bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bidirectional deep architecture for Arabic speech recognition
Authors: Zerari Naima , Abdelhamid Samir , Bouzgou Hassen , Raymond Christian 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
Nowadays, the real life constraints necessitates controlling modern machines using human intervention by means of sensorial organs. The voice is one of the human senses that can control/monitor modern interfaces. In this context, Automatic Speech Recognition is principally used to convert natural voice into computer text as well as to perform an action based on the instructions given by the human. In this paper, we propose a general framework for Arabic speech recognition that uses Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and Neural Network (Multi-Layer Perceptron: MLP) classifier to cope with the nonuniform sequence length of the speech utterances issued fromboth feature extraction techniques, (1)Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficients MFCC (static and dynamic features), (2) the Filter Banks (FB) coefficients. The neural architecture can recognize the isolated Arabic speech via classification technique. The proposed system involves, first, extracting pertinent features from the natural speech signal using MFCC (static and dynamic features) and FB. Next, the extracted features are padded in order to deal with the non-uniformity of the sequences length. Then, a deep architecture represented by a recurrent LSTM or GRU (Gated Recurrent Unit) architectures are used to encode the sequences of MFCC/FB features as a fixed size vector that will be introduced to a Multi-Layer Perceptron network (MLP) to perform the classification (recognition). The proposed system is assessed using two different databases, the first one concerns the spoken digit recognition where a comparison with other related works in the literature is performed, whereas the second one contains the spoken TV commands. The obtained results show the superiority of the proposed approach.
Ageing and sources of transcriptional heterogeneity
Authors: Nikopoulou Chrysa , Parekh Swati , Tessarz Peter 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
Cellular heterogeneity is an important contributor to biological function and is employed by cells, tissues and organisms to adapt, compensate, respond, defend and/or regulate specific processes. Research over the last decades has revealed that transcriptional noise is a major driver for cell-to-cell variability. In this review we will discuss sources of transcriptional variability, in particular bursting of gene expression and how it could contribute to cellular states and fate decisions. We will highlight recent developments in single cell sequencing technologies that make it possible to address cellular heterogeneity in unprecedented detail. Finally, we will review recent literature, in which these new technologies are harnessed to address pressing questions in the field of ageing research, such as transcriptional noise and cellular heterogeneity in the course of ageing.
Development of an Activity Based Kinetic Model for an Esterification Process with Indion 180 Catalyst
Authors: Mallaiah Mekala , Venkateswarlu Chimmiri 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe kinetics of esterification reaction between acetic acid and methanol was studied with the Indion 180 catalyst in the temperature range between 323.15 and 353.15K, and the catalyst loading between 0.01 g/cc to0.05 g/cc. The effects of temperature, catalyst loading, size of the catalyst and agitation speed on the reaction rate were investigated. The experimental results have shown the negligible effect of mass transfer resistances on the reaction rate. A second order kinetic rate expression was used to correlate the experimental data. An activity based kinetic model was also developed for the esterification process, which was validated against experimental results. The activity based model is found advantageous as it involves only two reaction rate parameters which were determined based on the kinetic rate parameters of the concentration based model. The comparison of the model predictions with the experimental results for different temperature and catalyst loading conditions has shown the better suitability of the activity based kinetic model for the esterification process with Indion 180 catalyst.
Evidence in surgical training – a review
Authors: Fritz Tobias , Stachel Niklas , Braun Benedikt J. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe first residency programs for surgical training were introduced in Germany in the late 1880s and adopted in 1889 by William Halsted in the United States [Cameron JL. William Stewart Halsted. Our surgical heritage. Ann Surg 1997;225:445–58.]. Since then, surgical education has evolved from a sheer volume of exposure to structured curricula, and at the moment, due to work time restrictions, surgical education is discussed on an international level. The reported effect of limited working hours on operative case volume has been variable [McKendy KM, Watanabe Y, Lee L, Bilgic E, Enani G, Feldman LS, et al. Perioperative feedback in surgical training: a systematic review. Am J Surg 2017;214:117–26.]