Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Speech intelligibility, speaking rate, and vowel formant characteristics in Mandarin-speaking children with cochlear implant

The effects of the use of cochlear implant (CI) on speech intelligibility, speaking rate, and vowel formant characteristics and the relationships between speech intelligibility, speaking rate, and vowel formant characteristics for children are clinically important. The purposes of this study were to report on the comparisons for speaking rate and vowel space area, and their relationship with speech intelligibility, between 24 Mandarin-speaking children with CI and 24 age-sex-education level matched normal hearing (NH) controls. Participants were audio recorded as they read a designed Mandarin intelligibility test, repeated prolongation of each of the three point vowels /i/, /a/, and /u/ five times, and repeated each of three sentences carrying one point vowel five times. Compared to the NH group, the CI group exhibited: (1) mild-to-moderate speech intelligibility impairment; (2) significantly reduced speaking rate mainly due to significantly longer inter-word pauses and larger pause proportion; and (3) significantly less vowel reduction in the horizontal dimension in sustained vowel phonation. The limitations of speech intelligibility development in children after cochlear implantation were related to atypical patterns and to a smaller degree in vowel reduction and slower speaking rate resulting from less efficient articulatory movement transition.
Opal-based isotopic proxies of paleoenvironmental conditions

[1] The δ 30 Si and δ 5 Ndiatom of diatom opal provide a view of nutrient utilization in past oceans and are used to formulate and test hypotheses concerning Southern Ocean productivity and fluctuations in atmospheric CO 2 over glacial cycles. Water column profiles of the Si and N isotopic composition of nutrients and the δ 5 Ndiatom of sediment core tops support the use of δ 30 Si and δ 5 Ndιatom as tracers of silicic acid and nitrate utilization, but some issues remain concerning the use of these proxies for paleoceanographic reconstructions. If average marine δ 30 Si changes over time, it could contribute to the observed down core variations in δ 30 Si. Reconstruction of deepwater δ 30 Si using opal from sponges or deep-dwelling radiolarians would address this concern. Cleaning and measurement methods for δ 5 Ndiatom need to be standardized between laboratories and in general suffer from our lack of knowledge of how much organic matter a clean diatom frustule should contain and what its C/N ratio should be. Corresponding shifts in the δ 15 N and C/N of diatom opal with species composition suggests that changes in species composition contributes to the measured down core variations in N and possibly Si as well. This could be due to changes in the ecological niche represented in the sediments or, in the case of N, to species specific fractionation factors. Separation of opal sediments into something more closely resembling monospecific samples is a key development that needs to be made and may be possible using laminar flow systems like "split-flow lateral-transport thin fractionation" (SPLITT). In the meantime, information on the species composition of each sieved and cleaned sample analyzed needs to be collected alongside the isotopic data.
Evaluation of Geogrid Benefits Using Monotonic and Repeated Load Triaxial Tests

A series of monotonic and repeated load resilient modulus triaxial tests were conducted on unreinforced and geogrid reinforced crushed limestone samples to evaluate the effects of the stiffness, location, and number of geogrid layer/s on the strength properties and stress strain response parameters of those samples. Five different types of geogrids were used, and for each geogrid type, four different cases were investigated. For each monotonic triaxial test, three response parameters were selected to assess the benefits of geogrid improvement namely, Es1+%, Es2+%, and USS. Statistical analyses were conducted on the results using ANOVA and post ANOVA LSM. The results of these analyses indicated that generally geogrid with higher stiffness moduli exhibited greater improvement. In addition, double layers had always the maximum improvement, while the minimum benefit was observed for single geogrid layer placed at the sample mid-height. The cyclic triaxial test results were used to determine resilient moduli for the different samples. These results showed that the geogrid reinforcement did not enhance the resilient properties of the reinforced samples.
Management of malignant melanoma of the head and neck using dynamic lymphoscintigraphy and gamma probe-guided sentinel lymph node biopsy.

