Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Obesity on the Improvement in Health State Outcomes following Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Interbody Fusion

Study Design Observational study. Objective Studies have shown a correlation between obesity and lumbar spine pathology, but also that obese patients have higher rates of complication following lumbar spine surgery. It is unknown if obese patients have clinical gains following lumbar spine surgery comparable to the gain of normal-weight patients. This study investigated the correlation of obesity and the delta change in outcomes in a single surgeon's cohort of normal-weight and obese patients undergoing minimally invasive (MIS) transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF). Methods A retrospective review was performed of a single surgeon's patients at an academic medical center who underwent MIS TLIF between July 2011 and December 2013. Statistical analyses included independent sample t test for continuous variables, Fisher exact test for categorical data, and repeated measures two-way analysis of variance to assess the interaction between obesity status and the change in Short-Form Health Survey 12 (SF-12) results. Results Thirty-eight patients from a single institution were reviewed, and 19 had a body mass index greater than 30. The nonobese and obese postoperative SF-12 mental composite scores (MCS; 52.70 ± 2.50 versus 52.16 ± 1.91; p = 0.87) and physical composite scores (PCS; 45.56 ± 2.72 versus 41.03 ± 2.65; p = 0.24) did not show any significant differences. There was no significant interaction between obesity and change in SF-12 MCS (F [1, 36] = 0.96, p = 0.33) or SF-12 PCS (F [1, 36] = 0.74, p = 0.40) between the pre- and postoperative scores. There was a significant effect of obesity on SF-12 PCS scores (F [1, 36] = 7.15, p = 0.01). Conclusions Patients undergoing MIS TLIF sustain meaningful and significant gains in SF-12 MCS and PCS that is not impacted by their obesity status.
Giving voice to headteachers using interpretative phenomenological analysis-IPA

Successful school leadership is an issue debated globally, but these discussions do not seem to occur within the context of inclusive education in the Caribbean. Although there have been reports indicating steady progression in educational leadership and inclusive practices within the last decade, no planned, long-term innovations have emerged. This article reports part of a small-scale, qualitative study, conducted with 16 headteachers of secondary schools from across Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago. An interpretative phenomenological approachwas used to explore how headteachers ascribe meaning to their unique, lived experiences and how this affects their role in facilitating inclusive education. The study identified a relationship between the lived experiences of headteachers, and their resulting approach to leading their respective schools. There is also potential for the strengthening of educational leadership and inclusion through reflexive practice that promotes equity in the schools’ contexts.
Patterns of body weight in the Baltic Republics

Abstract Objective Previously recorded rates of obesity in the Baltic Republics have been among the highest in the world although little is known about how they vary within the population. This study investigates the distribution of body mass index (BMI) and obesity in these countries. Design Three cross-sectional surveys conducted in the summer of 1997. Setting Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Subjects Representative national samples of adults with measured weight and height (Estonia: n = 1154; Latvia: n = 2292; Lithuania: n = 2096). Results Between-country differences are particularly large among women: women from Latvia and Lithuania are approximately three times as likely to be obese as those from Estonia (17.4%, 18.3%, 6.0% respectively); only about one-third of this difference is explained by the sociodemographic and behavioural factors studied. In men, the prevalence of obesity varied only slightly among countries (Estonia: 9.9%; Latvia: 9.5%; Lithuania: 11.4%). While the prevalence of obesity increases with age within each republic, particularly in women, it is not associated with nationality or urban/rural region, and no consistent association is observed with income. Obesity is inversely related to education in Latvia and in Lithuanian women. Latvian men and women and Lithuanian men who smoked had a lower prevalence of obesity than non-smokers. Leisure time physical activity was not associated with obesity. Conclusions Obesity is a major health problem in the Baltic Republics, particularly among Latvian and Lithuanian women. The lack of association between obesity and most demographic, socioeconomic and behavioural factors suggests that the problem is generalized. Health promotion strategies aiming at preventing and controlling excess weight gain in the Baltic Republics will need to target the general population.
Approximate Capacity Subregions of Uniform Multihop Wireless Networks

The capacity region of multihop wireless network is involved in many capacity optimization problems. However, the membership of the capacity region is NP-complete in general, and hence the direct application of capacity region is quite limited. As a compromise, we often substitute the capacity region with a polynomial approximate capacity subregion. In this paper, we construct polynomial &#956;-approximate capacity subregions of multihop wireless network under either 802.11 interference model or protocol interference model in which all nodes have uniform communication radii normalized to one and uniform interference radii &#961;&#8805;1. The approximation factor &#956; decreases with &#961; in general and is smaller than the best-known ones in the literature. For example, &#956;=3 when &#961;&#8805;2.2907 under the 802.11 interference model or when &#961;&#8805;4.2462 under the protocol interference model. Our construction exploits a nature of the wireless interference called strip-wise transitivity of independence discovered in this paper and utilize the independence polytopes of cocomparability graphs in a spatial-divide-conquer manner. We also apply these polynomial &#956;-approximate capacity subregions to compute &#956;-approximate solutions for maximum (concurrent) multiflows.
Kv 3 K + channels enable burst output in rat cerebellar Purkinje cells

