Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ScholarWorks at WMU ScholarWorks at WMU Speech Naturalness Before and Following Treatment in Adults Speech Naturalness Before and Following Treatment in Adults Who Stutter Who Stutter

Purpose: The speech of persons who stutter can often sound unnatural. This can be due to a variety of factors including the presence of stuttering itself and/or the unintended consequence of speech-altering treatment. Understanding factors that contribute to speech naturalness within the stuttering population can direct improved management approaches. This study examines associations between speech task, behavioral measures of stuttering, and selected acoustic measures on listener ratings of speech naturalness for a group of adults immediately before and after participation in an intensive fluency-shaping treatment program. A secondary aim of this study is to assess the use of a novel rating scale (i.e. a visual analog scale) to judge speech naturalness. Methods: Participants include 50 young adult college students who passed a standard hearing screening. The participants served as judges who rated the level of perceived speech naturalness of video recordings made on adults who stutter. A computer interface allowed judges to rate speech naturalness by moving a slider on a computer screen along a continuum ranging from highly natural to highly unnatural. The video recordings that were judged consisted of one-minute excerpts drawn from 40 adults who stutter performing an oral reading and monologue before and following participation in a group-based intensive, four-week fluency shaping program. Mean naturalness ratings were compared across the speech task (oral reading vs. monologue) and time (pre-treatment vs. post-treatment). Additionally, regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between speech naturalness ratings and measures of stuttering frequency and selected acoustic measures. Results: Rater agreement using the visual analog approach to speech naturalness rating was considered excellent and was highly correlated with data previously collected using a more
The Changing Role of Ministers in the Legislative Agenda in Brazil

Who, within the Cabinet, participates in elaborating the government’s legislative agenda, and why? How has the role of ministers in elaborating the legislative agenda changed over time? In this paper, we discuss the structure of legislative bill cosponsorship networks among cabinet members in Brazil. Are ministers serious participants in the elaboration of the agenda, sharing its authorship with colleagues from their and other parties in the coalition? We develop a theory of cabinet members’ participation in the formulation of the government’s legislative agenda in the Brazilian Congress. Using descriptive statistics and network-analytic techniques, we reveal continuity and change in the role of ministers in the legislative agenda over time.
Suitability of Membrane Bioreactor for treatment of recalcitrant textile dye wastewater utilising white-rot fungi

A Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) – utilising a mixed microbial community dominated by fungi – was explored for treatment of a synthetic textile dye wastewater containing dye, starch (main contributor to Total Organic Carbon, TOC) and other nutrients. Preliminary batch tests confirmed the superior decolouration capacity of a pure fungus culture due to simultaneous biosorption and biodegradation in contrast to mainly biosorption in case of conventional activated sludge. However, activated sludge demonstrated comparatively faster TOC removal. Interestingly, stable removal of both colour (>99%) and TOC (>98%) was achieved in the MBR. The membrane contributed significantly to the overall dye removal (biosorption, cake layer filtration, biodegradation).
Papillary Thyroid Cancer in Childhood and Adolescence with Specific Consideration of Patients After Radiation Exposure

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in children and adolescents is a medical problem that attracts attention of investigators and clinicians primarily because of the high incidence of this malignancy in individuals exposed to radioactive isotopes of iodine in case of nuclear reactor emergencies. New facts uncovered by various research groups make it possible to see the clinical and pathological peculiarities of these tumours in a new light and suggest that the aetiology can modify the biological behaviour of PTC. In particular, relative monomorphism of the structure of post-Chernobyl cancers was detected and morphology varies depending on the patients’ age and the ti me of radiation exposure (LiVolsi et al., 2011). For 25 years now child and adolescent thyroid cancer patients with and without a history of radiation exposure were concentrated in the Republican Thyroid Cancer Centre in Minsk where they undergo diagnostics, treatment and follow-up (Demidchik et al., 2006). This presents a unique opportunity to compare cases depending on the presumed cancer aetiology and to analyze similarities and differences in the molecular-genetic background of carcinogenesis, morphological structure and extension of these tumours. The purpose of this study was to look into PTC in childhood and adolescence. We analyzed children between 1 and 14 years of age and adolescents between 15 and 18 years of age who were not exposed to known carcinogenic risks such as irradiation and did not have any indications of hereditary thyroid cancers (e.g. specifically cribriform-morular architecture). The second group consisted of patients of the same age in whom second primary papillary cancers of thyroid developed during the surveillance for primary malignancies in other organs or systems that were treated with external irradiation and/or chemotherapy. The third group, containing the largest number of PTC cases, consisted of children and
Analogue of electromagnetically induced transparency in a terahertz metamaterial

