Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Listening Effort Is Not the Same as Speech Intelligibility Score

Listening effort is a valuable and important notion to measure because it is among the primary complaints of people with hearing loss. It is tempting and intuitive to accept speech intelligibility scores as a proxy for listening effort, but this link is likely oversimplified and lacks actionable explanatory power. This study was conducted to explain the mechanisms of listening effort that are not captured by intelligibility scores, using sentence-repetition tasks where specific kinds of mistakes were prospectively planned or analyzed retrospectively. Effort measured as changes in pupil size among 20 listeners with normal hearing and 19 listeners with cochlear implants. Experiment 1 demonstrates that mental correction of misperceived words increases effort even when responses are correct. Experiment 2 shows that for incorrect responses, listening effort is not a function of the proportion of words correct but is rather driven by the types of errors, position of errors within a sentence, and the need to resolve ambiguity, reflecting how easily the listener can make sense of a perception. A simple taxonomy of error types is provided that is both intuitive and consistent with data from these two experiments. The diversity of errors in these experiments implies that speech perception tasks can be designed prospectively to elicit the mistakes that are more closely linked with effort. Although mental corrective action and number of mistakes can scale together in many experiments, it is possible to dissociate them to advance toward a more explanatory (rather than correlational) account of listening effort.
Know thyself: Development and validation of self-awareness of teaching skills (SATS) measuring instrument for medical teachers

Abstract Background Self-awareness is measured previously in the higher education however not specifically in relation to ‘effectiveness of teaching’ thus leaving a gap in the literature. Aim To develop and validate an instrument for medical teachers to measure the self-awareness of their teaching. Methods This was an instrument development multiphase mixed-method study design, based on Brookfield’s four lenses theory. The instrument was validated after administering content validity, cognitive pretesting, confirmatory factor analysis and reliability analysis. Contrasting groups’ method of standard setting was used to determine the cut-off scores for the levels of self-awareness of medical teachers. Results A 26-item preliminary draft instrument was reduced to a 19-item final instrument having four themes, that is; self-reflection, communication with students, student feedback, and peer review. Content Validity Scale was 0.92. Confirmatory factor analysis yielded a model with a good-to-excellent fit and an internal consistency of 0.85. The cut-off values were calculated to be 79%, 70%, 59%, and 53% for excellent, good, average and poor self-awareness of teaching skills respectively. Conclusion The Self-awareness of the teaching skills instrument has excellent validity and good reliability in measuring the self-awareness of teaching skills of medical teachers.
The Clinical Characteristics, Severity, and Seasonality of RSV Subtypes Among Hospitalized Children in Jordan

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute respiratory infection (ARI) in young children worldwide. Multiple factors affect RSV disease severity, and data regarding differences between RSV subtypes severity are controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics, seasonality and severity of RSV subtypes in children. Methods: As part of a prospective ARI surveillance study conducted from March 2010 to March 2013 in Amman, Jordan, children less than 2 years with fever and/or respiratory symptoms were enrolled. Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected through parental interviews and medical chart review. The treating physician collected severity score data at admission. Nasal and throat swabs were collected and tested. Multivariable regression models were used to compare the odds of increased disease severity across a priori selected predictors of interest. Results: Overall, 1397/3168 (44%) children were RSV positive, with a mean age of 5.3 months (±4.8 SD), 59.7% were male, 6.4% had an underlying medical condition (UMC), 63.6% were RSV-A positive, 25.2% were RSV-B positive, 0.6% were positive for both, and 10.6% could not be typed. Both RSV subtypes peaked in January–March of each year. RSV A-positive children were more likely to present with decreased appetite but less likely to have viral co-detection than RSV B-positive children. Independent factors associated with RSV disease severity included cycle threshold value, vitamin D level, age, UMC, prematurity and severity score, but not RSV subtypes. Conclusion: RSV subtypes co-circulated and had similar severity profiles; future preventive and treatment measures should target both subtypes.
An Independent Evolutionary Origin for Insect Deterrent Cucurbitacins in Iberis amara

Abstract Pieris rapae and Phyllotreta nemorum are Brassicaceae specialists, but do not feed on Iberis amara spp. that contain cucurbitacins. The cucurbitacins are highly oxygenated triterpenoid, occurring widespread in cucurbitaceous species and in a few other plant families. Using de novo assembled transcriptomics from I. amara, gene co-expression analysis and comparative genomics, we unraveled the evolutionary origin of the insect deterrent cucurbitacins in I. amara. Phylogenetic analysis of five oxidosqualene cyclases and heterologous expression allowed us to identify the first committed enzyme in cucurbitacin biosynthesis in I. amara, cucurbitadienol synthase (IaCPQ). In addition, two species-specific cytochrome P450s (CYP708A16 and CYP708A15) were identified that catalyze the unique C16 and C22 hydroxylation of the cucurbitadienol backbone, enzymatic steps that have not been reported before. Furthermore, the draft genome assembly of I. amara showed that the IaCPQ was localized to the same scaffold together with CYP708A15 but spanning over 100 kb, this contrasts with the highly organized cucurbitacin gene cluster in the cucurbits. These results reveal that cucurbitacin biosynthesis has evolved convergently via different biosynthetic routes in different families rather than through divergence from an ancestral pathway. This study thus provides new insight into the mechanism of recurrent evolution and diversification of a plant defensive chemical.
Human muscle activity and lower limb biomechanics of overground walking at varying levels of simulated reduced gravity and gait speeds