. Experienced surgeons fear that residents do not have sufficient exposure to standard procedures. This may reduce the residents’ responsibility for the treatment of the patient and even lead to a reduced autonomy at the end of the residency. Surgical education does not only require learning the technical skills but also human factors as well as interdisciplinary and interprofessional handling. When analyzing international surgical curricula, major differences even between countries of the European Union with more or less strict curricula can be found. Thus far, there is no study that analyzes the educational program of different countries, so there is no evidence which educational system is superior. There is also little evidence to distinguish the good from the average surgeon or the junior surgeons’ progress during his residency training. Although some evaluation tools are already available, the lack of resources of most teaching hospitals often results in not using these tools as long it is not mandatory by a governmental program. Because of decreased working hours, increasing hospital costs, and increasing jurisdictional restrictions, teaching hospitals and teachers will have to change their sentiments and focus on their way of surgical education before governmental regulations will emerge leading to more regulation in surgical education. Some learning tools such as simulation, electronic learning, augmented reality, or virtual reality for a timely, sufficient and up to date surgical education. However, research and evidence for existing and novel learning tools will have to increase in the next years to allow surgical education for the future generation of surgeons around the world.
Surgical leadership within rapidly changing working conditions in Germany
Authors: Schmitz-Rixen Thomas , Grundmann Reinhart T. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractIntroductionAn overview of the requirements for the head of a surgical department in Germany should be given.Materials and methodsA retrospective literature research on surgical professional policy publications of the last 10 years in Germany was conducted.ResultsSurveys show that commercial influences on medical decisions in German hospitals have today become an everyday, predominantly negative, actuality. Nevertheless, in one survey, 82.9% of surgical chief physicians reported being very satisfied with their profession, compared with 61.5% of senior physicians and only 43.4% of hospital specialists. Here, the chief physician is challenged. Only 70% of those surveyed stated that they could rely on their direct superiors when difficulties arose at work, and only 34.1% regarded feedback on the quality of their work as sufficient. The high distress rate in surgery (58.2% for all respondents) has led to a lack in desirability and is reflected in a shortage of qualified applicants for resident positions. In various position papers, surgical residents (only 35% describe their working conditions as good) demand improved working conditions. Chief physicians are being asked to facilitate a suitable work-life balance with regular working hours and a corporate culture with participative management and collegial cooperation. Appreciation of employee performance must also be expressed. An essential factor contributing to dissatisfaction is that residents fill a large part of their daily working hours with non-physician tasks. In surveys, 70% of respondents stated that they spend up to ≥3 h a day on documentation and secretarial work.DiscussionThe chief physician is expected to relieve his medical staff by employing non-physician assistants to take care of non-physician tasks. Transparent and clearly structured training to achieve specialist status is essential. It has been shown that a balanced work-life balance can be achieved for surgeons. Family and career can be reconciled in appropriately organized departments by making use of part-time and shift models that exclude 24-h shifts and making working hours more flexible.
Performance Evaluation of System in Free Space Optic Utilizing Gaussian Optical Filter in Different Detection Scheme
Authors: Djellab H. , Bouarfa A. , Bojanic S. 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
In recent years, free space optical communication (FSO) has become a leader for its unique characteristics: large bandwidth, unlicensed spectrum, simple implementation, low power and high data rate. However, we use as a transmission medium for Spectral Amplitude Coding-Optical Code Division Multiple Access SAC OCDMA system. In this paper, we investigate the optimum received power of FSO communication system employing SAC OCDMA, by using different detection technique, such us Spectral Direct Detection SDD and Single Photodiode Detection (SPD) technique under optical Gaussian filter decoder schemes with Modified Double Weight code (MDW). In this work, the adverse effects of atmospheric channel limit the possibility of a large FSO communication, moderate turbulence and hazy weather conditions are considered. The results show that the performance of the proposed system with wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) multiplexer (MUX) based on Gaussian optical filter with SDP detection fares better than the system employing SDD technique.
High-Speed Light Sources in High-Speed Optical Passive Local Area Communication Networks
Authors: Amiri IS , Rashed Ahmed Nabih Zaki , Yupapin P 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
This study outlines the high-speed light sources in high-speed passive optical local area communication networks. Directly modulated laser measured is selected as a light source for data rate transfer of 40 Gb/s for propagation range up to 20 km. Optical output power after fiber-optic cable is measured. Signal power amplitude, Q-factor, and data error rates after the receive side are also measured. Hybrid optical amplifier, optical filters, and electrical filters are used for upgrading the network performance operation efficiency. The study assured that the optical communication network can be extended to 20 km distance with data rates of 40 Gb/s with achieving maximum Q-factor of 14.98 and minimum data rates of 3.55 ×10–51.
Effect of metformin on clinical and biochemical hyperandrogenism in adolescent girls with type 1 diabetes
Authors: Hafez Mona , Musa Noha , Elbehairy Shaimaa , Atty Sahar Abdel , Elbarbary Menna , Amin Maha 
Published: April 2019

