Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of formant transitions in the voiced-voiceless distinction for stops.

Previous research on acoustic cues responsible for the voiced‐voiceless distinction in prestressed English plosives has emphasized the importance of voicing onset time with respect to plosive release (VOT). Voiced plosives in English normally have a short VOT (less than 20–30 msec) and a significant formant transition is present following voice onset. Voiceless plosives in prestressed position, on the other hand, have relatively long VOT's (greater than about 50 msec) and the formant transitions are essentially completed prior to voice onset. Our experiments with synthetic speech compare the role of VOT and the presence or absence of a significant formant transition following voicing onset as cues for the voiced‐voiceless distinction. The data indicate that there is a significant trading relationship between these two cues. The presence or absence of a rapid spectral change following voice onset produces up to 15‐msec change in the location of the perceived phoneme boundary as measured in terms of absolut.
Proxy, Health, and Personal Care Preferences: Implications for End-of-Life Care

The Institute of Medicine's report, “Approaching Death: Improving Care at the End of Life,” the American Medical Association's “Education for Physicians on End-of-Life Care” project, the Open Society Institute's “Project on Death in America,” and the “Last Acts” initiative sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation have focused attention on improving the care of dying patients. These efforts include advance care planning and the use of written advance directives (ADs). Although previous studies have provided quantitative descriptions of patient preferences for life-sustaining treatment, including those documented in written ADs, to our knowledge open-ended written preferences have not been studied. Studies of these open-ended preferences could highlight issues with respect to quality end-of-life care. The purpose of this study was to explore the open-ended proxy, health, and personal care preferences of people with HIV as expressed in a written AD form.
Randomized comparison of 3 types of micronutrient supplements for home fortification of complementary foods in Ghana: effects on growth and motor development.

BACKGROUND The low micronutrient content of complementary foods is associated with growth faltering in many populations. A potential low-cost solution is the home fortification of complementary foods with Sprinkles (SP) powder, crushable Nutritabs (NT) tablets, or energy-dense (108 kcal/d), fat-based Nutributter (NB). OBJECTIVE The objective was to test the hypothesis that multiple micronutrients added to home-prepared complementary foods would increase growth and that the effect would be greatest in the presence of added energy from fat. DESIGN We randomly assigned 313 Ghanaian infants to receive SP, NT, or NB containing 6, 16, and 19 vitamins and minerals, respectively, daily from 6 to 12 mo of age. We assessed anthropometric status at 6, 9, and 12 mo; micronutrient status at 6 and 12 mo; motor development at 12 mo; and morbidity weekly. Infants (n = 96) not randomly selected for the intervention (nonintervention; NI) were assessed at 12 mo. RESULTS The groups did not differ significantly at baseline, except that the NB group had a higher proportion of boys and weighed slightly more. The dropout rate (15/313) was low. At 12 mo, after control for initial size, the NB group had a significantly greater weight-for-age z score (WAZ) (-0.49 +/- 0.54) and length-for-age z score (LAZ) (-0.20 +/- 0.54) than did the NT group (WAZ: -0.67 +/- 0.54; LAZ: -0.39 +/- 0.54) and the NT and SP groups combined (WAZ: -0.65 +/- 0.54; LAZ: -0.38 +/- 0.54); the difference with the NI group (WAZ: -0.74 +/- 1.1; LAZ: -0.40 +/- 1.0) was not significant. A lower percentage of the NI infants (25%) than of the intervention groups (SP: 39%; NT: 36%; NB: 49%) could walk independently by 12 mo. CONCLUSION All 3 supplements had positive effects on motor milestone acquisition by 12 mo compared with no intervention, but only NB affected growth.
In Vitro and In Vivo Efficacy of the Triazole TAK-187 against Cryptococcus neoformans