The ability of cells to generate an appropriate spike output depends on a balance between membrane depolarizations and the repolarizing actions of K currents. The high-voltage-activated Kv3 class of K channels repolarizes Na spikes to maintain high frequencies of discharge. However, little is known of the ability for these K channels to shape Ca spike discharge or their ability to regulate Ca spike-dependent burst output. Here we identify the role of Kv3 K channels in the regulation of Na and Ca spike discharge, as well as burst output, using somatic and dendritic recordings in rat cerebellar Purkinje cells. Kv3 currents pharmacologically isolated in outside-out somatic membrane patches accounted for 40% of the total K current, were very fast and high voltage activating, and required more than 1 s to fully inactivate. Kv3 currents were differentiated from other tetraethylammonium-sensitive currents to establish their role in Purkinje cells under physiological conditions with current-clamp recordings. Dual somatic-dendritic recordings indicated that Kv3 channels repolarize Na and Ca spikes, enabling high-frequency discharge for both types of cell output. We further show that during burst output Kv3 channels act together with large-conductance Ca-activated K channels to ensure an effective coupling between Ca and Na spike discharge by preventing Na spike inactivation. By contributing significantly to the repolarization of Na and especially Ca spikes, our data reveal a novel function for Kv3 K channels in the maintenance of high-frequency burst output for cerebellar Purkinje cells.
Evaluation of Some Biochemical Parameters and Brain Oxidative Stress in Experimental Rats Exposed Chronically to Silver Nitrate and the Protective Role of Vitamin E and Selenium

Due to undesirable hazardous interactions with biological systems, this investigation was undertaken to evaluate the effect of chronic exposure to silver on certain biochemical and some oxidative stress parameters with histopathological examination of brain, as well as the possible protective role of selenium and/or vitamin E as nutritional supplements. Thirty six male rats were divided into six groups of six each: the first group used as a control group. Group II given both vitamin E (400 mg/kg) of diet and selenium (Se) (1 mg/L) in their drinking water. Group III given silver as silver nitrate (AgNO_3) (20 mg/L). Group IV given vitamin E and AgNO_3. Group V given both AgNO_3 and selenium. Group VI given AgNO_3, vitamin E and Se. The animals were in the same exposure conditions for 3 months. According to the results which have been obtained; there was an increase in serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), lipase activities and cholesterol level, a decrease in serum total protein, calcium and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in Agintoxicated rats. Moreover, the findings showed that Ag^+ ions affected antioxidant defense system by decreasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and increasing vitamin E concentration with a high level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in brain tissue. The histological examination also exhibited some nervous tissue alterations including hemorrhage and cytoplasm vacuolization. However, the co-administration of selenium and/or vitamin E ameliorated the biochemical parameters and restored the histological alterations. In conclusion, this study indicated that silver could cause harmful effects in animal body and these effects can be more toxic in high concentrations or prolonged time exposure to this metal. However, selenium and vitamin E act as powerful antioxidants which may exercise adverse effect against the toxicity of this metal.
Biomarkers Predicting a Need for Intensive Treatment in Patients with Early Arthritis

The heterogeneous nature of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) complicates early recognition and treatment. In recent years, a growing body of evidence has demonstrated that intervention during the window of opportunity can improve the response to treatment and slow- or even stop-irreversible structural changes. Advances in therapy, such as biologic agents, and changing approaches to the disease, such as the treat to target and tight control strategies, have led to better outcomes resulting from personalized treatment to patients with different prognostic markers. The various biomarkers identified either facilitate early diagnosis or make it possible to adjust management to disease activity or poor outcomes. However, no single biomarker can bridge the gap between disease onset and prescription of the first DMARD, and traditional biomarkers do not identify all patients requiring early aggressive treatment. Furthermore, the outcomes of early arthritis cohorts are largely biased by the treatment prescribed to patients; therefore, new challenges arise in the search for prognostic biomarkers. Herein, we discuss the value of traditional and new biomarkers and suggest the need for intensive treatment as a new surrogate marker of poor prognosis that can guide therapeutic decisions in the early stages of RA.
Development of hypertension and uraemia after pyelonephritis in childhood: 27 year follow up.

