Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Large-Scale Bird Sound Classification using Convolutional Neural Networks

Identifying bird species in audio recordings is a challenging field of research. In this paper, we summarize a method for large-scale bird sound classification in the context of the LifeCLEF 2017 bird identification task. We used a variety of convolutional neural networks to generate features extracted from visual representations of field recordings. The BirdCLEF 2017 training dataset consist of 36.496 audio recordings containing 1500 different bird species. Our approach achieved a mean average precision of 0,605 (official score) and 0,687 considering only foreground species.
Prevalence of Hand Disorders in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and its Correlation with Microvascular Complications

Background: Physicians have long recognized the association between diabetes mellitus and several pathologic conditions of the hand. The most commonly recognized maladies are limited joint mobility (LJM), Dupuytren's disease (DD), trigger finger (TF), and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Incidence of these hand disorders has increased in the setting of diabetes. Collectively, these are described as diabetic hand syndrome. Aim: The aims were to find out the prevalence of hand disorders in diabetic patients, and to study the relation of these hand disorders with microvascular complications. Subjects and Methods: This is an observational cross-sectional case-control study done over a period of 1 year Patients of type 2 DM, of age < 65 years, who visited Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Lucknow were enrolled and were described as cases. Age- and sex-matched nondiabetic individuals were taken in the control group. The data were analyzed using software SPSS. SPSS Inc. Released 2008. SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 17.0. Chicago: SPSS Inc. Means and standard deviations were computed; the Student t-test and Chi-square (χ2) test were used as appropriate. Results: A total of 400 subjects were studied, 200 each in the case and control groups. Of total 200 diabetic patients, 30% (60/200) patients had neuropathy, 37.5% (75/200) had nephropathy, and 44.5% (89/200) patients had retinopathy. In the study population, 67% patients were having one or more hand disorders, in which LJM was found in 40.5% (81/200) patients, DD was found in 19% (38/200) patients, TF in 16.5% (33/200), and CTS in 14% (28/200) patients. Conclusions: This study shows a high prevalence of hand disorders in diabetic patients and also correlates with the duration of type 2 DM, LJM being the most common hand disorder and more common in patients who have microvascular complications.
Public Disclosures and Information Asymmetry: A Theory of the Mosaic

We model an information mosaic in which multiple signals—one gathered by an informed trader and the other publicly disclosed by the manager of the firm—are combined to estimate firm value. Under testable conditions, voluntary disclosures lead to higher ex ante information asymmetry and expected profits for the informed trader by allowing him to refine his trading strategy and complete his information mosaic. The informed trader's ability to combine information and enhance his advantage is more prevalent when there is more uncertainty about whether the news is favorable or unfavorable, the manager is more likely to be informed, and the manager's information is precise (i.e., disclosure quality is high). JEL Classifications: G14; D82; M48.
Pronation Therapy Case Report: Nurse’s Perspective and Lessons Learned

This article describes a brief review of prone therapy and its efficacy and effect on mortality in the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Furthermore, the situational background and clinical events that transpired prior to, during, and after the institution of pronation therapy for Elkhart General Hospital’s Critical Care Center’s first pronation patient using the RotoProne Therapy System are described from the nurse’s perspective. The lessons learned from this first experience have led to the formation of several practice-based recommendations for future patient care.
Prevalence and Severity of Clinical Consequences of Untreated Dentine Carious Lesions in Children from a Deprived Area of Brazil

Disadvantaged children suffer because tooth cavities are not being treated and their clinical consequences not being surveyed. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence and severity of clinical consequences of untreated dentine carious lesions in schoolchildren from a deprived area of Brazil and to investigate the determinants of the pufa index. A sample of 835 children aged 6–7 years, from six public schools, was examined by 3 calibrated examiners. Clinical consequences of untreated dentine carious lesions in primary teeth were diagnosed using the four codes of the pufa index: ‘p’ (pulpal involvement), ‘u’ (ulceration), ‘f’ (fistulae), ‘a’ (abscess). Effects of gender, age, school, history of extraction, and toothache on the prevalence of pufa codes were tested. The prevalence of pufa codes was 23.7%. The mean pufa score was 0.4 ± 0.9. Code ‘p’ was the most prevalent (19.5%), whereas code ‘u’ was least prevalent (0.1%). Children with a history of extracted primary teeth due to caries had a 2.7 times higher chance to have a pufa code than children with no previous extraction. Children with toothache had a 5.6 times higher chance to have a pufa code than children without toothache. The prevalence of clinical consequences of untreated dentine carious lesions was moderate and the severity was low. The pufa index is an epidemiological tool complementary to existing caries indices aimed to assess dental caries. However, there appears to be no need to include code ‘u’ nor to score codes ‘f’ and ‘a’ separately.
Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 lesions can regress

