Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Head and neck fascia and compartments: No space for spaces

An accurate understanding of the arrangement of cervical fascia and its associated compartments is essential for differential diagnosis, predicting the spread of disease, and surgical management. The purpose of this detailed review is to summarize the anatomic, clinical, and radiological literature to determine what is known about the arrangement of cervical fascia and to highlight controversies and consensus. The current terminology used to describe cervical fascia and compartments is replete with confusing synonyms and inconsistencies, creating important interdisciplinary differences in understanding. The term “spaces” is inappropriate. A modified nomenclature underpinned by evidence‐based anatomic and radiologic findings is proposed. This should not only enhance our understanding of cervical anatomy but also facilitate clearer interdisciplinary communication. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 36: 1058–1068, 2014
The thermal structure of the anoxic trough in Lake Untersee, Antarctica

Abstract Lake Untersee is a perennially ice-covered Antarctic lake that consists of two basins. The deepest basin, next to the Anuchin Glacier is aerobic to its maximum depth of 160 m. The shallower basin has a maximum depth of 100 m, is anoxic below 80 m, and is shielded from convective currents. The thermal profile in the anoxic basin is unusual in that the water temperature below 50 m is constant at 4°C but rises to 5°C between 70 m and 80 m depth, then drops to 3.7°C at the bottom. Field measurements were used to conduct a thermal and stability analysis of the anoxic basin. The shape of the thermal maximum implies two discrete locations of energy input, one of 0.11 W m-2 at 71 m depth and one of 0.06 W m-2 at 80 m depth. Heat from microbial activity cannot account for the required amount of energy at either depth. Instead, absorption of solar radiation due to an increase in water opacity at these depths can account for the required energy input. Hence, while microbial metabolism is not an important source of heat, biomass increases opacity in the water column resulting in greater absorption of sunlight.
A Placement Vulnerability Study in Multi-Tenant Public Clouds

Public infrastructure-as-a-service clouds, such as Amazon EC2, Google Compute Engine (GCE) and Microsoft Azure allow clients to run virtual machines (VMs) on shared physical infrastructure. This practice of multi-tenancy brings economies of scale, but also introduces the risk of sharing a physical server with an arbitrary and potentially malicious VM. Past works have demonstrated how to place a VM alongside a target victim (co-location) in early-generation clouds and how to extract secret information via side-channels. Although there have been numerous works on side-channel attacks, there have been no studies on placement vulnerabilities in public clouds since the adoption of stronger isolation technologies such as Virtual Private Clouds (VPCs). We investigate this problem of placement vulnerabilities and quantitatively evaluate three popular public clouds for their susceptibility to co-location attacks. We find that adoption of new technologies (e.g., VPC) makes many prior attacks, such as cloud cartography, ineffective. We find new ways to reliably test for co-location across Amazon EC2, Google GCE, and Microsoft Azure. We also found ways to detect co-location with victim web servers in multitiered located behind a load balancer. We use our new co-residence tests and multiple customer accounts to launch VM instances under different strategies that seek to maximize the likelihood of co-residency. We find that it is much easier (10x higher success rate) and cheaper (up to $114 less) to achieve co-location in these three clouds when compared to a secure reference placement policy.
Estimating the Incidence of Government Spending

This paper analyzes the economic incidence of sustained changes in federal government spending at the local level. We use a new identification strategy to isolate geographical variation in formula-based federal spending and develop three sets of results. First, we find that sustained changes in federal spending have significant effects on migration, income, wages, and rents, as well as on local government revenues and expenditures. Second, we show that the effects of a government spending shock are qualitatively different from those of a local labor demand shock. We develop a spatial equilibrium model to show that when workers value publicly-provided goods, a change in government spending at the local level will affect equilibrium wages through shifts in both the labor demand and supply curves. We test the reduced-form predictions of the model and show that workers value government services as amenities. Finally, we estimate workers’ marginal valuation of government services and find that unskilled workers have a higher valuation of government services than skilled workers. We use these estimates to decompose the demand and supply components of a government spending shock and to evaluate the impacts on welfare that are produced by increasing government spending in a given area. Our estimates conclude that an additional dollar of government spending increases welfare by $1.45 in the median county.
MTA1 of the MTA (metastasis-associated) gene family and its encoded proteins: molecular and regulatory functions and role in human cancer progression

