Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Audiovisual cues benefit recognition of accented speech in noise but not perceptual adaptation

Perceptual adaptation allows humans to recognize different varieties of accented speech. We investigated whether perceptual adaptation to accented speech is facilitated if listeners can see a speaker’s facial and mouth movements. In Study 1, participants listened to sentences in a novel accent and underwent a period of training with audiovisual or audio-only speech cues, presented in quiet or in background noise. A control group also underwent training with visual-only (speech-reading) cues. We observed no significant difference in perceptual adaptation between any of the groups. To address a number of remaining questions, we carried out a second study using a different accent, speaker and experimental design, in which participants listened to sentences in a non-native (Japanese) accent with audiovisual or audio-only cues, without separate training. Participants’ eye gaze was recorded to verify that they looked at the speaker’s face during audiovisual trials. Recognition accuracy was significantly better for audiovisual than for audio-only stimuli; however, no statistical difference in perceptual adaptation was observed between the two modalities. Furthermore, Bayesian analysis suggested that the data supported the null hypothesis. Our results suggest that although the availability of visual speech cues may be immediately beneficial for recognition of unfamiliar accented speech in noise, it does not improve perceptual adaptation.
Factors influencing weed species diversity in southeastern part of Latvia: analysis of a two-year weed survey data.

Changes in field management and plant protection methods in the last few decades have affected arable weed flora in many European countries often causing the loss of biodiversity. While weed control is necessary to protect crop yields and prevent spread of invasive weed species, complete eradication of weeds is both impractical and unnecessary. Many weed species interact both among themselves and with other organisms and can be beneficial for the agroecosystem. In this study we investigated the effect of field management, herbicide application and crop rotation on weed density and species diversity using data collected during weed surveys in 2013 and 2014 in the southeastern part of Latvia. Weed species diversity positively correlated with weed density. Analysis of the weed density and species number showed that the amount of nitrogen fertilizer, crop sown in the current season and soil pH affected weed species diversity and density in the surveyed fields. Results indicate that species richness is negatively influenced by the degree of intensity of field management.
Community Empowerment: A Partnership Approach to Public Health Program Implementation

Public policy implementation models reflect who makes decisions, how success is defined, and whether learning is built into decision making. The extant implementation models capture many important features of public policy implementation, including the desire of large public bureaucracies to impose order and rationality on implementation structures that include many public and private organizations. Analysis of the three-decades-long process of implementation of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children suggests that a new public policy implementation model is needed. The new model builds on the iterative learning cycles and shared decision making of community participatory research and better addresses the transactional relationship between program targets and providers than do current implementation models.
Dependence of the neodymium random laser threshold on the diameter of the pumped spot

We experimentally studied the dependence of the threshold energy density E/sub th//S in Nd/sub 0.5/La/sub 0.5/Al/sub 3/(BO/sub 3/)/sub 4/ random laser on the diameter of the pumped spot d and found that at d/spl ges/130/spl mu/m, E/sub th//S is proportional to 1/d+const. This functional dependence is different from the one commonly expected in the case of diffusion, /spl prop/1/d/sup 2/+const. However, the obtained experimental dependence does not mean the failure of the diffusion model. Calculating the mean photon's residence time /spl tau//sub res//sup p/ (which photons, making their diffusion-like random walks, spend inside the gain volume) as the function of d and further assuming that E/sub th//S/spl prop/(/spl tau//sup p//sub res/)/sup -1/, we predicted the experimentally obtained functional dependence, /spl prop/1/d+const. The major difference between our model and that of and was in the boundary conditions.
Developing a readiness assessment tool for weaning patients under mechanical ventilation