ABSTRACT Multiple isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans, including those with fluconazole resistance, were tested to assess the in vitro activity of the new triazole TAK-187. MICs of TAK-187 were at least eightfold lower than those of fluconazole, and fungicidal concentrations for most isolates were 4 μg/ml or less. TAK-187 also was evaluated as intermittent therapy using two dosages in a rabbit model of experimental cryptococcal meningitis. Compared to daily treatment with fluconazole, as little as two doses of TAK-187 given 7 days apart were found to be effective. Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid TAK-187 concentrations were many times higher than MICs and fungicidal concentrations. Based upon its therapeutic efficacy and long half-life in the rabbit model, TAK-187 should be investigated for intermittent dosing in treatment or suppression of cryptococcal infections in humans.
Intestinal Anti-inflammatory Effects of Outer Membrane Vesicles from Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 in DSS-Experimental Colitis in Mice

Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) is a probiotic strain with proven efficacy in inducing and maintaining remission of ulcerative colitis. However, the microbial factors that mediate these beneficial effects are not fully known. Gram-negative bacteria release outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) as a direct pathway for delivering selected bacterial proteins and active compounds to the host. In fact, vesicles released by gut microbiota are emerging as key players in signaling processes in the intestinal mucosa. In the present study, the dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model was used to investigate the potential of EcN OMVs to ameliorate mucosal injury and inflammation in the gut. The experimental protocol involved pre-treatment with OMVs for 10 days before DSS intake, and a 5-day recovery period. Oral administration of purified EcN OMVs (5 μg/day) significantly reduced DSS-induced weight loss and ameliorated clinical symptoms and histological scores. OMVs treatment counteracted altered expression of cytokines and markers of intestinal barrier function. This study shows for the first time that EcN OMVs can mediate the anti-inflammatory and barrier protection effects previously reported for this probiotic in experimental colitis. Remarkably, translation of probiotics to human healthcare requires knowledge of the molecular mechanisms involved in probiotic–host interactions. Thus, OMVs, as a non-replicative bacterial form, could be explored as a new probiotic-derived therapeutic approach, with even lower risk of adverse events than probiotic administration.
Detection of speed bumps using Gaussian mixture model

This paper presents a detection method for speed bumps using Gaussian mixture model. The model based on stripe pattern of speed bump is applied to segment it from road and various environmental backgrounds. Morphological closing operation is then performed as a post-processing to complete speed bump area. In the experiments, both day and night conditions are tested. The experimental results show that the proposed method can detect the bumps efficiently.
Psychological Aspects of Delivering Nursing Care to the Bariatric Patient

The purpose of this article is to discuss the physical and emotional challenges in caring for the bariatric patient and the potential biases that may complicate that process. Issues regarding fat biases, physiological and psychological components of eating, as well as nursing-patient dynamics are discussed. The intention is to show how societal pressures, personal struggles with weight, and misperceptions regarding the obese combine to subtly influence our thinking, attitudes, and subsequent behaviors. Providing a better understanding of this interplay may create more empathy for both nurses and the morbidly obese and facilitate a more comfortable atmosphere of caring for both.
Production of Gel with Menthol, Benzocaine and Procaine HCl for Topical Application in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Antirheumatic and analgesics drugs are the most commonly prescribed medications for treatment of acute and chronic pain. Frequent application of these agents often causes adverse effects. So, in order to avoid the incidence of side effects, topical analgesics are treatment of choice for localized muscle pain. Topical analgesics offer the potential to provide the same analgesic relief provided by oral analgesics but with minimal adverse systemic effects. The aim of this study is to present the preparation and characterization of topical analgesic gel named “Russian water”. Gel is composed of Menthol, Benzocaine, Procaine HCl as topical analgesic agents indicated for temporary relief of pain. Obtained results showed prolonged analgesic effect compared with liquid ethanol solution composed of the same components.
Control of a Sphere Rolling on a Plane with Constrained Rolling Motion

