Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reconciling diverse findings in studies of phonetic convergence

Phonetic convergence occurs both when individuals interact in conversation, and when listeners rapidly repeat words presented over headphones. Results from multiple studies examining phonetic convergence offer an array of often confusing and disparate findings. Reconciling such diverse findings is difficult without a clear rationale for engaging in one acoustic measure over another. The current paper proposes a paradigm that models perceptual and acoustic measures together. Measures of multiple acoustic-phonetic attributes were compared with a perceptual measure of phonetic convergence in a shadowing study. Although convergence was not significant in any acoustic measure alone, the combination of acoustic attributes predicted perceived phonetic convergence on an item-by-item basis. Because perceptual measures integrate across multiple acoustic-phonetic dimensions, future studies of phonetic convergence should use perceptual tasks to calibrate the relative contribution of individual acoustic-phonetic param.
An enhanced correlation matrix estimation scheme for blind adaptive MMSE receiver

An improved correlation matrix estimation scheme for blind adaptive MMSE receivers for DS-CDMA communications was proposed by Chen and Mitra (see IEEE Journal on Selected Areas on Communications, vol.19, p.1531-43, 2001). Blind adaptive MMSE receivers with the estimation scheme not only maintain the merit of robustness against fading, but achieve performance comparable to the training-sequence based adaptive MMSE receivers. This paper presents an enhanced version of the improved correlation matrix estimation scheme for blind adaptive MMSE detection, which results in a better convergence and tracking property and noticeably improved performance than the original scheme of Chen and Mitra. Theoretical analysis is performed for the flat fading case which predicts the advantages of the new scheme. Detailed computer simulations are also carried out to verify the performance of blind adaptive MMSE receivers with the new estimation scheme.
In vivo optical coherence tomography imaging of human skin: norm and pathology

Background/aims: Since the majority of skin diseases are known to be accompanied by structural alterations, research efforts are focused on the development of various novel diagnostic techniques capable of providing in vivo information on the skin structure. An essential parameter here is spatial resolution. In this paper we demonstrate the capabilities of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in detecting in vivo specific features of thin and thick skin. A particular focus is made on the identification of OCT patterns typical of certain pathological processes in skin, by performing parallel histological and tomographical studies.
Comparative Analysis of the Efficacy of Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) have been proven effective in improving hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and in reducing hypoglycemia in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). It is not clear, however, if CGM provides further efficacy and safety benefits beyond SMBG in the management of T1DM. Methods: MEDLINE (1966-November 2009), COCHRANE REGISTRY (all years), and EMBASE (1980-November 2009), and article bibliographies were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the use of CGM in patients with T1DM, with clinical outcomes, including HbA1c and hypoglycemia and/or hyperglycemia. Results: Fourteen RCTs met eligibility criteria [n = 1188 patients, 97.4% with T1DM, age 29.0 ± 14.3 years, diabetes duration 11.7 ± 7.0 years, and baseline HbA1c 8.3 ± 0.8% (mean ± standard deviation)]. Compared with SMBG, the use of CGM was associated with a greater reduction in HbA1c [−0.3% (confidence interval: 0.4, −0.2), p < . 0001]. The number of hypoglycemic events was not significantly different between the CGM and SMBG groups (0.52 ± 0.52 versus 0.52 ± 0.63 events/day, p = .5), but duration of hypoglycemia was shorter for the CGM group (75 ± 39 versus 89 ± 19 min/day), with an incremental reduction of hypoglycemia duration of −15.2 min/day, p < . 0001. Continuous glucose monitoring also resulted in a shorter duration of hyperglycemia than SMBG (172 ± 125 versus 217 ± 152 min/day, p = .04). Conclusions: The use of CGM is associated with improvement in metabolic control in T1DM, with significant short- and long-term reductions in HbA1c and reduction in the duration of periods of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia versus SMBG.
Effect of Hypoxic Injury in Mood Disorder

