Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Computer-based auditory training to improve speech recognition in noise by children with hearing impairment

Over the past 20 years there have been substantial improvements in hearing-assistive technology to provide children with hearing impairment more access to auditory information, however understanding speech in noise is still a challenge. Individuals with hearing loss have difficulty hearing in noise because they are less able to process information in the brief spectral and temporal regions of the speech signal where the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) becomes favorable. This process is known as glimpsing. Individuals with normal hearing are able to take advantage of the fluctuations between the signal and background noise because they are less susceptible to masking effects. Researchers have compared speech recognition in interrupted and continuous noise and indicated that individuals with normal hearing experience a perceptual advantage in interrupted noise. In addition, after repeated trials adults with normal hearing demonstrate an improvement in speech recognition in interrupted noise. The focus of the current investigation was to determine if speech recognition in noise by children with hearing impairment can be improved through auditory training in noise. Phase 1 was to determine the initial starting signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and step-size of the SNR at the 80% speech-recognition performance level in interrupted and continuous noise for children with hearing impairment. Performance–intensity functions in interrupted and continuous noise with 10 children with moderate-to-severe hearing loss were used to determine the starting level and step-size SNR for auditory training. In phase 2, the first aim was to determine if 7 hours of auditory training in interrupted noise results in a significant improvement of speech recognition in noise compared to auditory training in continuous noise immediately following training. The second aim was to evaluate the maintenance of speech recognition in interrupted and continuous noise 3 months following auditory training. Data were collected on 24 children with moderate-to-severe hearing loss following 7 hours of auditory training in the following groups: auditory training in interrupted noise (ATI), auditory training in continuous noise (ATC), and visual training in quiet (VTQ). Results indicated that the ATI group demonstrated significantly greater improvement in speech recognition than ATC and VTQ in interrupted and continuous noise conditions.
Multirelay channel with non-ergodic link failures

A multi-relay network is considered in which communication from source to relays takes place over a (discrete or Gaussian) broadcast channel, while the relays are connected to the receiver via orthogonal finite-capacity links. Unbeknownst to the source and relays, link failures may take place between any subset of relays and destination in a non-ergodic fashion. Upper and lower bounds are derived on average achievable rates with respect to the prior distribution of the link failures, assuming the relays to be oblivious to the source codebook. The lower bounds are obtained via strategies that combine the broadcast coding approach, previously investigated for quasi-static fading channels, and various robust distributed compression techniques.
Community-acquired pneumonia guidelines: much guidance, but not much evidence

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is changing. The emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance in common causative bacteria, the development of new microbiological diagnostic techniques, new understandings in the area of severity assessment and the development of new antibiotics are just some of the issues. Methods of guideline writing have also evolved 1. The categorisation of evidence and the strength attributed to recommendations are perhaps the most important additions to this methodology 2. Some aspects of the older guidelines for CAP management may therefore be out of date 35. The publication of the British Thoracic Society (BTS) 6 and American Thoracic Society (ATS) Guidelines for the management of CAP 7 in 2001 and the Canadian 8, 9 and The Infectious Disease Society of North America (IDSA) Guidelines 10 in 2000 were most welcome. They all updated or revised earlier publications (after intervals of 8, 8, 7 and 2 yrs, respectively) and attempted to take account of the issues mentioned above. The scope of each document is similar and they include issues such as clinical presentation and diagnosis, microbial and nonmicrobial investigation and general and antibiotic management. A separate publication confined to antibiotic recommendations was presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 11. It is not the purpose of this paper to compare these documents item by item, but more to assess in general terms, their potential value and limitations and how and where they may or may not be used. Guidelines are, whether we …
A comparison of oral and topical corticosteroids in patients with bullous pemphigoid.

