Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clinical significance of the transitional lumbosacral vertebra; relationship to back pain, disk disease, and sciatica.

It has been accepted that man's penalty for assuming an upright position is low back pain; however, it is equally evident that evolutionary processes are attempting to strengthen the unstable lumbosacral joint. In 1876, Rosenberg theorized that the vertebral column was undergoing a shortening process in an effort to stabilize the erect spine. He felt that sacralization of the fifth lumbar vertebra was anthropologically progressive, whereas lumbarization of the first sacral vertebra was regressive. Others have felt that transitional variations at the lumbosacral joint are due to strains created by a mobile fifth lumbar vertebra resting on an immobile first sacral vertebra. It is felt that the three most important steps in the evolution of the treatment of the spine for back pain are: (1) discovery of roentgen rays in in 1895, (2) discovery of spinal fusion in 1911, and (3) the demonstration of the role played by the inter-vertebral
Musculoskeletal pain and smoking in Norway.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between musculoskeletal pain and smoking. DESIGN: Cross sectional, national interview survey. SETTING: All individuals in a representative sample of households in Norway in 1985. SUBJECTS: A total of 6681 persons aged 16 to 66 years old. people in institutions were not included. OUTCOME MEASURES: Gender specific and age specific prevalence rates for pain in the cervical region/upper limbs, back, and lower limbs. RESULTS: Current smoking was independently associated with musculoskeletal pain (odds ratio (OR) 1.69; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.45, 1.97) after adjustment for gender, age, comorbidity, mental distress, lifestyle factors, and occupation related factors. The association was of similar strength regarding cervical/upper limb pain (OR 1.87; CI 1.56, 2.25) and back pain (OR 1.84; CI 1.50, 2.25) but weaker in respect of lower limb pain (OR 1.37; CI 1.10, 1.71). Musculoskeletal pain was often present in more than one site. CONCLUSION: Smoking was significantly associated with musculoskeletal pain after adjustment for other relevant factors.
Perceptually driven 3D distance metrics with application to watermarking

This paper presents an objective structural distortion measure which reflects the visual similarity between 3D meshes and thus can be used for quality assessment. The proposed tool is not linked to any specific application and thus can be used to evaluate any kinds of 3D mesh processing algorithms (simplification, compression, watermarking etc.). This measure follows the concept of structural similarity recently introduced for 2D image quality assessment by Wang et al.1 and is based on curvature analysis (mean, standard deviation, covariance) on local windows of the meshes. Evaluation and comparison with geometric metrics are done through a subjective experiment based on human evaluation of a set of distorted objects. A quantitative perceptual metric is also derived from the proposed structural distortion measure, for the specific case of watermarking quality assessment, and is compared with recent state of the art algorithms. Both visual and quantitative results demonstrate the robustness of our approach and its strong correlation with subjective ratings.
A Review of Intentional and Cognitive Control in Autism

Different clinical studies have provided empirical evidence for impairments in cognitive control in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The challenge arises, however, when trying to specify the neurocognitive mechanisms behind the reported observations of deviant patterns of goal-directed behavior in ASD. Studies trying to test specific assumptions by applying designs that are based on a more controlled experimental conditions often fail in providing strong evidence for an impairment in specific cognitive functions. In this review, we summarize and critically reflect on behavioral findings and their theoretical explanations regarding cognitive control processing in autism, also from a developmental perspective. The specific focus of this review is the recent evidence of deficits in intentional control – a specific subset of cognitive control processes that biases the choice of our behavioral goals – coming from different research fields. We relate this evidence to the cognitive rigidity observed in ASD and argue that individuals with ASD experience problems at the intentional level rather than at the level of implementation of intentions. Both these processes are related to cognitive control mechanisms but in different ways. Finally, we discuss new directions in studying cognitive control in ASD and how these relate to adaptive cognition.
Familial complex 3q;10q rearrangement unraveled by subtelomeric FISH analysis

