Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Validation of Male Talker Recordings of the Spanish Pediatric Speech Recognition Threshold Test and the Spanish Pediatric Picture Identification Test.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to validate recordings of the Spanish Pediatric Speech Recognition Threshold (SPSRT) test and Spanish Pediatric Picture Identification Test (SPPIT) for Spanish-speaking children using a native, bilingual Spanish-English male talker of Castilian peninsular dialect from Spain. METHOD Seventy native Spanish-speaking children from a variety of countries participated. Fifty-eight participants had normal hearing, and the remaining 12 had mild hearing loss in at least one ear. Male talker recordings of the SPSRT and SPPIT were administered to obtain baseline validation data. Participants listened to the stimuli and pointed to the appropriate item on the picture boards that represented the word they heard. RESULTS Mean SRTs were within 5 dB of mean pure-tone averages resulting in a positive correlation. Performance-intensity functions for the SPPIT showed minimal significant differences across the three test lists, and performance increased as the sensation level increased. CONCLUSIONS The male talker recordings of the SPSRT and SPPIT are valid speech perception picture-pointing assessments that can be used with Spanish-speaking children. The recordings present the Spanish target word while simultaneously presenting the English interpretation for ease of scoring.
Early Tensile Loading in Nonsurgically Treated Achilles Tendon Ruptures Leads to a Larger Tendon Callus and a Lower Elastic Modulus: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Early tensile loading improves material properties of healing Achilles tendon ruptures in animal models and in surgically treated human ruptures. However, the effect of such rehabilitation in patients who are nonsurgically treated remains unknown. Hypothesis: In nonsurgically treated Achilles tendon ruptures, early tensile loading would lead to higher elastic modulus 19 weeks after the injury compared with controls. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Between October 2015 and November 2018, a total of 40 nonsurgically treated patients with acute Achilles tendon rupture were randomized to an early tensile loading (loaded group) or control group. Tantalum bead markers were inserted percutaneously into the tendon stumps 2 weeks after the injury to allow high-precision measurements of callus deformation under mechanical testing. The loaded group used a training pedal twice daily to produce a gradual increase in tensile load during the following 5 weeks. Both groups were allowed full weightbearing in an ankle orthosis and unloaded range of motion exercises. Patients were followed clinically and via roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis and computed tomography at 7, 19, and 52 weeks after the injury. Results: The mean ± standard deviation elastic modulus at 19 weeks was 95.6 ± 38.2 MPa in the loaded group and 108 ± 45.2 MPa in controls (P = .37). The elastic modulus increased in both groups, although it was lower in the loaded group at all time points. Tendon cross-sectional area increased from 7 weeks to 19 weeks, from 231 ± 99.5 to 388 ± 142 mm2 in the loaded group and from 188 ± 65.4 to 335 ± 87.2 mm2 in controls (P < .001 for the effect of time). Cross-sectional area for the loaded group versus controls at 52 weeks was 302 ± 62.4 mm2 versus 252 ± 49.2 mm2, respectively (P = .03). Gap elongation was 7.35 ± 13.9 mm in the loaded group versus 2.86 ± 5.52 mm in controls (P = .27). Conclusion: Early tensile loading in nonsurgically treated Achilles tendon ruptures did not lead to higher elastic modulus in the healing tendon but altered the structural properties of the tendon via an increased tendon thickness. Registration: NCT0280575 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).
A common mechanism drives the alignment between the micro‐ and macroevolution of primate molars

A central challenge for biology is to reveal how different levels of biological variation interact and shape diversity. However, recent experimental studies have indicated that prevailing models of evolution cannot readily explain the link between micro‐ and macroevolution at deep timescales. Here, we suggest that this paradox could be the result of a common mechanism driving a correlated pattern of evolution. We examine the proportionality between genetic variance and patterns of trait evolution in a system whose developmental processes are well understood to gain insight into how such alignment between morphological divergence and genetic variation might be maintained over macroevolutionary time. Primate molars present a model system by which to link developmental processes to evolutionary dynamics because of the biased pattern of variation that results from the developmental architecture regulating their formation. We consider how this biased variation is expressed at the population level, and how it manifests through evolution across primates. There is a strong correspondence between the macroevolutionary rates of primate molar divergence and their genetic variation. This suggests a model of evolution in which selection is closely aligned with the direction of genetic variance, phenotypic variance, and the underlying developmental architecture of anatomical traits.
Exploring Artificial Neural Networks in Cryptography – A Deep Insight

