Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Alexis Michaud : Prosodie de langues à tons (naxi et vietnamien), prosodie de l'anglais : éclairages croisés

La mise en regard de donnees d'anglais et de deux langues a tons d'Extreme-Orient (naxi et vietnamien) montre un partage des ressources entre specifications lexicales (oppositions phonemiques, et accentuation) et intonation : les premieres fournissent le cadre dans lequel la variation intonative prend son sens. Au plan typologique, chaque langue offrirait a l'enonciateur un certain degre de liberte ; le naxi (4 tons) apparait plus contraint que l'anglais, et que le vietnamien (qui pourtant possede 6 tons). Les experiences menees (qui comportent une evaluation de la qualite de voix par electroglottographie) paraissent faire ressortir la superposition de plusieurs phenomenes. Elles permettent d'aborder une question soulevee par le courant autosegmental-metrique d'etudes intonatives : accentuation et intonation concourent-elles a une unique sequence tonale pour l'enonce (cela dans toutes les langues) ? Il semblerait que ce dernier point de vue ne permette pas de rendre compte des faits rencontres.
Comparative Evaluation of Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses and Autologous Serum for Management of Sjögren Syndrome-Associated Dry Eye

Purpose: To comparatively evaluate the efficacy of a bandage contact lens (BCL) and autologous serum (AS) eye drops in the management of severe dry eye caused by Sjögren syndrome (SS). Methods: In this prospective randomized study, 40 patients with SS were enrolled. Patients were divided into 2 treatment groups: BCL and AS. Results: A total of 37 patients were included, 18 patients (35 eyes) in the AS group and 19 patients (36 eyes) in the BCL group. At the end of 6 weeks, the best-corrected visual acuity improved significantly in the BCL group (0.5 ± 0.3 vs. 0.3 ± 0.2, P = 0.003) but not in the AS group (0.4 ± 0.3 vs. 0.3 ± 0.3, P = 0.11). The best-corrected visual acuity remained stable up to 6 weeks after discontinuation of the BCL (0.5 ± 0.3 vs. 0.4 ± 0.2, P = 0.03). Although the Ocular Surface Disease Index scores decreased significantly after treatment in both groups, patients in the BCL group had lower Ocular Surface Disease Index scores than those in the AS group (53.4 vs. 41.8 at week 3, 47.1 vs. 31.0 at week 6, 52.7 vs. 32.0 at week 12; P = 0.014, <0.001, <0.004, respectively). The “faces” scores showed improved quality of life in both groups. Tear break-up time improved significantly in both groups except at 6 weeks after discontinuation of the AS. Patients in the BCL group had lower corneal staining scores than those of the AS group after 6 weeks of treatment and 6 weeks after discontinuation of treatment (P < 0.01). There was no significant change in Schirmer I test scores between or within groups. Conclusions: Balafilcon A silicone hydrogel contact lenses as a BCL were effective in the management of SS-associated dry eye. Clinical Trial Registration—URL: http://www.clinicaltrials. gov. Unique identifier: NCT02147509.
Orientationally invariant metrics of apparent compartment eccentricity from double pulsed field gradient diffusion experiments

Pulsed field gradient diffusion sequences (PFG) with multiple diffusion encoding blocks have been indicated to offer new microstructural tissue information, such as the ability to detect nonspherical compartment shapes in macroscopically isotropic samples, i.e. samples with negligible directional signal dependence on diffusion gradients in standard diffusion experiments. However, current acquisition schemes are not rotationally invariant in the sense that the derived metrics depend on the orientation of the sample, and are affected by the interplay of sampling directions and compartment orientation dispersion when applied to macroscopically anisotropic systems. Here we propose a new framework, the d‐PFG 5‐design, to enable rotationally invariant estimation of double wave vector diffusion metrics (d‐PFG). The method is based on the idea that an appropriate orientational average of the signal emulates the signal from a powder preparation of the same sample, where macroscopic anisotropy is absent by construction. Our approach exploits the theory of exact numerical integration (quadrature) of polynomials on the rotation group, and we exemplify the general procedure with a set consisting of 60 pairs of diffusion wave vectors (the d‐PFG 5‐design) facilitating a theoretically exact determination of the fourth order Taylor or cumulant expansion of the orientationally averaged signal. The d‐PFG 5‐design is evaluated with numerical simulations and ex vivo high field diffusion MRI experiments in a nonhuman primate brain. Specifically, we demonstrate rotational invariance when estimating compartment eccentricity, which we show offers new microstructural information, complementary to that of fractional anisotropy (FA) from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The imaging observations are supported by a new theoretical result, directly relating compartment eccentricity to FA of individual pores. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Citywide clonal outbreak of multiresistant Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Brooklyn, NY: the preantibiotic era has returned.

