Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Acoustic properties of disfluent repetitions

Acoustic properties of disfluent repetitions are examined to investigate two proposed functions of repeating. Repeating may serve as a filler while hesitating; alternatively, repeating may function to bridge a gap when speech resumes after a break. Classification of tokens based on pause patterns reveals that: (1) most cases fit the bridging function; and (2) duration and F0 properties support the hypothesis of two distinct types, as well as the proposed associated functions.
An experimental comparison of different feature extraction and classification methods for telephone speech

Robust speech recognition over telephone lines severely depends on the choice of the feature extraction and classification methods. In order to get the highest possible performance of the speech recognizer a number of commonly used feature extraction methods (MFCC, LPC, PLP, RASTA-PLP) and classification methods (MLP, LVQ, HMM) were tested on the same telephone speech data. All combinations of feature extraction and classification methods were computed and several parameters of both methods where changed in order to find a non-local maximum of recognition accuracy. The paper does not describe a comparison of classification but of feature extraction methods because it is clear that an HMM would outperform both LVQ and MLP. The big question is if the same feature extraction methods always lead to the best results, no matter which classifier is used! <<ETX>>
Economic Evaluations of Targeted Therapy and Risk-Stratified Treatment Approaches in Multiple Myeloma

markdownabstract__Abstract__ Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant plasma cell disorder accounting for 1% of all cancer diagnoses worldwide and 13% of all hematologic malignancies [1]. Worldwide, the incidence of MM is 0.4 to 5 per 100,000 people per year [2]. Incidence rates are higher among males than females, people of African descent, and increase rapidly until age 84 and then decline. In the Netherlands, the annual incidence rate is 5 per 100,000 with a median age of 70 at diagnosis [3]. The clinical characteristics of MM vary from asymptomatic patients to those with malignant disease. Nonetheless, the disease has a very characteristic presentation such as lytic bone disease, renal insufficiency, anemia, hypercalcemia, the presence of M-proteins found in the serum and/or urine and immunodeficiency [4]. Disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system are also common [5]. The development of hemorrhagic diathesis or thrombosis is also a risk for MM patients with bleeding present in 15-30% of patients and a 3% risk of thrombosis [6]. MM is considered a severe disease in terms of quality-of-life impact and life expectancy and remains incurable. The survival of multiple myeloma patients has improved substantially in the past decade and is attributable to the introduction of novel (‘targeted’) therapies bortezomib (Velcade®), thalidomide (Thalidomid®), and lenalidomide (Revlimid ®), as well as improvements in the use of autologous stem cell transplantation and supportive therapy [7, 8]. Newly diagnosed patients can now expect to live an average of 5-7 years, with some patients living longer than 10 years [9, 10]. In fact, many patients are dying with and not necessarily due to the underlying disease. Prognosis has shown to be associated with treatment but an independent relationship exists with a number of clinical factors and markers for tumor burden and biology. The first staging system to predict prognosis for MM patients was devised 25 years ago by Durie and Salmon (DS) and is based on measurement of hemoglobin, paraprotein concentration and renal and bone disease [11]. Due to advances in treatment that produce complete remissions (CR) and the complexity of the application of the DS staging system, a new International Staging System (ISS) was developed. By applying regression techniques on data from 17 institutions worldwide collected for 11,171 patients [12], the ISS is based on two known markers of disease activity in MM, albumin and β2-microglobulin, which were found to be significant predictors of survival. The ISS divides patients into 3 distinct prognostic groups on the basis of these two markers, which can be evaluated at virtually any clinical laboratory (Table 1). It is important to note that the DS and ISS staging system were studied in patients treated prior to the advent of new active agents. Thus, additional studies validating such prognostic factors are necessary in the present era of novel therapy.
Binaural source localizer chip using subthreshold analog CMOS

