Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Subsampling of a DPCM speech channel to provide two “self-contained” half-rate channels

We consider the following channel-splitting problem: it is required to split a B-bits/s speech-code sequence into two “self-contained” B/2-bits/s components, either of which can be used to reproduce acceptable speech; also, if both components are available at a receiver, it must be possible to reproduce speech with full B-bits/s quality. We propose a solution where for interesting values of B, the speech quality resulting from half-rate receptions approximately equals that from conventional full-rate receptions at B/2 bits/s. In the proposed solution, 3.2kHz speech is sampled at 12 kHz and coded using PCM or differential PCM. The output sequence of code-words is split into odd- and even-word sequences. A full-rate receiver with access to both of the subchannels simply reconstitutes the output sequence prior to decoding, while a half-rate receiver with only the odd (or even) subchannel estimates the even (or odd) components by nearest-neighbor interpolation.
Breast cancer navigation and patient satisfaction: exploring a community-based patient navigation model in a rural setting.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To explore patient satisfaction among newly diagnosed patients with breast cancer in a rural community setting using a nurse navigation model. DESIGN Nonexperimental, descriptive study. SETTING Large, multispecialty physician outpatient clinic serving about 150 newly diagnosed patients with breast cancer annually at the time of the study. SAMPLE 103 patients using nurse navigation services during a two-year period. METHODS A researcher-developed 14-item survey tool using a Likert-type scale was mailed to about 300 navigated patients. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES Nurse navigation and patient satisfaction. FINDINGS The majority of participants (n = 73, 72%) selected "strongly agree" in each survey statement when questioned about the benefits of nurse navigation. CONCLUSIONS Patients receiving nurse navigation for breast cancer are highly satisfied with the services offered in this setting. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Findings from this study offer insight regarding the effectiveness of an individualized supportive care approach to nurses and providers of oncology care. That information can be used to guide the implementation of future nurse navigation programs, determine effective methods of guiding patients through the cancer experience, and aid in promoting the highest standard of oncology care.
‘We need to get together and make ourselves heard’: everyday online spaces as incubators of political action

ABSTRACT This article examines to what extent, and how, people engaging in political talk within ‘non-political’ discussion forums – online lifestyle communities – leads to political (or personal) action or calls-to-action. The analysis is framed in the context of wider questions of citizenship, civic engagement and political mobilization. To capture everyday political talk amongst citizens requires us to move beyond the now widely analysed online spaces of formal politics. Instead, we focus on online third spaces concerning lifestyle issues such as parenting, personal finance and popular culture. Drawing on a content analysis of three popular UK-based discussion forums over the course of five years (2010–2014), we found that (for two of the three cases) such spaces were more than just talking shops. Rather they were spaces where political actions not only emerged, but where they seemed to be cultivated. Discussions embedded in the personal lives of participants often developed – through talk – into political actions aimed at government (or other) authorities. The article sheds light on the contributing factors and processes that (potentially) trigger and foster action emerging from political talk and provides insight into the mobilization potential of third spaces.
A novel isoform of TET1 that lacks a CXXC domain is overexpressed in cancer

Abstract TET1 oxidizes methylated cytosine into 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), resulting in regulation of DNA methylation and gene expression. Full length TET1 (TET1FL) has a CXXC domain that binds to unmethylated CpG islands (CGIs). This CXXC domain allows TET1 to protect CGIs from aberrant methylation, but it also limits its ability to regulate genes outside of CGIs. Here, we report a novel isoform of TET1 (TET1ALT) that has a unique transcription start site from an alternate promoter in intron 2, yielding a protein with a unique translation start site. Importantly, TET1ALT lacks the CXXC domain but retains the catalytic domain. TET1ALT is repressed in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) but becomes activated in embryonic and adult tissues while TET1FL is expressed in ESCs, but repressed in adult tissues. Overexpression of TET1ALT shows production of 5hmC with distinct (and weaker) effects on DNA methylation or gene expression when compared to TET1FL. TET1ALT is aberrantly activated in multiple cancer types including breast, uterine and glioblastoma, and TET1 activation is associated with a worse overall survival in breast, uterine and ovarian cancers. Our data suggest that the predominantly activated isoform of TET1 in cancer cells does not protect from CGI methylation and likely mediates dynamic site-specific demethylation outside of CGIs.
Intricate gene regulatory networks of helix‐loop‐helix (HLH) proteins support regulation of bone‐tissue related genes during osteoblast differentiation

