Virtual Reality Technology and Speech Analysis for People Who Stutter

Virtual reality (VR) technology provides an interactive computer-generated experience that artificially simulates real-life situations by creating a virtual environment that looks real and stimulates the user’s feelings. During the past few years, the use of VR technology in clinical interventions for assessment, rehabilitation and treatment have received increased attention. Accordingly, many clinical studies and applications have been proposed in the field of mental health, including anxiety disorders. Stuttering is a speech disorder in which affected individuals have a problem with the flow of speech. This can manifest in the repetition and prolongation of words or phrases, as well as in involuntary silent pauses or blocks during which the individual is unable to produce sounds. Stuttering is often accompanied by a social anxiety disorder as a secondary symptom, which requires separate treatment. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of using a VR environment as a medium for presenting speech training tasks. In addition, we evaluated the accuracy of a speech analyzer module in detecting stuttering events.

Microneedling in Combination with Topical Pimecrolimus 1% versus Topical Pimecrolimus 1% for the Treatment of Refractory Stable Vitiligo: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Objective. Vitiligo is a common, autoimmune disease that results in the destruction of the melanocytes and manifests as depigmented macules on various areas of the skin. Numerous treatment options have been proposed for vitiligo. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of microneedling plus topical pimecrolimus 1% versus the sole use of topical pimecrolimus 1% for the treatment of vitiligo. Methods. This clinical trial was conducted on 30 skin lesions on 15 Al-Zahra hospital patients. Each patient had two similar lesions in the limb area, and each lesion was considered a separate treatment group. The left or right side of the patient’s lesion was randomly assigned to receive microneedling plus topical pimecrolimus for three months, while the other side received only topical pimecrolimus 1%. As part of the follow-up, digital photography was taken at the baseline and biweekly for three months after treatment and six months’ follow-up. The following methods were used to evaluate the results: DLQI questionnaires, patient satisfaction questionnaires, and two independent dermatologists comparing the improvement rate for each group. Results. Topical pimecrolimus 1% treatment led to unsatisfactory results, whereas the combination of microneedling and topical pimecrolimus1% treatment produced a more favorable overall outcome ( P < 0.001 ). Conclusion. This study established that combination therapy results in more significant patient improvement. Additionally, one patient experienced mild skin irritation as a side effect of topical pimecrolimus.

Aerosol-light interactions reduce the carbon budget imbalance

Current estimates of the global land carbon sink contain substantial uncertainties on interannual timescales which contribute to a non-closure in the global carbon budget in any given year. This budget imbalance (BIM) partly arises due to the use of imperfect models which are missing or misrepresenting processes. One such omission is the separate treatment of downward direct and diffuse solar radiation on photosynthesis. Here we evaluate and use an improved high-resolution (6-hourly), gridded dataset of surface solar diffuse and direct fluxes, over 1901-2017, constrained by satellite and ground-level observations, to drive two global land models. Results show that tropospheric aerosol-light interactions have the potential for substantial land carbon impacts (up to 0.4 PgCyr-1 enhanced sink) at decadal timescales, however large uncertainties remain, with models disagreeing on the direction of change in carbon uptake. On interannual timescales, results also show an enhancement of the land sink (up to 0.9 PgCyr-1) and subsequent reduction in BIM by 55% in years following volcanic eruptions. We therefore suggest global carbon budget assessments include this dataset in order to improve land sink estimates.

RNA Helix Thermodynamics: The End Game

Nearest neighbor parameters for estimating the folding stability of RNA secondary structures are in widespread use. For helices, current parameters penalize terminal AU base pairs relative to terminal GC base pairs. We curated an expanded database of helix stabilities determined by optical melting experiments. Analysis of the updated database shows that terminal penalties depend on the sequence identity of the adjacent penultimate base pair. New nearest neighbor parameters that include this additional sequence dependence accurately predict the measured values of 271 helices in an updated database with a correlation coefficient of 0.982. This refined understanding of helix ends facilitates fitting terms for base pair stacks with GU pairs. Prior parameter sets treated 5'GGUC/3'CUGG separately from other 5'GU/3'UG stacks. The improved understanding of helix end stability, however, makes the separate treatment unnecessary. Introduction of the additional terms was tested with three optical melting experiments. The average absolute difference between measured and predicted free energy changes at 37° C for these three duplexes containing terminal adjacent AU and GU pairs improved from 1.38 to 0.27 kcal/mol. This confirms the need for the additional sequence dependence in the model.

The Cambridge Companion to Hugo Grotius

The Cambridge Companion to Grotius offers a comprehensive overview of Hugo Grotius (1583–1645) for students, teachers, and general readers, while its chapters also draw upon and contribute to recent specialised discussions of Grotius' oeuvre and its later reception. Contributors to this volume cover the width and breadth of Grotius' work and thought, ranging from his literary work, including his historical, theological and political writing, to his seminal legal interventions. While giving these various fields a separate treatment, the book also delves into the underlying conceptions and outlooks that formed Grotius' intellectual map of the world as he understood it, and as he wanted it to become, giving a new political and religious context to his forays into international and domestic law.

Forced labour in supply chains: Rolling back the debate on gender, migration and sexual commerce

This article makes a conceptual contribution to the broader literature on unfree labour by challenging the separate treatment of sexual and industrial labour exploitation both by researchers and in law and policy. This article argues that the prevailing focus of the supply chain literature on industrial labour has inadvertently posited sexual labour as the ‘other’ of industrial labour thus obfuscating how the legal blurring of boundaries between industrial and service labour is engendering new modalities of the erosion of workers’ rights that are increasingly resembling those typical of sex work. This article advances the debate on unfree labour both conceptually and empirically. Conceptually, it highlights the relevance of social reproduction in understanding forms of labour unfreedom. Empirically, it demonstrates the similarities in forms of control and exploitation between sex work and industrial work by illustrating how debt and housing operate in both settings.

