Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Service Delivery to Children With Mild Hearing Loss: Current Practice Patterns and Parent Perceptions

Purpose: This study investigates clinical practice patterns and parent perception of intervention for children with mild hearing loss (HL). Method: Ages at and delays between service delivery steps (first diagnostic evaluation, confirmation of HL, hearing aid [HA] fitting, entry into early intervention) were investigated for 113 children with mild HL. Comparisons were made to children with moderate-to-severe HL. Parents of children with mild HL reported reasons for delays and their perceptions of intervention and amplification for their children. Results: Seventy-four percent of children with mild HL were identified through the newborn hearing screen; 26% were identified later due to passing or not receiving a newborn hearing screen. Ninety-four percent of children with mild HL were fit with HAs, albeit at significantly later ages than children with moderate-to-severe HL. Most parents indicated that their children benefited from HA use, but some parents expressed ambivalence toward the amount of benefit. Conclusions: Audiologists appear to be moving toward regularly providing amplification for children with mild HL. However, delays in HA fittings indicate that further educating professionals and parents about the benefits of early amplification and intervention is warranted to encourage timely fitting and consistent use of HAs. results differ from results for the full cohort of children in the OCHL study identified via NHS, in Holte et al. (2012)
A High-Frequency and High Spatial Resolution Probe Design for EMI Prediction

In this paper, a simple and accurate equivalent circuit of the magnetic probe is proposed. Based on the equivalent circuit, a high-frequency probe for near-field measurements is proposed, manufactured, and tested. To increase its working frequency, its parasitic inductance and capacitance are reduced by using a small loop aperture and a tapered transition. The working frequency of the probe is up to 30 GHz. At the same time, sidewall metallization and bottom-vias are used in the probe, which result in a good performance of electric field suppression. The transmission section of the probe is optimized at high frequencies by using via fence and coax-thru-hole vias. The magnetic field probe is built on a four-layered printed circuit board with Rogers substrate. The loop aperture size of the probe is $250\,\,\mu \text{m}\,\,\times 250\,\,\mu \text{m}$ , so it has a high spatial resolution and is helpful to measure the detailed magnetic field from a small device. The probe is calibrated by a standard coplanar waveguide with a backside ground (CPWG). Finally, a near-field scanning system with the fabricated probe is set up to test the magnetic field above an unknown CPWG and microstrip line. From the near-field scanning results, it can be concluded that the probe can accurately measure the magnetic field over a wide frequency band.
Commentary on : Artificial Sweeteners, Caffeine, and Alcohol Intoxication in Bar Patrons

Background— This commentary discusses the paper by Rossheim and Thombs (2011), which examined the relationship between type of alcohol mixer (regular caffeinated cola, diet caffeinated cola, energy drink or no mixer) and breath alcohol readings in bar patrons. Methods— The significance of the findings of this study and new unaddressed questions for the field are discussed. Results— Rossheim and Thombs (2011) reported that breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) readings were highest when patrons reported the consumption of caffeine mixers that were artificially sweetened (i.e., diet cola), after adjusting for potential confounds. Women were more likely to consume diet cola-caffeinated mixed drinks. Conclusions— The findings from this field study raise several new interesting questions. Given the reported gender difference in consumption of diet cola-caffeinated mixed drinks, more research is needed regarding gender differences in gastric emptying time for alcoholic beverages mixed with artificially sweetened versus sucrose sweetened caffeinated drinks. In addition, the recent explosion in the energy drink market has resulted in the availability of sugar free or diet versions of most energy drink products. The implications of mixing diet energy drinks with alcohol are unknown.
Label-free fast 3D coherent imaging reveals pancreatic islet micro-vascularization and dynamic blood flow

: In diabetes, pancreatic β -cells play a key role. These cells are clustered within structures called islets of Langerhans inside the pancreas and produce insulin, which is directly secreted into the blood stream. The dense vascularization of islets of Langerhans is critical for maintaining a proper regulation of blood glucose homeostasis and is known to be a ﬀ ected from the early stage of diabetes. The deep localization of these islets inside the pancreas in the abdominal cavity renders their in vivo visualization a challenging task. A fast label-free imaging method with high spatial resolution is required to study the vascular network of islets of Langerhans. Based on these requirements, we developed a label-free and three-dimensional imaging method for observing islets of Langerhans using extended-focus Fourier domain Optical Coherence Microscopy (xfOCM). In addition to structural imaging, this system provides three-dimensional vascular network imaging and dynamic blood ﬂow information within islets of Langerhans. We propose our method to deepen the understanding of the interconnection between diabetes and the evolution of the islet vascular network.
Applications of the Bayesian bootstrap in finite population inference

