Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intraoperative Hypothermia is Common, but not Associated With Blood Loss or Transfusion in Pediatric Posterior Spinal Fusion

Background: Intraoperative hypothermia may be associated with increased blood loss due to the effects of temperature on clotting but this has not been evaluated in the setting of pediatric posterior spinal fusion (PSF). The purpose of this study was to determine if a correlation exists between intraoperative hypothermia and estimated blood loss (EBL) or transfusion requirements in pediatric patients undergoing PSF. Methods: A retrospective review of consecutive patients undergoing PSF for scoliosis at a single institution between 6/2004 and 3/2012 was performed. Exclusion criteria were fewer than 10 levels fused, anterior spinal fusion, and patients below 9 years old at time of surgery. Temperature was measured every 15 seconds using esophageal temperature probe. Input variable of hypothermia was analyzed as a binary variable Tmin ⩽35°C at any point during anesthesia and as integrated temperature area under the curve (TAUC). Results: A total of 510 with an average age of 14.6 years (range, 9.0 to 24.3 y) met inclusion criteria. Totally, 56% (287/510) had idiopathic scoliosis (IS) and 44% (223/510) were non-IS. Hypothermia (Tmin⩽35°C) was experienced by 45% (230/510) of all patients [48% (137/287) of IS; 42% (93/223) of non-IS]. A total of 63% (323/510) of patients were transfused with packed red blood cells (PRBC) [49% (141/287) of IS patients; 82% (182/223) of non-IS patients]. There was no correlation between Tmin⩽35°C and transfusion of PRBC in all included patients (P=0.49); (IS patients P=0.45, non-IS patients P=0.61). There was no significant difference in EBL between patients who experienced hypothermia and those who did not (P=0.33; IS patients P=0.21, non-IS patients P=0.87). There was no significant correlation between TAUC and transfusion of PRBC for all patients (P=0.35), IS patients (P=0.26) and non-IS patients (P=0.54) or between TAUC and EBL (P=0.80); (IS patients P=0.57. non-IS patients P=0.62). Conclusions: There was no significant correlation between intraoperative hypothermia and EBL or transfusion of PRBC in pediatric patients undergoing PSF. Level of Evidence: Level III.
Strontium causes osteomalacia in chronic renal failure rats.

BACKGROUND We recently reported an association between increased bone strontium (Sr) levels and osteomalacia in dialysis patients. METHODS To delineate whether or not Sr acts as a causal factor in the development of osteomalacia, we devised the following study: four groups of chronic renal failure (CRF) rats were given Sr, aluminum (Al), both of these compounds or none of the elements (controls). RESULTS Administration of Sr and/or A1 resulted in increased bone levels of the respective elements. Histological examination revealed impairment of mineralization in the Sr group and to a lesser extent in the Al group as compared to the control group. There was also a significant increase in osteoid area in the Sr group, but not in the Al group. No differences in bone surface or erodic perimeter were noted between the various study groups. Histochemically, Sr could be localized in calcified bone, mainly in new bone close to the osteoid/calcification front, a critical site of bone mineralization. Histochemical findings were confirmed by electron probe X-ray microanalysis. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that Sr accumulation in chronic renal failure rats resulted in the development of osteomalacic lesions, in contrast to the Al group where adynamic bone disease was induced in the present set-up. Further studies are required to define the mechanism by which way Sr causes osteomalacia in chronic renal failure rats.
Are You Feeling Lonely? The Impact of Relationship Characteristics and Online Social Network Features on Loneliness

Abstract In contemporary society, many people move away from their personal networks for extended periods to reach professional and/or educational goals. This separation can often lead to feelings of loneliness, which can be stressful and sometimes debilitating for the individual. We seek to understand how a person’s use of online social networks (OSNs)—technology-enabled tools that assist users with creating and maintaining their relationships—might affect their perceptions of loneliness. Prior research has offered mixed results about how OSNs affect loneliness—reporting both positive and negative effects. We argue in this study that a clearer perspective can be gained by taking a closer look at how individuals approach their relationship management in OSNs. Building on theoretical works on loneliness, we develop a model to explain the effects of relationship characteristics (i.e., relationship orientation, self-disclosure, and networking ability) and OSN features (i.e., active or passive) on perceived loneliness. Our findings show that OSN can be linked to both more and less perceived loneliness, that is, individuals’ relationship orientation significantly affects their feelings of loneliness, which are further moderated by their degree of self-disclosure within the OSN. Furthermore, how users engage in the OSN (either actively or passively) influences their perceptions of loneliness. Practical implications regarding perceived loneliness include recommendations for firms to encourage mobile workers to utilize OSNs when separated from others, for education providers to connect with their new students before they arrive, and for users to utilize OSNs as a social bridge to others they feel close with.
Domination and resistance in liberal settler colonialism : Palestinians in Israel between the homeland and the transnational