BACKGROUND Carbapenems are important agents for treating nosocomial gram-negative infections. Carbapenem-resistant bacteria have become increasingly problematic in certain regions. This study determined the citywide prevalence and molecular epidemiological features of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Brooklyn, NY. METHODS All unique patient isolates of A baumannii and P aeruginosa were collected from 15 Brooklyn hospitals from July 1, 1999, through September 30, 1999. Antibiotic susceptibilities, the genetic relatedness of resistant isolates, and the relationship between antibiotic use and resistance rates were determined. RESULTS A total of 419 isolates of A baumannii and 823 isolates of P aeruginosa were collected. For A baumannii, 53% were resistant to meropenem and/or imipenem, and 12% were resistant to all standard antibiotics. Ribotyping revealed that a single clone accounted for 62% of the samples and was isolated from patients at all 15 hospitals. The rate of carbapenem resistance was associated with cephalosporin use at each hospital (P =.004). For P aeruginosa, 24% were resistant to imipenem, 5% to amikacin, and 15% to 29% to other antipseudomonal agents. Ribotyping revealed that 3 clones accounted for nearly half of the isolates and were shared by most hospitals. CONCLUSIONS Approximately 400 patients were infected or colonized with carbapenem-resistant A baumannii and P aeruginosa during a 3-month period in 1999. A few strains have spread widely throughout hospitals in this region. The prevalence of resistant A baumannii seems to be correlated with cephalosporin use. Multiresistant hospital-acquired bacteria should be viewed as a serious public health issue rather than an individual hospital's problem. An intensive coordinated effort will be needed to effectively address this problem.
Research Brief: The Teen ADHD Workshop to Improve Adolescent ADHD Treatment Engagement

Objective: Adolescents with ADHD are at risk of functional problems that may be mitigated by consistent ADHD treatment. This study pilots a brief intervention for adolescents with ADHD and their parents to increase treatment knowledge and family motivation to seek treatment. Method: The 3-hr curriculum was developed by a multidisciplinary team and included psychoeducation, goal setting, and motivational interviewing. Fifteen adolescents and 20 caregivers participated in the workshop, completed pre- and post-test assessments, and reported on acceptability. Results: Acceptability and satisfaction with the intervention were high. Perceived knowledge of ADHD increased post intervention; stigma was unchanged. Parents reported more acceptability of stimulant medications and less willingness to use special diets or cognitive games. Family feedback informed modifications to the curriculum. Conclusion: The Teen ADHD Workshop is a feasible and acceptable intervention to increase knowledge of ADHD and evidence-based treatments. Further research will evaluate effects on treatment participation.
Sorbitol-negative phenotype among enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli strains of different serotypes and from different sources

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) strains detected with DNA probes (for virulence plasmid and Shiga-like toxins) from subjects with hemolytic-uremic syndrome (n = 19) or diarrhea (n = 41) or asymptomatic carriers (n = 29) were examined for sorbitol fermentability, as were enterotoxigenic (n = 40), enteropathogenic (n = 40), and enteroinvasive (n = 40) E. coli and urinary tract infection (n = 40) strains and normal flora E. coli strains (n = 40). Sorbitol negativity was common only in EHEC, particularly among strains from severe clinical infections. All 19 EHEC strains from patients with hemolytic-uremic syndrome, irrespective of O:H serotype or Shiga-like toxin genotype, were sorbitol negative.
Hydrolysis of succinyldicholine and succinylmonocholine in human serum.

