Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Right Thoracic Curves in Presumed Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: Which Clinical and Radiographic Findings Correlate With a Preoperative Abnormal Magnetic Resonance Image?

Study Design. Prospective case control study. Objective. This study investigated preoperative presumed adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients with right thoracic curves to determine which clinical and radiographic findings correlate with neural axis abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Summary of Background Data. Neural axis abnormalities on MRI are not uncommon in patients with left thoracic curves, increased thoracic kyphosis, and in children less than 10 years old. For adolescents with right thoracic curves, less is known regarding which clinical and/or radiographic characteristics accompany neural axis abnormalities. Methods. A total of 529 presumed AIS patients with Lenke 1–4 right thoracic curve patterns had MRI evaluation before surgery. Thirty-six of these patients had abnormal MRIs (syrinx, Chiari malformation, and/or tethered cord). To differentiate between those with normal MRIs (n = 493) and those with abnormal MRIs (n = 36), the following preoperative clinical parameters were evaluated: age, gender, height, weight, asymmetric abdominal reflexes, thoracic rotation (scoliometer), coronal balance, trunk shift, shoulder elevation, and the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)-30 questionnaire. Radiographically, thoracic curve magnitude, thoracic rotation (Nash-Moe), coronal balance, trunk shift, length of thoracic curve, location of curve apex, sagittal balance, thoracic kyphosis (T2–T12), and lumbar lordosis were evaluated. Results. Neural axis abnormalities were found in 6.8%. Those with abnormal MRI findings had significantly greater clinical thoracic rotation (mean difference, 2.4°) and significantly greater radiographic thoracic kyphosis (mean difference 5.9°). However, there were no significant differences in: age (14.9 vs. 14.7 years), height for age (when adjusted for gender), asymmetric abdominal reflexes (3.5% normal MRI group vs. 6.1% abnormal group), coronal balance (clinical or radiographic), trunk shift(clinical or radiographic), shoulder elevation, thoracic curve magnitude (61.4° normal MRI group vs. 63.6° abnormal group), length of thoracic curves (7.0 segments normal group vs. 7.2 segments abnormal group), location of curve apexes, radiographic sagittal balance, or any domains of the preoperative SRS-30 questionnaire. Conclusion. Of preoperative presumed AIS patients with right thoracic curves who underwent MRI evaluation of the neural axis, 6.8% were found to have neural axis abnormalities, with those having increased rotation and/or increased kyphosis at higher risk. Surgeons should use this information when deciding whether a preoperative MRI is indicated in those with right thoracic AIS curve patterns.
Postoperative ventilatory and circulatory effects of heating after aortocoronary bypass surgery

Twenty‐four patients with stable angina pectoris were studied after aortocoronary bypass surgery with hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Twelve patients (radiant heat supply group) were rewarmed during CPB to a nasopharyngeal temperature of at least 38°C and a mean rectal temperature of 34.4°C. Postoperatively they received radiant heat supply from a thermal ceiling. In addition, a heating water mattress was used during the end of the operation and heated, humidified inspired gases were administered intra‐ and postoperatively. The other 12 patients (combination heat supply group) had the rewarming during CPB extended until the rectal temperature exceeded 36°C, but otherwise received the same treatment as the radiant heat supply group. The combination of extended rewarming during CPB and postoperative radiant heat supply significantly reduced oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide production and the required ventilation volumes during early recovery as compared with the values in the radiant heat supply group. The reduced metabolic demands were accompanied by lower cardiac index and oxygen delivery, which, however, were sufficient for adequate tissue perfusion as judged by the similarity in oxygen extraction and arterial base excess values in the two groups. The metabolic demands and ventilatory requirements were reduced to a level at which safe early extubation is possible.
The Global Reach of the 26 December 2004 Sumatra Tsunami

