Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intradural ventral and ventrolateral tumors of the spinal cord: surgical treatment and results.

OBJECT To improve results of surgical treatment of ventral and ventrolateral tumors of the spinal cord, the authors analyzed surgical approaches, defined the indications for various approaches, and assessed the clinical results. METHODS Between 1993 and 2004 the authors treated 360 patients: 43 of them had dorsal, 177 dorsolateral, 33 ventral, and 107 had ventrolateral intradural extramedullary tumors. Among 140 patients with intradural extramedullary ventral and ventrolateral tumors, neuromas were seen in 56 and meningiomas in 84. Of the 140 patients studied, tumors were removed totally in 102 (74%), subtotally in 30 (21%), and partially in eight (5%). After ventrolateral and dorsolateral approaches were introduced in 1996, tumors in ventral or ventrolateral locations have been removed totally or subtotally. In the group of patients with meningiomas, 41 of the lesions were the meningothelial type, 22 were transitional, 12 fibroblastic, four psammomatous, three were angiomatous, one was atypical, and one was malignant. Tumors in the neuroma group were schwannomas in 45 patients and neurofibromas in 11. Postoperatively, recovery was observed in 70 patients (50%), improvement in 53 (38%), no change in 10 (7%), and deterioration in seven (5%). At follow-up evaluation recovery was noted in 76 patients, improvement in 58, no change in four, and in two patients the neurological symptoms were worse than before the operation. CONCLUSIONS Surgical routes to extramedullary tumors should be chosen based on the location of the tumor, its spread, and the region in which it is localized.
Antioxidant Phenolic Substances of Turkish Red Wines from Different Wine Regions

In this study, five biologically phenolic antioxidant Turkish red wines from different regions of Turkey were determined using HPLC with PDA detection. The antioxidant capacities (AC) of the investigated wines are also determined and the relationship between the phenol content and antioxidant capacity is discussed. The results show that Kalecik Karası, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon AC values ranged between 15.8-18.7 mmol/L, 15.8-17.6 mmol/L and 18.1-22.6 mmol/L, respectively. Generally, Cabernet Sauvignon wines not only had higher levels of phenolic antioxidants, such as catechin, epicatechin and gallic acid, but also higher antioxidant capacities compared to Kalecik Karası and Merlot wines. When the results were compared on the basis of geographical area, Aegean red wines were found to contain generally higher levels of biologically important phenolics and thus to have more antioxidant capacity compared to the wines of the other regions studied.
A nonparametric stochastic method for generating daily climate‐adjusted streamflows

A daily stochastic streamflow generation model is presented, which successfully replicates statistics of the historical streamflow record and can produce climate‐adjusted daily time series. A monthly climate model relates general circulation model (GCM)‐scale climate indicators to discrete climate‐streamflow states, which in turn control parameters in a daily streamflow generation model. Daily flow is generated by a two‐state (increasing/decreasing) Markov chain, with rising limb increments randomly sampled from a Weibull distribution and the falling limb modeled as exponential recession. When applied to the Potomac River, a 38,000 km2 basin in the Mid‐Atlantic United States, the model reproduces the daily, monthly, and annual distribution and dynamics of the historical streamflow record, including extreme low flows. This method can be used as part of water resources planning, vulnerability, and adaptation studies and offers the advantage of a parsimonious model, requiring only a sufficiently long historical streamflow record and large‐scale climate data. Simulation of Potomac streamflows subject to the Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES) A1b, A2, and B1 emission scenarios predict a slight increase in mean annual flows over the next century, with the majority of this increase occurring during the winter and early spring. Conversely, mean summer flows are projected to decrease due to climate change, caused by a shift to shorter, more sporadic rain events. Date of the minimum annual flow is projected to shift 2–5 days earlier by the 2070–2099 period.
The outer atmosphere of the M-type supergiant α Orionis: K I 7699 Å emission