The enzymatic hydrolysis of the muscle relaxant suxamethonium (succinyldicholine) and the first product of its degradation, succinylmonocholine, in sera of different pseudocholinesterase phenotypes have been investigated. Kinetic data were obtained, using 14C-labeled substrates, thus making the method very sensitive and accurate at concentrations of pharmacologic interest. Radioactivity of substrates and split products were estimated after separation by high voltage electrophoresis on paper. The results give much evidence that in human serum both esters are hydrolyzed by pseudocholinesterase. ACKNOWLEDGMENT This investigation was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and by the Fonds der Chemischen Industrie.
Asymptomatic bacteriuria during pregnancy

Objective. The present study was aimed to test the association between asymptomatic bacteriuria during pregnancy, among patients in whom antibiotic treatment was recommended, and perinatal outcome. Our study was also designed to characterize common bacteria and risk factors associated with asymptomatic bacteriuria during pregnancy. Methods. A retrospective population-based study comparing all singleton pregnancies of women with and asymptomatic bacteriuria was conducted. Patients with urinary tract infection were excluded from the analysis. Multiple logistic regression model was used to control for confounders. Results. Out of 199,093 deliveries, 2.5% (n = 4890) were in patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria. E. coli was the most common pathogen associated with asymptomatic bacteriuria, representing 78.6% of the cultures with specified growth. Patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria were more likely to deliver preterm (PTD, 13.3%vs. 7.6%, odd ratio (OR) = 1.9, 95% confidence interval CI 1.7–2.0; P < 0.001) and deliver low birth-weight neonates (<2500 g, 13.3%vs. 7.9%, OR = 1.8; 95% CI 1.6–2.0; P < 0.001). Asymptomatic bacteriuria was independently associated with PTD (adjusted OR = 1.6; 95% CI 1.5–1.7; P < 0.001), fertility treatments, hypertensive disorders, recurrent abortions, diabetes mellitus, intrauterine growth restriction, polyhydramnion and oligohydramnion, premature rupture of membranes and labour induction, in a multivariable analysis with backwards elimination. Perinatal mortality rates (1.5%vs. 1.4%; P = 0.707) as well as low 5 min Apgar scores (0.8%vs. 0.6%; P = 0.065) were comparable between the groups. Conclusion. Asymptomatic bacteriuria is an independent risk factor for preterm delivery.
Intensive Pediatric Constraint-Induced Therapy for Children With Cerebral Palsy: Randomized, Controlled, Crossover Trial

A randomized crossover trial of a new form of pediatric rehabilitation was conducted with 18 children with hemiparesis. Half were randomly assigned to receive pediatric constraint-induced therapy involving constraint of the functional upper extremity and intensive therapy with the hemiparetic upper extremity. Controls received conventional physical and occupational therapy and then were crossed over to receive pediatric constraint-induced therapy. Pediatric constraint-induced therapy produced significantly greater gains than conventional rehabilitation services. (J Child Neurol 2006;21:931—938; DOI 10.2310/7010.2006.00201).
[Whole-body MRA on a rolling table platform (AngioSURF)].

PURPOSE Development of a technique for whole-body MR angiography based on a rolling table platform and integration of a surface coil. MATERIAL AND METHODS The developed rolling table platform AngioSURF (System for Unlimited Rolling Field-of-view) with integrated surface coil can be mounted on top of the original patient table of a Siemens Symphony System. Data acquisition was performed with a standard body array surface coil. The system was tested on three volunteers and one patient with angiographically documented vascular pathology. Data acquisition was performed with a 3D-FLASH-sequence (TR/TE 2.1/0.7 ms, flip angle: 20 degrees, FOV 40 x 40 cm, 80 partitions, matrix 512 x 420 with zero interpolation). Five data sets were collected in immediate succession during continuous injection of a paramagnetic contrast agent. Time of acquisition per data set was 10 seconds. Table repositioning was performed manually within 3 seconds. Thus the total acquisition time amounted to 72 seconds. RESULTS No problems with handling occurred in any of the four cases. The excellent image quality enables detailed assessment of the displayed vascular territories. CONCLUSIONS The rolling table platform with integrated surface coil (AngioSURF) allows diagnostic display of the arterial vascular system from supraaortic vessels to the distal trifurcation arteries in only 72 seconds.
The efficacy of donepezil in the treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer disease

