Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Talker- and language-specific effects on speech intelligibility in noise assessed with bilingual talkers: Which language is more robust against noise and reverberation?

Objective: Investigate talker- and language-specific aspects of speech intelligibility in noise and reverberation using highly comparable matrix sentence tests across languages. Design: Matrix sentences spoken by German/Russian and German/Spanish bilingual talkers were recorded. These sentences were used to measure speech reception thresholds (SRTs) with native listeners in the respective languages in different listening conditions (stationary and fluctuating noise, multi-talker babble, reverberated speech-in-noise condition). Study sample: Four German/Russian and four German/Spanish bilingual talkers; 20 native German-speaking, 10 native Russian-speaking, and 10 native Spanish-speaking listeners. Results: Across-talker SRT differences of up to 6 dB were found for both groups of bilinguals. SRTs of German/Russian bilingual talkers were the same in both languages. SRTs of German/Spanish bilingual talkers were higher when they talked in Spanish than when they talked in German. The benefit from listening in the gaps was similar across all languages. The detrimental effect of reverberation was larger for Spanish than for German and Russian. Conclusions: Within the limitations set by the number and slight accentedness of talkers and other possible confounding factors, talker- and test-condition-dependent differences were isolated from the language effect: Russian and German exhibited similar intelligibility in noise and reverberation, whereas Spanish was more impaired in these situations.
Who joins the party crew? Political staff in the Low Countries

Political staffers are an increasingly relevant area of study due to dropping party membership rates, increasing staff size and the growing prominence of staff positions in political careers. However, the subject is understudied and remains limited to studies of staff size and the role of staffers within specific institutions. This paper introduces a research proposal that aims to join earlier in depth studies of political staff by conducting the first survey among staffers of all Dutch and Belgian parties represented in parliament. Based on these empirical data, we will investigate their recruitment, socio-demographic composition, political opinions, expertise, professional ambition and democratic accountability. The project will be constructed around five separate papers, in which the position of staffers within parties will be discussed through the lens of existing theoretical work on party politics. By gathering new empirical data on the subject, our goal is to connect the discussion on political staff with larger questions on party organization, such as electoral-professionalism, the opinion structure of parties, cartelization and democratic accountability. Paper prepared for the 9th Graduate Conference on Party Research (GraPa) Panel: ‘Party Organization’ 2 3 February 2018, Düsseldorf Please do not cite without the authors’ permission –
Different inhibitory capacities of human and mouse KLRG1 are linked to distinct disulfide‐mediated oligomerizations

The killer cell lectin‐like receptor G1 (KLRG1) is a cadherin‐binding inhibitory receptor expressed by NK and T cells in humans and mice. Although structural and ligand‐binding properties of human (h) and mouse (m) KLRG1 are very similar, KLRG1‐mediated inhibition under physiological conditions is only observed with human lymphocytes. Using a well‐defined in vitro system, we demonstrate here that mKLRG1 exhibits a significantly lower inhibitory capacity compared with the human homolog. Biochemical analyses further showed that mKLRG1 formed monomers and disulfide‐linked dimers, trimers, and tetramers whereas hKLRG1 was exclusively present as disulfide‐linked dimer. Mutational analysis revealed a crucial role of Cys62 present in the stalk region of mKLRG1 but not of hKLRG1 for oligomer formation. Strikingly, mimicking hKLRG1 by replacement of Cys62 in mKLRG1 by glutamine prevented tri‐ and tetramer formation and increased the inhibitory capacity. Furthermore, mutated mKLRG1 molecules that were unable to form disulfide‐linked dimers at all or at a decreased level lacked inhibitory activity. These data indicate that only dimeric KLRG1 entities exhibit potent inhibitory capacities. The lower inhibitory capacity of mKLRG1 compared with hKLRG1 can thus be rationalized by a decreased proportion of dimeric entities, which can be pinpointed to a single amino acid.
Platelet Hyperactivation in Patients with Essential Thrombocythemia Is not Associated with Vascular Endothelial Cell Damage as Judged by the Level of Plasma Thrombomodulin, Protein S, PAI-1, t-PA and vWF

