Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Statistical, practical, clinical, and personal significance: definitions and applications in speech-language pathology.

PURPOSE To discuss constructs and methods related to assessing the magnitude and the meaning of clinical outcomes, with a focus on applications in speech-language pathology. METHOD Professionals in medicine, allied health, psychology, education, and many other fields have long been concerned with issues referred to variously as practical significance, clinical significance, social validity, patient satisfaction, treatment effectiveness, or the meaningfulness or importance of beyond-clinic or real-world treatment outcomes. Existing literature addressing these issues from multiple disciplines was reviewed and synthesized. CONCLUSIONS Practical significance, an adjunct to statistical significance, refers to the magnitude of a change or a difference between groups. The appropriate existing term for the interpretation of treatment outcomes, or the attribution of meaning or value to treatment outcomes, is clinical significance. To further distinguish between important constructs, the authors suggest incorporating as definitive the existing notion that clinical significance may refer to measures selected or interpreted by professionals or with respect to groups of clients. The term personal significance is introduced to refer to goals, variables, measures, and changes that are of demonstrated value to individual clients.
An improved TLD target tracking algorithm based on Mean Shift

Aiming at the problem that the traditional TLD algorithm is not accurate when the target encounters occlusion, a TLD algorithm based on Mean Shift is proposed. When the confidence level of the TLD tracking box is high, the center position of target of the TLD output is used as the starting point of the Mean Shift tracking algorithm. When the confidence level is low, the center position of the target box in the previous frame is used as the iterative starting point for the Mean Shift. The results show that the improved algorithm achieves higher precision, especially for occlusion and target jitter. In order to solve the problem that there are more useless points in the feature points obtained by uniform sampling of TLD algorithm, a more robust Susan corner point is introduced into the TLD tracking module. This algorithm can track the object through the pyramid LK optical flow after selecting the corner. It not only preserves feature points with rich information during the tracking process, but also suppresses the tracking drift caused by more useless points. The results show that this method has high robustness and real — time compared with the original TLD algorithm.
Contrasting Alloreactive CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells: There's More to It Than MHC Restriction

Surface expression of CD4 or CD8 is commonly used to identify T‐cell subsets that recognize antigen presented by class II MHC or class I MHC, respectively. This holds true for T cells that respond to allogeneic MHC molecules that are directly recognized as foreign, as well as peptides from allogeneic MHC molecules that are indirectly presented by self MHC molecules. CD4 or CD8 expression was initially believed to define cytokine secreting helper T cells or cytotoxic cells, respectively. However, this association of phenotype and function is not absolute, in that CD4+ cells may possess lytic activity and CD8+ cells secrete cytokines, notably IFNγ. Recently, additional fundamental differences in the immunobiology of these T‐cell subsets have been identified. These include differences in costimulatory requirements, cytokine responsiveness, cytokine production, cell survival, and the maintenance of memory. This review will survey these differences, emphasizing alloreactive T‐cell responses as well as relevant observations that have been made in other systems.
Optical waveform sampling and error-free demultiplexing of 1.28 Tbit/s serial data in a silicon nanowire

We experimentally demonstrate 640 Gbit/s and 1.28 Tbit/s serial data optical waveform sampling and 640-to-10 Gbit/s and 1.28 Tbit/s-to-10 Gbit/s error-free demultiplexing using four-wave mixing in a 300nm×450nm×5mm silicon nanowire.
SETAC Latin America INTERSEX AND LIVER ALTERATIONS INDUCED BY LONG-TERM SUBLETHAL EXPOSURE TO 17 a-ETHINYLESTRADIOL IN ADULT MALE CNESTERODON DECEMMACULATUS ( PISCES : POECILIIDAE )

