitch perturbations and pathologic conditions in the larynx, and found some significant relationships between pitch perturbation factors and laryngeal pathologies. Koike studied pitch perturbations and amplitude modulations in different types of vocal attack, applied the method of time series analysis, and emphasized that these studies might give more detailed information about pathologic changes in the larynx. Iwata and von Leden6 reported that distribution patterns of pitch perturbations may be related to certain pathologic conditions in the larynx. Most of these studies were limited to the clinical application of the relationship between pitch perturbations of adjacent cycles and pathologic
Design and implementation of application-specific instruction-set processor design for high-throughput multi-standard wireless orthogonal frequency division multiplexing baseband processor

The two implementation choices for the baseband part of wireless radios are the application-specific platforms (e.g. application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs)) and the programmable processors (e.g. digital signal processors (DSPs)). An application-specific instruction-set processor (ASIP) is a customised processor that bridges the gap between the two platforms. In this work, a novel implementation of the signal processing part of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) baseband processor using three ASIPs is presented. The ASIPs provide novel architectures for the symbol chain, including fast Fourier transform, channel estimation subsystem and synchronisation subsystem. This design provides a close to DSPs level of flexibility, making it suitable for supporting all the modes of a large number of OFDM standards. In the meantime, the system maintains a performance level comparable to ASICs. This is demonstrated by providing post-layout results for 0.13 μm Taiwan semiconductor manufacturing company complementary metal-oxide semiconductor technology.
Novel human immunoglobulin heavy chain constant region gene deletion haplotypes characterized by pulsed‐field electrophoresis

Fifteen patients with selective IgG1 deficiency were screened for immunoglobulin H chain C region locus (IGHC) gene deletions and three deletion haplotypes were found: del Gl, delGI G4 and del G4. These haplotypes, together with four deletion haplotypes described by us previously (del G1 (NY), del G1 (VIT) del G1‐G2 (NY) and del G2‐G4 (HJE)). were further characterized using pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to determine the physical extent of the deletions. The Mlu I fragment sizes confirmed the deletions, although the deduced sizes of the most extensive deletions indicated that material had been inserted into the locus.
Synchronous oscillations of length and stiffness during loaded shortening of frog muscle fibres

1 A study was made of the damped oscillations in fibre length that are observed when isolated muscle fibres from the frog are released during the plateau of an isometric tetanus to shorten against a constant load (force clamp recording) near the isometric level (temperature, 1.0‐11.0 °C; initial sarcomere length, 2.25 μm). 2 The oscillatory length changes of the whole fibre were associated with similar length changes of marked consecutive segments along the fibre. The segmental length changes were initially in synchrony with the whole‐fibre movements but became gradually more disordered. At the same time the length oscillation of the whole fibre was progressively damped. 3 The fast length step that normally occurs at the outset of the load‐clamp manoeuvre was essential for initiating the oscillatory behaviour. Accordingly, no length oscillation occurred when the load clamp was arranged to start as soon as the selected tension level was reached during the rising phase of the tetanus. 4 The instantaneous stiffness was measured as the change in force that occurred in response to a high‐frequency (2‐4 kHz) length oscillation of the fibre. During the load‐clamp manoeuvre, when the tension was kept constant, the stiffness underwent periodic changes that correlated well in time with the damped oscillatory changes in fibre length. However, there was a phase shift between the stiffness oscillation and the oscillation of shortening velocity, the latter being in the lead of the stiffness response by 21.4 ± 0.8 ms (n = 19) at 1.8 ± 0.1 °C . 5 A mechanism is proposed to explain the oscillatory behaviour of the muscle fibre based on the idea that the quick length step at the outset of the load clamp leads to synchronous activity of the myosin cross‐bridges along the length of the fibre.
A study for facial beauty prediction model

Currently, most facial beauty research focuses on geometric features and apparent features by traditional machine learning methods. Geometric features rely heavily on accurate manual landmark localization of facial features. In addition, geometrical features and some apparent features focus on a particular aspect of facial description, such as distance, proportion, and texture, which causes a loss of information about facial beauty. To solve these problems, we present a facial beauty prediction model based on adaptive deconvolutional networks (ADN). ADN can extract multilayer apparent features from input images unsupervised and the feature extraction process is in accordance with the hierarchical visual perception mechanism of human brain. Experimental results show that the facial beauty prediction model presented can achieve high recognition rate based on three-class face image database.
Combining high‐field EPR with site‐directed spin labeling reveals unique information on proteins in action

