LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Posterior vertebral column resection for severe pediatric deformity: minimum two-year follow-up of thirty-five consecutive patients.

STUDY DESIGN
Retrospective review of a prospectively accrued patient cohort.


OBJECTIVE
The ability to treat severe pediatric spinal deformity through an all-posterior vertebral column resection (VCR) has obviated the need for a circumferential approach in both primary and revision settings. We examined indications, correction rates, and complications of this challenging procedure in the pediatric population.


SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA
Traditionally, severe pediatric spinal deformities were treated through a combined anterior/posterior spinal fusion.


METHODS
Between 2000 and 2005, 35 consecutive patients underwent a posterior-only VCR by 1 of 2 surgeons at a single institution. Patients were divided into 5 diagnostic categories: (1) severe scoliosis (S) (n = 2; mean, 115 degrees; range, 79-150 degrees; average flexibility, 12%); (2) global kyphosis (GK) (n = 3; mean, 101 degrees; range, 91-113 degrees; average flexibility, 16%); (3) angular kyphosis (AK) (n = 10; mean, 86 degrees; range, 45-135 degrees, average flexibility, 23%); (4) kyphoscoliosis (KS) (n = 8; mean kyphosis, 103 degrees/scoliosis 87 degrees; mean combined, 190 degrees; range, 144-237 degrees); (5) congenital scoliosis (CS) (n = 12; mean, 43 degrees; range, 23-69 degrees; average flexibility, 20%). There were 20 primary/15 revision surgeries. There were 20 one-level, 11 two-level, and 4 three-level resections.


RESULTS
The major curve correction averaged: Group S = 61 degrees/51%, Group GK = 56 degrees/55%, Group AK = 51 degrees/58%, Group KS = 98 degrees/54%, and Group CS = 24 degrees/60%. The average OR time was 460 minutes (range, 210-822), with an average EBL of 691 mL (range, 125-2200). There were no spinal cord-related complications; however, 2 patients (8.5%) lost intraoperative neuromonitoring data during correction with data returning to baseline following prompt surgical intervention. Two patients had implant revisions, 1 for a delayed deep infection at 2 years and the other for implant prominence at 3-year follow-up.


CONCLUSION
A posterior-based VCR is a safe but challenging technique to treat severe primary or revision pediatric spinal deformities. Intraoperative SCM (especially motor-evoked potentials) is mandatory to prevent spinal cord-related neurologic complications. Dramatic radiographic and clinical correction of these deformities can be obtained via a posterior-only approach.
Memristors with diffusive dynamics as synaptic emulators for neuromorphic computing.

The accumulation and extrusion of Ca2+ in the pre- and postsynaptic compartments play a critical role in initiating plastic changes in biological synapses. To emulate this fundamental process in electronic devices, we developed diffusive Ag-in-oxide memristors with a temporal response during and after stimulation similar to that of the synaptic Ca2+ dynamics. In situ high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and nanoparticle dynamics simulations both demonstrate that Ag atoms disperse under electrical bias and regroup spontaneously under zero bias because of interfacial energy minimization, closely resembling synaptic influx and extrusion of Ca2+, respectively. The diffusive memristor and its dynamics enable a direct emulation of both short- and long-term plasticity of biological synapses, representing an advance in hardware implementation of neuromorphic functionalities.
β 2 adrenoceptor promoter polymorphisms : extended haplotypes and functional effects in peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Background: The β2 adrenoceptor and its 5′ untranslated region contain a number of genetic variants. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential for genetic variation at this locus to influence the expression of β2 adrenoceptors on circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Methods: Genotype was determined in 96 individuals with asthma for four polymorphisms at the β2 adrenoceptor locus. β2 adrenoceptor binding and cyclic AMP responses to isoprenaline in PBMCs were determined and the relationship between genotype/haplotype and β2 adrenoceptor expression and response to isoprenaline examined. Results: β2 adrenoceptor promoter polymorphisms were found to be common in white subjects. Strong linkage disequilibrium exists across this locus, resulting in the occurrence of several common haplotypes. No single polymorphism or haplotype was correlated with the level of β2 adrenoceptor expression or cyclic AMP responses to isoprenaline in vitro. Conclusion: β2 adrenoceptor polymorphisms, when considered in isolation or by extended haplotypes, do not determine the basal level of expression or coupling of β2 adrenoceptors in PBMCs from asthmatic subjects.
The economic burden of physical inactivity: a global analysis of major non-communicable diseases

BACKGROUND
The pandemic of physical inactivity is associated with a range of chronic diseases and early deaths. Despite the well documented disease burden, the economic burden of physical inactivity remains unquantified at the global level. A better understanding of the economic burden could help to inform resource prioritisation and motivate efforts to increase levels of physical activity worldwide.


