Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Some Effects of Speaking Rate on Phonetic Perception

Abstract This paper reviews a series of studies on the effects of variation in speaking rate on phonetic perception, in particular, on the identification of /b/ and /w/ in syllable-initial position. The major finding of these studies was that in a variety of tasks listeners adjusted for speaking rate when using the duration of the initial formant transitions to distinguish between /b/ and /w/: At slower rates of speech, a longer transition was needed to hear /w/ rather than /b/, and conversely at faster rates of speech. This effect occurred when rate was specified by the duration and acoustic-phonetic structure of the syllable containing the target consonant and, to a more limited extent, when it was specified by the duration of a subsequent syllable. Moreover, the influence of syllable duration on the processing of transition duration was also evident in young, prearticulate infants, suggesting that at least the rudiments of a system that provides perceptual constancy across rate is part of the linguistic endowment of the infant.
Internal Astigmatism in Myopes and Non-myopes: Compensation or Constant?

Purpose To examine internal astigmatism (IA) in myopes and non-myopes using a new method to assess compensation of corneal astigmatism (CA) by IA, to look for predictors of high IA in young adult myopes, and to determine if as CA changes IA changes to reduce refractive astigmatism (RA) in an active compensatory process in myopes. Methods Right eye keratometry and cycloplegic autorefraction were measured annually over 14 years in 367 myopes and once in 204 non-myopes age- (mean 21.91 ± 1.47 years), gender-, and ethnicity-matched to myopes at year 12. CA and RA at the corneal plane were expressed as J0, J45. IA = RA − CA. Inverse power transformation provided cylinder power and axis of IA for the compensation factor (IA/CA). Analyses included (1) paired and unpaired t-tests (refractive data), (2) chi-square tests (distributions of compensation factor), (3) logistic regression analysis (predictors of high IA), and (4) linear mixed models (time effect on RA, CA, and IA). Results The magnitude of IAJ0 varied by refractive error (myopes −0.25 ± 0.24 vs. non-myopes −0.32 ± 0.21, p < 0.001). Compensation of CA by IA was poorer in myopes than non-myopes (&khgr;2 p < 0.001). When matched by CA, compensation remained poorer in myopes than non-myopes (&khgr;2 all p ⩽ 0.04). Within each refractive group, compensation was better when CA was low than high (&khgr;2 p < 0.001). When CA was low in myopes, high IA (≥1.00D) was less likely (p = 0.01). Longitudinal follow-up of myopes found no evidence for an active compensatory role for IA as CA increased over time. There were differences in IAJ0 by ethnicity over time (p < 0.0001). Conclusions In myopic and non-myopic eyes with low amounts of CA, IA may reduce CA’s contribution to RA, but IA is not a constant. However, there is no evidence for an active compensatory role for IA reducing CA in myopes.
An assessment of financial catastrophe and impoverishment from out-of-pocket health care payments in Swaziland

ABSTRACT Background: As the drive towards universal coverage is gaining momentum globally, the need for assessing levels of financial health protection in countries, particularity the developing world, has increasingly become important. In Swaziland, the level of financial health protection is not clearly understood. Objective: To assess financial catastrophe and impoverishment from out-of-pocket payments for health services in Swaziland. Methods: The nationally representative Swaziland Household Income and Expenditure Survey (2009/2010) dataset is used for the analyses. Data are collected by the Central Statistics Office in Swaziland. The final dataset contains information on 3,167 households (i.e. about 14,145 individuals) out of the anticipated 3,750 households. Financial catastrophe is assessed using an initial threshold that is adjusted to increase with household income (i.e. rank-dependent). Payment for health services is considered catastrophic when they exceed the threshold. Impoverishment is assessed using a national poverty line and an international poverty line ($1.25/day). Results: Using an initial threshold of 10.0% of household expenditure, 9.7% of Swazi households experience financial catastrophe while the proportion is estimated at 2.7% using an initial threshold of 40.0% of non-food expenditure. Between 1.0% and 1.6% of the Swazi population, representing between 10,000 and 16,000 people are pushed below the poverty line because of out-of-pocket payments. These findings indicate that financial health protection is not adequate in Swaziland. Conclusion: If Swaziland is to move towards achieving universal health coverage, there is a need to address the burden created by direct out-of-pocket payments. Among other things, this means that the country needs to consider financing mechanisms that guarantee equitable access to needed quality health services, which do not place undue hardship on the poor and vulnerable.
Gait motion for naturally curving variously shaped corners