Numerical model simulations, combined with tide-gauge and satellite altimetry data, reveal that wave amplitudes, directionality, and global propagation patterns of the 26 December 2004 Sumatra tsunami were primarily determined by the orientation and intensity of the offshore seismic line source and subsequently by the trapping effect of mid-ocean ridge topographic waveguides.
Segregación ocupacional y diferencias salariales por género en España: 1995-2002

Este articulo presenta nueva evidencia sobre el impacto de la segregacion ocupacional en la explicacion de las diferencias salariales por genero en Espana en 1995 y 2002. Se utilizan datos de la Encuesta de Estructura Salarial (EES-95 y EES-2002), con las que se puede identificar el establecimiento al que cada trabajador pertenece, asi como identificar el salario base y los complementos salariales como componentes fundamentales del salario total. El primer resultado derivado del trabajo es que al comparar hombres y mujeres de la misma empresa y ocupacion, asi como de la misma edad, nivel educativo y tipo de contrato, las diferencias salariales totales ascienden a un 14% a favor de los hombres tanto en 1995 como en el 2002. Estas diferencias se originan especialmente en los complementos salariales, dado que las diferencias en el salario base no superan el 5%, mientras que el diferencial en los complementos salariales asciende al 31% a favor de los hombres. Si aceptamos que hombres y mujeres que trabajan en la misma empresa y ocupacion realizan tareas muy parecidas, podriamos concluir que no se cumple el principio de ? mismo pago por mismo trabajo? , dada la diferencia salarial encontrada. El segundo resultado del trabajo radica en la importancia de la segregacion ocupacional: la segregacion de mujeres en empresas y ocupaciones dentro de una misma empresa de baja remuneracion contribuye de manera significativa a la explicacion de los diferenciales salariales encontrados, sobre todo en terminos de menor salario base, y por tanto de categorias profesionales mas bajas.
Buprenorphine retention in primary care.

BACKGROUND This study assesses the rate and predictors of treatment retention for primary care patients with opioid dependence-prescribed buprenorphine, a long-acting partial opioid agonist. METHODS Observational cohort study of patients prescribed buprenorphine/naloxone and followed for 6 months in the period after the adoption of buprenophine/naloxone by a primary care practice in Rhode Island. Practice policy precluded patient discharges due to continuing drug use. RESULTS Patients (n=41) had a mean duration of opioid use of 15.7 years and most had a history of heroin use (63.4%). Thirty-nine percent of patients transferred from methadone maintenance. At 24 weeks, 59% remained in treatment. Nearly half of dropouts occurred in the first 30 days. Participants with opiate-positive toxicologies at week 1 were more likely to drop out of the program (P<.01) and had a significantly shorter retention time (P<.01) on average. Among other drug use and drug treatment variables, employment and addiction counseling during treatment were significantly associated with treatment retention (P=.03). CONCLUSION Retention rates in a real world, primary care-based buprenorphine maintenance practice reflect those reported in clinical trials. Abstinence during the first week of treatment and receipt of counseling were critical to patient retention.
Axions and SN 1987A.

We consider the effect of free-streaming axion emission on numerical models for the cooling of the newly born neutron star associated with SN 1987A. We find that for an axion mass of greater than approx.10/sup -3/ eV, axion emission shortens the duration of the expected neutrino burst so significantly that it would be inconsistent with the neutrino observations made by the Kamiokande II and Irvine-Michigan-Brookhaven detectors. However, we have not investigated the possibility that axion trapping (which should occur for masses greater than or equal to0.02 eV) sufficiently reduces axion emission so that axion masses greater than approx.2 eV would be consistent with the neutrino observations.
Location and type of isocitrate dehydrogenase mutations influence clinical characteristics and disease outcome of acute myeloid leukemia

