Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Applications and Outcomes of Orbital and Transorbital Endoscopic Surgery

Objective. To prospectively evaluate the safety, effectiveness, and utility of orbital and transorbital endoscopic surgery. Study Design. Case series with planned data collection. Setting. Level 1 trauma center and tertiary academic hospital. Subjects and Methods. Consecutive sample of 107 patients undergoing orbital or transorbital endoscopic operations. Main Outcome Measures. Ability to achieve intraoperative goals using endoscopic approach; occurrence of predetermined intraoperative or postoperative complications. Results. One hundred seven patients (aged 6-83 years) underwent orbital or transorbital endoscopic surgery for 6 different indications. Seven incisions were used. Endoscopic orbitotomies were made through all 4 orbital walls to access surrounding structures. Intraoperative goals were achieved endoscopically in 106 patients. Mean follow-up was 3 months (mean ± SD, 3.0 ± 3.5). No complication was directly related to surgical approach or use of endoscopy. Seventeen complications were detected in 2 categories: persistent diplopia and persistent vision change. No patient had vision loss. No nonfracture patient suffered a complication. Subgroup analysis demonstrated no difference in surgical success rates when compared with transnasal and transantral medial orbital wall and orbital floor repair and cerebrospinal fluid leak repair. Endoscopic visualization was advantageous in several respects: superior visualization and lighting, particularly posterior to the equator of the globe; image magnification; and video monitoring for education and operating room staff involvement. It also facilitated surgical navigation and computer-aided reconstruction. Conclusion. Orbital and transorbital endoscopy are versatile, effective, and safe approaches useful for addressing diverse urgent and elective problems. In appropriate clinical situations, these procedures may offer better access and visualization than open or transnasal approaches.
SEROPREVALENCE OF BRUCELLOSIS IN HORSES IN AND AROUND FAISALABAD

Rose Bengal Plate test (RBPT) and Serum Agglutination test (SAT) were used to monitor the seroprevalence of brucellosis in horses in and around Faisalabad, Pakistan. Sera were screened by RBPT and positive or doubtful sera were further processed by SAT for confirmation. The overall seroprevalence of brucellosis in horses was 20.7 and 17.7% by RBPT and SAT, respectively. Source wise seroprevalence of brucellosis was 19.8, 25.5, 2.9 and 0% in horses of Remount Area Faisalabad, Remount Area Toba Tek Singh, private and Livestock Management Department University of Agriculture Faisalabad, respectively. Sex wise seroprevalence in horses was 9.67 and 17.7% in male and female, respectively. In relation to age, seroprevalence was 12.9, 16.5, 14.8 and 20.6%, in horses of 1-5, 6-10, 11-15 and above 15 years of age, respectively. Highest seroprevalence was recorded in horses of above 15 years of age. Depending upon the body condition, the seroprevalence was 9.7, 13, and 20% in poor fair, and good body conditioned horses, respectively. Seroprevalence of brucellosis on the basis of parity was 19.2, 20.9, 18.7, 16.6, and 21.1% in 0, 1, 2, 3 and above 3 foaling females, respectively. Prevalence of brucellosis in different breeds of horses was 22.4, 17.1, 25.7 and 0.0% in Desi, Thoroughbred, Crossbred and Arabian horses, respectively. However, statistically, in relation to various factors like source, sex, body condition, parity and breed of horses, a non significant difference was observed among various groups. Statistically a significant difference (P<0.001) in seroprevalence was observed with respect to age, only.
Killer Ig-like Receptor 2DL4 Does Not Mediate NK Cell IFN-γ Responses to Soluble HLA-G Preparations