Reducing the mechanical load on the human body through simulated reduced gravity can reveal important insight into locomotion biomechanics. The purpose of this study was to quantify the effects of simulated reduced gravity on muscle activation levels and lower limb biomechanics across a range of overground walking speeds. Our overall hypothesis was that muscle activation amplitudes would not decrease proportionally to gravity level. We recruited 12 participants (6 female, 6 male) to walk overground at 1.0, 0.76, 0.55, and 0.31 G for four speeds: 0.4, 0.8, 1.2, and 1.6 ms-1. We found that peak ground reaction forces, peak knee extension moment in early stance, peak hip flexion moment, and peak ankle extension moment all decreased substantially with reduced gravity. The peak knee extension moment at late stance/early swing did not change with gravity. The effect of gravity on muscle activity amplitude varied considerably with muscle and speed, often varying nonlinearly with gravity level. Quadriceps (rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, & vastus medialis) and medial gastrocnemius activity decreased in stance phase with reduced gravity. Soleus and lateral gastrocnemius activity had no statistical differences with gravity level. Tibialis anterior and biceps femoris increased with simulated reduced gravity in swing and stance phase, respectively. The uncoupled relationship between simulated gravity level and muscle activity have important implications for understanding biomechanical muscle functions during human walking and for the use of bodyweight support for gait rehabilitation after injury.
Comparison Between Celiac Patients and Healthy Control Group Regarding Vitamin-Mineral Levels and Complete Blood Count Parameters

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to compare the mean platelet volume (MPV) and plateletcrit (PCT) and vitamin-mineral levels in pediatric celiac disease patients with the healthy control group and to compare the results with the literature. METHODS: In this study, clinical and laboratory data of 80 pediatric patients diagnosed with celiac disease (CD) between July 2017 and December 2018 and 42 healthy children in the same age group were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of age and gender (p=0.383, and p=0.462, respectively). The frequency of anemia, folate, iron and vitamin D deficiencies was higher in celiac patients compared to the control group (p=0.001, p=0.027, p<0.001, and p<0.001, respectively). When the patients were evaluated according to their complete blood count and vitamin-mineral levels; hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), ferritin and vitamin D levels were found to be significantly lower in the CD group compared to the control group (p<0.001, p=0.026, p<0.00, and p=0.001, respectively). Platelet (PLT), PCT, MPV levels were found to be significantly higher in the CD group compared to the control group (p=0.010, p<0.001, and p<0.001, respectively). We found a weakly negative correlation between the vitamin D levels and the degree of the Marsh classification (r: -0.273, and p=0.023). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Our study have shown that MPV, PCT values are higher and Hb, folate, iron and vitamin D levels are lower in patients with CD compared to healthy controls. We recommend investigating other nutrient deficiencies besides iron deficiency, especially in treatment-resistant anemias. We think that the correlation between vitamin D levels and the degree of histological damage should be elucidated with larger-scale and more comprehensive studies.
Effects of dietary selenium source and level on selenium contents in blood, colostrum and milk and metabolic profile in dairy cows

The aim of the study was to compare the effects of two levels of selenium yeast (SY) and sodium selenite (SS) supplementation on blood, colostrum and milk Se levels, blood chemistry parameters in dairy cows under field conditions. The study included 35 Holstein cows from 5 weeks prepartum to 12 weeks postpartum. The cows were divided into 4 treatments (n=9): 1. Negative Control (NC) – no Se supplement, 2. Positive Control (PC) 0.3 ppm Se (from sodium selenite), S1 – 0.3 ppm Se (from selenium yeast SELSAF ® , Lesaffre Feed Additives, France), 4. S2 5 ppm Se (SELSAF ® , Lesaffre Feed Additives, France). At 5 and 1 weeks prepartum, on the calving day, and 4, 8, 12 weeks postpartum, blood samples were taken and analysed for Se, GSH-Px, TP, billirubin, AST, GMT, CK. Colostrum and milk were collected on the calving day and 4, 8 and 12 weeks postpartum and analysed for Se content. Initial Se status in all the cows was marginal. NC cows showed suboptimal blood Se levels for the whole period under study. S1 and S2 showed significantly (P < 0.01) higher values than NC and PC cows. Colostrum Se levels were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in S1 (128.17 ug/l) and S2 (155.58 ug/l) than in NC (94.68 ug/l) and PC (99.3 ug/l) cows. Overall mean milk Se levels in S1 (20.4 ug/l) and S2 (50.0 ug/l) were higher (P < 0.01) than in NC (10.9 ug/l) and PC (16.6 ug/l). GSH-Px activity in whole blood in S1 and S2 was higher than in NC and PC (P < 0.01). TP, billirubin, AST and GMT did not significantly differ between the treatments and were within the physiological ranges. Se levels in whole blood, colostrum and milk, and GSH-Px activity were significantly increased by selenium yeast supplementation. The response was dose dependent and consistent. Selenium from organic source was more bioavailable than selenium from sodium selenite. Dietary organic Se at a tolerance dose (5 ppm) had no detrimental effect on the blood chemistry parameters analysed.
School Well-Being With Student Learning Motivation in Active Students in Extracurricular Activities at X Senior High Schools in North Jakarta Region

