Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Asymmetric motion distribution between components of a mobile-core lumbar disc prosthesis: an explanation of unequal wear distribution in explanted CHARITÉ polyethylene cores.

BACKGROUND The biconvex mobile core of the CHARITÉ lumbar disc prosthesis forms two joints (spherical bearings) with the metal end plates. We quantified the intra-prosthesis motion to test the hypothesis that the total prosthesis motion would not be equally distributed between the two bearings of implanted CHARITÉ discs, which might explain the unequal wear distribution reported in explanted cores. METHODS The hypothesis was tested by studying the flexion-extension motion responses of (1) twenty-six monosegmental CHARITÉ III discs implanted in nineteen human cadaveric lumbar spines, and (2) twenty-one CHARITÉ III discs (fifteen monosegmental, six bisegmental) implanted in eighteen patients in other published clinical studies. Intra-prosthesis motions were quantified with use of a radiographic image analysis technique. RESULTS Eighty-eight percent of the CHARITÉ discs implanted in cadaveric specimens exhibited larger motion at the superior bearing, with 54% demonstrating more than twice as much motion at the superior bearing as at the inferior bearing. The ratio of motion at the superior bearing to motion at the inferior bearing averaged 2.68 ± 1.84, which was significantly larger than 1.0 (p < 0.001). Ninety percent of prostheses implanted in patients showed larger motion at the superior bearing. The motion ratio averaged 2.39 ± 2.47 for monosegmental cases and 2.55 ± 2.66 for all cases; both ratios were significantly larger than 1.0 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS We found preferentially larger motion at the superior bearing of the CHARITÉ discs implanted in human cadaveric lumbar spines and in patients, regardless of the implanted level.
The role of uncoupling protein 2 and 3 genes polymorphism and energy expenditure in obese Indonesian children

Abstract Aim: Uncoupling protein (UCP) genes, which may contribute to energy metabolism in mitochondria, may be involved in the pathogenesis of obesity. We analyzed the differences in energy expenditure between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) UCP3-55C/T, UCP3 Y210Y, and UCP2 A55V among Indonesian children. Methods: The study included 76 schoolchildren (36 obese and 40 healthy; mean age, 12.8 years) in Semarang, Indonesia. Body composition was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis; resting energy expenditure (REE) by indirect calorimetry; physical activity by uniaxial accelerometer; and total energy expenditure (TEE) by the equations extrapolated from REE and physical activity. UCP3-55C/T, UCP3 Y210Y, and UCP2 A55V were examined by restriction length fragment polymorphism analysis. Results: The TEE of the subjects with the T/T genotype at UCP3-55C/T after adjusting for fat-free mass (63.2±7.2 kcal/kg/day) and T/T at UCP2 A55V (62.8±5.6 kcal/kg/day) was lower than that of the subjects with the C/C and C/T genotypes (p<0.05). The REE of the subjects with these T/T genotypes tended to be lower than that of the subjects with C/C and C/T (p≥0.05). No significant differences in REE or TEE were found between the UCP3 Y210Y genotypes. Conclusions: The subjects with the T/T genotypes of UCP3-55C/T or UCP2 A55V had lower TEE than those with other genotypes.
Ocean acidification and rising temperatures may increase biofilm primary productivity but decrease grazer consumption

Climate change may cause ecosystems to become trophically restructured as a result of primary producers and consumers responding differently to increasing CO2 and temperature. This study used an integrative approach using a controlled microcosm experiment to investigate the combined effects of CO2 and temperature on key components of the intertidal system in the UK, biofilms and their consumers (Littorina littorea). In addition, to identify whether pre-exposure to experimental conditions can alter experimental outcomes we explicitly tested for differential effects on L. littorea pre-exposed to experimental conditions for two weeks and five months. In contrast to predictions based on metabolic theory, the combination of elevated temperature and CO2 over a five-week period caused a decrease in the amount of primary productivity consumed by grazers, while the abundance of biofilms increased. However, long-term pre-exposure to experimental conditions (five months) altered this effect, with grazing rates in these animals being greater than in animals exposed only for two weeks. We suggest that the structure of future ecosystems may not be predictable using short-term laboratory experiments alone owing to potentially confounding effects of exposure time and effects of being held in an artificial environment over prolonged time periods. A combination of laboratory (physiology responses) and large, long-term experiments (ecosystem responses) may therefore be necessary to adequately predict the complex and interactive effects of climate change as organisms may acclimate to conditions over the longer term.
Network Utility Maximization-Based Congestion Control Over Wireless Networks: A Survey and Potential Directives

