Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EPG therapy for children with long‐standing speech disorders: predictions and outcomes

This paper reports on a project using a series of single subjects to investigate the effectiveness of using electropalatography (EPG) in treating ten children with persisting speech difficulties of no known organic aetiology. The aims of the project were two‐fold, firstly to assess whether the subjects selected benefited from this treatment, and secondly to investigate whether it was possible to predict which children would make maximum improvement. A number of factors were identified as possible predictors for successful EPG therapy and subjects were then ranked according to these predictions. Baseline measures of each subject's speech were taken using word lists. Scores reflected the correct number of realizations of consonants produced by each subject. Subjects received the same number of therapy sessions and were then re‐tested. Scores before and after therapy were compared and found to be significantly different although the initial predictions as to the magnitude of improvement for each subject were not verified. The selection of appropriate candidates for therapy and the need for objective means of establishing effectiveness are discussed.
VHDL-AMS modeling of an integrated gas flow sensor readout channel with pressure compensation.

An analog circuit for the compensation of pressure effects in thermal flow meters is presented. The result is obtained by modulating the power delivered to the heater by means of a feedback loop that senses the pressure variations with no need of an additional pressure sensor. A possible system architecture is proposed and the effectiveness of the method is demonstrated by means of VHDL-AMS simulations.
Quality of life after among ovarian germ cell cancer survivors: a narrative analysis.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To describe and interpret the meaning of experiences that are important to the quality of living of ovarian germ cell cancer survivors. RESEARCH APPROACH Qualitative description within a constructivist paradigm. SETTING 32 member sites of the Gynecologic Oncology Group and the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. PARTICIPANTS 109 women between the ages of 19-64 (median age = 36) who were enrolled on prospective clinical trials of cisplatin-based chemotherapy after surgery and disease-free for at least two years. METHODOLOGIC APPROACH As part of a larger study, narrative responses to four semistructured questions were collected at the end of a telephone interview. Using naturalistic inquiry and qualitative description techniques, content labels were assigned to units of text that seemed to encapsulate one complete thought or idea. The labeled groups were collapsed into interpreted subthemes. Finally, four general themes were constructed as representations of shared narrative responses and meanings. FINDINGS The four constructed themes are celebrating illness, experiencing empathetic affirmation, mourning losses, and valuing illness. INTERPRETATION In addition to measuring physical, psychological, and sexual functioning in women surviving ovarian germ cell cancer, nurses also must understand how these issues fit into their everyday lived experiences. The four themes may help clinicians and researchers to understand issues that are important to the quality of living of ovarian germ cell cancer survivors.
Predictive Factors for Successful Sacral Nerve Stimulation in the Treatment of Fecal Incontinence: Lessons From a Comprehensive Treatment Assessment

BACKGROUND: Sacral nerve stimulation has a place in the treatment algorithm for fecal incontinence, but the predictive factors of its midterm and long-term success are unknown. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a 3-year sacral nerve stimulation treatment of fecal continence and to identify specific predictive factors from the pretreatment and per-treatment assessments for the midterm success of sacral nerve stimulation. DESIGN: A cohort analysis of consecutive patients treated with sacral nerve stimulation for fecal incontinence over a period of 3 years was performed. SETTINGS: This study was conducted at an academic colorectal unit in a tertiary care center. PATIENTS: Sixty patients were available for the assessment of 3-year outcomes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical outcome (including Cleveland Clinic score) and anorectal physiological data were collected prospectively before and after treatment. RESULTS: At the 3-year follow-up, 33 of the 60 implanted patients had an improved outcome as defined by a ≥30% improvement in the Cleveland Clinic score from baseline (37.1% on intention to treat and 55.0% per protocol), whereas 22 had an unsuccessful outcome as defined by a <30% improvement in the Cleveland Clinic score from baseline (24.7% on intention to treat and 36.7% per protocol), of whom 7 had their device explanted or switched off permanently before the 3-year assessment, and 3 were lost at follow-up. At 3 years, we failed to identify any factors that could predict the 3-year clinical outcome of sacral nerve stimulation based on preimplantation and postimplantation assessments. LIMITATIONS: This study involved a relatively small number of patients. There was a lack of consistency in the tool used to evaluate the efficacy of the test and permanent stimulations. CONCLUSIONS: Based on per-protocol assessments, 55% of the patients had improved outcomes at the 3-year follow-up. No predictor was identified by the pretreatment and posttreatment assessments (see Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/DCR/A133).
Generation of an allele to inactivate Wnt4 gene function conditionally in the mouse