The aim of the present study was to assess the responses of the gonopodiummorphology and the gonadal and liver histology of adult male Cnesterodon decemmaculatus to sublethal long-term exposure concentrations of 17a-ethinylestradiol (EE2). Two experiments were conducted exposing the fish to waterborne concentrations of EE2 ranging from 20 ng/L to 200 ng/L for 8wk, 12wk, and 16wk. Intersex gonads were observed after 8wk and 16wk in fish exposed to 200 ng EE2/L and 100 ng EE2/L, respectively. Oocytes’ development from testis germ cells and replacement of the efferent duct periodic acid-Schiff–positive secretion surrounding spermatozeugmata by parenchymal tissue and duct structure alterations were the major observed changes in the gonads. In contrast, no response was observed in the gonopodium morphology. Liver histology was also altered, showing increasing steatosis, single-cell necrosis to generalized necrosis, and disruption of acinar organization from 100 ng EE2/L to 200 ng EE2/L. In summary, the present results showed that although EE2 was not able to alter the morphology of a developed gonopodium, it was capable of inducing development of testicular oocytes in adult male C. decemmaculatus at environmentally relevant concentrations. Thus, externally normal but intersexC. decemmaculatusmales would be expected in the wastewater-receiving streams that the species inhabits. According to the literature, the present study would be the first indicating estrogen-induced intersex in adult male poeciliid. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:1738–1745. # 2016 SETAC
Effect of Spinal Anesthesia on Adrenergic Tone and the Neuroendocrine Responses to Surgical Stress in Humans

In order to quantitate the effect of spinal anesthesia on adrenergic tone, plasma levels of norepinephrine (NE) and epincphrine (EPI) were measured by radioenzymatic assay in 24 patients prior to elective lower body surgical procedures. The subsequent neuroendocrine responses to surgical stress of 16 of these patients were then compared to those of 10 patients receiving inhalation anesthesia (halothane-nitrous oxide). High thoracic dermatome spinal anesthesia caused suppression of both arterial plasma NE and EPI and a fall of mean arterial pressure (MAP); in contrast, no changes of NE, EPI, or MAP were observed in patients receiving low spinal anesthesia. Overall, there was a relationship between the sensory dermatome anesthesia level and changes of both plasma NE (r = 0.71, P < 0.001) and EPI (r = 0.52, P < 0.02). In the inhalation anesthesia group, plasma NE increased during the operation and plasma levels of NE, EPI, growth hormone, and cortisol were elevated during the postoperative recovery period. These neuroendocrine responses to surgical stress were not observed in patients receiving either low or high spinal anesthesia. Thus, the effect of spinal anesthesia on adrenergic tone depends on the cord level of anesthesia and can be quantitated by measurement of plasma catecholamines. The neuroendocrine responses to surgical stress were prevented in patients who received low spinal anesthesia and who had no suppression of efferent adrenergic tone. These findings indicate that neural afferents from the site of tissue injury, which were blocked by low spinal anesthesia, mediated both the adrenergic and the hormonal responses to surgical stress in the inhalation anesthesia group.
DAXX/ATRX, MEN1, and mTOR Pathway Genes Are Frequently Altered in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors

A rare but deadly form of human pancreatic cancer harbors mutations in chromatin remodeling genes. Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) are a rare but clinically important form of pancreatic neoplasia. To explore the genetic basis of PanNETs, we determined the exomic sequences of 10 nonfamilial PanNETs and then screened the most commonly mutated genes in 58 additional PanNETs. The most frequently mutated genes specify proteins implicated in chromatin remodeling: 44% of the tumors had somatic inactivating mutations in MEN1, which encodes menin, a component of a histone methyltransferase complex, and 43% had mutations in genes encoding either of the two subunits of a transcription/chromatin remodeling complex consisting of DAXX (death-domain–associated protein) and ATRX (α thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome X-linked). Clinically, mutations in the MEN1 and DAXX/ATRX genes were associated with better prognosis. We also found mutations in genes in the mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) pathway in 14% of the tumors, a finding that could potentially be used to stratify patients for treatment with mTOR inhibitors.
Effect of glucan on natural killer (NK) cells: further comparison between NK cell and bone marrow effector cell activities.