OBJECTIVE--Determination of the long term incidence of uraemia, hypertension, and toxaemia in pregnancy associated with non-obstructive focal renal scarring after pyelonephritis in childhood 25-35 years earlier. DESIGN--27 Year follow up of patients with non-obstructive focal scarring identified from a retrospective review of intravenous urograms performed in childhood between 1951 and 1967. SETTING--Paediatric primary referral centre and urological clinic in tertiary referral centre. PATIENTS--30 Patients (mean age 33 (range 22-41] with non-obstructive focal renal scarring first detected between 1951 and 1967 and a history of febrile urinary tract infection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE--Hypertension and complications of renal damage. RESULTS--Three patients had developed end stage renal disease, seven had developed hypertension, two of 16 women had a history of toxaemia during pregnancy, and seven patients had undergone renal surgery during follow up. Of the 20 patients who had neither had renal surgery nor had end stage renal disease, all had a significantly lower glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow and higher diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial blood pressure, plasma renin activity, and serum beta 2 microglobulin concentration than 13 healthy age matched controls. Diastolic blood pressure and plasma renin activity were positively correlated (r = 0.50, p less than 0.05) and so were fractional sodium excretion and both systolic and diastolic blood pressures (r = 0.54, p less than 0.01, r = 0.51, p less than 0.01 respectively). The progress of renal damage was unrelated to the incidence of recurrent infections. CONCLUSIONS--Children with focal renal scarring due to pyelonephritis are at high risk of serious long term consequences. It is essential that they are given adequate attention and care during adolescence and pregnancy.
Real-time CT Fluoroscopy (CTF)-Guided Vertebroplasty in Osteoporotic Spine Fractures

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical feasibility, benefits, and limitations of CT fluoroscopy (CTF)-guided percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP). PVP under the guidance of CTF without additional guidance by conventional C-arm fluoroscopy was performed in a total of 29 vertebral bodies in 21 patients with vertebral compression fractures. While monitoring sectional CTF images, the needle was advanced from the skin to the target vertebra. Contrast media and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) were injected into the target vertebra with careful monitoring of their distribution. After the procedure, an evaluation was conducted to determine whether extraosseous leakage of PMMA occurred and whether sufficient filling of PMMA had been achieved. Needle placement into the target vertebra was easily achieved with both the transpedicular and posterolateral approaches. Injection of PMMA and venous leakage of contrast media were carefully monitored in all patients, and early detection of PMMA leaking was achieved in 5 patients. Extraosseous leakage that had not been detected during the procedure was not found upon postoperative evaluation. Pain scales were significantly decreased after the procedure, and no obvious complications occurred following the procedure. CTF-guided PVP without the combined use of C-arm fluoroscopy was feasible and showed definite benefits. We believe that, in spite of some limitations, CTF-guided PVP provides an alternative technique appropriate in certain situations.
A high performance CMOS reference current generator with negative feedback loop for biomedical neural stimulator

This paper presents a novel current reference circuit with negative feedback loop for biomedical neural current stimulator using the mutual compensation of threshold voltage and mobility. The negative feedback loop in this circuit effectively reduces the sensitivity both to the process and temperature variations. The nominal current output is designed to be 4 μA, and the temperature coefficient is 312 ppm/°C over temperature range of -45 °C to 125 °C. The simulated worst case variation at 25 °C is 0.75 μA.
Light rather than iron controls photosynthate production and allocation in Southern Ocean phytoplankton populations during austral autumn

The role of iron and light in controlling photosynthate production and allocation in phytoplankton populations of the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean was investigated in April-May 1999. The C-14 incorporation into five biochemical pools (glucan, amino acids, proteins, lipids and polysaccharides) was measured during iron/light perturbation experiments. The diurnal Chl a-specific rates of carbon incorporation into these pools did not change in response to iron addition, yet were decreased at 20 mumol photons m(-2) s(-1), an irradiance comparable with the one at 20-45 m in situ depth. This suggests that the low phytoplankton biomass encountered (0.1-0.6 mug Chl a L-1) was mainly caused by light limitation in the deep wind mixed layer (>40 m). Regional differences in Chl a-specific carbon incorporation rates were not found in spite of differences in phytoplankton species composition: at the Antarctic Polar Front, biomass was dominated by a diatom population of Fragilariopsis kerguelensis, whereas smaller cells, including chrysophytes, were relatively more abundant in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current beyond the influence of frontal systems. Because mixing was often in excess of 100 m in the latter region, diatom cells may have been unable to fulfil their characteristically high Fe demand at low average light conditions, and thus became co-limited by both resources. Using a model that describes the C-14 incorporation, the consistency was shown between the dynamics in the glucan pool in the field experiments and in laboratory experiments with an Antarctic diatom, Chaetoceros brevis. The glucan respiration rate was almost twice as high during the dark phase as during the light phase, which is consistent with the role of glucan as a reserve supplying energy and carbon skeletons for continued protein synthesis during the night.
Lactoferrin Augmentation of the BCG Vaccine Leads to Increased Pulmonary Integrity

