Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Comparative Study of Acoustic and Linguistic Features Classification for Alzheimer's Disease Detection

With the global population ageing rapidly, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is particularly prominent in older adults, which has an insidious onset followed by gradual, irreversible deterioration in cognitive domains (memory, communication, etc). Thus the detection of Alzheimer's disease is crucial for timely intervention to slow down disease progression. This paper presents a comparative study of different acoustic and linguistic features for the AD detection using various classifiers. Experimental results on ADReSS dataset reflect that the proposed models using ComParE, X-vector, Linguistics, TFIDF and BERT features are able to detect AD with high accuracy and sensitivity, and are comparable with the state-of-the-art results reported. While most previous work used manual transcripts, our results also indicate that similar or even better performance could be obtained using automatically recognized transcripts over manually collected ones. This work achieves accuracy scores at 0.67 for acoustic features and 0.88 for linguistic features on either manual or ASR transcripts on the ADReSS Challenge1 test set.
The Formation of Ketones by a Reaction Equivalent to R-+R′COCH2+→R′COCH2R

A general method has been developed for the overall transformation of α- bromo ketones to α-alkyl or α-aryl ketones , with benzotriazole being used as a synthetic auxiliary. α- Benzotriazolyl ketones , when converted into their phenylhydrazones, reacted smoothly with alkyl and aryl Grignard reagents, which displaced benzotriazolate, to give the corresponding α-alkyl or α-aryl hydrazones. In some cases, these hydrolysed directly to the α-alkyl or α-aryl ketones. In each case, the product was treated with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine to isolate the target ketones as the corresponding 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones.
Impact of Chinese Power Coal Properties on Adiabatic Combustion Temperatures

The adiabatic combustion temperature of steaming coals, denoted as ta, is one of the most important parameters for thermal calculation of pulverized coal fired boilers. The difference of ta and the flue gas temperature at the exit of the furnace(ta t'f ') determines the heating power of furnace surfaces, such as water walls and platen superheaters. This paper calculates the adiabatic combustion temperatures of 158 kinds of Chinese steaming coals and discusses the impact of coal properties on ta. Calculation results revealed that with the increase of the low heating value(Qnet,ar 10.84~29.49 MJ/kg), the adiabatic combustion temperature of Chinese steaming coals(ta) rises from 1 458 ℃ to 1 959 ℃, and the theoretical adiabatic combustion temperature(ta 0) is about 254~352 ℃ higher than ta. The low heating value(Qnet,ar) has an approximately linear positive impact on ta. For Chinese steaming coals, w(Car) is the most important parameter positively affecting Qnet,ar, and w(Mar) is the most important parameter negatively affecting Qnet,ar. Besides, the excessive air coefficient, denoted as, which is determined by w(Vdaf) of coal, has a nonlinearly negative impact on ta.
Effects of pineapple pomace fibre on physicochemical properties of composite flour and dough, and consumer acceptance of fibre‐enriched wheat bread

Summary Pineapple pomace fibre (PF, containing 70.2% total dietary fibre) can be added to increase dietary fibre of wheat bread. This study was performed to evaluate effects of PF added at 0, 5 or 10% (wheat flour-basis) on physicochemical properties of the composite flour (wheat flour as the control, CPF-5 and CPF-10, respectively) and its dough, to evaluate consumer acceptance of CPF breads and to identify factors affecting willingness to purchase of CPF breads. Incorporating PF affected rheological and pasting properties of CPF. Water- and oil-holding capacity of CPF increased (P < 0.05) as PF levels increased. Bread made with CPF-5 was more acceptable than that with CPF-10; however, it was not significantly different from the control, having similar specific volume and texture, but having about three times higher total dietary fibre than the control (4.4% vs. 1.5%). Product label and health benefit information potentially affected consumers' willingness to purchase of fibre-enriched bread.
Comparing the Effect of General Anesthesia and Spinal Anesthesia on Postoperative Pain after Abdominal Hysterectomy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background and purpose: Postoperative pain is a common problem after hysterectomy. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of general anesthesia and spinal anesthesia on pain intensity and hemodynamic changes after abdominal hysterectomy. Materials and methods: This clinical trial was performed in 100 women, ASA class I and II, 35 to 70 years of age, and candidate for abdominal hysterectomy. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: spinal anesthesia with bupivacaine and general anesthesia with isoflurane. The pain was assessed based on the visual analogue scale (VAS) at rest, after coughing at the time of recovery admission, and at 6, 24 and 48 hours after surgery. Postoperative hemodynamic changes were assessed in recovery every 5 minutes for half an hour. Data analysis was done applying T-test, Mann-Whitney, and Chi-Square tests. P-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The mean scores for pain in rest and coughing at the time of recovery admission in the spinal anesthesia group were 0.10±0.46 and 0.40 ± 1.12, and in the general anesthesia group were 3.44±1.40 and 5.88±1.79, respectively (P<0.001). Changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the spinal anesthesia group were significantly lower than those in the general anesthesia group (P<0.001). Conclusion: Pain score in spinal anesthesia was lower than that in general anesthesia in patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy. Spinal anesthesia is believed to be better than general anesthesia for abdominal hysterectomy. (Clinical Trials Registry Number: IRCT201309306148N3)
Functional unfold principal component regression methodology for analysis of industrial batch process data