We have studied the effect of glucan, a potent immunomodulating agent with immunotherapeutic potential for man, on murine natural killer (NK) cells. The results of our experiments have shown that a single i.v. injection of 4 mg of glucan caused significant depression of NK cell activities residing in the bone marrow and spleens of B6DF1 mice. The depression of NK cell cytotoxicity was expressed 24 hr after glucan treatment and lasted as long as the mice were tested, i.e., 15 days after treatment. Impairment of NK cell functions caused by glucan could not be mediated via mature T cell functions since the congenitally athymic BALB/c mice were also hyporeactive after glucan injection. The negative effect of glucan on NK cells is disturbing if one considers NK cells as an important component in immunosurveillance and in immunity to malignancies. In order to test the relationship between NK cell and bone marrow effector (BM-E) cells, which can represent the same cell population(s) or subpopulation(s), we have studied also the effect of glucan on bone marrow graft rejection potential in B6DF1 mice. Bone marrow transplantation studies have shown close correlation between NK cell and BM-E cell activities. Specifically, at the time when glucan caused depression of NK cell anti-tumor activities (i.e., on days 2, 6, 11, and 15 after injection), there was also a prevention of rejection of histo-incompatible bone marrow transplants, and vice versa, histoincompatible bone marrow grafts were always rejected by untreated B6DF1 mice expressing high degree of NK cell anti-tumor activities. These results indicate, further, the similarity between NK cell and BM-E cells and, moreover, suggest possible benefits of glucan in bone marrow transplantation.
Simulation numérique des phénomènes de décollement tournant dans les compresseurs axiaux

Une meilleure comprehension des ecoulements instables qui interviennent dans les compresseurs a debits partiels permet de reduire la marge au pompage et le poids du systeme. Cette etude s'interesse a la premiere instabilite generalement rencontree dans les compresseurs, a proximite du taux de pression maximum, appele decollement tournant. Ce phenomene est caracterise par la presence d'une ou plusieurs cellules d'ecoulement decolle qui tournent a une fraction de la vitesse du rotor. L'objectif de l'etude est de comprendre les mecanismes mis en jeu dans un etage de compresseur axial grâce a une approche numerique. L'etage complet est modelise avec une approche 2. 5D, puis avec une approche 3D integrant les effets technologiques (ecoulement de jeu). La simulation numerique montre qu'au moins deux mecanismes sont mis en jeu dans l'apparition de l'instabilite. Le premier concerne l'interaction locale entre l'ecoulement moyen et l'ecoulement de jeu, tandis que le second implique le developpement d'une onde modale qui affecte tout le systeme. La limite de stabilite et les performances en regime instable du compresseur sont bien estimees par les calculs. Les signaux instationnaires issus de la simulation sont analyses grâce a une methode spectrale temps-frequence et la structure de l'ecoulement en regime de decollement tournant est expliquee. Un nouveau modele est egalement propose afin de predire les caracteristiques des modes spatiaux et temporels resultant de l'interaction des cellules de decollement tournant avec le compresseur.
Novel Long Noncoding RNAs Are Regulated by Angiotensin II in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Rationale: Misregulation of angiotensin II (Ang II) actions can lead to atherosclerosis and hypertension. Evaluating transcriptomic responses to Ang II in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is important to understand the gene networks regulated by Ang II, which might uncover previously unidentified mechanisms and new therapeutic targets. Objective: To identify all transcripts, including novel protein-coding and long noncoding RNAs, differentially expressed in response to Ang II in rat VSMCs using transcriptome and epigenome profiling. Methods and Results: De novo assembly of transcripts from RNA-sequencing revealed novel protein-coding and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). The majority of the genomic loci of these novel transcripts are enriched for histone H3 lysine-4-trimethylation and histone H3 lysine-36-trimethylation, 2 chromatin modifications found at actively transcribed regions, providing further evidence that these are bonafide transcripts. Analysis of transcript abundance identified all protein-coding and lncRNAs regulated by Ang II. We further discovered that an Ang II–regulated lncRNA functions as the host transcript for miR-221 and miR-222, 2 microRNAs implicated in cell proliferation. Additionally, small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of Lnc-Ang362 reduced proliferation of VSMCs. Conclusions: These data provide novel insights into the epigenomic and transcriptomic effects of Ang II in VSMCs. They provide the first identification of Ang II–regulated lncRNAs, which suggests functional roles for these lncRNAs in mediating cellular responses to Ang II. Furthermore, we identify an Ang II–regulated lncRNA that is responsible for the production of 2 microRNAs implicated in VSMC proliferation. These newly identified noncoding transcripts could be exploited as novel therapeutic targets for Ang II–associated cardiovascular diseases.
Concurrent unilateral choanal atresia and congenital laryngeal deformity in a miniature donkey

