Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Resection of Beak-Type Thoracic Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament from a Posterior Approach under Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring for Paralysis after Posterior Decompression and Fusion Surgery

Study Design Prospective clinical study. Objective Posterior decompression and fusion surgery for beak-type thoracic ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (T-OPLL) generally has a favorable outcome. However, some patients require additional surgery for postoperative severe paralysis, a condition that is inadequately discussed in the literature. The objective of this study was to describe the efficacy of a procedure we refer to as “resection at an anterior site of the spinal cord from a posterior approach” (RASPA) for severely paralyzed patients after posterior decompression and fusion surgery for beak-type T-OPLL. Methods Among 58 consecutive patients who underwent posterior decompression and fusion surgery for beak-type T-OPLL since 1999, 3 with postoperative paralysis (5%) underwent RASPA in our institute. Clinical records, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association score, gait status, intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) findings, and complications were evaluated in these cases. Results All three patients experienced a postoperative decline in Manual Muscle Test (MMT) scores of 0 to 2 after the first surgery. RASPA was performed 3 weeks after the first surgery. All patients showed gradual improvements in MMT scores for the lower extremity and in ambulatory status; all could walk with a cane at an average of 4 months following RASPA surgery. There were no postoperative complications. Conclusions RASPA surgery for beak-type T-OPLL after posterior decompression and fusion surgery resulted in good functional outcomes as a salvage surgery for patients with severe paralysis. Advantages of RASPA include a wide working space, no spinal cord retraction, and additional decompression at levels without T-OPLL resection and spinal cord shortening after additional dekyphosis and compression maneuvers. When used with IONM, this procedure may help avoid permanent postoperative paralysis.
Design Of PID Controller In Automatic Voltage Regulator ( AVR ) System Using PSO Technique

In this paper, an evolutionary computing approach for determining the optimal values of the proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller has been proposed. Proper tuning of such controllers is obviously a prime priority as any other alternative situation will require a high degree of industrial expertise. This paper demonstrated in detail how to employ the PSO method to search efficiently the optimal PID controller parameters of an AVR system. The proposed algorithm has been applied in the PID controller design for the AVR system. A MATLAB simulation has been performed and a comparative study between the proposed algorithms with the PID Controller Tuner has been studied in the presented work. In continuation of this, the proposed method was indeed more efficient and robust in improving the step response of an AVR system.
Genetic Variant as a Selection Marker for Anti–Prostate Stem Cell Antigen Immunotherapy of Bladder Cancer

A monoclonal antibody against prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) has emerged as a novel cancer therapy currently being tested in clinical trials for prostate and pancreatic cancers, but this treatment is likely to be efficient only in patients with PSCA-expressing tumors. The present study demonstrates that a genetic variant (rs2294008) discovered by bladder cancer genome-wide association studies is a strong predictor of PSCA protein expression in bladder tumors, as measured by two-sided multivariable linear regression (P = 6.46×10−11; n = 278). The association pattern is similar in non-muscle-invasive tumors, stages Ta (P = 3.10×10−5; n = 173) and T1 (P = 2.64×10−5; n = 60), and muscle-invasive tumors, stages T2 (P =.01; n = 23) and T3/4 (P =.03; n = 22). The study suggests that anti-PSCA immunotherapy might be beneficial for bladder cancer patients with high tumor PSCA expression, which is statistically significantly associated with the presence of CT and TT genotypes of a common genetic variant, rs2294008. Future clinical studies will be needed to validate PSCA as a therapeutic target for bladder cancer.
Identification of CD137 as a potent monocyte survival factor

CD137 (ILA/4‐1BB), a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family, promotes adherence and prolongs survival of human peripheral monocytes. It induces a strong expression of macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (M‐CSF), an essential monocyte survival factor. Monocyte survival induced by CD137 is primarily mediated by M‐CSF and to a lesser extent by granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor and IL‐3. Survival and induction of M‐CSF are mediated via reverse signaling through a CD137 ligand expressed constitutively by peripheral monocytes. J. Leukoc. Biol. 65: 829–833; 1999.
Feedforward responses of transversus abdominis are directionally specific and act asymmetrically: implications for core stability theories.