Up to 30% of cervical intraepithelial grades 2–3 (CIN2–3) lesions regress, but some believe that “regression” is due to “curative” punch biopsies. If this is true, CIN2–3 in the resection margins of the biopsies would be associated with more frequent “persistent” CIN2–3. If, however, immunology‐related regression exists, regression would increase with increasing biopsy‐cone interval. In 61 punch biopsies diagnosed as CIN3 at careful review by two independent gynaecological pathologists, CIN3 in the resection margins and duration of the biopsy‐cone interval was evaluated in relation to CIN2–3‐or‐not in the cones (again after independent review by expert pathologists). 10 of 61 (16%) patients with CIN3 showed CIN1 or less in the follow‐up cones. CIN3‐or‐not in the resection margins, size of the lesion in the punch biopsy, and presence or absence of CIN2–3 in the cones were not correlated with regression‐or‐not. However, the number of cones without CIN2–3 increased with longer biopsy‐cone interval, 5% in patients with a punch‐cone biopsy interval under 9 weeks and 38%≥9 weeks (p<0.001). These results favour the hypothesis that CIN3 can regress, and do not support the “curative punch biopsy” theory.
The association of pattern of lifetime alcohol use and cause of death in the European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition (EPIC) study.

BACKGROUND There is limited evidence for an association between the pattern of lifetime alcohol use and cause-specific risk of death. METHODS Multivariable hazard ratios were estimated for different causes of death according to patterns of lifetime alcohol consumption using a competing risks approach: 111 953 men and 268 442 women from eight countries participating in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study were included. Self-reported alcohol consumption at ages 20, 30, 40 or 50 years and at enrollment were used for the analysis; 26 411 deaths were observed during an average of 12.6 years of follow-up. RESULTS The association between lifetime alcohol use and death from cardiovascular diseases was different from the association seen for alcohol-related cancers, digestive, respiratory, external and other causes. Heavy users (>5 drinks/day for men and >2.5 drinks/day for women), regardless of time of cessation, had a 2- to 5-times higher risk of dying due to alcohol-related cancers, compared with subjects with lifetime light use (≤1 and ≤0.5 drink/week for men and women, respectively). Compared with lifetime light users, men who used <5 drinks/day throughout their lifetime had a 24% lower cardiovascular disease mortality (95% confidence interval 2-41). The risk of death from coronary heart disease was also found to be 34-46% lower among women who were moderate to occasionally heavy alcohol users compared with light users. However, this relationship was only evident among men and women who had no chronic disease at enrollment. CONCLUSIONS Limiting alcohol use throughout life is associated with a lower risk of death, largely due to cardiovascular disease but also other causes. However, the potential health benefits of alcohol use are difficult to establish due to the possibility of selection bias and competing risks related to diseases occurring later in life.
Involvement of Neuroinflammation during Brain Development in Social Cognitive Deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Schizophrenia

Development of social cognition, a unique and high-order function, depends on brain maturation from childhood to adulthood in humans. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia have similar social cognitive deficits, although age of onset in each disorder is different. Pathogenesis of these disorders is complex and contains several features, including genetic risk factors, environmental risk factors, and sites of abnormalities in the brain. Although several hypotheses have been postulated, they seem to be insufficient to explain how brain alterations associated with symptoms in these disorders develop at distinct developmental stages. Development of ASD appears to be related to cerebellar dysfunction and subsequent thalamic hyperactivation in early childhood. By contrast, schizophrenia seems to be triggered by thalamic hyperactivation in late adolescence, whereas hippocampal aberration has been possibly initiated in childhood. One of the possible culprits is metal homeostasis disturbances that can induce dysfunction of blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier. Thalamic hyperactivation is thought to be induced by microglia-mediated neuroinflammation and abnormalities of intracerebral environment. Consequently, it is likely that the thalamic hyperactivation triggers dysregulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for lower brain regions related to social cognition. In this review, we summarize the brain aberration in ASD and schizophrenia and provide a possible mechanism underlying social cognitive deficits in these disorders based on their distinct ages of onset.
An empirical examination of the influencers of premature decline of African clusters: Evidence from textile clusters in Ghana

