Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The disfluent speech of a Spanish–English bilingual child who stutters

Abstract This study provides a detailed description of the disfluent speech behaviours produced by a 6;1-year-old bilingual Spanish–English speaking female with confirmed stuttering. Eight language samples across different contexts (narratives and conversations) with the clinician in English and Spanish and the parent in Spanish were analysed. Language samples were transcribed in the Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts programme and coded for types of disfluencies based on guidelines for monolingual English speakers. Similarities and differences were noted in speech disfluencies produced in English as compared Spanish. Overall, the participant was more disfluent in English across both her narrative and her conversational output. However, she produced more stuttering-like disfluencies in her Spanish narrative sample than her English narrative sample. Conversely, she produced more nonstuttering-like disfluencies in her English than her Spanish narrative sample. These findings suggest stuttering specific as well as language specific contributors to the fluency breakdowns that characterize the speech output of a bilingual Spanish English child who stutters.
DNA and chromosomal damage in coronary artery disease patients

DNA and chromosomal damage in peripheral blood leukocytes of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) were investigated by using the single cell gel electrophoresis assay /comet and cytokinesis- block micronucleus (CBMN) assays, respectively. The case-control study comprised patients with CAD (n = 46; average age 53.0 ± 1.27 y) undergoing treatment at local hospitals, and healthy age-and sex-matched controls (n = 19; average age 54.21 ± 0.91 y) from the general population. The results of the comet assay revealed that the mean values of DNA damage were significantly (p < 0.001) higher in CAD patients than in controls (Tail DNA% 11.55 ± 0.38 vs. 5.31 ± 0.44; Tail moment 6.17 ± 0.31 vs. 2.93 ± 0.21 AU; Olive tail moment 3.52 ± 0.23 vs. 1.25 ± 0.11 AU). The mean values of chromosomal damage were also significantly higher (p < 0.001) in CAD patients than in controls (Binucleated cells with MN- 28.15 ± 1.18 vs. 18.16 ± 2.59; micronuclei 29.52 ± 1.21 vs. 18.68 ± 2.64, respectively) while nuclear division index (1.48 ± 0.01 vs. 1.63 ± 0.01) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in controls. The results of the present study indicate that coronary artery disease patients had increased levels of both, unrepaired (DNA) and repaired (chromosomal) genetic damage which may be a pathological consequence of the disease and/or the drug-treatment. This accumulation of DNA/chromosomal damage is of concern as it can lead to the development of cancer with increased chances of morbidity and mortality in the CAD patients.
Long-term effects of eradication of Helicobacter pylori on relapse and histology in gastric ulcer patients: a two-year follow-up study

Background: The main purpose of this study was to compare omeprazole (ome) plus two antibiotics (OMC) with omeprazole plus placebo (OP) with regard to gastric ulcer relapse for a period of 2 years in patients who were Helicobacter pylori-positive at inclusion. Methods: Using double-blind randomization 125 patients with gastric ulcer were treated with either OMC (ome 20 mg b.i.d., metronidazole 400 mg b.i.d., clarithromycin 250 mg b.i.d.) (n = 64) or OP (ome 20 mg and placebo) (n = 61) for 1 week, followed by ome 20-40 mg o.d. until healing was confirmed endoscopically after 4, 8 or 12 weeks. Endoscopy and H. pylori diagnostics using culture, histology and serology were performed 6, 12 and 24 months after treatment or at symptomatic relapse. At inclusion, 35% of the OMC group and 38% of the OP group were taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Nine percent (11/125) of the ulcers were malignant. Results: The prevalence of H. pylori was 82% and the eradication rate 88% in the OMC group and 3% in the OP group. More than 90% of the ulcers were healed after 12 weeks. After 2 years, 76% of patients in the OMC group were in remission compared with 28% in the OP group (ITT) (P < 0.001). Sixty percent of patients in the OMC group that continued to take NSAIDs were in remission after 2 years compared with none in the OP group. Atrophy but not intestinal metaplasia decreased after treatment. Conclusions: Gastric ulcers are mainly caused by H. pylori, and relapse is effectively prevented by H. pylori eradication, even in patients on NSAIDs.
The Impact of CEO Narcissism on Earnings Management

We provide the first empirical test of the relation between CEO narcissism and earnings manipulation. We test the hypothesis that narcissistic leaders overâ€ identify themselves with the organizations they lead and expend considerable effort to achieve their goals, including by engaging in unethical behaviour. Earnings announcements are highly anticipated information releases by organizations. They are a key performance indicator used to evaluate the performance of CEOs. This study examines the use of first person singular pronouns by CEOs in response to questions at analyst conferences to measure narcissism. We provide evidence that firms with narcissistic CEOs engage in accruals management to manage earnings positively, highlighting the important effect of CEO personality on accounting choices.
The Expected Investment Growth Premium

We propose a novel measure of investment plans, namely, expected investment growth (EIG) and find stocks with high EIG outperform stocks with low EIG by 17% per annum. This premium can be generated in a neoclassical model with the investment plan friction, in which a firm's expected returns increases with its planned investment due to an embedded leverage effect. We provide empirical evidence on the interaction of the cash flow effect and discount rate effect in driving this EIG premium. Our findings highlight the investment plan friction as an important economic channel to understand the cross-sectional risk premium.
The use of diffusion tensor tractography to measure the distance between the anterior tip of the Meyer loop and the temporal pole in a cohort from Southern China.