METHODS
Direct health-care costs, productivity losses, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) attributable to physical inactivity were estimated with standardised methods and the best data available for 142 countries, representing 93·2% of the world's population. Direct health-care costs and DALYs were estimated for coronary heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, and colon cancer attributable to physical inactivity. Productivity losses were estimated with a friction cost approach for physical inactivity related mortality. Analyses were based on national physical inactivity prevalence from available countries, and adjusted population attributable fractions (PAFs) associated with physical inactivity for each disease outcome and all-cause mortality.


FINDINGS
Conservatively estimated, physical inactivity cost health-care systems international $ (INT$) 53·8 billion worldwide in 2013, of which $31·2 billion was paid by the public sector, $12·9 billion by the private sector, and $9·7 billion by households. In addition, physical inactivity related deaths contribute to $13·7 billion in productivity losses, and physical inactivity was responsible for 13·4 million DALYs worldwide. High-income countries bear a larger proportion of economic burden (80·8% of health-care costs and 60·4% of indirect costs), whereas low-income and middle-income countries have a larger proportion of the disease burden (75·0% of DALYs). Sensitivity analyses based on less conservative assumptions led to much higher estimates.


INTERPRETATION
In addition to morbidity and premature mortality, physical inactivity is responsible for a substantial economic burden. This paper provides further justification to prioritise promotion of regular physical activity worldwide as part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce non-communicable diseases.


FUNDING
None.
Hydrology and Water Resources Planning: 1776-1976

The development of hydrology as a science and its application to planning and design of water projects is traced from the American Revolution to the bicentennial year. The factors leading to specific advances in hydrology and the mechanisms by which these advances were made are reviewed. Substantial delay between development of new techniques and their application in practice is noted.
Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

This protocol describes pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), a method developed for separation of large DNA molecules. Whereas standard DNA gel electrophoresis commonly resolves fragments up to ∼50 kb in size, PFGE fractionates DNA molecules up to 10 Mb. The mechanism driving these separations exploits the fact that very large DNA molecules unravel and “snake” through a gel matrix, and such electrophoretic trajectories are perturbed in a size-dependent manner by carefully oriented electrical pulses. PFGE has enabled the rapid genomic analysis of microbes and mammalian cells, and motivated development of large-insert cloning systems such as bacterial and yeast artificial chromosomes. As such, this protocol includes descriptions of two types of PFGE instrumentation (not commercially available), along with detailed instructions for their operation. Additionally, this protocol provides basic instructions for the preparation of intact chromosomal DNA from several types of organisms. PFGE takes 2–3 days, excluding sample preparation.
Sexual abuse and suicidality: gender differences in a large community sample of adolescents.

OBJECTIVE
A cross-sectional study of gender specific relationships between self-reported child sexual abuse and suicidality in a community sample of adolescents.


METHOD
Students aged 14 years on average (N = 2,485) from 27 schools in South Australia completed a questionnaire including items on sexual abuse and suicidality, and measures of depression (Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale), hopelessness (Beck Hopelessness Scale), and family functioning (McMaster Family Assessment Device General Functioning Subscale). Data analysis included logistic regression.


RESULTS
In boys, self-report sexual abuse is strongly and independently associated with suicidal thoughts, plans, threats, deliberate self-injury, and suicide attempts, after controlling for current levels of depression, hopelessness, and family dysfunction. In girls, the relationship between sexual abuse and suicidality is mediated fully by depression, hopelessness, and family dysfunction. Girls who report current high distress about sexual abuse, however, have a threefold increased risk of suicidal thoughts and plans, compared to non-abused girls. Boys who report current high distress about sexual abuse have 10-fold increased risk for suicidal plans and threats, and 15-fold increased risk for suicide attempts, compared to non-abused boys. Fifty-five percent (n = 15) of sexually abused boys attempted suicide versus 29% (n = 17) girls.


CONCLUSIONS
A history of sexual abuse should alert clinicians, professionals and carers in contact with adolescents, to greatly increased risks of suicidal behavior and attempts in boys, even in the absence of depression and hopelessness. Distress following sexual abuse, along with depression and hopelessness indicate increased risk of suicidal behavior in girls, as well as boys.
Expansion and hidden dimensions in a new cosmological model

In this paper, we present a new cosmological model using fractal manifold. We prove that a space defined by this kind of manifold is an expanding space. This model provides us with consistent arguments pertaining to the relationship between variation of geometry and movement of matter. This study leads to the existence of new fundamental principles. A clear picture is then portrayed about the expansion of the universe represented by fractal manifold.
A rail-to-rail DC-enhanced adaptive biased fully differential OTA