This thesis explores native resistance to settler colonialism through its focus on the ’48 Palestinians (also known as the Palestinian citizens of Israel). It innovatively brings together postcolonial theory and settler colonial studies to explore the racialised, ethnicised, gendered and sexualised dimensions of settler colonial violence, how these shape native modalities of resistance and subordination, and the ways in which the transnational is imbricated within these processes. The thesis undertakes two case studies – on the Palestinian Bedouin struggle for land rights and on the Palestinian queer movement – drawing upon archival research, other primary texts and ethnographic exploration. The case studies are interrogated in relation to the liberal-nationalist framework that dominates ’48 Palestinian discourse and resistance. The thesis radically critiques the frameworks of ethnocracy, ethnonationalism and minority studies that have been most prevalent in earlier research on ’48 Palestinians. Instead, this study builds on an understanding of resistance as diagnostic of power (Abu-Lughod 1990). It argues that the resistance of Palestinians in Israel is diagnostic of the structure of Israel as a liberal settler state, and unfolds in relation to the liminal positionality of ’48 Palestinians between (semi)liberal citizenship and colonial subjecthood. It further argues that the subjectivities and modalities of resistance of ’48 Palestinians are shaped through the racialising logics of settler colonialism, and the intersectionalities of these logics with ethnicity, gender and sexuality. Through the focus in the two case studies on indigeneity (and the fetishisation of the indigenous subject as premodern) and LGBT rights (and the folding of queer subjects into modernity), the thesis further suggests that the resistance of ’48 Palestinians is also shaped in complex and ambivalent ways by their ongoing encounters with the liberal frameworks of multiculturalism and human rights. The case studies illuminate that while these frameworks can serve as vehicles for empowerment, they can also reproduce the racialising logics of settler colonialism and further its entrenchment. This means that ’48 Palestinians constantly (re)negotiate their identities, their struggles and their political agendas within multiple circuits of power. The ambivalence of the encounter with the liberal settler state, as inclusionary and exclusionary, and human rights, as empowering and oppressive, produces native resistance to settler colonialism to be shaped and reshaped by competing political projects and hybrid modalities of resistance that include practices of self-essentialising, Bhabian notions of resistance as subversion, and a Fanonian politics of rejection as both pedagogy and a political imperative. The thesis concludes that the mobilisation of a more radical vision of decolonisation requires transcendence of both liberal settler colonialism and the liberal politics of human rights.
High serum isoflavone concentrations are associated with the risk of precocious puberty in Korean girls

Objective The gradual decrease in the age of onset of puberty raises concerns about the contribution of phytoestrogen intake on sexual maturation. However, no data are available on the association between serum isoflavone (genistein, daidzein) concentration and central precocious puberty (CPP). The aim of the study was to test the association between serum isoflavone concentrations and the risk of CPP in Korean girls.
The Impact of Audit Committee Financial Expertise on Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) Tone

This study examines whether financial expertise of audit committees affects the quality of textual information conveyed through the management discussion and analysis (MD&A) section of corporate annual reports. Our empirical results reveal that audit committee financial expertise, particularly that which is directly connected to accounting, curtails managerial opportunism in the form of upward management of MD&A tone. In addition, we find that the effect of financial expertise is more pronounced when the audit committee is more powerful or when audit committee members face higher litigation risks. Overall, this study highlights the importance of audit committee financial expertise in improving the quality of qualitative disclosures.
Political Extraction and Corporate Cash Holdings in China

This study investigates how political extraction influences corporate cash holdings in China. Using data for Chinese listed firms between 2003 and 2013, we find that firms headquartered in regions with higher levels of political extraction hold less cash, and the negative effect of political extraction is more significant in more corrupt regions. We also find that the negative relationship between political extraction and cash holdings is more prominent in firms without political ties than those with political ties. Further analysis shows that firms reduce cash holdings by channelling cash into hard assets such as property, plant and equipment. Overall, our study indicates that firms can protect themselves from political extraction by sheltering cash or building political ties. This study also identifies the importance of the anti-corruption campaign in China.
Cardiorespiratory, gastrointestinal, and analgesic effects of morphine sulfate in conscious healthy horses.