OBJECT Anterior temporal lobe resection plus amygdalohippocampectomy can cause damage to the anterior portion of the optic radiation, also known as the Meyer loop, resulting in homonymous superior quadrantanopia. Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) of the Meyer loop can help in surgical planning. In this study, the distance of the anterior tip of the Meyer loop to the temporal lobe pole (ML-TP) in the Southern Chinese population was assessed. METHODS The authors studied 16 Southern Chinese individuals (8 men and 8 women; mean age 45.6 years, range 21-60 years). Diffusion tensor images were obtained with a 3-T MR imaging system using a single-shot spin echo echo planar imaging sequence. Two trained operators, one neurosurgeon (Operator A) and one radiologist (Operator B), carried out the DTT analysis with software iPlan (BrainLAB) and FiberTrak (Philips). RESULTS For the 32 temporal lobes, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of the 2 operators' results using iPlan was 0.96, while that of Operator A using iPlan and Operator B using FiberTrak was 0.75. The ICC of Operator B using iPlan and FiberTrak was 0.81. The ML-TP distance of normal lobes (30 lobes [2 lobes that previously underwent surgery were excluded]) was 36.3±5.5 mm (range 26.6-48.9 mm), 36.3±5.3 mm (range 26.8-48.2 mm), and 35.9±6.4 mm (range 20.8-48.4 mm) for Operator A using iPlan, Operator B using iPlan, and Operator B using FiberTrak, respectively (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS The 2 operators reached good agreement on ML-TP distance measurement using DTT. The DDT results can be more software dependent than operator dependent. The measurement with FiberTrak demonstrated larger range and standard deviation than measurement with iPlan.
Understanding the relationship between a walkable environment and elderly’s sense of community in Hong Kong

This research aims at (1) comparing the relations of walkability attributes and elderly’s Sense of Community (SofC) between two constituencies in Hong Kong, and (2) comparing the impacts of objective walkability and perceived walkability attributes on elderly’s SofC in two constituencies. In the constituency with higher perceived walkability, Accessibility and Walking Facilities were positively correlated with SofC at significant level. Walking Barriers were also positively correlated with elderly’s SofC, which suggested that hillsides and stairs increased elderly’s SofC, though it was out of significant level. In the constituency with higher Objective Walkability, Land-use mix, Commercial land use ratio and Connectivity were negatively correlated with SofC. Congestion was also higher in this constituency, which was consistent with the result of Objective Walkability. Comparing the impacts of socio-demographic data, perceived walkability and objective walkability attributes on SofC, objective walkability attributes were not important in explaining SofC in both constituencies. Socio-demographic data had limited influence on SofC, that elderly who were not born in Hong Kong and not living alone had a higher SofC level. The research can help provide officials and urban planners with some insights to pay more attention to the perception of the elderly, instead of simply following the objective standard of a so called “walkable environment”.
Detection of the second mesiobuccal canal in mesiobuccal roots of maxillary molar teeth ex vivo.

AIM To assess the effectiveness of magnification and dentine removal (troughing) when locating the second mesiobuccal canal in mesiobuccal roots of maxillary molars. METHODOLOGY A total of 208 extracted human maxillary molars were examined. After crown and pulp removal, the MB1 and 2 canals in the mesiobuccal root were located in three stages that were performed by two undergraduate dental students. Stage 1: canals were located with an endodontic explorer; stage 2: additional canals in the same teeth were located under magnification with a digital microscope (VH-8000, Keyence, Japan); stage 3: additional canals in the same teeth were located by removing dentine (troughing) from the pulp chamber floor within 3 mm from MB1 canal towards the palatal canal with an Enac ultrasonic tip (ST 21, Osada, Japan). In each group, the canals were prepared with Gates Glidden burs and K-files. The distal and palatal roots were then removed, and Indian ink was injected into the canal system within the mesio-buccal root. The root surfaces were washed with 6% NaOCl, and then rendered transparent to observe canal morphology. The root canal configurations were classified into five categories following the modified Weine's classification. RESULTS More than one canal in the mesio-buccal root was observed in 48% of specimens. Detection rates of multiple canals were 7, 18 and 42% following stages 1, 2 and 3, respectively. There was a significant difference between the stages for detecting the MB2 canal (P < 0.05, Friedman test). CONCLUSIONS Both magnification (stage 2) and dentine removal under magnification (stage 3) were effective in detecting the presence of the MB2 canal. However, MB2 canals could not be detected in 13% of the teeth because of canal calcification or branching located more apically.
The cut-off limits of the GH response to GH-releasing hormone-arginine test related to body mass index.