In the last decade, joint efforts of biologists, chemists and physicists have helped in understanding the dominant factors determining specificity and directionality of transmembrane transfer processes in proteins. In this endeavor, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy has played an important role. Characteristic examples of such determining factors are hydrogen‐bonding patterns and polarity effects of the microenvironment of protein sites involved in the transfer process. These factors may undergo characteristic changes during the reaction and, thereby, control the efficiency of biological processes, e.g. light‐induced electron and proton transfer across photosynthetic membranes or ion‐channel formation of bacterial toxins. In case the transfer process does not involve stable or transient paramagnetic species or states, site‐directed spin labeling with suitable nitroxide radicals still allows EPR techniques to be used for studying structure and conformational dynamics of the proteins in action. By combining site‐directed spin labeling with high‐field/high‐frequency EPR, unique information on the proteins is revealed, which is complementary to that of X‐ray crystallography, solid‐state NMR, FRET, fast infrared and optical spectroscopic techniques. The main object of this publication is twofold: (i) to review our recent spin‐label high‐field EPR work on the bacteriorhodopsin light‐driven proton pump from Halobacterium salinarium and the Colicin A ion‐channel forming bacterial toxin produced in Escherichia coli, (ii) to report on novel high‐field EPR experiments for probing site‐specific pKa values in protein systems by means of pH‐sensitive nitroxide spin labels. Taking advantage of the improved spectral and temporal resolution of high‐field EPR at 95 GHz/3.4 T and 360 GHz/12.9 T, as compared to conventional X‐band EPR (9.5 GHz/0.34 T), detailed information on the transient intermediates of the proteins in biological action is obtained. These intermediates can be observed and characterized while staying in their working states on biologically relevant timescales. The paper concludes with an outlook of ongoing high‐field EPR experiments on site‐specific protein mutants in our laboratories at FU Berlin and Osnabrück. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Determination of genetic variations among different Trichoderma isolates using RAPD marker in Bangladesh

Some Trichoderma isolates were collected from different locations of Bangladesh for evaluating their bioefficiency by determining their genetic variations. PCR-based Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) Marker employing 3 decamer primers produced 29 scorable bands of which all (100%) were polymorphic. The co-efficient of gene differentiation (Gst) was 1.0000 reflecting the existence of high level of genetic diversity among the isolates. The Unweighted Pair Group Method of Arithmetic Means (UPGMA) dendrogram constructed from Nei’s (1972) genetic distance produced 2 main clusters (16 isolates in cluster 1 and 19 isolates in cluster 2). The result indicating their genetic diversity has opened new possibility of using the most efficient and more isolates of Trichoderma in the preparation of effective biopesticide.
A model for stimulus generalization in Pavlovian conditioning.

A selective review of experiments that can be said to demonstrate the effects of generalization decrement in Pavlovian condition is presented, and it is argued that an adequate theoretical explanation for them is currently not available. This article then develops a theoretical account for the processes of generalization and generalization decrement in Pavlovian conditioning. It assumes that animals represent their environment by a stimulus array in a buffer and that this array in its entirety constitutes the conditioned stimulus. Generalization is then held to occur whenever at least some of the stimuli represented in the array on a test trial are the same as at least some of those represented in the array during training. Specifically, the magnitude of generalization is determined by the proportion of the array occupied by these common stimuli during training compared to the proportion of the array they occupy during testing. By adding to this principle rules concerning excitatory and inhibitory learning, it is proposed, the model can explain all the results that were difficult for its predecessors to account for. A fundamental property of conditioned responding is that it may occur in circumstances that differ from those prevailing during acquisition. This phenomenon is referred to as generalization, and the term generalization decrement is used when this transfer is less than complete. These effects have been revealed with both Pavlovian and instrumental conditioning, using a variety of species and a wide range of conditioned stimuli (CS) and unconditioned stimuli (US). As iar as instrumental conditioning is concerned, a considerable number of studies have been directed at examining the factors that influence the magnitude of generalization from one situation to another (for reviews see Honig & Urcuioli, 1981; Mackintosh, 1974). These results also have been the focus of considerable theoretical analysis. In contrast, much less attention has been paid to the role of generalization in Pavlovian conditioning. Only a few studies have been concerned specifically with demonstrating the generalization decrement of a Pavlovian conditioned response (CR) as a result of modifying the properties of the CS (Hofiman & Fleshier, 1961; Hovland, 1937; Moore, 1972; Pavlov, 1927; Siegel, Hearst, George, & O'Neal, 1968). Furthermore, only a few theorists have been specifically concerned with the analysis of these and related effects (Hull, 1943; Pavlov, 1927). An alternative approach has been to show how a particular theoretical analysis of the Pavlovian learning process can be extended to account for generalization and generalization decrement (cf. Rescorla, 1976). The argument presented in this article is based on the premise that an adequate account for the effects of generalization must lie at the core of
'Quick and clean': authoritative health technology assessment for local health care contracting.

