Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Manner of Articulation on the Intelligibility of Voicing Contrast in Noise: Cross-Linguistic Implications

The current study addresses the impact of manner of articulation on the intelligibility of voicing contrast in noise from a cross-linguistic perspective. Previous noise-masking studies have suggested that the impact of manner of articulation on the intelligibility of voicing contrast in noise is apparently different in Russian and English. In order to further assess the source of such a cross-linguistic inconsistency, the current study examines how Russian voicing contrast is perceived by English listeners. Native listeners of English performed a forced-choice identification task with Russian voiced and voiceless stimuli in quiet and noisy conditions. The results showed that the voicing contrast in stops were more confused than that in fricatives for English listeners, showing a pattern similar to Russian listeners. The results suggest that the source of the cross-linguistic difference identified in previous studies comes from the difference in the acoustic properties of the stimuli, reflecting the difference in phonetic implementation of voicing contrasts in each language. The results in turn suggest that perceptual cue weighting strategies for perceiving voicing contrast in different manners of articulation is similar among Russian and English listeners.
Galactic Sources Detected in the NuSTAR Serendipitous Survey

The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) provides an improvement in sensitivity at energies above 10 keV by two orders of magnitude over non-focusing satellites, making it possible to probe deeper into the Galaxy and universe. Lansbury and collaborators recently completed a catalog of 497 sources serendipitously detected in the 3–24 keV band using 13 deg2 of NuSTAR coverage. Here, we report on an optical and X-ray study of 16 Galactic sources in the catalog. We identify 8 of them as stars (but some or all could have binary companions), and use information from Gaia to report distances and X-ray luminosities for 3 of them. There are 4 CVs or CV candidates, and we argue that NuSTAR J233426–2343.9 is a relatively strong CV candidate based partly on an X-ray spectrum from XMM-Newton. NuSTAR J092418–3142.2, which is the brightest serendipitous source in the Lansbury catalog, and NuSTAR J073959–3147.8 are low-mass X-ray binary candidates, but it is also possible that these 2 sources are CVs. One of the sources is a known high-mass X-ray binary (HMXB), and NuSTAR J105008–5958.8 is a new HMXB candidate that has strong Balmer emission lines in its optical spectrum and a hard X-ray spectrum. We discuss the implications of finding these HMXBs for the surface density (log N–log S) and luminosity function of Galactic HMXBs. We conclude that with the large fraction of unclassified sources in the Galactic plane detected by NuSTAR in the 8–24 keV band, there could be a significant population of low-luminosity HMXBs.
Modulation of Endogenous Osteogenic Protein-1 (OP-1) by Interleukin-1 in Adult Human Articular Cartilage

Background: Osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1, BMP-7) induces bone formation and cartilage growth. Since OP-1 is an anabolic factor expressed by human articular chondrocytes, we examined the response of endogenous OP-1 to interleukin-1&bgr; (IL-1&bgr;) in human articular cartilage.Methods: Normal adult human articular cartilage explants were cultured for twenty-five days in the presence of medium only or were treated with a low dose (0.1 ng/mL) or high dose (1.0 ng/mL) of IL-1&bgr; for forty-eight or ninety-six hours. Alternately, cartilage explants were cultured forty-eight hours with IL-1&bgr;, followed by forty-eight hours in standard medium (recovery). Tissue was analyzed for OP-1 message (by means of the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction), protein (by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot analysis) and proteoglycan content. Medium was analyzed for released proteoglycans and OP-1.Results: In the presence of medium, OP-1 maintained its steady state of mRNA and protein expression for as long as twenty-five days in culture. A low dose of IL-1&bgr; led to some upregulation in message and a twofold (p < 0.02) increase in OP-1 protein characterized by enhanced processing and activation of OP-1. Removal of IL-1&bgr; (recovery experiments) did not reverse its effect on OP-1 synthesis. A high dose of IL-1&bgr; caused stronger upregulation of message and a twofold decrease in OP-1 protein content (p < 0.007) in the cartilage matrix. However, this decrease in the matrix was primarily due to a release of active OP-1 into the medium. After removal of the 1.0-ng/mL IL-1&bgr;, the levels of OP-1 protein did not recover.Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that human adult chondrocytes have an ability to respond anabolically to initial or early catabolic events through an upregulation of endogenous OP-1.Clinical Relevance: A balance between anabolism and catabolism is perturbed and not fully synchronized in the degenerative processes seen in osteoarthritis. The aim of the current study was to investigate the function of a cartilage endogenous anabolic factor, i.e., OP-1, in a model of early degeneration induced by a catabolic mediator IL-1. The findings of the present study contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms involved in articular cartilage regeneration and repair.
Isidore, Orosius and the Beatus Map

