Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Noise on Speech Recognition in Cochlear Implant Subjects: Predictions and Analysis Using Acoustic Models

Cochlear implants can provide partial restoration of hearing, even with limited spectral resolution and loss of fine temporal structure, to severely deafened individuals. Studies have indicated that background noise has significant deleterious effects on the speech recognition performance of cochlear implant patients. This study investigates the effects of noise on speech recognition using acoustic models of two cochlear implant speech processors and several predictive signal-processing-based analyses. The results of a listening test for vowel and consonant recognition in noise are presented and analyzed using the rate of phonemic feature transmission for each acoustic model. Three methods for predicting patterns of consonant and vowel confusion that are based on signal processing techniques calculating a quantitative difference between speech tokens are developed and tested using the listening test results. Results of the listening test and confusion predictions are discussed in terms of comparisons between acoustic models and confusion prediction performance.
Age‐associated changes in mRNA levels of Phox2, norepinephrine transporter and dopamine β‐hydroxylase in the locus coeruleus and adrenal glands of rats

Age‐related changes in the gene expression of the transcription factors, Phox2a and 2b, and two marker proteins, norepinephrine transporter (NET) and dopamine β‐hydroxylase (DBH), of noradrenergic neurons were characterized in the locus coeruleus (LC) and adrenal glands using in situ hybridization. Analysis of changes was performed in rats that were 1–23 months of age. Compared to 1‐month‐old rats, there was a 62% increase of Phox2a messenger RNA (mRNA) in the LC of 3‐month‐old rats, and a decline of 37% in 23‐month‐old rats. In contrast, levels of Phox2b mRNA in the LC remained unchanged in 3‐month‐old rats, but declined to a 30% reduction in 23‐month‐old rats. Interestingly, mRNA levels of NET in the LC decreased with increasing age to a reduction of 29%, 30% and 43% in 3‐, 8‐ and 23‐month‐old rats, respectively. Similarly, DBH mRNA in the LC declined with increasing age to a 56% reduction in 23‐month‐old rats. mRNA levels of Phox2a, Phox2b, NET and DBH in the adrenal medulla of 23‐month‐old rats were significantly lower than those of 1‐month‐old rats. Semi‐quantitative reverse transcription assays of the same genes yielded data similar to in situ hybridization experiments, with β‐actin mRNA levels being unchanged across the ages. Taken together, these data reveal that reduced Phox2 mRNAs in the LC and adrenal medulla of aging rats are accompanied by a coincidental decline in mRNA levels of NET and DBH and suggest a possible relationship between Phox2 genes and the marker genes in noradrenergic neurons after birth.
Evaluation of four manikins as simulators for teaching airway management procedures specified in the Difficult Airway Society guidelines, and other advanced airway skills *

Ten volunteers evaluated the performance of four currently available manikins: Airway Management TrainerTM, Airway TrainerTM, Airsim™ and Bill 1™ as simulators for the 16 procedures described in the Difficult Airway Society Guidelines (DAS techniques) and eight other advanced airway techniques (non‐DAS techniques), by scoring and ranking each manikin and procedure. Manikin performance was unequal (p < 0.0001 for both SCORE and RANK data for both DAS and non‐DAS techniques). Post hoc analysis ranked the manikins for DAS techniques as: 1st Laerdal, 2nd Trucorp, 3rd equal VBM and Ambu. For non‐DAS techniques, the ranking was: 1st equal Laerdal and Trucorp, 3rd equal VBM and Ambu. The power to discriminate for individual procedures was considerably lower but for 15 of 16 DAS techniques and 6 of 8 non‐DAS techniques, manikin performance differed significantly. Post hoc tests showed significant performance differences between individual manikins for 10 DAS procedures, with the Laerdal manikin performing best.
Work-life balance of shift workers