Spatially-resolved high-resolution long-slit spectra of Betelgeuse's circumstellar shell are described for a spectral window centered on the 7699 A resonance line of neutral potassium. The K i emission from resonance fluorescent scattering of photospheric photons which is mapped out to 50 arcsec from the star is approximately spherically symmetric with a brightness decreasing as $r^{-2.36 \pm 0.03}$, where r is the radial distance from the star. Our measurements together with the earlier theoretical interpretation by Rodgers & Glassgold suggest that the mass loss rate is about $2 \times 10^{-6}$ $M_\odot$ y -1 . The K i emission is far from homogeneous: intensity inhomogeneities are seen down to the seeing limit of about 1 arcsec and the velocity resolution of about 2 km s -1 . There is clear evidence for a thin shell of 50 arcsec radius. This is identified with the weaker circumstellar absorption component known as S2. Estimates are made of the density of K atoms in this shell ($\simeq$ $6 \times 10^{-5}$ cm -3 ).
Overpressure development in rift basins: an example from the Malay Basin, offshore Peninsular Malaysia

The Malay Basin is a Tertiary transtensional rift basin located in offshore Peninsular Malaysia. A study of the subsurface pressure data has revealed at least two major overpressure compartments that are sealed by regional shale units. The main, basin-centre overpressure compartment has a domal shape and, in profile, shows a convex-up top-of-overpressure surface. In the basin centre, the top of overpressure is generally between 1900 m and 2000 m depth, and is confined mainly to a particular stratigraphic unit, the Middle Miocene unit E. It appears that the top of overpressure is influenced by the underlying regional shale seal in unit F, and that the mild overpressure encountered in unit E represents the overpressure transition zone. Due to the convex-upward top-of-overpressure surface, overpressure is generally encountered at shallower depths in the basin centre compared to the basin flanks. A smaller overpressure compartment is also identified on the northeastern flank of the basin. This compartment is sealed by the onlapping, transgressive shale of unit L (Lower Miocene) and occurs at a depth of 2600–3000 m. Hence, regional shale seals have a strong influence on overpressure distribution. Disequilibrium compaction is believed to be the primary causal mechanism for the overpressure in the basin centre. Overpressure development is the consequence of high subsidence and sedimentation rates during basin extension. Low subsidence and sedimentation rates on the basin flanks do not generate overpressure. The domal shape of the top-of-overpressure surface is thus a result of different rates of subsidence and sedimentation across the basin. The basin's overpressure history is simulated by means of a simple model. Modelling results indicate that the basin overpressure developed very early, during the syn-rift phase (c.30–21 Ma), when sediment burial rates were very high (>1000 m Ma−1). Overpressure build-up occurred rapidly during the syn-rift phase but has started to dissipate gradually since the post-rift phase began 21 Ma ago, when sedimentation rates were well below 1000 m Ma−1. This suggests that disequilibrium compaction as an overpressure-generating mechanism was effective during only the syn-rift phase of basin development. Sedimentation rates during the post-rift phase (generally less than 500 m Ma−1) were not high enough to generate overpressure. The pre-existing overpressure is thus able to dissipate through the sedimentary column, causing the build-up of pore pressure in the post-rift section. Thus, the overpressure in the post-rift strata is probably of secondary origin, derived from excess pressure dissipated from the underlying syn-rift strata. Overpressure generated by disequilibrium compaction during the syn-rift phase has been modified and re-distributed as the basin evolved through the post-rift phase.
Extreme Telomere Length Dimorphism in the Tasmanian Devil and Related Marsupials Suggests Parental Control of Telomere Length

