Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Noise on the Relationship Between Auditory Working Memory and Comprehension in School-Age Children.

PURPOSE The objectives of the current study were to examine the effect of noise (-5 dB SNR) on auditory comprehension and to examine its relationship with working memory. It was hypothesized that noise has a negative impact on information processing, auditory working memory, and comprehension. METHOD Children with normal hearing between the ages of 8 and 10 years were administered working memory and comprehension tasks in quiet and noise. The comprehension measure comprised 5 domains: main idea, details, reasoning, vocabulary, and understanding messages. RESULTS Performance on auditory working memory and comprehension tasks were significantly poorer in noise than in quiet. The reasoning, details, understanding, and vocabulary subtests were particularly affected in noise (p < .05). The relationship between auditory working memory and comprehension was stronger in noise than in quiet, suggesting an increased contribution of working memory. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that school-age children's auditory working memory and comprehension are negatively affected by noise. Performance on comprehension tasks in noise is strongly related to demands placed on working memory, supporting the theory that degrading listening conditions draws resources away from the primary task.
E‐Selectin‐Targeted Porous Silicon Particle for Nanoparticle Delivery to the Bone Marrow

Bone marrow (BM) is the primary hematopoietic organ involved in multiple diseases including bone metastases originating from primary tumors from the breast or prostate, [ 1 ] multiple myeloma, [ 2 ] lymphoma, [ 3 ] leukemia, [ 4 ] and immune defi ciency disorders. [ 5 ] This highlights urgent necessity in the development of BM targeted drug delivery strategy. While a passive targeting approach to deliver microspheres to the BM, based on the highly branched and sinusoidal nature of the BM vasculature and the phagocytic uptake in the organ, has been demonstrated, [ 6 ] there is a distinct lack of tools that allow for BM-specifi c drug delivery via active targeting. Recent development of nanotechnologybased delivery carriers offer great potential for targeted delivery of drugs via active targeting to the diseased sites. [ 7,8 ]
A novel adaptive filter for interference suppression

In wireless communication systems of consumer electronics, it is very important to suppress the interference and extract the target effectively without any phase-amplitude shift. A number of signal processing optimal algorithms developed, we apply the smart antenna to adaptive filtering. But the performances of adaptive filtering differ from each other corresponding to different algorithms. The linear constraint minimum variance (LCMV) criteria shall be applicable to the case of lower array signal noise ratio (ASNR), while the interference suppression criteria shall be applicable to the opposite case. We can get the best performance in any cases using the maximum signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (MSINR) criteria, but sometimes it has application limitations. To solve this problem, an alterable parameter adaptive filter is proposed, which minimizes the output noise power under a premise, that is, there exists no shift from the target and the interference can be suppressed to a certain extent. The methods of the alterable parameter estimation are discussed, and performance analyses and simulation results are given as well. It can be concluded from the results that a nearly ideal output signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) of the novel adaptive filter can be expected, keeping the original phase and amplitude of the target.
DNA double-strand breaks and ATM activation by transcription-blocking DNA lesions

Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM), the deficiency of which causes a severe neurodegenerative disease, is a crucial mediator for the DNA double-strand break (DSB) response. We recently showed that transcription-blocking topoisomerase I cleavage complexes (TOP1cc) produce DSBs related to R-loop formation and activate ATM in post-mitotic neurons and lymphocytes. Here we discuss how TOP1cc can produce transcription arrest with R-loop formation and generate DSBs that activate ATM, as well as data suggesting that those transcription-dependent DSBs tend to form at the IgH locus and at specific genomic sites. We also address the potential roles of ATM in response to transcription-blocking TOP1cc.
A Review of Stabilized Silver Nanoparticles – Synthesis , Biological Properties , Characterization , and Potential Areas of Applications

Nobel metal nanoparticles have drawn significant attention for a wide range of new applications in various fields including biology and medicine. Research work during the last two decades have clearly demonstrated that the properties of nanoparticles, in particular silver nanoparticles are strongly influenced by shape, size and size distribution, which is dictated by the synthetic method adopted. In this review, we enumerate various top-down and bottom up approaches to synthesize nanoparticles. Chemical reduction method is one of the simple and facile approaches for bottom-up synthesis of silver nanoparticles and the stability of the synthesized nanoparticles has been found to be influenced by the type and amount of reducing agent and type of stabilizer used. Some of the capping reagents discussed including citrate salts, oleic acid, amino silanes, and polyelectrolytes so as to stabilize the nanoparticles. Instead of using polyelectrolytes to conjugate nanoparticles, biomacromolecules have been used to stabilize nanoparticles so that it renders the nanoparticles bioactive and biocompatible as well as provides additional functionalities for further biological interactions. Surface modification of nanoparticles with proteins such as Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) is an effective approach to providing electrosteric stability to silver nanoparticles. We highlight the various pathways by which stabilized nanoparticles promote antibacterial activity and describe the impact of stabilized nanoparticles on mammalian cells. More importantly, in this review we describe the possibility of a concentration window at which nanoparticles are toxic to bacteria and not to mammalian cells, so that the nanoparticles loaded matrix could be designed with the intent that nanoparticles when released in the physiological medium can maintain a sterile environment against microorganisms while not inhibiting the growth of mammalian cells in the site specific region of intended application. Additionally, methodologies used to characterize the composition, morphology and biological properties of synthesized nanoparticles by multiple techniques have been presented.
Skeletal muscle function in patients with hemophilia A and unilateral hemarthrosis of the knee.

