Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis and Detection of Stop Consonant Production Errors in Cleft Lip and Palate Speech

The presence of velopharyngeal dysfunction and abnormal oral structure in individuals with cleft lip and palate (CLP) will deviate the production mechanism of stop consonants from the normal. The present thesis aims to develop an acoustic analysis based system for the detection of stop consonant production errors in children with CLP. The consonant-vowel (CV) transitions are considered as the crucial cues for the analysis of articulation errors. An event-based hierarchical algorithm is proposed for the detection of CV transitions. To analyze the epoch-to-epoch variation of spectral characteristics in the CV transitions, an epoch extraction algorithm is developed. Alternative to short-time window based time-frequency representation, single pole filter (SPF) based approach is used to epoch synchronous analysis of CV transitions. Further, the thesis aims to develop an automatic stop consonant error detection system using segmented CV transitions and SPF based features. Indexterms: Articulation errors, cleft lip and palate, spectrotemporal analysis, transition regions.
Flipped Classroom in Improving ESL Primary Students’ Tenses Learning

Due to recent development of Malaysian education, the transformation of local classroom curriculum for English learning is gradually progressing towards global standard since the introduction of Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) that aligned with the Standard Curriculum Primary School (KSSR). To attract and retain students? attention towards fun and interesting learning, grammar context is embedded indirectly in all types of language learning skills for younger primary students in a normal classroom. Hence, via ? inverted? learning, this study was aimed to look at English as a Second Language (ESL) primary 3 students? perception in tenses learning using flipped classroom approach involving 36 students from a rural school in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. The perceptions of the students were measured through questionnaire comprising a survey and open ended questions. The finding of this study revealed that most students were positive to learn grammar through flipped classroom as opposed to traditional learning. Moreover, even for those who perceived negatively also agreed in the end that this approach would improve their understanding. Thus, it is hoped that this study gives educators better insights in using flipped classroom on students? preferences not just in tenses learning but others as well.
“You’re almost in this place that doesn’t exist”: The Impact of College in Prison as Understood by Formerly Incarcerated Students from the Northeastern United States

This qualitative study examines the immediate and lasting impact of liberal arts higher education in prison from the perspective of former college-in-prison students from the Northeastern United States. Findings obtained through semi-structured interviews with formerly incarcerated people are presented in the following three areas: self-confidence and agency, interpersonal relationships, and capacity for civic leadership. This study further examines former students’ reflections on the relationship between education and human transformation and begins to benchmark college programming with attention to the potential for such transformation. The authors identify four characteristics critical to a program’s success: academic rigor, the professor's respect for students, discussion-based learning, and respectful relationships between college and prison personnel. This study contributes to the growing field of scholarship on the benefits of prison higher education beyond those captured by studies of high-level data, such as the rate of return to prison.
Editing Autoreactive TCR Enables Efficient Positive Selection

3 Allelic exclusion is inefﬁcient at the TCR (cid:1) locus, allowing a sizeable portion of T cells to carry two functional TCRs. The potential danger of dual TCR expression is a rescue of autoreactive TCRs during selection in the thymus and subsequent development of autoimmunity. In this study, we examine the reason(s) for replacing an autoreactive TCR and for allowing the survival of cells carrying two TCRs. We compared development of TCR transgenic CD4 (cid:2) CD8 (cid:3) thymocytes in the presence or absence of MHC class II autoantigen that does not induce deletion of thymocytes. Contrary to the expected negative effect of the presence of autoantigen, (cid:1) 100% more CD4 (cid:2) CD8 (cid:3) thymocytes were found in the presence of MHC class II autoantigen than in the neutral background. A further increase in the strength of autoantigenic signal via expression of a human CD4 transgene led to an additional increase in the numbers of CD4 (cid:2) CD8 (cid:3) thymocytes. Thus, editing autoreactive TCR results in more efﬁcient positive selection, and this may be both a reason and a reward for risking autoimmunity. The Journal of Immunology, 2002, 169: 1729–1734.
A Novel Non-Synonymous Polymorphism (p.Arg240His) in C4b-Binding Protein Is Associated with Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome and Leads to Impaired Alternative Pathway Cofactor Activity1