STUDY DESIGN Experimental laboratory study supplemented with a repeated case study. OBJECTIVE To examine bilateral muscle activity of the deep abdominals in response to rapid arm raising, specifically to examine the laterality and directional specificity of feedforward responses of the transversus abdominis (TrA). BACKGROUND Based on the feedforward responses of trunk muscles during rapid arm movements, authors have concluded that the deep trunk muscles have different control mechanisms compared to the more superficial muscles. It has been proposed that deep trunk muscles such as TrA contribute substantially to the stability of the lumbar spine and that this is achieved through simultaneous bilateral feedforward activation. These inferences are based on unilateral fine-wire electromyographic (EMG) data and there are limited investigations of bilateral responses of the TrA during unilateral arm raising. METHODS AND MEASURES Bilateral fine-wire and surface EMG data from the anterior deltoid, TrA, obliquus internus (OI), obliquus externus, biceps femoris, erector spinae, and rectus abdominis during repeated arm raises were recorded at 2 kHz. EMG signal linear envelopes were synchronized to the onset of the anterior deltoid. A feedforward window was defined as the period up to 50 ms after the onset of the anterior deltoid, and paired onsets for bilateral muscles were plotted for both left and right arm movements. RESULTS Trunk muscles from the group data demonstrated differences between sides (laterality), which were systematically altered when alternate arms were raised (directional specificity). This was clearly evident for the TrA but less obvious for the erector spinae. The ipsilateral biceps femoris and obliquus externus, and contralateral OI and TrA, were activated earlier than the alternate side for both right and left arm movements. This was a consistent pattern over a 7-year period for the case study. Data for the rectus abdominis derived from the case study demonstrated little laterality or directionally specific response. CONCLUSION This is the first study to show that the feedforward activity of the TrA is specific to the direction of arm movement and not bilaterally symmetrical. The asymmetry of TrA activity during arm raising suggests that the interpretation of the role of TrA as a bilateral stabilizer during anticipatory postural adjustments needs to be revised. Future research needs to examine muscle synergies associated with the asymmetrical function of the TrA and the underlying mechanism associated with low-load stability training. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapy, level 5.
HLA-A2.1–restricted Education and Cytolytic Activity of CD8+ T Lymphocytes from β2 Microglobulin (β2m) HLA-A2.1 Monochain Transgenic H-2Db β2m Double Knockout Mice

Three different HLA-A2.1 monochains were engineered in which either the human or mouse β2-microglobulin (β2m) is covalently linked to the NH2 terminus of the heavy chain by a 15– amino acid long peptide: HHH, entirely human, HHD, with the mouse H-2Db α3, transmembrane, and cytoplasmic domains, and MHD, homologous to HHD but linked to the mouse β2mb. The cell surface expression and immunological capacities of the three monochains were compared with transfected cells, and the selected HHD construct was introduced by transgenesis in H-2Db−/− β2m−/− double knockout mice. Expression of this monochain restores a sizable peripheral CD8+ T cell repertoire essentially educated on the transgenic human molecule. Consequently, infected HHD, H-2Db−/− β2m−/− mice generate only HLA-A2.1–restricted CD8+ CTL responses against influenza A and vaccinia viruses. Interestingly, the CTL response to influenza A virus is mostly, if not exclusively, directed to the 58-66 matrix peptide which is the HLA-A2.1–restricted immunodominant epitope in humans. Such mice might constitute a versatile animal model for the study of HLA-A2.1–restricted CTL responses of vaccine interest.
Nest-Site Characteristics of Hammond's and Pacific-Slope Flycatchers in Northwestern California