Summary The occurrence of thrombotic events remains an important clinical problem in Essential Thrombocythemias (ET). Thus, hemostatic, fibrinolytic and vascular status was investigated in 16 patients (5 males and 11 females) with ET. Among them five presented thromboses in their past history. Platelet hyperactivation, as evidenced by a mean three-fold increase in plasma betathromboglobulin (βTG), was observed in 13 among 16 patients; surprisingly this activation was present even when the platelet count was normal (in two patients) or subnormal, below 600 x 109/1 (in 11 patients). The mean value was 104 ± 57 IU/ml significantly different from that of normal controls (35 ± 16.5 IU/ ml) (p <0.001). An artefactual in vitro platelet activation was ruled out by the concomitant measurement of platelet factor, 4 (PF4). D-dimers fibrin degradation products (D-Di FDP) were normal in all patients. Vascular endothelial cell function parameters were not markedly modified. The mean value of plasma thrombomodulin ™ was found slightly but not significantly increased (60.1 ±4.9 ng/ml versus 49.1 ± 10.0 ng/ml in controls). The values of plasma TM correlated neither with that of the platelet count nor with that of plasma βTG or plasma PF4. The mean values of plasma protein S, von Willebrand factor (vWF), plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) were normal and were not correlated neither with that of plasma TM nor with that of plasma βTG. In spite of a significant increase in vWF in two patients who presented peripheral thromboses, the markers of vascular endothelial cell function were not significantly different in patients having presented or not thromboses. Thus, in ET, these data showed the presence of platelet hyperactivation, even in patients in remission; it was not associated with vascular endothelial cell damage which might account for a greater risk of thrombosis.
Long‐term clinical and immunologic outcomes of HIV‐infected women with and without previous exposure to nevirapine

To determine and compare the clinical and immunologic outcomes for HIV‐infected women initiated on antiretroviral therapy (ART), with and without previous exposure to single‐dose nevirapine in the MTCT‐Plus programme – Kampala, Uganda, from 2003 to 2011.
Two major tertiary folding transitions of the Tetrahymena catalytic RNA.

The L‐21 Tetrahymena ribozyme, an RNA molecule with sequence‐specific endoribonuclease activity derived from a self‐splicing group I intron, provides a model system for studying the RNA folding problem. A 160 nucleotide, independently folding domain of tertiary structure (the P4‐P6 domain) comprises about half of the ribozyme. We now apply Fe(II)‐EDTA cleavage to mutants of the ribozyme to explore the role of individual structural elements in tertiary folding of the RNA at equilibrium. Deletion of peripheral elements near the 3′ end of the ribozyme destabilizes a region of the catalytic core (P3‐P7) without altering the folding of the P4‐P6 domain. Three different mutations within the P4‐P6 domain that destabilize its folding also shift the folding of the P3‐P7 region of the catalytic core to higher MgCl2 concentrations. We conclude that the role of the extended P4‐P6 domain and of the 3′‐terminal peripheral elements is at least in part to stabilize the catalytic core. The organization of RNA into independently folding domains of tertiary structure may be common in large RNAs, including ribosomal RNAs. Furthermore, the observation of domain‐domain interactions in a catalytic RNA supports the feasibility of a primitive spliceosome without any proteins.
A methodological framework to address gaps in the evidence on infrastructure impacts: the case of an Indian railway project evaluation

ABSTRACT Infrastructure is a key area of public investment and development cooperation, and can be seen as a critical enabler of trade and integration. Stakeholders increasingly demand evidence on the effectiveness of investments in infrastructure such as railways, in part because these investments typically lock in development patterns for decades. In this article we take stock of the main findings, methodological approaches, gaps and caveats of the current literature with a focus on railways. Based on this analysis, we present a methodology for an impact evaluation framework which builds on existing knowledge and addresses some of these shortcomings. Beyond the dearth of empirical evidence on the socio-economic and environmental impacts of infrastructure, we discuss critiques of the currently prevalent methodological toolbox. Using a real-world railway project in India, the Konkan Railway, we exemplify how a rigorous quantitative impact assessment can integrate inter-disciplinary and mixed-methods features to address these issues. Specifically, we apply different quasi-experimental techniques on the level of intermediate and ultimate outcome and impact indicators, using census, survey and satellite data and information from document analyses, interviews and focus group discussions. We draw on insights from economics, sociology, engineering and geography in making sense of large infrastructure projects and their impacts.
The effects of economic austerity on pro-sociality: Evidence from Greece

