Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Voice Adaptation from Mean Dataset Voice Profile with Dynamic Power

This paper proposes a nonparallel voice adaptation, a form of speech processing, which utilizes a voice profile with a mean dataset, paired with auxiliary sets generated from a stylized quantization from a single recording where only the target voice subject is required to train beforehand aimed towards real-time applications. Conventional methods suffer from complexified training where two or more speakers must be trained in parallel, thus impractical for actual real-time uses. Our quantized data is used to produce sound-indexes, a signature for each sound-frame for comparing speakers. Prosody is sustained by translating the input's power in the current frame into the corresponding output frame real-time. The design was tested with an English voice profile and the rate of matching output and frames were measured to determine a factor of fragmentation, which is the degree of unsuccessful segments. Results showed diverse fragmentation, complementing the input length. Basic input ranged in the very good 5-6% fragmentation range, while convoluted input up to 26%. The average matching time was 176 milliseconds. Future work focuses on improving performance and decreasing fragmentation.
The effect of earplugs and eye mask on patients’ perceived sleep quality in intensive care unit

Background: Sleep is one of the basic human needs and sleep deprivation causes numerous undesirable effects on the human body and mind, especially in the intensive care unit (ICU) patients. It seems that noise and light are important environmental factors interrupting sleep in these patients. This study was carried out to determine the effect of earplugs and eye mask on Iranian patients’ sleep quality in ICU. Materials and Methods: In this cross-over clinical trial, 50 patients in the ICUs of Al-zahra Medical Center in Isfahan in 2012 were selected by convenient sampling method and randomly assigned to two groups. In group A, patients wore earplugs and eye mask in the first night during their sleep and slept without earplugs and eye mask in the second night, and the intervention was conversely conducted in group B. Verran and Snyder-Halpern Sleep Scales were used to measure the patients’ sleep quality. The data were analyzed by paired t-test, independent t-test, one-sample t-test, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) through SPSS version 18. Results: Effect of the intervention on sleep effectiveness was positive, and there were significant differences (P < 0.001) between treatment night and control night, and also within each group (P < 0.001). Effect of the interventions on sleep disturbance was positive, and there was a significant difference at treatment night compared to the control night between groups and within each group (P < 0.001). Also, the mean scores for sleep supplementation were measured after the second night, and the results showed the scores significantly increased in the intervention group compared to the control group (P < 0.001, ER = 47, F = 22.1). In addition, carryover effects for sleep efficiency and sleep disturbance were positive, but periodic effects for sleep efficiency and sleep disturbance were negative and positive, respectively. Conclusions : Although wearing earplugs and eye mask is a cost-effective and safe method and can improve perceived sleep quality in ICU patients, further research is needed to demonstrate the effect of this method.
A high-reliable magnetic design method for three-phase coupled inductor used in interleaved multi-phase boost converters

This paper proposes a high-reliable magnetic design method considering DC-biased magnetization for a Loosely Coupled Inductor (LCI) used in interleaved three-phase boost converters. The interleaved multi-phase boost converters with an LCI are well-known as one of the attractive circuit topologies that can achieve high-power-density of the converters. However, when designing and implementing an LCI in the interleaved converter, DC-biased magnetization in the transformer part of LCI must be taken into account because magnetic saturation of the core may easily occur. This phenomenon is caused by unbalanced inductor average currents in each phase. Inserting air-gaps into magnetic paths of the transformer part of a LCI is considered as one of the solutions to prevent the magnetic saturation. Nonetheless, in this case, the volume and weight of LCI increase, and they become a matter of concern because the characteristics of an LCI goes closer to the characteristics of the independent inductors. Therefore, there is a trade-off between handling the DC-biased magnetization and downsizing the magnetic core. To optimize this trade-off, a novel magnetic design method for LCI is proposed by considering the maximum permissible percentage of unbalanced inductor average currents. This paper focuses on the three-phase coupled inductors used in three-phase interleaved boost converters. The accuracy and the effectiveness of the proposed magnetic design method are discussed from both theoretical and experimental points of view.
The peritubular myofibroblasts in the testes from normal men and men with Klinefelter's syndrome. A quantitative, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical study

