Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of text supplementation on speech intelligibility for listeners with normal and impaired hearing: a systematic review with implications for telecommunication

Abstract Objective Telecommunication can be difficult in the presence of noise or hearing loss. The purpose of this study was to systematically review evidence regarding the effects of text supplementation (e.g. captions, subtitles) of auditory or auditory-visual signals on speech intelligibility for listeners with normal or impaired hearing. Design Three databases were searched. Articles were evaluated for inclusion based on the Population Intervention Comparison Outcome framework. The Effective Public Health Practice Project instrument was used to evaluate the quality of the identified articles. Study sample After duplicates were removed, the titles and abstracts of 2019 articles were screened. Forty-six full texts were reviewed; ten met inclusion criteria. Results The quality of all ten articles was moderate or strong. The articles demonstrated that text added to auditory (or auditory-visual) signals improved speech intelligibility and that the benefits were largest when auditory signal integrity was low, accuracy of the text was high, and the auditory signal and text were synchronous. Age and hearing loss did not affect benefits from the addition of text. Conclusions Although only based on ten studies, these data support the use of text as a supplement during telecommunication, such as while watching television or during telehealth appointments.
What should be measured to assess the quality of community-based palliative care? Results from a collaborative expert workshop

Abstract Objectives The need for palliative care (PC) will continue to increase in Canada with population aging. Many older adults prefer to “age in place” and receive care in their own homes. Currently, there is a lack of standardized quality indicators (QIs) for PC delivered in the community in Canada. Methods A one-day workshop collected expert opinions on what should be measured to capture quality PC. Three brainstorming sessions were focused on addressing the following questions: (1) what is important to measure to support quality PC, regardless of setting? (2) Of the identified measures, are any of special importance to care provided in the home? (3) What are the challenges, barriers, and opportunities for creating these measures? The National Consensus Project (NCP) for Quality Palliative Care framework was used as a guide to group together important comments into key themes. Results The experts identified four themes that are important for measuring quality, regardless of care setting, including access to care in the community by a multidisciplinary team, care for the individual with PC needs, support for the informal caregiver (e.g., family, friends), and symptom management for individuals with PC needs. Two additional themes were of special importance to measuring quality PC in the home, including spiritual care for individuals with PC needs and home as the preferred place of death. The challenges, barriers, and potential opportunities to these quality issues were also discussed. Significance of results PC experts, through this collaborative process, made a substantial contribution to the creation of a standardized set of QIs for community-based PC. Having a standardized set of QIs will enable health care professionals and decision makers to target areas for improvement, implement interventions to improve the quality of care, and ultimately, optimize the health and well-being of individuals with a serious illness.
The correlation of the maximum intensity of fluorescence with pigment characteristics of leaves of Betula pendula

Using fluorimeter Junior PAM (Heinz Walz GmbH, Germany) the fluorescence parameters of leaves of Betula pendula are investigated. A linear dependence of the maximum fluorescence (Fm) of leaves from the ratio of total chlorophylls concentration to concentration of carotenoids is obtained. Such dependence is found for samples collected during the period of vegetation and for simultaneous selection of colored leaves.
Acceptability and Effectiveness of Artificial Intelligence Therapy for Anxiety and Depression (Youper): Longitudinal Observational Study

Background Youper is a widely used, commercially available mobile app that uses artificial intelligence therapy for the treatment of anxiety and depression. Objective Our study examined the acceptability and effectiveness of Youper. Further, we tested the cumulative regulation hypothesis, which posits that cumulative emotion regulation successes with repeated intervention engagement will predict longer-term anxiety and depression symptom reduction. Methods We examined data from paying Youper users (N=4517) who allowed their data to be used for research. To characterize the acceptability of Youper, we asked users to rate the app on a 5-star scale and measured retention statistics for users’ first 4 weeks of subscription. To examine effectiveness, we examined longitudinal measures of anxiety and depression symptoms. To test the cumulative regulation hypothesis, we used the proportion of successful emotion regulation attempts to predict symptom reduction. Results Youper users rated the app highly (mean 4.36 stars, SD 0.84), and 42.66% (1927/4517) of users were retained by week 4. Symptoms decreased in the first 2 weeks of app use (anxiety: d=0.57; depression: d=0.46). Anxiety improvements were maintained in the subsequent 2 weeks, but depression symptoms increased slightly with a very small effect size (d=0.05). A higher proportion of successful emotion regulation attempts significantly predicted greater anxiety and depression symptom reduction. Conclusions Youper is a low-cost, completely self-guided treatment that is accessible to users who may not otherwise access mental health care. Our findings demonstrate the acceptability and effectiveness of Youper as a treatment for anxiety and depression symptoms and support continued study of Youper in a randomized clinical trial.
Ankle‐brachial index to monitor limb perfusion in patients with femoral venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Limb ischemia is a major complication of femoral venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA‐ECMO). Use of ankle‐brachial index (ABI) to monitor limb perfusion in VA‐ECMO has not been described. We report our experience monitoring femoral VA‐ECMO patients with serial ABI and the relationships between ABI and near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS).
Wound healing with “spray‐on” autologous skin grafting (ReCell) compared with standard care in patients with large diabetes‐related foot wounds: an open‐label randomised controlled trial

