Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Combating reverberation in large vocabulary continuous speech recognition

Reverberation leads to high word error rates (WERs) for automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems. This work presents robust acoustic features motivated by subspace modeling and human speech perception for use in large vocabulary continuous speech recognition (LVCSR). We explore different acoustic modeling strategies and language modeling techniques, and demonstrate that robust features with acoustic modeling based on deep learning can provide significant reduction in WERs in the task of recognizing reverberated speech compared to mel-cepstral features and acoustic modeling based on Gaussian Mixture Models (GMMs). Index Terms : deep neural networks, robust features, robust speech recognition, reverberation robustness.
The effects of nurse practitioner cultural competence on Latina patient satisfaction

Purpose: To explore the relationship between degree of cultural competence in nurse practitioners (NPs) and measures of patient satisfaction among Latinas. Data sources: A descriptive correlational design was used to examine the degree of cultural competence in NPs and measures of patient satisfaction among Latinas. A convenience sample of 15 licensed NPs from 11 different clinics in a large southwestern city completed two self‐administered questionnaires. A convenience sample of 218 Latina patients completed three self‐administered questionnaires available in both English and Spanish. Descriptive statistics and correlations were used to analyze the data. Conclusions: Latina patients reported greater satisfaction with NPs of Latina origin who were certified, had received cultural competence training, could speak Spanish, and had attended master's level programs. Latina patients were also most satisfied with decreased clinic waiting time. The two NPs with the highest levels of cultural competency scores were non‐Latinas. Noticeable differences were found in the amount of cultural competence exhibited by NPs. Implications for practice: The provision of culturally competent care leads to negotiation, mutual exchange of information, increased compliance, and improved patient‐provider communication. Similarly, patient satisfaction with care is associated with increased compliance and greater continuity of care. Employers seeking to meet the healthcare demands of a growing Latino population must look at extrinsic values such as NPs' certification, cultural competence training, education, and ability to speak Spanish.
Climate refugia and migration requirements in complex landscapes

All of today's species have proven their ability to cope with climate change during the glacial-interglacial cycles of the Quaternary, but future migration requirements may be different regarding speed, direction, geographic barriers, and availability of nearby climate refugia. Here, we contribute a landscape-level climatic analysis of postglacial vs. projected future migration requirements for 24 common western North American tree species. Using a recently developed velocity of climate change algorithm, we quantify required migration velocities for all populations of species to track climate habitat, based on projections from general circulation models for the 2080s and the last glacial maximum, 21 000 yr ago. Specifically, we ask if nearby climate refugia exist for at least some populations within species ranges and whether the current landscape position of species imply qualitatively different migration requirements in the future compared to those during glacial-interglacial cycles. Results showed that velocities to reach the nearest climate refugia in the future still exceed the fastest reconstructed post-glacial migration requirements, but not by orders of magnitude. Regarding landscape positions, we find a low correlation among past and future migration requirements (r = 0.38), suggesting that qualitatively different migration patterns may emerge in the future for some species. Species identified as occupying landscape positions requiring disproportionally faster migration requirements in the future include whitebark pine, pinyon pine, and coast redwood. We discuss uncertainties of our analytical approach as well as implications for human-assisted migration and conservation action to address climate change.
Diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. Relative efficiency of serum enzyme and isoenzyme measurements.

Total serum enzyme activity for creatine phosphokinase (CPK), alphahydroxybutyric dehydrogenase (HBDH), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), as well as the isoenzymes of CPK and LDH, were measured on admission and for ten subsequent days in 100 patients admitted consecutively to a coronary care unit. On discharge, patients were classified by a cardiologist as either having or not having suffered an acute myocardial infarction (MI) on the basis of clinical and electrocardiographic criteria—without knowledge of the enzyme studies. The combined use of CPK and LDH isoenzyme levels provided the greatest laboratory discrimination between the two clinical groups (MI vs non-MI). The routine use of HBDH and SGOT levels can be abandoned in the setting of a coronary care unit if CPK and LDH isoenzyme assays are available. (JAMA232:145-147, 1975)
Pathways involved in sunburn cell formation: deregulation in skin cancer

The incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin is rising worldwide for decades. Chronic exposure to sunlight is the most important environmental risk factor for this type of skin cancer. This is predominantly due to the DNA damaging effect of ultraviolet-B (UVB) in sunlight. UVB induces also sunburn cells, i.e. apoptotic keratinocytes, which is a crucial protective mechanism against the carcinogenic effects of UVB irradiation. This process is regulated by a wide range of molecular determinants involved in the balance between pro- and anti-apoptotic pathways. Growing evidence suggests that the deregulation of this balance by chronic UVB irradiation, contributes to the development of skin cancer. This review gives a brief summary of major known pathways involved in the regulation of keratinocyte survival and cell death upon UVB damage and discusses the contribution of the deregulation of these cascades to photocarcinogenesis.
Interplay of disorder and anharmonicity in heat conduction: Molecular-dynamics study.

