Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Speech representation and transformation using adaptive interpolation of weighted spectrum: vocoder revisited

A simple new procedure called STRAIGHT (speech transformation and representation using adaptive interpolation of weighted spectrum) has been developed. STRAIGHT uses pitch-adaptive spectral analysis combined with a surface reconstruction method in the time-frequency region, and an excitation source design based on phase manipulation. It preserves the bilinear surface in the time-frequency region and allows for over 600% manipulation of such speech parameters as pitch, vocal tract length, and speaking rate, without further degradation due to the parameter manipulation.
Democracy and Famine Revisited : Investigating the effects of contestation, participation and civil liberties

Qualitative famine scholars have for three decades argued that democratic institutions are remarkably effective in reducing famine vulnerability. Yet, only two publications exist where systematized cross-country analyses have been used for empirically investigating the relationship. Plumper and Neumayer (2009) find that democracies are more effective than autocracies in combating famine, while Rubin (2011) finds little evidence to support such a claim. In contrast to these studies, I disaggregate the concept of democracy, and develop a theoretical framework explaining how contestation, participation and civil liberties may all be linked to famine prevention. A quantitative research design is developed in order to investigate the link between each of these components of democracy and famine occurrence. While there is no strong evidence that political participation and contestation are systematically related to famine vulnerability, the analysis reveals that the protection of civil liberties has a considerable impact on whether famines are likely to occur. The findings thus provide evidence for the proposed theoretical argument that governments are accountable to the public as long as citizens are able to voice their concerns. However, robustness tests reveal that certain caveats are warranted as regards the interpretation of the results. Most notably, it is hard to ascertain the conceptual precision of the civil liberties indicator, and it is therefore not possible to determine whether some factors that characterize ‘free societies’ are more important than others in preventing famine. Yet, despite this shortcoming, the thesis demonstrates that disaggregating democracy is a viable strategy for more specifically identifying which mechanisms that reduce famine vulnerability.
The effectiveness of cigarette price and smoke-free homes on low-income smokers in the United States.

OBJECTIVES We examined the effectiveness of state cigarette price and smoke-free homes on smoking behaviors of low-income and high-income populations in the United States. METHODS We used the 2006-2007 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey. The primary outcomes were average daily cigarette consumption and successful quitting. We used multivariable regression to examine the association of cigarette price and smoke-free home policies on these outcomes. RESULTS High state cigarette price (pack price ≥ $4.50) was associated with lower consumption across all income levels. Although low-income individuals were least likely to adopt smoke-free homes, those who adopted them had consumption levels and successful quit rates that were similar to those among higher-income individuals. In multivariable analysis, both policies were independently associated with lower consumption, but only smoke-free homes were associated with sustained cessation at 90 days. CONCLUSIONS High cigarette prices and especially smoke-free homes have the potential to reduce smoking behaviors among low-income individuals. Interventions are needed to increase adoption of smoke-free homes among low-income populations to increase cessation rates and prevent relapse.
P-element-induced interallelic gene conversion of insertions and deletions in Drosophila melanogaster

We studied the process by which whd, a P-element insertion allele of the Drosophila melanogaster white locus, is replaced by its homolog in the presence of transposase. These events are interpreted as the result of double-strand gap repair following excision of the P transposon in whd. We used a series of alleles derived from whd through P-element mobility as templates for this repair. One group of alleles, referred to collectively as whd-F, carried fragments of the P element that had lost some of the sequences needed in cis for mobility. The other group, whd-D, had lost all of the P insert and had some of the flanking DNA from white deleted. The average replacement frequencies were 43% for whd-F alleles and 7% for the whd-D alleles. Some of the former were converted at frequencies exceeding 50%. Our data suggest that the high conversion frequencies for the whd-F templates can be attributed at least in part to an elevated efficiency of repair of unexpanded gaps that is possibly caused by the closer match between whd-F sequences and the unexpanded gap endpoints. In addition, we found that the gene substitutions were almost exclusively in the direction of whd being replaced by the whd-F or whd-D allele rather than the reverse. The template alleles were usually unaltered in the process. This asymmetry implies that the conversion process is unidirectional and that the P fragments are not good substrates for P-element transposase. Our results help elucidate a highly efficient double-strand gap repair mechanism in D. melanogaster that can also be used for gene replacement procedures involving insertions and deletions. They also help explain the rapid spread of P elements in populations.
Gap Detection Measured With Electrically Evoked Auditory Event–Related Potentials and Speech-Perception Abilities in Children With Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder

Objectives: This study aimed (1) to investigate the feasibility of recording the electrically evoked auditory event–related potential (eERP), including the onset P1-N1-P2 complex and the electrically evoked auditory change complex (EACC) in response to temporal gaps, in children with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD); and (2) to evaluate the relationship between these measures and speech-perception abilities in these subjects. Design: Fifteen ANSD children who are Cochlear Nucleus device users participated in this study. For each subject, the speech-processor microphone was bypassed and the eERPs were elicited by direct stimulation of one mid-array electrode (electrode 12). The stimulus was a train of biphasic current pulses 800 msec in duration. Two basic stimulation conditions were used to elicit the eERP. In the no-gap condition, the entire pulse train was delivered uninterrupted to electrode 12, and the onset P1-N1-P2 complex was measured relative to the stimulus onset. In the gapped condition, the stimulus consisted of two pulse train bursts, each being 400 msec in duration, presented sequentially on the same electrode and separated by one of five gaps (i.e., 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 msec). Open-set speech-perception ability of these subjects with ANSD was assessed using the phonetically balanced kindergarten (PBK) word lists presented at 60 dB SPL, using monitored live voice in a sound booth. Results: The eERPs were recorded from all subjects with ANSD who participated in this study. There were no significant differences in test–retest reliability, root mean square amplitude or P1 latency for the onset P1-N1-P2 complex between subjects with good (>70% correct on PBK words) and poorer speech-perception performance. In general, the EACC showed less mature morphological characteristics than the onset P1-N1-P2 response recorded from the same subject. There was a robust correlation between the PBK word scores and the EACC thresholds for gap detection. Subjects with poorer speech-perception performance showed larger EACC thresholds in this study. Conclusions: These results demonstrate the feasibility of recording eERPs from implanted children with ANSD, using direct electrical stimulation. Temporal-processing deficits, as demonstrated by large EACC thresholds for gap detection, might account in part for the poor speech-perception performances observed in a subgroup of implanted subjects with ANSD. This finding suggests that the EACC elicited by changes in temporal continuity (i.e., gap) holds promise as a predictor of speech-perception ability among implanted children with ANSD.
Involvement of Vesicle-Associated Membrane Protein 7 in Human Gastric Epithelial Cell Vacuolation Induced by Helicobacter pylori-Produced VacA

ABSTRACT Helicobacter pylori-produced cytotoxin VacA induces intracellular vacuolation. The VacA-induced vacuole is assumed to represent the pathological status of intracellular trafficking. The fusion mechanism of the endosomes requires the formation of a tight complex between the Q-SNAREs and the R-SNAREs. We recently reported that syntaxin 7, a family member of the Q-SNARE protein, is involved in VacA-induced vacuole formation. In order to further elucidate the molecular mechanism, we identified the participation of vesicle-associated membrane protein 7 (VAMP7) as a partner of syntaxin 7. Immunocytochemistry revealed endogenous VAMP7 to be localized to the vacuoles induced by VacA. A Northern blotting study demonstrated that VacA intoxication increased VAMP7 mRNA in a time-dependent manner. VAMP7 was coimmunoprecipitated with syntaxin 7, and the amounts of endogenous VAMP7 and syntaxin 7 bound to syntaxin 7 and VAMP7, respectively, increased in response to VacA. The down-regulation of VAMP7 using small interfering RNA inhibited VacA-induced vacuolation, and the transient transfection of dominant-negative mutant VAMP7, the N-terminal domain of VAMP7, also inhibited the vacuolation. We therefore conclude that R-SNARE VAMP7 plays an important role in VacA-induced vacuolation as a partner of Q-SNARE syntaxin 7.
Osmoregulation in elephant fish Callorhinchus milii (Holocephali), with special reference to the rectal gland

SUMMARY Osmoregulatory mechanisms in holocephalan fishes are poorly understood except that these fish are known to conduct urea-based osmoregulation as in elasmobranchs. We, therefore, examined changes in plasma parameters of elephant fish Callorhinchus milii, after gradual transfer to concentrated (120%) or diluted (80%) seawater (SW). In control fish, plasma Na and urea concentrations were about 300 mmol l–1 and 450 mmol l–1, respectively. These values were equivalent to those of sharks and rays, but the plasma urea concentration of elephant fish was considerably higher than that reported for chimaeras, another holocephalan. After transfer to 120% SW, plasma osmolality, urea and ion concentrations were increased, whereas transfer to 80% SW resulted in a fall in these parameters. The rises in ion concentrations were notable after transfer to 120% SW, whereas urea concentration decreased predominantly following transfer to 80% SW. In elephant fish, we could not find a discrete rectal gland. Instead, approximately 10 tubular structures were located in the wall of post-valvular intestine. Each tubular structure was composed of a putative salt-secreting component consisting of a single-layered columnar epithelium, which was stained with an anti-Na+,K+-ATPase serum. Furthermore, Na+,K+-ATPase activity in the tubular structures was significantly increased after acute transfer of fish to concentrated SW (115%). These results suggest that the tubular structures are a rectal gland equivalent, functioning as a salt-secreting organ. Since the rectal gland of elephant fish is well developed compared to that of Southern chimaera, the salt-secreting ability may be higher in elephant fish than chimaeras, which may account for the lower plasma NaCl concentration in elephant fish compared to other chimaeras. Since elephant fish have also attracted attention from a viewpoint of genome science, the availability of fish for physiological studies will make this species an excellent model in holocephalan fish group.
Corresponding chromaticities for different states of adaptation to complex visual fields.