OBJECTIVE The diagnosis of growth hormone (GH) deficiency (GHD) in adults is based on a reduced peak GH response to provocative tests, such as the insulin tolerance test (ITT) and the GH-releasing hormone-arginine (GHRH-ARG) test. However, the cut-off limits of peak GH response in lean subjects are not reliable in obese patients; this is noteworthy since adult GHD is often associated with obesity. Aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic cut-off limits of peak GH response to the GHRH-ARG test in overweight and obese as well as in lean population. DESIGN AND METHODS The GH responses to the GHRH-ARG test were studied in 322 patients with organic hypothalamic-pituitary disease and in 318 control subjects. Patients were subdivided into two groups on the basis of the number of pituitary hormone deficits, except for GH deficiency: (a) patients with total pituitary hormone deficit (TPHD) and (b) patients without or with no more than two pituitary hormone deficits (PHD). Both patients and control subjects were divided into three subgroups according to body mass index (BMI): lean (BMI <25 kg/m(2)), overweight (BMI > or = 25 and <30 kg/m(2)) and obese (BMI > or =30 kg/m(2)). TPHD patients were assumed to be GH deficient, whereas PHD patients may include subjects with either normal or impaired GH secretion. The statistical analysis was carried out by the Receiver-Operating Characteristic curve analysis (Medcalc 7.2). The diagnostic cut-off points were calculated for lean, overweight and obese subjects to provide optimal separation of GH-deficient patients and control subjects according to two criteria: (1) a balance between high sensitivity and high specificity; (2) to provide the highest pair of sensitivity/specificity values for GH deficiency. RESULTS In the lean population the best pair of values, with highest sensitivity as 98.7% and highest specificity as 83.7%, was found using a peak GH cut-off point of 11.5 mug/l. In the overweight population the best pair of values, 96.7 and 75.5%, respectively, was found using a peak GH cut-off point of 8.0 mug/l. In the obese population the best pair of values, 93.5 and 78.3%, respectively, was found using a peak GH cut-off point of 4.2 mug/l. Applying the above mentioned cut-off points, among PHD patients we found that 80 subjects (72%) were GHD whereas 31 (28%) had normal GH secretion. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion the GHRH-ARG test is a reliable tool for the diagnosis of adult GH deficiency in lean, overweight and obese patients, provided that specific BMI-related cut-off limits are assumed.
Accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in rural soils based on mass balances at the catchment scale

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are hydrophobic organic pollutants that are ubiquitously distributed in the environment at relatively high concentrations. In our study we investigated the long‐term fate of atmospheric PAHs in soils of rural areas, resulting from diffuse pollution based on mass balances at the catchment scale. By determining PAHs in several environmental compartments, estimates of soil storages and water fluxes were made and compared with atmospheric deposition. The results indicate that more than 90% of the incoming PAHs remain in the catchments and accumulate in the topsoils. Furthermore, revolatilization of PAHs from soils and degradation in the soils is very limited, resulting in ongoing accumulation in topsoils, in particular for low‐volatile PAHs. Combustion‐derived carbonaceous particles were detected in atmospheric deposition as well as in the soil samples. Since these particles are very strong adsorbents, they are suspected to play a key role in the environmental fate of the diffuse distributed PAHs.
Value of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in demonstrating major bile duct injuries following laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Conventionally, recognition of bile duct injuries after laparoscopic cholecystectomy largely relies on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC). However, these invasive procedures are not without risk. Preliminary experience with use of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) to identify these injuries is reported.
Ab-initio modeling of CBRAM cells: From ballistic transport properties to electro-thermal effects

We present atomistic simulations of conductive bridging random access memory (CBRAM) cells from first-principles combining density-functional theory and the Non-equilibrium Green's Function formalism. Realistic device structures with an atomic-scale filament connecting two metallic contacts have been constructed. Their transport properties have been studied in the ballistic limit and in the presence of electron-phonon scattering, showing good agreement with experimental data. It has been found that the relocation of few atoms is sufficient to change the resistance of the CBRAM by 6 orders of magnitude, that the electron trajectories strongly depend on the filament morphology, and that self-heating does not affect the device performance at currents below 1 μA.
Blood Loss and Transfusion Rates During Repair of Craniofacial Deformities

