Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Freehand Thoracic Pedicle Screw Placement: Review of Existing Strategies and a Step-by-Step Guide Using Uniform Landmarks for All Levels

Pedicle screw fixation in the thoracic spine presents certain challenges due to the critical regional neurovascular anatomy as well as the narrow pedicular corridor that typically exists. With increased awareness of the dangers of intraoperative radiation, the ability to place pedicle screws with anatomic landmarks alone is paramount. In this study, we reviewed the literature from 1990 to 2015 for studies that included freehand pedicle screw placement in the thoracic spine with special emphasis on entry points and the trajectories of the screws. We excluded studies that used fluoroscopy guidance, navigation techniques, cadaveric and biomechanical articles, case reports, and experimental studies on animals. The search retrieved 40 articles, and after careful selection, seven articles were analyzed. Over 8,000 screws were placed in the different studies. The mean accuracy for placement of the thoracic screws was 93.3%. However, there is little consensus between studies in entry points, sagittal, and axial trajectories of the screws. We complete this review by presenting our step-by-step technique for the placement of freehand pedicle screws in the thoracic spine.
Neural Language Correction with Character-Based Attention

Natural language correction has the potential to help language learners improve their writing skills. While approaches with separate classifiers for different error types have high precision, they do not flexibly handle errors such as redundancy or non-idiomatic phrasing. On the other hand, word and phrase-based machine translation methods are not designed to cope with orthographic errors, and have recently been outpaced by neural models. Motivated by these issues, we present a neural network-based approach to language correction. The core component of our method is an encoder-decoder recurrent neural network with an attention mechanism. By operating at the character level, the network avoids the problem of out-of-vocabulary words. We illustrate the flexibility of our approach on dataset of noisy, user-generated text collected from an English learner forum. When combined with a language model, our method achieves a state-of-the-art $F_{0.5}$-score on the CoNLL 2014 Shared Task. We further demonstrate that training the network on additional data with synthesized errors can improve performance.
Analysis of the transcriptome of the protozoan Theileria parva using MPSS reveals that the majority of genes are transcriptionally active in the schizont stage

Massively parallel signature sequencing (MPSS) was used to analyze the transcriptome of the intracellular protozoan Theileria parva. In total 1 095 000, 20 bp sequences representing 4371 different signatures were generated from T.parva schizonts. Reproducible signatures were identified within 73% of potentially detectable predicted genes and 83% had signatures in at least one MPSS cycle. A predicted leader peptide was detected on 405 expressed genes. The quantitative range of signatures was 4–52 256 transcripts per million (t.p.m.). Rare transcripts (<50 t.p.m.) were detected from 36% of genes. Sequence signatures approximated a lognormal distribution, as in microarray. Transcripts were widely distributed throughout the genome, although only 47% of 138 telomere-associated open reading frames exhibited signatures. Antisense signatures comprised 13.8% of the total, comparable with Plasmodium. Eighty five predicted genes with antisense signatures lacked a sense signature. Antisense transcripts were independently amplified from schizont cDNA and verified by sequencing. The MPSS transcripts per million for seven genes encoding schizont antigens recognized by bovine CD8 T cells varied 1000-fold. There was concordance between transcription and protein expression for heat shock proteins that were very highly expressed according to MPSS and proteomics. The data suggests a low level of baseline transcription from the majority of protein-coding genes.
Building Relationships Early: Banks in Venture Capital

This paper examines bank behavior in venture capital. It considers the relation between a bank's venture capital investments and its subsequent lending, which can be thought of as intertemporal cross-selling. Theory suggests that unlike independent venture capital firms, banks may be strategic investors who seek complementarities between venture capital and lending activities. We find evidence that banks use venture capital investments to build lending relationships. Having a prior relationship with a company in the venture capital market increases a bank's chance of subsequently granting a loan to that company. Companies can benefit from these relationships through more favorable loan pricing.
A circularly polarized dielectric resonator antenna excited by an asymmetrical U-slot with a backing cavity

A cavity-backed circularly polarized dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) excited by an asymmetrical U-slot is investigated theoretically and experimentally. The finite-difference time-domain method using nonuniform orthogonal grids is employed to study the new configuration, with the excitation modeled by an independent resistive voltage source. The return loss, input impedance, axial ratio, and radiation pattern of the antenna are studied. Reasonable agreement between theory and experiment is obtained.
Comparing Productive Online Dialogue in Two Group Styles: Cooperative and Collaborative

