Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tracking Development of Speech Recognition: Longitudinal Data From Hierarchical Assessments in the Childhood Development After Cochlear Implantation Study

Objective: To develop a speech recognition index that summarizes data collected through an array of age-appropriate hierarchical speech recognition tests in a longitudinal study. Study Design: Prospective cohort. Setting: Six tertiary referral centers in the Childhood Development after Cochlear Implantation (CDaCI) Study. Patients: One hundred eighty-eight children implanted at age 5 years or younger and 97 age-comparable normal-hearing controls. Intervention: Cochlear implantation. Main Outcome Measures: Outcome measures were the following: Infant-Toddler Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale, Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale, Early Speech Perception Test, Pediatric Speech Intelligibility Test, Multisyllabic Lexical Neighborhood Test, Lexical Neighborhood Test, and Hearing in Noise Test, obtained before implantation and at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months postimplant. Results: A speech recognition cumulative index, speech recognition index in quiet (SRI-Q), was created to combine information from tests administered in quiet. This index allows simultaneous display of data from all tests in the speech recognition hierarchy and is sensitive to improvements in performance over time as a function of age. SRI-Q also provides a composite of performance on multiple tests, allowing both the tracking of "growth curve" in speech recognition across a wide age range over an extended follow-up period and the comparison of normal-hearing and implanted children on multiple measures. The data range for individual tests is also preserved for ease of interpretation. Conclusion: SRI-Q allows tracking of global development of speech recognition over time as children progress through a hierarchy of speech perception measures and complements the more detailed assessments obtained from individual tests within the hierarchy.
Central venous pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure as estimates of left atrial pressure: effects of positive end-expiratory pressure and catheter tip malposition.

We compared CVP and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (WP) measurements with left atrial pressure (LAP) in postcoronary bypass surgical patients with preserved cardiopulmonary function. Measurements were obtained under normal conditions and conditions likely to induce WP-LAP discrepancies (PEEP and catheter tip malposition). Patients were in both supine and lateral positions; the catheter tip was placed vertically below (tip down; n = 12) or above (tip up; n = 5) the left atrium. Our data showed that both CVP and WP correlated well with LAP at all PEEP levels in the supine and tip down lateral positions. However, in the tip up lateral position, WP overestimated LAP (13.3 +/- 3.4 vs. 8.0 +/- 2 mm Hg; p less than .01) at 20 cm H2O of PEEP, whereas CVP (8.8 +/- 2.1 mm Hg) closely reflected LAP. Thus, by placing the catheter tip vertically below the left atrium in supinely and laterally positioned patients, CVP and WP both produced reliable estimates of LAP despite an acute increase in alveolar pressure. When the pulmonary artery catheter tip was vertically above the left atrium, WP overestimated LAP. Under these conditions, CVP remained a reliable estimate of LAP. We conclude that CVP measurement as an estimate of LAP in this patient population could be used and not ignored. This is true in patients with previously documented good LAP-CVP correlation who are subjected subsequently to conditions which may produce an LAP-WP discrepancy (high PEEP and catheter tip malposition).
Identification and Differentiation of Candida parapsilosis Complex Species by Use of Exon-Primed Intron-Crossing PCR

ABSTRACT The Candida parapsilosis complex is composed of Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto, Candida orthopsilosis, Candida metapsilosis, and the closely related species Lodderomyces elongisporus. An exon-primed intron-crossing PCR assay was developed here to distinguish the members of the species complex on the basis of the distinct sizes of amplicons, and Candida orthopsilosis and Candida metapsilosis were further discriminated by restriction enzyme analysis.
Offshoring, Economic Insecurity, and the Demand for Social Insurance

The fear of offshoring, particularly in services since 2000, has raised workers economic insecurity and heightened concerns over future economic globalization. Many have argued that globalization has exacerbated labor market turbulence increasing the demand for social insurance programs. The authors present a simple theoretical model establishing a connection between the threat of offshoring, economic insecurity, and the demand for social insurance. Data from the 1972-2006 General Social Survey to provides supporting empirical evidence.
A Low-Noise Output Capacitorless Low-Dropout Regulator With a Switched-RC Bandgap Reference

