Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Subband doubletalk detector for acoustic echo cancellation systems

Though the subband adaptive filter has been studied for several years and is already widely used in real-time acoustic echo cancellation (AEC) systems, the study of the doubletalk detector in subband AEC has not been reported. Two subband doubletalk detectors are proposed and simulated. An objective measurement is also employed to quantify the performance of the subband doubletalk detectors in contrast with the fullband implementation. Simulation shows that the proposed subband doubletalk detectors can increase the probability of doubletalk detection by at least 3% over the traditional fullband implementation under the same false alarm probability.
Oral healthcare for elderly: identifying the needs and feasible strategies for service provision.

The aim of the present study was to assess the oral health practices, status and treatment needs of the rural elderly in national capital territory of Delhi. An effort was also made to identify patterns of utilization of dental services and test alternate strategies for service provision. A total of 96 elderly subjects (47 males and 49 females) in 5 rural areas were interviewed and clinically examined using Basic Oral Health Survey criteria of W.H. O. This was followed by a community trial in which the 5 villages were divided into control and test groups. Results of the survey found that both traditional as well as modern oral health practices co-exist in the rural community. Dental services were available to a majority (mostly through private sector), and edentulousness was a condition of primary concern among the elderly as a result of unmet treatment needs for dental caries and periodontal diseases. Age was a variable that was statistically significantly associated with edentulousness (p=0.005). Results of the community trial showed that higher utilization of care can be achieved by providing on-site dental care as compared to referring cases to tertiary care centers. Nevertheless provision of treatment alone is not a suitable policy recommendation since many elderly did not avail care even at on-site community dental health programmes that were operated free of cost. This emphasizes the need of health education over treatment in order to empower the elderly, especially the non-ambulatory patients, to practice prevention and develop favourable attitudes towards accepting prompt treatment at primary health care level.
Lasers, lights and related technologies: a review of recent journal highlights

Interest is growing in a wide range of interventions that, predictably, are claimed to safely and effectively rejuvenate human skin and subcutaneous tissue. Differences in the regulation of pharmaceuticals compared with lasers, lights and related modalities have resulted in a consumer-led market for the last two groups of treatments. Practitioners may therefore have to assess procedures or devices at their own expense and at their patients’ risk. Published studies may be helpful but are often small and uncontrolled, are assessed clinically or with clinical photography, and seldom, if ever, report negative findings.
The mean platelet volume in subjects with impaired fasting glucose

Mean platelet volume (MPV), a determinant of platelet function, is a newly emerging risk factor for atherothrombosis. Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) is probably a frequent glycemic disorder in the general population and is considered as a prediabetic state. The present study was designed to evaluate MPV in subjects with IFG compared with diabetic patients and normoglycemic control subjects. We selected 50 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, 50 subjects with IFG, and 50 normoglycemic healthy subjects matched for age, gender, and body mass index. MPV was very significantly higher in diabetic and IFG groups than in control group (p < 0.00, p < 0.05, respectively); it was also higher in diabetic group than in IFG group (p < 0.05). Platelet counts were not different among the study groups (p > 0.05). Platelet mass was significantly higher in diabetic and IFG groups than in normotensives (p < 0.00, p < 0.05, respectively); and it was also higher in diabetic group than in IFG group (p < 0.05). MPV and platelet mass were positively correlated with fasting glucose and HbA1c in diabetic and IFG groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, our data suggests one possible mechanism by which subjects with IFG may be at increased cardiovascular risk.
A programmed functional and phenotypic development of bone marrow‐derived cytotoxic cell precursors in vitro

