Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biomechanical Analysis of Various Footprints of Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion Devices

Study Design: A biomechanical finite element modeling study of the human lumbar spine. Objective: To evaluate the effects of a transforaminal interbody device’s footprint on lumbar spine biomechanics to further examine the potential subtle biomechanical differences not captured in previous studies. Summary of Background Data: In recent years, the evolution of interbody fusion devices has provided the surgeons with a multitude of options. An articulating transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) device is developed to overcome the surgical challenges associated with insertion of a large footprint interbody device through a small incision. Methods: A finite element model of the L3–S1 lumbar segment was modified to simulate replacement of various TLIF constructs with different cage designs including an articulating vertebral interbody (AVID) TLIF device and a generic TLIF device placed in different configurations. The instrumented models were subjected to a 400 N follower load along with a 10 N m bending moment at different physiological planes. The kinematics, loads, and stresses were compared among various models. Results: Simulated cage designs provided similar kinematical stability within the treated segments. However, the articulating and double TLIF implants allowed for better load sharing through the anterior column. These implants resulted in lower endplate and pedicle screw stresses and in more homogenous stress distribution across the peripheral region of the endplate. Conclusions: An articulating, large footprint, peripherally placed TLIF device affords substantial biomechanical advantages. This device may be able to reduce the incidence of subsidence because of its ability to reduce and distribute the endplate stresses in the stronger peripheral region. It may also reduce the posterior hardware failure incidence owing to its ability to reduce the screw stresses as compared with traditional TLIF. Although double TLIF has been demonstrated to have similar biomechanical advantages as the AVID, complications associated with double TLIF (ie, larger surgical incision, longer surgical procedure, placement and alignment challenges) support AVID as a better optimized alternative.
Limited interests, resources, voices: power relations in mainstream news coverage of Indigenous policy in Australia

Recognising the importance of who gets to speak in constructing knowledges about Indigenous peoples, this article examines power relations regarding mainstream news coverage of the Indigenous policy of Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) in Australia. Integrating content and discourse analysis of newspaper and television stories over a 3-year timeframe with interviews with journalists, this article found media coverage of the NTER, commonly known as the Intervention, followed a pattern of decline, with occasional peaks around events that were newsworthy through the lens of conventional news values. Further, analysis of three key discourse moments found ‘official’ discourses, particularly by the government, overpowered those of Indigenous peoples living under the policy. This article demonstrates how particular journalistic practices – news values, ideas of audiences, and use of sources – together with resource limitations and discursive practices of government provided dominant discursive power on the Intervention to government representatives. The article concludes that daily routines of news media and discursive practices of media savvy social actors perceived as ‘official’ or ‘expert’ by media professionals form a ‘vicious cycle’ of two-way dependence which is hard to break for potential sources with less official status, such as representatives of various Indigenous communities.
“You Are Not Alone” Strategies for Addressing Mental Health and Health Promotion with a Refugee Women's Sewing Group

Abstract Resettlement can be an uncertain time for refugees as they have often suffered life-threatening circumstances prior to flight from their countries, yet few resettlement programs screen for mental health. The purpose of this study was to pilot the Refugee Health Screener-15 (RHS-15) to assess mental health and the Pathways to Wellness intervention to identify internal and structural barriers affecting resettlement with a refugee women's sewing group. Community collaborations that create healthy social and physical environments through access to resources, economic opportunities, and social support promote a holistic approach to health and can improve quality of life for this vulnerable population.
Focused abdominal sonogram for trauma: the learning curve of nonradiologist clinicians in detecting hemoperitoneum.

BACKGROUND The focused abdominal sonogram for trauma (FAST) has been used by surgeons and emergency physicians (CLIN) to screen reliably for hemoperitoneum after trauma. Despite recommendations for "appropriate training," ranging from 50 to 400 proctored examinations, there are no supporting data. METHODS We prospectively examined the initial FAST experience of CLIN in detecting hemoperitoneum by using diagnostic peritoneal lavage, computed tomography, and clinical findings as the diagnostic "gold standard. " RESULTS 241 patients had FAST performed by 12 CLIN (average, 20/CLIN; range, 2-43); 51 patients (21.2%) had hemoperitoneum and 17 patients (7.1%) required laparotomy. Initial experience with FAST by CLIN produced 35 true positives, 180 true negatives, 16 false negatives, and 3 false positives; sensitivity, 68%; specificity, 98%. Initial error rate was 17%, which fell to 5% after 10 examinations (chi2; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Previous recommendations for the number of proctored examinations for individual nonradiologist clinician sonographers to develop competence are excessive.
Alcohol and new university students : an investigation into multi-level influences on student drinking behaviour and organisational practice

