Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Real-World Verbal Communication Performance of Children Provided With Cochlear Implants or Hearing Aids

Objective To compare the real-world verbal communication performance of children provided with cochlear implants (CIs) with their peers with hearing aids (HAs). Study Design Cross-sectional study in university tertiary referral centers and at hearing aid dispensers. Methods Verbal communication performance was assessed by the Functioning after Pediatric Cochlear Implantation (FAPCI) instrument. The FAPCI was administered to 38 parents of children using CIs and 62 parents of children with HAs. According to the WHO classification, children with HAs were categorized into three groups (mild–moderate–severe hearing loss). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed on the FAPCI scores, with study group, hearing age (i.e., device experience), and age at hearing intervention as sources of variation. Results ANOVA showed that hearing age and study group significantly contribute to the FAPCI outcome. In all study groups except the children with mild hearing loss, FAPCI scores increased alongside growing experience with the devices. Children with mild hearing loss using HAs showed higher scores than those with severe hearing loss or implanted children. There were no significant differences between the children with CIs and the children with moderate or severe hearing loss using HAs. Conclusion Real-world verbal communication abilities of children with CIs are similar to those of children with moderate-to-severe hearing loss using amplification. Because hearing age significantly influences performance, children with moderate-to-severe hearing loss using HAs and implanted children catch up with children with mild hearing loss at a hearing age of approximately 3 years.
Moderation of Participant Characteristics in the Relationships of Changes in Self-Regulation for Exercise with Self-Regulation for Controlled Eating, and Self-Efficacy for Exercise with Self-Efficacy for Controlled Eating

Research on the relationships of exercise with psychosocial predictors of controlled eating and weight loss may now be capable of informing the development of weight-management treatments. Thus, analysis of moderators of such relationships by personal characteristics is important. Moderation of the expected significant relationships of changes in self-regulation for exercise with self-regulation for controlled eating, and self-efficacy for exercise with self-efficacy for controlled eating was assessed by sex, age, and ethnicity. No significant moderation of the relationships was identified; however, it was suggested that extensions of this research also assess contextual aspects, administration method, and other demographic variables as possible moderators. With continued research, practical treatments based on relationships between exercise- and eating-related variables ultimately may prove to be efficacious, with positive effects that may generalize across participant types and settings.
Clinical evolution of substance use disorder patients during treatment with quetiapine: a 12-week, open-label, naturalistic trial

Objective: Substance use disorders (SUDs) are associated with a variety of psychiatric disorders and mood and behavioral instability. Growing evidence suggests that the atypical antipsychotic quetiapine may be useful in the treatment of SUDs. The primary objective of the current open-label trial was to examine the effects of quetiapine on SUD outcomes in patients entering detoxification. Methods: Thirty-three nonpsychosis SUD patients participated. Patients received quetiapine for a 12-week beginning in detoxification. Craving, quantities used and psychiatric symptoms were evaluated on baseline and at end point. Results: Out of 33 recruited patients, 26 completed > 9 weeks of treatment. Last observation carried forward (LOCF) analyses revealed that craving, SUD severity and quantities used improved during the study. Psychiatric and depressive symptoms also improved. Conclusions: Our results cannot be attributed per se to the pharmacological effects of quetiapine owing to the open-label design of the study, the small sample size involved and the fact that patients were involved in an intensive therapy program. Nevertheless, our results indicate that quetiapine may be helpful for the treatment of SUD patients entering detoxification. Controlled studies are warranted to determine whether these results are quetiapine-related.
Evaluation of urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase as a marker of early renal damage in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical usefulness of urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) excretion for the detection of early tubular damage in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). SUBJECTS AND METHODS Thirty six patients with T2DM were divided into two groups based on urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR): normoalbuminuria (ACR <30 mg/g; n=19) and microalbuminuria (ACR =30-300 mg/g; n=17). The following parameters were determined in both groups: urinary NAG and albumin, serum and urine creatinine, fasting plasma glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). RESULTS Urinary NAG levels [Units/g creatinine; median (range)] were significantly increased in microalbuminuria group [17.0 (5.9 - 23.3)] compared to normoalbuminuria group [4.4 (1.5 - 9.2)] (P<0.001). No differences between groups were observed in fasting glucose, HbA1c, serum creatinine levels and estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR). Urinary NAG positively correlated with ACR (r=0.628; p<0.0001), while no significant association was observed between NAG and glycemia, HbA1c, serum creatinine and eGFR. CONCLUSIONS The increase of urinary NAG at the microalbuminuria stage of diabetic nephropathy (DN) suggests that tubular dysfunction is already present in this period. The significant positive association between urinary NAG excretion and ACR indicates the possible clinical application of urinary NAG as a complementary marker for early detection of DN in T2DM.
Age‐related changes in proton T1 values of normal human brain