CHOANAL atresia and fourth branchial arch defects are rarely described phenomena in equids ([Goulden and others 1976][1], [Wilson and others 1986][2], [Klein and others 1989][3], [Dixon and others 1993][4], [Hogan and others 1995][5], [Blikslager and others 1999][6], [James and others 2006][7]).
Gradient projection-based performance improvement for JLQ problems

This article is concerned with a class of continuous-time Markovian jump linear systems where the regime transition rates are determined through an initial policy. The purpose is to study the jump linear quadratic regulator for such class of systems. A two-level regulating method is adopted to design the state-feedback controller and the policy separately. The problem of tuning the existing policy with respect to a prescribed quadratic performance criterion is formulated as a gradient projection-based iterative optimisation. This method leads to a near-optimal policy whose performance is better than that of the initial one. Useful characteristics of such a policy are also developed. The efficiency of the main results is elucidated by two numerical examples.
The Effect of Green Tea Extract Supplementation on Liver Enzymes in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Background: Green tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world. It is believed to have beneficial effects in the prevention and treatment of many diseases, one of which is nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The present study investigated the effects of consumption of green tea in NAFLD patients. Methods: This study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. Ultrasonography was used to diagnose fatty liver in patients with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) >31 mg/dl and 41 mg/dl and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) >31 mg/dl and 47 g/dl in women and men, respectively and without other hepatic diseases. A total of 80 participants (20–50 years) with NAFLD were randomly allocated into two groups to receive either green tea extract (GTE) supplement (500 mg GTE tablet per day) or placebo for 90 days. At baseline and at the end of the intervention weight, serum ALT, AST, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured in fasting state, and dietary data were collected at baseline and end of the study. Results: Green tea group showed significant reductions in ALT and AST levels after 12 weeks period (P < 0.001). The placebo group showed a reduction in ALT and AST levels at the end of the study, but it was no significant. ALP levels showed significant reductions in both groups after 12 weeks period (P < 0.001). Conclusions: According to the findings of this study, GTE supplementation decrease liver enzymes in patients with NAFLD. It can be claimed that GTE prescribed can be considered as a treatment to improve serum levels of liver enzymes in NAFLD patients.
Topochemical Nitridation with Anion Vacancy-Assisted N(3-)/O(2-) Exchange.

We present how the introduction of anion vacancies in oxyhydrides enables a route to access new oxynitrides, by conducting ammonolysis of perovskite oxyhydride EuTiO3-xHx (x ∼ 0.18). At 400 °C, similar to our studies on BaTiO3-xHx, hydride lability enables a low temperature direct ammonolysis of EuTi(3.82+)O2.82H0.18, leading to the N(3-)/H(-)-exchanged product EuTi(4+)O2.82N0. 12□0.06. When the ammonolysis temperature was increased up to 800 °C, we observed a further nitridation involving N(3-)/O(2-) exchange, yielding a fully oxidized Eu(3+)Ti(4+)O2N with the GdFeO3-type distortion (Pnma) as a metastable phase, instead of pyrochlore structure. Interestingly, the same reactions using the oxide EuTiO3 proceeded through a 1:1 exchange of N(3-) with O(2-) only above 600 °C and resulted in incomplete nitridation to EuTiO2.25N0. 75, indicating that anion vacancies created during the initial nitridation process of EuTiO2.82H0.18 play a crucial role in promoting anion (N(3-)/O(2-)) exchange at high temperatures. Hence, by using (hydride-induced) anion-deficient precursors, we should be able to expand the accessible anion composition of perovskite oxynitrides.
Electric vehicle charging station using a neutral point clamped converter with bipolar DC bus and voltage balancing circuit