An analysis of function and marker expression during cytotoxic cell differentiaton in vitro from T cell‐depleted bone marrow precursors is described. Cytotoxic activity is not detectable during the first five days of culture, but rises abruptly soon after. Antibody plus complement depletion studies show that cytotoxic cells derive from Thy‐1‐negative precursors and undergo a continual increase in Thy‐1 and Lyt‐2 marker expression as the culture progresses. A reciprocal decrease in asialo‐GM1 antigen expression on effector cells is seen. The J11d‐negative precursor cells acquire J11d (an antigen known to mark cortical thymocytes) at an intermediate stage of culture, but revert to the J11d‐negative phenotype prior to functional acquisition. At least some effectors are T cell receptor positive as illustrated by an anti‐T cell receptor antibody‐mediated killing assay. These patterns precisely correlate with those detected among developing T cells in vivo. Results may indicate that a programmed course of differentiation inherent to bone marrow cells may be triggered in the absence of a thymic environment.
Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated With Anal Intraepithelial Neoplasia Among HIV-Positive Men in Brazil

Objective This study aimed to assess the prevalence of, and associated factors with, anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) among HIV-positive men evaluated at public health services in Brazil. Materials and Methods This is a multicenter cross-sectional study of HIV-positive male patients attending 6 public AIDS referral clinics in urban Brazil. Participants were interviewed for sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics. Anal swab specimens were collected for anal cytology and HPV DNA testing using L1 polymerase chain reaction. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate risk factors associated with the presence of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) and/or high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL). Results Anal swabs were collected from 343 participants. Prevalence of LSIL/HSIL was 24.8%. The majority (60.1%) reported sexual intercourse with both men and women in their lifetime. At least 36.7% had 1 or more oncogenic HPV types. Four variables were independently associated with the presence of LSIL/HSIL in multivariate analysis: history of sex with both men and women (odds ratio [OR] = 4.8) or men only (OR = 6.2) compared with those having sex with women only; current cigarette smoking (OR = 2.2); current CD4+ level between 200 and 500 cells/mm3 (OR = 2.9) or below 200 cells/mm3 (OR = 3.8) compared with CD4+ level above 500 cells/mm3; and presence of oncogenic anal HPV infection (OR = 9.6). Conclusions We found a high prevalence of AIN among HIV-positive men in Brazil. This population may serve as an important bridge population to women with implications for anogenital HPV infection in both men and women. Our findings confirm the need to assess screening programs for AIN among high-risk groups, similar to those used to prevent cervical cancer.
Cardiovascular Risk Factors for People with Mental Illness

Objective: The objective of this study was to document the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease among people with chronic mental illness. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted of 234 outpatients attending a community mental health clinic in the North-western Health Care Network in Melbourne, Australia. Prevalence of smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index, hypertension, salt intake, exercise and history of hypercholesterolemia was assessed. Results: Compared with a community sample, the mentally ill had a higher prevalence of smoking, overweight and obesity, lack of moderate exercise, harmful levels of alcohol consumption and salt intake. No differences were found on hypertension. Men, but not women, with mental illness were less likely to undertake cholesterol screening. Conclusions: Psychiatric outpatients have a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors which may account for the higher rate of cardiovascular mortality among the mentally ill. Further research is needed to trial and evaluate interventions to effectively modify risk factors in this vulnerable population.
Effects of butorphanol on luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone levels in ovariectomized rats--comparative study with morphine sulphate.

Studies were conducted into the effects on pituitary gonadotrophic hormones in ovariectomized rats of butorphanol, a synthetic morphine derivative which was claimed to be a potent analgesic with few side-effects, in comparison to effects of the naturally occurring alkaloid morphine. For this purpose, 3 groups of ovariectomized rats were used. Rats of the 1st group were injected butorphanol at 2 dose levels (1 or 2 mg/kg body weight [b.w.]. Those of the 2nd group were injected morphine sulphate (10 or 20 mg/kg b.w.). The 3rd group was injected saline and served as control. Blood samples were collected by orbital sinus punctures, just before treatment and 1 hour post injection. Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulation hormone levels were determined in the sera of rats by radio-immuno-assay. The results revealed that morphine, at the 2 dose levels used, produced more than 90% decrease in serum LH concentration, whereas butorphanol produced more than 70% decrease in serum LH levels. Both morphine and butorphanol, at the 2 doses used, produced more than 76% decrease in serum follicle stimulating hormone concentration. It is concluded that butorphanol, the morphinic derivative, has a depressive effect on the synthesis and/or release of gonadotrophic hormones. This inhibitory effect, however, was nearly as potent as that produced by morphine sulphate.
Inflammatory cell recruitment and adhesion to methyl‐terminated self‐assembled monolayers: Effect of implantation time