MTA1 (a metastasis-associated gene) is a newly discovere d human gene (residing on chromsome 14q32.3) that belongs to a family of cancer progression-related genes ( MTA ). The mRNA product of MTA1 along with its protein product MTA1 have been reported to be over-expressed in a wide variety of animal and human tumors. For example, the expression of MTA1 and its encoded protein MTA1 correlates with the malignant properties of many human cancers, including cancers of the breast, colon, stomach, li ver, prostate and others. The MTA proteins have bee n shown to be ubiquitinated transcriptional co-repressors that fu nction in histone deacetylation and are part of the NuRD complex, a nucleosome remodeling and histone deacetylating complex whose stability appears to be regulated by ubi quitinated MTA1 binding to E3 ubiquitin ligase constitutive ph otomorphogenesis protein-1 (COP1). The MTA1 protein plays an essential role in c-MYC-mediated cell transformatio n, and its expression correlates with mammary gland tumor formation. In the latter, MTA1 helps convert mammary cells to more aggressive phenotypes by repression of the estrogen receptor (ER) via trans-activation through deacetylation of chromatin in the ER-responsive el ement of ERresponsive genes. Another member of the MTA family, MTA3, is induced by estrogen and represses the exp ression of the transcriptional repressor Snail, a master regul ator of epithelial to mesenchymal transformation, r esulting in the expression of the cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin and maintenance of a differentiated, normal epithel ial phenotype in mammary cells. An important activity mediated by both MTA1 and MTA2 is deacylation and inactivation of tumor suppressor p53protein, in part by controlling its s tability by inhibiting ubiquitination, leading to i nhibition of growth arrest and apoptosis. Another factor deacetylated a nd stabilized by MTA1 NuRD complex is hypoxia-inducible factor1α (HIF-1α), which is involved in angiogenesis. Therefore, th e MTA proteins represent a possible set of master c oregulatory molecules involved in the carcinogenesis and progression of various malignant tumors. As su ch, they could be important new tools for cancer diagnosis and tre atment.
Effect of cell density on the rate of glycosaminoglycan accumulation by disc and cartilage cells in vitro

Aggrecan concentration falls markedly during cartilage and disc degeneration with unfortunate biomechanical and physiological consequences. There is thus now an increasing interest in developing biological methods for its replacement. One approach is to stimulate aggrecan and hence glycosaminoglycan (GAG) production by resident cells through growth factor or genetic engineering. Another approach is to implant autologous cells into the cartilage or disc to enhance GAG production. In both instances GAG accumulation depends both on the number of active cells in the cartilage or disc and the rate of aggrecan synthesis per cell. Here we examine how cell density influences the rate of glycosaminoglycan accumulation in a three‐dimensional cell culture system. In the results, at cell densities found in vivo (standard condition) in the articular cartilage and the disc nucleus viz. 4 million cells/ml and at 21% oxygen the concentration of GAG in the bead reached 520.9±62.4 μg/ml and 649.0±40.1 μg/ml, respectively, in 5 days. These concentrations could be increased to 2‐4‐fold by raising cell density to 25 million cells/ml. However, rates of GAG production per cell decreased by 50‐60%. These results showed that rate of accumulation of glycosaminoglycan in this culture system in vitro is slow and is limited both by the rate of production of GAG per cell and by the cell density which can be maintained in a viable state. Although GAG production can be increased somewhat by use of higher cell densities, the consequent fall in concentration of oxygen and other nutrients in the center of three‐dimensional constructs slows metabolism and leads to apoptosis and cell death, which again limits the rate that the cells can produce matrix. © 2007 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 26:493–503, 2008
Ionic Dependence of the Axotomy-Induced Long-Lasting Firing in an Identified Crayfish Motoneuron