Background: Mechanical ventilation is one of the major supportive interventions in intensive care units. Weaning the patients from mechanical ventilation and its related criteria are of great importance due to the related complications. As there is no comprehensive standard to allocate the time of weaning and due to lack of local research in this field, development of a comprehensive tool to measure patients’ readiness for weaning from mechanical ventilation is essential. Therefore, the present study was conducted with an aim to develop a readiness assessment tool for weaning patients from mechanical ventilation. Materials and Methods: This was a qualitative study with Delphi multi-triangulation design. In the first stage, the related items were extracted from the textbook and through searching the databases. In the second stage, after primary development of the items and based on supervisors’ indications, a questionnaire was made and used for assessment through Delphi methods. Twenty individuals, meeting the inclusion criteria, were selected through purposive sampling and their viewpoints concerning acceptability of the items were collected. In the third stage, the items with appropriateness over 70% were selected, and in the fourth stage, the final questionnaire was developed after a session with a panel of experts and supervisors. In the present study, in the first stage, the needed items were collected from various articles and books to provide items extraction. In stages two to four, manual calculation and investigation made by a panel of experts and the research team were adopted. Results: In the first stage, 100 articles and 51 related books were selected. In the second stage, 87 items were extracted from the articles and books and were sent as semi-open questions of assessment. In the third stage, 28 items with consensus >70% were extracted, and in the fourth stage, 26 items were selected by a panel of experts and the finalized questionnaire with the title “Persian Weaning Tool” (PWT) was developed in three domains: Respiration with 9 items, cardiovascular with 4 items, and other related factors with 13 items. Conclusions: A three-domain questionnaire is the product of experts’ consensus in the present study, which can be used to reduce the length of connection to mechanical ventilation and its complications.
Recognition of Daily Gestures with Wearable Inertial Rings and Bracelets

Recognition of activities of daily living plays an important role in monitoring elderly people and helping caregivers in controlling and detecting changes in daily behaviors. Thanks to the miniaturization and low cost of Microelectromechanical systems (MEMs), in particular of Inertial Measurement Units, in recent years body-worn activity recognition has gained popularity. In this context, the proposed work aims to recognize nine different gestures involved in daily activities using hand and wrist wearable sensors. Additionally, the analysis was carried out also considering different combinations of wearable sensors, in order to find the best combination in terms of unobtrusiveness and recognition accuracy. In order to achieve the proposed goals, an extensive experimentation was performed in a realistic environment. Twenty users were asked to perform the selected gestures and then the data were off-line analyzed to extract significant features. In order to corroborate the analysis, the classification problem was treated using two different and commonly used supervised machine learning techniques, namely Decision Tree and Support Vector Machine, analyzing both personal model and Leave-One-Subject-Out cross validation. The results obtained from this analysis show that the proposed system is able to recognize the proposed gestures with an accuracy of 89.01% in the Leave-One-Subject-Out cross validation and are therefore promising for further investigation in real life scenarios.
Calvo , Taylor and the estimated hazard function for price changes

This paper analyzes price setting behavior estimating duration models on a large dataset of French consumer price quotes. The unconditional estimated hazard function for price change is found to be decreasing, in contradiction with standard models of nominal rigidity like those of Calvo and Taylor. We find that accounting for sectoral heterogeneity and time-varying covariates (inflation) provide baseline hazard functions that are more in line with theoretical models. JEL Codes: E31, C41.
Vitreous pharmacokinetics and electroretinographic findings after intravitreal injection of acyclovir in rabbits

OBJECTIVES: Acute retinal necrosis is a rapidly progressive and devastating viral retinitis caused by the herpesvirus family. Systemic acyclovir is the treatment of choice; however, the progression of retinal lesions ceases approximately 2 days after treatment initiation. An intravitreal injection of acyclovir may be used an adjuvant therapy during the first 2 days of treatment when systemically administered acyclovir has not reached therapeutic levels in the retina. The aims of this study were to determine the pharmacokinetic profile of acyclovir in the rabbit vitreous after intravitreal injection and the functional effects of acyclovir in the rabbit retina. METHODS: Acyclovir (Acyclovir; Bedford Laboratories, Bedford, OH, USA) 1 mg in 0.1 mL was injected into the right eye vitreous of 32 New Zealand white rabbits, and 0.1 mL sterile saline solution was injected into the left eye as a control. The animals were sacrificed after 2, 9, 14, or 28 days. The eyes were enucleated, and the vitreous was removed. The half-life of acyclovir was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. Electroretinograms were recorded on days 2, 9, 14, and 28 in the eight animals that were sacrificed 28 days after injection according to a modified protocol of the International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision. RESULTS: Acyclovir rapidly decayed in the vitreous within the first two days after treatment and remained at low levels from day 9 onward. The eyes that were injected with acyclovir did not present any electroretinographic changes compared with the control eyes. CONCLUSIONS: The vitreous half-life of acyclovir is short, and the electrophysiological findings suggest that the intravitreal delivery of 1 mg acyclovir is safe and well tolerated by the rabbit retina.
Relationship between Body Mass Index and Percent Body Fat among Females of Raipur City

