Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In vitro biomechanical comparison of pedicle screws, sublaminar hooks, and sublaminar cables.

OBJECT Three types of posterior thoracolumbar implants are in use today: pedicle screws, sublaminar titaniumcables, and sublaminar hooks. The authors conducted a biomechanical comparison of these three implants in human cadaveric spines. METHODS Spine specimens (T5-12) were harvested, radiographically assessed for fractures or metastases, and their bone mineral density (BMD) was measured. Individual vertebrae were disarticulated and fitted with either pedicle screws, sublaminar cables, or bilateral claw hooks. The longitudinal component of each construct consisted of bilateral 10-cm rods connected with two cross-connectors. The vertebral body was embedded in cement, and the rods were affixed to a ball-and-socket apparatus for the application of a distraction force. The authors analyzed 1) 20 vertebrae implanted with screws; 2) 20 with hooks, and 3) 20 with cables. The maximum pullout (MPO) forces prior to failure (mean +/- standard deviation) for the screw, hook, and cable implants were 972 +/- 330, 802 +/- 356, and 654 +/- 248 N, respectively (p = 0.0375). Cables allowed significantly greater displacement (6.80 +/- 3.95 mm) prior to reaching the MPO force than hooks (3.73 +/- 1.42 mm) and screws (4.42 +/- 2.15 mm [p = 0.0108]). Eleven screw-implanted vertebrae failed because of screw pullout. All hook-and-cable-implanted vertebrae failed because of pedicle, middle column, or laminar fracture. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that screws possess the greatest pullout strength of the three fixation systems. Sublaminar cables are the least rigid of the three. When screw failure occurred, the mechanism was generally screw back-out, without vertebral fractures.
The Probability of Inconstancy in Assessment of Cardiac Function Post-Myocardial Infarction in Mice

In the present study, we explore the inherent variability that leads to overlaps in cardiac functional parameters between control and post-myocardial infarction (MI) mice. Heart failure was induced by Left Coronary Artery (LCA) ligation in mice. Average Ejection Fraction (EF) measured by echocardiography was lower in MI mice compared to control, but exhibited higher Standard Deviation (SD) and Standard Error (SEM), notably in 2D mode. Fractional Shortening (FS) showed a higher degree of overlap between MI and control mice even though the mean values were significantly different. Hemodynamic measurements of EF resulted in greater SD, SEM, ± 95% confidence intervals, and effect size. In comparing echocardiography at different time points, EF and FS were consistent by mean, but had apparent fluctuation in individual tracks, which were more obvious in MI than control mice. Hemodynamic measurements showed more complexity in data collection in mice in vivo. MI size showed variability that correlated with severity of cardiac function. These studies show that there is inherent variability in functional cardiac parameters after induction of heart failure by MI in mice. Analysis of these parameters by traditional statistical methods is insufficient, and we propose a more robust statistical analysis for proper data interpretation.
QUANTIFYING THE BIOAVAILABILITY OF TOXIC METALS IN SOIL

Abstract : The primary objective of this research was to investigate the relative bioavailability of the toxic metals lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), and chromium (Cr) in soils, particularly in relation to the human health risk posed by soil ingestion, which often controls the degree of clean-up required at metal-contaminated sites. These metals were selected because they are the metals of greatest concern at Department of Defense (DoD) facilities (Exponent, 2001). The research was motivated by the following hypotheses: Hypothesis 1 The ubiquitous metal-sequestering properties of soil will significantly lower the relative bioavailability of ingested metals when compared to the 100% default relative bioavailability values currently used in risk assessments. Hypothesis 2 Key soil physical and chemical properties [particle size, CEC, pH, Fe, Mn, and natural organic matter (NOM) concentration] will be good predictors of soil-metal bioavailability. Hypothesis 3 Metal bioavailability is controlled by molecular-level speciation, where metal sequestration and solid phase stability are enhanced by increased soil-metal residence time.
Investigation of the Aerosol Indirect Effect During the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program's March 2003 Aerosol Intensive Operational Period at the Southern Great Plains: Sensitivity Tests

Clouds and their related physical processes present perhaps the most complicated and perplexing problems in the study of climate change and weather forecasting (Stephens 2005). One important cloudrelated process is the aerosol-cloud-radiation interaction, or the so-called aerosol indirect effect (AIE). The AIE is estimated to vary from 0.0 to -4.8 W/m in state-of-the-art global climate models (Penner et al. 2001). The uncertainty in this estimation has stimulated substantial research in recent years. Most of this research focuses on the first AIE, the second AIE, or both.
Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) as an indicator of disease activity and severity in lupus