The MHC class Ib molecule HLA-G has previously been reported to be the ligand for the NK cell receptor killer Ig-like receptor (KIR)2DL4, but this remains controversial. In this study, we investigated IFN-γ production by freshly isolated NK cells in response to both soluble and solid-phase ligands, including anti-KIR2DL4 mAbs and rHLA-G. Although freshly isolated CD56bright NK cells produced IFN-γ in response to soluble HLA-G preparations, the response was found to be absolutely dependent on the presence of small numbers of contaminating CD56−, CD14−, CD11c+ myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs). HLA-G tetramers bound only to the contaminating mDCs in the NK preparations, and Abs to KIR2DL4 and HLA-G did not block NK cell IFN-γ production. NK cells did not respond to plate-bound HLA-G. Freshly isolated NK cells also produced IFN-γ in response to unpurified soluble anti-KIR2DL4 mAb but not to low endotoxin affinity–purified Ab. The data suggest that previous reports of functional interactions between KIR2DL4 and HLA-G may have resulted from the use of purified NK cells that were contaminated with mDCs and HLA-G preparations that were contaminated with material capable of stimulating mDCs to produce cytokines that stimulate NK cells to produce IFN-γ.
Linear and Nonlinear Effects of Habitat Structure on Composition and Abundance in the Macroinvertebrate Community of a Large River

Abstract We used an experiment and regression analyses to quantify effects of spatial variation in habitat structure abundance on a riverine macroinvertebrate community under winter conditions. Concrete slabs (0.21 m2; n = 24) with different numbers of stones (mean individual stone surface area = 6.44 cm2) attached to upper faces were placed in the James River and retrieved after 28 d. Macroinvertebrate abundance and taxonomic richness on slabs were significantly positively related to stone abundance. Total macroinvertebrate abundance and abundance of oligochaetes (Nais spp.), Asiatic clams (Corbicula fluminea), caddisflies (Leptoceridae), riffle beetles (Elmidae) and stoneflies (Strophopteryx sp.) were linearly related to stone abundance. However, nonlinear relationships occurred between stone abundance and macroinvertebrate taxonomic richness and between stone abundance and abundance of dragonflies (Erpetogomphus sp.), caddisflies (Hydropsychidae), chironomids (Eukiefferiella spp.), mayflies (Ephemerellidae) and stoneflies (Taeniopteryx sp.). Nonlinear relationships were usually characterized by dramatic increases in macroinvertebrate abundance and taxonomic richness across a gradient of increasing stone abundance when abundance was low (0–43 stones/0.08 m2 slab face; 0–40% of slab face covered by stones), but weak responses to additional stones at higher stone abundance (84–160 stones/0.08 m2; 89–96% cover). These nonlinear relationships reflected similar nonlinear relationships between abundance of stones and particulate matter. We conclude that small quantities of habitat structure have significant positive effects on macroinvertebrate abundance and diversity in the James River during winter. At a local scale, habitat structure promotes macroinvertebrate colonization and retention by increasing habitat diversity. Stones and similar physical objects also indirectly benefit macroinvertebrates by trapping particulate matter that provides animals with food and additional habitat.
Kartesische Impedanzregelung von Robotern mit elastischen Gelenken: Ein passivitätsbasierter Ansatz (Cartesian Impedance Control of Flexible Joint Robots: A Passivity Based Approach)

Abstract Der Beitrag beschreibt einen neuen Ansatz zur kartesischen Impedanzregelung von Robotern mit elastischen Gelenken. Die vorgeschlagene Reglerstruktur basiert auf einfachen physikalischen Überlegungen, die eine Erweiterung klassischer Positionsrückführungen um eine zusätzliche Rückführung der Gelenk-Drehmomente motivieren. Der Regler benötigt nur die ersten Ableitungen der Messgrößen und kann somit einfach implementiert werden. Es wird gezeigt, dass sich der geschlossene Regelkreis als Zusammenschaltung passiver Teilsysteme darstellen lässt. Abschließend werden experimentelle Ergebnisse des vorgestellten Reglers mit dem DLR-Leichtbauroboter-II beschrieben.
Telbivudine versus lamivudine in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B: Results at 1 year of a randomized, double‐blind trial