Background: Comparatively, industry clusters in Africa have retrogressed over the years while their counterparts in Asia, Europe and America serve as engines for innovation and economic development. The textile industry cluster in most African economies has been threatened and is negatively affecting productivity, employment and revenue generation. Their survival, growth and sustainability are critical because of the sector’s contribution to national development Objective: In this ariticle we investigate the role fators such as stakeholder relation among actors in the textile ecosystem, influence of supply chain networks, third-party pressures and technological changes affected the development of textile clusters in Ghana and how the country can rebuild the clusters. Method: Using partial least-square structural equation modelling techninque, we tested theoritical hypotheses using survey data from firms in the industrial enclave of Ghana. Result: The findings from the study acknowledges a sharp decline in the productivity and performance of firms in various industrial sectors especially the textile cluster. The influx of copycat products coupled with the firm’s inability to adapt to changing production technology have been a key influencer in the deteriorating state of the textile industries. Again, gaps in stakeholder interactions and underutilised supply chain networks create bottlenecks that hinder the competitiveness and performance of these enterprises. Conclusion: On the contrary, findings from our study suggest external pressure from donors, multinationals and political influencers do not affect the performance and competitiveness of the textile sector as suggested by previous studies. Resuscitating the industry sector requires deliberate effort to improve coordination, information and technology sharing between key actors.
Early Formation of GABAergic Synapses Governs the Development of Adult-Born Neurons in the Olfactory Bulb

In mammals, olfactory bulb granule cells (GCs) are generated throughout life in the subventricular zone. GABAergic inputs onto newborn neurons likely regulate their maturation, but the details of this process remain still elusive. Here, we investigated the differentiation, synaptic integration, and survival of adult-born GCs when their afferent GABAergic inputs are challenged by conditional gene targeting. Migrating GC precursors were targeted with Cre–eGFP-expressing lentiviral vectors in mice with a floxed gene encoding the GABAA receptor α2-subunit (i.e., Gabra2). Ablation of the α2-subunit did not affect GC survival but dramatically delayed their maturation. We found a reduction in postsynaptic α2-subunit and gephyrin clusters accompanied by a decrease in the frequency and amplitude of GABAergic postsynaptic currents beginning ∼14 d post-injection (dpi). In addition, mutant cells exhibited altered dendritic branching and spine density. Spine loss appeared with mislocation of glutamatergic synapses on dendritic shafts and a reduction of spontaneous glutamatergic postsynaptic currents, underscoring the relevance of afferent GABAergic transmission for a proper synaptic integration of newborn GCs. To test the role of GABAergic signaling during much early stages of GC maturation, we used a genetic strategy to selectively inactivate Gabra2 in precursor cells of the subventricular zone. In these mice, labeling of newborn GCs with eGFP lentiviruses revealed similar morphological alterations as seen on delayed Gabra2 inactivation in migrating neuroblasts, with reduced dendritic branching and spine density at 7 dpi. Collectively, these results emphasize the critical role of GABAergic synaptic signaling for structural maturation of adult-born GCs and formation of glutamatergic synapses.
Cardiorespiratory consequences to hobble restraint.

UNLABELLED Mechanical restraints in agitated, violent psychiatric patients are still sometimes in use in the initial phase of emergency treatment, especially when patients are taken to hospital by law enforcement. Sudden death has occurred in persons in hobble restraint. Cardiopulmonary response to prone or upright hobble restraint for three minutes was investigated in six male volunteers in randomised crossover trial. RESULTS No change was observed in the investigated cardiopulmonary parameters after hobble restraint in the upright position. After hobble restraint in the prone position, mean forced vital capacity decreased by 39.6%, mean forced exspiratory volume by 41%, mean end-tidal carbon dioxide increased by 14.7%, mean heart rate decreased by 21.3%, mean systolic blood pressure decreased by 32.3%, mean diastolic blood pressure decreased by 26.1% and mean cardiac output decreased by 37.4% (P for all reported changes < 0.01). CONCLUSION Hobble restraint in the prone position leads to a dramatic impairment of hemodynamics and respiration. Upright position and frequent control of vital parameters are necessary to prevent a possibly fatal outcome in persons in hobble restraint.
Spatial distribution of healthcare access and utilization: do they affect health outcomes in Turkey?

ABSTRACT This paper examines the link between healthcare access/utilization and health outcomes in Turkey within a spatial framework. Our initial set of findings highlight an overall duality in health indicators which is getting stronger once a spatial dimension is included. Specifically we find wider spatial dichotomy for health outcomes relative to access and utilization measures. Finally once we consider unobserved heterogeneity, spatial spillovers and spatial variability; our results pinpoint a non-robust link between healthcare access/utilization measures and health outcomes which works better among the already developed regions of Turkey. Overall, our combined results indicate an ongoing polarization of health-based human capital development which coincides with local variations of the relationship between healthcare access/utilization and outcomes in Turkey.
Air Pollution and Hospital Admissions for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in a Tropical City: Kaohsiung, Taiwan

This study was undertaken to determine whether there is an association between air pollutants levels and hospital admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Hospital admissions for COPD and ambient air pollution data for Kaohsiung were obtained for the period from 1996 to 2003. The odds ratio of hospital admission was estimated using a case-crossover approach, controlling for weather variables, day of the week, seasonality, and long-term time trends. In the single-pollutant models, on warm days (≥25°C) statistically significant positive associations were found in all pollutants except sulphur dioxide (SO2). On cool days (< 25°C), all pollutants were significantly associated with COPD admissions. For the two-pollutant models, CO and O3 were significant in combination with each of the other four pollutants on warm days. On cool days, NO2 remained statistically significant in all the two-pollutant models. This study provides evidence that higher levels of ambient pollutants increase the risk of hospital admissions for COPD.
Do gastric and oesophageal varices bleed at different portal pressures and is TIPS an effective treatment?