Abstract Beatus of Liebana's Commentary on the Apocalypse (Spain, 776) drew heavily on Tyconius’ Commentary (North Africa, late fourth century), which is a probable source for the world map Beatus used to show the apostolic dissemination of the Faith. A map based on Orosius’ Historiarum adversus paganos libri VII (Seven Books of History against the Pagans) is another possible model for Beatus’ map, and it would have differed only slightly from one following Isidore of Seville's Etymologiae. Surviving maps in Beatus Commentaries incorporate features from both sources. One notable feature from Isidore is an interior ocean separating a ‘fourth continent’ from the usual three parts of the ecumene. Contrary to common interpretation, this fourth part represents not an antoecumenical hemisphere but the southernmost zone of the inhabited world. Although the map in the Beatus codex now in Burgo de Osma (dated 1086) is usually recognised as the best witness to the original Beatus map, that in Morgan 644 (dated 940).
Speedtest-Like Measurements in 3G/4G Networks: The MONROE Experience

Mobile Broadband (MBB) Networks are evolving at a fast pace, with technology enhancements that promise drastic improvements in capacity, connectivity, coverage, i.e., better performance in general. But how to measure the actual performance of a MBB solution? In this paper, we present our experience in running the simplest of the performance test: "speedtest-like" measurements to estimate the download speed offered by actual 3G/4G networks. Despite their simplicity, download speed measurements in MBB networks are much more complex than in wired networks, because of additional factors (e.g., mobility of users, physical impairments, diversity in technology, operator settings, mobile terminals diversity, etc.). ,, We exploit the MONROE open platform, with hundreds of multihomed nodes scattered in 4 different countries, and explicitly designed with the goal of providing hardware and software solutions to run large scale experiments in MBB networks. We analyze datasets collected in 4 countries, over 11 operators, from about 50 nodes, for more than 2 months. After designing the experiment and instrumenting both the clients and the servers with active and passive monitoring tools, we dig into collected data, and provide insight to highlight the complexity of running even a simple speedtest. Results show interesting facts, like the occasional presence of NAT, and of Performance Enhancing Proxies (PEP), and pinpoint the impact of different network configurations that further complicate the picture. Our results will hopefully contribute to the debate about performance assessment in MBB networks, and to the definition of much needed benchmarks for performance comparisons of 3G, 4G and soon of 5G networks. "
Liver resection for non-colorectal, non-neuroendocrine metastases: analysis of a multicenter study from Argentina.

BACKGROUND AND AIM Resection of colorectal liver metastases has become a standard of care, although the value of this procedure in non-colorectal non-neuroendocrine (NCRNNE) metastases remains controversial and is still a matter of debate. The aim of the study was to determine the utility of liver resection in the long-term outcome of patients with NCRNNE metastases. MATERIAL AND METHODS The records of 106 patients who underwent liver resection for NCRNNE metastases in the period 1989 to 2006 at 5 HPB Centers in Argentina were analyzed. Patient demographics, tumor characteristics, type of resection, long-term outcome and prognostic factors were analyzed. Depending on primary tumor sites, a comparative analysis of survival was performed. RESULTS Mean age was 54 (17-76). Hepatic metastases were solitary in 62.3% and unilateral in 85.6%. Primary tumor sites: Urogenital (37.7%), sarcomas (21.7%), breast (17.9%), gastrointestinal (6.6%), melanoma (5.7%), and others (10.4%). Fifty-one major hepatectomies and 55 minor resections were performed. Twenty patients underwent synchronous resections. An R0 resection could be achieved in 89.6%. Perioperative mortality was 1.8%. Overall, 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year survival rates were 67%, 34%, and 19%, respectively. Survival was significantly longer for metastases of urogenital (p=0.0001) and breast (p=0.003) origin. Curative resections (p=0.04) and metachronous disease (p=0.0001) were predictors of better survival. CONCLUSIONS Liver resection is an effective treatment for NCRNNE liver metastases; it gives satisfactory long-term survival especially in metachronous disease, in patients with metastases from urogenital and breast tumors and when R0 procedures can be performed.
Effect of vitamin A supplementation on childhood morbidity and mortality.

