Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Temporal and perceptual characteristics of tracheoesophageal voice

This study compared the temporal and perceptual characteristics of tracheoesophageal voice produced in four different prosthetic/occlusion conditions: 1. using the Blom‐Singer duckbill prosthesis and digital occlusion of the tracheostoma; 2. using the Blom‐Singer duckbill prosthesis and valve occlusion of the tracheostoma; 3. using the Blom‐Singer low‐pressure prosthesis and digital occlusion of the tracheostoma; and 4. using the Blom‐Singer low‐pressure prosthesis and valve occlusion of the tracheostoma. Characteristics of speech produced in each condition were also compared to those of normal speech. Results revealed significant differences between normal speech and tracheoesophageal speech (in all prosthetic/occlusion conditions) for several temporal and perceptual parameters. In addition, important trends were noted among tracheoesophageal prosthetic/occlusion conditions.
Which incentives work? An experimental analysis of incentives for trainers

One conjecture in the theory of incentives is that incentives based on broader outcomes may be better at motivating agents than incentives based on narrow measures. We designed an experiment to test these hypotheses using a "prospective randomized evaluation procedure" (PREP). We then apply PREP to training programs as typically funded by donors of economic development assistance. We randomly assigned 274 participating entrepreneurs in the Philippines to one of 26, simultaneous, one-day, training classes in marketing. Trainers were given cash incentives based on the average score of their "students" on a standardized test containing an alternative number of questions, which were randomly assigned to each class. We then examined outcomes based on student satisfaction ratings of the trainer. Our results suggest that incentives based on broad outcomes are more effective than incentives based on narrow outcomes. We conclude with ways to improve our approach as well as with a discussion of the implications for using prospective randomized evaluation for improving the evaluation of donor projects.
Draft Genome Sequence of Leptolyngbya sp. KIOST-1, a Filamentous Cyanobacterium with Biotechnological Potential for Alimentary Purposes

ABSTRACT Here, we report the draft genome of cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya sp. KIOST-1 isolated from a microalgal culture pond in South Korea. The genome consists of 13 contigs containing 6,320,172 bp, and a total of 5,327 coding sequences were predicted. This genomic information will allow further exploitation of its biotechnological potential for alimentary purposes.
Chemical enrichment and star formation in the Milky Way disk - III. Chemodynamical constraints

In this paper, we investigate some chemokinematical properties of the Milky Way disk, by using a sample composed by 424 late-type dwarfs. We show that the velocity dispersion of a stellar group correlates with the age of this group, according to a law proportional to t 0.26 ,w heret is the age of the stellar group. The temporal evolution of the vertex deviation is considered in detail. It is shown that the vertex deviation does not seem to depend strongly on the age of the stellar group. Previous studies in the literature seem to not have found it due to the use of statistical ages for stellar groups, rather than individual ages. The possibility to use the orbital parameters of a star to derive information about its birthplace is investigated, and we show that the mean galactocentric radius is likely to be the most reliable stellar birthplace indicator. However, this information cannot be presently used to derive radial evolutionary constraints, due to an intrinsic bias present in all samples constructed from nearby stars. An extensive discussion of the secular and stochastic heating mechanisms commonly invoked to explain the age-velocity dispersion relation is presented. We suggest that the age-velocity dispersion relation could reflect the gradual decrease in the turbulent velocity dispersion from which disk stars form, a suggestion originally made by Tinsley & Larson (1978, ApJ, 221, 554) and supported by several more recent disk evolution calculations. A test to distinguish between the two types of models using high-redshift galaxies is proposed.
Single trial decoding of belief decision making from EEG and fMRI data using independent components features

The complex task of assessing the veracity of a statement is thought to activate uniquely distributed brain regions based on whether a subject believes or disbelieves a given assertion. In the current work, we present parallel machine learning methods for predicting a subject's decision response to a given propositional statement based on independent component (IC) features derived from EEG and fMRI data. Our results demonstrate that IC features outperformed features derived from event related spectral perturbations derived from any single spectral band, yet were similar to accuracy across all spectral bands combined. We compared our diagnostic IC spatial maps with our conventional general linear model (GLM) results, and found that informative ICs had significant spatial overlap with our GLM results, yet also revealed unique regions like amygdala that were not statistically significant in GLM analyses. Overall, these results suggest that ICs may yield a parsimonious feature set that can be used along with a decision tree structure for interpretation of features used in classifying complex cognitive processes such as belief and disbelief across both fMRI and EEG neuroimaging modalities.
Laparoscopic gastric bypass is superior to adjustable gastric band in super morbidly obese patients: A prospective, comparative analysis.