Objective: To determine the efficacy of donepezil in the treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) in a randomized withdrawal study. Method: Patients with mild to moderate AD with marked neuropsychiatric symptoms at baseline (Neuropsychiatric Inventory [NPI] > 11 points) were treated openly with donepezil 5 mg daily for 6 weeks followed by 10 mg daily for a further 6 weeks. Patients were then randomized (60:40) to either placebo or 10 mg donepezil daily. All patients were assessed at 6 weeks and provided there was no marked cognitive deterioration their blinded treatment was continued for a further 6 weeks. NPI and carer distress were assessed at 6 weekly intervals throughout the study. Results: A total of 134 patients participated. Following randomization patients who continued on donepezil 10 mg for 12 weeks had improvements in NPI compared with the placebo group (mean change −2.9 vs 3.3 points; ITT-LOCF p = 0.02) and in NPI-Distress scores (median change −2.0 vs 1.0 points; ITT-LOCF p = 0.01). During the open-label phase the total NPI and NPI-Distress scores were lower after 12 weeks treatment with open label donepezil compared with baseline (total NPI 22 points vs13 points; ITT-LOCF p < 0.0001; NPI-Distress 13.5 vs 7.9 points; ITT-LOCF p < 0.0001). In the open-label phase all domains of the NPI (with the exception of elation) were improved (all p < 0.05 after Bonferroni correction). Conclusions: Donepezil has significant efficacy in the treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with mild to moderate AD.
Immunosuppressive acidic protein in patients with ovarian cancer

Serum immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) was determined in 63 patients with ovarian tumors (33 benign and 30 malignant) and 79 healthy female controls, and was examined as a marker for ovarian cancer in comparison with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The mean value of serum IAP in patients with ovarian cancer (1085 ± 474 μg/ml) was statistically higher than those of both benign tumors (394 ± 93 μg/ml) and controls (298 ± 92 μg/ml). Elevated levels of IAP and CEA were found in 93.3% and 30.0% of patients with ovarian cancer, respectively. There were three false‐positive cases with IAP and two with CEA. Elevation of IAP was recognized in all cancer patients in Stage I, whereas 33.3% of these patients showed elevated CEA. The occurrence of elevated serum IAP was not affected by tumor histologic features. Serial IAP determination appeared to provide a useful follow‐up marker in patients in whom CEA was low in value. The measurement of serum IAP is highly recommended as an addition to the conventional diagnostic methods. Cancer 52:2081‐2085, 1983.
Crossed Dipole Antennas: A review.

Crossed dipole antennas have been widely developed for current and future wireless communication systems. They can generate isotropic, omnidirectional, dual-polarized (DP), and circularly polarized (CP) radiation. Moreover, by incorporating a variety of primary radiation elements, they are suitable for single-band, multiband, and wideband operations. This article presents a review of the designs, characteristics, and applications of crossed dipole antennas along with the recent developments of single-feed CP configurations. The considerations of profile miniaturization, radiation pattern control, bandwidth enhancement, and multiband operation are emphasized.
Validation and reliability of Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills for surgical residents and consultants.

OBJECTIVE To institute and validate the Global Assessment of Laparoscopic Surgery score as a measure of intraoperative performance. METHODS The observational study was conducted at the Services Hospital, Lahore, and the National Hospital and Medical Centre, Lahore, from August 1, 2013, to February 28, 2014, and comprised Residents, Senior Registrars and Consultants who were divided into 3 groups. The Junior group comprised Residents from years 1, 2 and3; the Intermediate group had year 4 Residents and Senior Registrars; and the Senior group included Consultants. All participants had their evaluation using Global Assessment of Laparoscopic Surgeryscore while performing dissection of gall bladder from the liver bed during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. SPSS 20 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS Of the 24 subjects in the study, 12(50%) were Residents, 6(25%) Senior Registrars and 6(25%) Consultants. The mean score for Junior group was 7.64±0.988, for Intermediate group 16.25±2.602 and for Senior group 22.83±1.169The score was highly reliable with intra-class coefficient 0.96, and internal consistency was excellent with Cronbach's Alpha 0.981. CONCLUSIONS Global Assessment of Laparoscopic Surgery was found to be a valid and reliable measure of intraoperative laparoscopic skills.
Influence of Manganese on Growth of a Sheathless Strain of Leptothrix discophora