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a disorder characterized by hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal failure. Mutations, polymorphisms, and copy number variation in complement factors and inhibitors are associated with aHUS. In this study, we report the first functional non-synonymous polymorphism in the complement inhibitor C4b-binding protein (C4BP) α-chain (c.719G>A; p.Arg240His), which is associated with aHUS. This heterozygous change was found in 6/166 aHUS patients compared with 5/542 normal (χ2 = 6.021; p = 0.014), which was replicated in a second cohort of aHUS patients in which we found 5/170 carriers. The polymorphism does not decrease expression efficiency of C4BP. p.Arg240His is equally efficient as the wild type in binding and supporting degradation of C4BP but its ability to bind C3b and act as cofactor to its degradation both in fluid phase and on surfaces is impaired. This observation supports the hypothesis that dysregulation of the alternative pathway of complement is pivotal for aHUS. Three of the patients carry also mutations in membrane cofactor protein and factor H strengthening the hypothesis that individuals may carry multiple susceptibility factors with an additive effect on the risk of developing aHUS.
INTEGRATION OF PAECILOMYCES LILACINUS WITH NEEM LEAF SUSPENSION FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF ROOT-KNOT NEMATODES ON EGG PLANT

Integration of the bio-control fungus, Paecilomyces lilacinus with neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf aqueous suspensions was attempted for the management of root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita on egg plant (Solanum melongena). Results revealed the suitability of neem leaf suspensions (5 and 10%) for mass multiplication of P. lilacinus. Further, significant reduction in root-knot index and final population of M. incognita were observed in the egg plant seedlings which were given root-dip treatment in neem leaf suspensions mixed with P. lilacinus spores. In addition, significant increases were observed on the colonization of P. lilacinus on the roots of egg plant and parasitization of eggs of M. incognita, indicating the complementary interaction between these two components for the sustainable management of root-knot nematodes on egg plant.
Fire and Flame for Plant Disease Control

Fire was the first great force employed by man, and the discovery of a method to ignite vegetable matter looms as one of humanity's greatest achievements. The earliest evidence of deliberate use of fire dates from Peking man, or as much as 500,000 years ago, and use of fire is suspected to have been known to man thousands of years earlier (83). Some of primitive man's reasons for the burning-over of land were to clear forest (or, rarely, grassland) for agriculture; to improve grazing land for domestic animals or to attract game; to deprive game of cover, or to drive game from cover in hunting; to kill or drive away predatory animals, ticks, mosquitoes, and other pests; to repel the attacks of enemies or to burn them out of their refuges; to ex­ pedite travel; to protect villages, settlements, or encampments from great fires by controlled burning; and to gratify sheer love of fires as spectacles (7). Indians of North America lighted bushes and trees so that the roots would burn slowly and provide a continuous source of fire (83). Wildfire, along with soil, water, and temperature, has been one of the major forces that shaped the earth's vegetation. Most of the grasslands and many of the forests represent subclimax vegetation that from antiquity has been dependent on periodic fires for existence. The winter burning of dead grass left unconsumed from the growth of the previous season is a worldwide practice of ancient origin, particularly in humid regions where uncut grass does not cure into palatable winter forage. Grass fires set by the American Indians and by lightning main-
Minimally-invasive segmentectomy for pulmonary tuberculosis: single center experience