In today’s digital world, cryptography became indispensable in almost all trending technologies. For ensuring a completely secure system with limited computational complexity involved in the generation of randomness, secret key and other aspects, researchers employed various techniques to the cryptosystems. Despite the considerable number of strategies, applications of Artificial neural networks (ANN) for cryptographic problems appeared to be more remarkable. Owing to this fact, this work has been devoted to reveal the applications of different kinds of artificial neural networks for different categories in cryptosystems. Artificial Neural Networks are stepping stones in search of artificial intelligence. ANNs are chosen because they are good at generalization, adaptive decision making and unknown pattern recognition. This plethora of information regarding how each neural network was used in different types of cryptosystems is mainly contributed to future researchers to aid their novel works in this discipline. Also, application of Neural networks for cryptography related problems yielded positive results in almost all the applied fields. Therefore, this work is done with the intention of highlighting the novel combination of neural networks and cryptography.
Cutoff for non-backtracking random walks on sparse random graphs

A finite ergodic Markov chain is said to exhibit cutoff if its distance to stationarity remains close to 1 over a certain number of iterations and then abruptly drops to near 0 on a much shorter time scale. Discovered in the context of card shuffling (Aldous-Diaconis, 1986), this phenomenon is now believed to be rather typical among fast mixing Markov chains. Yet, establishing it rigorously often requires a challengingly detailed understanding of the underlying chain. Here we consider non-backtracking random walks on random graphs with a given degree sequence. Under a general sparsity condition, we establish the cutoff phenomenon, determine its precise window, and prove that the (suitably rescaled) cutoff profile approaches a remarkably simple, universal shape.
EFFECT OF SOME PACKAGING TREATMENTS ON BALADY LIME FRUITS UNDER COLD STORAGE CONDITIONS

In 2010 and 2011 seasons, Balady lime fruits received some post-harvest packaging treatments (i.e., 1- packaging in plastic nets as control, 2- packaging in 0.08% perforated polyethylene bags, 3-packaging in 0.008% perforated polyethylene bags, 4- packaging in sealed foam plate by polyethylene stretch and 5- packaging in sealed carton boxes by polyethylene bags at rate of 190 ± 10 g fruits/ liter). The fruits of all treatments were stored at 12±1°C and 90 – 95% RH for four cold storage periods (30, 60, 90 and 105 days) followed by 5 days at 20°C and 60-70 % RH (similar to supermarket conditions). The progressive advanced cold storage period caused significant increases in chilling injury index (CII), fruit decay (FD%), fresh weight loss (FWL %), peel color index (PCI), Juice %, juice TSS %, technological index (TI) and TSS / acidity ratio. While, juice Vit. C and Juice acidity % were depressed with increasing cold storage either during cold storage or shelf life periods. All tested packaging treatments decreased CII, FD%, FWL %, pulp firmness (PF), juice TSS % and Juice acidity %. On the contrary, packaging treatments increased PCI of fruits during either cold storage or shelf life periods. Moreover, packaging treatments caused significant decreases in TI as compared with control during cold storage. In addition, packaging treatments did not significantly affect on Vit. C as will as TSS / acidity ratio during cold storage or shelf life period. Balady lime fruits in 0.08 % or 0.008 % perforated polyethylene bags then storage under cold conditions of 12±1°C and 90 – 95% RH for 90 days period. These combined treatments reduced exhibiting chilling injury and decay on fruits during cold storage and during the subsequent shelf period.
(Pro)renin receptor is required for prorenin-dependent and -independent regulation of vacuolar H (cid:1) -ATPase activity in MDCK.C11 collecting duct cells