In recent years, subtelomeric rearrangements have been identified as a major cause of multiple congenital anomalies/mental retardation syndromes. Currently, more than 2,500 individuals with mental retardation have been tested and reported in whom subtelomeric rearrangements were detected ranging from 2% to 29%. Therefore, subtelomeric FISH analysis is indicated as a second tier test after high‐resolution G‐banding analysis in patients with otherwise unexplained developmental delay/mental retardation and/or multiple congenital anomalies. We describe a patient and her three maternal female cousins, all showing an undiagnosed MCA/MR syndrome, associated with the same complex subtelomeric rearrangement. Subtelomeric FISH testing performed between 3½ and 18 years after the initial karyotype showed, in all four patients, distal trisomy 3q and distal monosomy 10q as follows: 46,XX,ish der(10)t(3;10)(q29;q26.3)mat(D10S2488+,D10S2490−, D3S1272+,D10Z1+). Parental subtelomeric FISH analysis showed that the proposita's mother and three of four brothers and one of two sisters had a cryptic balanced 3:10 telomere translocation. The three brothers with the balanced translocation were father to one each of the three proband's cousins. All four affected girls showed a similar phenotype with pre/postnatal growth retardation, microcephaly, severe developmental delay/mental retardation, poor/absent speech, and a distinct pattern of malformation. On examination there were coarsening of facial features with low fronto‐temporal hairline; thick eyebrows; bilateral epicanthal folds; hypertelorism; prominent nose with squared nasal root and narrow alar base; low‐set posteriorly rotated large ears with a prominent anthelix; high arched palate; prominent chin; hands/feet brachydactyly; bilateral squint; hypotonia; and muscle hypotrophy. A slow overall improvement was seen in all patients over time. To our knowledge, this complex subtelomeric rearrangement in our patients has never been reported so far. Monosomy 10q has recently been described either isolated or as part of a complex rearrangement involving telomeres other than the 3q. Trisomy 3q29 has not yet been reported, but our patients resembled cases with 3q26 trisomy suggesting that the critical region of duplication for this phenotype is in 3q29. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Longitudinal Relationships Between Cognitive Decline and Gait Slowing: The Tasmanian Study of Cognition and Gait.

BACKGROUND Gait slowing and cognitive decline are both common in older people. Although cross-sectionally related, the longitudinal associations between specific cognitive functions and gait speed are less well understood. We aimed to determine whether decline in specific cognitive domains are associated with change in gait speed. METHODS Participants aged 60-85, randomly selected from the electoral roll, were assessed twice over 3 years. Gait speed was obtained using the GAITRite walkway. Raw scores from a cognitive battery were subjected to principal component analyses deriving summary domains of executive function, processing speed, memory, and visuospatial ability. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine the associations between change in each cognitive domain and change in gait speed, adjusting for covariates and stratifying for the presence of baseline cognitive impairment. RESULTS Mean age at baseline was 71.1 years (SD = 6.7) and 56% (159/284) were men. Mean follow-up was 2.55 (0.47) years. Decline in executive function, but not other cognitive domains (p > .05), was associated with decline in gait speed, cm/s (β = -3.55, 95% CI = -5.49, -1.61; p < .001), both in the presence and absence of baseline cognitive impairment. Stronger associations were seen for those with baseline multiple domain cognitive impairment (β = -6.38, 95% CI = -12.49, -0.27) and nonamnestic single-domain cognitive impairment (β = -7.74, 95% CI = -14.76, -0.72). CONCLUSION Decline in nonamnestic function (specifically executive function) was associated with decline in gait speed irrespective of the presence of baseline cognitive impairment. Strategies to improve or maintain executive function may prevent gait slowing.
Evidence of Breed-dependent Differences in Susceptibility to Porcine Circovirus Type-2-associated Disease and Lesions