Low-noise linear regulators are critical for power supply regulation of noise-sensitive circuits, such as ADCs, phase-locked loops, and other mixed-signal/RF system-on-a-chip designs. A low-noise low-dropout (LN-LDO) regulator using switched-<italic>RC</italic> bandgap reference and a multiloop, unconditionally stable error amplifier for output capacitorless operation is presented in this paper. A sample-and-hold switched-<italic>RC</italic> filter is developed to reduce the noise of the bandgap reference and drain-side modulated current-mode chopping technique is proposed to reduce the flicker (1/<italic>f</italic>) noise of the error amplifier. A switched capacitor notch filter is utilized to filter out the residual chopping ripple of the error amplifier. Thermal noise of the current reference circuit which is significant at such low noise levels is also reduced by using a low-area penalty passive <italic>RC </italic> filter. These techniques reduce the total integrated output noise of the LDO in the 10 Hz to 100 kHz band from <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$95.3\;\mu {{\rm{V}}_{{\rm{RMS}}}}$</tex-math> </inline-formula> down to <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$14.8\;\mu {{\rm{V}}_{{\rm{RMS}}}}$</tex-math> </inline-formula>. The LDO delivers a maximum load current of 100 mA with a dropout voltage of 230 mV and a quiescent current consumption of <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$40\;\mu {\rm{A}}$</tex-math> </inline-formula>. It achieves a power supply rejection of 50 dB at 10 kHz for a programmable output voltage range of 1–3.3 V. Fabricated in a <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$0.25\;\mu {\rm{m}}$</tex-math> </inline-formula> CMOS process, the LDO core occupies an area of 0.18 mm<sup>2</sup>.
A cross-national comparison of parent-consumers' evaluative critieria used in purchasing pre-school children's apparel

approved: The children's apparel industry is a fast-growing industry in the United States. It is important to determine what factors are considered as the most important when parents purchase their pre-school children's clothing. To gain a better understanding of parent-consumers' purchasing behavior of pre-school children's apparel, this study focused on parent-consumers' evaluative criteria used in purchasing pre-school children's apparel both in Taiwan and in the U.S. The purpose of this study was to compare the evaluative criteria used by Taiwan and U.S. parent-consumers in their decisions to purchase children's apparel. The importance of intrinsic criteria directly related to the product itself and some selected extrinsic criteria were examined. The theoretical framework used for the present study was the EKB consumer behavior model; with focus on the alternative evaluation stage of the consumer decision making Redacted for Privacy process. Previous research has examined evaluative criteria used in purchasing women's and men's apparel, but only limited research has investigated evaluative criteria used in purchasing children's apparel. Survey methodology was used to collect data. A selfadministered questionnaire was distributed to two nonprobability, purposive samples to collect quantitative data. Data were collected through two selected pre-schools at Oregon State University in the U.S. and at Fu Jen Catholic University in Taiwan. The samples consisted of 200 parentconsumers with a child or children, ages 3 to 6. Subjects were given questionnaires through teachers or researcher, resulting in a 84.l% response rate. Collected data were analyzed using two sample t-tests. Significant differences were found between the two groups in the importance of aesthetic and extrinsic criteria but not in the importance of usefulness and performance criteria. Among all 22 criteria, significant differences were found between Taiwan and U.S. respondents in the importance of: fiber content, type of fabric, fabric print, having character/logo, color fastness, price, on sale, brand name, and country of origin. The most important criteria for both groups were comfort and size/fit. By identifying the evaluative criteria used by parentconsumers of pre-school children's apparel in two countries, the results partially supported the EKB consumer behavior model. In addition, the findings about the importance of purchase criteria used by parent-consumers may also benefit children's apparel manufacturers and retailers in revising or improving their competitive ability in global marketing.
Customer Perception, Customer Satisfaction, and Customer Loyalty Within Chinese Securities Business