HYPOTHESIS Outcome following laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) in super morbidly obese patients is significantly worse compared with the standard laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB). DESIGN Prospective case series. SETTING Community teaching hospital (490 beds). PATIENTS A prospectively maintained database identified patients who underwent operative treatment for morbid obesity between February 2001 and June 2004. The study group included super morbidly obese patients (body mass index >50 [calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters]) following LAGB and LRYGB. INTERVENTIONS Among 106 patients with super morbid obesity, 60 (57%) and 46 (43%) underwent LAGB and LRYGB, respectively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Patient demographics, weight loss, percentage of excess weight loss, change in body mass index, early (<30 days) and late (> or =30 days) complications, reoperations, medical comorbidity, and patient satisfaction were studied. Analysis was performed using the t test and Pearson chi 2 analysis. RESULTS Overall median follow-up was 16.2 months (range, 1-40 months). Preoperative factors of patient age, sex, weight, body mass index, and medical comorbidity were similar between the 2 groups. Compared with LRYGB, patients who underwent LAGB experienced a greater incidence of late complications (P < .05), reoperations (P < .04), less weight loss (P<.001), and decreased overall satisfaction (P < .006). Likewise, patients who underwent LRYGB had a greater resolution of concomitant diabetes mellitus (P < .05) and sleep apnea (P<.01) compared with the LAGB group. Furthermore, postoperative adjustments to achieve consistent weight loss for LAGB recipients ranged from 1 to 15 manipulations. Our single mortality was in the LAGB group. CONCLUSIONS In super morbidly obese patients, LAGB is significantly associated with more late complications, reoperations, less weight loss, less reduction of medical comorbidity, and patient dissatisfaction compared with LRYGB. Further evaluation of LAGB in this patient population appears warranted.
Curvature correction of retinal OCTs using graph-based geometry detection

In this paper, we present a new algorithm as an enhancement and preprocessing step for acquired optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of the retina. The proposed method is composed of two steps, first of which is a denoising algorithm with wavelet diffusion based on a circular symmetric Laplacian model, and the second part can be described in terms of graph-based geometry detection and curvature correction according to the hyper-reflective complex layer in the retina. The proposed denoising algorithm showed an improvement of contrast-to-noise ratio from 0.89 to 1.49 and an increase of signal-to-noise ratio (OCT image SNR) from 18.27 to 30.43 dB. By applying the proposed method for estimation of the interpolated curve using a full automatic method, the mean ± SD unsigned border positioning error was calculated for normal and abnormal cases. The error values of 2.19 ± 1.25 and 8.53 ± 3.76 µm were detected for 200 randomly selected slices without pathological curvature and 50 randomly selected slices with pathological curvature, respectively. The important aspect of this algorithm is its ability in detection of curvature in strongly pathological images that surpasses previously introduced methods; the method is also fast, compared to the relatively low speed of similar methods.
3D-Finite Element Modelof the Human Cochlea Including Fluid-Structure Couplings

The propagation of acoustic waves in the inner ear in vivo could not be quantified completely yet. This is in particular true in conjunction with the micromechanical structures of the organ of Corti, though these data are important for the explanation and discussion of clinical measurements like otoacoustic emissions and auditory brainstem responses. To access these problems a three-dimensional mechanical model of the cochlea including the fluid-structure couplings is developed and evaluated numerically by finite elements. Although the complex cochlear partition is covered by passive mechanical elements, the results fit early experiments (1928), which studied the wave propagation in the cochlea with fresh human cadavers [G. von Békésy: Experiments in Hearing. New York, McGraw-Hill, 1960]. Additionally it is now easy to calculate the mechanical input impedance of the cochlea. These results agree with recent experiments [S.N. Merchant et al.: Hear Res 1996;97:30–45].
The effects of serotonin and catecholamine depletion on attentional control and response inhibition

The present study aimed to expand upon our knowledge of the role of brain monoamines on executive functioning by exploring the effects of serotonin depletion, dopamine depletion, and combined monoamine depletion, on attentional control and response inhibition. Ten healthy male participants completed the Stroop task under four treatment conditions; a) placebo control treatment, b) tryptophan depletion treatment, c) tyrosine/phenylalanine depletion treatment, and d) combined monoamine depletion treatment. The prediction that under tryptophan depletion there would be decreased Stroop interference and reaction times was not supported. However, the hypothesis that there would be no difference in the number of errors made under tryptophan depletion was supported. In addition, it was found that there was no difference in facilitation under tryptophan depletion. Concerning tyrosine/phenylalanine depletion, the predictions that there would be increased interference and reaction times, were not supported. However, the hypotheses that there would be no difference in facilitation or the number of errors made, were supported. Furthermore, under combined monoamine depletion, no difference in any of the Stroop task measures was observed. It was concluded that attentional control and response inhibition, as assessed by the Stroop task, are not affected by modulation of dopamine or serotonin with the use of amino acid depletion techniques.
Effective Use of Personal Response “Clicker” Systems in Psychology Courses