Telomeres, specialised structures that protect chromosome ends, play a critical role in preserving chromosome integrity. Telomere dynamics in the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) are of particular interest in light of the emergence of devil facial tumour disease (DFTD), a transmissible malignancy that causes rapid mortality and threatens the species with extinction. We used fluorescent in situ hybridisation to investigate telomere length in DFTD cells, in healthy Tasmanian devils and in four closely related marsupial species. Here we report that animals in the Order Dasyuromorphia have chromosomes characterised by striking telomere length dimorphism between homologues. Findings in sex chromosomes suggest that telomere length dimorphism may be regulated by events in the parental germlines. Long telomeres on the Y chromosome imply that telomere lengthening occurs during spermatogenesis, whereas telomere diminution occurs during oogenesis. Although found in several somatic cell tissue types, telomere length dimorphism was not found in DFTD cancer cells, which are characterised by uniformly short telomeres. This is, to our knowledge, the first report of naturally occurring telomere length dimorphism in any species and suggests a novel strategy of telomere length control. Comparative studies in five distantly related marsupials and a monotreme indicate that telomere dimorphism evolved at least 50 million years ago.
Crystal tuff in the Stoer Group, Torridonian Supergroup, NW Scotland

Synopsis One thin bed in sandstones belonging to the Stoer Group (Torridonian Supergroup) contains feldspar and quartz grains showing deep concave embayments which are interpreted as corrosion features, and are all embedded in a fine-grained illitic or sericitic matrix. Its bulk chemical composition is similar to that of Phanerozoic metabentonites but it differs from the overlying Stac Fada Member which is believed to represent either a volcanogenic deposit or an impact ejecta blanket. Field relationships, petrographic and chemical characteristics point to this bed having a volcanic origin. This thin bed represents a crystal tuff and is the earliest example of a volcanogenic deposit in the Torridonian Supergroup in Scotland.
Generalized Grounding Graphs: A Probabilistic Framework for Understanding Grounded Commands

Many task domains require robots to interpret and act upon natural language commands which are given by people and which refer to the robot’s physical surroundings. Such interpretation, known as the “grounded language problem,” is challenging both because people, especially untrained users, employ diverse vocabulary and grammar, and because in real settings robots typically have substantial uncertainty about the nature and contents of their surroundings, making it difficult to associate the constitutive language elements (principally noun phrases and spatial relations) of the command text to elements of those surroundings. Symbolic models capture linguistic structure but have not scaled successfully to handle the diverse language produced by untrained users. Existing statistical approaches can better handle diversity, but have not to date modeled complex linguistic structure, limiting achievable accuracy. Recent hybrid approaches have addressed limitations in scaling and complexity, but have not effectively associated linguistic and perceptual features. Our framework, called Generalized Grounding Graphs (G 3 ), addresses these issues by defining a probabilistic graphical model dynamically according to the linguistic parse structure of a natural language command. This approach scales effectively, handles linguistic diversity, and enables the system to associate parts of a command with the specific objects, places, and events in the external world to which they refer. This enables robots to learn word meanings and use those learned meanings to robustly follow natural language commands produced by untrained users. We demonstrate our approach for both mobility commands (e.g. route directions like “Go down the hallway through the door”) and mobile manipulation commands (e.g. physical directives like “Pick up the pallet on the truck”) involving a variety of semi-autonomous robotic platforms, including a wheelchair, a micro-air vehicle, a forklift, and the Willow Garage PR2.
Brachial-Ankle Pulse Wave Velocity for Predicting Functional Outcome in Acute Stroke

Background and Purpose— We investigated whether the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) has prognostic value for predicting functional outcome after acute cerebral infarction and whether the prognostic value differs between stroke subtypes. Methods— We included 1091 consecutive patients with first-ever acute cerebral infarction who underwent baPWV measurements. Stroke subtypes were classified using the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment classification. Poor functional outcomes were defined as modified Rankin Scale score >2 at 3 months after stroke onset. Results— We noted that 181 (16.59%) patients had a poor functional outcome. In multivariate logistic regression, patients in the highest tertile of baPWV (>22.25 m/s) were found to be at increased risk for poor functional outcome (adjusted odds ratio, 1.88; 95% confidence interval, 1.06–3.40) compared with those in the lowest tertile (<17.55 m/s). No significant interaction between baPWV and stroke subtype was noted. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that the addition of baPWV to the prediction model significantly improved the discrimination ability for poor functional outcome. Conclusions— baPWV has an independent prognostic value for predicting functional outcome after acute cerebral infarction. The prognostic value did not differ according to the stroke subtype.
Expertise in practice: an ethnographic study exploring acquisition and use of knowledge in anaesthesia.

