Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reverberant overlap- and self-masking in consonant identification.

Two effects of reverberation on the identification of consonants were evaluated for ten normal-hearing subjects: (1) the overlap of energy of a preceding consonant on the following consonant, called "overlap-masking"; and (2) the internal temporal smearing of energy within each consonant, called "self-masking. " The stimuli were eight consonants/p,t,k,f,m,n,l,w/. The consonants were spoken in /s-at/context (experiment 1) and generated by a speech synthesizer in /s-at/ and/-at/contexts (experiment 2). In both experiments, identification of consonants was tested in four conditions: (1) quiet, without degradations; (2) with a babble of voices; (3) with noise that was shaped like either natural or synthetic/s/ for the two experiments, respectively; and (4) with room reverberation. The results for the natural and synthetic syllables indicated that the effect of reverberation on identification of consonants following/s/ was not comparable to masking by either the /s/ -spectrum-shaped noise or the babble. In addition, the results for the synthetic syllables indicated that most of the errors in reverberation for the /s-at/context were similar to a sum of errors in two conditions: (1) with /s/-shaped noise causing overlap masking; and (2) with reverberation causing self-masking within each consonant.
Activation‐induced bi‐dentate interaction of SHIP and Shc in B lymphocytes

SHIP is a SH2 domain‐containing inositol polyphosphatase that is selectively tyrosine phosphorylated and associated with the adapter protein Shc in B lymphocytes upon co‐crosslinking surface immunoglobulin and FcγRIIB1. We previously observed that this stimulation condition is associated with a reduction in the interaction of Grb2 with phosphorylated Shc, an enhanced interaction of Shc with SHIP, and a block in the Ras signaling pathway. We proposed that the SH2 domain of SHIP competes with Grb2 in binding to phospho‐Shc, resulting in a block in Ras signaling. To test this model, we examined the mode of SHIP–Shc interaction. Using recombinant Shc and SHIP interaction domains and purified Shc and SHIP phosphopeptides, we show that the interaction is bi‐dentate such that the SH2 domain of SHIP recognizes phosphorylated Y317 and doubly‐phosphorylated Y239/Y240 of Shc and the Shc PTB domain recognizes phosphorylated NPxpY motifs within SHIP. We observed no role for the Shc SH2 domain in the interaction. These findings are consistent with our earlier model that SHIP and Grb2 compete for binding to phospho‐Shc and support the notion that, in addition to the hydrolysis of inositol phosphates and phospholipids, SHIP contributes to anti‐proliferative biochemistry by blocking protein–protein interactions. J. Cell. Biochem. 67:32–42, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ceftaroline fosamil for treating skin and skin structure infections or community-acquired pneumonia in patients with renal insufficiency

The Clinical Assessment Program and Teflaro® Utilization Registry (CAPTURE) is a multicenter retrospective study, conducted in the USA, describing the contemporary use of ceftaroline fosamil. Ceftaroline is primarily excreted by the kidneys and the dose should be reduced in patients with moderate to severe renal insufficiency. This article describes the clinical effectiveness of ceftaroline fosamil in the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infection (ABSSSI) or community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) patients with renal insufficiency. There were 985 ABSSSI patients and 344 CABP patients, of which 22 and 31%, respectively, had renal insufficiency. Ceftaroline fosamil was mostly administered to patients as second-line therapy. Overall clinical success was 78–91% among ABSSSI or CABP patients with renal insufficiency and, overall, >50% of patients were discharged to home. Ceftaroline fosamil is an effective treatment option for ABSSSI or CABP patients with renal insufficiency.
The examination of the drop impact test method