BACKGROUND The sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is revolutionizing the surgical management of primary malignant melanoma. It allows accurate nodal staging, and targets patients who may benefit from regional lymphadenectomy and systemic therapy; however, its use in the management of head and neck melanoma has not been widely accepted. METHODS A retrospective review of patients treated for clinical stages I and II malignant melanoma of the head and neck with dynamic lymphoscintigraphy and gamma probe-guided SLN biopsy. RESULTS Fifty-eight patients (47 male and 11 female) were identified. Primary melanoma sites included the scalp (21), ear (8), face (13), neck (15), and eyelid (1). Primary tumor staging was T2 (11), T3 (24), and T4 (23). Dynamic lymphoscintigraphy visualized SLNs in 57 patients (98.3%). In 43 cases (75%) a single draining nodal basin was identified, and in 14 cases there were multiple draining nodal basins. Sentinel lymph nodes were successfully identified in 72 (96%) of 75 nodal basins. Positive SLNs were identified in 10 patients (17.5%). Sentinal lymph node positivity by tumor staging was T3, 16.7% and T4, 27.3%. Completion lymphadenectomy revealed residual disease in 3 patients (30%). Relapse occurred in 10 (21.3%) of the 47 patients with negative SLN biopsy results and 7 (70%) of those with positive results. CONCLUSIONS Gamma probe-guided SLN localization in the head and neck region was successful in 96% of draining nodal basins. It can target regional lymphadenectomy in patients who may benefit from regional nodal dissection.
A model of visual–olfactory integration for odour localisation in free-flying fruit flies

SUMMARY Flying fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) locate a concealed appetitive odour source most accurately in environments containing vertical visual contrasts. To investigate how visuomotor and olfactory responses may be integrated, we examine the free-flight behaviour of flies in three visual conditions, with and without food odour present. While odour localisation is facilitated by uniformly distributed vertical contrast as compared with purely horizontal contrast, localised vertical contrast also facilitates odour localisation, but only if the odour source is situated close to it. We implement a model of visuomotor control consisting of three parallel subsystems: an optomotor response stabilising the model fly's yaw orientation; a collision avoidance system to saccade away from looming obstacles; and a speed regulation system. This model reproduces many of the behaviours we observe in flies, including visually mediated ‘rebound’ turns following saccades. Using recordings of real odour plumes, we simulate the presence of an odorant in the arena, and investigate ways in which the olfactory input could modulate visuomotor control. We reproduce the experimental results by using the change in odour intensity to regulate the sensitivity of collision avoidance, resulting in visually mediated chemokinesis. Additionally, it is necessary to amplify the optomotor response whenever odour is present, increasing the model fly's tendency to steer towards features of the visual environment. We conclude that visual and olfactory responses of Drosophila are not independent, but that relatively simple interaction between these modalities can account for the observed visual dependence of odour source localisation.
Eliminating hepatitis C virus as a public health threat among HIV‐positive men who have sex with men: a multi‐modelling approach to understand differences in sexual risk behaviour

Outbreaks of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among HIV‐positive men who have sex with men (MSM) have been observed globally. Using a multi‐modelling approach we estimate the time and number of direct‐acting antiviral treatment courses required to achieve an 80% reduction in HCV prevalence among HIV‐positive MSM in the state of Victoria, Australia.
Effect of Nd(422) Dopant on the Superconducting Properties of Nd(123) Superconductor Melt-Processed in Air

The effect of Nd<sub>3.6</sub>Ba<sub>2.4</sub>Cu<sub>1.8</sub>O<sub>5-</sub><italic><sub>δ</sub> </italic> [Nd(422)] dopant on the microstructure and superconducting properties of Nd<sub>0.9</sub>Ba<sub>2.1 </sub>Cu<sub>3</sub>O<sub>7-</sub><italic><sub>δ</sub></italic> [Nd(123)] superconductor melt-processed in air has been studied using various techniques. It has been confirmed that the addition of Nd(422) phase prior to melt-processing significantly enhances the superconducting prosperities of Nd(123) superconductor when melt-processed in air atmosphere. Microstructure analysis using an electron probe micro-analyzer revealed the presence of Nd(422) inclusions in the 123 matrix and these inclusions are better dispersed and more refined in the doped sample. Compared to the undoped sample, the Nd(422)-doped sample showed significant improvement of current density at low fields with largely depressed fishtail peak effect at high temperatures. These results are ascribed to the effect of Nd(422) phase, which yet unoptimized to serve as efficient pinning centers and also allow the introduction of sufficient field induced pinning centers in the sample.
Treatment regimens for pregnant women with falciparum malaria