In a double blind design, 1520 children aged < 10 years were individually randomised in vitamin A and placebo group in slums of Chandigarh. Children > 12, 6-12 and < 6 months of age received 200,000, 100,000, 500,000 I.U. of vitamin A respectively every 4 to 6 months during 15 months trial period. The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency was significantly reduced in vitamin A compared to placebo group during the follow-up period. In vitamin A group, incidence of diarrhoea and measles was significantly reduced but incidence of acute respiratory infections was not significantly different compared to control group. Risk of death was also significantly less in vitamin A group. Therefore, promotion of vitamin A rich diet or supplementation with synthetic vitamin A at 4-6 month interval should be a priority in populations where risk of vitamin A deficiency is high.
Sliding-mode guidance law based on adaptive observation techniques

Because some feedback quantities such as high-order line-of-sight rate derivatives are not directly measurable and some inner parameters exist uncertainties, sliding-mode guidance law considering the control loop dynamics goes against the practical application in general. Based on adaptive control and observation techniques, a novel observer-based adaptive sliding-mode guidance law is presented. The observer can realize the on-line estimate of the system states and uncertainties. The nonlinear system simulations show that compared with the traditional proportional navigation and sliding-mode guidance law, provided an enough maneuvering capability exists, this guidance law can not only realize the hit-to-kill of the target, but also has the advantages of maneuvering and homing performance.
Further experimental data on stress and thermal gradient compensated crystals

Recent interest in a quartz-crystal cut, which is compensated for stress effects and thermal gradient effects on its frequency characteristics, has required further experimental confirmation of its suitability for high-precision frequency standards. Presented in this note are experimental data on the performance of 51 units fabricated in the vicinity of (yxwl) 21.93°/33.93° along with mode spectra plots and temperature-performance data for a typical quartz resonator.
Baseline prognostic factors predict rapid visual field deterioration in glaucoma.

PURPOSE To investigate baseline prognostic factors predicting rapid deterioration of the visual field in primary open-angle glaucoma patients. METHODS Seven hundred sixty-seven eyes of 566 glaucoma patients from the Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study (AGIS) and the clinical database from Jules Stein Eye Institute's Glaucoma Division were included. The rates of decay at each visual field test location were calculated with pointwise exponential regression analysis (PER), and the rates were separated into faster and slower components for each series. Subjects with a faster component decay rate (≥ 36%/y) were defined as rapid progressors. Sex, race, age, visual acuity, intraocular pressure, mean deviation (MD), number of medications, use of diabetic or hypertension medications, and vertical cup-to-disc ratio at baseline were entered in a multivariable prognostic logistic regression model. RESULTS The average (± SD) MD was -8.02 (± 6.13), and the average age was 68.64 (± 11.71) years for the study group. Two hundred twenty-two eyes (28.9%) were identified as rapid progressors. The following baseline factors were predictors of faster deterioration: worse MD (P < 0.001, odds ratio [OR]: 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-1.15), larger vertical cup-to-disc ratio (P = 0.001, OR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.09-1.39), and older age (P = 0.02, OR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.04-1.48). After excluding the variables related to glaucoma severity at baseline (baseline MD and baseline vertical cup-to-disc ratio), the likelihood of being a rapid progressor was 54% greater in African Americans than in Caucasians (P = 0.03, OR: 1.55; 95% CI: 1.06-2.27). CONCLUSIONS Patients with more severe glaucomatous damage, as measured by both visual field or optic disc cupping and older age, are at highest risk for rapid worsening of the disease, as are African Americans compared to Caucasians. More aggressive treatment of such patients should be considered to prevent visual disability.
Constancy of interval between luteinizing hormone release and ovulation in the ewe.