There is an urgent need for interventions that improve healing time, prevent amputations and recurrent ulceration in patients with diabetes‐related foot wounds. In this randomised, open‐label trial, participants were randomised to receive an application of non‐cultured autologous skin cells (“spray‐on” skin; ReCell) or standard care interventions for large (>6 cm2), adequately vascularised wounds. The primary outcome was complete healing at 6 months, determined by assessors blinded to the intervention. Forty‐nine eligible foot wounds in 45 participants were randomised. An evaluable primary outcome was available for all wounds. The median (interquartile range) wound area at baseline was 11.4 (8.8‐17.6) cm2. A total of 32 (65.3%) index wounds were completely healed at 6 months, including 16 of 24 (66.7%) in the spray‐on skin group and 16 of 25 (64.0%) in the standard care group (unadjusted OR [95% CI]: 1.13 (0.35‐3.65), P = . 845). Lower body mass index (P = .002) and non‐plantar wounds (P = .009) were the only patient‐ or wound‐related factors associated with complete healing at 6 months. Spray‐on skin resulted in high rates of complete healing at 6 months in patients with large diabetes‐related foot wounds, but was not significantly better than standard care (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12618000511235).
Preparation of wintergreen oil capsule suspension and control efficacy on Macrosiphoniella sanborni

Wintergreen oil 200 g/kg capsule suspension(CS) was prepared using aphicidal wintergreen oil as core material and urea-formaldehyde as wall materials,and the preparation process was then optimized.In-situ polymerization was used to prepare the microcapsule.Experiments were performed to produce controlled-release microcapsules of wintergreen oil using a single factorial design.The independent variables were the weight ratio of core/shell material,agitation speed,pH,temperature and dispersant.The microcapsules were prepared with optimum properties under the following conditions:weight ratio of core/shell material at 3∶2,3% mixture of SMA and tween 80(1∶1) as dispersant,agitation speed at 800 r/min,adjusting pH value to 2.0 within 120-150 min,and reaction 1 h at 60-70 ℃. The wintergreen oil 200 g/kg capsule suspension was applied to control Macrosiphoniella sanborni(Gillette) in the field at 300 g a.i/hm2,and the control efficacy was still higher than 90% after 11 days,indicating that 20% wintergreen oil capsule suspension is of long effective duration.
The value of gene chip detection of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in the diagnosis of nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease.

BACKGROUND Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are mycobacteria other than mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) and mycobacterium leprae. NTM can cause infection in many human tissues and organs and is most commonly seen in the lungs. Clinically, the symptoms and signs of nontuberculous mycobacteria lung disease (NMLD) are very similar to those of tuberculosis (TB). Because most NTMs are resistant to conventional anti-TB drugs, the rapid diagnosis of NMLD is the key to treatment. This study aimed to use gene chip technology to examine bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from NMLD patients to explore the value of this technique for the rapid diagnosis of NMLD in BALF. METHODS A retrospective analysis of 308 patients with NMLD treated at Fuzhou Pulmonary Hospital from January 2018 to June 2020 was performed. BALF was collected from the patients. Gene chip detection (Capital Bio Corporation, Chengdu, China) and BACTEC MGIT960 (Becton, Dickinson and Company, MD, USA) liquid culture were performed to compare the NTM positive detection rates between the two methods. The NTM strain isolated from liquid culture were identified by rDNA sequencing and the results of identification were compared with those of gene chip detection using BALF specimens. RESULTS A total of 221 cases of NTM were detected in 308 BALF specimens by the gene chip method; the positive rate was 71.75% (221/308). A total of 218 cases of NTM were detected by the liquid culture method, and the positive rate was 70.78% (218/308). There was no significant difference in the positive rate of NTM detected in BALF specimens between the two methods (χ 2 =0.138 P=0.804>0.05); 187 cases were detected with both sequencing and gene chip detection, and the coincidence rate of strain identification with the two methods reached 96.79% (181/187). Sequencing of 218 strains of NTM was carried out; eight species were identified, and the top four species were M. intracellulare (131/218,60.09%), M. avium (48/218,22.02%), M. abscessus (27/218,12.38%), and M. kansasii (5/218,2.29%). CONCLUSIONS Gene chip technology can rapidly detect NTM in BALF and accurately identify bacterial species. It has important clinical value in the early diagnosis and treatment of NMLD.
How readable and reliable is online patient information on chronic rhinosinusitis?