Abstract Modeling the curving motion of humans in actual environment is rarely done because of the complexity and variability of the turning motion. In this study, various gait motions, including straight, round corner, and circular walks, were recorded and analyzed using factor analysis. As a result, we successfully extracted several factors that represent turning motions, such as long stride motion, turning motion led by the inner leg, and turning motion led by the outer leg. In particular, we found that the natural curving motion, which is a motion that results when turning around a round corner, is widely and continuously distributed on the factor space. Although several typical stepping strategies were reported by related studies, we found that the stepping motion changes between straight and turning gaits in the factor space during natural curving motions. Thus, the classification of curving motion into several typical distinct stepping patterns is probably insufficient to understand the natural curving motion. Furthermore, natural curving motions that comprise circular curving motions that were believed to represent typical curving motions was not validated. On the other hand, this result also suggests the possibility of generating curving motions for a physical assistant robot by combining straight gait and circler curving motion. Graphical Abstract
Expression of p16 and Cyclin D1 in Bladder Cancer and Correlation in Cancer Progression

Introduction: Gene p16 encodes a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor which functions to regulate cyclin D1, cell cycle progression and malignancies. The relationship between p16 and cyclin D1 is thought to alter bladder cancer formation and tumor progression. We aimed to investigate the expression of p16 and cyclin D1 genes in order to evaluate their clinical significance in bladder cancer. Materials and Methods: Tissue samples from 67 patients with transitional cell carcinoma were examined with an immunohistochemical stain for the expression of p16 and cyclin D1 genes. The expression rate was compared to 12 normal urinary bladder mucosa samples obtained from transurethral surgery from noncancer patients. Results: The results revealed significant differences between normal bladder mucosa (100%) and cancer tissue (40.3%) for the positive staining of p16 protein (p < 0.001), while positive staining for the cyclin D1 protein in the patient group (67.2%) was significantly higher (p = 0.003) than that in the control group (16.7%). With the progression of tumor grade and clinical staging the positive rate of p16 gene expression increased, whereas, that of cyclin D1 decreased. Expression of the p16 gene in the non-invasive group was greater than that in the invasive group and a lower expression rate of the cyclin D1 gene in the non-invasive group compared to the invasive group. Conclusions: The results revealed that expression of the p16 gene is inversely proportional to the expression of the cyclin D1 gene. Therefore, abnormal expression of the p16 and cyclin D1 genes play important roles in tumorigenesis and tumor progression.
STABLE-SR (Electrophysiological Substrate Ablation in the Left Atrium During Sinus Rhythm) for the Treatment of Nonparoxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: A Prospective, Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Circumferential pulmonary vein isolation (CPVI) alone or combined with adjuvant substrate modifications is unsatisfactory for atrial fibrillation (AF) control in nonparoxysmal AF patients. Ablation targeting the fibrotic areas after CPVI (STABLE-SR [Electrophysiological Substrate Ablation in the Left Atrium During Sinus Rhythm]) is a newly evolved substrate modification strategy. Methods and Results: In this multicenter, randomized clinical trial, 229 symptomatic nonparoxysmal AF patients were 1:1 randomized to STABLE-SR group (n=114) or conventional STEPWISE group (n=115). In the STABLE-SR group, after CPVI, cavotricuspid isthmus ablation and cardioversion to sinus rhythm, left atrial high-density mapping was performed. Areas with low-voltage and complex electrogram were further homogenized and eliminated, respectively. Dechanneling would be done if necessary. In the STEPWISE group, additional linear lesions and defragmentation were performed.The primary end point was freedom from documented atrial tachyarrhythmias for ≥30 s after a single ablation procedure without antiarrhythmic medications at 18 months. At 18 months, 74.0% of the patients in the STABLE-SR group and 71.5% in the STEPWISE group (hazard ratio, 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.47–1.29; P=0.325) achieved success according to intention-to-treat analysis. However, less procedure time (186.8±52.7 versus 210.5±48.0 minutes, P<0.001), reduced post-CPVI fluoroscopic time (11.0±7.8 versus 13.7±8.9 minutes, P=0.006), and shorter energy delivery time (60.1±25.1 versus 75.0±24.3 minutes, P<0.001) were observed in the STABLE-SR group compared with the STEPWISE group. Conclusions: STABLE-SR is a simplified, personalized, and effective ablation strategy in nonparoxysmal AF patients. More importantly, over 50% nonparoxysmal AF patients do not need further ablation beyond CPVI and therefore can avoid excessive ablation. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials. gov. Unique identifier: NCT01761188.
Development of a Mouse Model of Metabolic Syndrome, Pulmonary Hypertension, and Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction

&NA; Pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (PH‐HFpEF; World Health Organization Group II) secondary to left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction is the most frequent cause of PH. It is an increasingly recognized clinical complication of the metabolic syndrome. To date, no effective treatment has been identified, and no genetically modifiable mouse model is available for advancing our understanding for PH‐HFpEF. To develop a mouse model of PH‐HFpEF, we exposed 36 mouse strains to 20 weeks of high‐fat diet (HFD), followed by systematic evaluation of right ventricular (RV) and LV pressure‐volume analysis. The HFD induces obesity, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, as well as PH, in susceptible strains. We observed that certain mouse strains, such as AKR/J, NON/shiLtJ, and WSB/EiJ, developed hemodynamic signs of PH‐HFpEF. Of the strains that develop PH‐HFpEF, we selected AKR/J for further model validation, as it is known to be prone to HFD‐induced metabolic syndrome and had low variability in hemodynamics. HFD‐treated AKR/J mice demonstrate reproducibly higher RV systolic pressure compared with mice fed with regular diet, along with increased LV end‐diastolic pressure, both RV and LV hypertrophy, glucose intolerance, and elevated HbA1c levels. Time course assessments showed that HFD significantly increased body weight, RV systolic pressure, LV end‐diastolic pressure, biventricular hypertrophy, and HbA1c throughout the treatment period. Moreover, we also identified and validated 129S1/SvlmJ as a resistant mouse strain to HFD‐induced PH‐HFpEF. These studies validate an HFD/AKR/J mouse model of PH‐HFpEF, which may offer a new avenue for testing potential mechanisms and treatments for this disease.
Prevalence of Menstrual Pain among Saudi Nursing Students and Its Effect on Sickness Absenteeism

Background: Primary menstrual pain is a well-known gynecological disorder among adult females including nursing undergraduate students. Nursing students tend not to seek medical treatment. As a result, this affects their quality of academic life and also absenteeism rate is increased. Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of menstrual pain and its effect on sickness absenteeism on nursing student. Methods: This is a descriptive survey research design study by means of using a validated and modified questionnaire. Questionnaire information regarding menstrual pain severity, history and absenteeism were included. The research took place in the collage of nursing at the largest University in the world, Princess Nourah Bint Abdelrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A total of 100 single, female, unmarried undergraduate nursing students (Year 1, 2, 3, 4) were recruited by personal invitation during lectures. Result: The prevalence of menstrual pain was 92%. Most of the nursing students 27% had menstrual pain of moderate grade 5 - 6 and 38% of nursing students did not take pain medication for it. Lecture and collage absenteeism due to menstrual pain was present in 9% and 30% respectively. Finally, there was no significant correlation between menstrual pain and age of menarche, age and height. Conclusion: Menstrual pain is widely common prevalent among nursing undergraduates. As a result, it affects the quality of students’ day-to-day life routine. The majority of nursing students’ rarely seeks medical treatment. Providing health and patient education to improve awareness on managing menstrual period might help in avoiding students’ absence from classes.
Hemodialysis Is as Effective as Hemoperfusion for Drug Removal in Carbamazepine Poisoning

