Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Accuracy of pedicle screw insertion in the cervical spine for internal fixation using frameless stereotactic guidance.

OBJECT Although transpedicular fixation is a biomechanically superior technique, it is not routinely used in the cervical spine. The risk of neurovascular injury in this region is considered high because the diameter of cervical pedicles is very small and their angle of insertion into the vertebral body varies. This study was conducted to analyze the clinical accuracy of stereotactically guided transpedicular screw insertion into the cervical spine. METHODS Twenty-seven patients underwent posterior stabilization of the cervical spine for degenerative instability resulting from myelopathy, fracture/dislocation, tumor, rheumatoid arthritis, and pyogenic spondylitis. Fixation included 1-6 motion segments (mean 2.2 segments). Transpedicular screws (3.5-mm diameter) were placed using 1 of 2 computer-assisted guidance systems and lateral fluoroscopic control. The intraoperative mean deviation of frameless stereotaxy was < 1.9 mm for all procedures. RESULTS No neurovascular complications resulted from screw insertion. Postoperative computed tomography (CT) scans revealed satisfactory positioning in 104 (90%) of 116 cervical pedicles and in all 12 thoracic pedicles. A noncritical lateral or inferior cortical breach was seen with 7 screws (6%). Critical malplacement (4%) was always lateral: 5 screws encroached into the vertebral artery foramen by 40-60% of its diameter; Doppler sonographic controls revealed no vascular compromise. Screw malplacement was mostly due to a small pedicle diameter that required a steep trajectory angle, which could not be achieved because of anatomical limitation in the exposure of the surgical field. CONCLUSIONS Despite the use of frameless stereotaxy, there remains some risk of critical transpedicular screw malpositioning in the subaxial cervical spine. Results may be improved by the use of intraoperative CT scanning and navigated percutaneous screw insertion, which allow optimization of the transpedicular trajectory.
Lasting damage.

In undergoing this life, many people always try to do and get the best. New knowledge, experience, lesson, and everything that can improve the life will be done. However, many people sometimes feel confused to get those things. Feeling the limited of experience and sources to be better is one of the lacks to own. However, there is a very simple thing that can be done. This is what your teacher always manoeuvres you to do this one. Yeah, reading is the answer. Reading a book as this lasting damage and other references can enrich your life quality. How can it be?
Chronic Disease

Men experience chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and chronic obstructive diseases at alarming rates. Geneau et al. (2010) propose that chronic disease is not only a national health issue but also an international health issue that creates a global health burden. Chronic disease is now the leading cause of death and disability worldwide and will account for more than three fourths of all deaths in 2030. Additionally, more than 80% of the worldwide mortality occurs in low-income and middle-income countries (Geneau et al., 2010). Chronic diseases are directly linked to individual-, family-, and community-level outcomes. One of the primary means to alleviate the morbidity and mortality associated with chronic disease is to mobilize the resources necessary to strengthen prevention. Geneau et al. (2010) propose a political process model as a framework to affect chronic disease burdens. The model consists of three processes to strengthen prevention efforts: reframing the debate, identification and creation of political opportunities, and mobilization of resources (Geneau et al., 2010). The debate can be reframed regarding the potential associated factors that cause chronic diseases by linking chronic diseases to the determinants of health. Jeanfreau, Porche, and Lee (2010) cite the determinants of health as physical– biological, behavioral, environmental, and economic–political. Physical–biological determinants of health consist of the genetic, family history, and physical and mental/psychological characteristics. Behavioral determinants of health are the habits, practices, and activities that define an individual’s responses or reactions to things in the environment. Environmental determinants consist of the physical and social environment. The economic–political determinant of health consists of the financial, political, and policy decisions that affect men’s health. Promoting a stronger prevention agenda aligned with chronic diseases links directly to our Nation’s Healthy People 2020 objectives. This natural link of determinants of health as causative factors associated with chronic disease provides an excellent platform to politically propose health policy focusing on the ultimate impact of chronic disease but using primary prevention efforts as the strategy. The political process would need to engage policy makers to the extent that primary prevention health policies that affect chronic disease morbidity and mortality have adequate resource allocation. This editorial does not necessary present a new link of chronic disease to the need for prevention efforts; however, this editorial uses Geneau et al.’s (2010) political process model linked to the nation’s determinants of health to promote primary prevention and chronic disease prevention and management as a critical health policy issue that must be placed on our nation’s policy agenda. Rethink chronic diseases as opportunities for prevention!
CAMAP: Artificial neural networks unveil the role of codon arrangement in modulating MHC-I peptides presentation