Though personal response “clicker” systems can enhance student engagement and learning, little research has examined characteristics which affect learning. In the current study, 151 students reported how their instructor used clickers, their experience of clicker-related hindrances, perceived benefits of using clickers, and their grades. Results show that more clicker uses interacted with student’s perceived benefits of clickers to predict grades. As the number of clicker uses increased to four, students received better grades, grades declined with more than four uses. Nonmajors and seniors taking psychology and neuroscience classes reported fewer clicker uses, benefits, and experiencing more hindrances. Instructors should note that some students are not receptive to clickers and there may be an optimal number ways to use clickers in class.
The rise and fall of gay: A cultural-historical approach to gay identity development

Research on identity development has paid relatively little attention to the development of marginalised identities such as those of gays and lesbians, whose isolation from the canonical narrative of sexuality may limit the available resources required for establishing a coherent identity. We examined these contested identities in relation to cultural-historical factors that may have played a role in shaping these identities over the past 50 years, and looked at how such factors have impacted the voicing and silencing of gay experiences. Participants (N=251) reported (1) a memory of a cultural event relevant to their sexuality, and (2) a self-defining memory about their sexuality. Those in older cohorts reported cultural memories centred on politics and other external events (e.g., Stonewall riots), and younger cohorts reported more personal memories (e.g., coming out), suggesting that homosexual identities have become less culturally defined, and instead more personally defined. Further, participants of older cohorts reported self-defining events that were predominantly from one private domain (e.g., sex). In contrast, younger participants reported a variety of self-defining events. These results suggest that cultural-historical factors play an important role in defining the developmental pathway of individuals, perhaps especially those who have marginalised identities.
ANGPT2 promoter methylation is strongly associated with gene expression and prognosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Increasing evidence suggests a key role for angiopoietin-2 (ANGPT2) in influencing the aggressiveness of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). In the presence of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), ANGPT2 causes vessel destabilization leading to neoangiogenesis. Accordingly, high expression levels of ANGPT2 and high degree of angiogenesis have consistently been associated with poor prognosis in CLL; however, the molecular mechanisms behind the variability in ANGPT2 expression are still to be discovered. Here, for the first time, we investigated the DNA methylation status of the ANGPT2 promoter in a large CLL cohort (n = 88) using pyrosequencing and correlated methylation data with ANGPT2 expression levels, prognostic factors and outcome. Importantly, methylation levels of the ANGPT2 gene correlated inversely with its mRNA expression levels (p < 0.001). Moreover, low ANGPT2 methylation status was highly associated with adverse prognostic markers, shorter time to first treatment and overall survival. Finally, treatment with methyl inhibitors induced re-expression of ANGPT2 in two B-cell lymphoma cell lines, underscoring the importance of DNA methylation in regulating transcriptional silencing of this gene. In conclusion, we believe that the known variability in ANGPT2 expression among CLL patients could be explained by differential promoter DNA methylation and that low methylation levels of the ANGPT2 promoter have an adverse prognostic impact in CLL.
Nutrient intake and protein turnover

Changes in body protein mass are the result of the simultaneous synthesis and degradation of proteins. Because the rates of these processes greatly exceed those of either protein intake or protein deposition, the turnover of body protein dominates the turnover of free amino acids in the body. Even in rapidly growing animals much of the synthesis of body protein is related to the replacement of cellular protein lost by inevitable catabolism (Reeds et al. 1980) and only part of the process is functionally related to growth. Although the intake of nutrients has a major impact on the rate of protein turnover in the body, as animals mature and their maximum growth rate declines, the increases in body protein synthesis which accompany increases in intake above those required for maintenance become progressively smaller. The limit is reached in the adult where an increase in intake above that required for nitrogen equilibrium has little effect on the rate of protein synthesis (Table I). In theory, both protein synthesis and degradation could be increased to the same extent, as part of a thermogenic response for example, but such an Occurrence seems rare. Although the extent to which nutrient intake affects the synthesis and degradation of body protein depends on the stage of development, at a given developmental stage the nutritional and physiological status of the individual can also influence the response to a subsequent change in intake. Clugston & Garlick (1982b), for example, have shown that the immediate response of protein turnover to a meal is profoundly modified by the subject's preceeding intake of protein.
Effects of Massed versus Distributed Practice on Acquisition of Video Game Skill