The automotive industry is making important changes towards the electrified transportation. Several Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Plug-in Hybrid EVs are currently on the market offering a clean and environment friendly alternative to conventional vehicles. However, limited mileage capacity and long refueling times have lead to a lukewarm reception from the consumers. In order to reduce the charging time fast charging architectures are being developed, usually as off-board solutions located in public installations. This paper presents a centralized charging station architecture, using a bipolar dc grid to power off-board chargers and integrate of DGs and storage systems. The central converter topology is an NPC and a novel balancing technique is implemented to extend the operating range of the power converter.
Recherche d’information précise dans des sources d’information structurées et non structurées : défis, approches et hybridation [Precise information retrieval in structured and non-structured sources: challenges, approaches and hybridation]

Cet article propose une synthese d'une part sur les approches developpees en questions-reponses (QR) sur du texte, en insistant plus particulierement sur les modeles exploitant des representations structurees des textes, et d'autre part sur les approches recentes en QR sur des bases de connaissances. Notre objectif est de montrer les problematiques communes et le rapprochement possible de ces deux types de recherche de reponses en prenant appui sur la reconnaissance des relations presentes dans les enonces textuels et dans les bases de connaissances. Nous presentons les quelques travaux relevant de ce type d'approche afin de mettre en perspective les questions ouvertes pour aller vers des systemes reellement hybrides ancres sur des representations semantiques.
An environment for evolutionary prototyping Java programs based on abstract interpretation

We propose an environment for evolutionary prototyping technique, which is a theoretical framework based on abstract interpretation for Java programs. In general, it is difficult to execute a prototype in the intermediate stage of top-down development. This disadvantage prevents us to find bugs in the early stage of the development. The technique we propose here allows programmers to execute the prototype as a whole, even though it is partially implemented. In the technique, an object is repeatedly changed with interface changes. Our idea is to use an earlier runnable object instead of an unimplemented later object in runtime. The changes of objects are based on abstract interpretation. However, it is necessary to realize the mechanism for using the alternative object including the interface changes in Java. To solve this problem, we introduce proxy object, which is a mediator containing all interface and transform objects dynamically and automatically to keep execution going. Moreover, proxy objects can be automatically generated by the dynamic proxy class API, which is one of Java reflection mechanism. As a result, our environment would reduce the cost that programmers describe code for adjusting current objects.
When a Son Steals Money From His Mother: Courtroom Perceptions of Elder Financial Exploitation

The perception of elder financial exploitation was investigated using community members (N = 104) and undergraduates (N = 143). Participants read an exploitation trial summary; an 85-year-old victim accused her son of stealing her money. Primary results indicated that alleged victims described as healthy rendered more guilty verdicts than those described as having a cognitive deficit; pro-victim judgments were higher for women than men; and younger and older community members' rendered more guilty verdicts than middle-aged mock jurors. The results are discussed in terms of the factors that impact the perception of exploitation in court.
Tariff-type suitability's impact on satisfaction of Mobile Internet customers in Germany

Prior literature argues that the choice of a mobile voice service tariff, which is financially non-optimal for an individual, has detrimental impacts on customer loyalty and satisfaction. Unfortunately, extant work has not yet examined the extent to which effects of tariff-type suitability on customer satisfaction hold for Mobile Internet (MI) access services. This study addresses the gap by analysing 'system-captured' tariff type and MI usage intensity data in a sample of 399 MI subscribers in Germany. For MI adopters in a use-dependent (flat) tariff scheme usage intensity was significantly negatively (positively) related to MI satisfaction. This indicates that satisfaction with MI access services is decreasing if customers overpay for their MI access because they have selected unsuitable rate plans.
Links between ER stress and autophagy in plants

Autophagy is a major pathway for the delivery of proteins or organelles to be degraded in the vacuole and recycled. It can be induced by abiotic stresses, senescence, and pathogen infection. Recent research has shown that autophagy is activated by ER stress. Here we review the major progress that has been made in the study of autophagy and ER stress in plants, and describe the links between ER stress and autophagy to guide further study on how autophagy is regulated in response to ER stress.