Abstract I have reported previously that axotomy of an identifiable anal motoneuron of crayfish Procambarus clarkii induces a long-lasting firing and that a prolonged depolarizing pulse to its cut end can induce a similar response. In this study, I confirmed that this stimulus is comparable to axotomy; the frequency of stimulus-induced firing increases linearly with the stimulus intensity and its firing pattern is the same as that following axotomy. Then, when the cut end was bathed for more than 1 hr in test solutions, it was examined whether the stimulus to the cut end induces or blocks the response. Na+-free saline (Tris+ replaced Na+) or TTX (3 × 10–7 M) reversibly blocked the response within 30 min. By contrast, Mn2+ saline (40 mM Mn2+ replaced Ca2+) or Ca2+-free salines (Mg2+ or 1 mM EDTA replaced Ca2+) cannot block the response, but instead increased the firing frequency. These results obtained with stimulus were confirmed also by those with axotomy. I concluded that axotomy-induced firing, which occurs locally at its cut region, is primarily responsible for voltage-dependent Na+ conductances, but not for Ca2+ ones.
Fast and Accurate NN Approach for Multi-Event Annotation of Time Series

Similarity search in time-series subsequences is an important time series data mining task. Searching in time series subsequences for matches for a set of shapes is an extension of this task and is equally important. In this work we propose a simple but efficient approach for finding matches for a group of shapes or events in a given time series using a Nearest Neighbor approach. We provide various improvements of this approach including one using the GNAT data structure. We also propose a technique for finding similar shapes of widely varying temporal width. Both of these techniques for primitive shape matching allow us to more accurately and efficiently form an event representation of a time-series, leading in turn to finding complex events which are composites of primitive events. We demonstrate the robustness of our approaches in detecting complex shapes even in the presence of “don’t care” symbols. We evaluate the success of our approach in detecting both primitive and complex shapes using a data set from the Fluid Dynamics domain. We also show a speedup of up to 5 times over a naïve nearest neighbor approach.
Conformability of a textile antenna for reception of digital television

The paper explores the sensitivity of a wide band UHF textile antenna for reception of digital television and discusses the performance of the antenna when submitted to curvature or the presence of the body. Despite dimensions that are somewhat large for a human body, the study shows that the antenna performs well in curved situations, showing little change in return loss when crumpled, rolled, and worn on chest and arm. The antenna is also robust to changes in thickness and permittivity of the substrate, which is an advantage as the same design could potentially be directly applied to a range of textile materials with only minor modifications to the original design.
Treatment outcomes after early initiation of antiretroviral therapy for human immunodeficiency virus-associated tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the optimal timing for initiating antiretroviral therapy in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated tuberculosis in Hong Kong. DESIGN Historical cohort. SETTING. Tuberculosis and Chest Service and Special Preventive Programme, Public Health Service Branch, Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health, Hong Kong. PATIENTS Consecutive patients with HIV-associated tuberculosis in a territory-wide TB-HIV registry encountered from 1996 to 2009. RESULTS Of the 260 antiretroviral therapy-naïve patients with HIV-associated tuberculosis, 32 (12%) had antiretroviral therapy initiated within 2 months after starting anti-tuberculosis treatment (early antiretroviral therapy). Early antiretroviral therapy was associated with a more favourable outcome (cure or treatment completion without relapse) at 24 months (91% vs 67%; P=0.007) than those with antiretroviral therapy started later or not initiated, and remained an independent predictor of a favourable outcome after adjustment for potential confounders. Adverse effects from anti-tuberculosis drugs tended to occur more frequently in patients with early antiretroviral therapy (13/32 or 41%) compared with the remainder (59/228 or 26%; P=0.08). A significantly higher proportion of patients in the former group experienced immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome than in the latter group (7/32 or 22% vs 9/228 or 4%; P<0.001). There was no death attributable to immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome. CONCLUSIONS Early initiation of antiretroviral therapy is associated with more favourable tuberculosis treatment outcomes in patients with HIV-associated tuberculosis with a low CD4 count (<200/µL). Drug co-toxicity and immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome that may be increased by earlier initiation of antiretroviral therapy does not undermine tuberculosis treatment outcomes to a significant extent.
Comparing the protective performances of 3 types of N95 filtering facepiece respirators during chest compressions