Obesity is the major risk factor for the development of many diseases. BMI is widely used as a deputy measure of obesity, but underestimates the prevalence of obesity, defined as an excess of body fat. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BF%) in females. The study was a cross-sectional design. A selected sample of 70 females aged 25-50 years participated in a detailed height and weight measurement were taken using standard methodology and body fat percent estimated by bio electrical impendence analysis (BIA). Results to the present study body fat were found to be higher in female subjects and 70 percent of subjects had body fat more than 30 percent. According to BMI 68 percent subjects were found to be overweight and obese subjects were having lower range increased the percent BF of subjects also increased.
Smooth long‐time existence of Harmonic Ricci Flow on surfaces

We prove that at a finite singular time for the Harmonic Ricci Flow on a surface of positive genus both the energy density of the map component and the curvature of the domain manifold have to blow up simultaneously. As an immediate consequence, we obtain smooth long‐time existence for the Harmonic Ricci Flow with large coupling constant.
The Choice of Healthcare Providers for Febrile Children after Introducing Non-professional Health Workers in a Malaria Endemic Area in Papua New Guinea

Background Disease burden of malaria in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is the highest in Asia and the Pacific, and prompt access to effective drugs is the key strategy for controlling malaria. Despite the rapid economic growth, primary healthcare services have deteriorated in rural areas; the introduction of non-professional health workers [village health volunteers (VHVs)] is expected to improve antimalarial drug deliveries. Previous studies on PNG suggested that distance from households negatively affected the utilization of health services; however, price effect on healthcare demand decisions has not been explored. Empirical studies on household’s affordability as well as accessibility of healthcare services contribute to policy implications, such as efficient introduction of out-of-pocket costs and effective allocation of health facilities. Therefore, we investigate price responsiveness and other determinants of healthcare provider choice for febrile children in a malaria endemic rural area wherein VHVs were introduced. Methods Cross-sectional surveys were conducted using a structured questionnaire distributed in a health center’s catchment area of East Sepik Province in the 2011/2012 rainy seasons. Caretakers were interviewed and data on fever episodes of their children in the preceding 2 weeks were collected. Mixed logit model was employed to estimate the determinants of healthcare provider choice. Results Among 257 fever episodes reported, the main choices of healthcare providers were limited to self-care, VHV, and a health center. Direct cost and walking distance negatively affected the choice of a VHV and the health center. An increase of VHV’s direct cost or walking distance did not much affect predicted probability of the health center, but rather that of self-care, while drug availability and illness severity increased the choice probability of a VHV and the health center. Conclusion The results suggest that the net healthcare demand increases with the introduction of a VHV. Allocations from the government’s budget are required to sustain VHV activities because the introduction of a small user fee could impede the utilization of a VHV. A large travel cost related to the choice of the health center suggests that resource allocation is required for the expansion of formal healthcare providers to adequately operate a referral system.
Contrasting patterns of genetic diversity at three different genetic markers in a marine mammal metapopulation

Many studies use genetic markers to explore population structure and variability within species. However, only a minority use more than one type of marker and, despite increasing evidence of a link between heterozygosity and individual fitness, few ask whether diversity correlates with population trajectory. To address these issues, we analysed data from the Steller's sea lion, Eumetiopias jubatus, where three stocks are distributed over a vast geographical range and where both genetic samples and detailed demographic data have been collected from many diverse breeding colonies. To previously published mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and microsatellite data sets, we have added new data for amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers, comprising 238 loci scored in 285 sea lions sampled from 23 natal rookeries. Genotypic diversity was low relative to most vertebrates, with only 37 loci (15.5%) being polymorphic. Moreover, contrasting geographical patterns of genetic diversity were found at the three markers, with Nei's gene diversity tending to be higher for AFLPs and microsatellites in rookeries of the western and Asian stocks, while the highest mtDNA values were found in the eastern stock. Overall, and despite strongly contrasting demographic histories, after applying phylogenetic correction we found little correlation between genetic diversity and either colony size or demography. In contrast, we were able to show a highly significant positive relationship between AFLP diversity and current population size across a range of pinniped species, even though equivalent analyses did not reveal significant trends for either microsatellites or mtDNA.
Prion‐infected cells regulate the release of exosomes with distinct ultrastructural features