Since the initial publication of Kelly et al.’s seminal paper on resource allocation in wired networks, a large number of studies based on the network utility maximization (NUM) framework have been conducted, for example, on resource allocations in wired networks as well as wireless networks. Congestion control, used to adapt the traffic rates injected into a network, can be controlled separately at the transport layer or mutually with other layers, using a cross-layer design. The focus of this paper is a review of the research following the NUM framework and addressing the problem of congestion control from several dimensions, specifically, elastic traffic or inelastic traffic, same-timescale or multi-timescale, and single-path or multipath transmissions. First, cross-layer designs for wireless networks, basics of optimization theory, and an example of cross-layer congestion control are summarized. Then, studies on NUM-based congestion control are sequentially presented from several points of view. In addition, we survey the recent literature on cross-layer resource allocation in next generation networks, software-defined networking, and cloud radio access networks, which can enhance the performances and address issues found in current networks. Finally, we outline what we consider to be the current challenges and open issues in the area of NUM-based congestion control for wireless networks.
Effect of pattern recognition features on detection for driver's cognitive distraction

Constituent technology of a driver monitor system using information of a driver's psychosomatic states is expected to create driver's states adaptive drive supporting system for the reduction of traffic accidents. In this study we identified a driver's distraction as one of major psychosomatic states which may result in a traffic accident by using Internet based survey on a questionnaire basis. Then we aimed at creating a methodology in use for detecting driver's cognitive distraction by means of using the AdaBoost which is capable of rapid and accurate classification. Furthermore we verified an effect of pattern recognition features such as interval between heart R-waves (hereafter, heart rate RRI) from an ECG (electrocardiogram), pupil diameter, and, gaze angle and head rotation angle.
Economic News and Bond Prices: Evidence from the U.S. Treasury Market

This Paper uses intraday data from the interdealer government bond market to investigate the effects of scheduled macroeconomic announcements on prices, trading volume, and bid-ask spreads. We find that 17 public news releases, as measured by the surprise in the announcced quantity, have a significant impact on the price of the following instruments: a three-month bill, a two-year note, a 10-year, anda 30-year bond. These effects vary significantly according to maturity. Public news can explain a substantial fraction of price volantility in the after math of announcements, and the adjustment to news generally occurs within one minute after the announcement. We document significant and persistent increases in volatility and trading volume after the announcements. Bidask spreads, on the other hand, widen at the timeof the announcements, but then revert to normal values after five to 15 minutes. The implications for yield curve modeling and for the microstructure of bond markets.
Effect of Marination on Vibrio Parahaemolyticus in Tilapia Fillets

Foodborne diseases affect millions of people each year. To reduce the incidence of bacterialfoodborne pathogens such as V. parahaemolyticus, more effective treatment methods are needed.Accordingly, the effect of marinating fish fillets with lemon juice 50% , thyme powder 4g/kg andpomegranate peel extract (PPE) (1% v/w) against V. parahaemolyticus were studied . The preparedmarinades were artificially added to fish fillet samples inoculated with V. parahaemolyticus thenhold in refrigerator at 4oC and examined every day. Results indicated that the lemon juice decreasedthe count of V. parahaemolyticus from log 8.99. ±0.02 cfu/g to log ≤1 cfu/g at fourth day byreduction % 100, while thyme powder reduced the count to 4.86±0.51 log cfu/g at fifth day byreduction % 88.5. Finally, PPE decreased the count to log 4.89±0.38 cfu/g at fifth day by reduction% 76.3 . Thus, lemon juice was the most effective agent against V. parahaemolyticus as killing allthe bacteria within four days of incubation.
Health risk assessment and molecular biological characteristics associated with organochlorine insecticides sprayed for control of pests and vector-borne diseases : One Health aspects

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have been used worldwide, particularly in Africa, for several decades. Although many are banned, several African countries still use OCPs especially for the prevention and control of malaria. OCPs are characterized by their bio-accumulation in the environment, especially in the food chain, where they find their way into the human body. Despite no clear epidemiological studies confirming hazardous effects of these chemicals on human health, many studies have reported positive associations between the use of OCPs and neurological and reproductive disorders, and cancer risk. There is a clear gap in published reports on OCPs in Africa and their potential health hazards. Thus, the aim of this review is to summarize the incidence of OCP contamination in various foods in Africa, to demonstrate the potential transmission of these chemicals to people, and to discuss their possible health hazards.
Behavioural response of green peach aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer) to volatiles from different rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) clones