MHC-I associated peptides (MAPs) play a central role in the elimination of virus-infected and neoplastic cells by CD8 T cells. However, accurately predicting the MAP repertoire remains difficult, because only a fraction of the transcriptome generates MAPs. In this study, we investigated whether codon arrangement (usage and placement) regulates MAP biogenesis. We developed an artificial neural network called Codon Arrangement MAP Predictor (CAMAP), predicting MAP presentation solely from mRNA sequences flanking the MAP-coding codons (MCCs), while excluding the MCC per se. CAMAP predictions were significantly more accurate when using original codon sequences than shuffled codon sequences which reflect amino acid usage. Furthermore, predictions were independent of mRNA expression and MAP binding affinity to MHC-I molecules and applied to several cell types and species. Combining MAP ligand scores, transcript expression level and CAMAP scores was particularly useful to increaser MAP prediction accuracy. Using an in vitro assay, we showed that varying the synonymous codons in the regions flanking the MCCs (without changing the amino acid sequence) resulted in significant modulation of MAP presentation at the cell surface. Taken together, our results demonstrate the role of codon arrangement in the regulation of MAP presentation and support integration of both translational and post-translational events in predictive algorithms to ameliorate modeling of the immunopeptidome. Author summary MHC-I associated peptides (MAPs) are small fragments of intracellular proteins presented at the surface of cells and used by the immune system to detect and eliminate cancerous or virus-infected cells. While it is theoretically possible to predict which portions of the intracellular proteins will be naturally processed by the cells to ultimately reach the surface, current methodologies have prohibitively high false discovery rates. Here we introduce an artificial neural network called Codon Arrangement MAP Predictor (CAMAP) which integrates information from mRNA-to-protein translation to other factors regulating MAP biogenesis (e.g. MAP ligand score and transcript expression levels) to improve MAP prediction accuracy. While most MAP predictive approaches focus on MAP sequences per se, CAMAP’s novelty is to analyze the MAP-flanking mRNA sequences, thereby providing completely independent information for MAP prediction. We show on several datasets that the integration of CAMAP scores with other known factors involved in MAP presentation (i.e. MAP ligand score and mRNA expression) significantly improves MAP prediction accuracy, and further validate CAMAP learned features using an in-vitro assay. These findings may have major implications for the design of vaccines against cancers and viruses, and in times of pandemics could accelerate the identification of relevant MAPs of viral origins.
Remaining Useful Life Estimation Based on a Nonlinear Diffusion Degradation Process

Remaining useful life estimation is central to the prognostics and health management of systems, particularly for safety-critical systems, and systems that are very expensive. We present a non-linear model to estimate the remaining useful life of a system based on monitored degradation signals. A diffusion process with a nonlinear drift coefficient with a constant threshold was transformed to a linear model with a variable threshold to characterize the dynamics and nonlinearity of the degradation process. This new diffusion process contrasts sharply with existing models that use a linear drift, and also with models that use a linear drift based on transformed data that were originally nonlinear. Both existing models are based on a constant threshold. To estimate the remaining useful life, an analytical approximation to the distribution of the first hitting time of the diffusion process crossing a threshold level is obtained in a closed form by a time-space transformation under a mild assumption. The unknown parameters in the established model are estimated using the maximum likelihood estimation approach, and goodness of fit measures are applied. The usefulness of the proposed model is demonstrated by several real-world examples. The results reveal that considering nonlinearity in the degradation process can significantly improve the accuracy of remaining useful life estimation.
Study on the effect of avocado extract on apoptosis, oxidative stress and injuries induced by diethyl nitrosamine in rat liver

Avocado (Persea americana) has antioxidant, anti inflammatory, anti obesity, anticancer effects. The effect of avocado extract(AVOE) on liver tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF- α), cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2), lipoxygenase (LOX), caspase-3, DNA fragmentation (DNAF), nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), total protein(TP) as well as serum lipid profile and liver functions in rats treated and untreated with diethyl nitrosamine (DEN) was studied. The levels of TNF- α, COX-2, LOX, caspase-3, DNAF, NO, MDA, TP as well as serum lipid profile and liver functions showed an elevation in rats treated with DEN as compared to control. Treatment of rats with AVOE pre, during, and post DEN administration improved TNF- α, COX-2, LOX, caspase-3, DNAF, NO, MDA, TP levels as well as serum lipid profile and liver functions as compared to DEN, indicates that AVOE reduced oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis induced by DEN. Treatment of healthy rats with AVOE only for 30 days not induced oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis for normal liver tissues.
The formation of the superior and jugular ganglia: Insights into the generation of sensory neurons by the neural crest