To determine whether there were age‐related changes In the brain tissue of 55 healthy adult volunteers (29 men, 26 women; 18‐72 years old) without known brain abnormalities, a standard inversion‐recovery technique was optimized for precise and accurate T1 measurement within the constraints of a 15‐minute examination. Measurements of water proton T1 were obtained in eight brain regions. T1 increased with age in the genu (P < 0.001) (analysis of variance), frontal white matter (P < 0.05), occipital white matter (P < 0.05), putamen (P < 0.001), and thalamus (P << 0.001). A significant decrease in T1 with age was found in cortical gray matter (P < 0.05). Thus, age‐related changes in T1 are present in a healthy population, even if extremes of age are excluded, suggesting that T1 values generally increase with age. However, increases in T1 were also observed in the genu, putamen, and thalamus of a substantial fraction of volunteers less than 35 years old. Aging healthy persons can show subtle, nonsymp‐ tomatic brain changes, suggesting that brain aging is associated with occult processes that can begin at a relatively early age.
FAKTOR-FAKTOR YANG MEMPENGARUHI BID-ASK SPREAD SAHAM LQ-45 DI BURSA EFEK INDONESIA

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that affect of bid-ask spread LQ-45 in Indonesia Stock Exchange period 2012-2014. Samples of this study are 20 companies that selected by purposive sampling technique based a certain criteria. The data analysis used multiple linear regression. The results of this study showed that stock price, variance return, and trading volume simultaneously have significance affect to bid-ask spread. The others results of this study also showed that stock price has a negative significance affect to bid-ask spread, variance return has a positive significance affect to bid-ask spread, and trading volume has a negative siginificance affect to bid-ask spread. The implication of this study are investors should more consideration to the stock price, variance return, and trading volume when to buy or sell stock in order to avoid paying high spreads. Determination of the amount is spread by dealers as compensation to cover some of the costs in the process of buying and selling shares. ABSTRACT Tujuan dari penelitian untuk menentukan faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi bid-ask spread dari saham-saham LQ-45 di Bursa Efek Indonsia pada periode 2012-2014. Dua puluh (20) perusahaan dipilih sebagai sampel secara teknik purposive sampling didasarkan kriteria tertentu. Analisis data yang digunakan adalah regresi linier berganda. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa harga saham, penyimpangan return, dan volume perdagangan secara simultan berpengaruh secara signifikan terhadap bid-ask spread. Hasil penelitian yang lain juga menunjukkan bahwa harga saham mempunyai pengaruh negatif yang signifikan terhadap bid-ask spread, penyimpangan return mempunyai pengaruh positif yang signifikan terhadap bid-ask spread dan volume perdagangan mempunyai pengaruh negative yang signifikan terhadap bid-ask spread. Implikasi dari penelitian ini adalah bahwa para investor harus lebih mempertimbangkan harga saham, penyimpangan return, serta volume perdagangan bila akan membeli atau menjual saham dalam rangka menghindari spreads yang tinggi. Penentuan jumlah tersebut adalah spread oleh dealer sebagai kompensasi untuk menutupi sebagian biaya dalam proses membeli dan menjual saham.
Early growth and environmental implications of dietary zinc and copper concentrations and sources of broiler chicks

1. Environmental accumulation of zinc and copper is becoming a concern in areas having intensive animal production. This study examined performance and excretion of broiler chicks given diets supplemented with graded concentrations of zinc and copper from three different sources. 2. Two experiments were conducted, each utilising 570 1-d-old chicks. In Experiment 1, chicks were given diets containing supplemental zinc concentrations from 40 to 120 mg/kg supplied as zinc sulphate, a zinc amino acid complex (Availa®Zn), or a combination of zinc sulphate and Availa®Zn with each contributing one-half of the total supplemental zinc. In Experiment 2, broiler chicks were given diets with graded concentrations of supplemental copper ranging from 4 to 12 mg/kg from copper sulphate, a copper amino acid complex (Availa®Cu), or a combination of copper sulphate and Availa®Cu with each contributing one-half of the total supplemental copper. 3. During the 17-d experimental period, mineral concentration or source did not influence body weight, feed conversion, or the incidence of mortality from 1 to 17 d. 4. Decreasing dietary zinc concentration from 120 to 40 mg/kg reduced zinc excretion by 50%. 5. Copper excretion was decreased by 35% as supplemental copper was reduced from 12 to 4 mg/kg. 6. Reducing dietary zinc and copper concentrations can potentially decrease the accumulation of heavy metals in the environment without compromising bird performance.
Aggregate Investment, Tobin’s q and External Finance

We suggest the possibility that the poor empirical performance of the Tobin’s q model is due to a misspecification problem. The model, in fact, does not explicitly account for the role of external finance. We thus test the exogeneity of q with respect to investment, by looking for evidence that the availability of external finance affects the aggregate investment of nonfinancial corporations of the US. We do not find any empirical support for this hypothesis. Furthermore, we find that the amount of external finance raised does not depend on the need to finance investment. The Tobin’s Q turns out to be a better theory of external finance than investment. JEL classification: E22;
Current understanding in HIV immunopathology and treatment.