Chronic hepatitis B and its life‐threatening sequelae are highly prevalent in China. There is a need for effective new therapies to suppress hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication and ameliorate liver disease. In this study, we compared the efficacy of telbivudine, a nucleoside analogue, with lamivudine in Chinese patients. In this phase III, double‐blind, multicenter trial conducted in China, 332 patients with compensated hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)–positive or HBeAg‐negative chronic hepatitis B were randomly assigned to treatment with 600 mg of telbivudine or 100 mg of lamivudine daily for 104 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was reduction in serum HBV DNA levels at week 52 of treatment. Secondary endpoints included clearance of HBV DNA to undetectable levels, HBeAg loss and seroconversion, therapeutic response, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization. Viral resistance and safety were assessed. At week 52, among 290 HBeAg‐positive patients, mean reductions of serum HBV DNA were significantly greater in telbivudine recipients than lamivudine recipients (6.3 log10 versus 5.5 log10, P < 0.001), and HBV DNA was polymerase chain reaction–negative in significantly more telbivudine recipients than lamivudine recipients (67% versus 38%, P < 0.001). ALT normalization (87% versus 75%, P = 0.007), therapeutic response (85% versus 62%, P = 0.001), and HBeAg loss (31% versus 20%, P = 0.047) were also significantly more common in the telbivudine group. Treatment effects showed similar patterns in the smaller HBeAg‐negative group (n = 42). Viral resistance in telbivudine recipients was approximately half that observed with lamivudine; however, this difference was not statistically significant. Clinical adverse events were similar in the two treatment groups. Conclusion: In Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B, telbivudine treatment for 52 weeks provided greater antiviral and clinical efficacy than lamivudine, with less resistance. (HEPATOLOGY 2007.)
STEADY DIFFUSION-DRIVEN FLOW IN A TILTED SQUARE CONTAINER

This paper considers ‘diffusion-driven flows’, for which a temperature flux condition on a sloping non-slip surface in a stratified fluid generates a slow steady upward flow along a thin ‘buoyancy layer’. The principles for this steady-flow phenomenon are well-understood in a semi-infinite fluid and more recently have been applied to steady flows within a contained fluid under more general conditions, including where buoyancy layers expel or entrain fluid from their outer edge. In this paper additional features of these flows are described in the context of a two-dimensional flow in a tilted square box, and some of the finer details of flow structure are elucidated. In particular, the key regions of the asymptotic structure are considered when the Wunsch-Phillips parameter R is small, and the leading-order solutions are derived in most of those regions. To illustrate the theory, three simple case studies of diffusion-driven motion are solved, and the results compared with accurate numerical solutions for R = 10−4. In some cases a ‘corner-induced’ motion is found to occur, extending across the width of the container. The details of that feature are examined using both higher-order solutions of the outer flow and an integral treatment across the corner regions, and a solution for the corresponding ‘R-layer flow’ is proposed. Theoretical and numerical results are compared as the angle of inclination β is varied.
Inheritance of moyamoya disease in a Caucasian family

Background and purpose: Moyamoya disease is a very rare occlusive cerebrovascular disorder characterized by progressive stenosis or occlusion of the intracranial portion of the internal carotid artery and proximal cerebral arteries with an extensive network of fine collaterals. The aetiology and genetic susceptibility of moyamoya disease, especially in Caucasians, still remains unclear.
Progressive refinement for high resolution limited feedback multiuser MIMO beamforming

Limited feedback enables the practical use of channel state information in single user and multiple user MIMO (multiple input multiple output) wireless communication systems. Using the limited feedback concept, channel state information at the receiver is quantized by choosing a representative element from a codebook known to both the receiver and transmitter. Unfortunately, achieving the high resolution required by multiuser MIMO communication is challenging due to the large size codebooks required. This paper proposes a progressive refinement concept that uses a base codebook quantization followed by a progressively scaled local codebook to enable high resolution quantization and reconstruction.
Honorary authorship in radiologic research articles: do geographic factors influence the frequency?