The Wnt family member Wnt4 is critical for the development of several organs, including the kidney, gonad, and adrenal, mammary, and pituitary glands. To study its potential postnatal functions, we generated a floxed Wnt4 allele. A single loxP site was targeted to the second intron, while a loxP‐Neo‐loxP cassette was placed 3′ from Exon 5. The floxed Neo cassette was subsequently removed by crossing with MeuCre40 transgenic mice. The Wnt4 gene was specifically inactivated with CAGCre and another Wnt4 allele, Wnt4EGFPCre, in which the Cre is driven by the endogenous Wnt4 promoter. Deletion of Wnt4 gene function with CAGCre impaired kidney development, as is the case with the conventional knockout. Similarly, the Wnt4EGFPCre‐mediated inactivation of Wnt4 function considerably reduced the amount of Wnt4 transcripts, led to a severe defect in kidney development, and caused the female embryos to undergo partial sex reversal to males. All in all, the floxed Wnt4 allele serves as a useful tool for studying the roles of Wnt4 signaling during the life cycle. genesis 47:782–788, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Embedding HILK in a three-objective evolutionary algorithm with the aim of modeling highly interpretable fuzzy rule-based classifiers

HILK (Highly Interpretable Linguistic Knowledge) is a fuzzy modeling methodology especially thought for designing interpretable fuzzy rule-based systems. As starting point, it trusts on a domain expert able to define the most influential variables along with the most suitable number of linguistic terms for each of them. However, such task is not easy because problems often involve too many variables. To tackle with this problem, present paper proposes embedding HILK in a three-objective evolutionary algorithm (HILKMO) with the aim of making genetic feature selection and fuzzy partition learning. The use of two-objective (maximizing accuracy and interpretability) evolutionary algorithm has become very popular and effective when dealing with modeling interpretable fuzzy systems. There are also works dealing with three objectives but two of them are usually related to interpretability regarding only the readability of the system description. We have already emphasized, in previous works, the importance of addressing also the system comprehensibility. Therefore, the main contribution of this work is introducing two contradictory goals for characterizing interpretability: maximizing readability of the system explanation. The former objective prefers rules as compact as possible, while the latter one favors the use of rules with low interaction among them because rule interaction is difficult to explain. Both objectives are contradictory because the more compact the rule base, the higher the chance of having rules simultaneously fired by the same input vector. We have chosen NSGA-II as multi-objective evolutionary algorithm and our proposal is tested in the well-known GLASS benchmark problem.
Characterization of 9p24 Risk Locus and Colorectal Adenoma and Cancer: Gene–Environment Interaction and Meta-Analysis