Despite major advances in Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART), HIV infection remains a major problem with 33 million people infected worldwide and a global incidence of 2.6 million new infections annually.1 In the UK, data from the Health Protection Agency2 reveal that there are 70 000 individuals accessing HIV-related care, of whom ∼49% were infected through heterosexual contact and 43% were men infected through sex with men. There is an increasing burden of older patients, with one in five aged >50 years. The impact of HAART has been dramatic, with significant CD4 T-cell reconstitution3 translating to decreased progression to AIDS and death.4,5 Nevertheless, life-long HAART remains a challenge in terms of toxicity, adherence, risk of drug resistance and social stigma. These issues are added to by the increasing recognition of non-AIDS morbidity such as cardiovascular disease and dementia.6 HIV prevention and cure remain the two major goals for the HIV scientific community. Vaccines have so far been disappointing—with three large international trials—such as the Step trial7 having failed to demonstrate clinically significant protection. RV144 or the ‘Thai trial’8 suggested there may have been some modest early protection following vaccination, but on their own these data do not prove the case for an HIV vaccine. There are encouraging data emerging from animal studies, but these are yet to be translated to clinical practice.9,10 More recently, the HIV prevention trials network 052 study11 proved the efficacy of ‘test-and-treat’ as a strategy for reducing HIV transmission events. This study showed that the provision of HAART to HIV-positive individuals reduced the chance of transmission by 96%, validating the role of HAART for HIV prevention as well as treatment. The search for HIV eradication, or cure, has had a resurgence over the past …
Clinical features of systemic lupus erythematosus in Sri Lankan patients: results from a lupus clinic.

OBJECTIVES To find the common clinical features, pattern of visceral involvement, treatment received and outcome in patients diagnosed as having systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) on American Rheumatological Association (ARA) criteria. SETTING Clinic for patients referred or admitted to the University Medical Unit, National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo, with diagnosed or suspected SLE. DESIGN AND METHODS A prospective descriptive study. Clinical features of patients collected at time of registration in the clinic were maintained in a database. Patients were followed up prospectively and changes recorded. Data were analysed after 3 years of follow up. RESULTS Of the 111 patients registered during this period, 96 (86%) were clinically diagnosed as having SLE. Of these, 77 patients (80%) satisfied ARA criteria for diagnosis of SLE. 72 were females (93%). The mean age of patients who satisfied the ARA criteria was 32 years (range 11 to 58), and the mean duration of disease 7 years (range 1 to 15). The commonest presentation was with mucocutaneous features (98%) and alopecia in 87%. Systemic features were found in 92% of patients. 67 (87%) of patients had visceral involvement with 60 (78%) having it at time of diagnosis. 53 (69%) had renal, 42 (54%) haematological, 33 (42%) neurological, 12 (16%) cardiac and 8 patients pulmonary involvement. Five patients died during the 3-year follow up and 2 developed chronic renal failure. Three patients underwent successful pregnancy after diagnosis of SLE. CONCLUSIONS Our study confirmed the wide variability of clinical features seen in SLE. Alopecia and visceral involvement were common in Sri Lankan patients.
Arrhythmogenic Remodeling in the Failing Heart

Chronic heart failure is a clinical syndrome with multiple etiologies, associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Cardiac arrhythmias, including ventricular tachyarrhythmias and atrial fibrillation, are common in heart failure. A number of cardiac diseases including heart failure alter the expression and regulation of ion channels and transporters leading to arrhythmogenic electrical remodeling. Myocardial hypertrophy, fibrosis and scar formation are key elements of arrhythmogenic structural remodeling in heart failure. In this article, the mechanisms responsible for increased arrhythmia susceptibility as well as the underlying changes in ion channel, transporter expression and function as well as alterations in calcium handling in heart failure are discussed. Understanding the mechanisms of arrhythmogenic remodeling is key to improving arrhythmia management and the prevention of sudden cardiac death in patients with heart failure.
The Effects of Resource Type and Ratio on Competition with Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae)