AbstractBackgroundHyperandrogenism with or without polycystic ovarian syndrome is seen in adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D), especially those with suboptimal control.ObjectiveTo assess the effect of metformin on hyperandrogenism and ovarian function in adolescents with T1D.MethodsThis prospective study included 28 T1D females showing signs of hyperandrogenism. History taking (detailed diabetes history and menstrual history) and anthropometric measurements (weight, height, body mass index [BMI], waist and hip circumference) were initially performed, and then the patients were assessed for the manifestations of hyperandrogenism (acne, hirsutism as well as pelvic ultrasound [U/S] for ovarian morphology). Biochemical evaluation for ovulation (progesterone assessment during the luteal phase), sex steroids (estradiol, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate [DHEAS] and androstenedione), prolactin, glycemic control (hemoglobin A1c[HbA1c]) and gonadotropin levels (follicle stimulating hormone [FSH] and luteinizing hormone [LH]) was done. Patients were subjected to 500 mg metformin twice daily orally for 1 year, and then the patients were re-evaluated for clinical and biochemical parameters.ResultsMetformin therapy resulted in a significant reduction in weight (p = 0.001), BMI (p = 0.002), acne (p = 0.008), hirsutism score (0.007), LH (p = 0.008), testosterone (p < 0.001) and androstenedione levels (p = 0.028) in adolescent girls with T1D. Regarding menstrual irregularities, there was a significant reduction in the number of patients with oligomenorrhea (68%) with a p value of <0.001. However, there were no significant reduction in the daily insulin requirements (p = 0.782) or HbA1c(p = 0.068). Nausea and/or abdominal pain were the commonly reported side effects of metformin (64%).ConclusionsMetformin as an insulin sensitizing agent improved the BMI and cycle regularity together with clinical and biochemical hyperandrogenism in T1D adolescent girls. However, it did not improve their glycemic control.
Clinical utility of stimulation tests in infants with suspected adrenal insufficiency (AI)
Authors: Brar Preneet Cheema 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
Diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency (AI) in infants can be difficult. While a low random cortisol can signal AI, often confirmatory tests are required when clinical suspicion is strong but the cortisol levels are equivocal. Several studies have demonstrated that in sick preterm infants, there is relative adrenal insufficiency (RAI) defined as an inadequate cortisol production relative to the degree of stress or illness, a condition which can last for several weeks, while in term infants the adrenal axis is mature at birth (Bagnoli F, Mori A, Fommei C, Coriolani G, Badii S, et al. ACTH and cortisol cord plasma concentrations in preterm and term infants. J Perinatol 2013;33:520–4). Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH) stimulation tests have been validated in infants in several studies. In light of recent reports of false-negative results of stimulation tests, it is imperative to highlight the pitfalls of these tests. The purpose of this communication is to bring attention to the accuracy of timing of these tests in infants.
Computerized fetal cardiotocography analysis in early preterm fetal growth restriction – a quantitative comparison of two applications
Authors: Wolf Hans , Bruin Claartje , Dobbe Johannes G.G. , Gordijn Sanne J. , Ganzevoort Wessel 
Published: April 2019