Starting university is often associated with increasing levels of alcohol use, resulting in a range of negative outcomes in student populations. Current and historical attempts to moderate consumption have had limited success, often lacking consideration of the full range of influences associated with the behaviour, including the role of the university context. Reflecting socio-ecological approaches emphasising the intersection of personal and social influences, this study considers the role of alcohol in the social processes of first year students undergoing transition. Through organisational analysis, it further examines the development of alcohol processes within the university context providing the setting for transition and the enactment of alcohol behaviour. A case study of one university was conducted using mixed qualitative methods, specifically semi-structured interviews, document analysis and observations of campus alcohol practices. It was established that multi-level influences act to pre-institutionalise students by reinforcing conceptions of identity that normalise excess alcohol use, experienced alongside pre-transition anxieties centred around peer group formation. Post-arrival, alcohol acts to provide commonality for new students, reducing anxiety and facilitating the development of social groups. University processes which present social opportunities as central to initial institutionalisation, act to support the normalisation of heavy alcohol use. This means that safe drinking messages currently attempted within this context contrast with student needs to successfully adapt to their new role, resulting in limited impact. Findings indicate that a multi-level approach to identifying the complex interaction of individual, interpersonal and organisational factors affecting student alcohol use can provide new insights into intervention development, informing effective practice through the identification of barriers and facilitators to strategic planning and delivery.
Caroline: An autonomously driving vehicle for urban environments

The 2007 DARPA Urban Challenge afforded the golden opportunity for the Technische Universität Braunschweig to demonstrate its abilities to develop an autonomously driving vehicle to compete with the world's best. After several stages of qualification, our team CarOLO qualified early for the DARPA Urban Challenge Final Event and was among only 11 teams from initially 89 competitors to compete in the final. We had the ability to work together in a large group of experts, each contributing his expertise in his discipline, and significant organizational, financial, and technical support by local sponsors, who helped us to become the best non‐U.S. team. In this report, we describe the 2007 DARPA Urban Challenge, our contribution, “Caroline,” the technology, and algorithms, along with her performance in the DARPA Urban Challenge Final Event on November 3, 2007. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Patterns in hydraulic architecture from roots to branches in six tropical tree species from cacao agroforestry and their relation to wood density and stem growth

For decades it has been assumed that the largest vessels are generally found in roots and that vessel size and corresponding sapwood area-specific hydraulic conductivity are acropetally decreasing toward the distal twigs. However, recent studies from the perhumid tropics revealed a hump-shaped vessel size distribution. Worldwide tropical perhumid forests are extensively replaced by agroforestry systems often using introduced species of various biogeographical and climatic origins. Nonetheless, it is unknown so far what kind of hydraulic architectural patterns are developed in those agroforestry tree species and which impact this exerts regarding important tree functional traits, such as stem growth, hydraulic efficiency and wood density (WD). We investigated wood anatomical and hydraulic properties of the root, stem and branch wood in Theobroma cacao and five common shade tree species in agroforestry systems on Sulawesi (Indonesia); three of these were strictly perhumid tree species, and the other three tree species are tolerating seasonal drought. The overall goal of our study was to relate these properties to stem growth and other tree functional traits such as foliar nitrogen content and sapwood to leaf area ratio. Our results confirmed a hump-shaped vessel size distribution in nearly all species. Drought-adapted species showed divergent patterns of hydraulic conductivity, vessel density, and relative vessel lumen area between root, stem and branch wood compared to wet forest species. Confirming findings from natural old-growth forests in the same region, WD showed no relationship to specific conductivity. Overall, aboveground growth performance was better predicted by specific hydraulic conductivity than by foliar traits and WD. Our study results suggest that future research on conceptual trade-offs of tree hydraulic architecture should consider biogeographical patterns underlining the importance of anatomical adaptation mechanisms to environment.
Immunocytochemistry of paragangliomas—value of staining for S‐100 protein and glial fibrillary acid protein in diagnosis and prognosis