This study examined the influence of group structures upon six groups of distributed graduate students as they pursued a six-week problem-based learning activity by communicating in an asynchronous computer conference. Henri and Rigault's (1996) content analysis framework and Howell-Richardson and Mellar's (1996) guidelines for interconnectedness of messages were used to analyze the messages. In addition, learners' perceptions of interdependence and intersubjectivity were gauged from a self-reported survey developed by the researcher. Overall comparisons revealed that group conferences with role assignment had higher levels of interconnected messages. Weekly comparisons also indicated higher perceptions of intersubjectivity and deep processing for the role assignment group during the initial weeks of the activity. Over time, however, these levels equalized across group structures.
Fatal or not? Finding errors that lead to dialogue breakdowns in chat-oriented dialogue systems

This paper aims to find errors that lead to dialogue breakdowns in chat-oriented dialogue systems. We collected chat dialogue data, annotated them with dialogue breakdown labels, and collected comments describing the error that led to the breakdown. By mining the comments, we first identified error types. Then, we calculated the correlation between an error type and the degree of dialogue breakdown it incurred, quantifying its impact on dialogue breakdown. This is the first study to quantitatively analyze error types and their effect in chat-oriented dialogue systems.
Beyond Ranking: Optimizing Whole-Page Presentation

Modern search engines aggregate results from different verticals: webpages, news, images, video, shopping, knowledge cards, local maps, etc. Unlike "ten blue links", these search results are heterogeneous in nature and not even arranged in a list on the page. This revolution directly challenges the conventional "ranked list" formulation in ad hoc search. Therefore, finding proper presentation for a gallery of heterogeneous results is critical for modern search engines. We propose a novel framework that learns the optimal page presentation to render heterogeneous results onto search result page (SERP). Page presentation is broadly defined as the strategy to present a set of items on SERP, much more expressive than a ranked list. It can specify item positions, image sizes, text fonts, and any other styles as long as variations are within business and design constraints. The learned presentation is content-aware, i.e. tailored to specific queries and returned results. Simulation experiments show that the framework automatically learns eye-catchy presentations for relevant results. Experiments on real data show that simple instantiations of the framework already outperform leading algorithm in federated search result presentation. It means the framework can learn its own result presentation strategy purely from data, without even knowing the "probability ranking principle".
Multimodal Registration and Data Fusion for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Optimization

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been shown to improve cardiovascular function in specific patients suffering from heart failure. This procedure still needs to be optimized to overcome the high rate of implanted patients that do not respond to this therapy. We propose in this work a better characterization of the electro-mechanical (EM) coupling of each region of the left ventricle (LV) that could be useful to precise the best implantation site. A new descriptor is proposed with the extraction of local electro-mechanical delays. Their measurement is based on the fusion of anatomical, functional and electrical data acquired using computed tomography (CT), speckle tracking echocardiography (STE), and electro-anatomical mappings (EAM). We propose a workflow to place multimodal data in the same geometrical referential system and to extract local electro-mechanical descriptors. It implies the fusion of electrical and mechanical data on a 3D+ t anatomical model of the LV. It mainly consists in four steps: 1) the modeling of the endocardium using a dynamic surface estimated from CT images; 2) the semi-interactive registration of EAM data and CT images; 3) the automatic registration of STE data on the dynamic model, using a metric based on Fourier descriptors and dynamic time warping; 4) the temporal alignment between EAM and STE and the estimation of local electro-mechanical delays. The proposed process has been applied to real data corresponding to five patients undergoing CRT. Results show that local electro-mechanical delays provide meaningful information on the local characterization of the LV and may be useful for the optimal pacing site selection in CRT.
The Contrasting Effects of Coaching Style on Task Performance: The Mediating Roles of Subjective Task Complexity and Self-Set Goal

The effects of two coaching styles, one guidance and one facilitation, on the performance of coached and transfer tasks were examined in an experimental study. With the aim of improving and enhancing individual performance, guidance coaching entails the coach as a role model, delivering clear expectations and feedback about how to improve in a directive manner, while facilitation coaching involves the coach's helping the individual to explore and evaluate the task and self-developing the correct responses for improving performance. Tests of the mediating effects of self-set goals, which are defined as desired levels of performance to be attained on a task, and subjective task complexity, which is defined as an individual's perception of the complexity of a task, on the coaching style–performance relationship were also conducted. Participants (n = 127) were coached in the use of two software programs, PowerPoint and Excel 2007. The results showed that guidance coaching is more effective for improving coached task performance than facilitation coaching, while facilitation coaching is more effective for improving transfer task performance than guidance coaching. Subjective task complexity and self-set performance goals mediated the effects of coaching style on the performance of both coached and transfer tasks. Implications for theory and managerial practice are discussed.
A Novel Technique for Detecting Instability of the Distal Radioulnar Joint in Complete Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Lesions