BACKGROUND Expert professional practice in any field is known to rely on both explicit (formal) and tacit (personal) forms of knowledge. Current anaesthetic training programmes appear to favour explicit knowledge and measurable competencies. We aimed to describe and explore the way different types of knowledge are learned and used in anaesthetic practice. METHOD Qualitative approach using non-participant observation of, and semi-structured interviews with, anaesthetic staff in two English hospitals. RESULTS The development of expertise in anaesthesia rests on the ability to reconcile and interpret many sources of knowledge--clinical, social, electronic, and experiential--and formal theoretical learning. Experts have mastered technical skills but are also able to understand the dynamic and uncertain condition of the anaesthetized patient and respond to changes in it. This expertise is acquired by working with colleagues, and, importantly, by working independently, to develop personal routines. Routines mark the successful incorporation of new knowledge but also function as a defence against the inherent uncertainty of anaesthetic practice. The habits seen in experts' routines are preferred ways of working chosen from a larger repertoire of techniques which can also be mobilized as changing circumstances demand. CONCLUSIONS Opportunities for developing expertise are linked to the independent development of personal routines. Evidence-based approaches to professional practice may obscure the role played by the interpretation of knowledge. We suggest that the restriction of apprenticeship-style training threatens the acquisition of anaesthetic expertise as defined in this paper.
Unfulfilled Obligations in Recommendation Agent Use

We examine whether psychological contract theory and social response theory can explain users’ responses to e-commerce recommendation agents (RAs). Theories of social response to technology, trust in technology, and technology adoption are used to adapt psychological contract theory to explain user-RA relationship. We theorize that a psychological contract breach will cause a negative emotional reaction, called a psychological contract violation, which, via trust and usefulness perceptions, will influence users’ intentions to follow an RAs’ recommendation. We tested our theory using a sample of 426 participants across three studies. Using a sample of 103 participants, Study 1 elicited perceived user-RA obligations, which form the basis for the posited psychological contract. Using a sample of 102 participants, Study 2 demonstrated a significant effect of breaching these obligations on theorized emotional, cognitive, and behavioral reactions to the RA using experimental RAs. Using a sample of 221 subjects, Study 3 confirmed our findings.
Competing and cutoff leaders before “upward illumination”‐type lightning ground strokes

High‐speed video data provide evidence to examine a hypothesis regarding the physical mechanism resulting in the very weak “upward illumination” (UI) strokes occurring within a few milliseconds after a normal return stroke (RS) of a negative lightning flash. These short‐duration (visible < 1 ms) strokes form a new ground connection, without apparent connection to the main RS, over their relatively short (< 3 km) visible upward return path. In a data set of 170 video flashes acquired in 2011 at 50,000 frames per second, there are 20 clear UI examples in 18 flashes at 2.5–32.3 km range from the camera. Average separation values are 1.25 ms and 1.9 km between ground connections of the UI stroke and main RS. In 15 cases, the data show a distinct stepped leader or branch to the UI which develops concurrently with the stepped leader to the main RS. The estimated altitude of the descending UI leader tip just before the main RS occurs ranges from 50 to 610 m, and in seven cases, stepping is visible in the UI leader after the main RS. In most examples, the RS and UI appear as separate channels for their entire visible portion, but in five cases, there is an obvious junction indicating the UI leader is a cutoff branch from the main leader. A generalized schematic of the seven main luminosity stages in a typical UI is described, accompanied by examples of each stage, to support the existence of competing and cutoff leader branches.
Targeted Focal Adhesion Kinase Activation in Cardiomyocytes Protects the Heart From Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