More than a quarter of employed Canadians work something other than a regular daytime schedule regular evenings or nights, rotating or split shifts, casual or on-call jobs or irregular shifts. This article focuses on shift work among full-time workers aged 19 to 64 and looks at where and among whom it is most prevalent. Work-life balance, role overload and other indicators of well-being are also examined.
DYNAMICAL CONSTRAINTS ON THE MASSES OF THE NUCLEAR STAR CLUSTER AND BLACK HOLE IN THE LATE-TYPE SPIRAL GALAXY NGC 3621

NGC 3621 is a late-type (Sd) spiral galaxy with an active nucleus, previously detected through mid-infrared [Ne v] line emission. Archival Hubble Space Telescope (HST) images reveal that the galaxy contains a bright and compact nuclear star cluster. We present a new high-resolution optical spectrum of this nuclear cluster, obtained with the Echellette Spectrograph and Imager at the Keck Observatory. The nucleus has a Seyfert 2 emission-line spectrum at optical wavelengths, supporting the hypothesis that a black hole (BH) is present. The line-of-sight stellar velocity dispersion of the cluster is σ⋆ = 43 ± 3 km s−1, one of the largest dispersions measured for any nuclear cluster in a late-type spiral galaxy. Combining this measurement with structural parameters measured from archival HST images, we carry out dynamical modeling based on the Jeans equation for a spherical star cluster containing a central point mass. The maximum BH mass consistent with the measured stellar velocity dispersion is 3 × 106 M☉. If the BH mass is small compared with the cluster's stellar mass, then the dynamical models imply a total stellar mass of ∼1 × 107 M☉, which is consistent with rough estimates of the stellar mass based on photometric measurements from HST images. From the structural decomposition of Two Micron All Sky Survey images, we find no clear evidence for a bulge in NGC 3621; the galaxy contains at most a very faint and inconspicuous pseudobulge component (MK ≳ −17.6 mag). NGC 3621 provides one of the best demonstrations that very late-type spirals can host both active nuclei and nuclear star clusters, and that low-mass BHs can occur in disk galaxies even in the absence of a substantial bulge.
The adaptation problems of patients undergoing hemodialysis: socio-economic and clinical aspects1

OBJECTIVES: to identify adaptation problems under Roy's Model in patients undergoing hemodialysis and to correlate them with the socioeconomic and clinical aspects. METHOD: a transversal study, undertaken using a questionnaire. The sample was made up of 178 individuals. The Chi-squared and Mann-Whitney U tests were undertaken. RESULTS: the adaptation problems and the socioeconomic and clinical aspects which presented statistical associations were: Hyperkalemia and age; Edema and income; Impairment of a primary sense: touch and income; Role failure and age; Sexual dysfunction and marital status and sex; Impairment of a primary sense: vision and years of education; Intolerance to activity and years of education; Chronic pain and sex and years of education; Impaired skin integrity and age: Hypocalcemia and access; Potential for injury and age and years of education; Nutrition below the organism's requirements and age; Impairment of a primary sense: hearing and sex and kinetic evaluation of urea; Mobility in gait and/or coordination restricted, and months of hemodialysis; and, Loss of ability for self-care, and months of hemodialysis and months of illness. CONCLUSION: adaptation problems in the clientele undergoing hemodialysis can be influenced by socioeconomic/clinical data. These findings contribute to the development of the profession, fostering the nurse's reflection regarding the care.
A Commentary on the Relationship between Self-efficacy, Problem-focused Coping and Performance

Self-efficacy influences self-regulatory cognition and behaviour, including the way we approach and cope with problems and how we perform tasks. In this paper I examined the construct of self-efficacy and the strongly related variables of coping and performance to better understand how self-efficacy works at a fundamental level. I briefly reviewed some key concepts, measures and methods used in the study of self-efficacy, commenting on potentially important and understudied differences in coping styles that may influence self-efficacy. Specifically, problem-focused coping was the main coping strategy in the literature that had a positive correlation with both self-efficacy and performance. Lastly, I present some ideas for future research toward more understanding of the development of self-efficacy and its contributing factors.
A comparative study between ropivacaine 30 ml (0.75%) and ropivacaine 30 ml (0.75%) with clonidine 150 μg as an adjuvant in brachial plexus block through supraclavicular approach