We experimentally demonstrate at terahertz frequencies that a planar metamaterial exhibits a spectral response resembling electromagnetically induced transparency. The metamaterial unit cell consists of a split ring surrounded by another closed ring where their dimensions are such that their excitable lowest order modes have identical resonance frequencies but very different lifetimes. Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy verifies that the interference of these two resonances results in a narrow transparency window located within a broad opaque region. In contrast to previous studies this enhanced transmission is achieved by independently exciting two resonances in which their coupling to the radiation field, and thus their linewidth, differs strongly. Rigorous numerical simulations prove that the transparency window is associated with a large group index and low losses, making the design potentially useful for slow light applications. This experiment opens an avenue to explore quantum-mechanical phenomena using localized resonances in metallic structures.
Chemical composition, sources, and processes of urban aerosols during summertime in northwest China: insights from high-resolution aerosol mass spectrometry

Abstract. An Aerodyne high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS) was deployed along with a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) and a multi-angle absorption photometer (MAAP) to measure the temporal variations of the mass loading, chemical composition, and size distribution of submicron particulate matter (PM1) in Lanzhou, northwest China, during 11 July–7 August 2012. The average (PM1 mass concentration including non-refractory (PM1 (NR-(PM1) measured by HR-ToF-AMS and black carbon (BC) measured by MAAP during this study was 24.5 μg m−3 (ranging from 0.86 to 105 μg m−3), with a mean composition consisting of 47% organics, 16% sulfate, 12% BC, 11% ammonium, 10% nitrate, and 4% chloride. Organic aerosol (OA) on average consisted of 70% carbon, 21% oxygen, 8% hydrogen, and 1% nitrogen, with the average oxygen-to-carbon ratio (O / C) of 0.33 and organic mass-to-carbon ratio (OM / OC) of 1.58. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) of the high-resolution organic mass spectra identified four distinct factors which represent, respectively, two primary OA (POA) emission sources (traffic and food cooking) and two secondary OA (SOA) types – a fresher, semi-volatile oxygenated OA (SV-OOA) and a more aged, low-volatility oxygenated OA (LV-OOA). Traffic-related hydrocarbon-like OA (HOA) and BC displayed distinct diurnal patterns, both with peak at ~ 07:00–11:00 (BJT: UTC +8), corresponding to the morning rush hours, while cooking-emission related OA (COA) peaked during three meal periods. The diurnal profiles of sulfate and LV-OOA displayed a broad peak between ~ 07:00 and 15:00, while those of nitrate, ammonium, and SV-OOA showed a narrower peak between ~ 08:00–13:00. The later morning and early afternoon maximum in the diurnal profiles of secondary aerosol species was likely caused by downward mixing of pollutants aloft, which were likely produced in the residual layer decoupled from the boundary layer during nighttime. The mass spectrum of SV-OOA was similar to that of coal combustion aerosol and likely influenced by coal combustion activities in Lanzhou during summer. The sources of BC were estimated by a linear decomposition algorithm that uses the time series of the NR-PM1 components. Our results indicate that a main source of BC was local traffic (47%) and that transport of regionally processed air masses also contributed significantly to BC observed in Lanzhou. Finally, the concentration and source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were evaluated.
Study of Prognostic Value of Some Biomarkers in Colorectal Egyptian Patients

This study included 89 colorectal patients and 50 healthy subjects served as controls. The serum levels of CXCL5, Cy-C, NGAL, MMP-9 and PDCD4 were measured in serum using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Our results showed that serum CXCL5, Cy-C, NGAL and MMP-9 were significantly elevated in colorectal patients in comparison to healthy controls and this increase decreased after treatment, the elevation correlated positively with stage and progression of disease. Serum PDCD4 was significantly elevated in early stage group [group I] in comparison to controls while in late stage group [group II] its level was significantly low in comparison to healthy controls and group I. It correlated negatively with stage and progression of disease. In conclusion; Serum CXCL5, Cy-C, NGAL and MMP-9 were elevated in patients and it correlated positively with progression of disease so they could serve as a prognostic markers for colorectal cancer patients while PDCD4 decreased with progression of tumor and correlated negatively with stage; so these markers might have a role in the progression of colorectal cancer and the development of metastasis, they can be used to choose patients with a higher risk and indicates what therapies are useful for them.
Time-Based Proxy Re-encryption Scheme for Secure Data Sharing in a Cloud Environment