This work proposes a methodology utilizing functional unfold principal component regression (FUPCR), for application to industrial batch process data as a process modeling and optimization tool. The methodology is applied to an industrial fermentation dataset, containing 30 batches of a production process operating at Novozymes A/S. Following the FUPCR methodology, the final product concentration could be predicted with an average prediction error of 7.4%. Multiple iterations of preprocessing were applied by implementing the methodology to identify the best data handling methods for the model. It is shown that application of functional data analysis and the choice of variance scaling method have the greatest impact on the prediction accuracy. Considering the vast amount of batch process data continuously generated in industry, this methodology can potentially contribute as a tool to identify desirable process operating conditions from complex industrial datasets.
Boiling Visualization and Critical Heat Flux Phenomena In Narrow Rectangular Gap

An experimental study was performed to investifate the pool boling critical hear flux (CHF) on one-dimensional inclined rectangular channels with narrow gaps by changing the orientation of a copper test heater assembly. In a pool of saturated water at atmospheric pressure, the test parameters include the gap sizes of 1,2,5, and 10 mm, andthe surface orientation angles from the downward facing position (180 degrees) to the vertical position (90 degress) respectively.
Variability in the criteria for a difficult intubation alert in the age of videolaryngoscopy: a scenario-based, multidisciplinary, multi-institutional provider survey

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Introduction: Our goal was to characterize further variability in how providers both define a difficult intubation and apply a difficult tracheal intubation alert. Materiala and Methods: We developed a survey describing 26 different intubation scenarios encompassing a range of clinical complexity and equipment. Scenarios included multiple factors hypothesized to impact a provider’s definition of a difficult intubation and the threshold for a difficult intubation alert. Provider responses were then assessed for variability and agreement. The survey was distributed at 2 academic medical centers, 1 in Portland, ME (1 teaching hospital, 600 beds) and 1 in Philadelphia, PA (2 teaching hospitals, 1180 total beds). Electronic surveys were sent to anesthesia and emergency medicine providers (total N=617). Providers were asked to grade the difficulty of the scenario presented and whether they would activate the difficult intubation alert in the electronic health record. Responses were pooled and summarized as a frequency (%) and analyzed by provider type and institution. Results: Providers lacked agreement about scenarios that were very difficult or when an alert should be used. This variability was similar among provider types and institutions. Providers assessed scenarios as being more difficult and were more likely to apply an alert when videolaryngoscopy was not available. Conclusions: Substantial variability was demonstrated in providers’ definition of a difficult intubation and the threshold to activate a difficult intubation alert. This variability is consistent with related findings by other groups and represents a latent patient safety threat. The availability alone of videolaryngoscopy influences a provider’s definition of a difficult intubation, resulting in the grading of a scenario as less difficult. The associated risks may be mitigated by the delineation of specific criteria for difficult intubation designation and alert activation at the hospital or health system level.
Dietary net energy mainly affects growth performance and pork quality of finishing pigs

ABSTRACT The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of net energy levels in diets for barrows, from 70 to 100 kg, on performance, plasma parameters and carcass characteristics. Two experiments were carried out: in the first (Experiment I), a metabolism assay was carried out to estimate the net energy (NE) of experimental diets. Twelve crossbred barrows, averaging 85.74 ± 6.80 kg initial body weight, were distributed in a randomized block design with two metabolizable energy (ME) levels (3100 and 3500 kcal kg–1) with six replicates and one animal per experimental unit. In the second (Experiment II), 45 castrated male pigs were used, averaging 70.10 ± 1.26 kg of initial body weight distributed in a randomized block design, with five NE levels (2345, 2425, 2505, 2585, 2665 kcal kg–1), nine replicates and one animal per experimental unit. The increase in diet NE levels provided a linear reduction (p ≤ 0.00039) in average daily feed intake (ADFI). There was a quadratic effect on NE efficiency (p ≤ 0.0027), average daily gain (ADG), (p ≤ 0.0352) and the feed:gain ratio (F:G), (p ≤ 0.0024), the optimal levels being estimated at 2485, 2493 and 2533 kcal kg–1, respectively. Drip loss (DL) decreased (p ≤ 0.0001) as NE levels increased. There was also a linear decrease (p ≤ 0.0462) in the Minolta color parameter (+a*), due to the NE levels. Plasma parameters were not affected (p > 0.05) by NE levels. The dietary net energy levels affected the performance and meat quality of finishing pigs and the level of 2493 kcal kg–1 provided the best ADG.
Multiple multi-tier sustainable supply chain management: a social system theory perspective