The goal of vaccination to prevent tuberculosis disease (TB) is to offer long-term protection to the individual and the community. In addition, the success of any protective TB vaccine should include the ability to limit cavitary formation and disease progression. The current BCG vaccine protects against disseminated TB disease in children by promoting development of antigenic-specific responses. However, its efficacy is limited in preventing postprimary pulmonary disease in adults that is responsible for the majority of disease and transmission. This paper illustrates the use of lactoferrin as an adjuvant to boost efficacy of the BCG vaccine to control organism growth and limit severe manifestation of pulmonary disease. This resulting limitation in pathology may ultimately, limit spread of bacilli and subsequent transmission of organisms between individuals. The current literature is reviewed, and data is presented to support molecular mechanisms underlying lactoferrin's utility as an adjuvant for the BCG vaccine.
Creating a Novel Geolocation Corpus from Historical Texts

This paper describes the process of annotating a historical US civil war corpus with geographic reference. Reference annotations are given at two different textual scales: individual place names and documents. This is the ﬁrst published corpus of its kind in document-level geolocation, and it has over 10,000 disambiguated to-ponyms, double the amount of any prior toponym corpus. We outline many challenges and considerations in creating such a corpus, and we evaluate baseline and benchmark toponym resolution and document geolocation systems on it. Aspects of the corpus suggest several recommendations for proper annotation procedure for the tasks.
Job resourcefulness, work engagement and prosocial service behaviors in the hospitality industry

Purpose Prosocial service behaviors play a major role in the hospitality industry. However, few studies have examined how job resourcefulness affects prosocial service behaviors. This paper aims to investigate the relationship between job resourcefulness and prosocial service behaviors as well as clarify the mediating effect of work engagement. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire was developed to collect data from 282 frontline service employees in Taiwan’s hotel industry. Structural equation modeling was conducted to test the hypotheses of this research. Findings The results indicate that job resourcefulness is positively related to role-prescribed service behaviors, extra-role service behaviors and cooperation. Furthermore, work engagement mediates the relationship between job resourcefulness and prosocial service behaviors. Research limitations/implications The design of cross-sectional research restricts inference to the findings of cause–effect relationships. Also, the design of this study could not rule out the effect of common method variance, as all the data used in the study were acquired using the same questionnaire. Originality/value The current study contributes to the hospitality management research by investigating the link between job resourcefulness and prosocial service behaviors, and elaborating the partially mediating role of work engagement in this relationship.
Compensation for interaction torques during single- and multijoint limb movement.

During multijoint limb movements such as reaching, rotational forces arise at one joint due to the motions of limb segments about other joints. We report the results of three experiments in which we assessed the extent to which control signals to muscles are adjusted to counteract these "interaction torques. " Human subjects performed single- and multijoint pointing movements involving shoulder and elbow motion, and movement parameters related to the magnitude and direction of interaction torques were manipulated systematically. We examined electromyographic (EMG) activity of shoulder and elbow muscles and, specifically, the relationship between EMG activity and joint interaction torque. A first set of experiments examined single-joint movements. During both single-joint elbow (experiment 1) and shoulder (experiment 2) movements, phasic EMG activity was observed in muscles spanning the stationary joint (shoulder muscles in experiment 1 and elbow muscles in experiment 2). This muscle activity preceded movement and varied in amplitude with the magnitude of upcoming interaction torque (the load resulting from motion of the nonstationary limb segment). In a third experiment, subjects performed multijoint movements involving simultaneous motion at the shoulder and elbow. Movement amplitude and velocity at one joint were held constant, while the direction of movement about the other joint was varied. When the direction of elbow motion was varied (flexion vs. extension) and shoulder kinematics were held constant, EMG activity in shoulder muscles varied depending on the direction of elbow motion (and hence the sign of the interaction torque arising at the shoulder). Similarly, EMG activity in elbow muscles varied depending on the direction of shoulder motion for movements in which elbow kinematics were held constant. The results from all three experiments support the idea that central control signals to muscles are adjusted, in a predictive manner, to compensate for interaction torques-loads arising at one joint that depend on motion about other joints.
Visiting public libraries with young children: an investigation of individual and community factors among caregivers in an area of socio-economic disadvantage

Abstract This study examined an extended theory of planned behaviour (TPB), incorporating additional social influences, for predicting parents’ and carers’ decisions to visit the library with their young children. At Time 1, participants (N = 212) completed a paper-based questionnaire measuring the TPB constructs as well as group norm, parental role construction, social support (i.e. family and friend support), and psychological sense of community in relation to visiting the library. At Time 2, participants (N = 171) completed a telephone survey to measure behaviour over the previous six months. Attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioural control, group norm, and parental role construction predicted intentions. Intentions and perceived behavioural control predicted follow-up behaviour. Results support the TPB and the role of group norm and parental role construction. The findings highlight the importance of social and cognitive factors in predicting parents’ and carers’ decisions to visit public libraries with their young children.