Background: A potential susceptibility locus for colorectal cancer on chromosome 9p24 (rs719725) was initially identified through a genome-wide association study, though replication attempts have been inconclusive. Methods: We genotyped this locus and explored interactions with known risk factors as potential sources of heterogeneity, which may explain the previously inconsistent replication. We included Caucasians with colorectal adenoma or colorectal cancer and controls from 4 studies (total 3,891 cases, 4,490 controls): the Women's Health Initiative (WHI); the Diet, Activity and Lifestyle Study (DALS); a Minnesota population-based case–control study (MinnCCS); and the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial (PLCO). We used logistic regression to evaluate the association and test for gene–environment interactions. Results: SNP rs719725 was statistically significantly associated with risk of colorectal cancer in WHI (OR per A allele 1.19; 95% CI, 1.01–1.40; P trend = 0.04), marginally associated with adenoma risk in PLCO (OR per A allele 1.11; 95% CI, 0.99–1.25; Ptrend = 0.07), and not associated in DALS and MinnCCS. Evaluating for gene–environment interactions yielded no consistent results across the studies. A meta-analysis of 17 studies (including these 4) gave an OR per A allele of 1.07 (95% CI, 1.03–1.12; Ptrend = 0.001). Conclusions: Our results suggest the Aallele for SNP rs719725 at locus 9p24 is positively associated with a small increase in risk for colorectal tumors. Environmental risk factors for colorectal cancer do not appear to explain heterogeneity across studies. Impact: If this finding is supported by further replication and functional studies, it may highlight new pathways underlying colorectal neoplasia. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 19(12); 3131–9. ©2010 AACR.
PENGARUH KINERJA KEUANGAN TERHADAP HARGA SAHAM PADA PERUSAHAAN ROKOK YANG TERDAFTAR DI BURSA EFEK INDONESIA

Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh kinerja keuangan yang diproksi melalui return on assets, earnings per shares, price earnings ratio terhadap harga saham Perusahaan Rokok yang terdaftar di BEI. Sampel yang digunakan dalam penelitian adalah perusahaan rokok yang berjumlah 3 perusahaan serta Teknik analisa yang digunakan adalah analisa regresi berganda. Hasil pengujian menunjukkan pengaruh variabel return on asset, earning per share dan price earning ratio secara bersama-sama terhadap harga saham perusahaan rokok di Bursa Efek Indonesia adalah signifikan dengan nilaikoefisien korelasi sebesar 97,3% yang berarti hubungan antara variabel bebas return on asset, earning per share dan price earning ratio secara bersama-sama terhadap harga saham memiliki hubungan yang erat. Hasil parsial uji secara partial menunjukkan dari 3 variabel yang digunakan model penelitian yaitu return on asset, earning per share dan price earning ratio yang mempunyai pengaruh yang signifikan terhadap harga saham adalah variabel earning per share dan price earning ratio dengan nilai signifikansi yang dihasilkan masing-masing tersebut lebih kecil dari tingkat α = 5%. Hasil pengujian koefisien determinasi parsial variabel earning per share memiliki pengaruh yang dominan terhadap hargasaham.
Differing house price linkages across UK regions: A multi-dimensional recursive ripple model

The aim of this study is to determine the nature of the relationship between house prices of different types of housing across the UK regions. We use an Autoregressive Distributed Lag bounds testing approach to determine the long-run relationships between house prices as well as an error correction model to estimate the short-run dynamics between house prices. The data include house prices across the regions of Great Britain and for new, old and modern houses. The results suggest that house price shocks ripple across regions, although the nature of the relationship varies across housing types. We further simulate the impact of house price shocks and reveal a complex structure whereby a house price shock in region A impacts upon prices in other regions, which in turn feedback into region A in a recursive ripple.
Comparing WTP values of different types of QALY gain elicited from the general public.

BACKGROUND The appropriate thresholds for decisions on the cost-effectiveness of medical interventions remain controversial, especially in 'end-of-life' situations. Evidence of the values placed on different types of health gain by the general public is limited. METHODS Across nine European countries, 17,657 people were presented with different hypothetical health scenarios each involving a gain of one quality adjusted life year (QALY) and asked about their willingness to pay (WTP) for that gain. The questions included quality of life (QoL) enhancing and life extending health gains, and a scenario where respondents faced imminent, premature death. RESULTS The mean WTP values for a one-QALY gain composed of QoL improvements were modest (PPP$11,000). When comparing QALY gains obtained in the near future, the valuation of life extension exceeded the valuation of QoL enhancing gains (mean WTP PPP$19,000 for a scenario in which a coma is avoided). The mean WTP values were higher still when respondents faced imminent, premature death (PPP$29,000). CONCLUSIONS Evidence from the largest survey on the value of health gains by the general public indicated a higher value for life extending gains compared with QoL enhancing gains. A further modest premium may be indicated for life extension when facing imminent, premature death.
Dietary intakes, attitudes toward carbohydrates of postmenopausal women following low carbohydrate diets.