Thirty nests of Hammond's (Empidonax hammondii) and 88 nests of Pacificslope (E. difficilis) Flycatchers were located in different-aged Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)/tanoak (Lithocarpus densiflorus) dominated forests at 12 study sites in northwestern California during the breeding seasons of 1984, 1985, 1987, and 1988. In contrast to Pacificslope Flycatchers, Hammond's used nest trees that averaged two to three times taller; placed nests three times higher and farther from the tree bole; used only live trees; placed nests only on smallto medium-diameter branches; situated nests in areas with higher foliage cover; and favored nest placement on the northeast and southwest sides of trees. Attributes of nesting habitat also differed between species among different stand development stages. Hammond's Flycatchers in old-growth and mature forests chose nest sites with more open canopy than that found at random sites. Pacific-slope Flycatchers in old-growth and mature forests nested at sites with a lower mid-canopy bole height. In young stands, Pacific-slope Flycatchers selected nest sites with large Douglas-firs and Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii) trees, higher shrub cover, and fewer medium-size Douglas-fir trees. Hammond's Flycatchers were not found in younger stands. We speculate that if old-growth Douglas-fir/tanoak forests are greatly reduced or eliminated in northwestern California, the density of breeding Hammond's Flycatcher will decrease substantially. However, Pacific-slope Flycatchers would probably be less affected by conversion of old-growth forests to younger-aged classes.
3464 Readability, Understandability, and Actionability of Inpatient Discharge Instructions: A Health Literacy Perspective

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Parents often make errors in comprehending and executing their child’s inpatient discharge instructions, putting their child at risk for adverse post-discharge outcomes. Suboptimal provider-caregiver communication has been linked to errors in comprehension and execution of provider instructions, especially for parents with limited health literacy. Few studies have systematically examined features of pediatric inpatient written discharge instructions that may contribute to errors. Our objective was to assess the readability, understandability, and actionability of pediatric inpatient written discharge instructions. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: This was a cross-sectional analysis of the written discharge instructions (standardized template, content not standardized) provided to parents at an urban public hospital, enrolled as part of a prospective cohort study (n=171) focused on parent ability to comprehend their child’s discharge instructions. Inclusion criteria were: English/Spanish-speaking parents of children ≤12 years old discharged on ≥1 daily medicine. Discharge instructions were assessed for: 1) Readability (Average of 5 formulas [Flesh Reading Ease, Flesch-Kincaid, Gunning Fog, Simple Measure of Gobbledygook, Forcast]), 2) Understandability and actionability (AHRQ Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool [2 independent reviewers; κ>0.8 for both]). RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Mean (SD) reading grade level was 11.4 (0.7); none of the instructions were written at a recommended reading level of 6th to 8th grade or below. Mean (SD) understandability was 37.7 (6.9)%; mean actionability was 41.7 (8.4)%. All 171 sets of instructions used medical terminology without adequate plain language explanations and included information that was not relevant to the child’s diagnosis and associated care (e.g., obesity counseling, smoking cessation given to a child with appendicitis). None of the sets of instructions presented information in a logical sequence (e.g., diet instructions in more than one location) or included any pictographic information or other visual aids to support the text (e.g., diagram of medication dose within a dosing tool). DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Written discharge instructions provided in the pediatric inpatient setting were suboptimal. Use of a systematic approach to improve discharge instructions, using a health literacy perspective, has the potential to improve post-discharge outcomes in children.
Legitimacy and Institutional Change

What explains the nature of institutional change in post-1989 China? Dominant theories of institutional change focus on economic-rationalist, sociopolitical, or historical causes. Yet they have trouble explaining the pattern of institutional change in China. An alternative legitimacy-based perspective is proposed here that provides a more parsimonious and general theory of institutional change for China and potentially for other cases as well.
Brand Name and Generic Proton Pump Inhibitor Prescriptions in the United States: Insights from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (2006–2010)