Background: Ropivacaine is a novel alternative to bupivacaine with the less cardiovascular system and central nervous system toxicity. Clonidine, an alpha 2 agonist, may have benefited patients when it is injected at peripheral nerve sites with local anesthetic ropivacaine. Clonidine is second only to epinephrine as a useful adjuvant for brachial plexus blockade. Objective: A clinical study was carried out to compare the anesthetic effects of ropivacaine alone and clonidine as an adjuvant to ropivacaine in brachial plexus block for upper limb surgeries. Materials and Methods: A comparative, double-blind, prospective, randomized, clinical study was carried out on 60 patients of either sex of American Society of Anesthesiologist physical status I and II, with age group 25-65 years undergoing various orthopedic surgeries of upper limb under supraclavicular brachial plexus block. Patients were randomly allocated to either of the two groups of 30 each. Group-R: Injection ropivacaine 30 ml (0.75%) with 1 ml normal saline. Group-ropivacaine clonidine (RC): Iinjection ropivacaine 30 ml (0.75%) with injection clonidine 1 ml (150 μg). Heart rate, mean arterial pressure, onset and duration of motor and sensory blockade were observed during preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative period. At the end of the study, the data were analyzed using Chi-square test for qualitative data and Student t-test. P < 0.05 was considered significant and P < 0.01 was considered as highly significant. Results: Demographic and hemodynamic data were comparable. Onset of sensory and motor block was significantly earlier in Group-R. Duration of analgesia and motor blockade was prolonged in the RC group. Both groups were observed for the side-effects, which were not significant. Conclusions: Addition of clonidine 150 μm to ropivacaine 0.75% 30 ml delays the onset of sensory and motor blockade while prolongs the postoperative motor blockade and analgesia significantly without producing any clinical significant side-effects in brachial plexus block through supraclavicular approach.
Android Application Development & Its Security

— In this paper we will look at the Android platform and Android based mobile application development & its security. Further we will look to explore an Android application available in google play store My Notepad. This application is used to save notes by using easy direct manipulation. It is featured with functions as Voice Navigation and Voice Based Searching, it requires internet connection to utilize these key features as well. We then present an outline on further research and development of the application
Neuroanatomical Evidence for Distinct Cognitive and Affective Components of Self

This study examines whether the cognitive and affective components of self-reflection can be dissociated using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Using a simple paradigm in which subjects judged the personal relevance of personality characteristics that were either favorable (e.g., honest) or unfavorable (e.g., lazy, we found that distinct neural circuits in adjacent regions of the prefrontal cortex subserve cognitive and emotional aspects of self-reflection. The medial prefrontal cortex responded only to material that was self-descriptive, and this did not differ as a function of the valence of the trait. When material was judged to be self-relevant, the valence of the material was resolved in an adjacent region of ventral anterior cingulate. The nature of self is one of the most enduring questions in science, and researchers are now beginning to be able to decompose the neural operations that give rise to a unitary sense of self.
[Optimizing history taking for evaluating the risk of venous thromboembolism: the OPTIMEV study].