Helix‐loop‐helix (HLH) transcription factors are key regulators of neurogenesis, myogenesis and osteogenesis. Here the relative contributions of multiple classes of HLH factors to the expression of bone related genes during osteoblast maturation were compared. We examined the expression of a panel of HLH proteins (e.g., Twist1/2, USF1/2, c‐Myc, Id1 ∼ 4, E12/47, Stra13) and one Zn finger protein (Snail which recognizes a subset of E‐boxes), during osteoblast differentiation and their functional contributions to bone phenotypic gene regulation. While expression of Twist1, Stra13, E12/47 and Snail transcripts remains relatively constant, expression of Twist2 as well as the inhibitory factors Id1, Id2, Id3, and Id4 decreases and USF1 is up‐regulated during osteoblastic differentiation of MC3T3 cells. Forced expression of selected HLH transcription factors shows that Myc, Snail and USF factors increase expression of the bone markers osteocalcin (OC) and/or alkaline phosphatase (AP), while E12/47, Twist and Id factors decrease their expression. None of these factors affect Runx2 gene expression. Interestingly, Snail enhances expression of osteoblast markers, while Twist1 and Twist2 factors are cross‐regulated and inhibit bone specific gene expression and other HLH proteins (e.g., Id) indirectly. Thus, our data suggest that the integrated activities of negative and positive E‐box related regulatory factors control osteoblast differentiation. J. Cell. Biochem. 105: 487–496, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Climate Variability and Household Adaptation Strategies in Southern Ethiopia

This paper examines the determinants and implied economic impacts of climate change adaptation strategies in the context of traditional pastoralism. It is based on econometric analysis of survey data generated from household level interviews in southern Ethiopian rangelands. Pastoralists’ perception of climate change in the region is found to be very consistent with the actually recorded trends of increased temperature and the evident secular declines in precipitation. Not only long-term declines, trends in the region’s rainfall also appear to have taken a shift towards the direction of more unpredictability. Pastoralist adaptation response strategies broadly involve adjustments in pastoral practices and shifts to non-pastoral livelihoods. Results of the estimated models confirm that pastoral mobility is still quite essential in the present context of climate-induced household vulnerabilities. Increased mobility and diversification of pastoral herd portfolios in favor of a drought-tolerant species (camel) are found to be positively associated with pastoral household net income. A policy stance that ignores the detrimental impacts of the currently pervasive private rangeland enclosures or intends to hasten pastoralist sedentarization in the area is simply untenable in the present context of climate-induced risks and pastoral livelihood vulnerability.
Ex vivo Stimulation of Lymphocytes with IL-10 Mimics Sepsis-Induced Intrinsic T-Cell Alterations

ABSTRACT Profound T-cell alterations are observed in septic patients in association with increased risk of secondary infection and mortality. The pathophysiological mechanisms leading to such dysfunctions are not completely understood and direct and indirect mechanisms have been described. In this study we evaluated whether ex vivo stimulation of lymphocytes with IL-10, an immunosuppressive cytokine released at the systemic level during sepsis, could mimic sepsis-induced intrinsic T-cell alterations. We showed that recombinant human IL-10 priming of T cells altered their proliferative response to anti-CD2/CD3/CD28 antibody-coated beads and PHA stimulations, in a dose-dependent manner independently of accessory cells. This priming also significantly decreased T-cell secretion of IL-2 and IFNγ following stimulation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that IL-10 reduction of T-cell functionality was associated with increased FOXP3 expression in CD4+CD25+CD127− regulatory T cells as observed in sepsis. Finally, we found that blocking the increased IL-10 concentration in plasma from septic shock patients increased the proliferative response of responding T cells from healthy controls. We describe here an ex vivo model recapitulating features of sepsis-induced intrinsic T-cell alterations. This should help, in further studies, to decipher the pathophysiological mechanisms of T-cell alterations induced after septic shock.
Porcelain refinishing with two different polishing systems after orthodontic debonding.