Introduction. Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are one of the most commonly prescribed medication classes with similar efficacy between brand name and generic PPI formulations. Aims. We determined demographic, clinical, and practice characteristics associated with brand name PPI prescriptions at ambulatory care visits in the United States. Methods. Observational cross sectional analysis using the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) of all adult (≥18 yrs of age) ambulatory care visits from 2006 to 2010. PPI prescriptions were identified by using the drug entry code as brand name only or generic available formulations. Descriptive statistics were reported in terms of unweighted patient visits and proportions of encounters with brand name PPI prescriptions. Global chi-square tests were used to compare visits with brand name PPI prescriptions versus generic PPI prescriptions for each measure. Poisson regression was used to determine the incidence rate ratio (IRR) for generic versus brand PPI prescribing. Results. A PPI was prescribed at 269.7 million adult ambulatory visits, based on 9,677 unweighted visits, of which 53% were brand name only prescriptions. In 2006, 76.0% of all PPI prescriptions had a brand name only formulation compared to 31.6% of PPI prescriptions in 2010. Visits by patients aged 25–44 years had the greatest proportion of brand name PPI formulations (57.9%). Academic medical centers and physician-owned practices had the greatest proportion of visits with brand name PPI prescriptions (58.9% and 55.6% of visits with a PPI prescription, resp.). There were no significant differences in terms of median income, patient insurance type, or metropolitan status when comparing the proportion of visits with brand name versus generic PPI prescriptions. Poisson regression results showed that practice ownership type was most strongly associated with the likelihood of receiving a brand name PPI over the entire study period. Compared to HMO visits, patient visits at academic medical centers (IRR 4.2, 95% CI 2.2–8.0), physician-owned practices (IRR 3.9, 95% CI 2.1–7.1), and community health centers (IRR 3.6, 95% CI 1.9–6.6) were all more likely to have brand name PPIs. Conclusion. PPI prescriptions with brand name only formulations are most strongly associated with physician practice type.
Vessel-Associated Transforming Growth Factor-Beta1 (TGF-β1) Is Increased in the Bronchial Reticular Basement Membrane in COPD and Normal Smokers

Background Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) is a multipotential cytokine with angiogenic activity. There are only limited data about its role in airway remodeling in COPD. We have previously shown that the reticular basement membrane (Rbm) is hypervascular in the airways of current smokers either with or without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study evaluated TGF-β1 immunostaining in the Rbm and its relationship to vascularity in smokers with or without COPD. Methodology/Principal Findings Bronchial biopsies from 15 smokers with normal lung function, 19 current and 14 ex-smokers with COPD were immunostained for TGF-β1 antibody and compared to 17 healthy controls. The percentage area of tissue and also number and area of vessels staining positively for TGF-β1 were measured and compared between groups. Some bronchial biopsies from current smoking COPD subjects were also stained for phosphorylated (active) Smad2/3. Epithelial TGF- β1 staining was not different between COPD current smokers and normal controls. TGF-β1 stained vessels in the Rbm were increased in smokers with normal lung function, current smoking COPD and ex-smokers with COPD compared to controls [median (range) for number of vessels/mm Rbm 2.5 (0.0–12.7), 3.4 (0.0–8.1) and 1.0 (0.0–6.3) vs. 0.0 (0.0–7.0), p<0.05]. Percentage of vessels stained was also increased in these clinical groups. Preliminary data suggest that in current smoking COPD subjects endothelial cells and cells in the Rbm stain positively for phosphorylated Smad2/3 suggesting TGF-β1 is functionally active in this situation. Conclusions/Significance Vessel-associated TGF-β1 activity is increased in the bronchial Rbm in smokers and especially those with COPD.
Models of Plasticity in Spatial Auditory Processing

Both psychophysical and physiological studies have examined plasticity of spatial auditory processing. While there is a great deal known about how the system computes basic cues that influence spatial perception, less is known about how these cues are integrated to form spatial percepts and how the auditory system adapts and calibrates in order to maintain accurate spatial perception. After summarizing evidence for plasticity in the spatial auditory pathway, this paper reviews a statistical, decision-theory model of short-term plasticity and a system-level model of the spatial auditory pathway that may help elucidate how long- and short-term experiences influence the computations underlying spatial hearing.
Optimal designs for microarray experiments

This paper proposes a genetic algorithm to find the optimal array sets for microarray experimental design problems. Based on family competition, heterogeneous pairing selection and two new genetic operators, the proposed method can find the optimal designs of limited experimental materials under a statistical model (ANOVA). The proposed method is applied to several design problems whose numbers of target mRNA samples range from 5 to 70, which are more extensive than classical studies, with different number of arrays. We apply A-optimality criterion to get best possible designs with the smallest average variance when comparisons between all pairs of treatments are of equal interest. Experimental results demonstrate that our approach can find the optimum of each testing problem rapidly.
Economic Uncertainty, Parental Selection, and the Criminal Activity of the 'Children of the Wall'