The contribution of methyl groups in implant‐triggered inflammation was investigated in vivo using self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) of alkanethiols on gold. The CH3‐coated implants were inserted in an air‐pouch cavity induced in BALB/c mice. The in situ inflammatory response was monitored 24, 48, and 72 hours later. Inflammatory cells recovered from the air pouches were counted and observed by light microscopy. The cellularity of the implant surfaces was defined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In comparison with gold implants, the CH3‐coated SAMs recruited a significantly higher number of inflammatory cells. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) were more numerous than mononuclear cells (Mo) in the exudates recovered from the air pouches with CH3‐coated SAMs. The opposite PMN/Mo proportion was observed in air pouches of the two control groups (mice receiving gold implants or sham‐operated animals). A low density of adherent cells was seen on CH3‐coated implants, with no significant quantitative differences during the time course of the study. In contrast, the gold‐coated surfaces were covered with numerous cells during all of the 3 days of the inflammation. In conclusion, implants with CH3 surfaces are likely to induce PMN‐dominated local acute inflammation but these surfaces are not associated with a significant adherence of leukocytes to the implant. Microsc. Res. Tech. 66:37–42, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
On quasi twodimensional XY magnetism and superconductivity of the second kind

The role of interplanar fluctuations associated with parallel vortex loops is considered in the two coupled problems of XY magnetism and superconductivity of the second kind, in a quasitwodimensional situation. Using an admittedly simplified criterion, it is argued that, for weak interplanar couplings, the critical 3d temperature is related to the multiplication of such loops; it should be below the Kosterlitz and Thouless temperature where normal vortex loops, piercing the planes, would multiply in independent planes Etude du role des fluctuations interplanaires associees a des boucles de vortex paralleles aux plans dans les deux problemes couples du magnetisme XY et de la supraconductivite de type II, en situation quasi bidimensionnelle. A l'aide d'un critere simplifie et, pour des couplages interplanaires faibles, proposition d'une temperature critique 3d, inferieure a la temperature de Kosterlitz-Thouless ou des boucles «normales», percant les plans, se multiplient dans des plans independants
Infection of Mouse Macrophages by Seasonal Influenza Viruses Can Be Restricted at the Level of Virus Entry and at a Late Stage in the Virus Life Cycle

ABSTRACT Airway epithelial cells are susceptible to infection with seasonal influenza A viruses (IAV), resulting in productive virus replication and release. Macrophages (MΦ) are also permissive to IAV infection; however, virus replication is abortive. Currently, it is unclear how productive infection of MΦ is impaired or the extent to which seasonal IAV replicate in MΦ. Herein, we compared mouse MΦ and epithelial cells for their ability to support genomic replication and transcription, synthesis of viral proteins, assembly of virions, and release of infectious progeny following exposure to genetically defined IAV. We confirm that seasonal IAV differ in their ability to utilize cell surface receptors for infectious entry and that this represents one level of virus restriction. Following virus entry, we demonstrate synthesis of all eight segments of genomic viral RNA (vRNA) and mRNA, as well as seven distinct IAV proteins, in IAV-infected mouse MΦ. Although newly synthesized hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) glycoproteins are incorporated into the plasma membrane and expressed at the cell surface, electron microscopy confirmed that virus assembly was defective in IAV-infected MΦ, defining a second level of restriction late in the virus life cycle. IMPORTANCE Seasonal influenza A viruses (IAV) and highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAI) infect macrophages, but only HPAI replicate productively in these cells. Herein, we demonstrate that impaired virus uptake into macrophages represents one level of restriction limiting infection by seasonal IAV. Following uptake, seasonal IAV do not complete productive replication in macrophages, representing a second level of restriction. Using murine macrophages, we demonstrate that productive infection is blocked late in the virus life cycle, such that virus assembly is defective and newly synthesized virions are not released. These studies represent an important step toward identifying host-encoded factors that block replication of seasonal IAV, but not HPAI, in macrophages.
Consultation of mental health professionals by French adolescents with probable psychiatric problems