The European sovereign debt crisis resulted in policies of fiscal austerity and economic downturn in Greece, marked by a prolonged period of recession and high unemployment. This article explores the social impact of the economic crisis, focusing on its effects on altruism using new household-level survey data and quasi-behavioral outcomes. We focus on the effects of joblessness, the most severe form of economic hardship imposed as a result of the crisis. Our findings reveal a strong relationship between job loss in the household and decreased altruism. We provide experimental evidence of these effects and of in-group bias in charitable giving as a result of joblessness. Our results show that joblessness intensifies survey respondents’ preferences for national as opposed to foreign charities.
Causes of developmental failure of in-vitro matured rhesus monkey oocytes: impairments in embryonic genome activation.

BACKGROUND Understanding the causes of developmental failure of in-vitro matured primate oocytes may lead to viable strategies for improving their developmental competence. The aims of this study were to determine whether the timely onset of embryonic genome activation among individual blastomeres of preimplantation macaque embryos is impaired by in-vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes and whether these impairments are associated with developmental failure during the embryonically controlled period of preimplantation development. METHODS Genome activation among individual blastomeres was assessed using expression of fibrillarin as a marker of nucleolar transcription. Immature oocytes were obtained from rhesus monkeys following treatment with recombinant human FSH and matured in-vitro in one of two IVM media (CMRLa or CMRLb). In-vivo matured oocytes were obtained from FSH treated monkeys following administration of hCG. Oocytes were fertilized in vitro and either cultured for developmental studies or processed at the 8-12-cell stage for expression of fibrillarin. RESULTS Developmental competence of embryos derived from in-vitro matured CMRLa oocytes was markedly (P < 0.05) impaired compared with those derived from in-vivo matured or in-vitro matured CMRLb oocytes. Developmental profiles were similar among the groups prior to the 8-cell stage. However, in embryos derived from in-vitro matured CMRLa oocytes, developmental failure increased significantly (P < 0.05) after the time of genome activation compared with those derived from in-vivo matured or in-vitro matured CMRLb oocytes. The mean percentages of non-activated blastomeres per embryo, as well as the proportions of embryos with at least one non-activated blastomere, or with no activated blastomeres, were all significantly (P < 0.05) greater in embryos derived from in-vitro matured CMRLa oocytes than in those derived from in-vivo matured or CMRLb oocytes. CONCLUSIONS The relatively poor developmental competence of in-vitro matured primate oocytes is likely caused in part by failure in the timely onset of embryonic genome activation resulting from incomplete cytoplasmic maturation.
Norway as an Example in the UK Women’s Suffrage Campaign

Abstract This article analyses the character and meanings of references to Norwegian experiences in the UK women’s suffrage campaign. It argues that the references to Norway served two main purposes. Firstly, they served as evidence of all the good things that would happen as a result of women gaining the vote, such as wage equality and social reform. Secondly, they played a significant part in establishing a counter-narrative to the anti-suffragist warnings of all the terrible things that would follow women’s suffrage. The study also discusses the limitations of political exchange and shows how different political contexts came into play in the debates on the validity of the Norwegian example.
Prevalence and Significance of Cardiovascular Disease and Hypertension in Elderly Patients With Dementia and Depression