PURPOSE Middle-aged women have the highest levels of obesity and comprise the largest group of dieters. Few investigators have examined how women apply weight-loss diet principles in an unsupervised setting. Dietary intakes and attitudes toward carbohydrates were examined in women who were self-reported low carbohydrate dieters (SRLCDs); these intakes and attitudes were compared with those of women who were following their normal diet (non-dieters [NDs]). METHODS A convenience sample of 29 postmenopausal women aged 45 to 65 was recruited. Data were obtained by interview, questionnaire, and direct anthropometric measurement. Descriptive statistics, chi-square analysis, and analysis of variance were used to compare groups. RESULTS Although total energy and protein intakes were similar, SRLCDs consumed significantly more fat and less carbohydrate (expressed as a percentage of total energy) and more cholesterol and less fibre than did NDs. Both groups had unfavourable attitudes toward carbohydrates. CONCLUSIONS The SRLCDs ate more fat than recommended. Women who are considering following a low carbohydrate diet need to know the nutritional risks of unbalanced self-designed low carbohydrate diets. Negative attitudes toward carbohydrates were not confined to dieters. Nutrition education is necessary to help consumers understand basic nutrition principles and to be more skeptical of fad diets.
A Clinical Rationale for Assessing Rapid Automatized Naming in Children with Language Disorders

Three continuous rapid naming tasks (Semel, Wiig, & Secord, 1995) were administered to 2,450 American, English-speaking, academically achieving individuals with typical language development and intellectual ability (ages 6 to 21 years) and 136 individuals with primary language disorders (LD; ages 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 15-16). Naming time in seconds differed significantly (p < .01) between the groups for color naming (Task 1) at age 12, shape naming (Task 2) at age 6, and color-shape naming (Task 3) at ages 6, 7, 9, and 12. Naming accuracy did not differ significantly (p > .01) between groups at the majority of the age levels compared. In the normative group, naming speed increased with age in a monotonic progression. The developmental trajectory in the LD group was essentially parallel, but elevated. The percentages of individuals who failed the naming-time criteria for Task 3 (color-shape naming) differed significantly in the two groups at all ages compared (p < .05). These findings indicate that the requirements for two-dimensional, continuous naming (Task 3 color-shape naming) resulted in reduced naming speed (longer total times) and interference with fluency in language production in about half of the clinical sample.
Differential Age Effects in Load-Dependent Memory Processing

ABSTRACT This study examined differential age effects in a young and a middle-aged sample by means of a sequential n-back task with increasing memory load. Participants processed two streams of stimuli either separately as a single task, or simultaneously as a dual task. We investigated age effects as a function of memory load in both the single and the dual-task version. In accuracy, we observed differential age effects as a function of load, which were more prominent in the dual-compared to the single-task versions. That is, middle-aged participants performed poorer than young adults in the dual-task conditions, suggesting that early age-related changes become especially apparent in conditions where task coordination and resource sharing come into play. Regarding latencies, we observed no differential age effect, which we believe is due to characteristics of the sequential n-back task.
Women's perception of changes in the social network after a spinal cord injury