PURPOSE To quantify the potential effect of geographic factors on the frequency of honorary authorship in four major radiology journals. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this institutional review board-approved study, an electronic survey was sent to first authors of all original research articles published in American Journal of Roentgenology, European Radiology, Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and Radiology during 2 years (July 2009 through June 2011). Questions addressed guidelines used for determining authorship, perception of honorary authorship, and demographic information. Univariate analysis was performed by using χ(2) tests. Multiple-variable logistic regression models were used to assess independent factors associated with the perception of honorary authorship. RESULTS Of 1398 first authors, 328 (23.5%) responded. Of these, 91 (27.7%) perceived that at least one coauthor did not make sufficient contributions to merit authorship, and 165 (50.3%) stated that one or more coauthors performed only "nonauthor" tasks according to International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) criteria. The perception of honorary authorship was significantly higher (P ≤ .0001) among respondents from Asia and Europe than from North America and in institutions where a section or department head was automatically listed as coauthor. A significantly lower (P ≤ .0001) perception of honorary authorship was associated with adherence to ICMJE criteria and with policies providing lectures or courses on publication ethics. CONCLUSION Perceived honorary authorship was substantially higher among respondents from Asia and Europe than from North America. Perceived honorary authorship was lower with adherence to the ICMJE guidelines and policies providing lectures or courses on publication ethics.
Overexpression of OsERF48 causes regulation of OsCML16, a calmodulin‐like protein gene that enhances root growth and drought tolerance

Summary The AP2/ERF family is a plant‐specific transcription factor family whose members have been associated with various developmental processes and stress tolerance. Here, we functionally characterized the drought‐inducible OsERF48, a group Ib member of the rice ERF family with four conserved motifs, CMI‐1, ‐2, ‐3 and ‐4. A transactivation assay in yeast revealed that the C‐terminal CMI‐1 motif was essential for OsERF48 transcriptional activity. When OsERF48 was overexpressed in an either a root‐specific (ROXO s ERF 48) or whole‐body (OXO s ERF 48) manner, transgenic plants showed a longer and denser root phenotype compared to the nontransgenic (NT) controls. When plants were grown on a 40% polyethylene glycol‐infused medium under in vitro drought conditions, ROXO s ERF 48 plants showed a more vigorous root growth than OXO s ERF 48 and NT plants. In addition, the ROXO s ERF 48 plants exhibited higher grain yield than OXO s ERF 48 and NT plants under field‐drought conditions. We constructed a putative OsERF48 regulatory network by cross‐referencing ROXO s ERF 48 root‐specific RNA‐seq data with a co‐expression network database, from which we inferred the involvement of 20 drought‐related genes in OsERF48‐mediated responses. These included genes annotated as being involved in stress signalling, carbohydrate metabolism, cell‐wall proteins and drought responses. They included, OsCML16, a key gene in calcium signalling during abiotic stress, which was shown to be a direct target of OsERF48 by chromatin immunoprecipitation‐qPCR analysis and a transient protoplast expression assay. Our results demonstrated that OsERF48 regulates OsCML16, a calmodulin‐like protein gene that enhances root growth and drought tolerance.
Long‐term melatonin administration increases polyunsaturated fatty acid percentage in plasma lipids of hypercholesterolemic rats

This study was designed to investigate the effect of melatonin on the fatty acid composition of plasma and tissue lipids. Melatonin administration to rats fed with a standard diet only increased long‐chain n‐6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in total plasma lipids and liver phospholipids but induced significant changes in hypercholesterolemic rats. In plasma, palmitoleic and oleic acids increased and n‐6 and n‐3 PUFA decreased in hypercholesterolemic rats; theses changes were reversed by melatonin administration. The analysis of lipid fractions revealed that only the cholesteryl ester fraction was affected by melatonin. Histological studies of the carotid artery intima revealed the appearance, in hypercholesterolemic rats, of fatty streaks produced by a mass of foam cells covered by the endothelium and by a thin layer of mononucleated cells. These changes were prevented by melatonin. We conclude that long‐term melatonin administration modifies the fatty acid composition of rat plasma and liver lipids and ameliorates the arterial fatty infiltration induced by cholesterol.
Advantages of a wholly Bayesian approach to assessing efficacy in early drug development: a case study

This paper illustrates how the design and statistical analysis of the primary endpoint of a proof‐of‐concept study can be formulated within a Bayesian framework and is motivated by and illustrated with a Pfizer case study in chronic kidney disease. It is shown how decision criteria for success can be formulated, and how the study design can be assessed in relation to these, both using the traditional approach of probability of success conditional on the true treatment difference and also using Bayesian assurance and pre‐posterior probabilities. The case study illustrates how an informative prior on placebo response can have a dramatic effect in reducing sample size, saving time and resource, and we argue that in some cases, it can be considered unethical not to include relevant literature data in this way. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Absence of Nexin Links as a Possible Causeof Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia

Transmission electron microscopy of nasal cilia was performed in three patients, two of them siblings, with repeated respiratory infections. Number of microtubuli and dynein arms were within normal limits and they had an ordered arrangement except for a disarray of the microtubuli in some areas of the biopsies from two of the patients. In the normal areas radial spokes and sheaths were easily found but nexin links could not be discerned in any of the patients. The orientation of the cilia was partly random. As all patients repeatedly and constantly had very low nasal NO (range 9-15 ppb; normal findings for persons <10 years old are > 50 ppb), the diagnoses were very likely primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). Absence of nexin links may be an ultrastructural variant of PCD. Deficiency of these structures might be the cause of the microtubular disarray observed in some areas of the biopsies.
Computation of L+ for Several Cubic Pisot Numbers

In this article, we are dealing with β-numeration, which is a generalization of numeration in a non-integer base. We consider the class of simple Parry numbers such that dβ(1) = 0.k1d-1 kd with d ∈ ℕ, d ≥ 2 and k1 ≥ kd ≥ 1. We prove that these elements define Rauzy fractals that are stable under a central symmetry. We use this result to compute, for several cases of cubic Pisot units, the maximal length among the lengths of the finite β-fractional parts of sums of two β-integers, denoted by L_⊕. In particular, we prove that L_⊕ = 5 in the Tribonacci case.
Effectiveness of Statins in Reducing the Rate of Severe Sepsis: A Retrospective Evaluation

Study Objectives. To determine whether use of 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) is associated with a reduced rate of severe sepsis, and to further characterize the effect of statins on the frequency of organ dysfunction in patients with severe sepsis.
Colonic perforation at CT colonography: assessment of risk in a multicenter large cohort.

PURPOSE To assess retrospectively the incidence, clinical features, and treatment of colonic perforation at computed tomographic (CT) colonography in a large multicenter cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was performed in accordance with the institutional ethics committees' requirements of a retrospective review in each of the participating centers, and no informed consent was required. A review of all patients who underwent CT colonography between January 2001 and December 2004 in 11 medical centers representing more than 95% of studies performed in a single country was performed to determine the rate of colorectal perforation. Data about patient demographics and patient- and procedure-related risk were recorded. Information about the location of the perforation, its likely mechanism, and treatment was collected. Analysis included calculation of rates of colonic perforation and surgical treatment and of 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS A total of 11 870 CT colonographic studies were performed in 6837 (57.6%) men and 5033 (42.4%) women (mean age, 59.9 years; range, 38-90 years) with seven cases of colorectal perforation, yielding a risk rate of 0.059% (one of 1696 studies; 95% confidence interval: one of 974, 971 of 6537). The mean age of the patients with perforation was 77.8 years. Six (84%) of seven cases of perforation occurred in symptomatic patients at high risk for colorectal neoplasia, and one (16%) occurred in an asymptomatic average-risk patient. All studies were performed after insufflation of room air. Six (84%) cases of perforation occurred in patients in whom a rectal tube was inserted, and in five of them, a balloon was inflated. Five (71%) cases of perforation occurred in the sigmoid colon; and two (29%), in the rectum. Four (57%) patients (one in 2968 patients; 95% confidence interval: 1.5 in 10 000, 14.7 in 10 000) required surgical treatment. Possible factors that contributed to perforation were left inguinal hernia containing colon (n = 4), severe diverticulosis (n = 3), and obstructive carcinoma (n = 1). CONCLUSION Perforation of the colon and rectum is a rare complication of CT colonography. Older age and underlying concomitant colonic disease were present in patients with perforation.
Private Equity and Employees

Using linked employer-employee data from Sweden, a difference-in-difference approach, and 201 private equity buyouts undertaken between 1998 and 2004, we show that unemployment risk declines and labor income increases for employees in the wake of a private equity buyout. Unemployment risk declines despite lower employment growth for continuing establishments - attributable to hiring freezes rather than to layoffs - and a lack of change in firm level employment growth. A plausible explanation is relaxed financial constraints: the effects are strongest in industries dependent on external finance for growth, for non-divisional buyouts, and for buyouts just prior to 2001.