The ultrastructure and immunostaining with antibodies against actin, desmin, and vimentin were studied in the peritubular myofibroblasts of testes from normal men and men with Klinefelter' syndrome (KS). The seminiferous tubules were classified into five types (a–e), related to the progressive degree of sclerosis measured as thickening of the lamina propria. In control testes, only types a and b tubules were present, whereas the testes from men with KS showed types b, c, d, and e tubules. The ultrastructural study revealed abundant microfilament bundles with electron‐dense bodies in the cell periphery of the myofibroblasts in a and b tubules. In c tubules, the microfilament bundles of the myofibroblasts were lacking in electron‐dense bodies. Myofibroblasts in tubules d and e showed scanty microfilament bundles. Immunostaining of peritubular myofibroblasts with anti‐actin antibodies was intense in tubule types a–c and scanty in types d and e. Immunostaining of myofibroblasts with anti‐desmin antibodies was intense in tubule types a and b, and negative in types c–e. Immunostaining with anti‐vimentin antibodies was weak in tubule types a–c and intense in types d and e. Quantitative study revealed that with the progression of sclerosis, the number and volume per cross‐sectioned tubule of actin‐containing cells and, mainly, desmin‐containing cells decrease while the number and volume of vimentin‐containing cells increase.
The treatment of the monotheistic religions in World History high school textbooks: A comparison of sample editions 2001--2007

The Treatment of the Monotheistic Religions in World History High School Textbooks: A Comparison of Sample Editions 2001-2007 by Jason Eugene Allen This study examines the treatment of the three most practiced monotheistic religions, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, within the pages of High School World History Textbooks. The results find that within World History textbooks Christianity and Islam receive more coverage than Judaism in narrative content, word usage, illustrations, and questions presented. Christianity receives the greatest amount of narrative content in all textbooks studied whereas Islam has portrayals that highlight the spiritual aspects of the religion to a greater extent than do Christianity and Judaism. Judaism received the least amount of coverage of the three religions. Very little is presented concerning the accomplishments and overall history of Judaism unless it has a connection to Christianity or Islam. Prentice Hall has little change in monotheistic content between the selected editions. The McDougal Littell text did make changes in its presentation of each of the monotheistic religions. The study analyzed two of the most commonly adapted textbook titles in The United States: Prentice Hall’s World History: Connections to Today and McDougal Littell’s Patterns of Interactions. The most recent edition of each title was analyzed and then compared to the 2001 edition of the same title. As the analysis was completed, a journal was maintained to record findings which were then placed within a data collection chart created for this research. Quantitative findings were reported in absolute numbers and percentages when appropriate with a narrative conclusion providing the study’s overall findings.
Novel processing scheme for embedding and interconnection of ultra-thin IC devices in flexible chip foil packages and recurrent bending reliability analysis

We present technological results on the embedding of ultra-thin microcontroller ICs in flexible film substrates. The novel concept is based on the following technologies: face-up chip mounting in cavities on film laminates, photo-lithographic patterning of vias and interconnects embedding in polymer layer and compatibility with both sheet and roll-to-roll processing. The paper briefly reviews the benefit of embedding for ultra-thin dies in terms of mechanical robustness. For the technological demonstration, we used 25μm thin microcontroller IC and 50μm polyimide film substrates. Electrical interconnections were realized by sputtering of metal layers. Photolithography was performed on “wafer level” using aligner photomasks and a photo-sensitive polymer of 10μm thickness for embedding. The embedding process resulted in a mechanically flexible fan-out chip package of a thickness below 100μm. Perspectives and technological requirements for roll-to-roll manufacture as well as cost estimation for this kind of Thin Chip Foil Package are explained and discussed. Furthermore, we report our recent work on the development of an in-situ bending and electrical test equipment for flexible film modules. The new set-up was evaluated using ultra-thin test chips with daisy chain patterns that were ACA flip-chip bonded onto Polyimide films. It was found that reducing the chip thickness from 28μm to 12μm lead to a strong increase in mechanical strength of the chip-on-film (COF) assemblies tested under recurrent bending.
Prevalence of dyslipidemia in the elderly in rural areas of Thailand.

Dyslipidemia is highly prevalent in the urban areas of Thailand but information in the rural area, particularly in the elderly, is limited. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of dyslipidemia in the elderly who live in the rural areas of Thailand. Random sampling of the volunteers aged > or = 60 years in 3 districts of Samut Songkhram and Ratchaburi provinces was done. After 12-hour fast, the blood sampling was drawn for the analysis of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Eighty men and 123 women, aged 60-87 years old, were included in the study. Mean serum lipid levels of cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides were 261.74+/-47.58, 180.35+/-45.06, 43.72+/-12.06, and 188.38+/-103.84 mg/dl respectively. Women had significantly higher body mass index, cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels than men. Seventy percent of them had cholesterol > or = 240 mg/dl and LDL cholesterol > or = 160 mg/dl. Twenty-five percent had HDL cholesterol < or = 35 mg/dl. However, LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio > 5 which indicated high risk for coronary heart disease were found in only 34%. In conclusion, prevalence of dyslipidemia was very high in Thai rural elderly. Further surveillance in this population is essential in verifying the impact of dyslipidemia as a risk of cardiovascular disease in Thai elderly people.
Antipsychotic-Induced Extrapyramidal Side Effects in Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review