Abstract: In this research paper, we will describe the system model and security model in our scheme and provide our design goals and related assumptions. We consider a cloud computing environment consisting of a cloud service provider (CSP), a data owner, and many users. The CSP maintains cloud infrastructures, which pool the bandwidth, storage space, and CPU power of many cloud servers to provide 24/7 services. We assume that the cloud infrastructures are more reliable and powerful than personal computers. In our system, the CSP mainly provides two services: data storage and re-encryption. After obtaining the encrypted data from the data owner, the CSP will store the data on several cloud servers, which can be chosen by the consistent hash function, where the input of the consistent hash function is the key of the data, and the outputs of the consistent hash function are the IDs of the servers that store the data. On receiving a data access request from a user, the CSP will re-encrypt the cipher text based on its own time, and return the re-encrypted cipher text.
Factor Affecting Performance Appraisal of Employees : A Study of Life Insurance Company

This research is an attempt to explore the factors affecting the performance appraisal of employees. All measures were tested for reliability through computation of Cronbach’s Alpha. The Alpha coefficient value was found 0.781 for performance appraisal variables like Education Experience, Targets achieved, Position in the organization, Influence of the senior, Targets achieved by the employee, Attendance & regularity of the employee, Vacant position if any to be filled, Rapport of the employer & employee and Past negative or positive experience of the employee etc. Factor Analysis was used to assigned loads to each factor that affects and has impact on the performance appraisal system. Further, the effect of age group and target achieved of the employees were evaluated using chisquare test and it was found that there is no association of targets achieved with the age of the employees. This shows that the performance/output of the employees is not affected by the age.
Functional Status among Rural Geriatric Population

Health is the most important prerequisite for people to enjoy life especially in the ageing years. It seems to be one of the most significant factors effecting adjustment, well being and happiness during ageing years. It affects almost every single aspect of the ageing life, including determining successful involvement in activities and tasks. The major elements of ageing health status are perceived health, psychological well-being, chronic illnesses and functional status. Normal age related changes and health problems frequently show declines in the functional status of older adults. Functional capacity refers to the possibility and ability to carry out the daily activities in a normal or accepted way. Activities of daily living (ADL) is the ability to conduct routine activities of daily living, which included Physical Activities of daily Living (PADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living(IADL). The main purpose of this study was to assess the functional status (PADL and IADL) of geriatric population in the age range of 65-75 years both male and female residing in the rural areas of Jaipur city. The sample comprised of 200 ageing adults both males and females, in the age range of 65 to 75years belonging to rural setting of Jaipur district (n = 100 male and n = 100 female). To evaluate the functional status, the ADL assessment was done with the help of Katzs scale (1963) and Lawton & Brody (1969). The result reflected that 82 percent of the female respondents and 70 percent of the male respondents were able to perform Physical Activities of Daily Living (PADL), although no significant difference was found between the two groups on PADL. While assessing IADL it was clear that majority of the respondents were partially to fully dependent on others. There is increasing interest with researchers and policy makers in, how to age healthy or successfully. A good understanding of the concept of successful ageing and its determinants might contribute to the creation of opportunities for developing intervention programmes.
Visitors to Religious Sites in South Western Nigeria – Their Experience of the Physical Infrastructure

This paper assesses the tourism experience and activities of visitors to religious sites in South Western Nigeria, in order to develop an effective and efficient strategy for the development of religious tourism. Religious tourism is a form of tourism whereby people of faith travel individually or in groups for pilgrimage, missionary, fellowship or leisure purposes. There is a paucity of research on the religious tourism segment in Nigeria. Existing tourism studies focus on ecological, cultural, heritage and historical sites. The paper was born out of my desire for exploratory research on religious tourism in developing countries. Data for this research were derived from primary and secondary sources. Fifteen religious sites were identified which are linked to the three official religions in the study area. Six religious sites were selected from the fifteen using a stratified sampling method. Six hundred questionnaires were administered to visitors at the six religious sites using systematic sampling of every tenth patron at the entrances to the sites. Data were analysed with descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The results show that the tourism experience of the visitors was influenced by socio-economic factors like residential location of the visitors, frequency of visit to the sites, duration of visit, accessibility and other factors. These were analysed using SPSS and the top influencing factor of visitors’ experience is spiritual refreshing (seeking for peace) which constitutes 42.3%, of those surveyed while sight-seeing is represented by 37.5%. Other experiences are healing (10.3%) and other spiritual issues (4.3%). The study concludes that visitors’ tourism experience is an important factor in the development of religious sites in the study area.
Oxytocin, Aggression, and Neural Activity in the Naked Mole-rat