To investigate the time relationships between the preovulatory LH peak and ovulation in the ewe, a plasma LH concentration was developed, This short assay permitted the determination of LH concentration within 6 h of sampling. The interval from LH peak to ovulation was then defined by a single laparotomy on each ewe, at a known interval after the start of the LH surge to determine for each interval the proportion of ewes which had ovulated. Using this method, the time between LH peak and ovulation was investigated in 47 ewes experiencing normal estrous cycles, in 11 young and 16 old ewes experiencing their second estrus after withdrawal of Cronolone-impregnated sponges, and in 19 ewes experiencing their fis(cid:1)t estrus after withdrawal of such sponges. The results
Indications for Renal Artery Surgery: A Review

The observation that experimentally-induced ischaemia of the kidney will result in high blood pressure has been known for 50 years (Goldblatt et al. 1934). Renovascular hypertension in man is potentially curable by surgical means and a large number of patients have undergone surgical treatment. However, the indications for surgical treatment and its long-term results remain a subject of controversy. The incidence is difficult to define, varying from 1% to 30% of hypertensive patients surveyed. These results probably reflect the bias and experience of the groups reporting the data (Smith 1956, Dustin & Page 1962). In our series the incidence of operable renal artery stenosis was 10.6% (Horvath et al. 1982). The true incidence in the hypertensive population is probably close to 1%. The results of a number of drug intervention trials have shown the benefit of lowering blood pressure (Australian Therapeutic Trial 1980, Hypertension Detection and Follow Up Programme 1979). No single regimen has appeared to be better than any other, and the essential criterion to achieve a good prognosis is normalization of blood pressure. Even if the lowest reported incidence of renal artery stenosis 1% is assumed, there are still a large number of patients with potentially surgically-curable hypertension, and it is thus appropriate to evaluate the long-term benefits of such surgery.
The rise in prevalence of contact allergy to methylisothiazolinone in the British Isles

Since 2005, in the EU, the use of methylisothiazolinone (MI) as a single-agent preservative has been permitted in both leave-on and rinse-off cosmetic products at concentrations of up to 100 ppm. Like others, we have observed a recent large increase in the number of patients with contact allergy to MI. Fourteen dermatology centres from across the British Isles (10 in England, one in Scotland, two in Wales, and one in Ireland) provided their patch test data on MI and methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI)/MI contact allergy. Nine centres contributed data on both MI and MCI/MI, two centres [number 4 (Cork) and number 14 (Canterbury)] contributed data on MCI/MI alone, and three centres [number 12 (St John’s, London), number 13 (St Mary’s, London), and number 8 (Manchester)] contributed data on MI alone. In 2010, five centres were testing with MI. This number increased over the study period to 12 centres. Analysis was performed on data from January 2010 to June 2013. In all centres, test agents were applied in Finn Chambers® according to International Contact Dermatitis Research Group guidelines. Readings were performed on D2 and D4. Of the 11 centres contributing data on MCI/MI, nine centres tested with MCI/MI 0.02% aq. (Chemotechnique
Frontotemporal dementia, Parkinsonism and lower motor neuron involvement in a patient with C9ORF72 expansion

It has been recently reported that a large proportion of patients with familial and sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and/or frontotemporal dementia (FTD) carries the hexanucleotide (GGGGCC) repeat expansion in the first intron of C9ORF72. We describe a patient with a complex phenotype characterized by behavioural variant of FTD, Parkinsonism and ALS with predominant lower motor neuron involvement in which the C9ORF72 expansion was detected.
Health care and social care costs of pneumonia in Denmark: a register-based study of all citizens and patients with COPD in three municipalities