This article extends the Bayesian bootstrap analysis, applied to studies of single finite population survey data in Hartley and Rao (1968), Ericson (1969), and Rubin (1981), to regression models for numerically-valued response variables in stratified and clustered samples. This extension provides an alternative Bayesian analysis of complex finite population survey data which for some applications requires only standard statistical modeling software to implement.
Entanglement entropy in the Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick model

We analyze the entanglement entropy in the Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick model, which describes mutually interacting spin 1/2 embedded in a magnetic field. This entropy displays a singularity at the critical point that we study as a function of the interaction anisotropy, the magnetic field, and the system size. Results emerging from our analysis are surprisingly similar to those found for the one- dimensional XY chain.
SOD1 and MitoTEMPO partially prevent MPTP, necrosis and mitochondrial apoptosis following ATP depletion-recover y

Generation of excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) leads to mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis and necrosis in renal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. Previously we showed that lentiviral vector mediated over-expression of superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) in proximal tubular epithelial cells (LLC-PK 1 ) reduced cytotoxicity in an in vitro model of IR injury. Here, we examined the effects of SOD1 over-expression on mitochondrial signaling following ATP depletion-recovery (ATP-DR). To examine the role of mitochondrial ROS, a subset of cells were treated with the mitochondrial antioxidant, MitoTEMPO. ATP-DR-mediated increases in mitochondrial calcium ([Ca 2+ ] m ), loss of mitochondrial membrane potential ( ΔΨ m ) and increase in mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) were attenuated by SOD1 and MitoTEMPO (P < 0.01). SOD1 prevented ATP-DR induced mitochondrial Bax translocation, although the release of pro-apoptotic proteins from mitochondria was not prevented by SOD1 alone and required the presence of both SOD1 and MitoTEMPO. SOD1 suppressed the increase in c-jun phosphorylation suggesting that JNK signaling regulates Bax translocation to mitochondria via ROS. ATP-DR-mediated changes in MPTP and mitochondrial signaling increased necrosis and apoptosis, both of which were partially attenuated by SOD1 and MitoTEMPO. These studies show that SOD1 and MitoTEMPO preserve mitochondrial integrity and attenuate ATP-DR mediated necrosis and apoptosis. the role of the SOD1 on mitochondrial signaling in ischemic injury and the importance of ROS scavenging in cytosol vs. mitochondria is still unclear. The current study was thus undertaken to determine the effects of SOD1 and MitoTEMPO, a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant, on mitochondrial function and signaling pathways in an in vitro ATP depletion-recovery (ATP-DR) injury model. Our findings indicate that the over-expression of SOD1 and MitoTEMPO treatment in proximal tubular epithelial cells prevent [Ca 2+ ] m overload, attenuate MPTP opening and partially block the mitochondrial translocation of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax following ATP-DR thus attenuating both necrotic and apoptotic pathways.
Serum INSL3 is highly correlated with intratesticular testosterone in normal men with acute, experimental gonadotropin deficiency stimulated with low-dose hCG: a randomized-controlled trial

Objective— To study the potential role for using serum biomarkers including insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin B (INHB) as correlates of intratesticular testosterone (IT-T) concentrations in men. Design— Prospective, randomized-controlled trial Setting— University-based medical center Patients— 37 healthy men ages 18–50 Interventions— All men received the gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist, acyline, plus very low doses of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) (0 IU, 15 IU, 60 IU or 125 IU) subcutaneously every other day or 7.5 grams testosterone gel daily (7.5 mg delivered). IT-T concentrations obtained by percutaneous testicular aspiration with simultaneous serum protein and steroid concentrations were measured at baseline and after 10 days of treatment. Main Outcome Measures— Intratesticular and serum hormone and gonadotropin concentrations Results— Following 10 days of gonadotropin suppression, serum INSL3 decreased by over 90% and correlated highly with IT-T concentrations. In contrast, serum INHB, AMH and 17-OHP did not correlate with IT-T. Serum INSL3 increased with the dose of hCG administered and returned to baseline after treatment. Conclusions— Serum INSL3 correlates highly with IT-T and serum testosterone concentrations during acute gonadotropin suppression in men. HCG stimulates dose-dependent increases in INSL3 and IT-T in healthy men and might be a useful biomarker of IT-T concentration in some clinical settings.
The vaginal microbiome: rethinking health and diseases