Objective: Healthcare providers in emergency departments should wear respirators for infection protection. However, the wearer's vigorous movements during cardiopulmonary resuscitation may affect the protective performance of the respirator. Herein, we aimed to assess the effects of chest compressions (CCs) on the protective performance of respirators. Methods: This crossover study evaluated 30 healthcare providers from 1 emergency department who performed CC with real-time feedback. The first, second, and third groups started with a cup-type, fold-type, and valve-type respirator, respectively, after which the respirators were randomized for each group. The fit factors were measured using a quantitative fit testing device before and during the CC in each experiment. The protection rate was defined as the proportion of respirators achieving a fit factor ≥100. Results: The fold-type respirator had a significantly greater protection rate at baseline (100.0% ± 0.0%) compared to the cup-type (73.6% ± 39.6%, P = .003) and valve-type respirators (87.5% ± 30.3%, P = .012). During the CC, the fit factor values significantly decreased for the cup-type (44.9% ± 42.8%, P < .001) and valve-type respirators (59.5% ± 41.7%, P = .002), but not for the fold-type respirator (93.2% ± 21.7%, P = .095). Conclusions: The protective performances of respirators may be influenced by CC. Healthcare providers should identify the respirator that provides the best fit for their intended tasks.
Diagnosis and management of osteoporosis in the older senior

The older senior is at high risk for osteoporosis. It is important for healthcare providers to be fully aware of the potential risks and benefits of diagnosing and treating osteoporosis in the older senior population. Data indicate that bone mineral density testing is under-utilized and drug therapy is often not initiated when indicated in this population. Bone mineral density testing with central dual energy x-ray absorptiometry is essential and cost-effective in this population. All older seniors should be educated on a bone-healthy lifestyle including age-appropriate weight-bearing exercise and smoking cessation if necessary. It is important to remember that falls play a very important role in the risk for osteoporotic fractures, especially in the older senior. All older seniors should be evaluated annually for falls and strategies should be implemented to reduce fall risk in this population. The risk for vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency is high in the older senior and can contribute to falls and fractures. Adequate intakes of calcium and vitamin D are important and deficiencies need to be treated. Data on osteoporosis drug therapy in the older senior are lacking. Based on data from subgroup analyses of large osteoporosis trials in postmenopausal women, current osteoporosis therapies appear safe and efficacious in the older senior and most will live long enough to derive a benefit from these therapies. Further studies are needed in older seniors, especially men, to better understand the risks and benefits of pharmacologic therapy for the management of osteoporosis.
Culture-Specific Patterns in the Prediction of Life Satisfaction: Roles of Emotion, Relationship Quality, and Self-Esteem

This study was conducted to explore the culture-specific roles of emotion, relationship quality, and self-esteem in determining life satisfaction. It was hypothesized that maintaining good interpersonal relationships would make individuals in collectivistic cultures not only feel good about their lives but also feel better about themselves. Furthermore, two emotion variables—emotional expression and emotion differentiation—were proposed as possible determinants of relationship quality. It was hypothesized that emotional expressiveness would be more important for maintaining good interpersonal relationships in individualistic societies but emotion differentiation would be more important in collectivistic cultures. These hypotheses were tested with Euro-American, Asian American, Korean, and Chinese groups using multigroup analyses in a structural equation model. Results supported all proposed hypotheses and indicated that emotion differentiation contributes to maintaining good interpersonal relationships in collectivistic cultures, which contributes to self-esteem and satisfaction with life.
Photosensitizer fluorescence and singlet oxygen luminescence as dosimetric predictors of topical 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy induced clinical erythema