Hypoxemia is a common complication of the diseases associated with the central nervous system, and neurons are highly sensitive to the availability of oxygen. Neuroplasticity is an important property of the neural system controlling breathing, memory, and cognitive ability. However, the underlying mechanism has not yet been clearly elucidated. In recent years, several pieces of evidence have highlighted the effect of hypoxic injury on neuronal plasticity in the pathogenesis and treatment of mood disorder. Therefore, the present study reviewed the relevant articles regarding hypoxic injury and neuronal plasticity and discussed the pathological changes and physiological functions of neurons in hypoxemia in order to provide a translational perspective to the relevance of hypoxic injury and mood disorder.
Long-term use of inhaled corticosteroids and the risk of pneumonia in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND Recent studies have suggested a possible association between pneumonia and the use of inhaled corticosteroids. We aimed to ascertain the risk of pneumonia with long-term inhaled corticosteroid use among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS We performed systematic searches with no date restrictions through June 30, 2008, of MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, regulatory documents, and trial registries. We included randomized controlled trials of any inhaled corticosteroid vs a control treatment for COPD, with at least 24 weeks of follow-up and reporting of pneumonia as an adverse event. Outcomes evaluated included any pneumonia, serious pneumonia, pneumonia-related mortality, and overall mortality. RESULTS Eighteen randomized controlled trials (n = 16 996) with 24 to 156 weeks of follow-up were included after a detailed screening of 97 articles. Inhaled corticosteroids were associated with a significantly increased risk of any pneumonia (relative risk [RR], 1.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.33-1.92 [P < .001]; I(2) = 16%) and serious pneumonia (1.71; 1.46-1.99 [P < .001]; I(2) = 0%) but without a significantly increased risk of pneumonia-related mortality (1.27; 0.80-2.03 [P = .31]; I(2) = 0%) or overall mortality (0.96; 0.86-1.08 [P = .51]; I(2) = 0%). Inhaled corticosteroids were associated with a significantly increased risk of serious pneumonia when compared with placebo (RR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.44-2.29 [P < .001]) or when the combination of inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta-agonists was compared with long-acting beta-agonists (1.68; 1.20-2.34 [P = .002]). CONCLUSION Among patients with COPD, inhaled corticosteroid use for at least 24 weeks is associated with a significantly increased risk of serious pneumonia, without a significantly increased risk of death.
Implicit learning in Parkinson's disease: evidence from a verbal version of the serial reaction time task.

Evidence suggests that patients suffering from Parkinson's Disease (PD) demonstrate less sequence learning in the serial reaction time (SRT) task devised by Nissen and Bullemer (1987). One of the problems with this task is that it is motor intensive and, given the motor difficulties which characterize Parkinson's disease (e.g., tremor, impaired facility of movement, rigidity, and loss of postural reflexes), allows the possibility that patients with PD are capable of sequence learning but are simply unable to demonstrate this through a decrease in reaction time over trials. The present study examined the performance of patients with PD and healthy controls, matched for verbal fluency, on a verbal version of the SRT task where the standard button-pressing response was replaced by a spoken response. Thirteen nondementing patients with PD and 11 healthy controls were administered the SRT task. The PD group demonstrated less sequence learning than the controls and this was independent of age and severity of illness. The results add support to those studies which have found impaired sequence learning using the standard form of the SRT task.
Hyaluronan and Layilin Mediate Loss of Airway Epithelial Barrier Function Induced by Cigarette Smoke by Decreasing E-cadherin*