Background: Amongst the different clinical and laboratory parameters used to monitor disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), mean platelet volume (MPV) is a novel biomarker. Although MPV has been studied in other rheumatological conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, its role in adult SLE needs to be defined, especially in Pakistan. Methods: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of MPV as a biomarker of disease activity in SLE. Fifty patients were recruited through a consecutive non-probability sampling technique for this cross-sectional study. On the basis of their SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) score of greater or lesser than 5, these 50 participants were divided into two equal groups respectively;25 patients with active SLE, and another 25 participants with stable, inactive lupus. MPV was measured in each group and compared using SPSS version 16. MPV was also correlated with SLEDAI and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Independent sample t-test and Spearman’s rho and Pearson’s correlation tests were applied. Sensitivity and specificity of MPV were checked through ROC analysis. Results: The MPV of patients with active SLE (n=25, mean [M]=7.12, SD=1.01) was numerically lower than those in the inactive-SLE group (n=25, M= 10.12, SD=0.97), and this was statistically significant ( P<0.001). MPV had an inverse relationship with both ESR (r=-0.93, P<0.001) and SLEDAI (r s= -0.89, P<0.001). However, there was a strong positive correlation between ESR and SLEDAI (r s=0.90, P<0.001). For MPV, a cutoff value of less than 8.5fl had a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 100% ( P< 0.001). Conclusions: Higher disease activity in SLE is associated with a correspondingly low MPV.
A Theory of Safe Locking Policies in Database Systems

When several transacuons access (read and update) the same database concurrently, there must be some kind of coordmauon to ensure that all transacuons receive a consistent view of the data Such coordination is usually achieved by locking the transactions according to some locking policy A locking policy that guarantees the preservation of consistency of the database is called safe Necessary and sufficient conditions are found for a locking pohcy to be safe, but it is shown that in general it is NPcomplete to test for these conditions. However, when the database has a given structure, a simple set of rules which is sufficient for safety and, moreover, necessary for a wide class of natural locking pohcles is developed Categories and SubJect Descriptors DA I [Operating Systems] Process Management--concurrency, H 2 2 [Database Management] Physical Design--deadlock avoMance General Terms. Theory AddlUonal
Have Guidelines Affected Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialists’ Diagnoses and the Prescription of Antibiotics for Acute Otitis Media?

Introduction: The Ministry of Health and Medical Education of Iran, and similar institutions in many other countries, advises physicians to use current guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute otitis media (AOM). However, there has been no evaluation of the effectiveness of such guidelines or whether physicians in Iran adhere to them. Thus, as laryngologists are the most important group of people who interact with patients with AOM, the aim of this study was to evaluate the attitude of laryngologists to the established guidelines. Materials and Methods A total of 120 anonymous surveys were mailed to 120 otolaryngologists in Tehran, Iran, to evaluate the patterns of diagnosis and treatment of AOM used by these physicians. The survey included questions regarding the otolaryngologists’ age, gender, place of work, and attitude towards diagnosis and treatment of AOM. Results: Sixty-two completed surveys were received, for a response rate of 51%. There was no significant difference between respondents to these surveys according to sex, age, practice setting, graduation year, or the number of patients with AOM seen each month. Conclusion: Our study adds new insights to the previous literature on the use of guidelines in the management of AOM. We can now assess the impact of guidelines on the usual practice of physicians in evidenced-based management of AOM.
Results of carotid sinus massage in a tertiary referral unit--is carotid sinus syndrome still relevant?

BACKGROUND carotid sinus hypersensitivity (CSH) is associated with syncope, drop attacks and unexplained falls in older people. However, a recent study has also reported a prevalence of 35% in asymptomatic community-dwelling older people. OBJECTIVE we conducted a retrospective observational study to investigate the haemodynamic and symptom responses of a large cohort of patients undergoing carotid sinus massage (CSM). METHODS the electronically stored haemodynamic data of 302 consecutive patients, aged 71 +/- 11 years, investigated with CSM for unexplained falls and syncope was analysed. Bilateral sequential CSM was performed in the supine and upright positions with continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) and non-invasive beat-to-beat blood pressure monitoring (Taskforce, CN Systems, Austria). CSH (CSH) was defined by maximal R-R interval > or =3 s (cardioinhibitory) and/or a systolic blood pressure drop of > or =50 mmHg (vasodepressor). RESULTS a total of 74/302 (25%) subjects had CSH, 37 (50%) of which were cardioinhibitory (CI) and 37 (50%) were vasodepressor (VD) subtypes. Subjects with positive CSM were significantly older (75.2 vs 70.2 years, P < 0.001), and more likely to be male (32% vs 19%, P < 0.01). CSH was diagnosed with right-sided CSM alone in 45 (61%) subjects and erect CSM only in 36 (49%) subjects. Symptom reproduction was more likely with the CI than the VD subtypes (82% vs 28%; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION CSH was diagnosed in 25% of patients investigated with CSM at our specialist unit, lower than the prevalence of 39% reported for community-dwelling older individuals. This discrepancy may be explained by selection bias and demographic differences, but raises the possibility of CSH being an age-related epiphenomenon rather than a causal mechanism for syncope, drop attacks and unexplained falls. Our observations have important implications for clinical practice and the development of future research strategies.
Endogenous C-Type Viruses of BALB/c Cells: Frequencies of Spontaneous and Chemical Induction