In this paper, we discuss control of contact coordinates for a contact point between a sphere and a plane with pure rolling contact by using iterative closed paths on the sphere with contstrained rolling motion. We first analyze the boundary of the reachable area by the closed path with constrained rolling motion. Utilizing the result, we second propose a method which converge all the contact coordinates to a target point by the iteration of a finite number of the closed paths. A numerical example where the rolling motion is restricted to the area on the semisphere shows the effectiveness of the proposed method.
A CPW-fed 2.45 GHz wearable antenna using conductive nanomaterials for on-body applications

A CPW-fed 2.45 GHz wearable monopole antenna using conductive nanomaterial with different conductivity for on-body applications is presented. The proposed antenna are consists of a rectangular patch with improved ground-plane structures using graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on flexible polydimethysiloxane (PDMS) substrate. The performance characteristic of proposed is characterized and compared with the reference antenna using copper, conventional conductive material for antenna. A good agreement on characteristic between proposed and reference antenna where 18% bandwidth improvement is observed on the proposed design. Meanwhile, significant improvement on antenna gain is observed while integrating graphene on antenna patch and ground. Significant bandwidth improvement is observed when improving the ground structure by introducing horizontal slit cutting and vertical stub. The antenna reflection coefficient characteristic is degrade near to the -10 dB is observed when applied on the voxel human model around upper arm area.
Nutritional Impact of Dietary Plasma Proteins in Animals Undergoing Experimental Challenge and Implications for Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disorders: A Meta-analysis12

Studies administering plasma protein isolates (PPIs) to experimentally challenged animals have reported improvements in growth, food intake, and overall condition when compared with animals fed control diets, due in part to improvements in gut barrier function, normalization of cytokine signals, and support of enteric immune function. These and early clinical studies suggest that nutritional therapy with PPIs may similarly assist in restoring homeostasis to gut barrier function in humans experiencing mild or more acute enteropathic symptomatology such as irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease. This meta-analysis evaluated the ability of PPIs to promote weight gain and food intake in weanling animals, primarily piglets, after oral challenge with various enteric pathogens or bacterial toxins. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PubMed were searched from 1980 through August 2012 for specified terms and keywords. Twenty-nine articles retrieved through this process were evaluated; 11 studies including 13 experiments were selected for inclusion in the analysis. The meta-analysis included descriptive analyses and methods for combining P values for the primary endpoint, average daily growth (ADG) at week 1, and secondary endpoints including ADG, average daily feed intake (ADFI), and gain to feed ratio (G:F) at weeks 1 and 2 and at the end of study. Primary and secondary endpoint analyses of growth (ADG, ADFI, and G:F) were significant (P < 0.01). The proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL) 1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor α were significantly lower in animals fed dietary PPIs. Additional research in patients experiencing symptoms of enteropathy will further characterize the benefits of PPIs in clinical populations.
Affine combinations of adaptive filters

We extend the analysis presented in for the affine combination of two least mean-square (LMS) filters to allow for colored inputs and nonstationary environments. Our theoretical model deals, in a unified way, with any combinations based on the following algorithms: LMS, normalized LMS (NLMS), and recursive-least squares (RLS). Through the analysis, we observe that the affine combination of two algorithms of the same family with close adaptation parameters (step-sizes or forgetting factors) provides a 3 dB gain in relation to its best component filter. We study this behavior in stationary and nonstationary environments. Good agreement between analytical and simulation results is always observed. Furthermore, a simple geometrical interpretation of the affine combination is investigated. A model for the transient and steady-state behavior of two possible algorithms for estimation of the mixing parameter is proposed. The model explains situations in which adaptive combination algorithms may achieve good performance.
CADMIUM ACETATE INDUCED NEPHROTOXICITY AND PROTECTIVE ROLE OF CURCUMIN IN RATS