Mn2+ exerted various effects on the growth of Leptothrix discophora strain SS-1 in batch cultures depending on the concentration added to the medium. Concentrations of 0.55 to 5.5 μM Mn2+, comparable to those in the environment from which strain SS-1 was isolated, decreased cell yield and prolonged stationary-phase survival, but did not affect growth rate. Elevated concentrations of 55 to 910 μM Mn2+ also decreased cell yield and prolonged survival, but growth rate was decreased as well. The addition of 1,820 μM Mn2+ caused a decline in cell numbers followed by an exponential rise after 80 h of incubation, indicating the development of a population of cells resistant to Mn2+ toxicity. When 360 μM Mn2+ or less was added to growth flasks, Mn2+ was oxidized to manganese oxide (MnOx, where x is ∼2), which appeared as brown particles in the medium. Quantification of Mn oxidation during growth of cultures to which 55 μM Mn2+ was added showed that nearly all of the Mn2+ was oxidized by the beginning of the stationary phase of growth (15 to 25 h). This result suggested that the decrease in cell yield observed at low and moderate concentrations of Mn2+ was related to the formation of MnOx, which may have bound cationic nutrients essential to the growth of SS-1. The addition of excess Fe3+ to cultures containing 55 μM Mn2+ increased cell yield to levels near those found in cultures with no added Mn2+, indicating that iron deprivation by MnOx was at least partly responsible for the decreased cell yield.
Drug therapy for alcohol dependence.

Alcohol dependence is a chronic disorder that results from a variety of genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors.1 As defined by the American Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, it is characterized by increased tolerance of the effects of alcohol, impaired control over drinking, and continued drinking despite adverse consequences (Table 1). 2 Alcohol dependence affects nearly 10 percent of the population and results in social problems, considerable morbidity and mortality, and high health care costs.3,4 Alcohol dependence is treated by medical, psychological, and social interventions that reduce or eliminate the desire to drink and the .
Detecção de anticorpos contra o vírus da diarréia viral bovina no soro sangüíneo, no leite individual e no leite de conjunto em tanque de expansão de rebanhos não vacinados

Pela pesquisa de anticorpos contra o virus da diarreia viral bovina (BVD), utilizando o teste de ELISA indireto, foi estudada a correlacao existente entre a proporcao de vacas lactantes e a presenca de anticorpos no leite de conjunto do tanque de expansao. Para isso foram analisadas amostras de soro sanguineo e de leite individual de 376 vacas lactantes nao vacinadas, provenientes de 10 propriedades localizadas nas regioes Sul do Estado de Minas Gerais e Nordeste do Estado de Sao Paulo, assim como uma amostra do leite do tanque de expansao de cada rebanho. Em todas as propriedades foram encontradas vacas reagentes no soro sanguineo, cuja frequencia variou de 12,28 a 100,00%. Ja a analise do leite individual nao revelou animais reagentes em duas propriedades, e nas demais a frequencia variou de 5,26 a 70,83%. Foram detectados anticorpos no leite do tanque de expansao das propriedades cuja proporcao de soros sanguineos reagentes foi igual a ou maior que 82,86%, e cuja proporcao de leites individuais reagentes foi igual a ou maior que 32,14%.
2-Dimensional Deformation of an Irregular Orthotropic Elastic Medium

In the present paper the closed form analytical expressions for the displacement and stresses at any point of an infinite irregular orthotropic elastic medium as a result of normal line-load have been obtained by using eigen-value approach. The irregularity of rectangular and parabolic shape has been considered. To examine the effect of different type of irregularities the variation of displacement and stresses with horizontal distance have been shown graphically by taking different sizes of irregularities. Also to study the effect of irregularities present in the medium the comparison between the displacement due to with and without irregularities have been made. Contour maps showing the displacement field for each type of irregularities are presented.