ABSTRACT Introduction: With increasing parasite drug resistance, the WHO has updated treatment recommendations for falciparum malaria including in pregnancy. This review assesses the evidence for choice of treatment for pregnant women. Areas covered: Relevant studies, primarily those published since 2010, were identified from reference databases and were used to identify secondary data sources. Expert commentary: WHO recommends use of intravenous artesunate for severe malaria, quinine-clindamycin for uncomplicated malaria in first trimester, and artemisinin combination therapy for uncomplicated malaria in second/third trimesters. Because fear of adverse outcomes has often excluded pregnant women from conventional drug development, available data for novel therapies are usually based on preclinical studies and cases of inadvertent exposure. Changes in antimalarial drug disposition in pregnancy have been observed but are yet to be translated into specific treatment recommendations. Such targeted regimens may become important as parasite resistance demands that drug exposure is optimized.
Serological and molecular epidemiology of Japanese encephalitis virus infections in swine herds in China, 2006–2012

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a mosquito-borne, zoonotic flavivirus causing viral encephalitis in humans and reproductive disorder in swine. JEV is prevalent throughout China in human; however, spatiotemporal analysis of JEV in Chinese swine herds has not been reported previously. Herein, we present serological and molecular epidemiological results and estimates of prevalence of JEV infections among swine herds in various regions of China. The results suggest that JEV infections are widespread and genotype I and III strains co-exist in the same regions. Therefore, there is an urgent need to monitor JEV infection status among swine herds in China.
Deregulation of microRNA expression in purified T and B lymphocytes from patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome

Objective MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases such as primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS). This study is the first to investigate miRNA expression patterns in purified T and B lymphocytes from patients with pSS using a high-throughput quantitative PCR (qPCR) approach. Methods Two independent cohorts of both patients with pSS and controls, one for discovery and one for replication, were included in this study. CD4+ T cells and CD19+ B cells were isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells by magnetic microbeads and expression of miRNAs was profiled using the Exiqon Human miRNome panel I analysing 372 miRNAs. A selection of differentially expressed miRNAs was replicated in the second cohort using specific qPCR assays. Results A major difference in miRNA expression patterns was observed between the lymphocyte populations from patients with pSS and controls. In CD4 T lymphocytes, hsa-let-7d-3p, hsa-miR-155–5 p, hsa-miR-222–3 p, hsa-miR-30c-5p, hsa-miR-146a-5p, hsa-miR-378a-3p and hsa-miR-28–5 p were significantly differentially expressed in both the discovery and the replication cohort. In B lymphocytes, hsa-miR-378a-3p, hsa-miR-222–3 p, hsa-miR-26a-5p, hsa-miR-30b-5p and hsa-miR-19b-3p were significantly differentially expressed. Potential target mRNAs were enriched in disease relevant pathways. Expression of B-cell activating factor (BAFF) mRNA was inversely correlated with the expression of hsa-miR-30b-5p in B lymphocytes from patients with pSS and functional experiments showed increased expression of BAFF after inhibiting hsa-miR-30b-5p. Conclusions This study demonstrates major miRNAs deregulation in T and B cells from patients with pSS in two independent cohorts, which might target genes known to be involved in the pathogenesis of pSS.
Monadic parsing in Haskell