Abstract

Background
We developed an open-source software for the computerized analysis of antenatal fetal cardiotocography (CTG) without limitation of duration of the registration, enabling batch processing and adaptation to any digital storage system.

Methods
STVcalc was developed based on literature about the FetalCare system (Huntleigh Healthcare Ltd, Cardiff, UK). For comparison with FetalCare, we selected the CTGs of all women who delivered in 2011 a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetus between 24 and 31 weeks by cesarean section (CS) for fetal distress, or had fetal death, before labor onset.

Results
In 471 CTGs from 39 women, the agreement was 99% for a short-term variation (STV) cut-off of 2.6 ms below 29 weeks and 3.0 ms thereafter, and 95% for 3.5 and 4.0 ms, respectively. In 18 (4%) cases, the proportional difference in STV between FetalCare and STVcalc was more than 10%.

Conclusion
As only slight differences were observed between the proposed feature-rich application and the FetalCare system, it can be considered valuable for clinical practice and research purposes.
The evaluation of ENA-78 and fibrinogen levels for the differential diagnosis of familial Mediterranean fever and acute appendicitis
Authors: Güzel Murat , Aktimur Recep , Yıldırım Kadir , Aktimur Sude Hatun , Taşkın Mehmet Hakan , Demir Mehmet Cihat , Demirağ Mehmet Derya 
Published: April 2019

AbstractBackgroundFamilial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a disorder mainly present in the Mediterranean region, characterized by abdominal attacks that mimic acute peritonitis. Therefore, FMF might be confused with other conditions presenting with acute abdominal pain, particularly acute appendicitis (AA). We aimed to evaluate whether epithelial-derived neutrophil-activating peptide-78 (ENA-78) and fibrinogen levels and white blood cell (WBC) counts could be used as potential markers in the differential diagnosis of acute FMF attacks and AA.MethodsThe study involved three groups: patients with AA who underwent surgery (group 1, n = 30), patients with FMF attacks (group 2, n = 30), and patients with FMF who were attack-free (n = 30, controls), which included patients who were diagnosed as having FMF previously but had no attacks for a month.ResultsSignificant differences were detected in the ENA-78 and fibrinogen levels between group 1 and group 2. No significant difference was found in the WBC count between group 1 and group 2. It was concluded that the WBC count was more sensitive (66%) for group 1, and fibrinogen showed higher sensitivity (86%) and specificity (96%) for group 2 compared with the other parameters.ConclusionsWe suggest that AA can be distinguished in patients with signs of peritonitis who were diagnosed as having FMF previously with the use of ENA-78 and fibrinogen levels; fibrinogen and ENA-78 might be helpful in discriminating between FMF attacks and AA.
Examining language policy and practices on the ground: German and French in the public space of two Walloon municipalities with language facilities
Authors: Prieto Raúl Sánchez 
Published: April 2019

AbstractBuilding on previous research on the new subfield of Linguistic Landscape (LL), this article adopts a comparative approach to study language policy practices that take place on the ground in East Belgium, a language contact area which is not usually considered conflictive. The research design is both qualitative and quantitative and aimed at overcoming some critical methodological issues. The taxonomy, which distinguishes different types of items in the LL of two municipalities with language facilities, Kelmis and Waimes, has led to a detailed qualitative analysis of the application of the current language legislation.
Global Stability Analysis of a General Model of Zika Virus
Authors: Bessey K. , Mavis M. , Rebaza J. , Zhang J. 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
Mathematical models of Zika virus dynamics are relatively new, and they mostly focus on either vector and horizontal, or vector and vertical transmission only. In this work,we first revisit a recent model that considers vector and vertical transmission, and we provide an alternative proof on the global stability of the disease-free equilibrium point. Then, a new and general model is presented which includes vector, horizontal and vertical transmission. For this new model, existence of both a disease-free and an endemic equilibrium is studied. Using matrix and graph-theoretic methods, appropriate Lyapunov functions are constructed and results on the global stability properties of both equilibria are established.
Highly efficient plasmonic nanofocusing on a metallized fiber tip with internal illumination of the radial vector mode using an acousto-optic coupling approach
Authors: Liu Min , Lu Fanfan , Zhang Wending , Huang Ligang , Liang Shuhai , Mao Dong , Gao Feng , Mei Ting , Zhao Jianlin 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
Tip-based plasmonic nanofocusing, which delivers light into a nanoscale region and achieves localized electromagnetic (EM) field enhancement beyond the diffraction limit, is highly desired for light-matter interaction-based super-resolution imaging. Here, we present the plasmonic nanofocusing at the apex of a silver (Ag)-coated fiber tip with the internal illumination of a radial vector mode (RVM) generated directly in an optical fiber based on an acoustically-induced fiber grating (AIFG). As illustrated by theoretical calculation, a picture of the nanofocusing plasmonic tip given by analyzing the mode conversion process that the surface plasmon polariton (SPP) mode excited via the radial polarization optical mode can propagate to the apex of the plasmonic tip for nanofocusing because it is not cut off as the tip radius decreases; while the SPP mode which transited from the linear polarization optical mode cannot propagate to the tip apex for nanofocusing because it is cut off as the tip radius decreases. The electric field intensity enhancement factor