Previous studies have shown that rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) can serve as a companion plant to control Myzus persicae (Sulzer) because of the repellent effect of certain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that it emits. In the present study, we investigated which of five clones of rosemary may reveal a repellent effect on M. persicae and aimed to determine the possible VOCs involved. Analyses of the mixtures of VOCs released by the different clones revealed the presence of 15 main components. However, each clone was characterized by a specific volatile profile showing the existence of marked chemical variability. By testing the identified VOCs individually, using a dual‐choice olfactometer, we observed that five volatiles had a significant repulsive effect on M. persicae: bornyl acetate, camphor, α‐terpineol, terpinene‐4‐ol and geranyl acetone. In addition, only one clone of rosemary elicited a significant repulsive action. Nevertheless, all of the tested clones released compounds that are repellent to the aphid when tested individually. Therefore, the emission of individual volatiles by a rosemary plant is not sufficient to elicit a repellent effect. The concentration, proportion and even the association/synergy of VOCs in the released olfactory bouquets can probably explain these contrasting results and are worthy of additional exploration in future studies.
The volume-outcome effect for abdominal aortic surgery: differences in case-mix or complications?

HYPOTHESIS Variation in postoperative complications after abdominal aortic surgery contributes to differences in mortality between high- and low-volume hospitals. BACKGROUND Hospitals with high surgical volume have been shown to have lower operative mortality rates for complex vascular surgery than those with low volumes. Differences in the rates of complications among hospitals may explain this variation in mortality. METHODS Adult patients who underwent abdominal aortic surgery in Maryland from 1994 to 1996 (N = 2987) were included. The primary dependent variable was in-hospital mortality and the independent variables included hospital surgical volume, patient case-mix variables, and several specific postoperative complications. Two sequential analyses using multiple logistic regression were performed to determine the relative importance of independent variables in predicting mortality. RESULTS Hospitals with high surgical volume had a lower mortality rate (5.6%) than those with medium (6.8%) and low (8.7%) volumes (P =.03). In the first multivariate analysis, after adjusting for patient case-mix, having surgery at a high-volume hospital remained associated with a 37% reduction in mortality (odds ratio [OR], 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.42-0.92; P =.02). Patients at high-volume hospitals had a decreased relative risk (RR) of several complications: pulmonary failure (RR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.36-0.55), reintubation (RR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.44-0.64), pneumonia (RR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.55-0.99), cardiac complications (RR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.51-0.78), and shock (RR 0.27; 95% CI, 0.10-0.75). In the second multivariate analysis, which included complications, hospital volume was no longer a significant predictor of mortality. However, several postoperative complications remained significant predictors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS The effect of hospital volume on mortality after abdominal aortic surgery is attributable to differences in postoperative complications and not preoperative differences in case-mix. Efforts to reduce the rates of postoperative complications may reduce mortality rates at low-volume hospitals.
Persuasion by Stress Testing: Optimal Disclosure of Supervisory Information in the Banking Sector

The game-theoretical analysis of this paper shows that stress tests that cover the entire banking sector (macro stress tests) can be performed by institutional supervisors to improve welfare. In a multi-receiver framework of Bayesian persuasion we show that a banking authority can create value when committing to disclose the stress-testing methodology (signal-generating process) together with the stress test result (signal). Disclosing two pieces of information is a typical procedure used in stress tests. By optimally choosing these two signals, supervisors can deliver superior information to prudent investors and enhance welfare. The paper offers a new theory to explain why stress tests are generally welfare enhancing. We also offer a treatment of the borderline case where the banking sector is hit by a crisis, in which case the supervisor will optimally disclose an uninformative signal.
Group choices seemingly at odds with individual preferences