Background: Cigarette smoke (CigS) induces hyaluronan fragmentation and increases epithelial permeability. Results: CigS and HA fragments decrease E-cadherin expression that is prevented by knocking down layilin. Conclusion: HA fragments bind to layilin and signal through RhoA/ROCK to inhibit E-cadherin. Significance: Airway epithelium is our first line of defense against inhaled insults. HA fragments released by CigS disrupt this barrier. Cigarette smoke (CigS) exposure is associated with increased bronchial epithelial permeability and impaired barrier function. Primary cultures of normal human bronchial epithelial cells exposed to CigS exhibit decreased E-cadherin expression and reduced transepithelial electrical resistance. These effects were mediated by hyaluronan (HA) because inhibition of its synthesis with 4-methylumbelliferone prevented these effects, and exposure to HA fragments of <70 kDa mimicked these effects. We show that the HA receptor layilin is expressed apically in human airway epithelium and that cells infected with lentivirus expressing layilin siRNAs were protected against increased permeability triggered by both CigS and HA. We identified RhoA/Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) as the signaling effectors downstream layilin. We conclude that HA fragments generated by CigS bind to layilin and signal through Rho/ROCK to inhibit the E-cadherin gene and protein expression, leading to a loss of epithelial cell-cell contact. These studies suggest that HA functions as a master switch protecting or disrupting the epithelial barrier in its high versus low molecular weight form and that its depolymerization is a first and necessary step triggering the inflammatory response to CigS.
Crystal Structures of Human TBC1D1 and TBC1D4 (AS160) RabGTPase-activating Protein (RabGAP) Domains Reveal Critical Elements for GLUT4 Translocation*

We have solved the x-ray crystal structures of the RabGAP domains of human TBC1D1 and human TBC1D4 (AS160), at 2.2 and 3.5 Å resolution, respectively. Like the yeast Gyp1p RabGAP domain, whose structure was solved previously in complex with mouse Rab33B, the human TBC1D1 and TBC1D4 domains both have 16 α-helices and no β-sheet elements. We expected the yeast Gyp1p RabGAP/mouse Rab33B structure to predict the corresponding interfaces between cognate mammalian RabGAPs and Rabs, but found that residues were poorly conserved. We further tested the relevance of this model by Ala-scanning mutagenesis, but only one of five substitutions within the inferred binding site of the TBC1D1 RabGAP significantly perturbed catalytic efficiency. In addition, substitution of TBC1D1 residues with corresponding residues from Gyp1p did not enhance catalytic efficiency. We hypothesized that biologically relevant RabGAP/Rab partners utilize additional contacts not described in the yeast Gyp1p/mouse Rab33B structure, which we predicted using our two new human TBC1D1 and TBC1D4 structures. Ala substitution of TBC1D1 Met930, corresponding to a residue outside of the Gyp1p/Rab33B contact, substantially reduced catalytic activity. GLUT4 translocation assays confirmed the biological relevance of our findings. Substitutions with lowest RabGAP activity, including catalytically dead RK and Met930 and Leu1019 predicted to perturb Rab binding, confirmed that biological activity requires contacts between cognate RabGAPs and Rabs beyond those in the yeast Gyp1p RabGAP/mouse Rab33B structure.
Defining pathogenic verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) from cases of human infection in the European Union, 2007–2010

SUMMARY During 2007–2010, 13 545 confirmed human verocytotoxin (VT)-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) infections were reported in the European Union, including 777 haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) cases. Clinical manifestations were reported for 53% of cases, 64% of which presented with diarrhoea alone and 10% with HUS. Isolates from 85% of cases were not fully serotyped and could not be classified on the basis of the Karmali seropathotype concept. There is no single or combination of phenotypic or genetic marker(s) that fully define ‘pathogenic’ VTEC. Isolates which contain the vtx2 (verocytotoxin 2) gene in combination with the eae (intimin-encoding) gene or aaiC (secreted protein of enteroaggregative E. coli) and aggR (plasmid-encoded regulator) genes have been associated with a higher risk of more severe illness. A molecular approach targeting genes encoding VT and other virulence determinants is thus proposed to allow an assessment of the potential severity of disease that may be associated with a given VTEC isolate.
Ocular deficits associated with alcohol exposure during zebrafish development