renin receptor is required for prorenin-dependent and -independent regulation of vacuolar H (cid:1) -ATPase activity in MDCK.C11 collecting duct cells. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 305: F417–F425, 2013. 2013; binding to the prorenin receptor [(P)RR] results in nonproteolytic activation of prorenin but also directly (i.e., independent of angiotensin generation) activates signal transduction cascades that can lead to the upregulation of proﬁbrotic factors. The (P)RR is an accessory protein of vacuolar-type H (cid:1) -ATPase (V-ATPase) and is required for V-ATPase integrity. In addition, in collecting duct cells, prorenin-induced activation of Erk on V-ATPase activity. However, whether prorenin binding to the (P)RR directly regulates V-ATPase activity we the effect of prorenin on plasma membrane V-AT-Pase activity in Madin-Darby canine kidney clone 11 (MDCK.C11) cells, which resemble intercalated cells of the collecting duct. Prorenin increased V-ATPase activity at low nanomolar concentrations, and the V-ATPase inhibitor baﬁlomycin but not the angiotensin II type 1 and 2 receptor blockers irbesartan and PD-123319, prevented this. Increased, but not basal, V-ATPase activity was abolished by small interfering RNA depletion of the (P)RR. Unexpectedly, the putative peptidic (P)RR blocker handle region peptide also in-creasedV-ATPase activity in a (P)RR-dependent manner. Finally, [Arg 8 ]-vasopressin-stimulated V-ATPase activity and cAMP production were also abolished by (P)RR depletion. Our results show that in MDCK.C11 cells, the (P)RR is required for prorenin-dependent and -independent regulation of V-ATPase activity. V-ATPases in collecting duct cells by showing that the (P)RR and V-ATPase activity are required for prorenin-induced activation of Erk1/2 in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Whether V-ATPase activity itself is regulated by prorenin-(P)RR interactions, however, is un-known. In the present study, we demonstrated that prorenin stimulates V-ATPase activity via the (P)RR in MDCK clone 11 (MDCK.C11) cells, which speciﬁcally resemble ICs of the collecting duct (19). In addition, our data revealed an unexpected agonist function of the putative (P)RR blocker handle region peptide in stimulating V-ATPase activity. Finally, we showed that the (P)RR is also required for vasopressin-induced V-ATPase activity and cAMP accumulation, independent of prorenin binding.
Empirical processes with bounded \psi_1 diameter

We study the empirical process indexed by F^2=\{f^2 : f \in F\}, where F is a class of mean-zero functions on a probability space. We present a sharp bound on the supremum of that process which depends on the \psi_1 diameter of the class F (rather than on the \psi_2 one) and on the complexity parameter \gamma_2(F,\psi_2). In addition, we present optimal bounds on the random diameters \sup_{f \in F} \max_{|I|=m} (\sum_{i \in I} f^2(X_i))^{1/2} using the same parameters. As applications, we extend several well known results in Asymptotic Geometric Analysis to any isotropic, log-concave ensemble on R^n.
for Nonenzymic Giycation ofAntithrombiniiiIn Diabetic Patients

338 CLINICAL CHEMISTRY, Vol. 31, No. 2, 1985 ciency. However, when assessed in conjunction with the protein profile, 171 (48%) of the samples were considered to be from patients with iron deficiency. In all of these additional 23 samples, the ferritin concentrations were normal and the acute-phase proteins showed a marked inflammatory response, with an inappropriately high value for transferrin and low iron saturation, indicating that these samples were from patients with iron deficiency. Thus we believe that the ferritin concentration alone is not a reliable indicator for the detection of iron deficiency during an inflammatory episode.
Ethnopharmacological Survey and Physiological Evaluation of Nutritional and Phytochemical Contents of Indigenous Plants Used for Treatment of Toothache and Mouth Odour in Ijebu Ode Local Government Area, Nigeria