A national sample of school‐attending adolescents aged 12–20 years (n= 8435) filled out an anonymous self‐administered questionnaire. We considered a group of 868 adolescents with probable psychiatric problems (PPP) in order to identify personal, psychological and environmental factors as well as help‐seeking behaviour associated with consultation of mental health professionals (MHP). Among the adolescents with PPP, 13.7% consulted MHP at least once during the year. Logistic regression analysis showed that consultation with MHP was more frequent for adolescents with multiple problems (OR = 2.3), functional physical disorders (OR=1.9) family problems (OR = 2), separated parents (OR = 4.4) or multiple contacts with other doctors (GP, school doctor and other specialists, OR = 2.2, 3.6 and 2.6, respectively), and among those who confided in teachers or youth group advisors (OR = 2.2). Those who confided in peers consulted MHP less often (OR = 0.5). However, consultation with MHP was not associated with other sociodemographic or educational characteristics, with type of problem (internalized or externalized), or with confiding in one's parents.
Navigating Two Worlds: Experiences of Counsellors who Integrate Aboriginal Traditional Healing Practices

There is revival in the use of traditional healing among Canadian Aboriginal communities and the therapeutic benefits of these practices have received much research attention. An argument is repeatedly made for incorporating indigenous healing into clinical interventions, yet recommendations on how this may be accomplished are lacking. The present study aimed to address this limitation. We interviewed nine mental health professionals who routinely employ both Western psychological interventions and Aboriginal traditional healing practices. Grounded Theory data analysis identified four core themes and led to a model that illustrates participants’ integrative efforts. Implications for counsellors working with Aboriginal clients are addressed. Les pratiques traditionnelles de guerison refont surface dans les communautes Autochtones du Canada et les benefices de ces pratiques ont deja fait l’objet de plusieurs etudes. Malgre les suggestions repetees d’integrer les pratiques de guerison traditionnelles en pratique cliniques, il n’existe pas de lignes directrices pour guider ce processus. Cette etude se penche sur ce sujet. Nous avons interviewer neuf praticiens en sante mentale qui integre des pratiques traditionnelles de guerison Autochtones dans leur pratique psychologique. En utilisant la theorie a base empirique, nous avons identifie quatre themes principaux et elabore un modele qui illustre comment les participants arrivent a cette integration. Les implications pour les conseillers qui travaillent avec des clients Autochtones sont discutees.
The influence of gonadal hormones on the serum vitamin A of the immature pullet.

The serum vitamin A level of sexually immature pullets was increased threefold to fourfold by intramuscular injection of 24 mgm. estradiol dipropionate plus 4.5 mgm. testosterone propionate administered in six equal doses over a 12-day period as compared with the level in similar pullets receiving only testosterone propionate. It is suggested that gonadal hormone activity is one of the factors that regulate serum vitamin A levels in the domestic fowl.
Comparison of Telephone and Face-to-Face Assessment of the Modified Rankin Scale

