Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Speech recognition in individuals having a clinical complaint about understanding speech during noise or not

Summary Introduction: Clinical and experimental study. Individuals with a normal hearing can be jeopardized in adverse communication situations, what negatively interferes with speech clearness. Objective: check and compare the performance of normal hearing young adults who have a difficulty in understanding speech during noise or not, by making use of sentences as stimuli. Method: 50 normal hearing individuals, 21 of whom were male and 29 were female, aged between 19 and 32, were evaluated and divided into two groups: with and without a clinical complaint about understanding speech during noise. By using Portuguese Sentence Lists test, the Recognition Threshold of Sentences during Noise research was performed, through which the signal-to-noise (SN) ratios were obtained. The contrasting noise was introduced at 65 dB NA. Results: the average values achieved for SN ratios in the left ear, for the group without a complaint and the group with a complaint, were respectively 6.26 dB and 3.62 dB. For the left ear, the values were −7.12 dB and −4.12 dB. A statistically significant difference was noticed in both right and left ears of the two groups. Conclusion: normal hearing individuals showing a clinical complaint about understanding speech at noisy places have more difficulty in the task to recognize sentences during noise, in comparison with the people who do not face such a difficulty. Accordingly, the customary audiologic evaluation must include tests using sentences during a contrasting noise, with a view to evaluating the speech recognition performance more reliably and efficiently. ACTRN12610000822088
ON METHOD OF INTERACTIVE SEGMENTATION BASED ON REMOTE SENSING IMAGES

In this paper, we aim to solve the object extraction problem in remote sensing images using interactive segmentation tools. Firstly, an overview of the interactive segmentation algorithm is proposed. Then, our detailed implementation of intelligent scissors and GrabCut for remote sensing images is described. Finally, several experiments on different typical features (water area, vegetation) in remote sensing images are performed respectively. Compared with the manual result, it indicates that our tools maintain good feature boundaries and show good performance.
Doctors, Patients, and Service Providers: A cloud-based approach for managing healthcare processes

The ability of an eHealth system to empower and support doctors in undertaking healthcare processes and adapting them to the specific needs of their patien ts is key for its success. In this paper, we present a cloud-base d approach for this type of eHealth systems, and consequently encourage their proliferation. First, we discuss a new health care business model that emancipates doctors from their reliance on technical assistance, and facilitates their coopera tion with healthcare service providers. Then, we introduce a conceptual model of healthcare processes that allows doctors t o understand, program, and upkeep them easily. We illustrate how both these components constitute a basis for cl oud-based eHealth systems by discussing the development of a prototype implementation. Finally, we show how the prototype can be integrated in existing workflows by discussing a co ntextual analysis conducted to guide this integration. We co nclude by discussing our results. Keywords-eHealth; Business Process Management; Cloud Computing
e-Assessment in Medical Education

In education, assessment is a continuous process which may perform numerous functions, such as diagnosing, supporting, motivating, controlling or summarising. As a continuous process, assessment takes time, and therefore, where possible, it is replaced by e-assessment. In medical sciences, theoretical knowledge is often assessed using electronic tests based on multiple choice questions. However, the method of preparation to this type of exams and the mere filling of the test form may be problematic for students. Given the above, the authors have decided to monitor the students' approach to the online tests in order to eliminate or correct any arising problems. This document presents the results of surveys taken in the academic years 2014/15 and 2015/16. In addition, the article shows the role of formative and summative evaluation in eassessment as well as the need to apply standards for the development of assessment tools and systems. Even with many advantages, the e-assessment is still rarely used, mainly due to a large load of work and measures at the first implementation stage, as well as the lack of preparation of the academic staff. Therefore, in the authors' opinion, the popularisation of good practices may contribute to improvements in this field. B. Kołodziejczak, M. Roszak, A. Ren-Kurc, W. Kowalewski, A. Bręborowicz 236
Control of new follicular wave emergence and rate of follicular maturation in bos indicus-influenced cattle with estradiol benzoate, temporary calf removal and progesterone