Abstract Objective This study aimed to assess the quality and readability of websites on chronic rhinosinusitis. Methods A total of 180 results from 3 different search engines regarding ‘chronic rhinosinusitis’, ‘sinusitis’ and ‘sinus infections’ were analysed for readability using the Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level, Flesch Reading Ease Score and Gunning Fog Index. The Discern tool was used to approximate information quality. Results From 180 total searches, 69 unique websites were identified. These had an average Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level of 9.75 (95 per cent confidence interval = 9.12–10.4), a Flesch Reading Ease Score of 45.0 (41.0–49.0) and a Gunning Fog Index of 13.7 (12.9–14.4), which equates to the average reading level of a college or university student. Discern scores were variable but consistently showed good-quality information. Conclusion Chronic rhinosinusitis information is of a high quality but is for a reading level higher than that of the average adult. Standardising patient information should ensure adequate comprehension and improve patient compliance.
Graves disease in infancy: a patient presentation and literature review

Summary We describe a case of an infant who presented with clinical features of hyperthyroidism. The child was found to be tachycardic, hypertensive and diaphoretic, she was noted to have poor weight gain and difficulty in sleeping. The child was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit for care. She was found to have biochemical evidence of hyperthyroidism with positive thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin. She responded well to methimazole and propranolol and had a remarkable recovery. She is the youngest patient to be diagnosed with Graves disease in the English literature, at 12 months of life. Learning points Hyperthyroidism must always be considered even at very young age, for patient presenting with poor weight gain and hyperdynamic state. Autoimmune diseases are becoming more common in infancy. Craniosynostosis and increased height for age are well-documented consequences of untreated hyperthyroidism in developing children.
Application of ultrasound Doppler technique for in-line rheological characterization and flow visualization of concentrated suspensions

Ultrasonic velocity profiling (UVP) is a technique that can measure an instantaneous one-dimensional velocity profile in a fluid containing particles across the ultrasonic beam axis or measurement line. A method for in-line rheometry combining the UVP technique with pressure difference (PD) measurements (UVP + PD), was developed and improved at SP − Technical Research Institute of Sweden and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa. The UVP + PD methodology allows measurements that are not possible with common rheometers such as radial velocity profiles and yield stress directly in-line and under true dynamic process conditions. Furthermore, it has advantages over commercially available process rheometers and offline instruments in being non-invasive, applicable to opaque and concentrated suspensions, and having small sensor dimensions. It has been evaluated for several potential industrial applications including paper pulp, foods, transient flows, and model mineral suspensions. Similarly, the UVP technique can be applied to an open-channel flow by combining flow depth measurements to obtain rheological properties in-line. Industrial fluids, such as thickened pastes, commonly found in tailings transportation exhibit wide particle size distributions, large particle sizes, and very high viscosities. These industrial fluids cause strong attenuation of the ultrasound energy, which can significantly distort velocity profiles measured with the UVP technique or even make it impossible to conduct flow measurements. Initial results obtained in concentrated cement pastes and grouts (bentonite and kaolin clay) showed that UVP is a feasible and promising technique for flow characterization in viscous fluids.
The Ukraine crisis : A geopolitical power struggle between Russia and the US.

The aim of this thesis is to examine Russia’s and the US behaviors and actions in the Ukraine crisis in order to understand why the conflict resulted in a geopolitical power struggle. Since the current debate is filled with biased information and propaganda, this thesis aims to observe the behaviors and actions from both sides objectively to get a comprehensive understanding of their involvement in the crisis. It is a desk-study since the data is gathered from books and articles. It is qualitative due to the fact that it investigates this particular conflict by using several sources to gain an in-depth knowledge of a two-sided perspective. The method text analysis is used on four chosen articles that will be observed in order to find the underlying reasons of Russia’s and the US ongoing involvement in the crisis. It is an abductive reasoning whereas the theory offensive realism is used as the theoretical lens in order to highlight the most essential information of the chosen articles that will be examined. The three categories diplomacy, economy and military have been applied to outline Russia’s and the US underlying reasons of their behaviors and actions in the Ukraine crisis in order to answer the research questions. The result shows from an offensive realism perspective that Russia and the US are involved in the crisis due to their strategic interest to dominate the Black Sea Region for personal gains. It is shown that both states acted upon self-interest to gain more power and to lesser their rival’s power in order to hinder one another to become a territorial hegemon in the Black Sea Region. It is suggested that the outcome of the Ukraine crisis could have been different without their involvement.
Prevalence of SLCO1B1 single nucleotide variations and their association with hypercholesterolaemia in hypercholesterolemic patients in Gauteng, South Africa