The main purpose of the present paper is to study the effect of third- and fourth-order anharmonicity on the heat conductivity in the high-temperature (i.e., classical or saturation) regime of disordered systems. We show that the fourth- and third-order contributions, respectively, enhance and lower the conductivity, which can be understood by a strengthening or weakening of the stiffness of the bonds in the system. On comparing the heat conductivity in percolating and compositionally disordered systems, we find that disorder loosening the structure (percolating systems) favors the effect of anharmonicity.
Origin and evolution of genes specifying resistance to macrolide, lincosamide and streptogramin antibiotics: data and hypotheses.

Resistance to macrolide, lincosamide and streptogramin antibiotics is due to alteration of the target site or detoxification of the antibiotic. Postranscriptional methylation of 23S ribosomal rRNA confers resistance to macrolide (M), lincosamide (L) and streptogramin (S) B-type antibiotics, the so-called MLSB phenotype. Several classes of rRNA methylases conferring resistance to MLSB antibiotics have been characterized in Gram-positive cocci, in Bacillus spp, and in strains of actinomycetes producing erythromycin. The enzymes catalyze N6-dimethylation of an adenine residue situated in a highly conserved region of prokaryotic 23S rRNA. In this review, we compare the amino acid sequences of the rRNA methylases and analyze the codon usage in the corresponding erm (erythromycin resistance methylase) genes. The homology detected at the protein level is consistent with the notion that an ancestor of the erm genes was implicated in erythromycin resistance in a producing strain. However, the rRNA methylases of producers and non-producers present substantial sequence diversity. In Gram-positive bacteria the preferential codon usage in the erm genes reflects the guanosine plus cytosine content of the chromosome of the host. These observations suggest that the presence of erm genes in these micro-organisms is ancient. By contrast, it would appear that enterobacteria have acquired only recently an rRNA methylase gene of the ermB class from a Gram-positive coccus since the genes isolated in Escherichia coli and in Gram-positive cocci are highly homologous (homology greater than 98%) and present a codon usage typical of the latter micro-organisms. As opposed to the MLSB phenotype which results from a single biochemical mechanism, inactivation of structurally related antibiotics of the MLS group involves synthesis of various other enzymes. In enterobacteria, resistance to erythromycin and oleandomycin is due to production of erythromycin esterases which hydrolyze the lactone ring of the 14-membered macrolides. We recently reported the nucleotide sequence of ereA and ereB (erythromycin resistance esterase) genes which encode erythromycin esterases type I and II, respectively. The amino acid sequences of the two isozymes do not exhibit statistically significant homology. Analysis of codon usage in both genes suggests that esterase type I is indigenous to E. coli, whereas the type II enzyme was acquired by E. coli from a phylogenetically remote micro-organism. Inactivation of lincosamides, first reported in staphylococci and lactobacilli of animal origin, was also recently detected in Gram-positive cocci isolated from humans. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Critical Assessment of Important Regions in the Subunit Association and Catalytic Action of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Main Protease*

The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus (CoV) main protease represents an attractive target for the development of novel anti-SARS agents. The tertiary structure of the protease consists of two distinct folds. One is the N-terminal chymotrypsin-like fold that consists of two structural domains and constitutes the catalytic machinery; the other is the C-terminal helical domain, which has an unclear function and is not found in other RNA virus main proteases. To understand the functional roles of the two structural parts of the SARS-CoV main protease, we generated the full-length of this enzyme as well as several terminally truncated forms, different from each other only by the number of amino acid residues at the C- or N-terminal regions. The quaternary structure and Kd value of the protease were analyzed by analytical ultracentrifugation. The results showed that the N-terminal 1–3 amino acid-truncated protease maintains 76% of enzyme activity and that the major form is a dimer, as in the wild type. However, the amino acids 1–4-truncated protease showed the major form to be a monomer and had little enzyme activity. As a result, the fourth amino acid seemed to have a powerful effect on the quaternary structure and activity of this protease. The last C-terminal helically truncated protease also exhibited a greater tendency to form monomer and showed little activity. We concluded that both the C- and the N-terminal regions influence the dimerization and enzyme activity of the SARS-CoV main protease.
Gender Dysphoria