A sensitive biological assay has been developed for studying the frequency of virus induction from mouse cells containing poorly infectious endogenous C-type viruses. A low spontaneous frequency of virus activation of one but not a second endogenous virus of BALB/c cells has been demonstrated. The resistance of BALB/c cells to superinfection by the more inducible virus appears to be absolute, whereas resistance to the other virus is only relative. Thus, the evidence indicates that the BALB/c cell exerts differential effects at two levels of regulation on the expression of its biologically distinguishable endogenous C-type viruses.
LIRA: A Location Independent Routing Layer based on Source-Provided Ephemeral Names

We identify the obstacles hindering the deployment of Information Centric Networking (ICN) and the shift from the current IP architecture. In particular, we argue that scalability of name resolution and the lack of control of content access from content providers are two important barriers that keep ICN away from deployment. We design solutions to incentivise ICN deployment and present a new network architecture that incorporates an extra layer in the protocol stack (the Location Independent Routing Layer, LIRA) to integrate location-independent content delivery. According to our design, content names need not (and should not) be permanent, but rather should be ephemeral. Resolution of non-permanent names requires the involvement of content providers, enabling desirable features such as request logging and cache purging, while avoiding the need for the deployment of a new name resolution infrastructure. Our results show that with half of the network's nodes operating under the LIRA framework, we can get the full gain of the ICN mode of operation.
Quantification of splice variants using real-time PCR

A reliable and robust method for measuring the expression of alternatively spliced transcripts is an important step in investigating the significance of each variant. So far, accurate quantification of splice variants has been laborious and difficult due to the intrinsic limitations of conventional methods. The many advantages of real-time PCR have made this technique attractive to study its application in quantification of splice isoforms. We use skipping of exon 37 in the NF1 gene as a model to compare and evaluate the different strategies for quantitating splice variants using real-time PCR. An overview of three different possibilities for detecting alternative transcripts is given. We propose the use of a boundary-spanning primer to quantify isoforms that differ greatly in abundance. We describe here a novel method for creating a reliable standard curve using one plasmid containing both alternative transcripts. In addition, we validate the use of an absolute standard curve based on a dilution series of fluorometrically quantified PCR products.
Treatment of patients with relapsed and resistant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma using total body irradiation, etoposide, and cyclophosphamide and autologous bone marrow transplantation.

PURPOSE Patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) who do not achieve a complete response (CR) after induction chemotherapy or who relapse after achieving a CR are rarely cured of their disease by the usual salvage therapy. Success of high-dose cytotoxic therapy with an autologous bone marrow transplant (AuBMT) is limited. We describe the results of a prospective single-institution study using a new conditioning regimen for patients with relapsed or resistant NHL who underwent AuBMT. PATIENTS AND METHODS Forty-four patients were reinduced with cytotoxic therapy and then evaluated for response. All patients received the conditioning regimen of hyperfractionated total body irradiation (TBI), etoposide (VP-16), and cyclophosphamide (CTX) followed by autologous bone marrow reinfusion. RESULTS The disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 57% with a median follow-up of 42+ months. The only variable significantly associated with DFS was the patient's remission status at AuBMT. Patients who underwent AuBMT in CR had a DFS of 80%, whereas patients who underwent AuBMT in partial response (PR) or with progressive disease (PD) had a DFS of 60% and 11%, respectively (P = .002). The major toxicity was hemorrhage at the site of bulky disease, especially in patients with residual mediastinal and/or pulmonary disease. CONCLUSION Planned reinduction cytotoxic therapy followed by TBI, VP-16, and CTX with AuBMT is an effective treatment for patients with relapsed and resistant NHL.
Towards a navigation system for autonomous indoor flying

Recently there has been increasing research on the development of autonomous flying vehicles.Whereas most of the proposed approaches are suitable for outdoor operation, only a few techniques have been designed for indoor environments. In this paper we present a general system consisting of sensors and algorithms which enables a small sized flying vehicle to operate indoors. This is done by adapting techniques which have been successfully applied on ground robots. We released our system as open-source with the intention to provide the community with a new framework for building applications for indoor flying robots. We present a set of experiments to validate our system on an open source quadrotor.
RGB-D Face Recognition With Texture and Attribute Features