The use of herbs for improvement of oral hygiene is increasing in many communities in Nigeria despite the usage of other dental care products. On the basis of this the present study was conducted to assess indigenous plants used to manage dental condition and mouth odour and to evaluate nutritional, phytochemicals and anti-nutrient content of the plants. A survey was conducted to document plants used for treatment of toothache and mouth odour in Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area. Using random sampling technique, a total of one hundred structured questionnaire was administered to Traditional Health Practitioners in three major markets of the study area. Nutritional, phytochemical and anti-nutrient contents of most used plants were evaluated. Data were analyzed using Statistical Analysis System. Means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at 5% level of significance (p < 0.05). A total of twenty-three (23) plants belonging to sixteen families were enumerated out of which Capsicum frutescens, Piper guineense fruits and Zanthoxylum zanthoxloides roots were the most exploited for management of the conditions. Crude fibre (8.86 %), fat (1.12%) and ash contents (4.73%) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in Z. zanthoxloides roots while moisture (25.75 %) was significantly higher (p <0.05) in C. frutescens fruits. Calcium (192.10 mg/100g), phosphorus (108.50 mg/100g), sodium (51.33 mg/100g), iron (4.85 mg/100g), Zinc (3.94 mg/100g), manganese (1.15 mg/100g) and copper (2.12 mg/100g) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in Z. zanthoxloides roots compared C. frutescens and P. guineense fruits. Vitamin A (600.00 µ/100g), vitamin B (0.07.00 mg/100g), vitamin C (94.54 mg/100g) and vitamin E (720.00) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in C. frutescens than Z. zanthoxloides and P. guineense . Results also showed that tannin (6.40 %), oxalate (30.00%), phytate (0.40%) and trypsin inhibitor (20.00 %) were significantly higher in frutescens than Z. zanthoxloides roots . Similar significant (p<0.05) increase were observed in the quantity of flavonoid (3.25%), saponnis (1.30%), phenol (0.60%) and anthocyaninns (0.23%) in Z. zanthoxloides compared with C. frutescens and P. guineense .
Identification of 677C>T Polymorphism of LRP1 Gene by PCR-RFLP Method

– The 677 C>T (rs1799986) polymorphism is located at position 677 in exon 3 of the LRP1 gene. The aim of this study was to determine the allele and genotype frequencies of the polymorphism in Bosnian population. The study included 100 unrelated healthy individuals. Genotyping of 677 C>T polymorphism of the LRP1 gene was performed with PCR-RFLP method. The most frequent allele was the C allele (91%), while the T allele was represented by 9%. These results suggested that presence of the 677 C>T polymorphism of the LRP1 gene in our population should be a base for further case-control association or population genetics studies.
Characterization of exosome-like vesicles derived from Cysticercus pisiformis and their immunoregulatory role in macrophages CURRENT STATUS: UNDER REVIEW

Background: Taenia pisiformis is one of the most common intestinal parasites in canines, and leads to serious economic losses in the rabbit breeding industry. Exosome-like vesicles from parasites play crucial roles in host-parasite interactions by transferring cargo from parasites to host cells and by modulating host immunological response through inducing production of host-derived cytokines. Nevertheless, the mechanism by which exosome-like vesicles from Cysticercus pisiformis regulate macrophage immune response remains unknown. Methods: Using ultracentrifugation, we isolated exosome-like vesicles from excretory/secretory products (ESP) of C. pisiformis . The morphology and size of purified vesicles were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). The components of proteins and miRNA within these vesicles were identified by proteomic analysis and high-throughput small RNA sequencing. The biological function of targets of exosomal miRNAs was predicted by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. Moreover, the expression of Th1- and Th2-type immune response associated cytokines in RAW264.7 macrophages were evaluated by qRT-PCR and ELISA. We found that exosome-like vesicles were typical cup-shaped vesicles with diameters from 30 to 150 nm . A total of 87 proteins were identified by proteomic analysis, including proteins prominently associated with exosome-like vesicles biogenesis and vesicle trafficking. 41 known miRNAs and 18 novel miRNAs were identified in the exosome-like vesicles. 11 selected miRNAs, including 7 known miRNAs (miR-71-5p, miR-10a-5p, miR-let-7-5p, miR-745-3p, miR-219-5p, miR-124-3p, and miR-4989-3p) and 4 novel miRNAs (novel-mir-3, novel-mir-7, novel-mir-8, and novel-mir-11) were validated to exist in metacestiodes and exosome-like vesicles of C. pisiformis by qRT-PCR. cell maintained in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium 10% FBS cultured a 37 °C incubator CO 2 . The cells plated in 6-well plates (1×10 6 cells/ml) and incubated with exosome-depleted DMEM conditioned ng/μl LPS 40 ng/ml IL-4 50 μg/ml C. pisiformis -derived exosome-like sterile or a with LPS exosome-like vesicles, or IL-4 + exosome-like vesicles. All treatments were conducted in triplicate.
Anxiety among Nurses Previously Infected with Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Its Relation to Their Performance and Quality of Work Life