Control of New Follicular Wave Emergence and Rate of Follicular Maturation in Bos indicus-influenced Cattle with Estradiol Benzoate, Temporary Calf Removal and Progesterone. (December 2008) Julie Diane Pack, B.S., Tarleton State University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Gary L. Williams Objectives were to determine: 1) whether estradiol benzoate (EB) provides a superior alternative to GnRH for synchronizing emergence, growth and maturation of a new follicular wave for fixed timed AI (TAI) in Bos indicus-influenced cattle using CIDR-based protocols, 2) the effect of 48 h calf removal at CIDR removal on the rate of maturational synchrony of the dominant follicle and 3) the effect of varying the magnitude of peak plasma progesterone (P4) concentrations following CIDR insertion on the suppression of FSH and LH secretion in a CIDR-based protocol using EB. In experiment 1, sixty-four Braford (F-1) females were stratified by BCS, parity and days postpartum and assigned randomly to one of four groups in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments: 1) Select-Synch + CIDR, 2) Select-Synch + CIDR with 48 h calf removal, 3) E-Synch + CIDR or 4) E-Synch + CIDR with 48 h calf removal. A greater number of cattle in the EB treated group exhibited NFWE compared to the GnRH group, 29 vs 17 cows for EB and GnRH respectively, (P<0.0006). Intervals to NFWE were also greater in EB treated cattle than in GnRH treated cattle, 4.2 vs 2.7 d for EB and GnRH treated
Modeling Solute Mass Exchange between Pore Regions in Slurry‐Injected Soil Columns during Intermittent Irrigation

Water flow and solute transport models described solute leaching during slurry injection. Intermittent flow increased leaching of injected slurry compounds compared with steady flow. Mass exchange of slurry compounds during interruptions occurred from im‐ to mobile pore regions. Mass exchange between pore regions should be included in larger scale model predictions.
Determining the Degree of Service Quality, Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty: An Empirical Study of Retail Banking in Ghana

Service industries are playing an increasingly important role in the overall economies of both developed and developing countries (Angelova and Zekiri, 2011). The services sector of every country therefore contributes significantly to its economic development, as service remains one of the three key components of gross domestic product (GDP), with the two other sectors being agriculture and industry. Currently, there is a growing importance of the services sector in the world economy (Araslı et al., 2005), as compared to the other two sectors. The Central Intelligence Agency (2014) world factbook estimates that services contributed 63.5% of world gross domestic product (GDP) in 2014 . The estimates for Ghana, from the same study are; agriculture 21.4%, industry 29.2% and services 49.4%. Over the years, researchers have tried to define service in slightly different ways. Wei (2013) gives a relatively modern definition as an activity or a series of activities in intangible form which usually takes place between customers and service providers.
Can the assessment of malaria severity be simplified for non immune African children

Background: Whether there are alternative indicators than WHO criteria to assess malaria severity and outcome is not addressed in non-immune children. Methods: To assess outcome of severe malaria among non-immune children, we conducted a prospective hospital-based study in Dakar (Senegal), a low transmission setting which delays development of clinical immunity. Results: Of 311 falciparum cases (median age: 8 years), 233 (75%) matched 2000 WHO definition of severe malaria. The fatality rate was 9% (n=28). Logistic-regression analysis identified seven key prognostic factors : thrombocytopenia (platelets <100,000/mm3) (44.3%; odds ratio (OR), 6.1; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.7 to 20.9), respiratory distress (30.5%; OR 3.2; 95% CI, 1.02 to 9.9), unrousable coma (inability to localize a painful stimulus with Blantyre coma score (BCS) ≤ 3) (26.3%; OR 8.1; 95% CI, 2.1 to 33.4), sluggish pupils (12.2%; OR 4.1; 95% CI, 1.1 to 14.7), hypoglycemia (11.2%; OR 5.8; 95% CI, 1.6 to 21.1), acute renal failure (2.2%; OR 17.9; 95% CI, 2.4 to 133), and the combination of jaundice, macroscopic hemoglobinuria and abnormal bleeding (21.2%; OR 3.1; 95% CI, 1.04 to 9.2). Gathering together children with impaired consciousness (BCS <5), thrombocytopenia or respiratory distress, the three most frequent conditions associated with malaria, we found the same discriminatory performance in predicting outcome than the 2000 WHO criteria (overlap, 87%, sensitivity, 100%, specificity, 28%, positive predictive value, 80%, negative predictive value, 100%). Conclusions: WHO criteria (2000) provide a highly sensitive definition of severe malaria than can be replaced by three simple indicators in non-immune Senegalese children.
Improved measurement surface for MEG using magnetic-dipole sources and a spherical-multipole expansion