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) has been confirmed as the primary cause of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). However, in the field, PMWS is seen only in a small percentage of pigs infected with PCV2. The overall objective of the study reported here was to determine whether host genetic differences in the susceptibility to PCV2-associated disease exist among selected breeds of pigs. This study included Duroc (n = 23), Landrace (n = 19), and Large White (n = 21) pigs. The pigs were infected intranasally and intramuscularly at 5-7 weeks of age with PCV2. A portion of the pigs (31/63; 30.2%) had low passively acquired PCV2 antibodies at the time of infection. There were no differences in mean weight gain, rectal temperature, or respiratory score. Clinical disease compatible with PMWS was observed only in the Landrace pigs. Most of the PCV2-infected pigs had enlarged lymph nodes, and individual Duroc and Landrace pigs had mottled tan lungs. PCV2-associated lymphoid depletion and granulomatous inflammation were observed in pigs of all breeds. Three of 19 Landrace pigs and none of the Duroc or Large White pigs developed severe lymphoid lesions associated with large amounts of intralesional PCV2 antigen typical of PMWS. Compared with seronegative Landrace pigs, Landrace pigs that had low maternal antibodies at the time of PCV2 inoculation had significantly (P < 0.05) less-severe PCV2-associated lesions. The results suggest a predisposition of the Landrace pigs of this study to PCV2-induced disease and lesions, and that low levels of passively acquired antibodies are protective.
Hydroxyurea Arrests DNA Replication by a Mechanism That Preserves Basal dNTP Pools*

The relationship between dNTP levels and DNA synthesis was investigated using α factor-synchronized yeast treated with the ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor hydroxyurea (HU). Although HU blocked DNA synthesis and prevented the dNTP pool expansion that normally occurs at G1/S, it did not exhaust the levels of any of the four dNTPs, which dropped to about 80% of G1 levels. When dbf4 yeast that are ts for replication initiation were allowed to preaccumulate dNTPs at 37 °C before being released to 25 °C in the presence of HU, they synthesized 0.3 genome equivalents of DNA and then arrested as dNTPs approached sub-G1 levels. Accumulation of dNTPs at G1/S was not a prerequisite for replication initiation, since dbf4 cells incubated in HU at 25 °C were able to replicate when subsequently switched to 37 °C in the absence of HU. The replication arrest mechanism was not dependent on the Mec1/Rad53 pathway, since checkpoint-deficient rad53 cells also failed to exhaust basal dNTPs when incubated in HU. The persistence of basal dNTP levels in HU-arrested cells and partial bypass of the arrest in cells that had preaccumulated dNTPs suggest that cells have a mechanism for arresting DNA chain elongation when dNTP levels are not maintained above a critical threshold.
The Effect of Butanolides from Cinnamomum tenuifolium on Platelet Aggregation

This study investigated the effects of isotenuifolide and tenuifolide B from the stems of Cinnamomum tenuifolium on adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced human platelet aggregation. Treatment of human platelet-rich plasma with isotenuifolide (1 and 2 μg/μL) and tenuifolide B (1, 2 and 4 μg/μL) did not have any significant effect on human platelet aggregation in vitro, however, treatment of human platelet-rich plasma with isotenuifolide (4 μg/μL) resulted in an inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation, suggesting the potential of this compound as an anti-atherosclerogenic agent in humans. Isotenuifolide is a new butanolide compound, whose structure was characterized by spectral analyses.
Neural stimulation on human bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells by extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields

Adult stem cells are considered multipotent. Especially, human bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBM‐MSCs) have the potential to differentiate into nerve type cells. Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are widely distributed in the environment, and recently there have been many reports on the biological effects of EMFs. hBM‐MSCs are weak and sensitive pluripotent stem cells, therefore extremely low frequency‐electromagnetic fields (ELF‐EMFs) could be affect the changes of biological functions within the cells. In our experiments, ELF‐EMFs inhibited the growth of hBM‐MSCs in 12 days exposure. Their gene level was changed and expression of the neural stem cell marker like nestin was decreased but the neural cell markers like MAP2, NEUROD1, NF‐L, and Tau were induced. In immunofluorescence study, we confirmed the expression of each protein of neural cells. And also both oligodendrocyte and astrocyte related proteins like O4 and GFAP were expressed by ELF‐EMFs. We suggest that EMFs can induce neural differentiation in BM‐MSCs without any chemicals or differentiation factors. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog. , 2012
Disproportional effects of Igf2 knockout on placental morphology and diffusional exchange characteristics in the mouse