Face recognition algorithms generally utilize 2D images for feature extraction and matching. To achieve higher resilience toward covariates, such as expression, illumination, and pose, 3D face recognition algorithms are developed. While it is challenging to use specialized 3D sensors due to high cost, RGB-D images can be captured by low-cost sensors such as Kinect. This research introduces a novel face recognition algorithm using RGB-D images. The proposed algorithm computes a descriptor based on the entropy of RGB-D faces along with the saliency feature obtained from a 2D face. Geometric facial attributes are also extracted from the depth image and face recognition is performed by fusing both the descriptor and attribute match scores. The experimental results indicate that the proposed algorithm achieves high face recognition accuracy on RGB-D images obtained using Kinect compared with existing 2D and 3D approaches.
Integrative Analysis of Calcium Cycling in Cardiac Muscle

Abstract— The control of intracellular calcium is central to regulation of contractile force in cardiac muscle. This review illustrates how analysis of the control of calcium requires an integrated approach in which several systems are considered. Thus, the calcium content of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) is a major determinant of the amount of Ca2+ released from the SR and the amplitude of the Ca2+ transient. The amplitude of the transient, in turn, controls Ca2+ fluxes across the sarcolemma and thence SR content. This control of SR content influences the response to maneuvers that modify, for example, the properties of the SR Ca2+ release channel or ryanodine receptor. Specifically, modulation of the open probability of the ryanodine receptor produces only transient effects on the Ca2+ transient as a result of changes of SR content. These interactions between various Ca2+ fluxes are modified by the Ca2+ buffering properties of the cell. Finally, we predict that, under some conditions, the above interactions can result in instability (such as alternans) rather than ordered control of contractility.
Practical Evaluation of Speech Recognizers for Virtual Human Dialogue Systems

We perform a large-scale evaluation of multiple off-the-shelf speech recognizers across diverse domains for virtual human dialogue systems. Our evaluation is aimed at speech recognition consumers and potential consumers with limited experience with readily available recognizers. We focus on practical factors to determine what levels of performance can be expected from different available recognizers in various projects featuring different types of conversational utterances. Our results show that there is no single recognizer that outperforms all other recognizers in all domains. The performance of each recognizer may vary significantly depending on the domain, the size and perplexity of the corpus, the out-of-vocabulary rate, and whether acoustic and language model adaptation has been used or not. We expect that our evaluation will prove useful to other speech recognition consumers, especially in the dialogue community, and will shed some light on the key problem in spoken dialogue systems of selecting the most suitable available speech recognition system for a particular application, and what impact training will have.
Understanding web accessibility and its drivers

Access is what the web is 'about', it is the motivation behind its creation, and it is the rationale behind HTML. The desire to provide all users at CERN with the ability to access all documents was Tim Berners-Lee's primary goal, and this goal must also be carried through to equal access for all users. But this equality of access -- accessibility -- is difficult to quantify, define, or agree upon. In a constantly evolving field, understanding each other can be tricky; indeed, there are many different definitions in the literature, all with a different perspective. This makes it difficult for our community to interact, reach agreement, or share understanding. What is more, it makes it very difficult for those outside the web accessibility community to understand, plan, budget, enact policy, or conform to accessibility requirements and legislation when the community itself has so many, in some cases, conflicting definitions. We asked over 300 people, with an interest in accessibility, to discuss their views and definitions in an attempt to harmonise our understanding and support the expectations of users outside the community. We find that misunderstanding accessibility definitions, language, and terms might cause tension between different groups. That social, and not economic, aspects drive our perspectives of accessibility, and that definitions used by standards and regulatory bodies are most accepted - not those of individual experts. Forcing accessibility adoption does not encourage the acceptance of an accessibility ethos, but providing empirical evidence that accessibility benefits all, does. Finally, realistic and concise language was preferred when attempting to communicate, or define accessibility.
Streptococcus mutans-derived extracellular matrix in cariogenic oral biofilms

Biofilms are highly structured microbial communities that are enmeshed in a self-produced extracellular matrix. Within the complex oral microbiome, Streptococcus mutans is a major producer of extracellular polymeric substances including exopolysaccharides (EPS), eDNA, and lipoteichoic acid (LTA). EPS produced by S. mutans-derived exoenzymes promote local accumulation of microbes on the teeth, while forming a spatially heterogeneous and diffusion-limiting matrix that protects embedded bacteria. The EPS-rich matrix provides mechanical stability/cohesiveness and facilitates the creation of highly acidic microenvironments, which are critical for the pathogenesis of dental caries. In parallel, S. mutans also releases eDNA and LTA, which can contribute with matrix development. eDNA enhances EPS (glucan) synthesis locally, increasing the adhesion of S. mutans to saliva-coated apatitic surfaces and the assembly of highly cohesive biofilms. eDNA and other extracellular substances, acting in concert with EPS, may impact the functional properties of the matrix and the virulence of cariogenic biofilms. Enhanced understanding about the assembly principles of the matrix may lead to efficacious approaches to control biofilm-related diseases.