The purpose of this study is to establish an experimental method of drop impact reliability for solder joints and an assessment method. The drop impact problem is composed by various factors. Such as, a drop impact induced flexural vibration of PCB (Printed Circuit Board), collision attitude, and dynamic fracture of solder joints. There are many methods examine impact reliability of BGA solder joints. One of the methods is a repetitive drop test with a simple equipment proposed by the authors. In a previous report, it was shown that the dynamic deformation of the PCB shows very stable results by attaching a hemisphere on the jig bottom. And as a result, the relation between drop height and cycle to failure of CSP package was obtained. It can achieve very good certainty of the fatigue test. However, several stable fatigue modes occurred according to the drop height. In this study, to obtain the impact reliability of BGA solder joints, the jig has been improved. In this paper, the authors carried out transient response analysis, and examined how the stresses of each device parts are affected by the jig's dimensions. And then, they conducted the repetitive drop test to study how the analytical results will agree with the experimental results. Finally, based upon the analytical and experimental results, they proposed a drop impact reliability assessment approach.
Multimodality Image Fusion with PSMA PET/CT and High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Focal Therapy for Primary Diagnosis and Management of Prostate Cancer: A Planned Research Initiative

Recent developments in diagnostic imaging herald a new approach to diagnosis and management of prostate cancer. Multimodality fusion that combines anatomic with functional imaging data has surpassed either of the two alone. This opens up the possibility to “find and fix” malignancy with greater accuracy than ever before. This is particularly important for prostate cancer because it is the most common male cancer in most developed countries. This article describes technical advances under investigation at our institution and others using multimodality image fusion of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), transrectal ultrasound (TRUS), and PSMA PET/CT (defined as the combination of prostate-specific membrane antigen [PSMA], positron emission tomography [PET], and computed tomography [CT]) for personalized medicine in the diagnosis and focal therapy of prostate cancer with high-intensity focused ultrasound (HiFUS).
Status of physiotherapy rehabilitation after total knee replacement in Australia.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Owing to a scarcity of clinical research, evidence-based clinical guidelines are not available to guide physiotherapy rehabilitation after total knee replacement surgery. This is despite the fact that, annually, over 20000 patients in Australia, over 300 000 patients in North America and 36 000 patients in the UK potentially require rehabilitation at this time to regain functional independence and to resume recreational and work-related physical activities. This survey of clinicians aimed to describe standard (usual) care after total knee replacement in Australia and to provide possible explanations for practice variance, if such variation exists. METHOD A nationwide postal survey involving public and privately funded hospital physiotherapy departments was conducted. Purposive sampling was used to randomly select hospitals from the National Joint Replacement Registry. A series of closed and open-ended protocol-based questions were asked. RESULTS A response rate of 65% (65/100) was obtained. Elements of consistency and diversity across the acute and post-acute phases were evident. Consistent findings included the provision of gait retraining and exercise prescription in the acute period, the requirement for independent ambulation as a criterion for discharge from acute care and the routine referral to ongoing outpatient or community-based physiotherapy. Less consistency was reported for the use of continuous passive motion and cryotherapy in the acute phase, the modes of ongoing rehabilitation, discharge from rehabilitation criteria and the tools for measuring outcomes. Both institutional and non-institutional factors appeared to explain the demonstrated practice variation. CONCLUSIONS In order to propagate evidence-based practice guidelines and uniformity in care, well-designed clinical trials are required to identify cost-effective rehabilitation programmes after total knee replacement.
Bandwidth Enhancement and Miniaturization of Fork-Shaped Monopole Antenna

A small, extremely wideband fork-shaped monopole antenna with a new modified design of ground plane is presented. By connecting an asymmetric T-shaped patch loaded by a horizontal stub to the ground plane, not only the lower edge of the bandwidth (BW) is considerably decreased from 3.6 to 1.95 GHz, but also the impedance matching at the higher frequencies is much improved, and therefore total BW is extremely enhanced from 82% to 164%. By using these features, a miniaturized sample of the antenna with an area reduction of about 57% and BW increment of about 34% is also designed and presented. The measured results of the first and second antennas show the acceptable radiation characteristics with the BWs from 1.95 to 19.9 GHz (164.3%) and from 3.5 to 13.1 GHz (116%) for VSWR <; 2, respectively.
Quality of Life Evolution after Pulmonary Metastasectomy: A Prospective Study Comparing Isolated Lung Perfusion with Standard Metastasectomy