School well-being is a model based on well-being developed by Allardt (Konu & Rimpelä, 2002). Learning motivation prioritizes cognitive responses, where students tend to achieve meaningful and beneficial academic activities and try to benefit from these activities (Brophy, 2010). Learning motivation can be formed due to various factors, one of which is the classroom environment and the teacher who can develop student motivation, involvement and activeness. In addition to influencing student motivation, good relationships between students and teachers and their peers also play an important role in school well-being. This study aims to see whether there is a relationship between school well-being and learning motivation in active students in extracurricular activities at X Senior High Schools in North Jakarta Region. This research is conducted in class X, XI, and XII high school students who participate in extracurricular activities. A total of 148 students are sampled in this study. This study is done through questionnaire to measure school well-being and learning motivation. The results of the analysis of school well-being variables and learning motivation have r = . 291 and p = <0.01. These results indicate that school well-being has a significant positive relationship between school well-being and learning motivation.
A spatial assessment of stream-flow characteristics and hydrologic alterations, post dam construction in the Manyame catchment, Zimbabwe

The global hydrologic regime has been intensively altered through activities such as dam construction, water abstraction, and inter-basin transfers. This paper uses the Range of Variability Approach (RVA) and daily stream flow records from nine gauging stations to characterize stream-flow post dam construction in the Manyame catchment, Zimbabwe. We identify which variables continue to be altered, upstream and at different distances downstream, to distinguish sections with the highest potential for ecological disruption and to understand how hydrological alterations dissipate downstream of dams. Our results indicate that different sections of the same river have different stream-flow characteristics post dam construction. The most adverse effects of dams were on downstream stretches of the river which were characterized by low flows, extreme low flows and an increased number of zero-flow days. These differences reflect the operation rules of the Manyame catchment dams. While the change in stream-flow characteristics is apparent in the 0-10 km range, it is slightly felt in the 11-20 km range and totally disappears at distances >20 km downstream of dams. These changes in stream characteristics, and that damming is only restricted to the upper third of the catchment, make the hydrologic fragmentations in the catchment minor. However, the continued hydrologic alterations post dam construction raise important concerns about the interactions of hydrology with other factors like sediment deposition upstream of dams and climate change. We recommend that catchment managers target enhancing the natural flow variability of the river instead of meeting target flows.
Assessing the agroecological status of a farm:a principle-based assessment tool for farmers

Although there are many methodologies available to assess agroecosystem performance (sustainability, resilience, soil quality and plant health, biodiversity levels, etc.), there is still a need to develop a methodology to be used at the field level by researchers and farmers to assess if surveyed farming systems are or not based on agroecological principles. Developing such practical tool is key to determine if farmers in transition are on the right agroecological path. To fulfill this need for a farm-level assessment, a methodological tool was developed and tested with the participation of nine Japanese farmers in three prefectures (Kyoto, Hiroshima and Hyogo). The methodology consists of two parts. The first is a simple and rapid assessment survey based on the grading of eight indicators that match practices used by farmers with agroecological principles. The second part uses the same indicators to define a “threshold level”, below which it is estimated that a farm system is not yet “agroecologically based. ” This process enables farmers to reflect and use the tool as a guide to adopt or adjust their practices based on agroecology principles, by changing farm design and management, in order to further optimize the performance of their agroecosystems. optimizar la función del agroecosistema. : Agroecologia,
KINETICS AND MECHANISM OF CO SUBSTITUTION OF M2(CO)10 (M = MN, RE) WITH AN ENTERING LIGAND (PPH3 OR PY) IN THE PRESENCE OF AN O-ATOM TRANSFER REAGENT (ME3NO OR (CH3OC6H4)2TEO)