ABSTRACT The introduction of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) in the United States has been associated with declines in abundance of resident mosquito species, presumably because of resource competition, as larvae of Ae. albopictus have been illustrated as superior competitors under certain resource conditions. We evaluated the hypothesis that varying the type and ratio of two food resources (Foxtail grass: American elm) alters the competitive outcome of Ae. albopictus and Culex pipiens (L.). We measured survivorship, development time, size, and adult longevity, and estimated the population growth index (&lgr;′) of populations raised both alone and in equal number with the interspecific competitor, across five ratios of the two food resources. Competition was asymmetric with Ae. albopictus, the superior competitor across all resource treatments; however, the competitive advantage Ae. albopictus had over Cx. pipiens was reduced as grass became the predominant resource. With elm as the predominant resource, the population growth index (&lgr;′) for both Ae. albopictus and Cx. pipiens was lower in intraspecific and interspecific competition treatments, respectively. The treatments also impacted adult life history, as life spans of both Ae. albopictus and Cx. pipiens varied when they emerged from larval conditions with different resource and competition treatments. We discuss the possible differences in the two species' efficiencies in exploiting the two resource types. Despite some resource conditions alleviating the competitive effects of Ae. albopictus on Cx. pipiens, competition remained asymmetric; thus, additional mechanisms are likely operating under field conditions when the two species coexist.
Not What it Said on the Tin? Reflections on Three Decades of UK Public Management Reform

Despite decades of research, we still need more long‐term evidence of the effects of New Public Management (NPM) and accompanying changes in government over a generation. Looking at UK experience, a key case in NPM and digital‐age developments, this paper evaluates administrative data to show what happened to indicators of fairness and consistency and of prudent management through limitation of running costs in public administration over three decades. The analysis shows that running costs rose substantially in real terms (contrary to the cost‐cutting stereotype of NPM), while indicators of first‐stage formal challenges to government suggest increased dissatisfaction with fairness and consistency in administration.
Clinicopathological and prognostic significance of NM23 expression in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract Background: There is a heated debate on the clinicopathological features and prognostic significance with non-metastasis 23 (NM23) expression in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Thus, we conducted this meta-analysis to evaluate the clinicopathological features and prognostic significance of NM23 for NSCLC patients. Methods: Pubmed, Embase, and Web of Science were exhaustively searched to identify relevant studies published prior to March, 2020. Odds radios (ORs) and hazard radios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to summarize the statistics of clinicopathological and prognostic assessments. Q-test and I2-statistic were utilized to assess heterogeneity across the included studies. We also performed subgroup analyses and meta-regression analyses to identify the source of heterogeneity. Publication bias was detected by Begg and Egger tests. Sensitivity analysis was used to value the stability of our results. All the data were analyzed using statistical packages implemented in R version 4.0. 5. Results: Data from a total of 3170 patients from 36 studies were extracted. The meta-analysis revealed that low expression of NM23 was correlated with higher risk of NSCLC (OR = 4.35; 95% CI: 2.76–6.85; P < .01), poorer tumor node metastasis (TNM) staging (OR = 1.39; 95% CI: 1.01–1.90; P = .04), poorer differentiation degree (OR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.01–1.86; P = .04), positive lymph node metastasis (OR = 1.83; 95% CI: 1.22–2.74; P < .01), lung adenocarcinoma (OR = 1.45; 95% CI: 1.20–1.75; P < .01), and poorer 5-year overall survival (OS) rate (hazard radio = 2.33; 95%CI: 1.32–4.11; P < .01). The subgroup analyses and meta-regression analyses suggested that the “Publication year”, “Country”, “Sample size”, and “Cutoff value” might be the source of heterogeneity in TNM staging, differentiation degree, and lymph node metastasis. Both Begg test and Egger test verified that there were publication bias in 5-year OS rate. Sensitivity analysis supported the credibility of the results. Conclusion: The reduced NM23 expression is strongly associated with higher risk of NSCLC, higher TNM staging, poorer differentiation degree, positive lymph node metastasis, lung adenocarcinoma, and poorer 5-year OS rate in NSCLC patients, which indicated that NM23 could serve as a biomarker predicating the clinicopathological and prognostic significance of NSCLC.
Killer applications: Toward affordable rapid cell‐based diagnostics for malaria and tuberculosis

In many resource‐poor areas, the HIV/AIDS epidemic coexists with epidemics of two much older diseases, malaria and tuberculosis, and the three diseases together kill approximately six million people per year. Although HIV/AIDS is treatable, but not curable, many if not most cases of malaria and tuberculosis (TB) can be cured if diagnosed correctly and promptly. The diagnosis of both malaria and TB is cell‐based, typically made by microscopy of stained smears of blood (malaria) and sputum (TB). Cytometry has been shown to be effective for diagnosis of both conditions; however, conventional cytometers have been too complex and costly to be widely applied. It is likely that a newly developed small, simple, robust, inexpensive, energy‐efficient low‐resolution fluorescence image cytometer, employing a light‐emitting diode for excitation and a megapixel digital camera chip for detection, could be used in resource‐poor areas for malaria and TB diagnosis and for rapid (24–48 h) determination of antimicrobial susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. © 2008 Clinical Cytometry Society