Approximately 90% of fetal alcohol syndrome cases are accompanied by ocular abnormalities. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a well‐known developmental model that provides an opportunity for better understanding the histological and cytological effects of developmental exposure to ethanol on the vertebrate eye. The purpose of the present study was to determine the gross, microscopic, and ultrastructual effects of developmental exposure to ethanol in the zebrafish model. Eggs were obtained from WT outbred zebrafish and exposed to 0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.5%, or 1.0% (v/v) ethanol to assess viability and the effect of dose and duration of exposure on eye size. Light and electron microscopy were performed on ethanol‐treated and control larvae. Results showed that ethanol treatment decreased viability by about 20% at concentrations of 0.1–0.5% ethanol and by 50% at 1.0% ethanol. Ethanol‐related decreases in eye size were recorded at 6 days postfertilization (dpf) and were dose dependent. There were significant decreases in the volumes of the photoreceptor, inner nuclear, and ganglionic layers and in the lens of 9 dpf ethanol‐exposed compared with control larvae. Ultrastructural examination showed signs of developmental lags in the ethanol‐treated fish as well as abnormal retinal apoptosis in the 6 dpf ethanol‐treated larvae compared with their controls. These results demonstrate that the developing zebrafish eye is sensitive to perturbation with ethanol and displays some of the eye deficits present in fetal alcohol syndrome. J. Comp. Neurol. 502:497–506, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Endogenous hormones in postmenopausal females with breast cancer--before and after treatment.

BACKGROUND Breast cancer is usually present for many years (as long as 5-10 years) before it can be clinically diagnosed (theory of the 'dormant malignant cell'). This implies that breast cancer cells, during their subclinical period, are likely to have been exposed for a considerable time to endogenous sex hormones and endogenous hormonal milieu predicts the chances of breast cancer in females. So, we planned this study to evaluate the role of endogenous hormones in postmenopausal females excluding the patients on hormone replacement therapy as the relationship between breast cancer and hormone replacement therapy is well known. METHODS Hormone therapy is known to affect these hormone levels but whether treatment of breast cancer per se also decreases the hormone levels is not known. We planned the present study to determine hormone levels in patients before and after 4 months of treatment (chemotherapy/surgery and radiotherapy). Circulating hormone levels were measured using a chemiluminescence method. Their results were compared with a group of 25 age matched healthy controls. RESULTS We found that serum prolactin, testosterone and estrogen levels were very significantly higher in patients before treatment (Group I) as compared to controls (Group III). Serum prolactin and serum estrogen levels were significantly higher and serum testosterone was very significantly higher in patients before treatment (Group I) when compared after 4 months of treatment (Group II). Only serum estrogen levels were significantly high in patients after treatment (Group II) as compared to controls (Group III). Serum progesterone levels showed no significant difference to any of the groups. CONCLUSIONS We concluded that postmenopausal females with breast cancer have abnormalities in hormone levels. These abnormalities may be considered in the pathogenesis of the disease and should be taken into account in the treatment of patients of breast cancer. It might also be helpful to delay the onset of cancer by normalizing the levels of these hormones and in deciding the treatment modality for the patients once breast cancer has been diagnosed but further studies are required to prove the benefit of measuring serum hormone levels as a screening test.
Studies of the proliferation and differentiation of immature myeloid cells in vitro. I. chronic myelogenous leukemia

Immature cells prepared from chronic myelogenous leukemic patients in the chronic or blastic phase of their disease were placed into suspension culture in vitro and studied over a 2‐week period. Regardless of the status of the disease, the immature cells proliferated and maintained good viability. In contrast, evolution of the disease toward blastic crisis was associated with a progressive loss in the ability of the immature cells to differentiate. Cell proliferation and differentiation were independent of added growth factors.
Low-Cost Multiple-Bit Encoded Chipless RFID Tag Using Stepped Impedance Resonator