Surgical specimens of 65 adrenal and 27 extra‐adrenal paragangliomas, the latter comprising 11 carotid body, five jugulotympanic, one aorticopulmonary, eight aorticosympathetic and two visceral autonomic tumours, were examined immunocytochemically for the presence of glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) and S‐100 protein. Six adrenal and four extra‐adrenal (one parasympathetic and three sympathetic) neoplasms pursued a malignant clinical course. S‐100 staining of sustentacular (type 2) cells was seen in both adrenal (48/65) and extra‐adrenal (23/27) lesions, the 10 malignant tumours being entirely devoid of S‐100 protein positive cells. GFAP positivity of type 2 cells was seen in only 16 of the extra‐adrenal tumours, all of these lesions belonging to the group of benign parasympathetic paragangliomas. The presence of S‐100 positive type 2 cells may thus help to exclude malignancy in individual paraganglioma cases, while GFAP positivity of such cells renders possible the correct typing of benign parasympathetic paragangliomas.
A qualitative review: the stigma of tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND Tuberculosis is a major health problem internationally and brings with it a range of physical, economic and social consequences. There is a stigma associated with having tuberculosis because the disease is commonly viewed as a 'dirty disease'. This stigma can have a negative impact on an individual and may delay the person seeking treatment. AIMS The aim of this review was to explore the stigma and impact of having tuberculosis or having a family member with tuberculosis. DESIGN Literature review. METHOD A comprehensive search of the electronic databases was undertaken. Inclusion criteria for the review were studies that investigated people with tuberculosis or their families, focused on the stigma or impact of tuberculosis and reported descriptions of the experience. Data were synthesised using a thematic analysis. RESULTS The literature search identified thirty studies. Three themes emerged from the synthesis: shame, isolation and fear. The shame related to tuberculosis being viewed as a bad disease, a dirty disease. Isolation involved both the withdrawal from social contact and the shunning of contact by other people. Fear was a consequence of the many difficulties that accompany tuberculosis. These factors operated at three levels, on the individual level, the family level and the societal level. CONCLUSION The stigma that accompanies tuberculosis can have a negative impact on the individual and family and may result in their withdrawal from society because of shame and fear. The review highlights the need for education to provide practical strategies for individuals and families and to educate communities where tuberculosis is endemic. Relevance to clinical practice. The review highlights the widespread ignorance of tuberculosis and need for education of the individual, family and community. This education should provide practical strategies to help people cope with tuberculosis. It also suggests that ensuring confidentiality should be an important component of management strategies.
Host variation in cytokine responses to superantigens determine the severity of invasive group A streptococcal infection

Cytokines elicited by superantigens have been suggested to play a central role in severe systemic clinical manifestations of gram‐positive sepsis. Here we provide evidence for a potent inflammatory cytokine response in acute invasive group A streptococcal infections, and show a direct correlation between the magnitude of this response and the severity of systemic manifestations of the disease. Severe invasive cases suffering from toxic shock and/or necrotizing fasciitis had significantly higher frequencies of IL‐2‐, IL‐6‐, and TNF‐α‐producing cells in their circulation as compared to non‐severe invasive cases (p=0.05–0.01). This difference was even more accentuated when severe and non‐severe cases infected with a clonal M1T1 strain were compared (p=0.03–0.004). To determine whether host factors were responsible for this difference in magnitude of cytokine responses, paired age‐ and gender‐matched severe and non‐severe M1T1 cases (n=8) were tested in vitro during their convalescent phase for immune response to superantigens produced by their infecting isolate. The results showed persistent and inherent differences in the magnitude of proliferative and cytokine responses of severe and non‐severe patients to the streptococcal superantigens to which they had been exposed during infection. Thus, the study provides evidence that patients with a propensity to produce higher levels of inflammatory cytokines in response to streptococcal superantigens develop significantly more severe systemic manifestations than patients who have a propensity to produce lower levels of inflammatory cytokines to the same superantigens. We therefore conclude that host factors influence the magnitude of cytokine responses to superantigens and consequently the clinical outcome of the infection.
The ppm Operon Is Essential for Acylation and Glycosylation of Lipoproteins in Corynebacterium glutamicum

Background Due to their contribution to bacterial virulence, lipoproteins and members of the lipoprotein biogenesis pathway represent potent drug targets. Following translocation across the inner membrane, lipoprotein precursors are acylated by lipoprotein diacylglycerol transferase (Lgt), cleaved off their signal peptides by lipoprotein signal peptidase (Lsp) and, in Gram-negative bacteria, further triacylated by lipoprotein N-acyl transferase (Lnt). The existence of an active apolipoprotein N-acyltransferase (Ms-Ppm2) involved in the N-acylation of LppX was recently reported in M. smegmatis. Ms-Ppm2 is part of the ppm operon in which Ppm1, a polyprenol-monophosphomannose synthase, has been shown to be essential in lipoglycans synthesis but whose function in lipoprotein biosynthesis is completely unknown. Results In order to clarify the role of the ppm operon in lipoprotein biosynthesis, we investigated the post-translational modifications of two model lipoproteins (AmyE and LppX) in C. glutamicum Δppm1 and Δppm2 mutants. Our results show that both proteins are anchored into the membrane and that their N-termini are N-acylated by Cg-Ppm2. The acylated N-terminal peptide of LppX was also found to be modified by hexose moieties. This O-glycosylation is localized in the N-terminal peptide of LppX and disappeared in the Δppm1 mutant. While compromised in the absence of Cg-Ppm2, LppX O-glycosylation could be restored when Cg-Ppm1, Cg-Ppm2 or the homologous Mt-Ppm1 of M. tuberculosis was overexpressed. Conclusion Together, these results show for the first time that Cg-Ppm1 (Ppm synthase) and Cg-Ppm2 (Lnt) operate in a common biosynthetic pathway in which lipoprotein N-acylation and glycosylation are tightly coupled.
Microsatellite analysis of pollen flow in Rhododendron metternichii var. hondoense