Acute hemarthrosis is a frequent complication of hemophilia A. To test the hypothesis that recurrent hemarthrosis has an adverse effect on neuromuscular function, ten patients with hemophilia A and history of unilateral hemarthrosis of the knee were studied. The uninvolved (U) side was used as the control. The time since diagnosis, factor level, and the number of bleeding episodes in the involved (I) knee averaged 11.6 +/- 6.6 years, 7.7 +/- 5.1%, and 7.0 +/- 7.4, respectively. Neuromuscular function was evaluated on a Cybex 340 isokinetic dynamometer. Knee extensor strength measured at 60 degrees/sec was significantly (p less than .05) lower in the I side (mean = 58Nm) than in the U side (mean = 85Nm). Similarly, lower (p less than .05) total work (I = 479J, U = 656J) and average power output (I = 59W, U = 83W) values were obtained. Adjusting for thigh circumference did not eliminate any of these differences. Testing the extensors at faster angular velocities (180 degrees/sec and 240 degrees/sec) and the flexor muscle groups at the three speeds revealed no differences between I and U. X-rays showed minimal changes. These data show that patients with hemophilia A and history of unilateral hemarthrosis of the knee have neuromuscular dysfunction in the I extremity that precedes the appearance of radiologic evidence of joint pathology. It is suggested that strength training should be started early in the rehabilitation of hemophiliacs.
Pomegranate (Punica granatum) Juice Shows Antioxidant Activity against Cutaneous Leishmaniasis-Induced Oxidative Stress in Female BALB/c Mice

Leishmania species are parasites that multiply within phagocytes and cause several clinical diseases characterized by single or multiple ulcerations. One of the complications that can induce tissue damage and the resulting scars is caused by secondary bacterial infections. Studies to find new, effective, and safe oral drugs for treating leishmaniasis are being conducted since several decades, owing to the problems associated with the use of antimonials available. Previously, the antiparasitic and antioxidant properties of Punica granatum (pomegranate, P. granatum) have been reported. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to investigate the antileishmanial activity of pomegranate aqueous juice in vitro and in female BALB/c mice. A 3-(4.5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in Leishmania major promastigotes and alterations in the antioxidant status, liver function, and skin histological changes in L. major-infected mice orally treated with pomegranate juice alone and in combination with the antibiotic ciprofloxacin, were used to investigate the in vitro and in vivo antileishmanial activity of pomegranate juice, respectively. Oral P. granatum juice treatment significantly reduced the average size of cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions compared with that of the untreated mice. This antileishmanial activity of P. granatum was associated with enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities. Histopathological evaluation proved the antileishmanial activity of P. granatum, but did not reveal changes in the treated animals, compared to the positive control. In conclusion, P. granatum shows high and fast antileishmanial activity probably by boosting the endogenous antioxidant activity.
Infant intake of fatty acids from human milk over the first year of lactation

Despite the importance of human milk fatty acids for infant growth and development, there are few reports describing infant intakes of individual fatty acids. We have measured volume, fat content and fatty acid composition of milk from each breast at each feed over a 24h period to determine the mean daily amounts of each fatty acid delivered to the infant from breast milk at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9 and 12 months of lactation in five women. Daily (24h) milk production was 336·60 (sem 26·21) and 414·49 (sem 28·39) ml and milk fat content was 36·06 (sem 1·37) and 34·97 (sem 1·50) g/l for left and right breasts respectively over the course of the first year of lactation. Fatty acid composition varied over the course of the day (mean CV 14·3 (sd 7·7) %), but did not follow a circadian rhythm. The proportions (g/100g total fatty acids) of fatty acids differed significantly between mothers (P<0·05) and over the first year of lactation (P<0·05). However, amounts (g) of most fatty acids delivered to the infant over 24h did not differ during the first year of lactation and only the amounts of 18:3n-3, 22:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 delivered differed between mothers (P<0·05). Mean amounts of 18:2n-6, 18:3n-3, 20:4n-6 and 22:6n-3 delivered to the infant per 24h over the first year of lactation were 2·380 (sd 0·980), 0·194 (sd 0·074), 0·093 (sd 0·031) and 0·049 (sd 0·021) g respectively. These results suggest that variation in proportions of fatty acids may not translate to variation in the amount delivered and that milk production and fat content need to be considered.
Effects of Imatinib Mesylate on Renin–Angiotensin System (RAS) Activity during the Clinical Course of Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia

The renin–angiotensin system (RAS) is involved in cell growth, proliferation and differentiation in bone marrow in an autocrine–paracrine manner, and it modulates normal and neoplastic haematopoietic cell proliferation. This study aimed to assess expressions of the RAS components, renin, angiotensinogen and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), during imatinib mesylate treatment of patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). Expressions of RAS components were studied in patients with CML at the time of diagnosis (n = 83) and at 3, 6 and 12 months after diagnosis (n = 35) by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. De novo CML patients had increased ACE, angiotensinogen and renin mRNA levels and these expression levels decreased following administration of imatinib. The RAS activities were significantly different among Sokal risk groups of CML, highlighting the altered biological activity of RAS in neoplastic disorders. The results of this study confirm that haematopoietic RAS affects neoplastic cell production, which may be altered via administration of tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as imatinib mesylate.
Residual Network-Based Supervised Learning of Remotely Sensed Fall Incidents using Ultra-Wideband Radar

Detecting falls using radar has many applications in smart health care. In this paper, a novel method for fall detection in human daily activities using an ultra wideband radar technology is proposed. A time series derived from the radar scattering matrix is used as input to the the residual network for automatic feature extraction. In contrast to other existing methods, the proposed method relies on multi-level feature learning directly from the radar time series signals. In particular, the proposed method utilizes a deep residual neural network for automating feature learning and enhancing model discriminability. The performance of the proposed method is compared with that of the other methods such as support vector machine, K-nearest neighbors, multi-layer perceptron and dynamic time warping techniques. The results show that the proposed fall detection method outperforms the other methods in terms of accuracy and sensitivity values.
Normal personality, personality disorder and psychosis: current views and future perspectives

Purpose of review The purpose of this article is to review recent literature examining the occurrence of psychotic experiences in normal population and those with personality disorders. Recent findings Up to 15% of individuals in the general population report some type or degree of psychotic experience. Most of these individuals function adequately, do not require psychiatric treatment and do not receive diagnosis of a psychotic illness. A significant number of individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (25–50%) also report psychotic symptoms. These are not easily differentiated from the psychotic symptoms reported by individuals with schizophrenia, nor are they always transient. However, emerging research has confirmed that individuals with schizotypal personality disorder are dimensionally related to those with schizophrenia and are at an increased risk of transition to psychosis. Summary Psychotic symptoms are best considered as ‘trans-diagnostic’ entities on a continuum from normal to pathological. There is a large body of evidence for a dimensional relationship between schizotypal personality disorder and schizophrenia. There is also a significant amount of research showing that psychotic symptoms in borderline personality disorder are frequent, nontransient and represent a marker of illness severity. This review highlights the need to move beyond traditional assumptions and categorical boundaries when evaluating psychotic experiences and psychopathological phenomena.
Influence of Acute Multispecies and Multistrain Probiotic Supplementation on Cardiovascular Function and Reactivity to Psychological Stress in Young Adults: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Objective The potential influence of probiotic supplementation on cardiovascular health and stress responsivity remains largely unexplored. Some evidence suggests the possibility that probiotics may influence blood pressure. A separate body of research suggests that exaggerated cardiovascular reactions to acute psychological stress in the laboratory predict cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The current investigation explored the effect of acute probiotic use on (1) resting cardiovascular measures in healthy young adults and (2) cardiovascular and psychological reactions to an acute psychological stressor in the laboratory. Method Participants (N = 105, M [SD] age = 20.17 [1.26], 84.8% white) completed a 2-week, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial of a multispecies and multistrain probiotic. Exclusion criteria included previous probiotic use, diagnosed gastrointestinal disorder, and/or current antibiotic use. At visits 1 and 2, participants completed the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test, a widely used psychological stress task. Participants were randomly assigned to a probiotic blend or matched placebo. Results Compared with placebo, 2-week probiotic supplementation did not affect resting measures of cardiovascular function, cardiovascular responses during or recovery from stress, or psychological reactions to acute psychological stress. Conclusions Contrary to expectations, short-term use of a probiotic supplement in healthy participants did not influence measures of cardiovascular function or responsivity to psychological stress. Future research is needed to determine species- and strain-specific effects of probiotics in healthy participants with various degrees of stress responsiveness, as well as in diseased populations.
A cooperative value in a multiplicative model