Abstract. The multipole representation of Magnetoencephalography (MEG) signals is known as a useful tool for distinguishing between magnetic fields arising from the brain and external disturbances. In this contribution we extend this concept and show that a closed double-layer surface with magnetometer probes is better suited to determine the corresponding multipole amplitudes αlm than a conventional single-layer surface with gradiometers and magnetometer probes. For two different source configurations we show that the αlm rapidly converge to the exact values. This proof of concept motivates to further optimize the geometry of the double-layer surface and the sensors' positions.
Secret-key expansion from covert communication

Covert communication allows us to transmit messages in such a way that it is not possible to detect that the communication is occurring. This provides protection in situations where knowledge that people are talking to each other may be incriminating to them. In this work, we study how covert communication can be used for a different purpose: secret key expansion. First, we show that any message transmitted in a secure covert protocol is also secret and therefore unknown to an adversary. We then propose a protocol that uses covert communication where the amount of key consumed in the protocol is smaller than the transmitted key, thus leading to secure secret key expansion. We derive precise conditions showing that secret key expansion from covert communication is possible when there are sufficiently low levels of noise for a given security level. We conclude by examining how secret key expansion from covert communication can be performed in a computational security model.
Virtual Screening Strategies: A State of Art to Combat with Multiple Drug Resistance Strains

Introduction: The resistance among the bacterial world has been increasing against majority of antibiotics. An effective approach to combat with this situation is the use of potential inhibitors with proper combination of these antibiotics. Traditionally, high throughput screening is used to screen the potential drug for the selected target. However, this strategy is costly and time consuming. Approaches: Thus, an alternative method is required for facilitating the optimal leads in early drug discovery process. Virtual screening strategies have been successfully applied during the past decades in screening large chemical libraries with aim to identify the potential bioactive hits. Such techniques are cost-effective and reliable that can be applied to identify potential leads with improved hits rates. Conclusion: In the present review, we have described some of the computational techniques that can be use for designing potential drug candidates against the multiple drug resistant strains. At the end some of the recent successful studies were also discussed.
Efficient Computation of Clebsch-Gordan Coefficients

The problem of angular momentum addition requires the calculation of Clebsch-Gordan coefficients. While systems involving small values of momenta and spin present no special problem, larger systems require extensive computational effort. This paper describes a straightforward method for computing the coefficients for any two-particle problem exactly by means of a simplified form of the recursion formula in a notation that is particularly accessible to the third- or fourth-year student. The method is summarized in a brief BASIC program.
Proteomics of ionic stresses in rice: An overview