Thoracoscopic pulmonary resections are widely used by thoracic surgeons in the world. Nevertheless, infectious diseases of the lung are associated with a lot of difficulties for implementing of minimally invasive approaches. Four years single-center experience in robotand video-assisted thoracoscopic segmentectomies for pulmonary tuberculosis was studied in this paper to evaluate the main features of these surgical procedures for infectious disease. From 2016 to 2019 years we were performed 262 anatomical segmentectomy due to localized TB lesions, including 144 patients underwent uniportal videoassisted thoracoscopic surgery, 108 underwent muscle sparing lateral thoracotomy, and 10 cases of robotassisted thoracoscopic surgery. Conversion rate from uVATS to open surgery was 8%. The advantages of the uVATS approach compared to thoracotomy approach are less blood loss during surgery (56.74 vs. 74.26 mL, P=0.0001); lower consumption of narcotic analgesics (4.35 injections vs. 5.50 injections, P=0.0001) and a lower incidence of complications after surgery (21.5% vs. 36.1%, P=0.015). There were no significant differences in duration of operation (P=0.102), air leak (P=0.981), chest tube drainage (P=0.417), hospital stay (P=0.134) between the uVATS and thoracotomy groups. There was no perioperative mortality. In addition, after bacteriological examination, 13% of patients (n=35) showed amplification of MTB drug resistance. Minimally invasive segmentectomy is effective and safe procedure in the complex treatment of localized forms of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Age- and sex-specific survival estimates incorporating tag loss for New Zealand sea lions, Phocarctos hookeri

Abstract The estimation of life-history parameters for a threatened species is important for understanding its biology and helping to determine management options. This research investigates age- and sex-related survival estimates incorporating tag loss for New Zealand (NZ) sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri) from Sandy Bay, Enderby Island, Auckland Islands, New Zealand, using multistate mark–recapture data from known-age individuals over 8 years (1997–1998 to 2005–2006). Survival estimates and tag loss rates differed significantly by sex and age class, with adult males having the lowest tag retention of any age or sex class and females ≥ 3 years old having lower survival estimates than their male counterparts. The variability and lower female survival relative to males is a critical problem for NZ sea lions, because even small changes in adult female survival significantly affect population trends for such large, long-lived mammals.
Higher macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α and MIP-1β levels from CD8+ T cells are associated with asymptomatic HIV-1 infection

To test the hypothesis that β-chemokine levels may be relevant to the control of HIV in vivo, we compared RANTES, MIP-1α, and MIP-1β production from purified CD8+ T cells from 81 HIV-infected subjects and from 28 uninfected donors. Asymptomatic HIV+ subjects produced significantly higher levels of MIP-1α and MIP-1β, but not RANTES, than uninfected donors or patients that progressed to AIDS. In contrast, β chemokines in plasma were either nondetectable or showed no correlation with clinical status. The high β-chemokine-mediated anti-HIV activity was against the macrophage tropic isolate HIV-1BAL, with no demonstrable effect on the replication of the T-cell tropic HIV-1IIIB. These findings suggest that constitutive β-chemokine production may play an important role in the outcome of HIV-1 infection.
Using Learning Styles to Accommodate for Heterogeneous Groups of Learners in Software Engineering

Commonly, learning is expected to happen uniformly even in large classes. Typically, instructors can provide only a single learning setting in presence courses. Yet, student groups are heterogeneous in terms of their learning styles. This paper presents a learning concept which uses Kolb’s Learning Style Inventory to address different groups of learning habits adequately. This learning concept is used as a pilot in an introductory course on software engineering for learning modelling with the Unified Modelling Language.
Shaping interpersonal learning in the jazz improvisation lesson: Observing a dynamic systems approach

Music institutions predominantly utilize the one-to-one lesson in developing and supporting music students’ learning of skill and knowledge. This article explores the effect that interpersonal interaction plays in shaping pedagogical applications between teacher and student. Observing the learning of improvisation within this individualized social context, dynamic systems theory (DST) is used to explore how learning and development of musical improvisation skills are shaped by interpersonal behaviors and learning relationships. Through the dimensions of teacher “action” and “affiliation”, this phenomenological study investigates the interactive behaviors of five expert Australian educator/improvisers and their students. Interpretative phenomenological analysis is utilized to identify modes of behavioral interactions that evolve through dynamic and fluid interplay. Interactive behavior positions and facilitates the delivery of skill, knowledge, teacher attitudes and understandings of the improvisation process. An interpersonal model of behaviors within the instrumental music lesson is posited, and implications for ongoing critical reflection of interpersonal and pedagogical approaches in the one-to-one context are suggested.
Breadmaking Properties of Triticale Flour with Wheat Flour and Relationship to Amylase Activity