A multi-tier supply chain is a complex system as it covers a focal company and multiple tiers of suppliers in a complex supply chain network. This study explores the complexity in multi-tier sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) through a social systems theory perspective. We carried out a case study on IKEA China’s sustainable cotton initiative and examined its five cotton-textile supply chains. The primary data were collected through 22 semi-structured interviews with managers of IKEA China and their multi-tier suppliers. The findings suggest that in order to cope with environmental complexity in implementing multi-tier sustainable initiatives, focal companies tend to create both internal complexity and collaborative complexity in a variety of governance mechanisms. In addition, environmental overlap and available collaborative complexity increase in this process and can feed back into systems to facilitate further creation of requisite variety. We contribute to the multi-tier SSCM literature through providing an in-depth understanding of nuanced mechanisms of managing different tiers of suppliers to cope with complexities by adopting a social systems theory perspective. We also contribute to multi-tier supply chain governance mechanisms from an evolution perspective.
Electrohydrodynamic Processing of PVP-Doped Kraft Lignin Micro- and Nano-Structures and Application of Electrospun Nanofiber Templates to Produce Oleogels

The present work focuses on the development of lignin micro- and nano-structures obtained by means of electrohydrodynamic techniques aimed to be potentially applicable as thickening or structuring agents in vegetable oils. The micro- and nano-structures used were mainly composed of eucalyptus kraft lignin (EKL), which were doped to some extent with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). EKL/PVP solutions were prepared at different concentrations (10–40 wt.%) and EKL:PVP ratios (95:5–100:0) in N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and further physico-chemically and rheologically characterized. Electrosprayed micro-sized particles were obtained from solutions with low EKL/PVP concentrations (10 and 20 wt.%) and/or high EKL:PVP ratios, whereas beaded nanofiber mats were produced by increasing the solution concentration and/or decreasing EKL:PVP ratio, as a consequence of improved extensional viscoelastic properties. EKL/PVP electrospun nanofibers were able to form oleogels by simply dispersing them into castor oil at nanofiber concentrations higher than 15 wt. %. The rheological properties of these oleogels were assessed by means of small-amplitude oscillatory shear (SAOS) and viscous flow tests. The values of SAOS functions and viscosity depended on both the nanofiber concentration and the morphology of nanofiber templates and resemble those exhibited by commercial lubricating greases made from traditional metallic soaps and mineral oils.
Chicken Authentication and Discrimination via Live Weight, Body Size, Carcass Traits, and Breast Muscle Fat Content Clustering as Affected by Breed and Sex Varieties in Malaysia

Nowadays, the high demand for village chickens in Malaysia leads to the fraudulent substitution of indigenous chickens with other cheaper counterparts. Discriminating different chicken breeds based on their phenotypic characteristics is one strategy to avoid chicken adulteration. The main objective of this study was to authenticate and group dominant chicken breeds in Malaysia, including commercial chickens (Cobb, Hubbard, DeKalb) and cross-bred village chickens (Ayam Kampung, Akar Putra). The further discrimination of village chickens from underaged colored broilers (UCBs) (Hubbard, Sasso) was performed based on phenotype traits. The results showed that the breed had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on phenotypic characteristics, while the sex effect was not significant for some characteristics. In the first phase, the most remarkable discriminating factors were abdominal fat weight, breast muscle weight, chest circumference, shank length, and wingspan. However, in the second phase, notable variations in phenotypic characteristics between village chickens and UCBs were not detected. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed the successful separation of village chickens from high-performance breeds (broiler and colored broiler). Nevertheless, there was overlap among observations for Sasso and village chickens, which approved the possible similarities in their phenotypic characteristics. This study showed clear breed clustering, which leads to the chicken authentication based on their phenotypic characteristics.
Micro- and Mycobiota Dysbiosis in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Development