This study investigated the effects of massed versus distributed practice on the learning of video-game-playing skill by 45 subjects of both sexes. The apparatus included an Apple II+ microcomputer system with gamepaddles and a commercial video game (Apple Brick-Out). Each subject played the video game 10 times in succession. However, the distributed practice subjects were given a newspaper to read for 2 min. between games. The elapsed time and the point score of each game were recorded on-line. To equate preexperimental between-subject differences in video-game-playing skill, the first game's performance scores (points) were subtracted from each of the other nine to yield change scores. The means of both indexes, computed across subjects for each of the nine game change scores, showed marked improvement for all subjects; however, the distributed practice group consistently showed more improvement. This study supports the previous findings and validates a technique for study of various effects on acquisition of motor skill.
Ultrastructural analysis of the replication cycle of pseudorabies virus in cell culture: a reassessment

We reinvestigated major steps in the replicative cycle of pseudorabies virus (PrV) by electron microscopy of infected cultured cells. Virions attached to the cell surface were found in two distinct stages, with a distance of 12 to 14 nm or 6 to 8 nm between virion envelope and cell surface, respectively. After fusion of virion envelope and cell membrane, immunogold labeling using a monoclonal antibody against the envelope glycoprotein gE demonstrated a rapid drift of gE from the fusion site, indicating significant lateral movement of viral glycoproteins during or immediately after the fusion event. Naked nucleocapsids in the cytoplasm frequently appeared close to microtubules prior to transport to nuclear pores. At the nuclear pore, nucleocapsids invariably were oriented with one vertex pointing to the central granulum at a distance of about 40 nm and viral DNA appeared to be released via the vertex region into the nucleoplasm. Intranuclear maturation followed the typical herpesvirus nucleocapsid morphogenesis pathway. Regarding egress, our observations indicate that primary envelopment of nucleocapsids occurred at the inner leaflet of the nuclear membrane by budding into the perinuclear cisterna. This nuclear membrane-derived envelope exhibited a smooth surface which contrasts the envelope obtained by putative reenvelopment at tubular vesicles in the Golgi area which is characterized by distinct surface projections. Loss of the primary envelope and release of the nucleocapsid into the cytoplasm appeared to occur by fusion of envelope and outer leaflet of the nuclear membrane. Nucleocapsids were also found engulfed by both lamella of the nuclear membrane. This vesiculation process released nucleocapsids surrounded by two membranes into the cytoplasm. Our data also indicate that fusion between the two membranes then leads to release of naked nucleocapsids in the Golgi area. Egress of virions appeared to occur via transport vesicles containing one or more virus particles by fusion of vesicle and cell membrane. Our data thus support biochemical data and mutant virus studies of (i) two steps of attachment, (ii) the involvement of microtubules in the transport of nucleocapsids to the nuclear pore, and (iii) secondary envelopment in the trans-Golgi area in PrV infection.
A near‐bottom magnetic survey of the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge axis at 26°N: Implications for the tectonic evolution of the TAG segment

[1] An extensive deep-tow magnetic survey of the TAG ridge segment on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge reveals new information about the relationship between the magnetic anomaly field and the TAG hydrothermal deposits. Results show the strongest magnetization is located over the neovolcanic axis and asymmetrically toward the western side of the central Brunhes anomaly. A well-defined linear magnetization low is located over the eastern rift valley wall of the TAG segment. The near-bottom data show no direct correlation between this crustal magnetization low and the hydrothermal deposits. The magnetization low is explained by crustal thinning caused by 4 km of horizontal extension along a normal fault. Previous observations and sampling indicate exposures of gabbros and dikes in the eastern rift valley wall, suggesting slip along a normal fault has revealed this crust. Modeling suggests the fault has been active since 0.35 ± 0.1 Ma at a horizontal slip rate of roughly half the spreading rate of 22 km/Myr. The TAG hydrothermal system is located on the hanging wall of this fault within 3 km of its termination. Over the past several hundred thousand years, movement on the detachment fault may have episodically increased the permeability of the hanging wall reactivating the overlying hydrothermal systems. Significant vents like TAG may be typically associated with hanging walls of long-term detachment faults near seafloor spreading centers. This would imply that it is the reactivation of permeability in the hanging wall related to repeated fault movement that controls the longevity of these hydrothermal systems.