Both complete knockout of the Igf2 gene (Igf2null+/−) and knockout of its placental specific transcript alone (Igf2P0+/−) lead to fetal growth restriction in mice. However, in the Igf2null+/− this growth restriction occurs concurrently in gestation with placental growth restriction, whereas, placental growth restriction precedes fetal growth restriction in the Igf2P0+/− mouse. Previous studies have shown that the Igf2P0+/− placenta has proportionate reductions in its cellular compartments and its diffusional exchange characteristics. Yet, nothing is known about the structural development or diffusional exchange characteristics of the Igf2null+/− mouse. Hence, this study compares the structural properties (using stereology) and diffusional exchange characteristics (using measurement of permeability–surface area product, P.S, of three inert hydrophilic tracers) of the Igf2null+/− and the Igf2P0+/− placenta to identify the role of Igf2 in the development of the labyrinthine exchange membrane and its functional consequences. Our data show disproportionate effects of complete Igf2 ablation on the compartments of the placenta, not seen when the placental‐specific transcript alone is deleted. Furthermore, although the theoretical diffusing capacity (calculated from the stereological data) of the Igf2null+/− placenta was reduced relative to control, there was no effect of the complete knockout on permeability surface area available for small hydrophilic tracers. This is in contrast to the Igf2P0+/− placenta, where theoretical diffusion capacity and P.S values were reduced similarly. Total ablation of the Igf2 gene from the fetoplacental unit in the mouse therefore results in a disproportionate growth of placental compartments whereas, deleting the placental specific transcript of Igf2 alone results in proportional placental growth restriction. Thus, placental phenotype depends on the degree of Igf2 gene ablation and the interplay between placental and fetal Igf2 in the mouse.
Modelling and Simulation of a Pneumatically Actuated Micropump

Performances of a pneumatically actuated micropump are described. Simulation results combined to an analytical model are used to optimize the micropump design in order to obtain a working frequency of 10 Hz for pneumatic pressure varying between 0.1-6 bar. A pneumatic chamber is placed between a polymer membrane to be actuated, and microchannels connected to a vacuum system. Time for pressurizing cycle and vacuum cycle as function of design parameters and relative pressure are calculated.
Elimination of cost‐sharing and receipt of screening for colorectal and breast cancer

The aim of the cost‐sharing provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) was to reduce financial barriers for preventive services, including screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) and breast cancer (BC) among privately and Medicare‐insured individuals. Whether the provision has affected CRC and BC screening prevalence is unknown. The current study investigated whether CRC and BC screening prevalence among privately and Medicare‐insured adults by socioeconomic status (SES) changed before and after the ACA.
Periodicity, Directionality, and Randomness: Wold Features for Image Modeling and Retrieval

One of the fundamental challenges in pattern recognition is choosing a set of features appropriate to a class of problems. In applications such as database retrieval, it is important that image features used in pattern comparison provide good measures of image perceptual similarities. We present an image model with a new set of features that address the challenge of perceptual similarity. The model is based on the 2D Wold decomposition of homogeneous random fields. The three resulting mutually orthogonal subfields have perceptual properties which can be described as "periodicity," "directionality," and "randomness," approximating what are indicated to be the three most important dimensions of human texture perception. The method presented improves upon earlier Wold-based models in its tolerance to a variety of local inhomogeneities which arise in natural textures and its invariance under image transformation such as rotation. An image retrieval algorithm based on the new texture model is presented. Different types of image features are aggregated for similarity comparison by using a Bayesian probabilistic approach. The, effectiveness of the Wold model at retrieving perceptually similar natural textures is demonstrated in comparison to that of two other well-known pattern recognition methods. The Wold model appears to offer a perceptually more satisfying measure of pattern similarity while exceeding the performance of these other methods by traditional pattern recognition criteria. Examples of natural scene Wold texture modeling are also presented.
Itraconazole‐induced acute hepatitis