Abstract Statins, the standard treatment for hypercholesterolaemia, among the most widely prescribed, have been associated with side effects, including statin intolerance. The aim of this study was to determine the background prevalence of SLCO1B1 SNVs in a randomly selected sample and to investigate if there are associations between SLCO1B1 SNVs and hypercholesterolaemia patients on statin therapy. Using Polymerase Chain Reaction - Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism, the presence of SLCO1B1 SNVs (rs4149056, rs2306283 and rs4363657) was identified, while ELISA was used to quantify serum CK levels. Statin intolerance risk was calculated using a quantitative questionnaire. The risk of developing statin intolerance was found to be low (in 36%), moderate (in 49%), or high (in 15%) in the statin-treated group. The prevalence of the rs4149056 variant was 16% in (controls) and 20% in (statin) group; rs2306283 variant was present in 31.5% (controls), 10.5% in (statin) group; while the prevalence of the rs4363657 variant was similar in each. No association between the presence of any one of the SNVs and the statin intolerance severity risk score or CK elevation was found. These findings will facilitate a more personalized approach to statin therapy, especially relevant within the diverse South African population.
Novel frameshift mutation in STK33 is associated with asthenozoospermia and multiple morphological abnormality of the flagella.

Serine/threonine kinases domain-containing proteins are known to play important functions in sperm flagella and male fertility. However, the roles of these proteins in human reproduction remain poorly understood and whether their variants are associated with human asthenozoospermia have not been reported. Here, we recruited a Pakistani family having four infertile patients diagnosed with idiopathic asthenozoospermia without any ciliary-related symptoms. Whole-exome sequencing identified a novel homozygous frameshift mutation (c.1235del, p.T412Kfs*14) in STK33, encoding a serine/threonine kinase which displays a highly conserved and predominant expression in testis in humans. This variant led to a dramatic reduction of STK33 mRNA in the patients. Patients homozygous for the STK33 variant presented reduced sperm motility, frequent morphological abnormalities of sperm flagella, and completely disorganized flagellar ultrastructures, which are typical for multiple morphological abnormalities of the flagella (MMAF) phenotypes. Overall, these findings present evidence establishing that STK33 is a MMAF-related gene and provide new insights for understanding the role of serine/threonine kinases domain-containing proteins in human male reproduction.
NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE IN THE CONTEXT OF ALTERED GUT MICROBIOTA.

OBJECTIVE The aim: To analyze the relationship between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and changes in the gut microbiota. PATIENTS AND METHODS Materials and methods: The publications of domestic and foreign editions in the databases of the United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Journal, PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science were processed and analyzed. CONCLUSION Conclusions: In recent years, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was placed among the important diseases in gastroenterology. During this time, more and more data appear on the link between changes in the human intestinal microbiome and the development of metabolic diseases, including NAFLD. Contemporary research has indeed found evidence of such a relationship. Thus, some strains of microorganisms have been identified in more detail, which directly or indirectly affect the development or course of the above-mentioned disease. For a better understanding of the strategies for the treatment of pathologies, it is necessary to delve into the study of etiological factors, therefore, NAFLC cannot be considered a pathology that has been sufficiently studied. Indeed, recent data indicate that the development and severity of the course of the disease are not always associated with the physiological processes already known to us.
Recovering Within-Person Dynamics from Psychological Time Series

Abstract Idiographic modeling is rapidly gaining popularity, promising to tap into the within-person dynamics underlying psychological phenomena. To gain theoretical understanding of these dynamics, we need to make inferences from time series models about the underlying system. Such inferences are subject to two challenges: first, time series models will arguably always be misspecified, meaning it is unclear how to make inferences to the underlying system; and second, the sampling frequency must be sufficient to capture the dynamics of interest. We discuss both problems with the following approach: we specify a toy model for emotion dynamics as the true system, generate time series data from it, and then try to recover that system with the most popular time series analysis tools. We show that making straightforward inferences from time series models about an underlying system is difficult. We also show that if the sampling frequency is insufficient, the dynamics of interest cannot be recovered. However, we also show that global characteristics of the system can be recovered reliably. We conclude by discussing the consequences of our findings for idiographic modeling and suggest a modeling methodology that goes beyond fitting time series models alone and puts formal theories at the center of theory development.