This paper is a tutorial on defining recursive descent parsers in Haskell. In the spirit of one-stop shopping, the paper combines material from three areas into a single source. The three areas are functional parsers (Burge, 1975; Wadler, 1985; Hutton, 1992; Fokker, 1995), the use of monads to structure functional programs (Wadler, 1990, 1992a, 1992b), and the use of special syntax for monadic programs in Haskell (Jones, 1995; Peterson et al., 1996). More specifically, the paper shows how to define monadic parsers using do notation in Haskell. Of course, recursive descent parsers defined by hand lack the efficiency of bottom-up parsers generated by machine (Aho et al., 1986; Mogensen, 1993; Gill and Marlow, 1995). However, for many research applications, a simple recursive descent parser is perfectly sufficient. Moreover, while parser generators typically offer a fixed set of combinators for describing grammars, the method described here is completely extensible: parsers are first-class values, and we have the full power of Haskell available to define new combinators for special applications. The method is also an excellent illustration of the elegance of functional programming.
On the Remarkable Performance of the Series-Resonance CMOS Oscillator

Common harmonic oscillator topologies, such as class-B and class-C, are typically unable to meet ultra stringent phase noise requirements, due to the exceedingly large capacitance (and, symmetrically, low inductance) that would be required in the parallel resonator. In this paper, we show that an oscillator making use of series resonators is ideally able to overcome this limitation, with the additional, surprising benefit that the phase noise contribution from the active oscillator core can be made negligible, provided that very good MOS switches are available.
Relationship between thermal properties and diffusion coefficients of gases for polyimide films

The relationships between the chemical structure, packing density (1/V F ), and cohesive energy density (CED) and the thermal properties of polyimides were investigated. Particularly, the correlation of tan δ measured by stress-strain/thermal mechanical analysis with 1/V F and CED was found for eight polyimides. We measured the relationship between the apparent diffusion coefficient (D a ) and 1/V F and CED, respectively, as described in previous articles. From these experiments, we found that the thermal properties, especially tan δ, were correlated with the apparent diffusion coefficient of gas. These results are well explained by use of micro-Brownian motion.
Global climatic drivers of vegetation based on wavelet analysis

Cross-correlations provide a useful technique to analyse the similarities between vegetation indices and time series of climatic variables. However, correlation analyses are not sufficient to unveil changes in the co-variability of vegetation and climate as a function of time or for different temporal scales. Here, we introduce the use of wavelet coherence to evaluate the relationship between vegetation and its climate drivers, aiming to reveal how this relation has changed globally during the period 1984–2007. We diagnose vegetation through the use of Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Leaf Area Index (LAI) and Vegetation Optical Depth (VOD), while precipitation, air temperature and incoming radiation are considered as separate climatic drivers. Our results indicate that the wavelet coherence analysis can be used to disentangle the contrasting response of global ecosystems to their climatic environment. Our global maps of mean wavelet coherence, align with literature-reported areas of preferential water and energy stress. Based on these global maps, some areas of interest are selected for which a detailed spectral analysis of the time series is performed. Initial results indicate a clear discrepancy in the climatic response of different vegetation diagnostics over grasslands and woody regions.
The Effect of Different Root Canal Sealers on the Bond Strength of Different Fiber Post Systems

In the present of this study, the effect of resin based sealers on the bond strength of different fiber post systems were evaluated. One hundred and twenty maxillary anterior central extracted human teeth were used in this study. The roots were seperated and adjusted to 18 mm. The roots were instrumented by using Protaper rotary system. Specimens were randomly divided into four groups and obturated by using lateral condensation of gutta-percha with four different root canal sealers (AH Plus, Kerr, Epiphany, Endorez). After 7 days, teeth in each group (n=10) were received three different fiber posts systems (DT Light, Transluma, Everstick) with Duolink resin cement. Then, the roots were embedded in acrylic resin blocks. After this period, the specimens were sectioned in three slices (apical, middle, coronal). The push-out test was performed in a universal testing machine. All samples submitted push out test were examined under stereomicroscope. Data were submitted ANOVA and Tukey test. Teeth obturated with AH Plus and received DT Light fiber post system showed the highest bond strengths (p<0.05). Teeth obturated with Kerr pulp canal sealer and Transluma fiber post system showed the lowest bond strengths (p<0.05). Teeth obturated with Endorez and received Everstick fiber post system showed the highest bond strengths (p<0.05). Anahtar Kelimeler : Canal sealer, fiber post system, push out test
High abundances of water-soluble dicarboxylic acids, ketocarboxylic acids and α-dicarbonyls in the mountaintop aerosols over the North China Plain during wheat burning season