Wheat flour was blended with triticale flour and baking tests were performed. When 18.3% of tritlcale flour was blended with wheat flour, the greatest bread height (mm) and specific volume (cm 3 /g) were obtained. Triticale flour was fractionated into water solubles, gluten, prime starch, and tailings by acetic acid (pH 3.5) fractionation. Baking results indicated that only the water solubles fraction produced the same baking performance as the original triticale flour. Several types of triticale flour were blended with wheat flours, and the breadmaking tests and measurement of amylase activities were compared. Baking results appeared to be related to α-amylase activity of triticale flour.
Identification of a bovine surface antigen uniquely expressed on CD4−CD8− T cell receptor γ/δ+ T lymphocytes

In this study, two monoclonal antibodies, IL‐A29 and CC15, are described that identify a novel bovine cell surface marker of 215/300 kDa. The antibodies reacted with a discrete population of resting lymphocytes in peripheral blood which, in young animals, constituted about 25% of the mononuclear cells. Thymus, lymph nodes and spleen contained < 5% positive cells. These cells were negative for surface Ig, a monocyte/granulocyte marker, and the T lymphocyte antigens CD2, CD6, CD4 and CD8. Immunohistological analyses revealed the presence of IL‐A29/CC15‐positive lymphocytes in the thymic medulla, in the outer cortex of lymph nodes, in the marginal zones of the spleen, in the dermal and epidermal layers of the skin and in the lamina propria of the gut. The IL‐A29/CC15+ cells in unfractionated blood mononuclear cells responded in autologous and allogeneic mixed lymphocyte cultures, and when purified they responded to concanavalin A in the presence of recombinant interleukin 2. These observations suggested this population of cells belonged to the T cell lineage. In order to unambiguously define their lineage, cDNA clones encoding bovine T cell receptor (TcR) and CD3 proteins were isolated. Northern blot analyses of IL‐A29/CC15+ cell populations and of established cell lines of various lineages demonstrated that they expressed TcR δ and CD3γ, δ and ϵ mRNA; TcR α was not expressed, whereas only a truncated form of TcR β mRNA was present. These results indicate that the IL‐A29 and CC15 antibodies define a unique population of CD4−CD8−, γ/δ T cells.
New Material of the Mosasaur Plioplatecarpus nichollsae Cuthbertson et al., 2007, Clarifies Problematic Features of the Holotype Specimen

ABSTRACT New material of Plioplatecarpus nichollsae Cuthbertson et al, 2007 (Squamata: Mosasauridae) clarifies many problematic features of the holotype. New observations demonstrate its unique cranial features among plioplatecarpines (=Ectenosaurus, Platecarpus and Plioplatecarpus), such as a parallel-sided frontal shield, a large, oval pineal foramen, and a highly inflated basal tubera of the basioccipital. Although the quadrate morphology is virtually identical to that of Platecarpus ictericus, Plio. nichollsae exhibits more synapomorphies with stratigraphically younger members of the genus than Platecarpus does, including newly recognized characters such as a pair of well-developed parolfactory-bulb recesses and anteriorly diverging ventro-lateral processes found on the frontal. Re-characterization of the species indicates its closest anatomical resemblance to descriptions given for the contemporary Platecarpus somenensis specimens (lower middle Campanian) from North America, which indicates that the current generic assignment for the latter taxon needs to be re-evaluated.
Effect of storage temperature on ripening and quality of custard apple (Annona squamosa L.) fruits