Siu, In October 1991, a 4(i-year-old Cauca.sian woman took norfloxacin 400 mg twice daily for 7 days, lor a urinary tract infection. As she completed the course of treatment she noticed an itchy rash on her back and abdomen. The rash consisted of profuse, clustered vesicles on an inflanimiitory base, predominantly localized to the lower back, infraniammary areas and abdomen. There were no bucca! iesion,s. Two weeks after its onset the eruption changed in character and became pustular. Histopathology showed intraepidermal bullae with acantholysis. and a mixed perivascular infiltrate of lymphocytes, histiocytes and neutrophils (Fig, 1), Both direct and indirect immunofluorescence (the latter was performed on two occasions) were negative for all immunoreactants.
Lipopolysaccharide-Binding Protein for Monitoring of Postoperative Sepsis: Complemental to C-Reactive Protein or Redundant?

Introduction To prospectively evaluate the performance of Lipopolysaccharide-Binding Protein (LBP) in prediction of hospital mortality and its correlation to C-reactive Protein (CRP), we studied sixty consecutive, postoperative patients with sepsis admitted to the university hospital intensive care unit. Measurements and Methods Plasma LBP and CRP were serially measured from day(d)1 (onset of sepsis) to d14 in parallel with clinical data until d28. Predictive value and correlation of LBP and CRP were analyzed by Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and Pearson's test, respectively. Main Results LBP and CRP showed the highest levels on d2 or d3 after the onset of sepsis with no significant difference between survivors and nonsurvivors. Only at d7, nonsurvivors had significantly (p = .03) higher levels of CRP than survivors. Accordingly, in ROC analysis, concentration of CRP and LBP on d7 poorly discriminated survivors from nonsurvivors (area under curve = .62 and .55, respectively) without significant difference between LBP- and CRP-ROC curves for paired comparison. LBP and CRP plasma levels allocated to quartiles correlated well with each other (r2 = .95; p = .02). Likewise, changes in plasma concentrations of LBP and CRP from one observation to the next showed a marked concordance as both parameters concomitantly increased or decreased in 76% of all cases. Conclusions During the first 14 days of postoperative sepsis, LBP plasma concentrations showed a time course that was very similar to CRP with a high concordance in the pattern of day-to-day changes. Furthermore, like CRP, LBP does not provide a reliable clue for outcome in this setting.
Efficacy of amoxicillin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid in the prevention of infection and dry socket after third molar extraction. A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Prophylactic use of amoxicillin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, although controversial, is common in routine clinical practice in third molar surgery. Material and Methods Our objective was to assess the efficacy of prophylactic amoxicillin with or without clavulanic acid in reducing the incidence of dry socket and/or infection after third molar extraction. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis consulting electronic databases and references in retrieved articles. We included double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials published up to June 2015 investigating the efficacy of amoxicillin with or without clavulanic acid on the incidence of the aforementioned conditions after third molar extraction. Relative risks (RRs) were estimated with a generic inverse-variance approach and a random effect model using Stata/IC 13 and Review Manager Version 5.2. Stratified analysis was performed by antibiotic type. Results We included 10 papers in the qualitative review and in the quantitative synthesis (1997 extractions: 1072 in experimental groups and 925 in controls, with 27 and 74 events of dry socket and/or infection, respectively). The overall RR was 0.350 (p< 0.001; 95% CI 0.214 to 0.574). We found no evidence of heterogeneity (I2=0%, p=0.470). The number needed to treat was 18 (95% CI 13 to 29). Five studies reported adverse reactions (RR=1.188, 95% CI 0.658 to 2.146, p =0.567). The RRs were 0.563 for amoxicillin (95% CI 0.295 to 1.08, p=0.082) and 0.215 for amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (95% CI 0.117 to 0.395, p<0.001). Conclusions Prophylactic use of amoxicillin does not significantly reduce the risk of infection and/or dry socket after third molar extraction. With amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, the risk decreases significantly. Nevertheless, considering the number needed to treat, low prevalence of infection, potential adverse reactions to antibiotics and lack of serious complications in placebo groups, the routine prescription of amoxicillin with or without clavulanic acid is not justified. Key words:Meta-analysis, amoxicillin, infection, removal, dry socket, third molar.