Abstract This study proposes a mediation model that links customer perceived service value to customer loyalty via customer satisfaction. Psychometrically sound measures were selected and a survey was undertaken among 1,200 customers of a Chinese Securities firm with a response rate of 41%. Results show that customer satisfaction does play a mediating role upon the relationship between customer perceived service value and customer loyalty. Our study suggests that customer perceived service quality has a significant effect upon customer satisfaction; customer perception of relational benefits has a positive impact upon customer satisfaction, with trust being the most important indicator; customer satisfaction is positively related with loyalty in terms of positive word of mouth, willingness to pay more and to stay with the business. Moreover, the results indicate that the five dimensions as distinguished in SERVQUAL (Parasuraman et al., 1988) are compressed within two dimensions-IT provision and service attitude. Our outcomes suggest that managers should initiate service policies aimed at securing improvement in customer satisfaction.
The use of Gram stain and matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry on positive blood culture: synergy between new and old technology

Fuglsang‐Damgaard D, Nielsen CH, Mandrup E, Fuursted K. The use of Gram stain and matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry on positive blood culture: synergy between new and old technology. APMIS 2011; 119: 681–88.
Neuritin (cpg15) enhances the differentiating effect of NGF on neuronal PC12 cells

Neuritin is a small, highly conserved GPI‐anchored protein involved in neurite outgrowth. We have analyzed the involvement of neuritin in NGF‐induced differentiation of PC12 cells by investigating the time‐course of neuritin expression, the effects of its overexpression or silencing, and the possible mechanisms of its regulation and action. Real‐time PCR analysis has shown that neuritin gene is upregulated by NGF in PC12 cells hours before neurite outgrowth becomes appreciable. PC12 cells transfected with a plasmid expressing neuritin display a significant increase in the response to NGF: 1) in the levels of SMI312 positive phosphorylated neurofilament proteins (markers for axonal processes) and tyrosine hydroxylase; 2) in the percentage of cells bearing neurites; as well as 3) in the average length of neurites when compared to control cells. On the contrary, neuritin silencing significantly reduces neurite outgrowth. These data suggest that neuritin is a modulator of NGF‐induced neurite extension in PC12 cells. We also showed that neuritin potentiated the NGF‐induced differentiation of PC12 cells without affecting TrkA or EGF receptor mRNAs expression. Moreover, the S‐methylisothiourea (MIU), a potent inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthases, partially counteracts the NGF‐mediated neuritin induction. These data suggest that NGF regulates neuritin expression in PC12 cells via the signaling pathway triggered by NO. This study reports the first evidence that neuritin plays a role in modulating neurite outgrowth during the progression of NGF‐induced differentiation of PC12 cells. PC12 cells could be considered a valuable model to unravel the mechanism of action of neuritin on neurite outgrowth. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Properties of Nat4, an Nα-Acetyltransferase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae That Modifies N Termini of Histones H2A and H4

ABSTRACT Nat4, also designated NatD, was previously shown to acetylate the N termini of histones H2A and H4, which have SGGKG and SGRGK N termini (O. K. Song, X. Wang, J. H. Waterborg, and R. Sternglanz, J. Biol. Chem. 278:38109-38112, 2003). The analysis of chimeric proteins with various N-terminal segments of histone H4 fused to iso-1-cytochrome c revealed that efficient acetylation by NatD required at least 30 to 50 amino acid residues of the N terminus of histone H4. This requirement for an extended N terminus is in marked contrast with the major N-terminal acetyl transferases (NATs), i.e., NatA, NatB, and NatC, which require as few as two specific residues and usually no more than four or five. However, similar to the other NATs, NatD is associated with ribosomes. The nat4-Δ strain showed several minor phenotypes, including sensitivity to 3-aminotriazole, benomyl, and thiabendazole. Moreover, these nat4-Δ phenotypes were enhanced in the strain containing K5R K8R K12R replacements in the N-tail of histone H4, suggesting that the lack of N-terminal serine acetylation is synergistic to the lack of acetylation of the H4 N-tail lysines. Thus, N-terminal serine acetylation of histone H4 may be a part of an essential charge patch first described for the histone H2A.Z variant in Tetrahymena species.
Chemokines and serpentines: the molecular biology of chemokine receptors