Background: A structured interview improves the reliability of the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), a commonly used functional outcome scale in stroke trials. Telephone interview is a fast and convenient way to assess the mRS grade, but its validity is unknown. We assessed the validity of a telephone interview in patients who had had an aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) by comparing it with a face-to-face assessment. Methods: Eighty-three SAH patients were interviewed twice, once face-to-face and once by telephone, by 2 of 5 observers who used a structured interview to assess the mRS grade. Intermodality agreement was measured using weighted kappa statistics. To check for systematic differences between face-to-face and telephone assessment the Wilcoxon test for matched pairs was used. Results: Agreement between telephone and face-to-face assessment was perfect in 47 (57%) patients. A difference of 1 level occurred in 31 (37%) patients and this was almost equally distributed over the grades of the mRS. Weighted kappa was 0.71 (95% CI 0.59–0.82). Telephone assessment did not result in a consistently more or less favourable grade than face-to-face assessment (Wilcoxon test for matched pairs, p = 0.33). Conclusions: Telephone assessment of the mRS with a structured interview has a good agreement with face-to-face assessment and can thus be used reliably in the setting of a clinical trial.
A Role for Stimulus Generalization in Conditional Discrimination Learning

In each of three experiments on discrimination learning by rats, whether or not a 10-sec target stimulus was followed by food was determined by the nature of a 2-min background stimulus that accompanied it. A conditional discrimination was employed in Experiment 1 such that background A indicated food would follow one target but not the other, whereas this relationship between the targets and food was reversed in the presence of background B. Experiment 2 employed two feature-positive discriminations. Subsequent test trials revealed that the background for one discrimination was able to enhance responding during the target for the other discrimination. Experiment 3 employed a feature-positive and a feature-negative discrimination prior to test trials in which each target was presented separately during a compound of both background stimuli. The compound enhanced responding to the target from the feature-positive discrimination and reduced it to the target from the feature-negative discrimination. We suggest that to accommodate all these findings, the best explanation is provided by a configural model of Pavlovian conditioning.
Sowing Date and Tillage Effects on Fall‐Seeded Camelina in the Northern Corn Belt

Camelina (L.), a member of the family, can potentially serve as a low-input alternative oil source for advanced biofuels as well as food and other industrial uses. Winter annual camelina genotypes may be economically and environmentally advantageous for the northern Corn Belt, but little is known about their agronomic potential for this region. A 2-yr field study was conducted in western Minnesota to determine optimum fall sowing time for yield and oil content of two winter camelina cultivars in a no-tillage (NT) and chisel-plowed (CP) system. Seeding dates ranged from early September to mid-October. Plants reached 50% flowering as much as 7 d earlier in the NT than the CP system. Plant stands were generally greatest in the NT system, but yields were only greater than those in the CP system during the second year of the study, possibly due to differences in water logging of soil between tillage systems. Seed yield and oil content increased with sowing date up to early October. When sown in October, seed yield and oil content ranged from 419 to 1317 kg ha and 282 to 420 g kg, respectively. Results indicate that camelina is a viable winter crop for the northern Corn Belt and that seed yields and oil content tended to be greatest when sown in early to mid-October. Moreover, fall-seeded camelina offered good weed suppression without the use of herbicide, supporting the contention that it can be successfully produced with low agricultural inputs.
Effects of a calcium phosphate coating on the osseointegration of endosseous implants in a rabbit model.

OBJECTIVES The aim of the present study was to evaluate a Ca-P coated implant surface in a rabbit model. The Ca-P surface (test) was compared to the titanium porous oxide surface (control) in terms of bone-to-implant contact (BIC) and removal torque value. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two hundred and sixteen dental implants were inserted in the tibia and in the femur of 36 rabbits. One hundred and eight were represented by Ca-P oxidized surface implant and other 108 were titanium porous oxide surface modified implants. Each rabbit received six implants. Animals were sacrificed after 2, 4 and 9 weeks of healing. Each group included 12 rabbits. The femoral implant and the proximal implant of the tibia of each animal were subjected to the histologic analysis and the distal implants of the tibia underwent removal torque test (RTQ). RESULTS Histological analysis in terms of BIC and RTQ did not revealed any significant difference between the Ca-P oxidized surface and the oxidized surface at 2 and 4 weeks. At 9 weeks, the oxidized surface demonstrated better results in terms of RTQ in the tibia. CONCLUSION In conclusion, findings from the present study suggested that the Ca-P coating had no beneficial effect in improving bonding strength at the bone-implant interface either at 2, 4 and 9 weeks.