A novel compact multiple-bit encoded chipless RFID tag using a stepped impedance resonator (SIR) is proposed. The main advantage of SIR compared with other resonators is the independent control over the fundamental as well as first harmonic frequency by varying either the impedance ratio (K) or length ratio (α). The tag utilizes both the fundamental and the first harmonic frequency of the SIR to represent two bit information with a single resonator. The tag is capable of representing 22N number of bit combinations with N resonators. RFID tags are fabricated on C-MET LK4.3 (εr = 4.3 and tanδ = 0.0018) and RT Duriod (εr = 2.2 and tanδ = 0.0009) substrates. The structural information of the tag is encoded in the frequency spectrum, both in the magnitude and group delay of the backscattered signal. The data encoding capacity of the tag is enhanced by using the frequency shift coding technique. The proposed RFID tags have an operating range of 50 cm in the outdoor environment. Theoretical and numerical methods are used to verify the measured resonant frequencies of the tag.
Comprehensive platform and component modeling of heterogeneous interconnected systems

In this paper, we propose an approach for modeling distributed embedded systems in a holistic way starting from an abstract specification of system requirements. We use the unified modeling language (UML), which is very popular in software modeling and development, for describing both the target platform and the functionality, which has to be performed on that target platform, at a high abstraction level - even at system level. Therefore, we extended the existing UML profile MARTE to meet the requirements of distributed systems. These extensions enable to associate the elements of the model semantically and hence to use UML as a common underlying data model for system representation. Based on the holistic modeling approach an executable simulation model is generated in SystemC to facilitate exploration and verification of system behavior.
Investigation of effect of surface failures on inner and outer race of bearing on vibration spectrum

The rolling element bearing is an important element used in rotating machinery. The performance of any mechanical system depends on condition of the bearing. Hence, to avoid failures condition monitoring of rolling element bearings is essential. In the present study, effect of surface failure on inner and outer race of bearing on vibration spectrum is proposed. The vibration spectrum is acquired for healthy bearing and bearing with surface failure failures on outer and inner race of bearing. The experimental study is carried out with various defect sizes on inner and outer race of bearing surface, at various shaft excitation frequencies. Vibration spectrums are acquired using a tri-axial shear type accelerometer (Type AC 102-A, SI.NO.66760) along with the photon+ (Bruel and Kajer) ultraportable dynamic signal analyser. The experimental results are compared with ball pass frequency of inner and outer race. It has been found that the percentage of errors is within permissible limit. Key words - Rolling element bearing, Bearing defect, Bearing characteristics frequencies, condition monitoring.
Indian Millennials: Are microchip implants a more secure technology for identification and access control?

This mixed methods study with a sequential explanatory strategy explored qualitatively the statistically significant quantitative findings relative to Indian respondents' perceptions about RFID (radio frequency identification) transponders implanted into the human body. In the first analysis phase of the study, there was a significant chi-square analysis reported (χ2 = 56.64, df = 3, p = .000) relative to the perception of small business owners (N = 453) that implanted chips are a more secure form of identification and/or access control in organizations and the respondents' country of residence. Countries under study included Australia, India, the UK and US. The country contributing most to this significant relationship was India. Additionally, frequency data comparing the relationship of the respondents' generation and perceptions of implants as a more secure technology (yes - no) was examined. The significant chi-square (χ2 = 29.11, df = 2, p = .000) analysis indicated that there was a very significant relationship between the respondents' opinions and such generations as Baby Boomers (those born 1946 - 1965), Generation X (those born 1966-1980) and Generation Y (those born 1981-2000). The second analysis phase of the study explored qualitative data gleaned from open-ended questions asking Indian Millennials (born 1981-2000) about their feelings about being implanted with a chip. Over one third of the world's population is considered part of the Millennial generation. Of India's 1.2 billion people, approximately half are under the age of 25; that is, over 250 million are categorized as Millennials. Based on the quantitative and qualitative findings, researchers in this study concluded that three factors affect perceptions of RFID implants. One key factor is that Indian Millennials appear to describe more feelings of positivity and neutrality when compared with the two prior generations.