UNLABELLED Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent disease and remains a major cause of mortality and morbidity among our patients. During the 20 past years, clinical description, diagnostic tools, and treatment have changed dramatically. Most published data describing risk factors for VTE no longer apply to the patients seen in daily practice. We present here the rationale, aims, and methodology of the OPTIMEV Study (OPTimisation de l'Interrogatoire pour la Maladie thromboEmbolique Veineuse). RATIONALE Risk factors for VTE are numerous, complex and interactions between them and their clinical importance is difficult to measure (table I). For example, odds ratios for VTE recurrence vary greatly across longitudinal studies. We searched the National Library of Medecine (PubMed) and the Amedeo website using the following keywords: "venous thromboembolism", "pulmonary embolism", "deep vein thrombosis", "risk factors". We selected 84 relevant articles published between 1972 and 2005. Based on this literature analysis, we identified the following major risk factors: VTE recurrence, surgery, cancer, immobilization, age, biological factors. For these factors, data are lacking and some questions are proposed. OBJECTIVES The broad objective of the study is to better evaluate clinical risk factors that fit today's practice against VTE. Specific aims are: 1) to determine whether risk factors are different between proximal and distal deep vein thrombosis (DVT); 2) to develop and prospectively validate a new prediction rule for outpatients. The primary hypothesis is that careful assessment of VTE recurrence, adequate surgical thromboprophylaxis, cancer staging, and varicose vein stratification according to the CEAP classification, is mandatory for accurate evaluation of thromboembolic disease risk. METHODS We conducted a multicenter, prospective, cohort study of 10000 patients. Enrollees are inpatients and outpatients presenting with a clinical suspicion of VTE in Emergency Departments and outpatient clinics in France. 4173 patients have been enrolled at this time (Figure 2). All eligible patients are enrolled during a selected period of time through different seasons. Data are collected by physicians in charge of the patients using an electronic case recording form. Collected data include baseline characteristics, risk factors, results of diagnostic investigations. Outcome measures obtained through telephone interview at 3 and 12 months include cancer diagnosis, VTE recurrence, haemorrhagic events, treatments, death. Univariate and multivariate analysis will be performed using multilevel logistic regression. The study organization is performed by the Centre d'Investigation Clinique de Grenoble and is sponsored by the French Society of Vascular Medicine. First results, to be published in 2006, will allow development of new prediction rules for VTE diagnosis.
Treatment of Combined Sewer Overflow Using Retention Treatment Basin Assisted with Polymer Chemical Coagulation

Pilot plant experiments were conducted to examine the performance of a retention treatment basin (RTB) with chemical coagulation using a cationic polymer in the treatment of combined sewer overflow (CSO) for the City of Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The pilot plant was operated at surface overflow rates (SORs) up to 1370 m 3/m 2 · d. This study demonstrated that the use of polymer coagulation improved settling characteristics of solids, and allowed the SOR in the RTB to be increased significantly. An optimum polymer dosage to achieve the discharge standards of CSO was determined from the experimental runs. The effluent quality met the Ontario Ministry of the Environment Procedure F‐5‐5 in terms of 5‐day biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids removals. A flushing box was successfully tested for flushing the collected floatables and sludge from the bottom of the RTB after storm events.
“Don't Want No Risk and Don't Want No Problems”: Public Understandings of the Risks and Benefits of Noninvasive Prenatal Testing in the United States

Background: The recent availability of new noninvasive prenatal genetic tests for fetal aneuploidy has raised questions concerning whether and how these new tests will be integrated into prenatal medical care. Among the many factors to be considered are public understandings and preferences about prenatal testing mechanisms and the prospect of fetal aneuploidy. Methods: To address these issues, we conducted a nationwide mixed-method survey of 2,960 adults in the United States to explore justifications for choices among prenatal testing mechanisms. Open responses were qualitatively coded and grouped by theme. Results: Respondents cited accuracy, followed by cost, as the most significant aspects of prenatal testing. Acceptance of testing was predicated on differing valuations of knowledge and on personal and religious beliefs. Trust in the medical establishment, attitudes toward risk, and beliefs about health and illness were also considered relevant. Conclusions: Although a significant portion of the sample population valued the additional accuracy provided by the new noninvasive tests, they nevertheless expressed concerns over high costs. Furthermore, participants continued to express reservations about the value of prenatal genetic information per se, regardless of how it was obtained.
Rethinking Gender and Agency in the Satyagraha Movement of 1913

Abstract The paper is an assessment of women’s agency in the Satyagraha movement of 1913 in Natal, South Africa, through the biographical accounts of three Indian women.1 The campaign was fought against discriminatory measures that challenged the status of Indian wives in South Africa and imposed a £3 poll tax on ex-indentured laborers. Well over 20 000 men and women participated in this struggle. By profiling the lives of Mrs Bai Fatima Sheikh Mehtab, Miss Valliamma Munuswami Mudliar and Mrs Kasturba Gandhi, my purpose here is not only to illuminate the multiple personal and physical challenges women endured in the struggle, but simultaneously reflect some Indian women’s contribution to decision-making and public participation.
Patients on renal replacement therapy for 20 or more years: a clinical profile.