Surgical procedures for correction of craniofacial deformities resulted in unavoidable and extensive blood loss in small children and infants. Almost all of the patients undergoing these procedures will undergo a blood transfusion either during or immediately after the operation. A retrospective review of 30 patients who underwent craniofacial surgery was performed in this study to determine the magnitude of transfusion required for craniofacial surgery, document transfusion morbidity, and identify variables associated with the transfusion. The mean estimated blood loss was 566.8 mL, the mean intraoperative transfusion was 394.8 mL, the mean postoperative transfusion was 103.2 mL, and the mean total transfusion was 505 mL. The mean operative time was 450 minutes, the mean preoperative hemoglobin and the mean postoperative hemoglobin before hospital discharge were 11.6 g/dL and 10.3 g/dL, respectively. Craniofacial surgical procedures involve extensive scalp dissection and calvarial and facial bone osteotomies in patients with a low total blood volume. Every medical and surgical strategy for minimizing the need for blood transfusion should be considered.
Pregnancy outcome and management of women with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator: a single centre experience.

AIMS With improved survival of patients with congenital and inherited heart disease, there is now a younger cohort of patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) for the prevention and treatment of ventricular dysrrhythmias. Young women with such disorders often wish to embark on pregnancy, but pregnancy outcome data for this group is sparse. We therefore evaluated pregnancy outcome in patients with heart disease and an ICD in situ. METHODS AND RESULTS A retrospective analysis was performed on all women with an ICD in situ, who had pregnancy care provided by the specialist maternal cardiology service at University College London Hospitals. Data for 19 pregnancies in 14 women were collected. The underlying cardiac diagnoses were congenital heart disease (one), familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (eight), familial dilated cardiomyopathy (one), inherited long QT syndrome (one), and idiopathic cardiac arrest (one). Three women had moderate impairment of the left ventricular systolic function (ejection fraction <45%), in the remainder it was normal. Nine ICD implants were for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death (64%) and five for secondary prevention (36%). Of the 19 pregnancies, 18 continued beyond 24 weeks gestation with 18 live births. In eight pregnancies there were medical or device-related complications (42.9%) as follows: arrhythmias (four) (21.1%), heart failure (two) (9.1%), ICD shocks (one) (5.3%), atrial lead fracture (one) (5.3%), and lead-related thrombus (one) (5.3%). There were no inappropriate device shocks or therapies. CONCLUSIONS Women with heart disease and an ICD implant can have a good outcome during pregnancy but medical and device complications are not uncommon.
Prehypertension and risk of cardiovascular disease in Chinese adults

Objective To examine the excess risks associated with prehypertension and absolute benefit of treatment. Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study in 169 871 Chinese adults aged 40 years and older. Data on blood pressure and covariables were obtained at a baseline examination in 1991 and follow-up evaluation was conducted in 1999–2000. Results Compared with normotension (<120/80 mmHg), prehypertension (120–139/80–89 mmHg) was significantly associated with an increased relative risk (95% confidence interval) of cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence 1.34 (1.27, 1.42) and mortality 1.22 (1.15, 1.30), coronary disease incidence 1.32 (1.16, 1.50) and mortality 1.47 (1.23, 1.75), and stroke incidence 1.72 (1.59, 1.86) and mortality 1.67 (1.50, 1.86). The population-attributable risk associated with prehypertension was 10.6 and 7.1% for CVD incidence and mortality, 9.9 and 13.9% for coronary disease incidence and mortality, and 19.9 and 18.7% for stroke incidence and mortality. The optimal 5-year number-needed-to-treat to prevent a CVD event or death was 53 and 185, 17 and 51, and eight and 22 for prehypertension, stage 1 hypertension, and stage 2 hypertension, respectively. The optimal number-needed-to-treat to prevent a CVD event was significantly smaller in prehypertension patients with a history of CVD or diabetes (34 for incidence and 44 for mortality) compared with those without (115 for incidence and 352 for mortality). Conclusion Prehypertension was related to an increased risk of CVD. Treatment of prehypertension among patients with a history of CVD or diabetes was as beneficial as treatment of stage 1 hypertensive patients without a history of CVD or diabetes.
No Kin in the Game: Moral Hazard and War in the US Congress

We study agency frictions in the US Congress. We examine the long-standing hypothesis that political elites engage in conflict because they fail to internalize the associated costs. We compare the voting behavior of legislators with draft age sons versus draft age daughters during the conscription-era wars of the twentieth century. We estimate that having a draft age son reduces proconscription voting by 7–11 percentage points. Support for conscription recovers when a legislator’s son ages out of eligibility. We establish that agency problems contribute to political conflict and that politicians are influenced by private incentives orthogonal to political concerns or ideological preferences.