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused distressing experience among nurses worldwide. However, the prevalence of anxiety symptoms and how anxiety influence clinical performance and quality of work life (QWL) among nurses in this unrestricted emergency are unknown. Aim: This study was designed to assess the level of anxiety among nurses previously infected with COVID-19 and its relation to their work performance and QWL. Methods: A descriptive correlational study was conducted at the compound of university hospitals and Ministry of Health hospitals. The sample consisted of 190 nurses. Four tools were used to collect data, namely, socio-demographic data, Clinical Nurse Performance Questionnaire, QWL Questionnaire, and Hamilton Anxiety Scale. Results: A statistically significant correlation (0.001**) was observed between clinical nurse performance, QWL, and anxiety. The nurses under study had severe symptoms of anxiety and general physiological symptoms; however, they had a moderate level of performance. Conclusion: Anxiety among the nurses in this study positively affected their performance and QWL. Recommendations: More studies on nurses infected with COVID-19 are needed.
The unfolding dark side

Age and gender differences across the lifespan in dark personality features could provide hints regarding these features’ functions. We measured manipulation, callous affect, and egocentricity using the Dirty Dozen and their links with agreeableness in a pooled cross-sectional dataset ( N = 4292) and a longitudinal dataset ( N = 325). Age trends for all dark personality features were progressive through adolescence, but negative through adulthood. Men scored higher than women, but the gender gap varied with age. Trends for agreeableness partly mirrored these trends and changes in dark personality features and agreeableness were correlated. Results are discussed in light of the maturity principle of personality, gender role socialization processes, and issues regarding incremental validity of dark personality over traditional antagonism measures. (cid:1) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. ThisisanopenaccessarticleundertheCCBY-NC-NDlicense (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
OP-BRAI140252 3223..3234

Tremor is a cardinal feature of Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor, the two most common movement disorders. Yet, the mechanisms underlying tremor generation remain largely unknown. We hypothesized that driving deep brain stimulation electrodes at a frequency closely matching the patient’s own tremor frequency should interact with neural activity responsible for tremor, and that the effect of stimulation on tremor should reveal the role of different deep brain stimulation targets in tremor generation. Moreover, tremor responses to stimulation might reveal pathophysiological differences between parkinsonian and essential tremor circuits. Accordingly, we stimulated 15 patients with Parkinson’s disease with either thalamic or subthalamic electrodes (13 male and two female patients, age: 50–77 years) and 10 patients with essential tremor with thalamic electrodes (nine male and one female patients, age: 34–74 years). Stimulation at near-to tremor frequency entrained tremor in all three patient groups (ventrolateral thalamic stimulation in Parkinson’s disease, P = 0.0078, subthalamic stimulation in Parkinson’s disease, P = 0.0312; ventrolateral thalamic stimulation in essential tremor, P = 0.0137; two-tailed paired Wilcoxon signed-rank tests). However, only ventrolateral thalamic stimulation in essential tremor modulated postural tremor amplitude according to the timing of stimulation pulses with respect to the tremor cycle (e.g. P = 0.0002 for tremor amplification, two-tailed Wilcoxon rank sum test). Parkinsonian rest and essential postural tremor severity (i.e. tremor amplitude) differed in their relative tolerance to spontaneous changes in tremor frequency when stimulation was not applied. Specifically, the amplitude of parkinsonian rest tremor remained unchanged despite spontaneous changes in tremor frequency, whereas that of essential postural tremor reduced when tremor frequency departed from median values. Based on these results we conclude that parkinsonian rest tremor is driven by a neural network, which includes the subthalamic nucleus and ventrolateral thalamus and has broad frequency-amplitude tolerance. We propose that it is this tolerance to changes in tremor frequency that dictates that parkinsonian rest tremor may be significantly entrained by low frequency stimulation without stimulation timing-dependent amplitude modulation. In contrast, the circuit influenced by low frequency thalamic stimulation in essential tremor has a narrower frequencyamplitude tolerance so that tremor entrainment through extrinsic driving is necessarily accompanied by amplitude modulation. Such differences in parkinsonian rest and essential tremor will be important in selecting future strategies for closed loop deep brain stimulation for tremor control. doi:10.1093/brain/awu250 Brain 2014: 137; 3223–3234 | 3223