Vaginal microbiota form a mutually beneficial relationship with their host and have major impact on health and disease. In recent years our understanding of vaginal bacterial community composition and structure has significantly broadened as a result of investigators using cultivation-independent methods based on the analysis of 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequences. In asymptomatic, otherwise healthy women, several kinds of vaginal microbiota exist, the majority often dominated by species of Lactobacillus, while others comprise a diverse array of anaerobic microorganisms. Bacterial vaginosis is the most common vaginal conditions and is vaguely characterized as the disruption of the equilibrium of the ‘normal’ vaginal microbiots. A better understanding of ‘normal’ and ‘healthy’ vaginal ecosystems that is based on its ‘true’ function and not simply on its composition would help better define health and further improve disease diagnostics as well as the development of more personalized regimens to promote health and treat diseases.
Discussion of “Frequency of ice-jam flooding of Peace-Athabasca Delta”

We present an alternative analysis of the observational record of historical ice-jam floods in the lower Peace River presented in Beltaos (2018) and illustrate the need to examine the history of hydrological change in lakes of the Peace-Athabasca Delta (PAD) to identify causes of recently observed drying. Beltaos (2018) uses an observational record of historical ice-jam floods in the lower Peace River, as compiled by Timoney (2009), to suggest that flood frequency changed in 1968, coincident with the start of hydroelectric regulation of the Peace River by the WAC Bennett Dam (British Columbia), and that this has contributed to drying of perched lakes in the Peace-Athabasca Delta (northern Alberta). On a graph that shows the cumulative frequency of occurrence of large ice-jam floods, Beltaos (2018) forces a quadratic equation through the ‘baseline interval’ (i.e., 1880–1967) before regulation and then develops a separate linear regression to characterize the post-dam interval (1971–2017; see figure 3 in Beltaos 2018). Beltaos (2018) postulates that the decrease in slope identifies that regulation of the Peace River is a contributing factor to drying of perched lakes in the delta. We contend that Beltaos’ use of regression analysis on a time series of episodic ice-jam floods is problematic on many accounts. For example, assumptions of the statistical tests presented are violated because residuals are not independent (as shown in Beltaos (2018), figure 3, which demonstrates that non-flood years tend to follow non-flood years). But even if we excuse this, the use of quadratic regression as shown in figure 3 of Beltaos (2018) is flawed because it implicitly predicts that flood frequency increases over time, for which there is no physical basis nor does it align with independent, paleolimnological reconstructions of flood frequency and magnitude from oxbow lake sediment records in the delta that are proximal to the Peace River (Wolfe et al. 2006). Thus, it is misleading to construe an expectation of accelerating flood frequency during the post-regulation era. Furthermore, inflation of the effective sample size by counting every year as an observation for the purposes of regression analysis, as performed by Beltaos (2018) (i.e., cumulative floods for 1920 = 4, 1921 = 4, 1922 = 4, ., 1931 = 4 are part of his regression so n = 88), results in excessive confidence in the estimated frequency of floods (and slope of the relation) between 12 major pre-regulation flood events over 88 years. We have attempted to account for some of these shortcomings by applying a more conservative linear regression model, which only includes observed floods as data points to characterize the baseline (i.e., 1880–1967) interval (Fig. 1a). This pre-regulation linear regression model also captures the post-1971 observational ice-jam flood frequency data, indicating that there
COMPREHENSIVE INVITED REVIEW Generation and Biological Activities of Oxidized Phospholipids

Glycerophospholipids represent a common class of lipids critically important for integrity of cellular membranes. Oxidation of esterified unsaturated fatty acids dramatically changes biological activities of phospholipids. Apart from impairment of their structural function, oxidation makes oxidized phospholipids (OxPLs) markers of ‘‘modified-self’’ type that are recognized by soluble and cell-associated receptors of innate immunity, including scavenger receptors, natural (germ line-encoded) antibodies, and C-reactive protein, thus directing removal of senescent and apoptotic cells or oxidized lipoproteins. In addition, OxPLs acquire novel biological activities not characteristic of their unoxidized precursors, including the ability to regulate innate and adaptive immune responses. Effects of OxPLs described in vitro and in vivo suggest their potential relevance in different pathologies, including atherosclerosis, acute inflammation, lung injury, and many other conditions. This review summarizes current knowledge on the mechanisms of formation, structures, and biological activities of OxPLs. Furthermore, potential applications of OxPLs as disease biomarkers, as well as experimental therapies targeting OxPLs, are described, providing a broad overview of an emerging class of lipid mediators. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 12, 1009–1059. I. Mechanisms of Phospholipid Oxidation 1011 A. Oxidation of PLs: General mechanisms and biologically acitive products 1011 B. Initiation of oxidation 1011 1. Nonenzymatic oxidation of PL-PUFAs 1011 2. Sources of free radicals inducing oxidation of PLs 1012 3. Oxidation of PUFAs by nonradical ROS 1012 4. Nitration and halogenation of PLs 1012 5. Enzymatic oxidation of PUFA-PLs 1013 C. Evolution of OxPLs 1013 1. Formation of polyoxygenated PLs 1014 2. Cyclization of peroxyl radical=generation of nonfragmented OxPLs 1015 a. Esterified isoprostanes 1016 b. Esterified isothromboxanes 1016 c. Esterified isolevuglandins 1016 d. Esterified isofurans 1016 3. Oxidative cleavage=formation of fragmented OxPL species 1016 a. Oxidatively truncated unsaturated OxPLs 1016 b. Oxidatively truncated saturated OxPLs 1017 Reviewing Editors: Judith Berliner, Denis Blache, Clett Erridge, Valerian Kagan, Vishwanathan Natarajan, Sampath Parthasarathy, Yulia Tyurina, and Fulvio Ursini Department of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research, Center for Biomolecular Medicine and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. Department of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland. CeMM, Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences and Department of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. Institute of Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. ANTIOXIDANTS & REDOX SIGNALING Volume 12, Number 8, 2010 a Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. DOI: 10.1089=ars.2009. 2597
The Effect of Lean Manufacturing Tools on Waste Reduction at Arjo Didessa Sugar Factory