Cadmium, found to be a toxic metal causes damage to organs such as kidney, lungs, bones, liver, brain and reproductive organ testes. But the most affected organ is kidney on cadmium exposure. In this study, cadmium toxicity and curcumin antioxidant activity against nephrotoxicity were analysed. Here twenty four rats were taken and divided into four groups,each group comprised of six animals each. The first group served as control group with a normal feed and water. The second group received cadmium acetate in distilled water(200 mg/kg of body weight) for 7 days. The third group received only curcumin, dissolved in glycerol (250 mg/kg of body weight) for the same experimental days. Finally, the fourth group is the pretreated group. Rats were treated with curcumin and cadmium acetate continuously for 7 days. At the end of experiment, animals were sacrificied and the blood sample, tissue samples analysed. The level of urea and creatinine in serum were found to be increased, the antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase, catalase were decreased in tissue sample. All these, confirmed the protective activity of curcumin on induced nephrotoxicity.
Characterization of a Multilayer Aquifer Using Open Well Dilution Tests

An approach to characterization of multilayer aquifer systems using open well borehole dilution is described. The approach involves measuring observation well flow velocities while a nearby extraction well is pumped by introducing a saline tracer into observation wells and collecting dilution vs. depth profiles. Inspection of tracer profile evolution allows discrete permeable layers within the aquifer to be identified. Dilution profiles for well sections between permeable layers are then converted into vertical borehole flow velocities and their evolution, using an analytic solution to the advection‐dispersion equation applied to borehole flow. The dilution approach is potentially able to measure much smaller flow velocities that would be detectable using flowmeters. Vertical flow velocity data from the observation wells are then matched to those generated using a hydraulic model of the aquifer system, “shorted” by the observation wells, to yield the hydraulic properties of the constituent layers. Observation well flow monitoring of pumping tests represents a cost‐effective alternative or preliminary approach to pump testing each layer of a multilayer aquifer system separately using straddle packers or screened wells and requires no prior knowledge of permeable layer depths and thicknesses. The modification described here, of using tracer dilution rather than flowmeter logging to obtain well flow velocities, allows the approach to be extended to greater well separations, thus characterizing a larger volume of the aquifer. An example of the application of this approach to a multilayer Chalk Aquifer in Yorkshire, Northeast England, is presented.
Changing Kidney Allograft Histology Early Posttransplant: Prognostic Implications of 1‐Year Protocol Biopsies

Allograft histology 1 year posttransplant is an independent correlate to long‐term death‐censored graft survival. We assessed prognostic implications of changes in histology first 2 years posttransplant in 938 first kidney recipients, transplanted 1999–2010, followed for 93.4 ± 37.7 months. Compared to implantation biopsies, histology changed posttransplant showing at 1 year that 72.6% of grafts had minor abnormalities (favorable histology), 20.2% unfavorable histology, and 7.2% glomerulonephritis. Compared to favorable, graft survival was reduced in recipients with unfavorable histology (hazards ratio [HR] = 4.79 [3.27–7.00], p < 0.0001) or glomerulonephritis (HR = 5.91 [3.17–11.0], p < 0.0001). Compared to unfavorable, in grafts with favorable histology, failure was most commonly due to death (42% vs. 70%, p < 0.0001) and less commonly due to alloimmune causes (27% vs. 10%, p < 0.0001). In 80% of cases, favorable histology persisted at 2 years. However, de novo 2‐year unfavorable histology (15.3%) or glomerulonephritis (4.7%) related to reduced survival. The proportion of favorable grafts increased during this period (odds ratio = 0.920 [0.871–0.972], p = 0.003, per year) related to fewer DGF, rejections, polyoma‐associated nephropathy (PVAN), and better function. Graft survival also improved (HR = 0.718 [0.550–0.937], p = 0.015) related to better histology and function. Evolution of graft histologic early posttransplant relate to long‐term survival. Avoiding risk factors associated with unfavorable histology relates to improved histology and graft survival.
CPP Transport Properties of Ni/Ru and $\hbox{Co}_{90}\hbox{Fe}_{10}/\hbox{Cu}$  Interfaces