OBJECTIVE To compare the effects of two polishing systems on the surface roughness of three types of porcelain after orthodontic debonding. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 90 porcelain discs were fabricated from feldspathic (n = 30), leucite-based (n = 30) or lithia disilicate-based (n = 30) ceramics. Ten samples in each group served as the control and received no surface treatment. The remaining 60 samples in three of the porcelain groups were bonded with lower incisor brackets and debonded using a testing machine in shear mode at a rate of 1 mm/minute crosshead speed. After debonding, the remaining adhesive resin was removed with a tungsten carbide bur. Then, two experimental subgroups (10 each) in each porcelain group were treated as follows: in the first subgroup, porcelain polishing wheel and polishing paste were applied, whereas in the second, polishing was performed using a series of Sof-Lex discs. The average surface roughness (Ra) of the all samples was evaluated using SPM/AFM (surface probe microscope/atomic force microscope). Data were statistically analyzed by analysis of variance for each porcelain material and polishing method. RESULTS The polishing techniques affected surface roughness significantly. There were significant differences between the groups; higher Ra values were obtained with the use of porcelain polishing wheel and polishing paste (P < .001). CONCLUSION The application of Sof-Lex discs can produce smoother porcelain surfaces than porcelain polishing wheel and polishing paste.
The organizational slack and performance relationship: a configurational approach

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the organizational literature and improve the understanding of the slack and performance link by: examining the slack and performance relationship using a configurational approach and by considering equifinality and its possible effects on this relationship. Design/methodology/approach – Using cluster analysis, ANCOVA, and means comparisons this study identifies different configurations of slack and their associated performance implications. Findings – The results show that configurations with higher levels of slack outperform those with lower levels of slack suggesting a positive relationship between slack and firm performance. The findings also demonstrate that alternative configurations of slack can result in similar levels of performance suggesting the existence of equifinality in this relationship. Research limitations/implications – This study contributes to prior research by moving beyond traditional linear and contingency views of slack and c.
The miR-200 Family Inhibits Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Cancer Cell Migration by Direct Targeting of E-cadherin Transcriptional Repressors ZEB1 and ZEB2*

MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules that can regulate gene expression by interacting with multiple mRNAs and inducing either translation suppression or degradation of mRNA. Recently, several miRNAs were identified as either promoters or suppressors of metastasis. However, it is unclear in which step(s) of the multistep metastatic cascade these miRNAs play a defined functional role. To study the functional importance of miRNAs in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process thought to initiate metastasis by enhancing the motility of tumor cells, we used a well established in vitro EMT assay: transforming growth factor-β-induced EMT in NMuMG murine mammary epithelial cells. We found that members of the miR-200 family, organized as two clusters in the genome, were repressed during EMT. Overexpression of each miRNA individually or as clusters in NMuMG cells hindered EMT by enhancing E-cadherin expression through direct targeting of ZEB1 and ZEB2, which encode transcriptional repressors of E-cadherin. In the 4TO7 mouse carcinoma cell line, which expresses low levels of endogenous E-cadherin and displays a mesenchymal phenotype, ectopic expression of the miR-200 family miRNAs significantly increased E-cadherin expression and altered cell morphology to an epithelial phenotype. Furthermore, ectopic expression of each miR-200 miRNA cluster significantly reduced the in vitro motility of 4TO7 cells in migration assays. These results suggested that loss of expression of the miR-200 family members may play a critical role in the repression of E-cadherin by ZEB1 and ZEB2 during EMT, thereby enhancing migration and invasion during cancer progression.
Variable Preferences for Sexual Dimorphism in Stature (SDS) Might Not Be Universal