Abstract. The need for patient-specific photodynamic therapy (PDT) in dermatologic and oncologic applications has triggered several studies that explore the utility of surrogate parameters as predictive reporters of treatment outcome. Although photosensitizer (PS) fluorescence, a widely used parameter, can be viewed as emission from several fluorescent states of the PS (e.g., minimally aggregated and monomeric), we suggest that singlet oxygen luminescence (SOL) indicates only the active PS component responsible for the PDT. Here, the ability of discrete PS fluorescence-based metrics (absolute and percent PS photobleaching and PS re-accumulation post-PDT) to predict the clinical phototoxic response (erythema) resulting from 5-aminolevulinic acid PDT was compared with discrete SOL (DSOL)-based metrics (DSOL counts pre-PDT and change in DSOL counts pre/post-PDT) in healthy human skin. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analyses demonstrated that absolute fluorescence photobleaching metric (AFPM) exhibited the highest area under the curve (AUC) of all tested parameters, including DSOL based metrics. The combination of dose-metrics did not yield better AUC than AFPM alone. Although sophisticated real-time SOL measurements may improve the clinical utility of SOL-based dosimetry, discrete PS fluorescence-based metrics are easy to implement, and our results suggest that AFPM may sufficiently predict the PDT outcomes and identify treatment nonresponders with high specificity in clinical contexts.
Risk of acquired methemoglobinemia with different topical anesthetics during endoscopic procedures

Introduction Methemoglobinemia is a recognized complication of the use of topical anesthetic sprays. The true scope of the problem or the risk with different topical anesthetic sprays and endoscopic procedures is unknown. Methods We retrospectively identified all cases of methemoglobinemia that occurred in a university affiliated community hospital from 2001 to 2007. Results Eleven cases of methemoglobinemia were identified over the 6-year period. Nine (82%) occurred with use of benzocaine spray during transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Patients who developed methemoglobinemia secondary to the topical anesthetic spray compared to other causes were more likely to be older, have lower mean hemoglobin levels (10.5 ± 0.5 g/dL vs 11.3 ± 0.0 g/dL), and a higher mean methemoglobin concentration at diagnosis (40.8% ± 5.2% vs 24% ± 10%). However, only age reached statistical significance (P = 0.004). Conclusion In a university-affiliated community hospital, topical anesthetic sprays account for most of the burden of methemoglobinemia. Benzocaine use in the context of TEE caused more methemoglobinemia compared to lidocaine and other endoscopic procedures. This observation supports previous data and findings deserve further study.
EULAR recommendations for the management of rheumatoid arthritis with synthetic and biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may differ among rheumatologists and currently, clear and consensual international recommendations on RA treatment are not available. In this paper recommendations for the treatment of RA with synthetic and biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and glucocorticoids (GCs) that also account for strategic algorithms and deal with economic aspects, are described. The recommendations are based on evidence from five systematic literature reviews (SLRs) performed for synthetic DMARDs, biological DMARDs, GCs, treatment strategies and economic issues. The SLR-derived evidence was discussed and summarised as an expert opinion in the course of a Delphi-like process. Levels of evidence, strength of recommendations and levels of agreement were derived. Fifteen recommendations were developed covering an area from general aspects such as remission/low disease activity as treatment aim via the preference for methotrexate monotherapy with or without GCs vis-à-vis combination of synthetic DMARDs to the use of biological agents mainly in patients for whom synthetic DMARDs and tumour necrosis factor inhibitors had failed. Cost effectiveness of the treatments was additionally examined. These recommendations are intended to inform rheumatologists, patients and other stakeholders about a European consensus on the management of RA with DMARDs and GCs as well as strategies to reach optimal outcomes of RA, based on evidence and expert opinion.