The superior and jugular ganglia (S/JG) are the proximal ganglia of the IXth and Xth cranial nerves and the sensory neurons of these ganglia are neural crest derived. However, it has been unclear the extent to which their differentiation resembles that of the Dorsal Root Ganglia (DRGs). In the DRGs, neural crest cells undergo neuronal differentiation just after the onset of migration and there is evidence suggesting that these cells are pre‐specified towards a sensory fate. We have analysed sensory neuronal differentiation in the S/JG. We show, in keeping with previous studies, that neuronal differentiation initiates long after the cessation of neural crest migration. We also find no evidence for the existence of migratory neural crest cells pre‐specified towards a sensory phenotype prior to ganglion formation. Rather our results suggest that sensory neuronal differentiation in the S/JG is the result of localised spatiotemporal cues. Developmental Dynamics 239:439–445, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
EFFECT OF FEED PARTICLE SIZE ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENSIN GHANA

Maize supplies poultry with a major part of their energy requirement particularly in Ghana and some other parts of the world. However, most feed producers especially in Ghana do not examine feed particles size as a quality indicator in assessing feed preparation. Particle size of an ingredient is therefore very critical in achieving optimum utilization by animals. The manner in which ingredients are ground and the coarseness of that grind has a direct impact on the physiology of birds. The effect of feed particle size was investigated in a five-week study using 120 mixed-sex four week-old Cobb-500 broiler chickens. The birds were allocated randomly (completely randomized design) to three diets designated as T1 ,T2 and T3 each of which contained maize of varying particle sizes namely ‘smooth,’ ‘coarse’ and ‘very coarse’. All diets had identical formulation and specifications with the only variable being the size of the ground maize. Birds had free access to feed and water. Parameters studied included feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion efficiency, mortality, and carcass parameters. Feed cost per kg diet and feed cost per kg body weight gain were estimated. The results of the study indicated variations in the mean body weights at the end of the five-week experimental period. Birds fed on diet T1 consumed the least feed but were more efficient in converting feed to weight gain. Birds on diet T1 registered the highest dressing percentage while gizzard and liver weights were highest for birds on T3. Five mortalities were recorded, three from birds on dietary treatment T1 and one each from dietary treatments T2 and T3. Feed cost averaged GH¢0.30 per kg for all the treatments but cost of feed to produce a kg body weight was highest for birds on diet T3. Based on the fact that improvement in feed efficiency is more consistent for particle size reduction, a mean particle size of maize diet between 600 and 900μm is recommended for poultry farmers. Moreover, a routine particle size monitoring programme should include checking ground grain or one complete diet at least twice a year to assist feed millers produce feed of optimal particle size. Once these are made available to the poultry industry, production would be increased hence high income and better standard of living.
Phytochemical, Proximate and Mineral contents of Leaves and Back of Ficus Capensis

: The phytochemical, proximate and mineral contents of Ficus capensis (leaves & bark) were analyzed, using Trease and Evans and Harboure procedure, the Association of Official Analytical Chemist (AOAC) method and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry and Flame Photometry respectively. This study is aimed at evaluating (using ethanol and water as solvents) the nutrient composition, phytochemical constituents and minerals present . The results of the phytochemical screening showed the presence of tannins, terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides and reducing sugars, with steroids and anthraquinones absent in the water extract of the leaves and bark of Ficus capensis. Saponin was however present in the bark but absent in the leaves (water extract) of the plants . Terpenoids, flavonoids, steroids, cardiac glycosides and reducing sugars were present in ethanol extract of the leaves and bark, while anthraquinones were absent. Alkaloids were present in the ethanol extracts of the bark but absent in leaves. The proximate analysis of the leaves and bark of Ficus capensis yielded 25.80% and 10% for moisture, 17.47% and 3.73% for proteins, 1.80% and 2% for crude fat, 11.00% and 10.95% for ash, 41.00% and 20.5% for crude fiber and 2.93% and 52.82% for carbohydrates respectively. The mineral analysis of the leaves and bark of the plant yielded calcium-2640.00mg/kg and 1772mg/kg, magnesium- 2383.00mg/kg and 1605mg/kg, iron-25.00mg/kg and 6.6mg/kg, zinc-29.30mg/kg and 4.4mg/kg, copper-14.60mg/kg and 6mg/kg and phosphorus-1012mg/kg and 305mg/kg. Manganese was absent in the bark but yielded 1.1mg/kg in the leaves. Sodium and potassium were not detected in the leaves but yielded the values 97.2mg/kg and 126.4mg/kg in the bark. The presence of some phytochemicals (saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, tannins and terpenoids) and some essential minerals proves that it is really an alternative source of medicine. ©
Antiretroviral activities of acyclic nucleoside phosphonates [9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl)adenine, 9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl)guanine, (R)-9-(2-phosphonylmethoxypropyl)adenine, and MDL 74,968] in cell cultures and murine sarcoma virus-infected newborn NMRI mice