We explore the link between parental selection and criminality of children in a new context. After the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989, East Germany experienced a very large, but temporary, drop in birth rates mostly driven by economic uncertainty. We exploit this natural experiment in a differences-in-differences setup to first estimate that the children from these affected (smaller) cohorts are relatively much more likely to be criminally active. Using individual level data, we provide evidence that women who gave birth in at this period of uncertainty were negatively selected into fertility. Further investigation of the underlying mechanisms reveals that emotional attachment and intergenerational transmission of risk attitudes play important roles in the parental selection-crime of children relationship. Finally, results for siblings support a causal interpretation of our findings.
Plasticity of Adult Human Pancreatic Duct Cells by Neurogenin3-Mediated Reprogramming

Aims/Hypothesis Duct cells isolated from adult human pancreas can be reprogrammed to express islet beta cell genes by adenoviral transduction of the developmental transcription factor neurogenin3 (Ngn3). In this study we aimed to fully characterize the extent of this reprogramming and intended to improve it. Methods The extent of the Ngn3-mediated duct-to-endocrine cell reprogramming was measured employing genome wide mRNA profiling. By modulation of the Delta-Notch signaling or addition of pancreatic endocrine transcription factors Myt1, MafA and Pdx1 we intended to improve the reprogramming. Results Ngn3 stimulates duct cells to express a focused set of genes that are characteristic for islet endocrine cells and/or neural tissues. This neuro-endocrine shift however, is incomplete with less than 10% of full duct-to-endocrine reprogramming achieved. Transduction of exogenous Ngn3 activates endogenous Ngn3 suggesting auto-activation of this gene. Furthermore, pancreatic endocrine reprogramming of human duct cells can be moderately enhanced by inhibition of Delta-Notch signaling as well as by co-expressing the transcription factor Myt1, but not MafA and Pdx1. Conclusions/Interpretation The results provide further insight into the plasticity of adult human duct cells and suggest measurable routes to enhance Ngn3-mediated in vitro reprogramming protocols for regenerative beta cell therapy in diabetes.
Dengue Virus Activates Membrane TRAIL Relocalization and IFN-α Production by Human Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells In Vitro and In Vivo

Background Dengue displays a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations that may vary from asymptomatic to severe and even fatal features. Plasma leakage/hemorrhages can be caused by a cytokine storm induced by monocytes and dendritic cells during dengue virus (DENV) replication. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are innate immune cells and in response to virus exposure secrete IFN-α and express membrane TRAIL (mTRAIL). We aimed to characterize pDC activation in dengue patients and their function under DENV-2 stimulation in vitro. Methods & Findings Flow cytometry analysis (FCA) revealed that pDCs of mild dengue patients exhibit significantly higher frequencies of mTRAIL compared to severe cases or healthy controls. Plasma levels of IFN-α and soluble TRAIL are increased in mild compared to severe dengue patients, positively correlating with pDC activation. FCA experiments showed that in vitro exposure to DENV-2 induced mTRAIL expression on pDC. Furthermore, three dimension microscopy highlighted that TRAIL was relocalized from intracellular compartment to plasma membrane. Chloroquine treatment inhibited DENV-2-induced mTRAIL relocalization and IFN-α production by pDC. Endosomal viral degradation blockade by chloroquine allowed viral antigens detection inside pDCs. All those data are in favor of endocytosis pathway activation by DENV-2 in pDC. Coculture of pDC/DENV-2-infected monocytes revealed a dramatic decrease of antigen detection by FCA. This viral antigens reduction in monocytes was also observed after exogenous IFN-α treatment. Thus, pDC effect on viral load reduction was mainly dependent on IFN-α production Conclusions This investigation characterizes, during DENV-2 infection, activation of pDCs in vivo and their antiviral role in vitro. Thus, we propose TRAIL-expressing pDCs may have an important role in the outcome of disease.