One Size Does Not Fit All: An Overview of Personalized Treatment in Cancer

The last few decades have witnessed 'one size fits all' kind of conventional treatment strategy i.e. a similar line of treatment or usage of the same drug to treat a particular disease. This approach is not associated with specific personal characteristics but with individual genetic constitutions. Precision oncology holds great opportunities to improve prediction, treatment and follow-up care for the benefit of cancer patients. In this study, many pieces of literature and various clinical data have been surveyed to understand how multiple genes are responsible for a particular cancer type and tabulate them. Having the genetic information of a patient and knowing the genes that are susceptible to mutation can help in the diagnosis. That in turn help to get the most tailored medicines, which will decrease the chances of treatment failure, which is quite common in cancer therapies. This review focuses on providing an idea of the genes whose mutation directly or indirectly can lead to cancer and other diseases also, and hence might be helpful to design separate treatment strategies for each individual in future.

PSV-6 Effect of Farrowing Induction on the Farrowing Process and Piglet Survivability

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of farrowing induction on the farrowing process and piglet livability on a commercial sow farm. Sows (n=594) were blocked by parity (P0, P1, or P2+) and randomly allotted to one of three treatment groups; no induction (CON), or 1cc prostaglandin the morning of d115 followed by either 1cc prostaglandin 6 hours later (LUT) or 0.25cc oxytocin 6 hours later (LO). Sows that farrowed within 6 hours of their initial prostaglandin remained on the study as a separate treatment group (LUT1). Sows that did not farrow by d117 were induced and removed from study. A total of 279 farrowings, resulting in 3,996 piglets born, were attended and details of the farrowing process recorded. During farrowing a 5ml colostrum sample was collected for evaluation of total protein and fat. Sows were followed after weaning and subsequent reproductive performance was recorded. As expected, LUT1 farrowing date was earlier than the other three treatments (P&lt; 0.0001). Farrowing duration was not different among treatments (P=0.2986, average 3.5–3.9 hours). Farrowing induction did not affect NBA (P=0.124), total born (P=0.187), percent mummies (P=0.925), or percent stillborns (P=0.687). Individual piglet birth weights were lower in LUT1 when compared to CON, LUT and LO (3.00 vs 3.07, 3.09 and 3.12 lbs, P=0.011). The number of piglets requiring assistance during farrowing was greater for LUT and LUT1 (21% and 21.3%) compared to CON and LO (15.1% and 17.5%, P=0.003). The number of piglets born with broken umbilical cords was higher in LUT (39.6%) compared to all other treatments (CON=33.3%, LO=33.5%, LUT1=32.8%, P=0.002). Pre-weaning survivability was not different among treatments (CON=82.3%, LUT=80.7%, LO=81.4%, LUT1=81.6%, P=0.738). Colostrum from CON tended to have higher fat compared to LUT, LO and LUT1 (9.2 vs 8.3, 8.1 and 8.6%, P=0.0168). No differences in wean-to-first service, total born, percent stillborns, or percent mummies were found in subsequent farrowings.

Acute Toxicity Study of the Combination of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. and Gynura procumbens (Lour.) Merr. Leave Extracts

Azadirachta indica A.Juss. and Gynura procumbens (Merr.) are medicinal herbs widely used in traditional medicine. Recent research on the combination of these two plants showed aggressive antioxidant activity. The combination results can improve insulin and beta-cell morphology and can increase insulin expression. The variety of activities performed is the basis for conducting acute toxicity tests on the ethanol extract of Azadirachta Indica A. Juss. and Gynura procumbens (Lour.) Merr. to increase public confidence in its efficacy and ensure the safety of its use. The acute toxicity test on the ethanol extract of Azadirachta Indica A. Juss. and Gynura procumbens (Lour.) Merr. was carried out on female Wistar rats by following the 423 procedures of OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) Guideline with five groups of experimental animals, namely normal treatment, aquadest solvent treatment and 0.5 Na-CMC 0.5%, a separate treatment of the ethanol extract of Azadirachta Indica A. Juss., a separate treatment of the ethanol extract of Gynura procumbens (Lour.) Merr., and combination treatment of the ethanol extract of Azadirachta Indica A. Juss. and leaves of Gynura procumbens (Lour.) Merr. Furthermore, it was proceeded by observing the liver of the experimental animals histopathologically. The acute toxicity test results utilizing the 423 procedures of the OECD did not confirm any death or signs of toxicity in the experimental animals, and histopathological observations did not show any major histopathological damage. Based on these results, according to Globally Harmonized Classification System (GHS), the combination of the ethanol extract of Azadirachta Indica A. Juss. and Gynura procumbens (Lour.) Merr. is included in the unclassified category ( 2,000 mg/kg BW.

Comparison of Scalpel and Diode Laser in Management of Gingival Enlargement: A Case Report

Inflammatory gingival enlargement is an excessive growth of gingival tissue due to inflammation in response to plaque accumulation. Enlargement of gingiva hampers the efficiency of daily oral hygiene practices which in turn accumulates more plaque, thus causing inflammation. Phase I therapy, consisting of scaling and root planning only reduces the inflammatory component of the enlarged gingival tissues but the fibrotic gingival enlargement remaining thereafter is then removed surgically by gingivectomy. Apart from the conventional scalpel gingivectomy, many other treatment modalities such as gingivectomy by lasers and electrocautery are now being widely used in the field of surgical periodontal therapy. This case report describes the management of gingival enlargement in relation with gingivae of maxillary teeth by administering separate treatment modalities i.e. diode laser and conventional scalpel gingivectomy.