This article describes a chip that identifies the azimuthal location of a sound source using the arrival time difference at two separated microphones. Its circuits are modeled on certain aspects of auditory neurobiology, and attempt to base the location precept on the arrival time difference of the first wavefront in order to function in echoic environments as well as free field situations, The chip contains approximately 50000 transistors, mostly operating in the subthreshold analog mode. It was fabricated on a 4.6 mm/spl times/6.8 mm die a standard 2-micron, p-well CMOS process through MOSIS. <<ETX>>
Software methods for improvement of cache performance on supercomputer applications

Measurements of actual supercomputer cache performance has not been previously undertaken. PFC-Sim is a program-driven event tracing facility that can simulate data cache performance of very long programs. PFC-Sim simulates cache concurrently with program execution, allowing very long traces to be used. Programs with traces in excess of 4 billion entries have been used to measure the performance of various cache structures. PFC-Sim was used to measure the cache performance of array references in a benchmark set of supercomputer applications, RiCEPS. Data cache hit ratios varied on average between 70% for a 16K cache and 91% for a 256K cache. Programs with very large working sets generate poor cache performance even with large caches. The hit ratios of individual references are measured to either 0% or 100%. By locating the references that miss, attempts to improve memory performance can focus on references where improvement is possible. The compiler can estimate the number of loop iterations which can execute without filling the cache, the overflow iteration. The overflow iteration combined with the dependence graph can be used to determine at each reference whether execution will result in hits or misses. Program transformation can be used to improve cache performance by reordering computation to move references to the same memory location closer together, thereby eliminating cache misses. Using the overflow iteration, the compiler can often do this transformation automatically. Standard blocking transformations cannot be used on many loop nests that contain transformation preventing dependences. Wavefront blocking allows any loop nest to be blocked, when the components of dependence vectors are bounded. When the cache misses cannot be eliminated, software prefetching can overlap the miss delays with computation. Software prefetching uses a special instruction to preload values into the cache. A cache load resembles a register load in structure, but does not block computation and only moves the address into cache where a later register load will be required. The compiler can inform the cache (on average) over 100 cycles before a load is required. Cache misses can be serviced in parallel with computation.
Investigating next-of-kin’s capacity to give valid consent for research on behalf of a critically unwell loved-one in the context of the intensive care unit

Background of the main research project presented: Because critical care patients are frequently unable to decide for themselves, researchers have turned to substitute decision makers (SDMs) to obtain consent/assent for medical research. However, many factors may make it hard, if not impossible, for them to make a valid decision (e.g., Burns et al., 2009). This mixed methods study investigated the proportion of SDMs capable of providing valid consent/assent for research involving critical care patients. A secondary research question was what their experience of doing this was like. Methods: Using our adapted version of the UBACC (Jeste et al. 2007), 14 SDMs were assessed for their capacity to provide valid consent for the specific research study they were asked to consider by a critical care research nurse. A second part of the interview explored (using a qualitative design) how the participants made sense of their experience as SDMs. Results: Twenty one percent of the SDMs were not capable of providing valid consent for research: they did not understand the aim of the medical research nor appreciate the risks and benefits involved. Using thematic analysis, six themes emerged. Clinical researchers should check carefully whether potential participants are capable of providing valid consent.
Using Pair Programming to Teach CAD Based Engineering Graphics

Pair programming was introduced into a course in engineering graphics that emphasizes solid modeling using Solid-Works. In pair programming, two students work at a single computer, and periodically trade off roles as driver (hands on the keyboard and mouse) and navigator (discuss strategy and design issues). Pair programming was used in a design project, and in a subsequent year in a design project and several smaller special projects. Student outcomes for two years were compared with a previous year in which pair programming was not used. Improvements were seen in design project scores, overall course scores, and project submission rates. The course is normally taken by first year students during the spring semester. Retention into the sophomore year was also higher for students participating in pair programming.
The experience of teachers in distributed learning environments : implications for teaching practice