BACKGROUND Bullous pemphigoid is the most common autoimmune blistering skin disease of the elderly. Because elderly people have low tolerance for standard regimens of oral corticosteroids, we studied whether highly potent topical corticosteroids could decrease mortality while controlling disease. METHODS A total of 341 patients with bullous pemphigoid were enrolled in a randomized, multicenter trial and stratified according to the severity of their disease (moderate or extensive). Patients were randomly assigned to receive either topical clobetasol propionate cream (40 g per day) or oral prednisone (0.5 mg per kilogram of body weight per day for those with moderate disease and 1 mg per kilogram per day for those with extensive disease). The primary end point was overall survival. RESULTS Among the 188 patients with extensive bullous pemphigoid, topical corticosteroids were superior to oral prednisone (P=0.02). The one-year survival rate was 76 percent in the topical-corticosteroid group and 58 percent in the oral-prednisone group. Disease was controlled at three weeks in 92 of the 93 patients in the topical-corticosteroid group (99 percent) and 86 of the 95 patients in the oral-prednisone group (91 percent, P=0.02). Severe complications occurred in 27 of the 93 patients in the topical-corticosteroid group (29 percent) and in 51 of the 95 patients in the oral-prednisone group (54 percent, P=0.006). Among the 153 patients with moderate bullous pemphigoid, there were no significant differences between the topical-corticosteroid group and the oral-prednisone group in terms of overall survival, the rate of control at three weeks, or the incidence of severe complications. CONCLUSIONS Topical corticosteroid therapy is effective for both moderate and severe bullous pemphigoid and is superior to oral corticosteroid therapy for extensive disease.
On the Homogeneous Model of Wind-Driven Ocean Circulation

In this paper, we derive rigorously a classical simplified model of ocean circulation, namely the so-called homogeneous model of wind-driven ocean circulation [J. Pedlosky, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, Springer--Verlag, 1979] and two of its possible boundary-layer behaviors, namely Munk layers and Stommel layers.
Action Regulation Across the Adult Lifespan (ARAL): A Metatheory of Work and Aging

The goals of this article are to integrate action regulation theory (ART) with the lifespan developmental perspective and to outline tenets of a new metatheory of work and aging. The action regulation across the adult lifespan (ARAL) theory explains how workers influence, and are influenced by, their environment across different time spans. First, the basic concepts of ART are described, including the sequential and hierarchical structure of actions, complete tasks and actions, foci of action regulation, and the action-regulating mental model. Second, principles of the lifespan developmental perspective are delineated, including development as a lifelong and multidirectional process, the joint occurrence of gains and losses, intraindividual plasticity, historical embeddedness, and contextualism. Third, propositions of ARAL theory are derived by analyzing workers’ action regulation from a lifespan developmental perspective (i.e., effects of aging on action regulation), and by analyzing aging and development in the work context from an ART perspective (i.e., effects of action regulation on age-related changes in cognition and personality). Fourth, we develop further propositions to integrate ART with lifespan theories of motivation and socioemotional experience. Finally, we discuss implications for future research and practice based on ARAL theory.
Mild Cognitive Impairment: What’s in a Name?

Background: Nowadays the term mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is used to fill the gap between cognitive changes associated with normal ageing and those associated with dementia. Despite some agreement in general definitions, MCI is still a heterogeneous clinical syndrome for which no DSM-IV criteria have yet been established. Criteria by Petersen et al. are presently the most applied in clinical practice. Moreover, little attention has been paid to the specific relation between MCI and depression. Objective: This review highlights some concerns about the concept of MCI and provides guidelines within the field of neuropsychology to solve them. In a second part, the paper focuses on the specific relationship between depression in the elderly and MCI. Results: We hypothesize that certain test instruments can be used to operationalize the criteria proposed by Petersen et al. Moreover, we suggest that cued recall might be of help to differentiate between progressive and non-progressive MCI. Concerning the specific relation between depression and MCI, we assume that elderly depression with concomitant cognitive problems can be seen as an MCI. Conclusion: The proposed adjustments and additions (neuropsychological instruments and the incorporation of depressive symptoms) in the diagnostic flowchart of Petersen may serve as useful tools for clinicians when making a diagnosis of MCI.
Joint Relay Selection and Resource Allocation for Energy-Efficient D2D Cooperative Communications Using Matching Theory