Summary The effect of storage temperature on ripening, shelf life and chemical composition of custard apple (Annona squamosa L.) fruits stored at 10,15,20 and 25°C was studied. The safe range of storage temperature was found to be between 15 and 20°C, with maximum shelf life at 15°C. The ripening of fruits was observed on days 4, 6 and 9 of storage at 25,20, and 15°C respectively. The colour of the pulp, texture, taste and flavour of ripe fruits held at 25 and 20°C were superior followed by fruits stored at 15°C. At 10°C, the fruits became hard with surface blackening, messy pulp and less sweetness. The major changes during ripening were a continuous decrease in fruit firmness and starch content and a continuous increase in TSS and sugars, the changes being more rapid at 25 and 20°C than at 15 and 10°C. The acidity and ascorbic acid contents increased slightly during the initial stages of ripening followed by a decline, in the fruits stored at different temperatures. Custard apple fruits stored at 25 and 20CC had a clear climacteric peak whereas those stored at 15 and 10°C did not show any distinct rise in respiration rate. Ethylene peak (2.40 µl kg–1 h–1) coincided with the respiratory climacteric at 25CC storage, corresponding with the peaks in TSS, sugars, ascorbic acid and acidity.
BLACK BEAR HOME-RANGE SIZES IN WASHINGTON: CLIMATIC, VEGETATIVE, AND SOCIAL INFLUENCES

Abstract We evaluated size of home ranges for male and female black bears (Ursus americanus) at 3 study sites in Washington to determine whether home-range sizes differed between sexes, study sites, and objectives of forest management. Vegetative conditions differed among study sites as a result of differences in mean annual precipitation (52, 200, and 380 cm/year) and forest management practices. We analyzed ranked proportions of forest-cover types within error polygons for telemetry locations as measures of use, interspersion, and juxtaposition of cover types and compared these with ranks of cover types available within composite home ranges for all bears in each study site and with those available within adaptive-kernel home ranges for individual bears. Fixed-kernel estimates of home ranges for males were 3.8 times larger than those for females. Home-range size for females differed (P = 0.04) between study sites but home-range size for males did not (P = 0.79). In the study site with intensively managed and relatively undisturbed forestlands, home ranges for females were of similar size. Males and females occupied cover types different from that available within study sites and within individual home ranges. Differences among study sites for home-range sizes for females may be correlated to differences in available forage plants and cover, which may be explained by differences in annual precipitation. Behavioral differences for males and females, too, may explain differential use of forest-cover types. Hence, differences in home-range sizes between males and females and among regions may result, in part, from climatic and vegetative conditions, as well as from social status.
Increased Life Span due to Calorie Restriction in Respiratory-Deficient Yeast

A model for replicative life span extension by calorie restriction (CR) in yeast has been proposed whereby reduced glucose in the growth medium leads to activation of the NAD+–dependent histone deacetylase Sir2. One mechanism proposed for this putative activation of Sir2 is that CR enhances the rate of respiration, in turn leading to altered levels of NAD+ or NADH, and ultimately resulting in enhanced Sir2 activity. An alternative mechanism has been proposed in which CR decreases levels of the Sir2 inhibitor nicotinamide through increased expression of the gene coding for nicotinamidase, PNC1. We have previously reported that life span extension by CR is not dependent on Sir2 in the long-lived BY4742 strain background. Here we have determined the requirement for respiration and the effect of nicotinamide levels on life span extension by CR. We find that CR confers robust life span extension in respiratory-deficient cells independent of strain background, and moreover, suppresses the premature mortality associated with loss of mitochondrial DNA in the short-lived PSY316 strain. Addition of nicotinamide to the medium dramatically shortens the life span of wild type cells, due to inhibition of Sir2. However, even in cells lacking both Sir2 and the replication fork block protein Fob1, nicotinamide partially prevents life span extension by CR. These findings (1) demonstrate that respiration is not required for the longevity benefits of CR in yeast, (2) show that nicotinamide inhibits life span extension by CR through a Sir2-independent mechanism, and (3) suggest that CR acts through a conserved, Sir2-independent mechanism in both PSY316 and BY4742.