In this study, we consider positive cooperative TU games with finitely many players. We assume that all agents use the same scale. Furthermore, the worth that a coalition of players can achieve by cooperation is measured as a multiple of a defined standard base. In this multiplicative setting we characterise and analyse a solution concept which is related to the well known Shapley value. From a statistical point of view, the methodology allows computing relative importance of individual factors on the expected value. In particular, we present a specific application to general insurance pricing. As a result, the value may be used to analyse the business mix of an insurance portfolio by measuring exposure to risk factors. Similar applications refer to credit scoring and customer relationship management. In this sense, the modelling approach may be embedded as a risk analysis technique within a risk management framework.
Efficacy of phototherapy for neonatal jaundice is increased by the use of low-cost white reflecting curtains

Objective: To determine whether the addition of low-cost reflecting curtains to a standard phototherapy unit could increase effectiveness of phototherapy for neonatal jaundice. Design: Randomised controlled clinical trial. Setting: Level-one nursery of the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malayasia. Patients: Term newborns with uncomplicated neonatal jaundice presenting in the first week of life. Interventions: Phototherapy with white curtains hanging from the sides of the phototherapy unit (study group, n = 50) was compared with single phototherapy without curtains (control group, n = 47). Main outcome measures: The primary outcome was the mean difference in total serum bilirubin measured at baseline and after 4 h of phototherapy. The secondary outcome was the duration of phototherapy. Results: The mean (standard deviation) decrease in total serum bilirubin levels after 4 h of phototherapy was significantly (p<0.001) higher in the study group (27.62 (25.24) μmol/l) than in the control group (4.04 (24.27) μmol/l). Cox proportional hazards regression analysis indicated that the median duration of phototherapy was significantly shorter in the study group (12 h) than in the control group (34 h; χ2 change 45.2; p<0.001; hazards ratio 0.20; 95% confidence interval 0.12 to 0.32). No difference in adverse events was noted in terms of hyperthermia or hypothermia, weight loss, rash, loose stools or feeding intolerance. Conclusion: Hanging white curtains around phototherapy units significantly increases efficacy of phototherapy in the treatment of neonatal jaundice without evidence of increased adverse effects.
An epidemiologic investigation of injuries affecting young competitive female gymnasts

A prospective study of injuries affecting 50 highly com petitive young female gymnasts was conducted over a period of 1 year. Many of the findings of this investi gation were consistent with previous studies and sug gest particular injury trends in women's gymnastics. These results included injury location, injury severity, nature of onset, event, and activity at the time of injury. Some of the descriptive results, however, provided information that was heretofore unreported or incon sistent with previous investigations. These findings in volved injury rate, reinjury rate, time loss, injury type, hours of practice, and incidence of physician-seen in juries. Some of these findings were disturbing and echo concerns registered in the professional literature. In particular, the reinjury rate is alarming and points to the need for complete rehabilitation before return to full participation. The results of the analytic component of the study alluded to the potential role of competitive level and maturation rate in the profile of the injury- prone gymnast. Specifically, rapid periods of growth and advanced levels of training and competition ap peared to be related to injury proneness. Pursuant to the descriptive and analytic results of the investigation, recommendations for injury prevention and continued research are made.
CONTENT BASED IMAGE CLASSIFICATION AND RETRIEVAL USING VISUAL BAG OF FEATURES AND ADABOOST ALGORITHM Parthiban

This paper proposes the content based classification and retrieval of images using Visual bag of Features and adaboost classifier. The Visual bag of Features has been extracted from the input images and then the visual bag of features is classified using the adboost classifier algorithm. The proposed algorithm greatly reduces the Storage cost and efficient search using the inverted data structure. The efficiency of the proposed algorithm is tested with Mean Opinion Score (MOS).
Are Chinese workers compensated for occupational risk?

This study contributes to an important, but under-researched, topic on China by empirically examining the theory of compensating wage differentials for occupational risks in urban labour markets. Drawing on two datasets – one national for all workers and one from the Pearl River Delta for migrant workers – we examine the relationship between wages and occupational risks, and estimate the risk premium for health hazards. The results show that having risky jobs, especially those associated with dust, has a significant negative effect on hourly wages. The negative risk premium accounts for approximately 10% of all workers' hourly wage in safe jobs using the national dataset and 1.8% of migrant workers' hourly wage in safe jobs in the Pearl River Delta. With the national data, males, migrant workers and manual workers incur a wage penalty for exposure to dust, chemical substances, biological hazards and other health hazards. Only urban locals earn a significantly positive wage premium for exposure to chemical substances. We offer several explanations for the negative wage premium in the context of China's urban labour market.