This qualitative study used a narrative inquiry approach to conduct in-depth intervie ws of ight distributed learning educators who designed and offered online English courses i n British Columbia during the 2011/12 school year . There were three research questions: (1) How do teachers describe their professional experiences of teaching in a full time onlin environment? (2) What are the enablers and inhibitors for online teacher development? (3) Do teac hers feel their teaching practice has changed over their career as online educators? Findings were examined through the lens of Korthagen’s (2004) Onion Model. Six themes that comprised this model, provided a framework for data analysis a nd insight into the process by which teachers made sense of their lived experience. The findings r evealed that online educators valued their online experience because it removed the constraint s of regular classroom. They expressed frustration with some aspects of the current mode l of online education in BC because it prevented them from engaging in synchronous, highly c onnective learning projects with their students. Recognition of the fact that online educ ators work in a different milieu with a different set of environmental pressures is necessa ry to ensure the success of distributed learning in BC.
Evaluation of metabolic control in patients with type 2 diabetes depending on the type of hypoglycemic treatment

Background . The aim of this study was to assess the level of metabolic control in patients with type 2 diabetes according to PDA criteria. Material and methods . The research was conducted on a group of 274 patients with type 2 diabetes. The observation period encompassed 2 years: 2007 and 2008. The subjects were divided into 3 groups: group I — 111 patients treated with oral antidiabetic agents; group II — 68 patients, in whom the treatment was intensified by adding insulin to so far used oral medicines; and group III — 95 patients treated with insulin. Results . In observed population, 29.9% (n = 82) of patients sustained their HbA1c level £ 6.5%, however in 44.5% (n = 122) of patients HbA1c level was £ 7.0%. 21.2% of all observed patients (n = 58) met PDA criteria regarding systolic blood pressure < 130 mm Hg, and diastolic blood pressure < 80 mm Hg was maintained by 23% of patients (n = 63). 41.2% (n = 113) patients managed to met PDA criteria regarding total cholesterol level < 175 mg/dl, in 67.9% of patients (n = 186) HDL level was > 40 mg/dl, 45.3% of all observed (n = 124) maintained their LDL levels < 100 mg/dl, and in case of 57.7% of patients (n = 158) TG level amounted to < 150 mg/dl. The combined metabolic control criterion on HbA1c level £ 7.0%, blood pressure < < 130/80 mm Hg and LDL < 100 mg/dl was met by 6.2% of all observed patients (n = 17). Conclusions . 1. The best metabolic control, particularly glycemic control, was found in patients from group I. 2. The best control of lipid metabolism in group III was caused by frequent use of statins in this group of patients. 3. The worst metabolic control with respect to all three assessed parameters was found in group II. 4. The degree to which the patients in the entire examined group achieved the values of parameters recommended by the PDA was relatively low. Diabet Do¶w Klin 2011; 11, 1: 1–7
A peptide-spectrum scoring system based on ion alignment, intensity, and pair probabilities.

Peppy, the proteogenomic/proteomic search software, employs a novel method for assessing the match quality between an MS/MS spectrum and a theorized peptide sequence. The scoring system uses three score factors calculated with binomial probabilities: the probability that a fragment ion will randomly align with a peptide ion, the probability that the aligning ions will be selected from subsets of the most intense peaks, and the probability that the intensities of fragment ions identified as y-ions are greater than those of their counterpart b-ions. The scores produced by the method act as global confidence scores, which facilitate the accurate comparison of results and the estimation of false discovery rates. Peppy has been integrated into the meta-search engine PepArML to produce meaningful comparisons with Mascot, MSGF+, OMSSA, X! Tandem, k-Score and s-Score. For two of the four data sets examined with the PepArML analysis, Peppy exceeded the accuracy performance of the other scoring systems. Peppy is available for download at http://geneffects.com/peppy .
Tabbner's nursing care : theory and practice