Objective: To prospectively evaluate quality of life (QoL) evolution after a classic pulmonary metastasectomy or after an isolated lung perfusion (ILuP) metastasectomy. Methods: QoL was prospectively recorded in 35 consecutive patients (27 classic metastasectomy; 8 ILuP) The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer C30 and lung cancer -13 QoL Questionnaires were administered before surgery and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively (MPO). Results: After a classic metastasectomy, a temporary increase in dyspnea (1 MPO p = 0.03 3 MPO p = 0.01), coughing (3 MPO p = 0.01), fatigue (1 MPO p = 0.01, 3 MPO p = 0.02), thoracic pain (1 MPO, p = 0.02), shoulder dysfunction (1 MPO p = 0.03, 3 MPO p = 0.02) as well as an impaired physical (1 MPO p = 0.01, 3 MPO p = 0.04) and role functioning (1 MPO p = 0.01, 3 MPO p = 0.01) was reported the first 3 months after surgery. Six months after surgery, all domains returned to baseline. After ILuP metastasectomy, all QoL functioning and symptom scores, except for coughing complaints (1 MPO p = 0.03, 3 MPO p = 0.04) and shoulder dysfunction (1 MPO p = 0.04, 6 MPO p = 0.04), returned to baseline at 1 month after surgery. No significant differences were seen when QoL evolution was compared between classic and ILuP metastasectomy with the exception of a higher burden of thoracic pain (6 MPO p = 0.04, 12 MPO p = 0.01), shoulder dysfunction (6 MPO p = 0.04, 12 MPO p = 0.02), and dysphagia (6 MPO p = 0.04, 12 MPO p = 0.02) 6 and12 months after ILuP. Conclusions: All QoL domains returned to baseline at 6 months after a classic metastasectomy. After ILuP, only increases in coughing and shoulder dysfunction were reported. In comparison classic metastasectomy patients, ILuP patients report more thoracic pain, shoulder dysfunction, and dysphagia.
Use of active immunization against prolactin to study the influence of prolactin on growth and reproduction in the ram.

An experiment was conducted to determine whether prolactin (PRL) is involved in the maintenance of reproductive tissue weights and body growth in yearling rams. Suppression of circulating PRL was achieved by active antibody production against bovine PRL. Free plasma PRL concentrations in immunized rams were decreased (P less than .05) by 73% after 3 months of treatment and 91% after 10 months of treatment in relation to concentrations in control rams. Average daily gain and final body weight were lower (P less than .05) for rams with suppressed circulating PRL (.042 kg/day and 67.0 kg for treatment rams and .060 kg/day and 72.7 kg for control rams). Although testes weights were 32% lower for the treated rams, antibody treatment did not affect (P greater than .05) the weights of the testes or accessory sex glands. No treatment effect was noted on plasma luteinizing hormone (LH), growth hormone (GH) or thyrotropin (TSH). Seasonal differences were observed in some variables of LH, GH and TSH secretion. Mean baseline LH for all animals was higher (P less than .01) in December than in March, June or September. Overall and baseline concentration of GH and TSh were highest (P less than .01) in December. These data suggest that (1) PRL is involved in body growth of the yearling ram, and (2) PRL may have a role in the maintenance of reproductive tissue weights in the yearling ram.
Luis de Guindos: The European Central Bank and financial stability

It is a pleasure to be here today and to take part in this joint initiative of four institutions – the European Central Bank, the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management, the Toulouse School of Economics and the National Bank of Belgium – devoted to the topic of managing financial crises. The extensive programme over the next two days will enable policy makers and academics to engage in a frank exchange of views about policy responses to financial crises and a thorough reflection on crisis management from different angles.
Lentiviral vectors for immunization: an inflammatory field