Purpose. To describe how women with a spinal cord injury (SCI) perceived changes in the social network, and how these changes affected their ability to participate in occupation. Method. Thirteen women, aged 25 to 61 years, with a SCI were interviewed twice. The interviews focused on their ability to participate in occupation, their relations with individuals within the social network, and changes in the social network following the SCI. The analysis was carried out using qualitative content analysis. Results. The women described an emotional need for social support after the SCI to participate in occupation. This was a new experience that required time to adapt to. The women also described a need for practical social support from the social network members to manage meaningful occupation. After the SCI, the women had developed new habits through close cooperation with members in the social network. The women felt that they had become more responsible for the development of their relations. Many relations had improved after the SCI, while some had decreased. The women had also developed new relations with other persons with disabilities. Conclusions. The women perceived substantial changes in the social network following the SCI, which in several ways affected their ability to participate in occupation. To adapt to their new life situation, the women gradually developed different strategies. The results point out the need to identify persons in the social network that women with SCI develop relations with, and integrate them in the rehabilitation process.
Determinants and Effects of School Age Childcare on Children’s Cognitive and Socio-Emotional Outcomes at Age 13

Little is known about the determinants or the influence of childcare arrangements for school age children in the Irish context. Using longitudinal data from Wave 1 and Wave 2 of the Growing Up in Ireland (GUI) child cohort study, this paper examines the factors associated with participation in non-parental after-school care in middle childhood and examines the influence of such care settings on children’s outcomes at age 13. The findings show that participation in the type of after-school clubs captured by the GUI data (largely paid care in a group setting) is supporting children with specific educational needs and those with limited family support, as well as being strongly associated with maternal employment and high household income. Cognitive and socio-emotional outcomes at thirteen years are best explained by child, family, school and parental characteristics rather than direct effects of the type of out-of-school care arrangement held at age nine.
Productivity in an arable and stockless organic cropping system may be enhanced by strategic recycling of biomass

Abstract Recirculation of nitrogen (N) from crop residue and green-manure biomass resources may reduce the need to add new reactive N to maintain crop yield and quality. The aim of this study was to determine how different strategies for recycling residual and green-manure biomass influence yield and N concentration of the edible parts of food crops in a stockless organic cropping system. For this purpose, three biomass distribution treatments were investigated in a field experiment, based on a cropping system designed to produce both high-quality food crops and biomass resources from crop residues, cover crops and a green-manure ley. The three treatments, applied at the cropping system level, were: (1) incorporating the aboveground biomass resources in situ (IS); (2) harvesting, ensiling and redistributing the same biomass resources to the non-legume crops (biomass redistribution, BR); and (3) harvesting, ensiling and using the biomass resources as substrate for production of bio-methane via anaerobic digestion (AD) followed by distribution of the digestate as bio-fertilizer to the non-legume crops. The redistribution of ensiled (BR) and digested (AD) biomass did not increase the yield of the edible parts in winter rye (Secale cereal L.), white cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) or red beet (Beta vulgaris L.) compared with leaving the biomass on the ground at harvest (IS). The BR treatment increased the yield of lentil intercropped with oat, compared with IS treatment in one of the two studied years. The total biomass yield of the cover crop following winter rye was significantly higher in the BR treatment than in IS in both years. The legume proportion in the green-manure ley was significantly higher in the AD and BR treatments as compared with IS in one of the experimental years. This study showed that strategic biomass redistribution has the potential to enhance biomass productivity while maintaining food crop yields, thereby enhancing whole system productivity. Biomass redistribution systems both with and without biogas digestion offer a new strategy for the development of multifunctional arable cropping systems that rely on internal nutrient cycling.
Immunogenicity of biological therapeutics: from assay to patient

Purpose of reviewTo give an overview of the current knowledge on assay techniques and clinical implications of immunogenicity of biological therapeutics. Recent findingsAssay techniques for the measurement of immunogenicity have improved, expanding the understanding of the immune response against biological therapeutics. Knowledge on the clinical effect of immunogenicity enables the treatment of patients in a targeted fashion, as a step towards personalized medicine. SummaryBiological medications are able to induce an antidrug immune response. Immunogenicity impairs clinical response and is associated with adverse events. Several confounding factors influence the measurement of immunogenicity, including drug interference and background problems. Concomitant administration of methotrexate lowers the frequency and amount of antibodies formed, whereby the efficacy of biologicals is improved. Algorithms for therapeutic drug monitoring could aid in adapting treatment strategies in a controlled setting.