The term Gender Dysphoria is one of the subjects that have a psychological, social and medical dimensions at the same time, and this is gaining a special character in the field of scientific research . The term refers to an individual having a strong and persistent feeling that biological sex does not match his/ her inner sense of being male, female, mixed, neutral or anything else - as a sexual identity - and this sense of mismatch causes the individual in distress or severely impair his/ her ability to work and community integration . Gender Dysphoria is not classified as a sexual or mental disorder, as indicated by the World Health Organization . The causes of the Gender Dysphoria are still not clear, but the researchers attribute the Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome and adrenal enlargement to be the underlying causes. Gender Dysphoria is associated with a number of psychological problems and mental disorders. Suicide rates among individuals with Gender Dysphoria are higher than in the general population . Conclusion : It is a necessity of increasing family awareness of the gender transition of their children and since childhood , and trying to shed light on the special cases of gender issues in the media and reduce the amount of tension and hostility towards this group .
Avaliação do método de fotooxidação do DiI por diodo emissor de luz (led): aspectos morfológicos de células horizontais da retina humana

A analise da morfologia celular e um aspecto crucial da neurobiologia, pois a relacao entre forma e funcao pode definir os processos fisiologicos na saude e na doenca. Um dos principais metodos para avaliar a morfologia celular e por meio da fotooxidacao de marcadores fluorescentes intracelulares, dentre os quais se tem o percloreto de 1,1’-dioctadecil-3,3,3’,3’-tetrametil-indocarbocianina (DiI), uma carbocianina lipofilica que pode marcar celulas vivas ou fixadas. O DiI foi escolhido para este trabalho devido, dentre outros fatores, a sua importante utilizacao para estudos de morfologia celular. Como modelo para avaliar a qualidade da fotooxidacao do aparelho construido para essa finalidade, elegeu-se as celulas horizontais da retina humana com o intuito de prosseguir com estudo morfometrico posterior dessas celulas, tendo em vista a escassez de trabalhos com essa abordagem em retina humana. Assim, este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a qualidade do metodo de fotooxidacao do DiI atraves de LED e utilizando como modelo celulas horizontais da retina humana. O material foi obtido do Banco de Olhos do Hospital Ophir Loyola e, em sequencia dissecado, marcado com cristais de DiI e fotooxidado com o aparelho de LED. As imagens que resultaram do novo metodo de iluminacao para fotooxidacao de tracador fluorescente apresentou elevada qualidade de detalhes da morfologia neuronal, similares aos resultados obtidos em reacoes de fotoconversao convencional com microscopio, o que permite concluir que o aparelho mantem a eficiencia da fotooxidacao por revelar detalhes finos da morfologia celular, inclusive com as vantagens de processar areas maiores de tecido e consideravel reducao de custo por dispensar o emprego de microscopio para o processo.
Vale la pena estudiar una carrera en México

Usualmente la decision de ir a la universidad o no, asi como la de que carrera estudiar, es una decision subjetiva y hasta cierto punto emocional. Tendemos a enfocarnos mas en nuestros gustos, habilidades y en la tradicion familiar que en variables objetivas y datos duros que nos puedan informar sobre las implicaciones economicas de elegir una carrera sobre otra. Esto no esta del todo mal. Sin embargo, ir a la universidad es una de las decisiones de inversion mas importantes que realizamos a lo largo de nuestras vidas. Como con cualquier otra inversion, es importante comparar los beneficios economicos de obtener un titulo universitario contra sus costos, con el fin de determinar si vale la pena hacer la inversion de tiempo, dinero y esfuerzo para obtener un titulo profesional. CD
Clinical and histologic ocular findings in pompe disease.

PURPOSE Limited information is available on the ocular findings in patients with Pompe disease. METHOD This study summarizes this information with a systematic literature review; reports the ocular histologic findings seen in a deceased infant with Pompe disease who was receiving enzyme replacement therapy and in a deceased adult with late-onset Pompe disease; and notes the new observation of ptosis in children with infantile-onset Pompe disease who are receiving enzyme replacement therapy. RESULTS Six articles were found on the ultrastructural-histopathologic eye findings in Pompe disease. Previously reported clinical ocular findings included strabismus and ptosis. Glycogen accumulation and vacuolar myopathy have been seen histologically. CONCLUSION Based on these clinical and histologic reports, patients with Pompe disease may have an increased incidence of ocular abnormalities, such as ptosis and strabismus, and therefore should undergo ophthalmologic examination.
Academic, Social, and Emotional Needs in a Middle Grades Reform Initiative

Abstract During an evaluation of a new middle grades reform initiative, the program participants (i.e., teachers, coaches, and principals) reported they perceived that students’ social and emotional needs interfaced with implementation of the reform. In particular, participants perceived that students’ need for a safe, supportive, and engaging environment affected implementation of the initiative and that components of it did not meet students’ needs. Ultimately, program participants desired both permanent, full-time mental health professionals to work with students and professional development on the middle school model. The complex relationships between students’ multiple needs and the initiative demonstrate the importance of providing comprehensive support and guidance to middle grades students in the context of a reform.
Genetic and Biochemical Investigations on Bacterial Catabolic Pathways for Lignin-Derived Aromatic Compounds