Microsatellite analysis was used to characterize the patterns of pollen flow in a 150 m × 70 m quadrat containing 18 flowering trees of Rhododendron metternichii Sieb. et Zucc. var. hondoense Nakai. Using six microsatellite genetic markers and exclusion analysis, we determined the paternal trees of 216 seedlings germinated from five fruits produced by four adults. Each fruit was pollinated by a small number of largely adjacent trees, but 20–30% of pollen came from outside the quadrat. Adult trees that produced many flowers had a high self-pollination rate. A directional flow of pollen from late-blooming trees to early ones was observed.
The ABC’s of Suicide Risk Assessment: Applying a Tripartite Approach to Individual Evaluations

There is considerable need for accurate suicide risk assessment for clinical, screening, and research purposes. This study applied the tripartite affect-behavior-cognition theory, the suicidal barometer model, classical test theory, and item response theory (IRT), to develop a brief self-report measure of suicide risk that is theoretically-grounded, reliable and valid. An initial survey (n = 359) employed an iterative process to an item pool, resulting in the six-item Suicidal Affect-Behavior-Cognition Scale (SABCS). Three additional studies tested the SABCS and a highly endorsed comparison measure. Studies included two online surveys (Ns = 1007, and 713), and one prospective clinical survey (n = 72; Time 2, n = 54). Factor analyses demonstrated SABCS construct validity through unidimensionality. Internal reliability was high (α = .86-.93, split-half = .90-.94)). The scale was predictive of future suicidal behaviors and suicidality (r = .68, .73, respectively), showed convergent validity, and the SABCS-4 demonstrated clinically relevant sensitivity to change. IRT analyses revealed the SABCS captured more information than the comparison measure, and better defined participants at low, moderate, and high risk. The SABCS is the first suicide risk measure to demonstrate no differential item functioning by sex, age, or ethnicity. In all comparisons, the SABCS showed incremental improvements over a highly endorsed scale through stronger predictive ability, reliability, and other properties. The SABCS is in the public domain, with this publication, and is suitable for clinical evaluations, public screening, and research.
Mississippi missionaries’ workplace spirituality and organizational commitment (1698–1725): a case study

Abstract The relationship between workplace spirituality and organizational commitment in modern settings is often examined using models focused on personal and organizational performance. Meant for contemporary practices, such tools can enhance understanding of organizations in the historic record, benefiting not only historians but researchers who wish to ameliorate commitment in organizations. Utilizing a recent model focused on workplace spirituality and organizational commitment, this study examines the leadership of the Séminaire de Québec and the Séminaire des Missions Etrangères de Paris as well as their secular missionaries assigned to work in villages on the Mississippi River in the early eighteenth century. Analyses demonstrate that the inability to maintain communication, support, and community between leadership and missionaries greatly hampered commitment to the organization and to the Mississippi missions. Only Father Bergier remained strongly committed to his work and the Seminaries due to his personal sense of calling, devotion, leadership, and spirituality.
Electoral Cycles and Democratic Development ^

We examine the relationship between political development and electoral economic cycles. Recent work suggests that in OECD countries the policy uncertainty associated with elections can lead to “reverse electoral investment cycles” in which private costly-to-undo investment declines in the pre-election period. Yet little is known about whether these cycles exist in less politically developed countries. We analyze this question while also considering opportunistic business cycles, in which incumbents attempt to induce pre-election expansions. Three major findings emerge. First, political development reduces reverse electoral investment cycles; the less politically developed the country, the larger the decline in private investment prior to an election. Second, political development is associated with smaller opportunistic cycles in private consumption and government spending. Finally, the competitiveness of a race matters differently in OECD versus developing democracies; in the former, only close elections produce cycles of either type while in the latter even less competitive races have these effects. Thus while elections are a source of economic cycles, democratic development weakens these effects.