Objectives: Newer atypical antipsychotics have been reported to cause a lower incidence of extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) than conventional agents. This review is to compare antipsychotic-induced EPS relative to placebo in bipolar disorder (BPD) and schizophrenia. Methods: English-language literature cited in Medline was searched with terms antipsychotics, placebo-controlled trial, and bipolar disorder or schizophrenia and then with antipsychotic (generic/brand name), safety, akathisia, EPS, or anticholinergic use, bipolar mania/depression, BPD, or schizophrenia, and randomized clinical trial. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, monotherapy studies with comparable doses in both BPD and schizophrenia were included. Absolute risk increase and number needed to treat to harm (NNTH) for akathisia, overall EPS, and anticholinergic use relative to placebo were estimated. Results: Eleven trials in mania, 4 in bipolar depression, and 8 in schizophrenia were included. Haloperidol significantly increased the risk for akathisia, overall EPS, and anticholinergic use in both mania and schizophrenia, with a larger magnitude in mania, an NNTH for akathisia of 4 versus 7, EPS of 3 versus 5, and anticholinergic use of 2 versus 4, respectively Among atypical antipsychotics, only ziprasidone significantly increased the risk for overall EPS and anticholinergic use in both mania and schizophrenia, again with larger differences in mania, an NNTH for overall EPS of 11 versus 19, and anticholinergic use of 5 versus 9. In addition, risks were significantly increased for overall EPS (NNTH = 5) and anticholinergic use (NNTH = 5) in risperidone-treated mania, akathisia in aripiprazole-treated mania (NNTH = 9) and bipolar depression (NNTH = 5), and overall EPS (NNTH = 19) in quetiapine-treated bipolar depression. Conclusions: Bipolar patients, especially in depression, were more vulnerable to having acute antipsychotic-induced movement disorders than those with schizophrenia.
Use of Donor Human Milk and Maternal Breastfeeding Rates

The number of human milk banks is growing worldwide. The introduction of donor human milk (DHM) to neonatal units has been advocated as a strategy to promote maternal breastfeeding. However, concern has been raised that the introduction of DHM may actually lead to a decrease in maternal breastfeeding. To address this question, we conducted a systematic literature review of studies that assessed maternal breastfeeding rates before and after the introduction of DHM. We searched 7 electronic databases, carried out citation tracking, and contacted experts in the field. Where data for breastfeeding rates before and after the introduction of DHM were directly comparable, a relative risk was calculated. Our search identified 286 studies, of which 10 met the inclusion criteria. Definitions of patient populations and study outcomes varied, limiting meaningful comparison. Where possible, relative risks (RR) were calculated on aggregated data. The introduction of DHM had a significant positive impact on any breastfeeding on discharge (RR, 1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-1.35; P = .005) but none on exclusive maternal breastfeeding on discharge (RR, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.91-1.40; P = .27) or on exclusive administration of own mother’s milk (OMM) days 1 to 28 of life (RR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.78-1.49; P = .65). A single-center study demonstrated a significant decrease in the percentage of feeds that were OMM after the introduction of DHM. In conclusion, the available data demonstrate some evidence of positive and negative effects on measures of maternal breastfeeding when DHM is introduced to a neonatal unit.
How to Beat Science and Influence People: Policymakers and Propaganda in Epistemic Networks

In their recent book, Oreskes and Conway ([2010]) describe the ‘tobacco strategy’, which was used by the tobacco industry to influence policymakers regarding the health risks of tobacco products. The strategy involved two parts, consisting of (i) promoting and sharing independent research supporting the industry’s preferred position and (ii) funding additional research, but selectively publishing the results. We introduce a model of the tobacco strategy, and use it to argue that both prongs of the strategy can be extremely effective—even when policymakers rationally update on all evidence available to them. As we elaborate, this model helps illustrate the conditions under which the tobacco strategy is particularly successful. In addition, we show how journalists engaged in ‘fair’ reporting can inadvertently mimic the effects of industry on public belief. 1. Introduction2. Epistemic Network Models3. Selective Sharing4. Biased Production5. Journalists as Unwitting Propagandists6. Conclusion Appendix Introduction Epistemic Network Models Selective Sharing Biased Production Journalists as Unwitting Propagandists Conclusion Appendix
A randomized controlled trial exploring the effect of music on agitated behaviours and anxiety in older people with dementia