PART 1 an INTRODUCTION to NURSING: An Outline of the History and Theories of Nursing. Theories of Growth and Development. Introduction to the Behavioural Sciences. Communication. Reactions and Interactions. Culture. Health and Illness. Microbiology, Infection and Immunity. Legal Aspects of Nursing. Ethics in Nursing. The Nursing Process. Observational Skills. Reporting and Recording Skills PART 2 STRUCTURE and FUNCTIONS of the HUMAN BODY: Science in Nursing. The Human Body: An Orientation. Cells and Tissues. The Integumentary System. The Musculoskeletal System. The Nervous System. The Circulatory System. The Respiratory System. The Digestive System. The Urinary System. The Endocrine System. The Repriductive System. The Special Senses PART 3 NURSING CARE and NURSING NEEDS: An Introduction to Human Needs. Meeting Nutritional Needs. Meeting Elimination Needs. Meeting Fluid and Electrolyte Needs. Meeting Oxygen Needs. Meeting Temperature Regulation Needs /Meeting Blood Circulation Needs. Meeting Comfort, Rest and Sleep Needs. Meeting Pain Avoidance Needs. Meeting Safety and Protection Needs. Meeting Hygeine Needs. Meeting Psychosocial Needs PART 4 CARE of the INDIVIDUAL with a BODY SYSTEM DISORDER: The Individual with a Respiratory System Disorder. The Individual with a Digestive System Disorder. The Individual with a Urinary System Disorder. The Individual with an Endocrine System. The Individual with a Reproductive System Disorder. The Individual with a Disorder of the Eye or Ear PART 5 SPECIAL ASPECTS of NURSING CARE: Admission to a Health Care Facility. The Mother and the Newborn Baby. The Individual with a Developmental Disability. The Infant, Child and Adolescent. The Aged Individual. The Individual with a Mental Illness. Emergency Care. The Individual Who Requires Medication. The Individual Who Requires Surgical Intervention. The Individual Who Requires Rehabilitation. The Individual Who Requires Isolation. The in Dividual Who Requires Community-Based Care. The Chemical-Dependent Individual. The Individu
Assessing the potential of community mobilisation with women's groups to improve child growth among underserved tribal communities of Eastern India

Background: India is home to one-third of the world’s undernourished children. Rural tribal areas are disproportionately affected. Community-based behaviour change interventions are central to addressing undernutrition. Most interventions have used didactic educational methods but have had a limited impact; fewer studies have tested participatory approaches. This thesis explores the potential of a participatory intervention to reduce child undernutrition in rural tribal communities of Eastern India. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional nutrition survey of 36 village-clusters in three districts of Jharkhand and Orissa: 18 clusters had been exposed to community mobilisation with women’s groups to improve child health and nutrition; 18 control clusters matched the intervention areas on population and health-service characteristics. We also conducted focus groups with caregivers of young children. Results: There were no group differences for child anthropometry. Levels of undernutrition were extremely high: 40% of children were experiencing global acute malnutrition, 60% were stunted, and 24% had mid-arm-circumference measurements in the moderate-severe malnutrition category. There were significant group differences for hand washing, water treatment, birth spacing, measles vaccination and awareness of child undernutrition that favoured the intervention group; there were no differences for child feeding practices, health-service uptake or child morbidity. The analyses identified a multitude of undernutrition determinants including strong protective effects of hand washing, and diarrhoea as a major risk factor. The focus groups revealed extreme food insecurity, problematic feeding and hygiene practices, and inadequate health services. Conclusion: Community mobilisation with women’s groups does not appear to have reduced child undernutrition in this context, but has the potential to improve important nutrition behaviours. There is scope to improve and combine this intervention with complementary strategies, but until the wider problems of food insecurity, poverty and poor health-services are addressed community mobilisation with women’s groups, on its own, is unlikely to meaningfully impact on undernutrition.
Filtering of T–S Fuzzy Systems With Nonuniform Sampling