While each of his or her two eyes was independently adapted to a different illuminant in viewing a complex visual field, each of a number of observers matched a series of test colors seen by one eye with a juxtaposed variable stimulus seen by the other eye. The 2 degrees test and matching stimuli were located centrally in the complex adapting field, which subtended an angle of 31 degrees X 24 degrees. In making the matches, the observer viewed the test and matching stimuli for a series of brief intervals (approximately 1 sec) while viewing the complex adapting field with normal eye movements. Nine experiments were performed with different pairs of illuminants and different illuminances ranging from that of an average living room to that of a scene illuminated with hazy sunlight. In three other experiments each of the observer's two eyes was adapted to a different illuminance of D55. The amount of adaptation was more nearly complete at high levels of illuminance than at low levels, and the proportional amount of adaptation was less for the "blue" receptors. When adaptation coefficients were determined from the actual adaptation differences (e.g., from corresponding tristimulus values for matching neutrals) rather than from the adapting illuminants, a linear von Kries transformation based on experimentally determined visual primaries gave corresponding chromaticities that were in good agreement with the results obtained in each of the chromatic-adaptation experiments, except at the lowest illuminances. The results of the experiments in which each eye was adapted to different levels of the same illuminant indicated again that adaptation to the different levels was incomplete, the proportional amount of adaptation being less at low illuminances and for the "blue" receptors. This caused a change in chromatic adaptation with the level of illuminance even when the chromaticities of the adapting lights were equal. The results of these experiments also indicated that higher purities are needed in order to produce the same absolute color appearances at low levels of illuminance.
Prognostic factors for survival in advanced appendiceal cancers.

BACKGROUND Appendiceal cancer is a rare malignancy. The optimal pathologic classification and prognostic factors for survival and treatment strategies remain poorly understood. OBJECTIVE The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to determine prognostic factors, including markers of systemic inflammation, for survival in a cohort of patients with advanced appendiceal adenocarcinomas. METHODS The study included patients with advanced appendiceal carcinoma that were treated between January 2006 and June 2012. The associations between age, gender, histopathologic subtype of appendiceal malignancy and treatment with heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and overall survival (OS) were assessed. The relationship between various markers of inflammation (platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio) and OS was also evaluated. RESULTS A total of 49 patients met eligibility criteria. Female gender and low-grade adenocarcinoma were associated with increased OS. These data suggest that the use of HIPEC treatment may also be associated with improved OS, but the difference was not statistically significant (HR = 0.37 [0.12-1.18], p = 0.09). We found no evidence of an association between markers of inflammation at diagnosis and OS. CONCLUSIONS Histopathologic subtype and gender are associated with OS in patients with advanced appendiceal carcinoma. Baseline platelet levels, NLR, and PLR do not appear to be predictive of OS in this setting.
Dose adjustment of ciprofloxacin in renal failure: reduce the dose or prolong the administration interval?

BACKGROUND Dose adjustments of antimicrobial drugs are necessary in renal failure. One method of dose adjustment is to reduce the dose and the other is to prolong the administration interval in proportion to the reduced drug clearance. Pharmacokinetically, both methods involve an identical drug exposure but pharmacodynamically there may be differences. It is not known which dose adjustment method is preferable in patients with renal failure. METHODS We performed simulations using a published mechanism-based pharmacokinetic/ pharmacodynamic model of ciprofloxacin effects on growth and death of Escherichia coli bacteria. Ciprofloxacin 500 mg every 12 hrs was selected as the standard dose. In renal failure either the dose was reduced (250 mg every 12 hrs) or the administration interval was prolonged (500 mg every 24 hrs) in proportion to the reduced ciprofloxacin clearance. Simulations were done with use of a commercial software package. RESULTS In normal renal function, using the standard dose, bacterial eradication was predicted on day 3. In renal failure, bacterial eradication was predicted on day 3 when using the interval prolongation scheme but only on day 6 when using the dose reduction scheme. The relationship between the efficacies of these 3 dosage schemes could have been predicted by AUC above MIC and AUIC, but not by AUC/MIC or time above MIC. CONCLUSION Prolongation of the administration interval may be the preferable dose adjustment method in renal failure with ciprofloxacin. We hypothesize that these results may be transferable to other so-called dose-dependent antimicrobial drugs.
Managers and Organizational Citizenship Behavior