Chemokines are pro‐inflammatory molecules with a diverse array of biological and biochemical functions. These molecules induce the migration of a number of leukocyte subsets including monocytes, neutrophils, and T‐cells. The recent cloning of the IL‐8, GRO, and MIP‐lα chemokine receptors revealed that these glycoproteins belong to the serpentine family of seven transmembrane G‐protein‐coupled receptors. Other members of this family include die chemotactic receptors for fMLP and C5a, indicating that a common pathway for eliciting the directional migration of leukocytes is probably transduced via G proteins. Ligand binding to chemokine receptors is complex, featured by multiple chemokines binding to a single receptor and multiple receptors binding a specific ligand. Future directions in this field appear to be focused on the cloning of novel receptors and the identification of ligands for orphaned receptors.
The Effects of Firm Growth and Model Specification Choices on Tests of Earnings Management

Commonly used Jones-type discretionary accrual models applied in quarterly settings do not adequately control for nondiscretionary accruals that naturally occur due to firm growth. We show that the relation between quarterly accruals and backward-looking sales growth (measured over a rolling four-quarter window) and forward-looking firm growth (market-to-book ratio) is non-linear. Failure to control for the effects of firm growth and performance on innate accruals leads to excessive Type-I error rates in tests of earnings management. We propose simple refinements to Jones-type models that deal with non-linear growth and performance effects and show that the expanded models are well specified and exhibit high power in quarterly settings where one is testing for earnings management. The expanded models are able to identify the presence of earnings management in a sample of restatement firms. Our findings have important implications for the use of discretionary accrual models in earnings management research.
Some Implications of Search Costs for the Price Dynamics of Electronic Markets

This paper develops a model based on switching costs and technological uncertainty, which explains some aspects of the price dynamics of e-commerce. Switching costs and intertemporal cost correlation lock-in consumers. Firms initially charge low prices to build a customer base. If firms fail to reduce costs, and reservations prices are low, firms exit the industry. Over time, prices increase if no exit occurs, and decrease if exit occurs. Prices may also decrease over time, if the proportion of low search cost consumers increases.
Bank earnings and regulatory capital management using available for sale securities

Based on a large sample of publicly listed and non-listed US commercial banks from 1996 to 2011, we find robust evidence consistent with banks using realized available for sale (AFS) securities gains and losses to smooth earnings and increase low regulatory capital. We also find that (i) banks with positive earnings smooth earnings, and banks with negative earnings generally take big baths; (ii) regulatory capital constrains big baths; (iii) banks with more negative earnings and more unrealized beginning-of-quarter losses (gains) take big baths (smooth earnings); and (iv) banks with low regulatory capital and more unrealized gains realize more gains. Also, banks with negative earnings take big baths (avoid or reduce the earnings loss) if their unrealized gains are insufficient (sufficient) to offset the negative earnings. Our inferences apply to listed and non-listed banks, which indicates that the earnings management incentives do not derive solely from public capital markets. Our findings reveal that the accounting for AFS securities gains and losses enables banks to manage regulatory capital and earnings in a variety of ways.
Body fat assessment by bioelectrical impedance and its correlation with different anatomical sites used in the measurement of waist circumference in children.