Abstract We performed this study to investigate whether discrepancy of bilateral dorsovolar shift of the distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) is decisive for the diagnosis of DRUJ instability. Although several cadaver studies have quantified the amount of physiological dorsovolar shift, so far, there is no reliable method of quantification of DRUJ mobility in daily practice. The aim was to describe a novel sonographic method of quantifying DRUJ instability and evaluate its reliability and validity. In this study, 40 healthy volunteers and 17 patients with complete rupture of the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) underwent sonographic quantification of the grade of instability of their DRUJ bilaterally. Dorsovolar ulnar head translation relative to the distal radius was quantified by means of ultrasonography performed in a transversal plane through the ulnar head and Lister tubercle. Measurements were done while actively pressing the volar surface of the hand onto a brick 30 degrees pronated, and after lifting the hand. A quotient Q of the radioulnar distance (distance between the dorsal radius surface and the ulnar head) between the unloaded and loaded wrist was calculated for differentiation of a normal and unstable DRUJ. The Q ratio of the 17 patients with unilateral TFCC lesion was significantly different between the pathologic side and the contralateral wrist (1.19 vs. 0.54, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the Q ratio in the 40 healthy volunteers between the right and left side or dominant and nondominant wrist. A Q ratio > 0.8 was found to be a reasonable cut-off for pathologic laxity of the DRUJ with a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 81%. A quotient Q > 0.8 determines instability of the DRUJ reliably. This was a level II diagnostic study.
Synthesis of polarization-independent splitters based on highly birefringent dual-core photonic crystal fiber platforms

The objective of this letter is to introduce and numerically investigate the operation of a novel type of polarization-independent splitter based on highly birefringent dual-core photonic crystal fiber (PCF), which allows wavelength multiplexing at 1.3 and 1.55 mum. The design procedure follows a rigorous synthesis algorithm based on exact equations for describing the wavelength decoupling mechanism and on full-vector finite element as well as beam propagation methods for accurate modeling of PCFs. Typical characteristics of the newly proposed PCF splitter are coupling length of 9.08 mm and available optical bandwidths defined at a level of -20 dB of 5.5 and 2 nm around 1.3 and 1.55 mum, respectively
Determinants of divorce: a review of research in the eighties

This review encompasses work published in the 1980s that concerns the causes of divorce [in the United States]. Substantive findings are reviewed under three broad headings: macrostructure demographics and the life course and family process. Trends in methods samples and theory are also reviewed. This decades research on divorce is characterized by bigger and better data sets more sophisticated research techniques and a growing body of conclusive empirical findings in the areas of demographic and life course factors. Relatively neglected areas include theory and family process. The review ends with recommendations for future research. (EXCERPT)
The Use of Concept Questions to Improve Student Understanding of Mechanics, and the Formulation of a Hierarchical Model of Student Understanding of Moments of Forces

The use of Concept Questions to Improve Student Understanding of Mechanics and the Formulation of Hierarchical Models of Student Understanding of Moments of Forces by Stuart Kenneth Rowlands The aims and objectives of the first part of the thesis are to create and evaluate a teaching package that would enable the teacher to facihtate student conceptual understanding of mechanics. The second part is to create a hierarchical model of student conceptual understanding of moments of forces. The thesis reports on the various conflicting theories and recommended teaching strategies from the research into student misconceptions, and examines the various underlying philosophical trends (for example, radical and social constructivism, the Vygotskian perspective and positivism) that have influenced the research into misconceptions in mechanics. As a result, the philosophical perspective of the thesis is that the analysis of the structure of Newtonian mechanics ought to be before the consideration of challenging misconceptions. The question as to how students can construct for themselves the Newtonian system ought to be prior to the consideration of designing a strategy to tackle misconceptions. With prior consideration of the structure of mechanics, the thesis examines the formation of the intuitive schema of force and motion. The thesis proposes the Socratic method of strategic questioning as the most appropriate teaching method for constructing the Newtonian system and displacing the intuitive schema of force and motion. The thesis reports on the formation, and the evaluation, of the teaching package as an aid to facilitate the construction of the Newtonian system, and concludes that teachers have to be trained in the use of the Socratic method prior to any evaluation. There has been little or no research in the area of misconceptions concerning moments. The thesis reports on the formation of a hierarchical model of understanding moments. From a sample of 417 students nation-wide, the thesis has identified 3 conceptual levels of understanding moments and discusses the teaching implications based on the responses from the sample.
Peatland geoengineering: an alternative approach to terrestrial carbon sequestration