Objective—We previously reported that cardiac-restricted deletion of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) exacerbated myocyte death following ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Here, we interrogated whether targeted elevation of myocardial FAK activity could protect the heart from I/R injury. Methods and Results—Transgenic mice were generated with myocyte-specific expression of a FAK variant (termed SuperFAK) that conferred elevated allosteric activation. FAK activity in unstressed transgenic hearts was modestly elevated, but this had no discernable effect on anabolic heart growth or cardiac function. Importantly, SuperFAK hearts exhibited a dramatic increase in FAK activity and a reduction in myocyte apoptosis and infarct size 24 to 72 hours following I/R. Moreover, serial echocardiography revealed that the transgenic mice were protected from cardiac decompensation for up to 8 weeks following surgery. Mechanistic studies revealed that elevated FAK activity protected cardiomyocytes from I/R-induced apoptosis by enhancing nuclear factor-&kgr;B (NF-&kgr;B)–dependent survival signaling during the early period of reperfusion (30 and 60 minutes). Moreover, adenoviral-mediated expression of SuperFAK in cultured cardiomyocytes attenuated H2O2 or hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced apoptosis, whereas blockade of the NF-&kgr;B pathway using a pharmacological inhibitor or small interfering RNAs completely abolished the beneficial effect of SuperFAK. Conclusion—Enhancing cardiac FAK activity attenuates I/R-induced myocyte apoptosis through activation of the prosurvival NF-&kgr;B pathway and may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for ischemic heart diseases.
Phenolic Compounds from the Flowers of Bombax malabaricum and Their Antioxidant and Antiviral Activities

Three new phenolic compounds 1–3 and twenty known ones 4–23 were isolated from the flowers of Bombax malabaricum. Their chemical structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses (IR, ESI-MS, HR-ESI-MS, 1D- and 2D-NMR) and chemical reactions. The antioxidant capacities of the isolated compounds were tested using FRAP and DPPH radical-scavenging assays, and compounds 4, 6, 8, 12, as well as the new compound 2, exhibited stronger antioxidant activities than ascorbic acid. Furthermore, all of compounds were tested for their antiviral activities against RSV by the CPE reduction assay and plaque reduction assay. Compounds 4, 10, 12 possess in vitro antiviral activities, and compound 10 exhibits potent anti-RSV effects, comparable to the positive control ribavirin.
Trends in phenology of spring triticale in response to air temperature changes in Poland

Ab s t r a c t . The effect of air temperature on variabi lity of phenophase dates and the length of spring triticale interphases was investigated by me ans of simple linear regression analysis. An increase in the mean temperature in Poland observed i n 1965-2004, the biggest for the mean temperature in August (+0.53 o C/10 years, P<0.01) and April (+0.50 o C/10 years, P<0.01), caused significant, with P<0.01, acceleration of phenophase dates. The bigger the size of changes, the later the phenophase it concerned ‐ for beginning of tillering the average acceleration of the date amounted to +1.8 day/10 years, for beginning of shooting +3,4 day/10 years, for beginning of heading +4.2 days /10 years, and for wax maturity as many as +10.2 days / 10 years. The duration of periods of emergencetillering and tillering-shooting in 1984-2004 becam e shortened by, respectively, -1.0 day/10 years and ‐1.5 day/10 years, and the period of heading-w ax maturity by ‐5.9 day/10 years. On the basis of the generalized method of cluster analysis it wa s determined that the biggest yields of spring triticale crops can be obtained with earlier than a verage dates from sowing to beginning of heading, and close to average dates of wax maturity and harv esting, and also longer than average interphases: sowing-emergence, emergence-tillering, shooting-heading and periods: sowing-wax maturity and sowing-harvesting, and with close to average durati on of periods: heading-wax maturity and wax maturity-harvesting. K e y w o r d s : spring triticale, cluster analysis, phenophase, dev elopment period, yield