In this paper a novel rail-to-rail fully differential operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) working at low- supply voltages (1.5 V) with reduced consumption and showing high DC gain is presented. An adaptive biasing circuit allows to obtain low stand-by power dissipation (lower than 0.19 mW in the rail-to-rail version), while the high DC gain (over 80 dB) is ensured by a positive feedback. The circuit, designed in a standard CMOS integrated technology (AMS 0.35 mum), has a 40 V/mus slew-rate for a capacitive load of 15 pF. The calculated values of two quality factors, named FOMS/L, in the literature, show the validity of the proposed OTA.
Orally active prostacyclin analogue beraprost sodium in patients with chronic kidney disease: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II dose finding trial

BACKGROUND
Evidence increasingly points to the importance of chronic hypoxia in the tubulointerstitium as a final common pathway to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Beraprost sodium (BPS) is an orally active prostacyclin (PGI2) analogue demonstrating prevention of the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in various animal models by maintaining renal blood flow and attenuating renal ischemic condition.


METHODS
This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II trial was designed to determine the recommended dose of the sustained-release form of BPS (TRK-100STP 120 μg/day or 240 μg/day) in Japanese patients with CKD. TRK-100STP was administered to a total of 112 patients. The primary efficacy endpoint was the difference in the slope of the regression line of reciprocal of serum creatinine (1/SCr) over time, obtained by the least-squares method.


RESULTS
Regarding the primary endpoint, statistical superiority of TRK-100STP 240 μg over placebo was not confirmed and so a recommended dose was not determined. Compared to placebo, however, the slope of regression line of 1/SCr, elevation of SCr and serum cystatin C during the treatment period revealed greater improvement at 120 μg, at both doses, and at 240 μg, respectively. In terms of safety, both TRK-100STP treatment groups were well tolerated.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the study failed to meet the primary endpoint, results indicate that TRK-100STP may potentially prevent the decline in renal function of CKD patients independent of blood pressure or urinary protein levels.


TRIAL REGISTRATION
NCT02480751. June 21, 2015.
Porous One-Dimensional Nanomaterials: Design, Fabrication and Applications in Electrochemical Energy Storage.

Electrochemical energy storage technology is of critical importance for portable electronics, transportation and large-scale energy storage systems. There is a growing demand for energy storage devices with high energy and high power densities, long-term stability, safety and low cost. To achieve these requirements, novel design structures and high performance electrode materials are needed. Porous 1D nanomaterials which combine the advantages of 1D nanoarchitectures and porous structures have had a significant impact in the field of electrochemical energy storage. This review presents an overview of porous 1D nanostructure research, from the synthesis by bottom-up and top-down approaches with rational and controllable structures, to several important electrochemical energy storage applications including lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, lithium-oxygen batteries and supercapacitors. Highlights of porous 1D nanostructures are described throughout the review and directions for future research in the field are discussed at the end.
Psychological risk factors of addiction to social networking sites among Chinese smartphone users

BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Smartphones allow users to access social networking sites (SNSs) whenever and wherever they want. Such easy availability and accessibility may increase their vulnerability to addiction. Based on the social cognitive theory (SCT), we examined the impacts of outcome expectancies, self-efficacy, and impulsivity on young Chinese smartphone users' addictive tendencies toward SNSs.


METHODS
Two hundred seventy-seven Macau young smartphone users (116 males and 161 females; mean age = 26.62) filled out an online Chinese questionnaire concerning their usage of social networking sites via smartphones, addiction tendencies toward SNSs, impulsivity trait, outcome expectancies toward the use, and Internet self-efficacy.


RESULTS
The findings revealed that those who spent more time on SNSs also reported higher addictive tendencies. Addictive tendencies were positively correlated with both outcome expectancies and impulsivity, but negatively associated with Internet self-efficacy. These three psychological variables explained 23% of the variance in addictive tendencies.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study suggest that, compared to demographics, psychological factors provide a better account for addictive tendencies towards SNSs among Chinese smartphone users in Macau. The three psychological risk factors were low Internet self-efficacy, favorable outcome expectancies, and high impulsivity trait. Educational campaigns with screening procedures for high-risk groups are recommended for effective prevention and treatment.
Comparison of pallidal and subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation for advanced Parkinson's disease: results of a randomized, blinded pilot study.

OBJECTIVE
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the globus pallidus internus (GPi) and subthalamic nucleus (STN) has been reported to be effective in alleviating the symptoms of advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). Although recent studies suggest that STN stimulation may be superior to GPi stimulation, a randomized, blinded comparison has not been reported. The present study was designed to provide a preliminary comparison of the safety and efficacy of DBS at either site.


METHODS
Ten patients with idiopathic PD, L-dopa-induced dyskinesia, and response fluctuations were randomized to implantation of bilateral GPi or STN stimulators. Neurological condition was assessed preoperatively with patients on and off L-dopa and on DBS at 10 days and 3, 6, and 12 months after implantation. Patients and evaluating clinicians were blinded to stimulation site throughout the study period. Complete follow-up data were analyzed for four GPi patients and five STN patients.