The problem of asynchronous filtering of nonlinear systems is investigated in this paper. To facilitate analysis, a discrete-time Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy model with a fast and uniform period is introduced to approximate continuous nonlinear systems. A slow and nonuniform sampler between system and filter is proposed to overcome the contradictions between fast sampling period and limited bandwidth. The nonuniform sampling interval of sampler is subject to a Markov chain. To make full use of the partial information of sampling interval which is accessible to the filter, the asynchronous filter which is described by the hidden Markov model is introduced to reduce conservatism. By resorting to the augmentation approach and the Lyapunov functional method which depends on nonuniform sampling interval, some sufficient conditions for the existence of asynchronous filer are given to guarantee the stability and dissipativity of the augmented system. The gains of asynchronous filter are given via solving a set of linear matrix inequalities. Two examples are utilized to illustrate the validity of the developed filter design technique where the relationships between optimal dissipative performance indices and the mode synchronization rate are given.
Risk Outlining and Uncertainty Contour for Quantification of Acyclovir Using LC-MS: Solicitation to in Vitro Cell Line Studies

Outlining of risk profile and uncertainty estimation are the two chief and significant strictures that need to be adopted during the development of pharmaceutical process, to ensure reliable results. In this era, the conventional method validation agenda needs to be extemporized so as to certify extraordinary method reliability to measure quality attribute of a drug product. In this research work, risk sketch and expanded uncertainty in the analysis of acyclovir were studied. LC-MS method was validated in our laboratory as per ICH guidelines and risk profile has been outlined including uncertainty estimation using the cause-effect approach. In the course of validation, the calibration model found to be defensible when encountered with Levene’s and lack of fit test. The proposed research work evidently demonstrates the application of theoretical concepts of uncertainty and risk profile in the methods used for analysis in drug discovery process.
The effect of an intervention to enhance sense of coherence on oral health related quality of life : a cluster randomised controlled trial

Background: Psychological factors may influence oral health. One factor, sense of coherence (SOC) has been related to general and oral health, clinical status, oral health behaviours and oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) in observational research with adults and children. Thus, improving SOC may be a way to improve OHRQoL. Aims of the study: To evaluate the effect of an intervention to enhance SOC on OHRQoL in children. Methods: Cluster randomised trial in twelve primary schools in Khonkaen, Thailand with 257 grade 5 students. Six schools were allocated randomly to the study and comparison groups respectively. Data included socio-demographic and clinical data. Self-report questionnaires assessed OHRQoL using the child perceptions questionnaire, CPQ11-14 and SOC with the 13-item SOC scale. Data were collected at three time points; at baseline, two weeks after the intervention and at 3 month follow up. Intervention: Seven 40-60 minute sessions over two months, focusing on child participation and empowerment. The first four sessions were classroom activities and included a mixture of didactic teaching, discussion, activities and games. The last three involved working on healthy school projects. The intervention was delivered by trained teachers who received an intensive one day course. Results: The two groups were similar for all variables at baseline. The intervention group had significant improvements in SOC and CPQ11-14 scores representing better OHRQoL at two weeks after the intervention and 3 month follow-up. SOC had a direct effect on symptoms and indirect effect on OHRQoL via symptoms. Conclusions: As well as providing experimental evidence that OHRQoL is determined by SOC, these data show that school-based interventions to enhance SOC may be a useful way to improve OHRQoL.
ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription

SECTION I: HEALTH APPRAISAL AND RISK ASSESSMENT 1 Benefits and Risks Associated with Physical Activity 2 Preparticipation Health Screening SECTION II: EXERCISE TESTING 3 Preexercise Evaluation 4 Health-Related Physical Fitness Testing and Interpretation 5 Clinical Exercise Testing 6 Interpretation of Clinical Exercise Test Results SECTION III: EXERCISE PRESCRIPTION 7 General Principles of Exercise Prescription 8 Exercise Prescription for Healthy Populations With Special Considerations and Environmental Considerations 9 Exercise Prescription For Patients With Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease 10 Exercise Prescription for Populations With Other Chronic Diseases and Health Conditions 11 Behavioral Theories and Strategies for Promoting Exercise SECTION IV: APPENDICES Appendix A Common Medications Appendix B Medical Emergency Management Appendix C Electrocardiogram Interpretation Appendix D American College of Sports Medicine Certifications Appendix E Contributing Authors to the Previous Two Editions