Background: Mutations of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 are novel common genetic alterations identified in acute myeloid leukemia. Aims: To investigate the frequency, clinical associations and prognostic effect of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 mutations together, followed by a detailed investigation of particular mutations. Methods: A consecutive cohort of 376 patients diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia were enrolled to compare clinical characteristics. Prognostic impact was analyzed for 314 patients younger than 60 years treated with curative intention. Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 mutations were screened using allele-specific PCR and high resolution melting, followed by a confirmatory sequencing. Results: Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) 1 and 2 mutations were mutually exclusive, detected in 8.5% and 7.5% of the cases respectively. Presence of mutations was associated with older age (p=0.001), higher platelet count (p=0.001), intermediate risk karyotype (p<0.0001), nucleophosmin1 mutation (p=0.022), and with lower mRNA expression level of ABCG2 gene (p=0.006), as compared to mutation negative cases. Remission, relapse rates and overall survival were not different in IDH-mutation positive patients. Interestingly, particular mutations differred in association with nucleophosmin1 mutation: co-occurrence was observed in 14.3% of R132C vs. 70% of R132H carriers (p=0.02); and in 47.4% of R140Q vs. 0% R172K carriers (p=0.02) of IDH1 and IDH2 genes, respectively. R132H negatively influenced overall survival compared to isocitrate dehidrogenase 1 and 2 negative (p=0.02) or to R132C (p=0.019) patients. Conclusions: IDH mutations are frequent recurrent mutations in acute myeloid leukemia. Although a general common pathogenetic role is proposed, our results indicate that differences in clinical characteristics and treatment outcome may exist among disctinct mutations of both genes.
On the materials basis of modern society

Significance Modern life is enabled by the use of materials in its technologies. Over time, these technologies have used a larger and more diverse array of materials. Elemental life cycle analyses yield an understanding of these materials, and a definite concern that arises is that of possible scarcity of some of the elements as their use increases. We studied substitution potential for 62 different metals in their major uses. For a dozen different metals, the potential substitutes for their major uses are either inadequate or appear not to exist at all. Further, for not 1 of the 62 metals are exemplary substitutes available for all major uses. It is indisputable that modern life is enabled by the use of materials in its technologies. Those technologies do many things very well, largely because each material is used for purposes to which it is exquisitely fitted. The result over time has been a steady increase in product performance. We show that this materials complexity has markedly increased in the past half-century and that elemental life cycle analyses characterize rates of recycling and loss. A further concern is that of possible scarcity of some of the elements as their use increases. Should materials availability constraints occur, the use of substitute materials comes to mind. We studied substitution potential by generating a comprehensive summary of potential substitutes for 62 different metals in all their major uses and of the performance of the substitutes in those applications. As we show herein, for a dozen different metals, the potential substitutes for their major uses are either inadequate or appear not to exist at all. Further, for not 1 of the 62 metals are exemplary substitutes available for all major uses. This situation largely decouples materials substitution from price, thereby forcing material design changes to be primarily transformative rather than incremental. As wealth and population increase worldwide in the next few decades, scientists will be increasingly challenged to maintain and improve product utility by designing new and better materials, but doing so under potential constraints in resource availability.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 N-Terminal Capsid Mutants That Exhibit Aberrant Core Morphology and Are Blocked in Initiation of Reverse Transcription in Infected Cells

ABSTRACT A group of conserved hydrophobic residues faces the interior of the coiled-coil-like structure within the N-terminal domain of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) capsid protein (CA). It has been suggested that these residues are important for maintaining stable structure and functional activity. To investigate this possibility, we constructed two HIV-1 clones, in which Trp23 or Phe40 was changed to Ala. We also constructed a third mutant, D51A, which has a mutation that destroys a salt bridge between Pro1 and Asp51. All three mutants are replication defective but produce virus particles. Mutant virions contain all of the viral proteins, although the amount and stability of CA are decreased and levels of virion-associated integrase are reduced. The mutations do not affect endogenous reverse transcriptase activity; however, the mutants are blocked in their ability to initiate reverse transcription in infected cells and no minus-strand strong-stop DNA is detected. The defect in reverse transcription is associated with striking defects in the morphology of mutant virus cores, as determined by transmission electron microscopy. Our data indicate that the mutations made in this study disrupt CA structure and prevent proper maturation of virus cores. We propose that this results in a defect in core stability or in an early postentry event preceding reverse transcription.
Architectural Level Test Generation and Fault Simulation