This study has main objective of assessment on the effects of lean manufacturing tools on waste reduction on Arjo Didesssa Sugar factory. The specific objectives of the study are from the perspective of Total productive maintenance, Mistake proofing, workplace organization (5S), continuous quality improvement and worker involvement. The research design for this study is explanatory, while the research approach is mixed approach. The target populations for this study are teams in the department of factory operation, department of kaizen and quality control. Both probability and non-probability sampling techniques are used and 208 samples selected. 188 questionnaires were completely filled and returned. Both primary data and secondary data were used to fulfill the research objective. Quantitative part of data was analyzed by using SPSS version 20. The result of the study indicates that lean manufacturing tools are not implemented effectively therefore production waste is evident. Total productive maintenance, mistake proofing, worker involvement and continuous quality improvement have positive and significant effect on waste reduction. Secondary data shows there is production waste in the factory but wastes are continuously reducing. Based on the evidence from questionnaire and secondary data it was concluded that lean manufacturing tools were not performed in excellent manner as result production wastes were evident in the factory. The researcher recommends based on the research findings and if lean manufacturing tools are performed in excellent manner by improving maintenance, training, preventive and control devices for mistake proofing, Plan do check act cycle and enhancing the skills of employees the factory they can reduce production wastes. Finally the researcher suggested for future research to be conducted by including other lean manufacturing tools to reduce production waste. Keywords: Lean Manufacturing, total productive maintenance, workplace organization (5s), mistake proofing, workers involvement, continuous quality improvement
Neurodevelopmental Profile, Growth, and Psychosocial Environment of Preterm Infants with Difficult Feeding Behavior at Two Years of Age

Objectives— To examine the association of difficult feeding behaviors in very preterm infants at two years of age with growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes and family factors and functioning. Study design— Eighty children born ≤30 weeks gestation were studied from birth until two years of age. Feeding difficulties were assessed using the Eating Subscale of the Infant-Toddler Social Emotional Assessment at age two years alongside growth and developmental testing. Maternal mental health and family factors were assessed using standardized questionnaires. ANOVA and chi-square analyses were used to determine associations between feeding difficulties and growth, neurodevelopmental outcomes, and family characteristics. Results— Twenty-one (26%) of the cohort were at risk for feeding difficulties, and an additional 18 (23%) had definite feeding difficulties at age two years. Those with feeding difficulties were more likely to be subject to a range of neurodevelopmental problems including impaired cognition (p=0.02), language (p=0.04), motor (p=0.01) and socio-emotional (p<0.007) skills. Parents of very preterm born children with feeding difficulties had higher parenting stress (p=0.02) and reported more difficulty managing their child’s behavior (p=0.002) and more frequent parent-child interaction problems (p=0.002) than parents of children with fewer feeding difficulties. No associations were found between difficult feeding behaviors and growth, maternal mental health, and family factors. Conclusions— Difficult feeding behaviors in children born very preterm appear to be highly comorbid with other developmental and family challenges, including neurodevelopmental impairment and parent-child interaction difficulties. Focusing on improving feeding skills, in conjunction with supporting positive parent-child interactions, may be beneficial for improving outcomes. and decreased which their ability to develop the needed for successful and identified early factors that can and defined relationships between difficulties and considered relations between family factors and the development of successful or problematic feeding behavior in the very preterm infant.