Commissioners of health care require rapid, accurate and usable information on health technology effectiveness to help them to decide on the content of contracts. Despite major strides in the national initiatives in health technology assessment, such information is still in short supply at the local level. In 1991 the former Wessex region (now in the new South and West Region) established a mechanism which continues to provide carefully established recommendations on new technologies. Its features include: identification of locally important topics for evaluation by the purchasers and the providers; an evaluation team, working to a well-defined format in a service-led academic institute; an arbitration committee to deliver recommendations to purchasers on the basis of both the cost-utility of proposals and the quality of the evidence; and implicit obligations for purchasers to respond to strong recommendations.
Regulation of Phospholipase C-γ2 and Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase Pathways by Adaptor Proteins In B Lymphocytes

The importance of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and phospholipase C (PLC)-γ2 in B cell function and development has been highlighted by gene targeting experiments in mice. In fact, these knockout mice exhibit a profound inhibition of proliferative responses upon B cell receptor (BCR) engagement. The molecular connections between these effectors and upstream tyrosine kinases such as Syk have been studied intensively in the past few years. This mechanism involves the action of cytoplasmic adaptor molecules, which participate in forming multicomponent signaling complexes, thereby directing the appropriate subcellular localization of effector enzymes. In addition to these cytoplasmic adaptor proteins, cell surface coreceptors can be viewed as transmembrane adaptor proteins, because coreceptors can also change the localization of effector enzymes, which in turn modulates the BCR-initiated signals.
nvestigating the resistance to telemedicine in thiopia

Background: Telemedicine has great potential to improve health care in Africa as well as other developing areas, especially when medical expertise is urgently needed in emergency situations. Yet resistance from healthcare professionals could prevent telemedicine’s social value from being materialized. Objective: This article intends to understand why healthcare providers resist using telemedicine from a threat-control perspective. Method: A survey on 107 healthcare professionals in Ethiopia was conducted. Conclusions: The resistance to telemedicine is determined by perceived threat and pererceived controllability
Institutional sources of trust in government contracting: a comparison between home-based and residential social services in Spain

This interview-based study explores trust in public-private cooperation by addressing the research questions: what are the main sources of distrust in public-private contracting? And why? We compare two Spanish social services subfields: one with high levels of cross-sector distrust and another one with no distrust between public and private sectors. The sources of the identified cross-sector distrust are institutional: insufficient regulation and legislation, lack of business certification, and low local government administrative capacity. The article is a pioneering exploration of the under-researched theme of institutional distrust and its effect on public-private cooperation management. This research is a product of the Research Group on Innovation and Leadership in Public Management and has counted with the support of the Spanish Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC SEJ2006-00961).
Assessing the Potential Adoption and Usefulness of Concurrent, Action-Oriented, Electronic Adverse Drug Event Triggers Designed for the Outpatient Setting