Device-to-device (D2D) cooperative relay can improve network coverage and throughput by assisting users with inferior channel conditions to implement multi-hop transmissions. Due to the limited battery capacity of handheld equipment, energy efficiency is an important issue to be optimized. Considering the two-hop D2D relay communication scenario, this paper focuses on how to maximize the energy efficiency while guaranteeing the quality of service (QoS) requirements of both cellular and D2D links by jointly optimizing relay selection, spectrum allocation and power control. Since the four-dimensional matching involved in the joint optimization problem is NP-hard, a pricing-based two-stage matching algorithm is proposed to reduce dimensionality and provide a tractable solution. In the first stage, the spectrum resources reused by relay-to-receiver links are determined by a two-dimensional matching. Then, a three-dimensional matching is conducted to match users, relays and the spectrum resources reused by transmitter-to-relay links. In the process of preference establishment of the second stage, the optimal transmit power is solved to guarantee that the D2D link has the maximized energy efficiency. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm not only has a good performance on energy efficiency, but also enhances the average number of served users compared to the case without any relay.
Structuration de l'Ecole bilingue en Corse Processus et stratégies scolaires d'intégration et de différenciation dans l'enseignement primaire

Le paradigme de l'education plurilingue et interculturelle semble apporter une reponse feconde a la rupture de la transmission naturelle de la langue corse, a la parentocratie encourageant la mobilisation des familles et au desenchantement enseignant revele par les travaux de la sociologie de l'education. Se presentant comme une rupture philosophique et didactique avec la tradition pedagogique nationale, la mise en place d'un enseignement bilingue d'abord animee par des enseignants militants, pose certes des questions de moyens, mais elle interroge aussi les valeurs des differents acteurs. L'elaboration juridique, encore en cours aujourd'hui, a permis de franchir un seuil qualitatif et quantitatif permettant d'envisager sa generalisation dans les maternelles de plus de quatre classes. La structuration de l'Ecole bilingue ne fait pas reference a un modele de pilotage du haut vers le bas. Par le processus democratique qui l'a impulsee, elle met en jeu un type de gouvernance partagee entre les acteurs politiques territoriaux et nationaux, ainsi que les usagers. Le developpement de l'enseignement bilingue represente-t-il une evolution susceptible de developper durablement la cohesion sociale et de deboucher sur une citoyennete culturelle corse ? Dans l'enjeu societal reconnu de la langue corse a l'Ecole, quelles sont les consequences nouvelles des processus scolaires d'integration et de differenciation elabores par les familles dans le contexte de generalisation de l'enseignement bi/plurilingue en Corse ? Nous emettons l'hypothese selon laquelle l'offre scolaire facultative d'un enseignement bilingue en milieu urbain ou dans des ecoles a double filiere, participe a la segregation des publics selon leurs origines ethno-sociales. Nous avons enquete aupres des professeurs des ecoles, mais aussi aupres des familles, par questionnaire ou par entretien semi-dirige. Le recueil et l'analyse des donnees academiques nous permettent de presenter un etat complet de l'ecole bilingue ainsi que les enjeux auxquels les acteurs de sa gouvernance sont confrontes. Au-dela des obstacles identifies, il s'agit aussi d'envisager des pistes susceptibles d'ameliorer l'efficacite et l'equite de l'Ecole publique et obligatoire. Mots cles : Enseignement bilingue, Integration, Competences professionnelles, Gouvernance, Relations Ecole-familles, Curriculum, Motivation.
The Architect's Role in Software Ecosystems Health