Abstract Ions deficiency or excess remains one of the critical ground level environmental problems, affecting crop productivity. In this overview, we will discuss an increased application of proteomics technology in addressing this issue using rice ( Oryza sativa L.) as a model crop plant. Proteomics analyses have revealed that rice proteome unde-rgoes changes in the proteins composition and expression in response to several ionic stresses, including mineral nutrients (aluminum, nitrogen, and phosphorous) and heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, and copper). Developed inventory of responsive proteins and their correlation with changes in physiological symptoms and parameters are a major step forward in: (i) better understanding the underlying mechan-isms of ionic stresses-triggered responses in rice; (ii) comparative proteomics studies; and (iii) designing a novel strategy to improve crop plants. Keywords Ionic stress, rice, proteomics Introduction Rice ( Oryza sativa L.) is a major edible crop contrib-uting directly to growth and development of the human civilization in Asia by providing a source of nourishment in an easily utilizable form, namely the seed. However, its growth and grain (or seed) yield are dramatically affected by adverse environmental stresses (Agrawal et al. 2006, 2009; Agrawal and Rakwal 2006, 2008b, 2011). Heavy metals and excessive use of fertilizers are one of the growing environmental problems. Heavy metals are alone responsible for soil pollution of about 235 million hectares (Giordani et al. 2005). To study the effects of such pollutants is a major area of research in plant biology. Proteomics technology has increasingly been utilized to understand the impact of environmental stresses on changes in the rice proteome, resulting in development of an inventory of responsive proteins (see a series of reviews, Agrawal et al. 2006, 2009; Agrawal and Rakwal 2003, 2006, 2008b, 2011). Such inventory has helped in constructing a working model and biology-driven hy-pothesis to overcome the environmental problems, including the ionic stresses. Ionic stress can be considered as an environmental problem that is by and large man-made. Therefore, it is ironic that we are now working hard to understand the effects of these stresses. In this regard, omics technologies including proteomics play a major role. Identified proteins are being used as potential biomarkers in dissecting the signaling and metabolic pathways responsive to ionic stresses and in crop breeding programs (see, Agrawal and Rakwal 2008a). To date, there are nine proteomics-level studies, dealing with ionic stresses-triggered responses in rice. Those studies include aluminum (Al; Yang et al. 2007), nitrogen (N; Kim et al. 2009; Kim et al. unpublished results), phosphorous (P; Torabi et al. 2009), arsenic (As; Ahsan et al. 2008), cadmium (Cd; Aina et al. 2007; Lee et al.
The Efficacy of Probiotic Lactobacilli against Female Urogenital Opportunistic Infections

Urogenital opportunistic infections present a leading challenge to the global human health due to the increased cost of healthcare. The biologic balance of the vaginal flora is maintained by the presence of intrinsic probiotic Lactobacilli strains which produce toxigenic compounds that impede the overgrowth of the vaginal ecosystem by opportunistic pathogenic microorganisms. As a result, the present review was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of probiotic lactobacilli inorder to ascertain its usefulness in the prophylaxis and/ treatment of female urogenital opportunistic infections. This study was carried out by evaluating the probiotic role of Lactobacilli by the production of some defense factors such as lactic acid, hydrogen peroxide as well as bacteriocin. The results revealed that, there was an inverse correlation between the opportunistic infective agents and the presence of Lactobacilli isolates evidenced by the fact that the most common opportunistic bacterial isolates such as Streptococcus agalactiae , Staphylococcus aureus , Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli , and Klebsiella oxytoca, were inhibited by the hydrogen peroxide, lactic acid and bacteriocin, produced by the Lactobacilli isolates investigated. The results obtained from this research portend that, the use of vaginal pessaries containing lactobacilli microspores could help prevent the lactobacilli-opportunistic infective agents’ disequilibrium that had posed a new threat to the global female health. Keywords: Lactobacilli, Probiotic, Opportunistic infection, Microspores.
Pulse Laser Parameters Effect on Tissue Thermal Damage Zone in Coagulation Process