OBJECTIVE To compare the different anatomical sites used in the measurement of waist circumference, as well as the effectiveness of these landmarks to predict the percentage of body fat by tetrapolar bioelectrical impedance analysis. METHODS We evaluated 205 children from 6 to 9 years of age of both sexes. Data on weight, height and waist circumference were collected at three different sites: at the lower abdominal curvature, above the navel and at the midpoint between the last rib and the iliac crest. Nutritional status was assessed through the body mass index (BMI)/age as recommended by the World Health Organization. RESULTS The sample was considered homogeneous in terms of sex, and the mean age was 7.2+/-1.2 years. Regarding nutritional status, 6.3% of the children had low weight, 75.1% were eutrophic, 7.3% were overweight, and 11.2% were obese. Among males, there was no statistical difference between the different sites of measurement; in females, the measurement above the navel was statistically higher. In the correlation analysis, the midpoint measurement showed the best correlation with percentage of body fat, with values of 0.50 in boys and 0.62 in girls. CONCLUSION Waist circumference measured at the midpoint between the last rib and the iliac crest presented the best correlation with percentage of body fat.
Does the Threat of Litigation Explain Insider Selling and Earnings Management in Distressed Firms?

The paper provides evidence that the threat of litigation influences managers' accounting and insider trading choices in firms experiencing deteriorating financial performance. We analyze the two-year period preceding technical default for 462 firms during 1983-1997. Our sample firms have deteriorating performance during this period (abnormal returns of -27.5%) and, as in DeFond and Jiambalvo (1994), we find upwards earnings management in the year preceding default (Year -1), but not in the year of default (Year 0). We find that debt contracts and insider selling incentives independently contribute to the Year -1 earnings management. Our tests that examine the timing of the measurement of insider selling relative to earnings management reveal that: (1) managers manage Year -1 earnings upwards when they engage in abnormal levels of selling in Year -1, consistent with earnings management distancing the sale of stock from the revelation of bad news, and (2) managers refrain from managing Year -1 earnings when they trade closer to the event of default (in Year 0). These two distinct patterns suggest that the threat of litigation matters to managers of firms with deteriorating performance. Our finding that contemporaneous insider selling is associated with upwards earnings management should be of interest to researchers who study, and professionals who oversee (e.g., directors, auditors, and regulators) management in firms with deteriorating performance.
Tests for liquidity constraints: a critical survey and some new observations

A carbon filter having an elongated cylindrical housing with a cylindrical filter assembly located axially therein, the cylindrical filter assembly having a plurality of flow-through geometrically shaped axially extending exit and entrance chambers with a loosely packed carbon filter bed therebetween. The entrance and exit chambers are positioned equidistant from each other in alternating fashion, with each flow-through entrance chamber advantageously adjacent at least two flow-through exit chambers and each flow-through exit chamber advantageously adjacent at least two flow-through entrance chambers. The filter assembly additionally comprises a forced-feed charcoal reservoir means maintaining a constant pressure on the loosely packed bed to keep it filled.
Metabolic Analysis of Moraxella catarrhalis and the Effect of Selected In Vitro Growth Conditions on Global Gene Expression

ABSTRACT The nucleotide sequence from the genome of Moraxella catarrhalis ATCC 43617 was annotated and used both to assess the metabolic capabilities and limitations of this bacterium and to design probes for a DNA microarray. An absence of gene products for utilization of exogenous carbohydrates was noteworthy and could be correlated with published phenotypic data. Gene products necessary for aerobic energy generation were present, as were a few gene products generally ascribed to anaerobic systems. Enzymes for synthesis of all amino acids except proline and arginine were present. M. catarrhalis DNA microarrays containing 70-mer oligonucleotide probes were designed from the genome-derived nucleotide sequence data. Analysis of total RNA extracted from M. catarrhalis ATCC 43617 cells grown under iron-replete and iron-restricted conditions was used to establish the utility of these DNA microarrays. These DNA microarrays were then used to analyze total RNA from M. catarrhalis cells grown in a continuous-flow biofilm system and in the planktonic state. The genes whose expression was most dramatically increased by growth in the biofilm state included those encoding a nitrate reductase, a nitrite reductase, and a nitric oxide reductase. Real-time reverse transcriptase PCR analysis was used to validate these DNA microarray results. These results indicate that growth of M. catarrhalis in a biofilm results in increased expression of gene products which can function not only in energy generation but also in resisting certain elements of the innate immune response.