Lentiviruses are retroviruses that are able to transduce both dividing and nondividing cells. Dendritic cells are key players in the innate and adaptive immune responses, and are natural targets for lentiviruses. Lentiviral vectors (LVs) have recently reached the clinical gene therapy arena, prompting their use as clinical vaccines. In recent years, LVs have emerged as a robust and practical experimental platform for gene delivery and rational genetic reprogramming of dendritic cells. Here, we present the status quo of the LV system for protective or therapeutic vaccine development. This vector system has been extensively evaluated for ex vivo and in vivo (immuno)gene delivery. Improvements of the LV design in order to further grant a higher biosafety profile for vaccine development are presented.
Akutschmerztherapie in Pädiatrie und Geriatrie – Akutschmerztherapie im Kindesalter

Acute pain therapy in children can be achieved by numerous modalities: non-medicamentous supportive measures, regional and local anesthesia, systemic opioids, non-opioids and co-analgesics. The multimodal approach for prevention and therapy of acute pain in children helps minimizing side effects. A well-organized pediatric pain service based on transparent standard operating procedures seems to be essential for the successful treatment of pain in children.
Data on the Recurrence of Breast Tumors Fit a Model in which Dormant Cells are Subject to Slow Attrition but Can Randomly Awaken to Become Malignant

We successfully modeled the recurrence of tumors in breast cancer patients, assuming that:(i) A breast cancer patient is likely to have some circulating metastatic cells, even after initial surgery. (ii) These metastatic cells are dormant. (iii) The dormant cells are subject to attrition by the body’s immune system, or by random apoptosis or senescence. (iv) Recurrence suppressor mechanisms exist. (v) When such genes are disabled by random mutations, the dormant metastatic cell is activated, and will develop to a cancer recurrence. The model was also fitted to data on the survival of pancreatic cancer patients. The time course of cancer recurrence in a group of poor prognosis breast cancer patients could not be linked to the over- (or under-) expression of any gene in the primary tumors from which the recurrent tumors derived. Thus, the recurrence of the tumor in breast cancer patients appears to be a random event. Inasmuch as the kinetics of cancer recurrence in published data sets closely follows the model found for the appearance of sporadic retinoblastoma, tumor recurrence could be triggered by mutations in awakening-suppressor mechanisms. The retinoblastoma tumor suppressor gene was identified by tracing its occurrence in familial retinoblastoma pedigrees. Will it be possible to track the postulated cancer recurrence, awakening suppressor gene(s) in early recurrence breast cancer patients?
A Pit Stop at the ER

Although ligand activation of receptor signaling is well understood, less is known about how a cell switches off signaling by the activated receptor. In his Perspective, Gill discusses new work (Haj et al.) that visualizes one step in the process of deactivating a ligand-activated receptor tyrosine kinase--the dephosphorylation of the internalized receptor by a phosphatase in the endoplasmic reticulum.
Exercise blood pressure response and 5-year risk of elevated blood pressure in a cohort of young adults: the CARDIA study.

Systolic blood pressure response to exercise has been shown to predict development of hypertension in men, but this association has not been examined in population-based samples of men, or in women or non-whites. This relationship was explored in 3741 normotensive black and white young adults undergoing treadmill testing in the CARDIA study and examined 5 years later for development of hypertension. Exaggerated response to exercise (systolic pressure > or = 210 mm Hg in men and > or = 190 mm Hg in women) was detected in 687 subjects (18%) at baseline, and incident hypertension (blood pressure > or = 140/90 mm Hg or on medication) was detected in 184 subjects (4.9%) at followup. Persons with exaggerated response to exercise at baseline had 5 mm Hg higher systolic and 1 mm Hg higher diastolic pressures at follow-up (P < .005) and were 1.70 times more likely to have developed hypertension than were persons with normal response (P < .001). After adjustment for age, race, sex, clinic, resting systolic pressure, body mass index, heavy activity score, exercise duration, and preexercise systolic pressure, exaggerated response was associated with a 2.14 mm Hg increase in year 5 systolic pressure (P < .0001). These associations did not differ by race or sex. Although the increment in systolic pressure associated with exaggerated exercise response was small (1 to 3 mm Hg), this small increment sustained over time could lead to a substantially increased incidence of hypertension and hypertension-related target organ damage. Determination of factors associated with exaggerated response may provide further insights into the development of hypertension in young adults. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Rural-urban differences in primary care physicians' practice patterns, characteristics, and incomes.