The prevalence and significance of clinical heart disease and hypertension were compared in three groups of elderly patients. One group was diagnosed as dementia of an Alzheimer's type (AD), another as multiinfarct dementia (MID), and the third as major depression. Clinical heart disease and hypertension were uncommon in the AD group with the prevalence being lower than that reported in most epidemiologic studies. Four percent of the AD patients had a history of myocardial infarction, 5% angina, 1% arrhythmias, and 3% heart failure. Electrocardiographic changes of an old myocardial infarction were present in 9%, atrial fibrillation in 1%, and left ventricular hypertrophy in 3%. A history of hypertension was present in 24% of the AD patients. In comparison, a history of myocardial infarction, angina, and heart failure was five times greater, and electrocardiographic abnormalities were twice as prevalent in the MID group. A history of hypertension was three times more common and actual blood pressure readings were higher. In the depression group heart disease was not uncommon and the prevalence, in general, was comparable with the MID group. However, a history of increased blood pressure and actual increased blood pressure readings were statistically less than in the MID group. (J Am Geriatr Soc 33:530, 1985)
Growth Opportunities, Technology Shocks, and Asset Prices

type="main"> We explore the impact of investment-specific technology (IST) shocks on the cross section of stock returns. Using a structural model, we show that IST shocks have a differential effect on the value of assets in place and the value of growth opportunities. This differential sensitivity to IST shocks has two main implications. First, firm risk premia depend on the contribution of growth opportunities to firm value. Second, firms with similar levels of growth opportunities comove with each other, giving rise to the value factor in stock returns and the failure of the conditional CAPM. Our empirical tests confirm the model's predictions.
Three Essays on International Trade and the Labor Market

The thesis is made of three independent chapters interested in the impact of globalization on workers in industrialized countries. The dissertation is especially focused on identifying the causal impact of international trade on workers' mobility, wages, and employment with both a short- and medium-term perspective. The first paper explores the relation between intra-industry trade (IIT) expansion and associated worker flows, taking the latter as an indicator of labor-market adjustment costs. Being the first study to combine theoretical simulations and a novel identification strategy, we find that both theoretical and empirical analyses are consistent with the "smooth adjustment hypothesis", according to which IIT expansion is less disruptive than inter-industry trade expansion. The study therefore lends support to the use of IIT indices as first-pass proxies for the adjustment effects of trade expansion. The second chapter contrasts the impact of increased import competition coming from China and the European Union (EU) on workers in the United Kingdom over a 15-year period. The most salient findings show that increased imports from China had significantly negative effects on workers' earnings, wages and employment. In contrast, larger imports from the EU are associated with positive worker-level outcomes, which is largely explained by the fact that increased imports from the EU were mostly offset by increased same-industry exports to the EU. Besides, we find that increased imports from China exert additional pressure on workers through spillovers to employment and wages in downstream industries. Finally, the last chapter is focused on the impact of exposure to trade and real exchange rate shocks on wages for Swiss manufacturing workers. A particular attention is made to consistently estimate the causal effect in using a two-step gravity-type identification strategy. The study shows that the impact of trade and exchange rate movements is concentrated among high-skilled workers almost exclusively.
Seedling and adult plant resistance to Sitobion avenae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Triticum monococcum (Poaceae), an ancestor of wheat

Abstract Cereal aphids are important pests of wheat, Triticum aestivum L. and Triticum durum Desf. Crop resistance is a desirable method for managing cereal aphids in central North America, where the dominant crop, spring-sown wheat, has a low value per unit area. A diploid ancestor of wheat, Triticum monococcum L. , is reported to be partially resistant to Sitobion avenae (Fabricius), the most damaging cereal aphid in the region. To identify potential sources of resistance, 42 accessions of T. monococcum and three cultivated wheats were infested with aphids, seedlings for six days and adult plants for 21 days. Overall resistance was estimated by the biomass loss of foliage and spikes in relation to uninfested control plants. Antibiosis was estimated by the gain in biomass of aphids during infestation, and tolerance was estimated as a biomass conversion ratio, overall resistance divided by antibiosis. A few T. monococcum accessions exhibited partial resistance. No relationship was found between seedling and adult plant resistance: the former exhibited primarily antibiosis and the latter primarily tolerance. Two accessions with antibiosis reduced aphid biomass by 60% compared with commercial wheats. Tolerance was correlated with growth potential, and was useful only in accessions with high growth potential. Four accessions exhibited tolerance levels at least 30% greater than commercial wheats. Highly susceptible accessions also were identified, which would be useful for investigating the inheritance of antibiosis and tolerance.
Prevalence and type distribution of human papillomavirus in carcinoma and intraepithelial neoplasia of the vulva, vagina and anus: A meta‐analysis