Exosomes are small membrane‐bound vesicles released from cells and found in vivo in most biological fluids. Functions reported for exosomes include cell–cell communication, roles in modulating immune responses, and roles in the transfer of pathogens such as prions. Here we investigated the molecular characteristics of the structure of exosomes that harbor prion infectivity to determine the native structure of exosomes and whether infected exosomes have a distinct structure. Cryo‐electron tomography revealed the previously unidentified ultrastructural detail of exosomes with high resolution. Exosomes were found to be naturally spherical in shape and to have a diverse population that varies in size and internal structure, such as differences in the number of membrane structures. Exosomes isolated from prion‐infected cells contained a significantly different population of exosomes with distinct structural features compared to control vesicles from mock‐infected cells. Exosomes are highly structured vesicles that can modify their structure on altering their protein cargo. This finding provides further insight into the role that the exosomal protein cargo plays on influencing the structure of the vesicles as well as highlighting the diversity of exosomes and their relationship to biological processes. —Coleman, B. M. , Hanssen, E. , Lawson, V. A. , Hill, A. F. Prion‐infected cells regulate the release of exosomes with distinct ultrastructural features FASEB J. 26, 4160–4173 (2012). www.fasebj. org
The Structure of the Trimer of Human 4-1BB Ligand Is Unique among Members of the Tumor Necrosis Factor Superfamily*

Binding of the 4-1BB ligand (4-1BBL) to its receptor, 4-1BB, provides the T lymphocyte with co-stimulatory signals for survival, proliferation, and differentiation. Importantly, the 4-1BB-4-1BBL pathway is a well known target for anti-cancer immunotherapy. Here we present the 2.3-Å crystal structure of the extracellular domain of human 4-1BBL. The ectodomain forms a homotrimer with an extended, three-bladed propeller structure that differs from trimers formed by other members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily. Based on the 4-1BBL structure, we modeled its complex with 4-1BB, which was consistent with images obtained by electron microscopy, and verified the binding site by site-directed mutagenesis. This structural information will facilitate the development of immunotherapeutics targeting 4-1BB.
Effects of Acute Tryptophan Depletion on Three Different Types of Behavioral Impulsivity

Introduction While central nervous system serotonin has been implicated in a variety of problematic impulsive behaviors, biological manipulation of brain serotonin using acute tryptophan depletion for studying changes in impulsive behavior has received little attention. Methods Using identical treatment conditions, we examined the effects of reduced serotonin synthesis for each of three matched groups using acute tryptophan depletion. Thirty healthy men and women (ages 18–45) were assigned to perform one of three tasks assessing different types of behavioral impulsivity: response initiation, response inhibition, and consequence sensitivity (N = 90). Participants completed two experimental days during which each consumed either a tryptophan-depletion or balanced-placebo amino-acid formulation and completed 5 sessions of their respective tasks at 0.25 h before and 1.5, 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0 h after beverage consumption. Results During peak effectiveness (5.0 h to 6.0 h following amino-acid consumption), depletion produced selective differences dependent on the type of impulsivity being tested. Specifically, relative to baseline testing (pre-depletion), response initiation impulsivity was significantly increased during the peak effects of depletion. And, when compared to placebo control, both response initiation and consequence sensitivity impulsivity were increased during the peak effects of depletion. Conclusion Though response initiation and consequence sensitivity impulsivity were affected by tryptophan depletion, response inhibition impulsivity was not, suggesting that other biological processes may underlie this specific component of impulsivity. Future research in other populations or using different pharmacological agents is warranted to further examine the biological processes underlying these components of impulsivity.
The Relations Between Plate Counts and Direct Microscopic Counts of Escherichia coli During the Logarithmic Growth Period

The relation between the plate count and the direct microscopic count of bacteria is of practical as well as theoretical importance. Particularly during the logarithmic growth period, where the constant rates are used for comparative purposes, it is desirable to know whether the number of cells as determined by plating always bear a constant relation to those enumerated microscopically, that is, whether the plate count is a reliable, although relative, measure of the total number of cells present. That the plate count is usually lower than the total count was noted years ago (Winterberg, 1898; Klein, 1900; Hehewerth, 1901), and this discrepancy has been the subject of a relatively few papers since that time. In general, are the differences between such counts, even during the logarithmic growth period with pure cultures, due entirely to clumping, or to the death of a certain proportion of bacteria, or to a combination of these factors? The more recent studies have brought various facts to light in respect to some of the relationships and have offered explanations in certain cases, without having clearly answered these questions. It is recognized, for example, that in old cultures many cells are not viable, but it is uncertain whether or not this is the case during the period of logarithmic reproduction in a suitable medium.