CONTEXT Low salaries and difficult work conditions are perceived as a major barrier to the recruitment of primary care physicians to rural settings. PURPOSE To examine rural-urban differences in physician work effort, physician characteristics, and practice characteristics, and to determine whether, after adjusting for any observed differences, rural primary care physicians' incomes were lower than those of urban primary care physicians. METHODS Using survey data from actively practicing office-based general practitioners (1,157), family physicians (1,378), general internists (2,811), or pediatricians (1,752) who responded to the American Medical Association's annual survey of physicians between 1992 and 2002, we used linear regression modeling to determine the association between practicing in a rural (nonmetropolitan) or urban (standard metropolitan statistical area) setting and physicians' annual incomes after controlling for specialty, work effort, provider characteristics, and practice characteristics. FINDINGS Rural primary care physicians' unadjusted annual incomes were similar to their urban counterparts, but they tended to work longer hours, complete more patient visits, and have a much greater proportion of Medicaid patients. After adjusting for work effort, physician characteristics, and practice characteristics, primary care physicians who practiced in rural settings made $9,585 (5%) less than their urban counterparts (95% confidence intervals: -$14,569, -$4,602, P < .001). In particular, rural practicing general internists and pediatricians experienced lower incomes than did their urban counterparts. CONCLUSIONS Addressing rural physicians' lower incomes, longer work hours, and greater dependence on Medicaid reimbursement may improve the ability to ensure that an adequate supply of primary care physicians practice in rural settings.
MLSE based detection for GFSK signals with arbitrary modulation index

Due to its widespread use in cordless indoor systems like DECT, Bluetooth etc., Gaussian frequency-shift keying (GFSK) is an important modulation method. In this paper we present an approach to apply maximum likelihood sequence estimation (MLSE) to GFSK modulated signals. Using a linearized model of the modulation, we develop a pseudo-coherent detection scheme based on the estimation of the transmitter state. With this approach a joint detection and estimation scheme can be realized that allows the application of a Viterbi type equalizer to GFSK signals with arbitrary modulation indices. Simulation results show a gain of up to 7 dB with respect to conventional approaches.
Microcatheter shaping using intravascular placement during intracranial aneurysm coiling

Background The selection of a pre-shaped microcatheter or a shaping method must be carefully considered for successful aneurysm coiling. The objective of this report is to verify the use of intravascular placement to establish an appropriate microcatheter shape. Methods Fifteen patients (15 aneurysms) were included in this study because of the predicted difficulty of microcatheter insertion and stabilisation. The SL-10 straight microcatheter was inserted into the parent artery until the tip of the catheter passed through the neck of the aneurysm. After 5 minutes, the microcatheter was pulled out and the shape acquired from intravascular placement was confirmed and compared with the three-dimensional rotational angiography. In addition, the microcatheter tip was steam-shaped for coiling and coil embolisation was performed. A silicone flow model was also used to confirm our findings. The first experiment compared the bend angle in four different microcatheters placed in the model for 5 minutes. In the second experiment, the SL-10 straight microcatheter was placed in the model, and the bend angle was measured at 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 minutes to observe the changes in bend angle over time. Results The SL-10 straight microcatheter, in place for 5 minutes, acquired a shape similar to the patient’s own vessel. Among the 15 patients included, 13 were treated using an intravascular shaped microcatheter. In the flow model experiments, the SL-10 most easily acquired the vessel shape, and the shape change stabilised after 5 minutes. Conclusion Shaping the SL-10 straight microcatheter using intravascular placement is an effective shaping method for aneurysm coil embolisation.