BACKGROUND Long-term survivors are living evidence of the goals and limits of renal replacement therapy (RRT). METHODS A cross-sectional study was performed on all cases (188 patients) with RRT follow-up >/=20 years in Piemonte, northern Italy (4 350 000 inhabitants, 22 dialysis centres). Study included revision of clinical charts and assessment of functional (Karnofsky scale, Ks) and nutritional status (subjective global assessment, SGA). According to treatment history, patients were sorted into three groups: group 1, 56 patients always on dialysis; group 2, 40 patients on dialysis with previous graft; group 3, 92 grafted patients. RESULTS Age differed between group 1 and groups 2 and 3 (59.5+/-11.5 vs 51.5+/-7.9 and 51.0+/-9.0 years; P=0.001). Prevalence of comorbidity was higher in groups 1 and 2 (94.6% and 95%) compared with group 3 (81.5%), reflecting selection during follow-up. Twenty-two cases (11.7%) had no comorbidity; these patients were younger (44.3+/-8.5 years) and 17 out of 22 had a functioning graft. The most common comorbidities were vasculopathy (73.4%), bone disease (72.9%) and cardiopathy (33.5%). Severe visual impairment was a common problem (18%), with a higher prevalence in patients with cardiovascular comorbidity (32%). Severe depression was found in 13.3% of cases. Despite comorbidity, functional scores (Ks) were good (higher in group 3 (88.1+/-15) than in groups 1 and 2 (67.9+/-21.9 and 75.5+/-18, respectively); P=0.000) and 64% of patients were well nourished. The combination of cardiovascular comorbidity, bone disease and visual impairment may reflect the premature ageing of RRT patients. CONCLUSION Despite the high prevalence of comorbidity, long-term follow-up may promote good clinical conditions at least in some patients, highlighting the therapeutic potentials of dialysis in an era of reconsideration of open acceptance of RRT.
Harmful or helpful? The role of the internet in self-harming and suicidal behaviour in young people

Purpose– The internet plays an important role in the lives of self-harming and suicidal young people yet little is known about how internet use influences this behaviour. The purpose of this paper is to examine the evidence base with a view to determining directions for future research and practice. Design/methodology/approach – Literature relating to self-harming and suicidal behaviour, young people, and the internet is reviewed with a focus on content and methodology. Findings – The internet provides access to: “how-to” descriptions of suicide; unregulated/illegal online pharmacies; forums to spread this information; access to others seeking to end their own lives. Such sites are believed to elevate risk amongst vulnerable individuals. Conversely, the internet provides access to intervention and prevention activity, online support groups, advice, and personal chat. These can be a key resource in helping young people. There is a lack of consensus on what constitutes harmful and helpful online exchange, often evidenced in disparity between the perceptions of professionals and users. Research limitations/implications – Research is needed to map out a more accurate picture of suicide and self-harm resources on the internet and to establish a consensus about what constitutes harmful and helpful exchange. This needs to be based on: a comprehensive and informed range of search terms; a clear distinction between types of resource; a clear and consistent rationale for distinguishing and categorizing sites; a systematic replicable methodology for plotting the scope, content, accessibility, and popularity of web resources at a given point in time; the views of young people who use these sites, as well as practitioners and professionals. Practical implications – Practitioners need to: regularly assess the quantity, quality, and nature of selfharm/suicide focused internet use amongst service users; be aware of which sites are most appropriate for particular individuals; promote sites directed at young people that enhance effective coping. Professional mental health organizations need to find ways of ensuring that: they are consistently well represented amongst search results online; sites are readily accessible; more practitioners are trained in text-based communications. Originality/value – This paper offers a framework and rationale for future research and for those involved in service provision, policy, and practice.