Using current-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) magnetoresistance measurements, we derive values of twice the enhanced interface resistance, 2AR<sub>F/N</sub>* and the interface scattering asymmetry, ¿<sub>F/N</sub>, the ferromagnetic/non-magnetic (F/N) pairs Ni/Ru and Co<sub>90</sub>Fe<sub>10</sub>/Cu. For Ni/Ru, we find 2AR<sub>NI/Ru</sub>* = 1.7<sub>-0.3</sub> <sup>+0.4</sup> f¿m<sup>2</sup>, similar to the value for Fe/Cr, but we estimate |¿<sub>Ni/Ru</sub>| = 0.15 ± 0.03, much smaller than the value for Fe/Cr or the asymmetry found for Ni(Ru) alloys. For Co<sub>90</sub>Fe<sub>10</sub> we find 2AR<sub>CoFe/Cu</sub>* = 1.1 ± 0.2 and ¿<sub>CoFe/Cu</sub> = 0.8 ± 0.1, both similar to the values for Co/Cu.
Compact Folded Triband Monopole Antenna for USB Dongle Applications

This letter presents a compact monopole antenna for universal serial bus (USB) dongle applications. A simple folded monopole is selected in order to obtain a triple-band antenna that can be used in the 2.4/3.5/5.2/5.8-GHz bands, utilizing a limited space of 10 × 15 mm2. This structure is easily manufactured by connecting the metal pattern implemented in the upper and lower sides of a substrate through vias. Various parameter studies display that f1 and f2 are adjusted by the overall length of the antenna and coupling between the metal pattern in the upper side and the metal pattern in the lower side, respectively. Also, the studies show that /3 can be adjusted by the metal pattern implemented in the upper side of the substrate and matching stub. The measurement results show that 10-dB bandwidths are 8.4% (2364~2572 MHz), 17.62% (3054~3622 MHz), and 10.81% (5262~5859 MHz) at the three resonance frequencies.
Odd-item search in pigeons: display size and transfer effects.

Pigeons searched arrays of small forms displayed on computer monitors. On each trial, a single target form appeared together with two or more identical distractor forms. A set of six different forms was used in each of three experiments. All possible combinations of these forms, paired as target and distractor, appeared in each experimental session. Both the accuracy and speed of search increased with the number of distractors displayed. When both targets and distractors were new, accuracy was above chance only for the large (24 item) display, where transfer was highly significant. The experiments do not support the attribution to pigeons of a general "oddity concept. " Rather, the results suggest that odd-item performance depends in part on a perceptual isolation of the target and in part on familiarity with target-distractor combinations.
Recruitment of Medicaid and dual-enrolled Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes mellitus into a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE To document the recruitment of Medicaid and dual-enrolled Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes mellitus into a randomized clinical trial. STUDY DESIGN Randomized controlled trial with 1-year follow-up. METHODS A total of 2242 Medicaid or dual-enrolled Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes residing in King County, Washington, were recruited by direct mail for a clinical trial of diabetes self-care management. Washington State Medicaid program databases were used to identify the target population who received recruitment packets from the program director. Individuals who did not return a participation refusal letter were telephoned to determine study eligibility. Subjects were screened during a study visit, and written informed consent was obtained. Enrolled subjects were randomized to a self-care intervention group or a usual care group. RESULTS Of 2242 recruitment packets sent, we were unable to contact 40% of the target population, despite the fact that packets were sent to the same mailing addresses used for monthly Medicaid check distributions. The primary recruitment challenges were missing telephone contact information and a lack of interpreters speaking needed dialects. Of the 146 subjects enrolled, 71% were nonwhite, 28% were non-English speaking, 69% were women, and the mean age was 59.8 years. CONCLUSIONS Research in Medicaid and Medicare populations is possible but requires additional time, energy, and resources. The finding that 40% of the Medicaid population could not be contacted suggests that Medicaid may want to revisit their contact information procedures to facilitate case management and other programs.