RESULTS
When off-L-dopa, both GPi and STN groups demonstrated a similar response, with approximately 40% improvement in Unified PD Rating Scale motor scores after 12 months of DBS. Rigidity, tremor, and bradykinesia improved in both groups. In combination with L-dopa, Unified PD Rating Scale motor scores were more improved by GPi stimulation than by STN stimulation. On-L-dopa axial symptoms were clinically improved in the GPi but not the STN group. L-Dopa-induced dyskinesia was reduced by DBS at either site, although medication requirement was reduced only in the STN group. There were no serious intraoperative complications among patients in either group.


CONCLUSION
Pallidal and STN stimulation appears to be safe and efficacious for the management of advanced PD. A larger study is needed to investigate further the differences in symptom response and the interaction of L-dopa with stimulation at either site.
Klinefelter syndrome and other sex chromosomal aneuploidies

The term Klinefelter syndrome (KS) describes a group of chromosomal disorder in which there is at least one extra X chromosome to a normal male karyotype, 46,XY. XXY aneuploidy is the most common disorder of sex chromosomes in humans, with prevalence of one in 500 males. Other sex chromosomal aneuploidies have also been described, although they are much less frequent, with 48,XXYY and 48,XXXY being present in 1 per 17,000 to 1 per 50,000 male births. The incidence of 49,XXXXY is 1 per 85,000 to 100,000 male births. In addition, 46,XX males also exist and it is caused by translocation of Y material including sex determining region (SRY) to the X chromosome during paternal meiosis. Formal cytogenetic analysis is necessary to make a definite diagnosis, and more obvious differences in physical features tend to be associated with increasing numbers of sex chromosomes. If the diagnosis is not made prenatally, 47,XXY males may present with a variety of subtle clinical signs that are age-related. In infancy, males with 47,XXY may have chromosomal evaluations done for hypospadias, small phallus or cryptorchidism, developmental delay. The school-aged child may present with language delay, learning disabilities, or behavioral problems. The older child or adolescent may be discovered during an endocrine evaluation for delayed or incomplete pubertal development with eunuchoid body habitus, gynecomastia, and small testes. Adults are often evaluated for infertility or breast malignancy. Androgen replacement therapy should begin at puberty, around age 12 years, in increasing dosage sufficient to maintain age appropriate serum concentrations of testosterone, estradiol, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH). The effects on physical and cognitive development increase with the number of extra Xs, and each extra X is associated with an intelligence quotient (IQ) decrease of approximately 15-16 points, with language most affected, particularly expressive language skills.
Structural Failure: The Threat of Contemporary Architecture

Book review: Miles Glendinning’s "Architecture’s Evil Empire?" and Blair Kamin’s "Terror and Wonder: Architecture in a Tumultuous Age"
Prospective validation of HLA-DRB1*07:01 allele carriage as a predictive risk factor for lapatinib-induced liver injury.

PURPOSE
Liver injury is a serious adverse event leading to permanent discontinuation of lapatinib in affected patients. This study aimed to validate previously associated major histocompatibility complex (MHC) variants as predictors of risk of liver injury by using a large, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of lapatinib in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive, early-stage breast cancer (Tykerb Evaluation After Chemotherapy [TEACH]: Lapatinib Versus Placebo In Women With Early-Stage Breast Cancer).


PATIENTS AND METHODS
The frequency of ALT elevation cases was compared among four MHC variants in 1,194 patients randomly assigned to lapatinib. Cumulative ALT elevation time courses during treatment were also compared between carriers and noncarriers of specified MHC variants.


RESULTS
In lapatinib-treated patients, there was a significant difference in ALT case incidence between HLA carriers and noncarriers. The highly correlated alleles HLA-DRB1*07:01 and HLA-DQA1*02:01 (study frequency, 22.4%) were associated with ALT elevation (odds ratio, 14) between cases (n = 37) and controls (n = 1,071). These associations strengthened at higher ALT elevation thresholds and in Hy's Law cases. In lapatinib-treated patients, the overall risk for National Cancer Institute-Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events grade 3 ALT elevation (> 5× upper limit of normal) was 2.1%; HLA allele carriers had an increased risk of 7.7%; in noncarriers, risk was reduced to 0.5%, comparable to ALT elevation for all patients receiving placebo. The increase in ALT case incidence in the lapatinib arm showed no evidence of plateau during 1 year of lapatinib treatment.


CONCLUSION
These results validate HLA-DRB1*07:01 allele carriage as a predictor of increased risk of lapatinib-induced liver injury and implicate an immune pathology. The HLA association could support clinical management of patients experiencing hepatotoxicity during lapatinib treatment.