Background: Adverse drug event (ADE) detection is an important priority for patient safety research. Trigger tools have been developed to help identify ADEs. In previous work we developed seven concurrent, action-oriented, electronic trigger algorithms designed to prompt clinicians to address ADEs in outpatient care. Objectives: We assessed the potential adoption and usefulness of the seven triggers by testing the positive predictive validity and obtaining stakeholder input. Methods: We adapted ADE triggers, “bone marrow toxin—white blood cell count (BMT-WBC),” “bone marrow toxin - platelet (BMT-platelet),” “potassium raisers,” “potassium reducers,” “creatinine,” “warfarin,” and “sedative hypnotics,” with logic to suppress flagging events with evidence of clinical intervention and applied the triggers to 50,145 patients from three large health care systems. Four pharmacists assessed trigger positive predictive value (PPV) with respect to ADE detection (conservatively excluding ADEs occurring during clinically appropriate care) and clinical usefulness (i.e., whether the trigger alert could change care to prevent harm). We measured agreement between raters using the free kappa and assessed positive PPV for the trigger’s detection of harm, clinical usefulness, and both. Stakeholders from the participating health care systems rated the likelihood of trigger adoption and the perceived ease of implementation. Findings: Agreement between pharmacist raters was moderately high for each ADE trigger (kappa free > 0.60). Trigger PPVs for harm ranged from 0 (Creatinine, BMT-WBC) to 17 percent (potassium raisers), while PPV for care change ranged from 0 (WBC) to 60 percent (Creatinine). Fifteen stakeholders rated the triggers. Our assessment identified five of the seven triggers as good candidates for implementation: Creatinine, BMT-Platelet, Potassium Raisers, Potassium Reducers, and Warfarin. Conclusions: At least five outpatient ADE triggers performed well and merit further evaluation in outpatient clinical care. When used in real time, these triggers may promote care changes to ameliorate patient harm.
Combiner connaissances expertes, hors-ligne, transientes et en ligne pour l'exploration Monte-Carlo. Apprentissage et MC

We combine for Monte-Carlo exploration machine learning at four different time scales: - online regret, through the use of bandit algorithms and Monte-Carlo estimates; - transient learning, through the use of rapid action value estimates (RA VE) which are learnt online and used for accelerating the exploration and are thereafter neglected; - offline learning, by data mining ofdatasets of games; - use of expert knowledge coming from the old ages as prior information. The resulting algorithm is stronger than each element separately. We finally emphasize the exploration-exploitation dilemna in the Monte-Carlo simulations and show great improvements that can be reached with a fine tuning of related constants.
Selection of customers for a message transmission system

The magnitude of data which has accumulated by Telecommunications Companyis so huge that manual analysis of data is not feasible. However, this data holds valuable information that can be applied for operational and strategical purposes. Therefore, in order to extract such information from this data, automatic analysis is essential, by means of advanced data mining techniques. This paper will address the question how to perform customer segmentation with data mining techniques. In our context, ‘customer segmentation’ is a term used to describe the process of dividing customers into homogeneous groups on the basis of shared or common attributes. Having this component, managers can decide which marketing actions to take for each segment. In this paper, the customer segmentation is based on usage call behavior, i.e. the behavior of a customer measured in the amounts of incoming or outgoing communication of whichever form. A number of advanced and state-of-the-art clustering algorithms are applied for creating customer segments. An optimality criterion is used in order to measure their performance and to find the optimum algorithm. Once groups are made in segmentation, service message should not be sent to any group as unwanted customers could be harassed by such service message and they activate a ‘Do not Disturb’ service. Sothere should be some selection procedure and from this selection procedure service message may be broadcast to one or combination of a group such that it satisfies company's strategical decision. This paper also represents such proper selection procedure.
Ulnar nerve lesion at the wrist related to pisotriquetral joint arthropathy

Introduction: Ulnar nerve lesions at the wrist (UNLW) are always difficult to localize clinically and sometimes electrophysiologically. Finding conduction block when studying ulnar motor nerve conduction (CB) across the wrist is sometimes the only way to demonstrate that the ulnar deep motor branch (UDMB) is entrapped. Methods: An elderly woman who had bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and thumb osteoarthritis for many years experienced worsening of left hand impairment recently. Results: Electrodiagnostic and ultrasound examinations revealed an acute and severe UDMB lesion related to pisotriquetral joint effusion. The patient received a local injection of a corticosteroid that provided rapid recovery. Conclusions: The diagnosis of UDMB lesion is especially difficult when CTS coexists, but CTS may allow for early diagnosis, if CB at the wrist is not overlooked. Chondrocalcinosis was responsible for the systemic inflammation, the CTS, the pisotriquetral joint effusion, and the UDBM compression, which has not been reported previously. Muscle Nerve, 2013