Software ecosystems have adopted many different strategies to achieve success and good health. The role of software architect is one of the main contributors to that success. Their activities are crucial for realizing the business strategy of their organization. Software ecosystems define multi-sided markets that require different strategies from a traditional two-sided market. The architectural practices in the multi-sided market must support the need for flexibility and rapid reaction. These new demands broaden our understanding of the software architect's role and the impact of their action on ecosystem structure. In particular the need to understand how to operate in a collaborative, cooperative environment to exploit competition. In this position paper, we discuss how software architect's actions influence the ecosystem health through their indicators: productivity, niche creation, and robustness.
The Impact of Low Muscle Mass Definition on the Prevalence of Sarcopenia in Older Australians

Background. Sarcopenia is the presence of low muscle mass and low muscle function. The aim of this study was to establish cutoffs for low muscle mass using three published methods and to compare the prevalence of sarcopenia in older Australians. Methods. Gender specific cutoffs levels were identified for low muscle mass using three different methods. Low grip strength was determined using established cutoffs of <30 kg for men and <20 kg for women to estimate the prevalence of sarcopenia. Results. Gender specific cutoffs levels for low muscle mass identified were (a) <6.89 kg/m2 for men and <4.32 kg/m2 for women, <2 standard deviation (SD) of a young reference population; (b) <7.36 kg/m2 for men and <5.81 kg/m2 for women from the lowest 20% percentile of the older group; and (c) <−2.15 for men and <−1.42 for women from the lowest 20% of the residuals of linear regressions of appendicular skeletal mass, adjusted for fat mass and height. Prevalence of sarcopenia in older (65 years and older) people by these three methods for men was 2.5%, 6.2%, and 6.4% and for women 0.3%, 9.3%, and 8.5%, respectively. Conclusions. Sarcopenia is common but consensus on the best method to confirm low muscle mass is required.
EFFECTS OF CORN SILAGE INOCULANTS ON AEROBIC STABILITY

Aerobic stability of corn silage can be a major problem for farmers particularly in warm weather. Silage inoculants, while the most common type of silage additive, have not been effective at improving aerobic stability. This study investigated new and proposed inoculant products over three years on corn silage in mini-silos. Three new approaches were tested: enhanced homofermentative inoculants, a standard inoculant plus sodium benzoate, and heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus buchneri). These approaches were compared with untreated as well as four standard homofermentative lactic acid bacterial inoculants. The standard inoculants on average reduced aerobic stability 17 h relative to untreated silage. The best enhanced inoculant increased stability one year in three. The standard inoculant plus sodium benzoate increased stability but was only tested in one year. The L. buchneri inoculants improved stability consistently all three years except in one case where one of these products had low viability. Overall, the L. buchneri products appear to be most consistent at improving the aerobic stability of corn silage of those commercially available.
An historical and genomic view of schistosome conjugal biology with emphasis on sex-specific gene expression

The genetic programmes associated with the sexual biology of dioecious schistosomes remain a critically important but significantly understudied area of parasitology. Throughout the last four decades, progress has been slow in describing the gross antigenic and proteomic differences linked to sexually mature schistosomes and in characterizing some of the sex-associated transcripts and regulatory mechanisms induced during developmental maturation. These investigations have been severely hindered by the lack of complete EST/genomic information, as well as corresponding post- and functional-genomic tools for studying these pathogenic parasites. As near complete transcriptomes for Schistosoma japonicum and S. mansoni have recently been reported, and both DNA microarrays and post-transcriptional gene silencing have been applied to schistosomes, the tools and techniques for the high-throughput identification and characterization of transcripts involved in conjugal biology are now readily available. Here, an historical review is presented that summarizes some of the most significant findings associated with schistosome sex and sexual maturation during the last several decades. Following this discussion is a current overview of some modern day genomic approaches used to study schistosomes, which illustrates how major advances in the field of conjugal biology will be achieved.
Demographics of Religious Participation: An Ecological Approach, 1850-1980