BACKGROUND It has been suggested that gastric varices bleed at lower portosystemic pressure gradients (PSPG) than oesophageal varices and that transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a particularly effective treatment in these patients. AIMS This study was undertaken to assess the difference in PSPG measured at the time of TIPS insertion between patients bleeding from gastric and those bleeding from oesophageal varices. Rebleeding and mortality rates between the two groups were also compared. PATIENTS AND METHODS In a five year period, 64 patients (36 males and 28 females) undergoing TIPS for acute variceal bleeding had PSPG measured at the time of TIPS insertion. 12 patients underwent TIPS for gastric variceal haemorrhage (GVH) and 52 for oesophageal variceal haemorrhage (OVH). The median age was 53 years and 40/64 patients (63%) had alcoholic liver disease. The median Child's Pugh score was 8 for GVH and 9 for OVH patients. Median follow up was 75 weeks. RESULTS There was no significant difference in median PSPG between patients with GVH, 21 mmHg (range 15-30 mmHg) and OVH, 22 mmHg (range 12-45 mmHg). Following TIPS, PSPG was 8.5 mmHg (range 3-11 mmHg) and 9 mmHg (range 4-20 mmHg) in GVH and OVH patients respectively. Rebleeding occurred in 2/12 (16%) GVH patients and 12/52 (23%) OVH patients (p= 1.0). Mortality during follow up was 25% (4/12) in the GVH and 25% (13/52) in the OVH patients. CONCLUSION In this study, there was no difference between the pressures at which gastric and oesophageal varices bled. Rebleeding and mortality rates were similar in the two groups. TIPS is equally effective in the treatment of both oesophageal and gastric variceal haemorrhage.
Corporate Social Performance and Idiosyncratic Risk: A Variance Decomposition Analysis

I investigate the relationship between corporate social responsibility and idiosyncratic risk using a 17 year panel of over 3,269 US listed companies. Following Vuolteenaho (2002), I use a three state vector autoregressive model of expected returns and decompose the residuals into earnings and discount rate shocks. Using optimally scaled principal components analysis to generate aggregate measures of CSR strengths and concerns, I find higher concerns are related to higher volatility of unexpected earnings and discount rates. Higher CSR strengths are associated with lower idiosyncratic variance. Partitioning the sample into positive and negative earnings shocks, I find that CSR strengths decrease the variance of negative returns, but increase the variance of positive returns, consistent with the notion that investments in social responsibility provide insurance against negative earnings shocks. My results are robust to the endogeneity of CSR and financial performance and also control for firm size and the presence of informed investors. My results show the influence of CSR on firm value through a relatively unexplored channel, and explain why the influence will be obscured when examining well-diversified portfolios. Finally, the evidence suggests that CSR concerns are more value relevant than CSR strengths.
Anticoagulation in patients with traumatic brain injury

Purpose of review A major challenge in the treatment of brain-injured patients is the decision on indication and timing of prophylactic anticoagulation. In addition, an increasing number of patients suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI) are on preinjury anticoagulation therapy. Despite clear evidence for an increased risk of venous thromboembolic events and pulmonary embolism in traumatized patients without prophylactic anticoagulation, there is a lack of distinct recommendations and standardized clinical practice guidelines. This review summarizes current research evidence regarding post-traumatic prophylactic anticoagulation and management of patients with prehospital use of anticoagulants. Recent findings In addition to nonpharmacological techniques like compression stockings, use of low-dose unfractionated heparin or low-molecular-weight heparin is effective in different studies in terms of thromboprophylaxis. If follow-up computed tomography scans and clinical neurological examinations do not show progression within 24 h after initial evaluation, prophylactic anticoagulation does not increase risk for hemorrhage progression and therefore seems to be safe after TBI. Summary Stratification scores for identification of TBI patients with low, moderate, or high risk for spontaneous cerebral bleeding may help to allow early thromboprophylaxis while maintaining a good risk–benefit ratio. So far, these scores require validation by prospective trials. Therefore, current evidence requires control computed tomography scans prior to early pharmacological thromboprophylaxis.