In this thesis, a high level branch-and-bound based ATPG approach will be first presented. This method is a reasonable extension of the gate level ATPG approaches. Although various effective techniques have been applied, this method has sluggish performance for circuits with complicated data path or control. The second approach, based on a nonlinear equation solving, is proposed to overcome the difficulties. The test generation process is separated into two phases. An instruction sequence assembling methodology is developed in the first phase to search for a valid instruction sequence for the injected test vector of the module under test. In the second phase, a complete system of nonlinear equations is derived based on the instruction sequence, and a discrete relaxation algorithm is proposed to solve this system of equations to derive the value solution. In the first phase, only path analysis is performed so that the complexity of searching is significantly reduced. The exact value solution is derived in the second phase and the data flow value conflicts are efficiently solved. The experimental results show that the proposed techniques are very effective and promising. In a hierarchical test generation process, the system level functional constraints on the inputs of the module under test cause the ATPG to be inefficient. This thesis will propose both top-down and bottom-up techniques to overcome control constraints and bus constraints. The experimental results show that a very significant speedup can be achieved. An architectural level fault simulator using symbolic data is proposed in this thesis to relieve the dependence of the complete gate level description. At the architectural level, the behavioral simulation uses symbolic data to simultaneously process the fault effects for groups of faults in the module under simulation to accelerate the process. Combined with the high level test generation techniques, this new fault simulation technique forms a complete test generation package at the architectural level. The proposed fault simulator has also been implemented, and the experimental results show that both functional tests and test vectors generated by ATPG tools can be successfully simulated on the benchmark circuits. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
Dental caries and fluorosis prevalence and their relationship with socioeconomic and behavioural variables among 12-year-old schoolchildren.

PURPOSE To evaluate caries experience and fluorosis prevalence in 12-year-old schoolchildren in Piracicaba, Brazil in 2007 and to verify the relationship of these changes with socioeconomic and behavioural variables. MATERIALS AND METHODS The sample consisted of 724 schoolchildren from public and private schools. A calibrated dentist performed the examination under natural light using CPI probes and mirrors. The mean number of decayed, missing and filled permanent teeth (DMFT) and the SiC (Significant Caries Index) were determined for dental caries and the Thylstrup and Fejerskov index (T-F) for fluorosis. Socioeconomic and behavioural variables were collected by means of a questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to verify the relationship of caries and fluorosis with socioeconomic and behavioural variables. RESULTS The DMFT and SiC indices were 0.85 (±1.54) and 2.52 (±1.72). Fluorosis prevalence was 29.42%. The regression models showed that children whose families earned up to four minimum wages were 2.58 times more prone to having caries than those whose families earned over four minimum wages. Furthermore, children who visited the dentist were 4.27 times more likely to have DMFT > 0. However, for fluorosis, the regression model was not significant. CONCLUSIONS The 12-year-old schoolchildren in Piracicaba presented very low caries prevalence. Significant associations were observed between the presence of caries, monthly family income and visiting the dentist. Considering dental fluorosis, the majority of the sample presented no clinical signs of fluorosis.
Making Peoples: A History of the New Zealanders from Polynesian Settlement to the End of the Nineteenth Century

Making Maori: the prehistory of New Zealand hunters and gardeners the rise of the tribes life before history. Contact and empire: the European discovery of New Zealand the Maori discovery of Europe fatal impact? empire? converting conversion conquest? swamps, sticks and carrots. Making Pakeha: the Pakeha prospectus getting in taken in? getting on lumped, split and bound.
High power operation at high temperature of AlGaInAs/InP widely tunable BH laser

We fabricated high performance 1550 nm widely tunable lasers which are integrated 12-channel DFB laser array and SOA with buried-heterostructure configuration based on the AlGaInAs/InP system. We investigated the lasing performance at high temperature of the widely tunable laser. The output power as high as 90 mW at a temperature of 70 °C was achieved, which is the highest output power ever reported to our best knowledge.
Influence of physical fitness on the performance of 5-minute continuous chest compression