From a side-by-side comparative study, the acyclic nucleoside phosphonates (R)-9-(2-phosphonylmethoxypropyl)adenine [(R)-PMPA] and 9-(2-methylidene-3-phosphonomethoxypropyl)guanine (MDL 74,968) proved more selective in their inhibitory effect on human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2, feline immunodeficiency virus, and Moloney murine sarcoma virus (MSV) in cell cultures than the 9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl) derivatives of adenine (PMEA) and guanine (PMEG). In particular, PMEG proved quite toxic. PMEA, (R)-PMPA, and MDL 74,968 afforded a marked delay in MSV-induced tumor initiation in MSV-infected newborn NMRI mice and substantially delayed associated animal death at doses as low as 4 to 10 mg/kg of body weight. Treatment of the NMRI mice with PMEA, (R)-PMPA, and MDL 74,968 at 25 or 50 mg/kg resulted in a high percentage of long-term survivors.
Ultrasound elastography for the age determination of venous thrombi

Summary The exact age determination of venous thrombi is important if thrombolytic therapy or surgical thrombectomy is considered. Clinical symptoms as well as duplex-ultrasound and phlebography are unreliable in this respect and do not allow an exact age estimation. Ultrasound elastography can provide information about the elastic properties of thrombi. Since thrombus elasticity decreases with age due to the organisation process, it should be possible to use elastography to stage the degree of organisation and thereby determine the age of venous thrombi. Experimental venous thrombi aging 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 days were created in a porcine model by laparoscopic ligation of the infrarenal Vena cava in combination with transfemoral infusion of thrombin. The thrombosed iliac veins were explanted and embedded in gelatine, after that they underwent examination by ultrasound elastography. In addition, histological evaluation of the thrombi was performed. Elastography demonstrated a decline in thrombus elasticity between days 6 and 12 with the 12-day-old thrombi being about 3 times harder then the 6-dayold thrombi. This correlated with the histological findings, which demonstrated a marked increase in fibroblast and collagen production in the clots during this time, with the 12– and 15-day thrombi showing signs of advanced organisation. In conclusion, in an experimental setting, ultrasound elastography was helpful in determining the exact age of venous thrombi. The differences in elasticity were most pronounced between days 6 and 12, which is also the most relevant time frame when considering invasive therapies in human venous thrombosis.
Signal sequences encode information for protein folding in the endoplasmic reticulum

One-third of newly synthesized proteins in mammals are translocated into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) through the Sec61 translocon. It remains unclear how protein translocation coordinates with the chaperone availability to promote protein folding in the ER. We find that signal sequences cause a translocation pause at the Sec61 translocon until nascent chains engage with luminal chaperones for efficient translocation and folding in the ER. Using a substrate-trapping proteomic approach, we identify that nascent proteins with marginally hydrophobic signal sequences accumulate on the cytosolic side of the Sec61 translocon, which recruits BiP chaperone through Sec63 to bind onto nascent chains. Surprisingly, BiP binding not only releases translocationally paused nascent chains into the ER lumen but also ensures protein folding. Increasing hydrophobicity of signal sequences bypasses Sec63/BiP-dependent protein translocation but translocated nascent chains misfold and aggregate under conditions of limited BiP availability in the ER. Thus, signal sequence-dependent protein folding explains why signal sequences are diverse and use multiple protein translocation pathways.
Sustained attention and vigilance deficits associated with HIV and a history of methamphetamine dependence

Background Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated neurocognitive disorders persist in the era of antiretroviral therapy (ART). One factor that is elevated among persons with HIV (PWH) and independently associated with neurocognitive impairment is methamphetamine dependence (METH+). Such dependence may further increase cognitive impairment among PWH, by delaying HIV diagnosis (and thus, ART initiation), which has been posited to account for persistent cognitive impairment among PWH, despite subsequent treatment-related viral load suppression (VLS; ≤50 copies of the virus per milliliter in plasma or cerebrospinal fluid). This study examined the independent and combined (additive versus synergistic) effects of HIV and history of METH+ on the sustained attention and vigilance cognitive domain, while controlling for VLS. Methods Participants included 205 (median age=44 years; 77% males; HIV-/METH- n=67; HIV+/METH - n=49; HIV-/METH+ n=36; HIV+/METH+ n=53) individuals enrolled in the Translational Methamphetamine AIDS Research Center, who completed Conners’ and the 5- Choice continuous performance tests (CPTs). Results METH+ participants exhibited deficits in sustained attention and vigilance; however, these effects were not significant after excluding participants who had a positive urine toxicology screen for methamphetamine. Controlling for VLS, PWH did not have worse sustained attention and vigilance, but consistently displayed slower reaction times across blocks, relative to HIV-participants. There was no HIV x METH interaction on sustained attention and vigilance. Conclusions Recent methamphetamine use among METH+ people and detectable viral loads are detrimental to sustained attention and vigilance. These findings highlight the need for prompt diagnosis of HIV and initiation of ART, and METH use interventions.