In an attempt to explain who is joining which church and why, research on religious participation has often focused on the individual. In this essay I use an ecological approach to look at the social context of religious adherence in 1850, 1890, 1926 and 1980. I argue that both mobility and composition of an area's population influences the church's ability to attract and retain members. Through use of census data, I demonstrate that migration, natural increase and sex ratio all affect an area's rate of church adherence. When applied to the historical development of America, these results help to explain why the frontiers have served as a home for religious experimentation and have attracted the missionary efforts of churches.
Past and future demographic dynamics of alpine species: limited genetic consequences despite dramatic range contraction in a plant from the Spanish Sierra Nevada

Anthropogenic global climate change is expected to cause severe range contractions among alpine plants. Alpine areas in the Mediterranean region are of special concern because of the high abundance of endemic species with narrow ranges. This study combined species distribution models, population structure analyses and Bayesian skyline plots to trace the past and future distribution and diversity of Linaria glacialis, an endangered narrow endemic species that inhabits summits of Sierra Nevada (Spain). The results showed that: (i) the habitat of this alpine‐Mediterranean species in Sierra Nevada suffered little changes during glacial and interglacial stages of late Quaternary; (ii) climatic oscillations in the last millennium (Medieval Warm Period and Little Ice Age) moderately affected the demographic trends of L. glacialis; (iii) future warming conditions will cause severe range contractions; and (iv) genetic diversity will not diminish at the same pace as the distribution range. As a consequence of the low population structure of this species, genetic impoverishment in the alpine zones of Sierra Nevada should be limited during range contraction. We conclude that maintenance of large effective population sizes via high mutation rates and high levels of gene flow may promote the resilience of alpine plant species when confronted with global warming.
Neurologic, Neurocognitive, and Brain Growth Outcomes in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Children Receiving Different Nucleoside Antiretroviral Regimens

Objectives. To compare the impact of three different nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor regimens, zidovudine (ZDV) monotherapy, didanosine (ddI) monotherapy, and ZDV plus ddI combination therapy, on central nervous system (CNS) outcomes in symptomatic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children. Methods. Serial neurologic examinations, neurocognitive tests, and brain growth assessments (head circumference measurements and head computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging studies) were performed in 831 infants and children who participated in a randomized double-blind clinical trial of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. The Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group study 152 conducted between 1991 and 1995 enrolled antiretroviral therapy-naive children. Subjects were stratified by age (3 to <30 months of age or 30 months to 18 years of age) and randomized in equal proportions to the three treatment groups. Results. Combination ZDV and ddI therapy was superior to either ZDV or ddI monotherapy for most of the CNS outcomes evaluated. Treatment differences were observed within both age strata. ZDV monotherapy showed a modest statistically significant improvement in cognitive performance compared with ddI monotherapy during the initial 24 weeks, but for subsequent protection against CNS deterioration no clear difference was observed between the two monotherapy arms. Conclusions. Combination therapy with ZDV and ddI was more effective than either of the two monotherapies against CNS manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus disease. The results of this study did not indicate a long-term beneficial effect for ZDV monotherapy compared with ddI monotherapy.
Cell Wall Composition of the Yeastlike and Mycelial Forms of Blastomyces dermatitidis

The thermally induced changes in the cell wall polysaccharides of Blastomyces dermatitidis strain BD64, which produces a yeastlike form (Y form) at 37 C and a mycelial form (M form) at 20 C, were examined. The cell walls of the Y and M forms contained 36 and 51% of hexoses, respectively. The M-form cell wall contained glucose, galactose, and mannose in a molar ratio of 1:0.1:0.2. The Y-form cell wall contained mainly glucose and a very small amount of galactose and mannose. The glucans of the cell wall of the Y form consisted of about 95% α-glucan and 5% β-glucan, whereas those of the M-form cell wall consisted of about 60% α-glucan and 40% β-glucan.