Although most authors recommend charcoal hemoperfusion (CHP) for the removal of carbamazepine (CBZ) in acute CBZ poisoning, we present a case where we had the chance to compare CHP with hemodialysis (HD). A 50-year-old white man with normal renal function ingested an unkown quantity of CBZ with lithium. He was dialyzed for 3 h and his serum CBZ level was reduced by 27.7%. Four hours later he also had a 3-hour CHP which further reduced his CBZ level by 25.3%. Therefore we conclude that HD with high-flux dialyzers is at least as effective as CHP for the removal of CBZ from the blood after CBZ intoxication.
Oestrogen mediates the growth of human thyroid carcinoma cells via an oestrogen receptor – ERK pathway

Abstract. Objectives: Although thyroid cancer occurs much more frequently in females, the role of sex hormones in thyroid carcinogenesis is unknown. In this study, it has been investigated how 17β‐oestradiol (E2) influenced proliferation and growth of thyroid cancer cells. Materials and Methods: Cell proliferation and its related molecules were examined in thyroid papillary carcinoma cells (KAT5), follicular thyroid carcinoma cells (FRO) and anaplastic carcinoma cells (ARO). Levels of oestrogen receptor (ER) α and β were regulated by their agonists (PPT and DPN), antagonists and siRNA. Results: E2 promoted cell proliferation. Such an effect was positively related to ERα but negatively to ERβ; PPT enhanced cell proliferation while DPN inhibited it. PPT increased Bcl‐2 expression while DPN decreased it. DPN also elevated Bax expression. PPT elevated the level of phosphorylated extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2 (pERK1/2), suggesting a positive role of ERK1/2 in E2‐induced cell proliferation. Knockdown of ERα significantly attenuated E2‐mediated Bcl‐2 and pERK1/2 expression. In contrast, knockdown of ERβ markedly enhanced them. Conclusions: Oestrogen stimulates proliferation of thyroid cancer cells, associated with increase in Bcl‐2 and decrease in Bax levels in an ERK1/2‐related pathway. Imbalance between ERα and ERβ may contribute to thyroid carcinogenesis.
Comparative computed flow dynamic analysis of different optimization techniques in left main either provisional or culotte stenting

Abstract Background and Objectives Provisional and culotte are the most commonly used techniques in left main (LM) stenting. The impact of different post-dilation techniques on fluid dynamic of LM bifurcation has not been yet investigated. The aim of this study is to evaluate, by means of computational fluid dynamic analysis (CFD), the impact of different post-dilation techniques including proximal optimization technique (POT), kissing balloon (KB), POT-Side-POT and POT–KB-POT, 2-steps Kissing (2SK) and Snuggle Kissing balloon (SKB) on flow dynamic profile after LM provisional or culotte stenting. Methods We considered an LM-LCA-LCX bifurcation reconstructed after reviewing 100 consecutive patients (mean age 71.4 ± 9.3 years, 49 males) with LM distal disease. The diameters of LAD and LCX were modelled according to the Finnet’s law as following: LM 4.5 mm, LAD 3.5 mm, LCX 2.75 mm, with bifurcation angle set up at 55°. Xience third-generation stent (Abbot Inc., USA) was reconstructed and virtually implanted in provisional/cross-over and culotte fashion. POT, KB, POT-side-POT, POT-KB-POT, 2SK and SKB were virtually applied and analyzed in terms of the wall shear stress (WSS). Results Analyzing the provisional stenting, the 2SK and KB techniques had a statistically significant lower impact on the WSS at the carina, while POT seemed to obtain a neutral effect. In the wall opposite to the carina, the more physiological profile has been obtained by KB and POT with higher WSS value and smaller surface area of the lower WSS. In culotte stenting, at the carina, POT-KB-POT and 2SK had a very physiological profile; while at the wall opposite to the carina, 2SK and POT–KB-POT decreased significantly the surface area of the lower WSS compared to the other techniques. Conclusion From the fluid dynamic point of view in LM provisional stenting, POT, 2SK and KB showed a similar beneficial impact on the bifurcation rheology, while in LM culotte stenting, POT-KB-POT and 2SK performed slightly better than the other techniques, probably reflecting a better strut apposition.
Progress in Dietary Behavior Change