In this research on the one hand we analyzed the relationship that exists in terms of motivational persistence and the Big Five dimensions and, on the other hand, organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). The results show that the conscientiousness has been identified as being in a significant positive relationship with OCB. This result is consistent with the data provided by previous researchers. The results also indicate that three conscientiousness facets are in a positive relationship with OCB. These three conscientiousness facets are selfefficacy, cautiousness and orderliness. Agreeableness was not identified as being associated with OCB. At the level of the relationship between motivational persistence factors and OCB, we have identified a significant positive relationship with only one factor: current purpose pursuing. The OCB model has two variables that work best as predictors: high scores with regard to current purpose in terms of the pursuing-motivational persistence factor, and low scores in terms of the imagination-facet of openness to experience.
Obstructive sleep apnea as a risk factor for cerebral white matter change in a middle-aged and older general population.

STUDY OBJECTIVE Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) contributes to the development of systemic hypertension, and hypertension strongly predicts the development of white matter change (WMC). Thus, it is plausible that OSA mediates WMC. The goal of the current study is to determine whether a contextual relationship exists between OSA and cerebral WMC. DESIGN Cross-sectional analyses conducted in a population-based study. SETTING Korean community-based sample from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) who attended examinations in 2011 at a medical center. PARTICIPANTS There were 503 individuals (mean ± SD, age 59.63 ± 7.48 y) who were free of previously diagnosed cardiovascular and neurologic diseases. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Participants underwent 1-night polysomnography and were classified as no OSA (obstructive apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] < 5, n = 289), mild OSA (AHI 5-15, n = 161), and moderate to severe OSA (AHI ≥ 15, n = 53). WMC was identified with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and was found in 199 individuals (39.56%). Multivariate logistic regression analyses adjusted for covariates revealed that moderate to severe OSA was significantly associated with the presence of WMC (odds ratio [OR] 2.08, 95%, confidence interval [CI] 1.05-4.13) compared with no OSA. Additional adjustment of hypertension to the model did not alter the significance of the association (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.02-4.05). CONCLUSIONS Moderate to severe OSA is an independent risk factor for WMC in middle-aged and older individuals. Thus, early recognition and treatment of OSA could reduce the risk of stroke and vascular dementia.
Patterns of Reading Performance in Acute Stroke: A Descriptive Analysis

One of the main sources of information regarding the underlying processes involved in both normal and impaired reading has been the study of reading deficits that occur as a result of brain damage. However, patterns of reading deficits found acutely after brain injury have been little explored. The observed patterns of performance in chronic stroke patients might reflect reorganization of the cognitive processes underlying reading or development of compensatory strategies that are not normally used to read. Method: 112 acute left hemisphere stroke patients were administered a task of oral reading of words and pseudowords within 1–2 days of hospital admission; performance was examined for error rate and type, and compared to that on tasks involving visual lexical decision, visual/auditory comprehension, and naming. Results: Several distinct patterns of performance were identified. Although similarities were found between the patterns of reading performance observed acutely and the classical acquired dyslexias generally identified more chronically, some notable differences were observed. Of interest was the finding that no patient produced any pure semantic errors in reading, despite finding such errors in comprehension and naming.
Contrasting effects of human THP-1 cell differentiation on levofloxacin and moxifloxacin intracellular accumulation and activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus invade and multiply in THP-1 monocytes. Fluoroquinolones accumulate in these cells, but are less active against intracellular than extracellular forms of L. monocytogenes and S. aureus. We examined whether differentiation of THP-1 monocytes into adherent, macrophage-like cells increases fluoroquinolone uptake and activity. METHODS THP-1 monocytes were differentiated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and compared with unstimulated cells for: (i) moxifloxacin and levofloxacin accumulation; and (ii) activity against phagocytosed L. monocytogenes and S. aureus (5 h contact). RESULTS The differentiation of THP-1 monocytes caused: (i) a 3- to 4-fold increase in moxifloxacin uptake and a significant increase in its activity against intracellular L. monocytogenes (from 1.3 log(10) to 2.1 log(10) cfu decrease compared with the post-phagocytosis inoculum), but not against S. aureus (1.0-1.2 log(10) cfu decrease throughout); and (ii) no change in levofloxacin accumulation and intracellular activity against either L. monocytogenes or S. aureus. CONCLUSIONS Although differentiation of monocytes enhances the uptake and activity of moxifloxacin against L. monocytogenes, this cannot be extended to other intracellular bacteria and to levofloxacin. These results further demonstrate that antibiotic intracellular accumulation and activity are not necessarily linked and suggest that intracellular drug and pathogen combinations must be studied individually.