Background Pneumonia is a frequent lung infection and a serious illness, which is often diagnosed among patients hospitalized with acute exacerbations of COPD. The aim of this study was to estimate the attributable costs due to pneumonia among patients hospitalized with pneumonia compared to a matched general population control group without pneumonia hospitalization. Methods This study includes citizens older than 18 years from three municipalities (n=142,344). Based on national registers and municipal data, the health and social care costs of pneumonia in the second half of 2013 are estimated and compared with propensity score-matched population controls. Results The average health care costs of 383 patients hospitalized with pneumonia in the second half of 2013 were US$34,561 per patient. Among pneumonia patients with COPD, the costs were US$35,022. The attributable costs of patients with pneumonia compared to the population control group for the 6-month period were US$24,155 per case. Overall, the attributable costs for the 383 pneumonia cases amounted to US$9.25 million. Subgroup analyses showed that costs increased with age. The attributable costs due to pneumonia were highest among the 18–59-year-old and the 70–79-year-old patients. This difference is likely to reflect an increased risk of mortality among the pneumonia patients. Men have higher costs than women in the pneumonia group. Conclusion The costs of pneumonia are considerable. In three Danish municipalities, the attributable costs due to pneumonia were US$24,155 per case or US$64,992 per 1,000 inhabitants in the second half of 2013. Similar high health care and social care costs were found for pneumonia patients with COPD – the largest group having pneumonia episodes. The municipalities are responsible for 49% of the costs, while a closer focus on the prevention of pneumonia may be advisable, eg, starting with citizens having COPD.
Renal effects of long-term treatment with 5-aminosalicylic acid.

BACKGROUND A number of case reports link the use of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) to interstitial nephritis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). OBJECTIVE To investigate whether the long-term use of 5-ASA has harmful effects on renal function in patients with IBD. METHODS A retrospective analysis of 171 consecutive outpatients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis was conducted. Serum creatinine levels and body weight were measured before and after treatment to calculate the creatinine clearance (CrCl) rate. RESULTS In 171 patients (93 women, 78 men), the mean (+/- SD) dose of 5-ASA was 3.65+/-0.85 g/day with a cumulative dose of 11+/-7.7 kg over an interval of 8.4+/-5.9 years. Serum creatinine concentrations increased from 76.8 micromol/L to 88.7 micromol/L (n=171; P<0.0001) and the CrCl rate fell significantly from 104.6 mL/min to 93.1 mL/min (n=81; P<0.0001). There was one case of interstitial nephritis reported. Treatment groups included mesalamine (74.3%), sulfasalazine (15.2%) and combination (sulfalsalazine/mesalamine [10.5%]) with treatment durations of 7.2+/-4.5, 12.3+/-8.7 and 11.2+/-6.7 years, respectively. The duration of treatment was the most important covariate for change in CrCl and when analyzed by treatment group, those treated with sulfasazine had a strong correlation (r=-0.54, P=0.0145), while nonsignificant in the mesalamine group (r=0.06, P=0.7017). The decline in CrCl was negatively correlated with the pretreatment CrCl rate (r=-0.34; P=0.0024) and positively correlated with the mean daily dose of 5-ASA (r=0.32; P=0.0034). CONCLUSION The present study is the first to demonstrate a significant dose- and treatment duration-dependant decline in CrCl. The risks need to be further evaluated because 5-ASA is widely used for long-term maintenance therapy in patients with IBD.
Investigating the Seeking Behavior for Religious Information in Social Media

Reading and learning about religious information is a habit that Saudis practice to increase their understanding of Islamic rules. It is common now for people to learn about religion from social media. Therefore, the study reports on a survey that was distributed to people in Saudi Arabia to investigate the use of social media technologies for religious information seeking. The objective is to determine if Saudis utilize social media to search for religious information and to understand their information-seeking behaviors when using such a resource. In addition, the study is an attempt to investigate how religious information on social media changes and influences people, and what obstacles and difficulties Saudis encounter when they use social media to obtain religious information.