Nutrition has important influences on health and mortality. Public response to current dietary guidance is indicated by positive movement on some indicators, notably reductions in calories from fat and in blood cholesterol levels. Downstream case finding and intensive educational and behavioral interventions are often effective for high risk and motivated subjects and for persons with diet-related disease. Midstream environmental changes (e.g., in grocery stores, schools) proffer improved nutritional choices and supports. Individualized dietary counseling has yet to become the norm. Despite recent upstream success in developing broad dietary guidance and improving nutrition labeling policies, numerous avenues remain open for aggressive national policy developments. Emerging studies and continuing improvement in intervention methods, measurement, and research design will help realize the preventive effects of healthful diets.
Prehospital Blood Transfusion During Aeromedical Evacuation of Trauma Patients in Israel: The IDF CSAR Experience.

BACKGROUND Data regarding the effect of prehospital blood administration to trauma patients during short-to-moderate time evacuations is scarce. The Israel Air Force Airborne Combat Search and Rescue is the only organization that deals with aeromedical evacuation for both military and civilian casualties in Israel and the only one with the ability to give blood in the prehospital setting. METHODS Data on packed red blood cells (PRBCs) administration in the evacuation missions from January 2003 to June 2010 were analyzed and actual transfusion practice was compared to clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). RESULTS Over the studied 101 months, a total of 1,721 patients were evacuated by Combat Search and Rescue. Of these, 87 (5.1%) trauma patients were transfused with PRBC. Demographics included 83% male and 17% female with a median age of 23 years. Main mechanisms of injury included gunshot wounds (36%), motor vehicle accidents (28%), and blast injuries (24%) with an average of 2.6 injured regions per casualty. The most commonly injured body regions included lower extremities (52%), chest (45%), and abdomen (38%). Overall, 10 (11%) casualties died. Lifesaving intervention included tourniquets (27%), endotracheal intubation (24%), tube thoracostomy (24%), and needle thoracostomy (21%) times. For 98% of the patients, clinical judgment led to administration of red blood cells before indicated by the CPG. The heart rate tended to decrease during the evacuation, whereas there was no clear trend in systolic or diastolic blood pressure or shock index. CONCLUSIONS In our aeromedical experience, transfusion of PRBCs for trauma patients was safe, feasible, and most likely beneficial. PRBCs were administered according to the flight surgeons' clinical judgment and not in complete adherence to CPGs in most cases. Data collected from this and similar studies worldwide have led to change in CPGs with the shift from hypertensive resuscitation to hypotensive-hemostatic Remote Damage Control Resuscitation.
Growth hormone secretion is differently affected in genetically obese male and female rats.

Growth hormone (GH) secretion is markedly blunted in obesity. Reportedly, genetically obese Zucker rats show a reduced GH secretion due to an impaired function of hypothalamic neurons producing the GH-releasing hormone (GHRH). The aim of this work was: (1) to compare the in vitro GH responsiveness to GHRH in genetically obese female versus male Zucker rats and, (2) to evaluate the function of hypothalamic GHRH and somatostatin and of pituitary receptors for these neurohormones as assessed by the effectiveness of GHRH and somatostatin on adenylate cyclase (AC) activity. Baseline GH secretion of pituitaries obtained from male and female obese rats was not different and similar to that present in lean counterparts. Stimulation with 10(-7) M GHRH elicited a significantly lower GH secretion from the pituitaries of obese male rats but induced a similar GH secretion from the pituitaries of lean and obese female rats. In these pituitaries, GH concentration was similar in obese versus lean male and female rats [corrected]. A sex-related difference was also evidenced when plasma concentrations of somatomedin C (IGF-I) were evaluated. Obese male rats had lower IGF-I concentrations than lean counterparts, while this was not the case for obese versus lean female rats. Evaluation of AC activity following GHRH disclosed a lower activation in obese than in lean male rats, whereas in the females the enzyme activation was higher in obese than in lean animals. Conversely, the inhibitory effect of somatostatin on forskolin-stimulated AC was similar in pituitary membranes of obese and lean rats of both sexes. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)