Objectives: This study, as part of a larger programme of research, sought to investigate the effect that participation in a 40-min live group music programme, involving facilitated engagement with song-singing and listening, three times a week for eight weeks, had on agitation and anxiety in older people with dementia. Methods: A randomized cross-over design, with music and reading control groups, was employed. Forty-seven participants with mild – moderate dementia, from two aged care facilities in Queensland, Australia, were recruited. Participants were assessed three times on the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory – Short Form (CMAI-SF) and the Rating Anxiety in Dementia Scale (RAID). Results: A sub-analysis of 24 participants attending ≥50% of music sessions found a significant increase in the frequency of verbal aggression over time, regardless of group (F(2,46) = 3.534, p < 0.05). A series of multiple regressions found cognitive impairment, length of time living in the facility and gender to be predictors of agitation overall and by subtype. Conclusion: Participation in the music programme did not significantly affect agitation and anxiety in older people with dementia. Both the music and reading group activities, however, gave some participants a ‘voice’ and increased their verbalization behaviour. Agitation was found to be predicted by a number of background factors (namely level of cognitive impairment, length of time in the facility and gender). Future studies would benefit more from in-depth participant assessment prior to study commencement, helping to moderate the influence of low scores, and by undertaking interventions at times when assessed symptoms are most prevalent.
Granulocyte Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor A New Putative Therapeutic Target in Multiple Sclerosis

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model for multiple sclerosis, can be induced by immunization with a number of myelin antigens. In particular, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, a central nervous system (CNS)-specific antigen expressed on the myelin surface, is able to induce a paralytic MS-like disease with extensive CNS inflammation and demyelination in several strains of animals. Although not well understood, the egress of immune cells into the CNS in EAE is governed by a complex interplay between pro and antiinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. The hematopoietic growth factor, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), is considered to play a central role in maintaining chronic inflammation. The present study was designed to investigate the previously unexplored role of GM-CSF in autoimmune-mediated demyelination. GM-CSF−/− mice are resistant to EAE, display decreased antigen-specific proliferation of splenocytes, and fail to sustain immune cell infiltrates in the CNS, thus revealing key activities for GM-CSF in the development of inflammatory demyelinating lesions and control of migration and/or proliferation of leukocytes within the CNS. These results hold implications for the pathogenesis of inflammatory and demyelinating diseases and may provide the basis for more effective therapies for inflammatory diseases, and more specifically for multiple sclerosis.
The Importance and Application of Explanatory Style, Emotional Control, and Goal Setting for Athletes: A Psychological Skills Program

It has been determined that one’s performance as an athlete is determined by both mental and physical skills, both learned and innate. Many psychological skills under the heading of Positive Psychology are of great importance to athletes if they wish to maximize performance and well-being in a sport. This paper illustrates how explanatory style, emotional control, and goal-setting contribute to the well-being, self efficacy, and improved performance of an athlete, and offers several exercises to help athletes put these mental skills to use in their chosen sport.
Seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2--United States, 1999-2010.

BACKGROUND Herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) are common infections with serious sequelae. HSV-1 is an increasingly important cause of genital herpes in industrialized countries. METHODS Using nationally representative data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), we examined HSV-1 and HSV-2 seroprevalence among 14- to 49-year-olds in the United States. We estimated seroprevalence in 1999-2004 and 2005-2010, stratified by sociodemographic characteristics and sexual behaviors. We also reviewed HSV-1 and HSV-2 seroprevalence from 1976-1980 to 2005-2010. RESULTS In 2005-2010, the seroprevalence of HSV-1 was 53.9%, and the seroprevalence of HSV-2 was 15.7%. From 1999-2004 to 2005-2010, HSV-1 seroprevalence declined by nearly 7% (P < .01), but HSV-2 seroprevalence did not change significantly. The largest decline in HSV-1 seroprevalence from 1999-2004 to 2005-2010 was observed among adolescents aged 14-19 years, among whom seroprevalence declined by nearly 23%, from 39.0% to 30.1% (P < .01). In this age group, HSV-1 seroprevalence declined >29% from 1976-1980 to 2005-2010 (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS An increasing number of adolescents lack HSV-1 antibodies at sexual debut. In the absence of declines in HSV-2 infections, the prevalence of genital herpes may increase.
Stroke and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality associated with rosiglitazone use in elderly diabetic patients

The objective was to evaluate the cardiovascular risks associated with rosiglitazone in diabetic patients. We conducted matched nested case—control studies in a retrospective population-based cohort of all elderly diabetic patients living in Quebec throughout 2001 and 2002. Study end-points were: all-cause and cardiovascular death, hospital admission for AMI, CHF and stroke.Twenty controls per case, matched for age, gender and date of cohort entry, were randomly drawn from each case's risk set. Conditional logistic regressions were adjusted for co-morbidities and other drug exposures. The risk of hospital admission for AMI (HR 1.41, 95% CI 1.21—1.65) and CHF (HR 1.94, 95% CI 1.71—2.19) was increased by the use of rosiglitazone. However, exposure to rosiglitazone was not associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality (HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.69—1.12) and all-causes mortality (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.76—0.99). The risk of hospital admission for stroke was not significantly affected by rosiglitazone use. Further studies are needed to better understand the mechanisms explaining these associations.