This meta‐analysis investigated human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence in vulvar, vaginal and anal intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN, VAIN, AIN) grades 1–3 and carcinoma from 93 studies conducted in 4 continents and using PCR assays. Overall HPV prevalence was 67.8%, 85.3% and 40.4% among 90 VIN1, 1,061 VIN2/3 and 1,873 vulvar carcinomas; 100%, 90.1% and 69.9% among 107 VAIN1, 191 VAIN2/3 and 136 vaginal carcinomas; and 91.5%, 93.9% and 84.3% among 671 AIN1, 609 AIN2/3 and 955 anal carcinomas, respectively. HPV16 was found more frequently (>75%) and HPV18 less frequently (<10%) in HPV‐positive vulvar, vaginal and anal carcinomas than in cervical carcinoma. HPV6 and 11 were common in VIN1 and AIN1, but not in VAIN1. HPV prevalence in vulvar carcinoma varied most by histological type (69.4% in warty‐basaloid and 13.2% in keratinized type) and was also higher in women 60 years or younger and in studies carried out in North America. HPV prevalence in anal carcinoma was higher among women (90.8%) than men (74.9%), but no difference by gender emerged in North America. The majority of AIN2/3 derived from studies of HIV‐positive individuals and/or men who have sex with men. Among AIN2/3, HIV infection was associated with higher HPV prevalence, more multiple‐type infections and a relative under‐representation of HPV16. In conclusion, ∼40% of vulvar, 60% of vaginal and 80% of anal carcinoma may be avoided by prophylactic vaccines against HPV16/18. This proportion would be similar for the corresponding high‐grade lesions of the vagina and anus, but higher for VIN2/3 (75%) than for vulvar carcinoma. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Animal-Assisted Therapy Ameliorates Anhedonia in Schizophrenia Patients

Background: Anhedonia, a component of the negative symptom dimension and a core phenomenon in schizophrenia, is associated with poor social functioning and is resistant to treatment. We tested the hypothesis that animal-assisted therapy (AAT) may improve anhedonia. Objective: To compare the effect of psychosocial treatment sessions in which a dog was an active participant (AAT) with comparable sessions without a dog, using a controlled protocol. Method: The hedonic tone of 10 chronic schizophrenia patients who participated in 10 weekly interactive sessions of AAT was compared to a control group treated without animal assistance. The hedonic tone was measured with the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale. Subjective quality of life variables and clinical symptoms were also assessed. Results: The AAT group showed a significant improvement in the hedonic tone compared to controls. They also showed an improvement in the use of leisure time and a trend towards improvement in motivation. Conclusion: AAT may contribute to the psychosocial rehabilitation and quality of life of chronic schizophrenia patients.
Heterosexually Married Men Who Have Sex With Men: Marital Separation and Psychological Adjustment

There have been few investigations of sexual identity and psychological adjustment among behaviorally-bisexual married men. A critical issue is whether such men experience increased psychological adjustment if they exit their primary heterosexual relationship and assume a gay identity. Two hundred and one ever-married men (n = 201) with same-sex sexual interests and behaviors were administered the Brady and Busse (1994) gay identity development questionnaire (GIQ) and the symptom check list–90 (SCL-90) as part of a larger investigation of sexual identity development. The measurement of homosexual identity formation (HIF) using the original nominal scoring criteria for the GIQ did not adequately detail processes of HIF among respondents, and an alternative scoring system that allowed continuous, rather than stage, measurement of HIF was utilized. Psychological adjustment was found to be significantly correlated with HIF among ever-married gay-identified men. Within bisexual-identified men, no relationships between HIF and psychological adjustment were found. Future studies of HIF should clearly differentiate between gay and bisexual men. The findings suggest significant psychological gains accompany public affirmation of gay identity among self-identified gay men who have been in a previous heterosexual relationship.