Owed to wide use of pulsed lasers in a medical field, a deep understanding of their effects on the temperature increase in tissue and the subsequent tissue thermal damage in a coagulation process may be a matter of importance. The influence of laser beam profile, repetition rate and pulse width on temperature distribution and the subsequent thermal damage in tissue are studied using finite element method, which solves the axis-symmetry bio-heat equation in tissue subjected to far IR pulse laser irradiation. Some conclusions are obtained: as energy/pulseP remains constant, Gaussian laser beam profile rather than a top-hat beam will increase the in-depth tissue thermal damage at and near the center of the spot region, increasing in repetition rate will increase the temperature distribution and subsequent damage zone. As pulse width decrease, high temperature may be reached leading to cause a quantitatively and qualitatively damage which can be recognize as an increase in the size of the damage zone and a higher value of thermal dose. An increase in pulse width will reduce the rate at which energy deposed in the tissue which result in low extent of temperature increase which result in reduction of the damage zone quantitatively and qualitatively.
Synthesis and Characterization of TNTs/Polyaniline Composite as Photocatalyst Degradation of Rhodamin B by Visible Light

The purpose of this research is to study the effect of the amount of aniline on their photocatalytic activity. Nano TiO 2 was synthesized using sol-gel method with TiPP precursor. XRD characterization results showed that nano TiO 2 with calcination temperature of 450 °C had size of 13.8 nm with high crystalline. The diffraction peaks of nano TiO 2 at 2θ are 24.45°; 37.075°; 47.26° and 53.18°. Nano TiO 2 was then synthesized with hydrothermal treatment 24 h of 140 °C to produce TNTs. The results of XRD analysis shows anatase phase with field (004) and (200). The morphology of TNTs begins to form at the calcinations temperature of 600 °C with textural coefficient value of 0.998 3 . Synthesis of composite TNTs/PANI (polyaniline) was done by in situ polymerization technique of aniline which was already contained nano TiO 2 . The molar ratio of aniline and APS in the synthesis of a composite is 1:1.5 with the addition of aniline of 15 %; 20 % and 25 % (w/w %). Characterization using FTIR showed the stretching vibration of the C=N in wavelength of 1 600 cm –1 to mark the formation of quinonoid compounds of polyaniline. The test of the rhodamine B degradation gave the best results on the 25 % TNTs/PANI composite, with the degradation percentage of 58.73 %. The characterization results using dr-uv proved that the decrease of energy gap in the TNTs/PANI composite which as evidenced with Kubelka-Munk calculation equation that was 25 % TNTs/PANI amounting to 3.19 eV and TNTs at 3.24 eV.
Rail track infrastructure for enhanced speed - analysis design and construction challenges

Rail is one of the largest transportation modes offering freight and passenger traffic in rapidly developing nations, including India. Conscious efforts to improve productivity, modernization and technology upgrading have led to an impressive growth in railways. Large-scale physical modeling, sophisticated numerical modeling and full-scale field monitoring often provide significant knowledge to better understand track performance and to extend the current state-of-the-art in design. A series of large-scale laboratory tests were conducted to establish relationships between (i) ballast breakage and train speed, (ii) ballast fouling and strength and (iii) interface strength and geogrids. Comprehensive field trials were carried out on instrumented track sections in Bulli and in Singleton, New South Wales, Australia. This keynote paper provides an insight to design and construction challenges of rail tracks capturing the effects of particle degradation, fouling, geosynthetics, and increased train speed.
Media-reported corporate governance transgressions in broad-based black economic empowerment deals in the South African mining sector

The study explored the nature of publically identified corporate governance transgressions relating to deals designed to promote black economic empowerment (BEE) at 22 South African mining companies. A review of South African English language newspaper articles was undertaken for the period 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2011. Reported transgressions were assessed against a framework developed from relevant codes and legislation. Political interference/nepotism/fronting was the most-cited category of behaviour promoting governance transgressions, followed by fraud/ structuring of controversial BEE deals, and mismanagement/negligence. Public concern about governance of BEE deals in the mining sector and, accordingly, about the contribution of BEE to the broad socio-economic upliftment of historically disadvantaged South Africans, is highlighted.