Terrestrial and oceanic ecosystems contribute almost equally to the sequestration of ca 50 per cent of anthropogenic CO2 emissions, and already play a role in minimizing our impact on Earth’s climate. On land, the majority of the sequestered carbon enters soil carbon stores. Almost one-third of that soil carbon can be found in peatlands, an area covering just 2–3% of the Earth’s landmass. Peatlands are thus well established as powerful agents of carbon capture and storage; the preservation of archaeological artefacts, such as ancient bog bodies, further attest to their exceptional preservative properties. Peatlands have higher carbon storage densities per unit ecosystem area than either the oceans or dry terrestrial systems. However, despite attempts over a number of years at enhancing carbon capture in the oceans or in land-based afforestation schemes, no attempt has yet been made to optimize peatland carbon storage capacity or even to harness peatlands to store externally captured carbon. Recent studies suggest that peatland carbon sequestration is due to the inhibitory effects of phenolic compounds that create an ‘enzymic latch’ on decomposition. Here, we propose to harness that mechanism in a series of peatland geoengineering strategies whereby molecular, biogeochemical, agronomical and afforestation approaches increase carbon capture and long-term sequestration in peat-forming terrestrial ecosystems.
Nonword repetitions of children with specific language impairment: Exploration of some explanations for their inaccuracies

Abstract To examine possible explanations of the reported inaccuracies of children with specific language impairment (SLI) on nonword repetition, we compared the repetitions of 54 children with SLI and their peers in terms of number and type of error as well as latency and duration of response. We found no evidence of differences between the groups in auditory discrimination or response processes, but we did find some evidence suggesting differences in either the formation or storage of phonological representations in working memory. Because repetition accuracy was significantly correlated with expressive, but not receptive, measures of language, we hypothesized that the problem lay with the nature of phonological representations in working memory and not with the ability to hold phonological information in working memory.
Electrodiagnostic and Histologic Changes of Graded Caudal Compression on Cauda Equina in Dog

Study Design An animal model of lumbar spinal stenosis, in which the pathophysiology of this condition could be examined, was retrieved according to Delamarter's method. Objectives The purpose of this study was to develop a reproducible animal model of lumbar spinal stenosis to further understanding of the long-term electrophysiologic changes, and to detect prognostic indices of the long-term anatomic and physiologic status of chronic compression of the cauda equina. Summary of Background Data Somatosensory-evoked potentials and bulbocaermosus reflexes revealed obnormalities before neurologic signs and symptoms appeared. If delayed somatosensory-evoked potentials, and bulbocavernosus reflexes, were recovered with the lapse of time, neurologic, findings showed gradual recovery. The loss of somatosensory-evoked potentials, bulbocovernosus reflexes and neurologic, histological abnormalities occured at 50% constriction of the cauda equina; at the same time, that was the critical point of possible recovery. Methods Four experimental groups, each containing six dogs. were studied, One group had a laminectomy of the sixth and seventh lumbar vertebrae only: these animals served as controls. In the three other groups, a laminectomy was performed, and the cauda equina was constricated by 25% or 75% to produced chronic compression according to Delamarter's method Results Somatosensory-evoked potentials and bulbocavernosus reflexes revealed neurologic abnormalities before the appearance of neurological signs and symptoms. Constriction of more than 50% was the critical point; it reaulted in loss of evoked potentials, reflexes, neurologic deficits, and histological abnormalities. Conclusion To accurately forecast prognosis of chronic cauda equina compression, the combined diagnostic study of somatosensory-evoked potential with bulbocavernosus reflex is recommended.
Multiple Pathways to and from Responsibility Interpretations and the Development of Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms

Responsibility beliefs and interpretations are paramount to the development and maintenance of obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms, yet very little is understood about the development of responsibility-related cognitions. The present study utilized a large non-clinical sample (N = 356), retrospective (i.e., self-reported developmental factors) and cross sectional data (i.e., self-reported severity of responsibility interpretations and OC-symptoms), and structural equation modeling to test the direct and indirect relations between developmental pathways to responsibility-related cognitions, responsibility interpretations of intrusions, and specific OC symptom dimensions. Results showed that: responsibility interpretations fully mediated the relations between a highly responsible childhood and 1) OC-obsessing and 2) OC-hoarding symptoms. Responsibility interpretations also fully mediated the relations between events in which an individual caused actual or imagined harm and 1) OC-obsessing, 2) OC-hoarding, 3) OC-arranging, and 4) OC-checking. Moreover, these effects varied across genders. Interpretations, limitations, and future directions are discussed in detail.