Aerosol (TSP) samples were collected at the summit of Mount Tai (elevation: 1534 m a.s.l., 36.25 N, 117.10 E) located in the North China Plain using a high- volume air sampler and pre-combusted quartz filters. Sam- pling was conducted on day/night or 3 h basis in the pe- riod from 29 May to 28 June 2006 during the field burn- ing of wheat straw residue and the post-burning season. The filter samples were analyzed for low-molecular-weight di- carboxylic acids, ketoacids and -dicarbonyls using capil- lary gas chromatography (GC) and GC-MS employing wa- ter extraction and butyl ester derivatization. Molecular dis- tributions of dicarboxylic acids (C 2-C11, 220-6070 ng m 3 ) were characterized by a predominance of oxalic (C2) acid (105-3920 ng m 3 ) followed by succinic (C4) or malonic (C3) acid. Unsaturated aliphatic diacids, including maleic (M), isomaleic (iM) and fumaric (F) acids, were also de- tected together with aromatic diacids (phthalic, isophthalic and terephthalic acids). -oxocarboxylic acids (C2-C9, 24- 610 ng m 3 ) were detected as the second most abundant compound class with the predominance of glyoxylic acid (11-360 ng m 3 ), followed by -ketoacid (pyruvic acid, 3- 140 ng m 3 ) and -dicarbonyls (glyoxal, 1-230 ng m 3 and methylglyoxal, 2-120 ng m 3 ). We found that these lev- els (>6000 ng m 3 for diacids) are several times higher than those reported in Chinese megacities at ground levels. The concentrations of diacids increased from late May to early June, showing a maximum on 7 June, and then sig- nificantly decreased during the period 8-11 June, when the wind direction shifted from southerly to northerly. Similar temporal trends were found for ketocarboxylic acids and - dicarbonyls as well as total carbon (TC) and water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC). The temporal variations of water- soluble organics were interpreted by the direct emission from the field burning of agricultural wastes (wheat straw) in the North China Plain and the subsequent photochemical oxida- tion of volatile and semi-volatile organic precursors emitted from field burning as well as dark ozonolysis of volatile or- ganic compounds and other organics, accretion reactions and oxidation of nonvolatile organics such as unsaturated fatty acids. This study demonstrates that the field burning of agri- cultural wastes in early summer strongly influenced the air quality of the free troposphere over the North China Plain.
Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide inhibits prostate cancer cell migration via the protein arginine methyltransferase 6 signaling pathway

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of malignant tumor of men worldwide and the incidence and mortality rate is gradually increasing. At present, the molecular mechanisms of growth and migration in human prostate cancer have not been completely elucidated. Studies have demonstrated that Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLP) can inhibit cancer. Therefore the present study investigated the effect and molecular mechanism of GLP on cell growth and migration of LNCaP human prostate cancer cells. LNCaP cells were transfected with either a protein arginine methyltransferase 6 (PRMT6) overexpression plasmid or PRMT6 small interfering (si)RNA. The cell growth and migration, and the expression of PRMT6 signaling-associated proteins, were investigated following treatment with 5 and 20 µg/ml GLP. The results demonstrated that GLP inhibited cell growth, induced cell cycle arrest, decreased PRMT6, cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and steroid receptor coactivator, (SRC) expression, and increased p21 expression in LNCaP cells, as determined by using a Coulter counter, flow cytometry, and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively. Furthermore, GLP significantly inhibited cell migration, as determined by Transwell migration and scratch assays, and altered CDK2, FAK, SRC and p21 expression in LNCaP cells transfected with the PRMT6 overexpression plasmid. By contrast, PRMT6 knockdown by siRNA reduced the effect of GLP on cell migration. These results indicate that GLP was effective in inhibiting cell growth, the cell cycle and cell migration, and the suppressive effect of GLP on cell migration may occur via the PRMT6 signaling pathway. Therefore, it is suggested that GLP may act as a tumor suppressor with applications in the treatment of prostate cancer. The results of the present study provide both the preliminary theoretical and experimental basis for the investigation of GLP as a therapeutic agent.