Detailed kinetic data are reported for the CO substitution of M2(CO)10 (M-Mn, Re) with PPh3 or Py in the presence of Me3NO or (CH3OC6H4) TeO as an O atom transfer reagent in CHCl3 solvent. The rate of reactions are first order in concentrations of M (CO)10 and of oxides but zero order in entering ligand concentrations. The reactions of M2(CO)10 with N-oxide are faster than for the corresponding reactions with Te oxide. Although the compound Mn2(CO)10 reacts at about the same rate as does Re2(CO)10 in the presence of N-oxide, the manganese compound reacts 28 times faster than does the rhenium compound in the presence of Te-oxide. The results obtained are discussed in terms of the presumed mechanism of reaction.
Characterisation of delayed release granules for diphacinone: formulation for the control of brushtail possum in New Zealand

ii | P a g e ABSTRACT Background and Aim: The common brushtail possum (Trichosurus velpecula) causes more damage to the environment than any other vertebrate species in New Zealand. The use of poison remains the main method for possum population control. Diphacinone is an anticoagulant that produces toxic effects by inhibiting the production of vitamin K–dependent coagulation factors which lead to profuse haemorrhage and eventually, death. The objective of this thesis was to investigate the potential of diphacinone as a toxin for the control of possum population in New Zealand. Methods: The preformulation of diphacinone included the development and validation of an analytical method, spectral identification, investigation of melting behaviour, solubility, and the determination of ionisation constant. The permeability of diphacinone across the ileal tissue of possum was assessed using a modified Ussing chamber model. Diphacinone granules were developed to prolong drug release and retention by in vitro dissolution and tensile testing. A factorial study was employed to optimise the granulation process by identifying significant process variables that influenced the yield percentage, size distribution and water uptake of granules.
Monetary Policy Transmission Mechanisms in the Central and Eastern European Countries

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine monetary policy transmission mechanisms in four Central and Eastern European countries (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Romania), in the presence of fiscal and exchange rate effects. Research Design & Methods: We implement a structural vector autoregression (SVAR) approach for modelling the interdependencies between monetary and fiscal policies, output gap and consumer price inflation (CPI). In our six-variable model, which includes the budget balance, the output gap, CPI, the central bank reference rate, the lending rate and the real exchange rate (RER), short-run restrictions on the contemporaneous structural parameters imply that the budget balance responds to changes in the output gap and lending rate, while the central bank reference rate is a function of output and inflationary shocks. Findings: The results of our research show that the effects of an increase in the central bank’s short-run interest rate on inflation, output gap and the RER are quite heterogeneous across the CEE countries. As the monetary policy response to inflation seems to be significant and rather uniform across countries, though with a different time pattern, there is no evidence of its reaction to the output gap (except for Romania in the long run). Among other results, budget surplus has a strong anti-inflationary impact in all countries but at the expense of a short-lived output slowdown (except for Hungary). The RER undervaluation is likely to stimulate output (Romania) or depress it (Poland), with a neutral stance in the two other countries. As expected, an increase in the lending rate is followed by a fall in output on impact, while there is no significant effect on inflation. Implications/Recommendations: Our study argues in favour of a much stronger response of the central bank reference rate to the output gap in the CEE countries. As suggested by the experience of Poland, an immediate response of the central bank to inflation could explain the lack of the price puzzle when an increase in the reference rate is associated with a sustained increase in consumer prices. An anti-inflationary monetary policy stance should be strengthened by fiscal tightening, while in a recession a higher budget deficit is likely to boost output and prevent a deflationary spiral. Contribution: The article presents the application of the extended IS-MP-IA model to the modelling of monetary policies by the central banks of the CEE countries that practice a floating exchange rate regime.
ESSENTIAL TRACE ELEMENTS IN EDIBLE MUSHROOMS BY NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS

Mushrooms are excellent nutritional sources since they provide proteins, fibers and mineral, such as K, P, Fe. They have also been the focus of medical research. In Brazil mushrooms are not consumed in large quantities by the general population since people know little about the nutritional and medicinal benefits that mushrooms offer. Hence, this study intends to contribute to a better understanding of the essential element content in edible mushrooms, which are currently commercialized in Sao Paulo state. Br Fe, K, Na and Zn concentrations were determined by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis in the following mushroom species: Shitake ( Lentinus edodes ), Shimeji ( Pleurotus ssp ), Paris Champignon ( Agaricus bisporus ), Hiratake ( Pleurotus ssp ) and Eringue (Pleurotus Eryngu ). The mushroom samples were acquired from commercial establishments in the city of Sao Paulo and directly from the producers. Essential element contents in mushrooms varied between Br 0.03 to 4.1 mg/kg; Fe 20 to 267 mg/kg; K 1.2 to 5.3 g/kg, Na 10 to 582 mg/kg and Zn 60 to 120 mg/kg. The results confirm that mushrooms can be considered a good source of K, Fe and Zn. The low Na level is a good nutritional benefit for the consumer.