Numerous studies have focused on the influence of the social environment and the interactions between individuals on the collective decision-making of groups. They showed, for example, that attraction between individuals is at the origin of an amplification of individual preferences. These preferences may concern various environmental cues such as biomolecules that convey information about the environment such as vanillin, which, for some insects, is an attractant. In this study, we analysed how the social context of the cockroaches of the species Periplaneta americana modifies preferences when individuals are offered two shelters, of which one is vanillin scented. One of the principal results of our study is that isolated individuals stay longer and more frequently in a vanillin-scented shelter, while groups choose more frequently the unscented one. Moreover, the proportion of sheltered insects is larger when the group selects the unscented shelter. Our experimental results and theoretical model suggest that the individual preference is not inverted when insects are in a group but, rather, the response to vanillin decreases the attraction between individuals. As a result, aggregation is favoured in the unscented shelter, leading therefore to a collective inversion.
Automated Serendipity

Search engines are an absolutely central part of the web. Yet we know relatively little about how they shape news consumption. In this study, we use survey data from four countries (UK, USA, Germany, Spain) to compare the news repertoires of those who say they use search engines to search for news stories, and those that do not. In all four countries, and controlling for other factors, we show that those who find news via search engines (i) on average use more sources of online news, (ii) are more likely to use both left-leaning and right-leaning online news sources, and (iii) have more balanced news repertoires in terms of using similar numbers of left-leaning and right-leaning sources. We thus find little support for the idea that search engine use leads to echo chambers and filter bubbles. To the contrary, using search engines for news is associated with more diverse and more balanced news consumption, as search drives what we call “automated serendipity” and leads people to sources they would not have used otherwise.
The Use of Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy in Pilonidal Sinus Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy Versus Standard Open Wound Care After Surgical Excision

BACKGROUND:Pilonidal sinus disease is associated with significant morbidity after surgical treatment with regard to wound healing. Recent case studies suggested that negative-pressure wound therapy as primary treatment following surgical excision may shorten the duration of wound healing. OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the role of vacuum therapy in pilonidal sinus disease: negative-pressure wound therapy versus standard open wound care after surgical excision. METHODS:Patients were randomly assigned to either negative-pressure wound therapy for 2 weeks or standard open wound healing. The primary end point of the study was the time to complete wound healing. Secondary end points were visual analog scale score, wound size ratio at day 14 (ie, wound healing rate), time to resume daily activities, and recurrence within 6 months after wound closure. RESULTS:Forty-nine patients were included in the study: 24 patients were treated with vacuum therapy, and 25 patients underwent standard open wound care. Complete wound healing was achieved at a median of 84 days in the vacuum therapy group versus 93 days in control patients (p = 0.44). The wound size ratio was significantly lower in the vacuum therapy group (0.30 versus 0.57, p = 0.02), ie, higher wound healing rate in the first 2 weeks. There was no difference in visual analog scale scores and disease recurrence between both groups. The time to resume full daily activities after surgery was 27 days in the patients undergoing vacuum therapy and 29 days in the control patients (p = 0.92). LIMITATIONS:This study is limited by the small number of patients, the lack of blinding to patients and doctors, and the absence of patient quality-of-life evaluation. CONCLUSION:It is feasible to apply vacuum therapy in the treatment of pilonidal sinus disease, and it has a positive effect on wound size reduction in the first 2 weeks. However, there is no difference in time to complete wound healing and time to resume daily life activities.
A molt timer is involved in the metamorphic molt in Manduca sexta larvae

Manduca sexta larvae are a model for growth control in insects, particularly for the demonstration of critical weight, a threshold weight that the larva must surpass before it can enter metamorphosis on a normal schedule, and the inhibitory action of juvenile hormone on this checkpoint. We examined the effects of nutrition on allatectomized (CAX) larvae that lack juvenile hormone to impose the critical weight checkpoint. Normal larvae respond to prolonged starvation at the start of the last larval stage, by extending their subsequent feeding period to ensure that they begin metamorphosis above critical weight. CAX larvae, by contrast, show no homeostatic adjustment to starvation but start metamorphosis 4 d after feeding onset, regardless of larval size or the state of development of their imaginal discs. By feeding starved CAX larvae for various durations, we found that feeding for only 12–24 h was sufficient to result in metamorphosis on day 4, regardless of further feeding or body size. Manipulation of diet composition showed that protein was the critical macronutrient to initiate this timing. This constant period between the start of feeding and the onset of metamorphosis suggests that larvae possess a molt timer that establishes a minimal time to metamorphosis. Ligation experiments indicate that a portion of the timing may occur in the prothoracic glands. This positive system that promotes molting and the negative control via the critical weight checkpoint provide antagonistic pathways that evolution can modify to adapt growth to the ecological needs of different insects.