The neuropeptide Oxytocin (OT) is involved in social bonding and pro-social behaviour, however its role in aggression and social status is less clear. The naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) provides a unique model organism in which to study the effects of OT, exhibiting a social hierarchy that emphasizes certain roles for castes within the colony: soldiers defend colonies against outsiders and workers cooperate within the colony. Here, we wanted to determine whether OT is associated with defensive aggression in soldiers. We compared the behaviour of workers and soldiers using a modified resident-intruder paradigm and quantified neural activity of OT neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) using immunohistochemistry. Our results show that soldiers were more aggressive than workers when paired with an unfamiliar animal. However, preliminary analyses of the PVN suggest that workers have greater OT neural activity than soldiers, implying that OT is not associated with aggression in soldiers.
User-Centered Design in a Clinical Context: Challenges and Success

Background Abstract Involving users into every step of the design process materialized into a design approach called User Centered Design (UCD) to which more and more adhere in order to increase the usability of their products. Aim Starting from a history of products that are abandoned in the medical field, this thesis aims at establishing the state of the art in applying UCD in the clinical field as well as document the benefits and challenges behind this process. The results shall be collected in a guideline that can be use for the development of medical systems. Methodology The thesis starts with a systematic literature review and continues with an empirical study that further verifies the results of the review. Throughtout the literature review, articles documenting medical systems development and the process behind it have been scrutinized for UCD methods applied and their knowledge of UCD in general. As part of the empirical study, interviews have been performed with developers, designers and researchers of medical systems in order to collect their experiences on employing UCD as well as the benefits and challenges related to it. Conclusion In conclusions of the thesis, the most used methods as well as the general design process behind clinical systems are presented and discussed. A guideline on best practices and a path to creating relevant and usable products is described.
The innovative intention in the Tunisian tourism

Within the scope of this paper, we seek to identify factors that significantly affect the “innovative intention” at the level of decision makers in the field of Tourism. Actually, we focus on developing a model relating the Intention to Innovate with six major determinants pertaining to Tunisian tourist industry. Using Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and Discriminate Analysis (DA) as two statistical tools to test this model, we have reckoned it necessary to conduct a self-administered survey by means of a questionnaire administered during the spring 2009, with a sample comprising 103 Tunisian touristic companies specifically located in the regions of Sfax, Monastir, Mahdia, Sousse and Hammamet.
THE SMOOTH CONTINUATION METHOD IN OPTIMAL CONTROL WITH AN APPLICATION TO QUANTUM SYSTEMS

The motivation of this article is double. First of all we provide a geometrical framework to the application of the smooth continuation method in optimal control, where the concept of conjugate points is related to the convergence of the method. In particular, it can be applied to the analysis of the global optimality properties of the geodesic flows of a family of Riemannian metrics. Secondly, this study is used to complete the analysis of two-level dissipative quantum systems, where the system is depending upon three physical parameters, which can be used as homotopy parameters, and the time-minimizing trajectory for a prescribed couple of extremities can be analyzed by making a deformation of the Grushin metric on a two-sphere of revolution.
Experimental study of the radiation emitted by 180-GeV/c electrons and positrons volume-reflected in a bent crystal

volume-reﬂected electrons and positrons impinging on a bent crystalhas been measured by the H8RD22 Collaboration on the H8 beamline at the CERN SPS. A dedicated spec-trometer has been developed to measure high-energy photon spectra up to 100 GeV under volume reﬂec-tion: photon and charged particle beams have been separated by a bending magnet and leptons were detectedand tagged by microstrip silicon detectors and a Pb-scintillator sampling calorimeter. A comparison betweenthe experimental and analytical data for the amorphous and volume-reﬂection cases is presented and thedifferences are discussed.DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.79. 012903 PACS number s : 61.85. p, 29.27. a, 61.80. Fe
Requirements Gathering for Tools in Support of Storyboarding in User Experience Design

Storytelling is often used support communication in early User Experience (UX) design, and the resulting stories are frequently visualized in the form of storyboards. However, storyboarding, the creation of storyboards, has also been identified as an important obstacle to the adoption of storytelling in UX design. Most UX designers do indeed not possess the drawing skills needed to produce professionally-looking storyboards. A problem that can be potentially overcome (or at least ameliorated) by using alternative (digital) storyboarding tools. A study into the user acceptance of existing tools is introduced in this paper. The results show that while traditional tools like pen and paper are still very much valued, digital tools are getting increasingly popular. We identify important limitations of existing tools and formulate requirements for future storyboarding tools.