Simple Summary Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is currently the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Still, screening diagnostic, carcinogenesis and therapeutic strategies are a matter of debate. Recent research on PDAC focused on the microbial community residing in the pancreas which is formed by bacteria (microbiota) and fungi (mycobiota). These microorganisms that are associated with different pancreatic pathologies reveal fascinating, new research frontiers. Specific microbial signatures may arise as novel screening tools for early diagnosis. Local or distant effects of microbes could reveal themselves as the missing link between immunological dysregulation and PDAC initiation and/or progression. Most importantly, micro- and mycobiota may represent a promising target for multimodal treatment concepts in a (neo)adjuvant or even in a tumor prevention setting. Herein we present a review of the current literature proposing a model of how the micro- and the mycobiome may be intertwined with PDAC occurrence. Abstract Background: Dysbiosis of the intestinal flora has emerged as an oncogenic contributor in different malignancies. Recent findings suggest a crucial tumor-promoting role of micro- and mycobiome alterations also in the development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Methods: To summarize the current knowledge about this topic, a systematic literature search of articles published until October 2020 was performed in MEDLINE (PubMed). Results: An increasing number of publications describe associations between bacterial and fungal species and PDAC development. Despite the high inter-individual variability of the commensal flora, some studies identify specific microbial signatures in PDAC patients, including oral commensals like Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum or Gram-negative bacteria like Proteobacteria. The role of Helicobacter spp. remains unclear. Recent isolation of Malassezia globosa from PDAC tissue suggest also the mycobiota as a crucial player of tumorigenesis. Based on described molecular mechanisms and interactions between the pancreatic tissue and the immune system this review proposes a model of how the micro- and the mycobial dysbiosis could contribute to tumorigenesis in PDAC. Conclusions: The presence of micro- and mycobial dysbiosis in pancreatic tumor tissue opens a fascinating perspective on PDAC oncogenesis. Further studies will pave the way for novel tumor markers and treatment strategies.
Gancaonin N from Glycyrrhiza uralensis Attenuates the Inflammatory Response by Downregulating the NF-κB/MAPK Pathway on an Acute Pneumonia In Vitro Model

Acute pneumonia is an inflammatory disease caused by several pathogens, with symptoms such as fever and chest pain, to which children are particularly vulnerable. Gancaonin N is a prenylated isoflavone of Glycyrrhiza uralensis that has been used in the treatment of various diseases in oriental medicine. There are little data on the anti-inflammatory efficacy of Gancaonin N, and its effects and mechanisms on acute pneumonia are unknown. Therefore, this study was conducted as a preliminary analysis of the anti-inflammatory effect of Gancaonin N in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells, and to identify its preventive effect on the lung inflammatory response and the molecular mechanisms underlying it. In this study, Gancaonin N inhibited the production of NO and PGE2 in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells and significantly reduced the expression of iNOS and COX-2 proteins at non-cytotoxic concentrations. In addition, in LPS-induced A549 cells, Gancaonin N significantly reduced the expression of COX-2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Moreover, Gancaonin N reduced MAPK signaling pathway phosphorylation and NF-κB nuclear translocation. Therefore, Gancaonin N relieved the inflammatory response by inactivating the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways; thus, it is a potential natural anti-inflammatory agent that can be used in the treatment of acute pneumonia.
Recall of Reverberant Speech in Quiet and Four-Talker Babble Noise

Using behavioral evaluation of free recall performance, we investigated whether reverberation and/or noise affected memory performance in normal-hearing adults. Thirty-four participants performed a free-recall task in which they were instructed to repeat the initial word after each sentence and to remember the target words after each list of seven sentences, in a 2 (reverberation) × 2 (noise) factorial design. Pupil dilation responses (baseline and peak pupil dilation) were also recorded sentence-by-sentence while the participants were trying to remember the target words. In noise, speech was presented at an easily audible level using an individualized signal-to-noise ratio (95% speech intelligibility). As expected, recall performance was significantly lower in the noisy environment than in the quiet condition. Regardless of noise interference or reverberation, sentence- baseline values gradually increased with an increase in the number of words to be remembered for a subsequent free-recall task. Long reverberation time had no significant effect on memory retrieval of verbal stimuli or pupillary responses during encoding.
Review: Feto-placental vascularization: A multifaceted approach

Doppler Ultrasound allows the in vivo study of feto-placental hemodynamics. Doppler flow velocity waveforms (FVW’s) obtained from the umbilical arteries reflect downstream blood flow impedance, thus giving indirect evidence of vascular villous tree characteristics. Pulsatility Index, which quantifies FVW’s, decreases throughout normal pregnancy, indicating decreasing impedance and is often higher in cases of fetal growth restriction (FGR). Different approaches (morphometrical, morphological, mathematical, immunohistochemical and molecular) have contributed to elucidation of which anomalies of the vascular villous tree underlie Doppler findings. 3D ultrasound may be useful in the study of feto-placental perfusion. However, the unsolved question is why developmental villous tree anomalies occur. Crucial to the success of future research is definition of the population studied based on the uniform and correct definition of FGR.