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$|{\rm{E}}_{{\rm{apex}}}^{\rm{2}}|/|{\rm{E}}_{{\rm{input}}}^{\rm{2}}|$

of a plasmonic tip with a tip radius of 20 nm was calculated to be ~2 × 103. Furthermore, the electric field enhancement characteristic at the tip apex was also experimentally verified by using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The Raman scattering intensity was observed to be ~15 times as strong as that with internal illumination using the linear polarization mode (LPM), revealing their significantly different nanofocusing characteristics. A Raman sensitivity of 10−14
m was achieved for the target analyte of malachite green (MG), denoting significant electric field enhancement and effective plasmonic nanofocusing. The energy conversion efficiency of the radial polarization optical mode to the corresponding SPP mode at the tip apex was measured to be ~17%. This light delivery technique can be potentially further exploited in near-field microscopy with improved resolution and conversion efficiency.
Measuring circular phase-dichroism of chiral metasurface
Authors: Zhang Ranran , Zhao Qiuling , Wang Xia , Gao Wensheng , Li Jensen , Tam Wing Yim 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
The ability of chiral media to differentiate circularly polarized light is conventionally characterized by circular dichroism (CD) which is based on the difference in the absorption of the incident light for different polarizations. Thus, CD probes the bulk properties of chiral media. Here, we introduce a new approach termed as circular phase-dichroism that is based on the surface properties and is defined as the difference of the reflection phase for different circularly polarized incident lights in characterizing chiral media. As a demonstration, we measure the reflection phase from planar chiral sawtooth metasurface for circularly polarized light in the visible range using a simple Fabry Perot interference technique. The measured circular phase-dichroism is also crosschecked by conventional CD measurement of the transmitted light and by full-wave simulations. Our results demonstrate the potential applications of circular phase-dichroism in sensing and metasurface characterizations.
The crystal structure of (E)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-(2-nitrophenyl)triaz-1-ene C8H8N2O4
Authors: Gao Dong-Mei , Liu Lu , Tang Meng , He Chunting , Du Zhen-Ting 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
C8H8N2O4, monoclinic, C2/c (no. 15) , a = 27.748(5) Å, b = 5.6488(10) Å, c = 16.437(3) Å, β = 93.393(3)°, V = 2571.87 Å3, Z = 8, R
gt(F) = 0.0330, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.0963, T = 296(2) K.
The crystal structure of dichlorido-bis(1-butyl-1H-imidazole-κN)zinc(II), C14H24Cl2ZnN4
Authors: Li Zongmu 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
C14H24Cl2ZnN4, orthorhombic, Pbca (no. 61), a = 13.3238(11) Å, b = 15.9366(13) Å, c = 18.0943(16) Å, V = 3842.1(6) Å3, Z = 8, R
gt(F) = 0.0393, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.1053, T = 298(2) K.
Crystal structure of diaqua-bis(3-carboxy-5-bromoisophthalato-κO)-bis(1-(3-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)propyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-3-ium-κN)nickel(II) bis(3-carboxy-5-bromoisophthalate), C66H54Br4N8NiO18
Authors: Han Min-Le 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
C66H54Br4N8NiO18, triclinic, P1̄ (no. 2), a = 8.821(2) Å, b = 14.6587(14) Å, c = 14.8211(14) Å, α = 119.608(1)°, β = 95.365(1)°, γ = 99.249(1)°, V = 1610.8(5) Å3, Z = 1, R
gt(F) = 0.0345, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.0815, T = 296(2) K.