Lignins are the most abundant aromatic compounds in nature, and their decomposition is essential to the terrestrial carbon cycle. White rot fungi secreting phenol oxidases are assumed to be involved in the initial degradation of native lignin, whereas bacteria play a main role in the mineralization of lignin-derived low-molecular-weight compounds in soil. There are a number of reports on the degradation pathways for lignin-derived aromatic compounds, but their catabolism has not been enzymatically or genetically characterized. Sphingomonas paucimobilis SYK-6 is one of the best-characterized lignin-degrading bacteria. It can grow on a wide variety of lignin-related biaryls and monoaryls, including β-aryl ether, biphenyl, diarylpropane, and phenylpropane. These compounds are degraded via the protocatechuate (PCA) 4,5-cleavage pathway or multiple 3-O-methylgallate (3MGA) catabolic pathways. In this review, the enzyme systems for β-aryl ether and biphenyl degradation, O demethylation linked with one carbon metabolism, the PCA 4,5-cleavage pathway, and the multiple 3MGA catabolic pathways in SYK-6 are outlined.
Reduction in the incidence of acute bronchitis by an oral Haemophilus influenzae vaccine in patients with chronic bronchitis in the highlands of Papua New Guinea.

Following the administration of a standardized questionnaire, 62 adult patients with chronic bronchitis were enrolled into a double-blind controlled trial of an oral killed Haemophilus influenzae vaccine in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. A 3-day course of vaccine or placebo was given monthly for 3 consecutive months. Participants were monitored weekly over 12 months for acute exacerbations; early morning sputum specimens were collected monthly and during acute exacerbations. Density of colonization by H. influenzae and H. parainfluenzae was determined by standard quantitative and semiquantitative techniques, and the latter method (quadrant score) was used to determine the density of growth of pneumococci. A total of 30 patients received vaccine and 32 placebo. The incidence rate of acute bronchitis in the vaccine group (0.011 episodes/person-weeks) was significantly lower than that in the placebo group (0.021 episodes/person-weeks), but there was no difference between the two groups in the incidence rates of more severe disease. Vaccine efficacy was maximal at times of peak incidence of disease. There was no evidence of a decline in vaccine efficacy for acute bronchitis over the 12-month follow-up period. The number of viable H. influenzae in the sputum declined in both vaccine and placebo groups over the 12-month follow-up period. The average concentration of H. influenzae in the vaccine group fell below that in the placebo group within 1 to 2 months after first immunization and remained so for 12 months, although the difference between the two groups narrowed during the follow-up period. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Collaborative learning with a wiki: Differences in perceived usefulness in two contexts of use

This paper investigates the potential of a wiki (FlexWiki) to support collaborative authoring of web resources in authentic coursework by two different sets of education students at different stages of their professional development. Research questions included: (1) how the selected wiki could be blended with curriculum activities and existing technologies to complete collaborative tasks; (2) student and tutor expectations concerning collaborative learning and whether these expectations were met; (3) the barriers and enablers of using the wiki and perceptions of the task-technology fit. Key findings included that tutors and students were able to use the wiki to complete tasks; tutors and students were positive about learning outcomes but collaboration was not as co-constructive as hoped for; there were tensions between expectations of collaboration and assessment practices that affected how students collaborated; differences between participants in their group interaction, degree of co-presence and familiarity with technology led to differences in perceptions of usefulness and actual wiki use; and version-tracking data from the wiki proved unreliable on its own for gaining insights into actual collaborative processes. These findings suggest the importance of considering detailed local contexts of use when deciding to adopt new tools for supporting collaboration.
A fork junction DNA–protein switch that controls promoter melting by the bacterial enhancer‐dependent sigma factor

Results of binding assays using DNA fork junction probes indicate that sigma 54 contains multiple determinants that regulate melting to allow RNA polymerase to remain in closed promoter complexes in order to respond to enhancers. Gel mobility shift studies indicate that the −12 promoter element and parts of sigma 54 act together to form a molecular switch that controls melting. The DNA sequences and the sigma 54 N‐terminus help direct polymerase to the location within the −12 promoter element where melting will initiate. However, the fork junction that would lead to melting does not form, due to the action of an inhibitory DNA element. Such unregulated melting is inhibited further by the lack of availability of the single‐strand binding elements, which are needed to spread opening from the junction to the transcription start site. Thus, in the absence of looping enhancer protein, proper regulation is maintained as the sigma 54 polymerase remains bound in an inactive state. These complex protein–DNA interactions allow the controls over protein recruitment and DNA melting to be separated, enhancing the diversity of accessible mechanisms of transcription regulation.