In Western societies women prefer relatively taller men as potential partners, whereas men prefer women to be slightly shorter than them. Here we report data on relative height preferences in a traditional ethnic group, i.e. the Himba, in which men and women do not show such a strong preference. Thus our data challenges the view of a universal preference for taller men, by suggesting that height preferences may be influenced by environmental and ecological conditions.
Modification of Information- Processing Biases in Emotional Disorders: Clinically Relevant Developments in Experimental Psychopathology

Experimental psychopathology research has provided abundant evidence to suggest information-processing biases in anxiety and depression. Recently, methods have been developed that allow the modification of information-processing biases. These cognitive bias modification (CBM) procedures are specifically designed to modify dysfunctional processing for those circumstances where patients are depleted from intentional control to override the bias. Through repeated practice, CBM intends to alter former biases and automate new, more adaptive cognitive processes. This methodology, which was originally designed as an experimental research paradigm, holds potential in the treatment of anxiety and depression. Within the field of mood-congruent attentional bias, we illustrate how these techniques work and how they might be applied in clinical treatment.
Barriers and missed opportunities to HIV testing among injection drug users in two Mexico--US border cities.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS Despite increasing HIV prevalence in cities along the Mexico--US border, HIV testing among high-risk populations remains low. We sought to identify barriers associated with HIV testing among injection drug users (IDUs) in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez, the two largest Mexican border cities located across from San Diego, California and El Paso, Texas, respectively. DESIGN AND METHODS In 2005, 222 IDUs in Tijuana and 205 IDUs in Ciudad Juarez were recruited by respondent-driven sampling and administered a questionnaire to collect socio-demographic, behavioural and HIV testing history data. Blood samples were provided for serological testing of HIV, hepatitis C virus (HCV) and syphilis. RESULTS Only 38% and 30% of respondents in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez, respectively, had ever had an HIV test. The factors independently associated with never having been tested for HIV differed between the two sites, except for lack of knowledge on HIV transmission, which was independently associated in both locales. Importantly, 65% of those who had never been tested for HIV in both cities experienced at least one missed opportunity for voluntary testing, including medical visits, drug treatment and spending time in jail. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Among this high-risk IDU population we found HIV testing to be low, with voluntary testing in public and private settings utilised inadequately. These findings underscore the need to expand voluntary HIV education and testing and to integrate it into services and locales frequented by IDUs in these Mexico--US border cities.
Activation of the Escherichia coli β-barrel assembly machine (Bam) is required for essential components to interact properly with substrate

The outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli contains lipoproteins and integral β-barrel proteins (outer-membrane proteins, OMPs) assembled into an asymmetrical lipid bilayer. Insertion of β-barrel proteins into the OM is mediated by a protein complex that contains the OMP BamA and four associated lipoproteins (BamBCDE). The mechanism by which the Bam complex catalyzes the assembly of OMPs is not known. We report here the isolation and characterization of a temperature-sensitive lethal mutation, bamAE373K, which alters the fifth polypeptide transport-associated domain and disrupts the interaction between the BamAB and BamCDE subcomplexes. Suppressor mutations that map to codon 197 in bamD restore Bam complex function to wild-type levels. However, these suppressors do not restore the interaction between BamA and BamD; rather, they bypass the requirement for stable holocomplex formation by activating BamD. These results imply that BamA and BamD interact directly with OMP substrates.
Bispectral index monitoring prevent awareness during total intravenous anesthesia: a prospective, randomized, double-blinded, multi-center controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Awareness is a serious complication of general anesthesia. In China, the incidence of intraoperative awareness was 1% in patients undergoing total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA). In this study, we compared the incidence of awareness between Bispectral index (BIS)-guided and routine TIVA protocol and evaluated the effect of BIS on preventing awareness. METHODS A prospective, randomized, double-blinded, multicenter controlled trial was performed. Patients (≥ 18 years of age) undergoing TIVA were randomly divided into BIS-guided group (Group A, BIS was monitored and recommended to maintain between 40 - 60) and control group (Group B, BIS was monitored but the screen was covered). The intraoperative BIS values were downloaded and the BIS trends of confirmed awareness cases were analyzed to determine whether light anesthesia existed. RESULTS Of the total 5228 patients, 2919 patients were assigned to Group A and 2309 to Group B. Four cases of confirmed awareness (0.14%) were reported in the BIS-guided group and 15 (0.65%) in the control group (P = 0.002, OR = 0.21, 95% confidence intervals: 0.07 - 0.63). The incidence of possible awareness (0.14% vs. 0.26%, P = 0.485) and dreaming (3.1% vs. 3.1%, P = 0.986) was comparable between BIS-guided group and the control group. Among the 19 confirmed awareness cases, intraoperative BIS trends of six cases were downloaded and identified. Five of them showed signs of light anesthesia as BIS > 60 and lasted 19 - 106 minutes, whereas one case had a stable BIS trend and the values were within 60 during the operation. Another five awareness cases were reviewed for anesthesia procedures, of which improper light anesthesia were confirmed. CONCLUSIONS BIS-guided TIVA (BIS was recommended to maintain between 40 - 60) decreased the risk of awareness compared with routine TIVA. The main reason for awareness was light anesthesia.
Public Employees and Performance Appraisal

There is considerable agreement that organizations can benefit from using performance appraisal. Nevertheless, some studies find that both supervisors and employees have negative reactions to the process. This article addresses this contradiction by emphasizing the importance of cognitive aspects of performance appraisal. Without understanding individual employees’ reactions to performance appraisal and its supportive organizational context, it is less likely for performance appraisal to be used for its original objective, which is performance improvement. Given the importance of employee acceptance of a performance measurement system, this article attempts to identify key factors which can heighten employee acceptance of performance appraisal using data from the 2005 Merit Principles Survey. The findings indicate that the developmental use of performance appraisal, employee participation in performance standard setting, the quality of the relationship they have with their supervisors, and employee perceived empowerment are positively associated with employee acceptance of performance appraisal.
Multi Switched Split Vector Quantization of Narrowband Speech Signals

Vector quantization is a powerful tool for speech coding applications. This paper deals with LPC Coding of speech signals which uses a new technique called Multi Switched Split Vector Quantization (MSSVQ), which is a hybrid of Multi, switched, split vector quantization techniques. The spectral distortion performance, computational complexity, and memory requirements of MSSVQ are compared to split vector quantization (SVQ), multi stage vector quantization(MSVQ) and switched split vector quantization (SSVQ) techniques. It has been proved from results that MSSVQ has better spectral distortion performance, lower computational complexity and lower memory requirements when compared to all the above mentioned product code vector quantization techniques. Computational complexity is measured in floating point operations (flops), and memory requirements is measured in (floats). Keywords—Linear predictive Coding, Multi stage vector quantization, Switched Split vector quantization, Split vector quantization, Line Spectral Frequencies (LSF).
Job Importance as a Moderator of the Relationship Between Job Satisfaction and Life Satisfaction

Moderated regression analyses are used to assess the degree to which indirect indicators of job importance moderate the relationship between job satisfaction and life satisfaction. The 1971 Quality of American Life Survey (N = 2,164) and the 1972-1973 Quality of Employment Survey (N = 1,496) provide two large nationwide probability sample data sets for these secondary analyses. It is hypothesized that the strength of the job satisfaction-life satisfaction relationship is positively related to job importance. Contrary to this hypothesis, respondents whose jobs were expected to be more important do not have substantially stronger job satisfaction-life satisfaction relationships than respondents whose jobs were expected to be less important. The zero-order job satisfaction–life satisfaction correlations in both samples are stronger than expected (r = .48 and r = .49). Discussion focuses on the conceptual implications of the failure to find substantial moderator effects. Locke's (1969) theory of the implicit .