Objective Inadequate chest compressions during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) may be insufficient to provide the required blood flow to preserve critical organ function. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of the CPR provider's physical fitness on the quality of chest compression and physiological changes during continuous chest compressions for 5 min. We also investigated the possible effects of rescuer's sex, weight, and height on the quality of CPR performed. Methods Forty-seven participants performed uninterrupted chest compressions on a manikin for 5 min. Before performing CPR, the physical fitness of every candidate was assessed using common measures of physical fitness, including maximal aerobic exercise capacity, muscle strength, muscle power, muscle endurance, and reactive agility. To evaluate the physical strain, we monitored the ratings of perceived exertion score, heart rate, minute ventilation volume, volume of carbon dioxide production per minute, and volume of oxygen consumption per minute during CPR performance. Results There was a significant reduction in the percentage of correct compressions after the first minute: 78.8% in the first, 57.2% in the second, 43.4% in the third, 36.5% in the fourth, and 28.0% in the fifth minute (P<0.001). We observed good correlations between the numbers of correct compressions with muscle strength at each minute except the first minute. In multiple regression analyses, only muscle strength affects the quality of correct chest compression (R2=49.4%, P<0.05). Conclusion The results of this study suggest that a fitness program, such as muscle strength exercise for CPR providers, should be considered for improving survival from cardiac arrest.
Effect of the Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein Genotypes on Plasma Lipid and Lipoprotein Levels in Vietnamese Children

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is understood to play a regulatory role in HDL cholesterol (HDLC) metabolism. In this study, the effect of CETP genotypes on plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels in 348 Vietnamese girls (aged 7–9) with different nutritional conditions was analyzed. The two mutations, intron 14 G(+1)-to-A (I14A) and Asp 442 to Gly within exon 15 (D442G), and the TaqIB polymorphism in the CETP gene were identified by an Invader assay. The D442G mutation was present with a frequency of 0.034, while the I14A mutation was absent. HDLC levels were significantly higher in carriers of the D442G mutation than in noncarriers, regardless of the nutritional status. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglyceride levels were not significantly lower in carriers of D442G mutation. The frequency of the TaqIB2 allele was 0.34, which was lower than that observed in other Asian populations. TaqIB2B2 carriers also had significantly higher HDLC levels, but this association was weaker than that of the D442G mutation. Overall, genetic variations at the CETP gene locus may account for a significant proportion of HDLC variation in Vietnamese children.
Increased urinary excretion of bilirubin oxidative metabolites in septic patients: a new marker for oxidative stress in vivo.

BACKGROUND Bilirubin oxidative metabolites (BOMs) are generated from bilirubin as a result of its scavenging action against free radicals. During sepsis, excess amounts of free radicals are produced, and they play an important role in the pathophysiological process. We studied whether urinary excretion of BOMs would increase under septic conditions in humans and compared BOM levels with other well-established clinical parameters of inflammation. METHODS In 19 septic patients and 28 nonseptic control patients, the BOM concentrations in urine were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with an anti-bilirubin antibody. RESULTS Urinary BOM levels in septic patients were much higher than those in control patients (21.6 +/- 2.5 vs 1.4 +/- 0.4 micromol/g creatinine, P < 0.001). Although there was a linear correlation between urinary BOM and serum total bilirubin levels (r = 0.392, P = 0.008), serum bilirubin levels were not significantly higher in the septic group than in the control group (P = 0.072). BOM levels correlated with body temperature (r = 0.801, P < 0.001), white blood cell counts in the peripheral blood (r = 0.590, P < 0.001), serum C-reactive protein (r = 0.653, P < 0.001), and the acute physiological and chronic health evaluation (APACHE II) score (r = 0.467, P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrated a urinary increase in BOMs in septic patients. This increase indicates that urinary BOM level is a possible marker for continuous monitoring of sepsis severity in clinical practice.