OBJECTIVE To compare the cardiorespiratory, gastrointestinal, analgesic, and behavioral effects between IV and IM administration of morphine in conscious horses with no signs of pain. ANIMALS 6 healthy adult horses. PROCEDURES Horses received saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (IM or IV) or morphine sulfate (0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg, IM or IV) in a randomized, masked crossover study design. The following variables were measured before and for 360 minutes after drug administration: heart and respiratory rates; systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressures; rectal temperature; arterial pH and blood gas variables; intestinal motility; and response to thermal and electrical noxious stimuli. Adverse effects and horse behavior were also recorded. Plasma concentrations of morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide, and morphine-6-glucuronide were measured via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS No significant differences in any variable were evident after saline solution administration. Intravenous and IM administration of morphine resulted in minimal and short-term cardiorespiratory, intestinal motility, and behavioral changes. A decrease in gastrointestinal motility was detected 1 to 2 hours after IM administration of morphine at doses of 0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg and after IV administration of morphine at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg. Morphine administration yielded no change in any horse's response to noxious stimuli. Both morphine-3-glucuronide and morphine-6-glucuronide were detected in plasma after IV and IM administration of morphine. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Clinically relevant doses of morphine sulfate yielded minimal and short-term behavioral and intestinal motility effects in healthy horses with no signs of pain. Neither dose of morphine affected their response to a noxious stimulus.
After International Tournaments: Spectator Attendance at Domestic Professional Baseball Games in Taiwan

Abstract Most people believe a good performance by a national team in an international sports tournament can enhance the domestic interest in that sport. By examining the case of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) in Taiwan, this paper investigates the follow-up influence of international tournaments on attendance at domestic games. It has been found that people react differently to tournaments held in and out of Taiwan and to mega and non-mega events. If the national team participates in a mega international tournament abroad, attendance at the CPBL games for the following season increases by 770 people or 24.3% per game. However, for non-mega international tournaments, the attendance effects differ based on how well the national team performs. If the national team cannot beat at least 78% of the teams in a non-mega tournament abroad or half of the teams in a tournament held in Taiwan, the average attendance may fall.
The development of personalised cognitive prosthetics

Persons suffering from mild dementia can benefit from a form of cognitive prosthetic which can be used to assist them with their day to day activities. Within our current work we are aiming to develop a successful user-validated cognitive prosthetic for persons with mild dementia. We have devised a three phased waterfall methodology to support our developments. Based on the evaluation of the first of these phases which involved the processes of user requirements gathering, prototype development and evaluation of in situ deployment of the technology we have been able to guide the technical development within the second phase of our work. Within this paper we provide an overview of the first phase of our methodology and demonstrate how we have used the results from this to guide the second phase of our work, especially with regards to the notion of personalisation.
Refinement and Reduction of Acute Oral Toxicity Testing: A Critical Review of the Use of Cytotoxicity Data

Acute oral toxicity testing is still required for the classification and labelling of chemicals, agrochemicals and related formulations. There have been increasing efforts over the last two decades to reduce the number of animals needed for this testing, according to the Three Rs concept. To evaluate the utility of an in vitro cytotoxicity test in our routine testing for acute oral toxicity, we have implemented in our laboratory the neutral red uptake (NRU) method, with Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts after a 48-hour exposure, which was recommended in ICCVAM Report 07-4519, 2006. Initially, we tested 16 substances that had existing in vivo and in vitro data available, to prove our technical proficiency with the in vitro test. Then, testing was performed with 187 test substances, including a broad variety of chemicals, agrochemicals and formulations. The starting dose for acute oral systemic toxicity assays in rats (LD50) was estimated by using the prediction model presented in the ICCVAM validation study, and subsequently compared to the results obtained by in vivo testing performed according to, or similar to, OECD Test Guideline 423. Comparison of all of the 203 predicted LD50 values that were deduced from the in vitro IC50 values, with the in vivo results from oral toxicity studies in rats, resulted in a low overall concordance of 35%. The in vitro cytotoxicity assay achieved a good concordance of 74%, only for the weakly toxic substances (EU-GHS Cat. 4). However, it must be noted that 71% of the substances tested (i.e. 145/203) were classified as being weakly toxic in vitro. We further analysed the utility of the in vitro test for predicting the starting dose for an in vivo study, and the potential reduction in animal usage that this would engender. In this regard, the prediction by the cytotoxicity test was useful for 59% of the substances. However, the use of a standard starting dose of 300mg/kg bw by default (without previous cytotoxicity testing) would have been almost as useful (50%). In contrast, the prediction by an experienced toxicologist was correct for 95% of the substances. However, this was only performed for 40% of the substances, mainly those of no to low toxicity. Calculating the theoretical animal numbers needed in several scenarios supported these results. The additional analysis, considering some physicochemical data (solubility, molecular weight, log POW), substance class and mode of action, revealed no specific applicability domains. In summary, the use of the 3T3 NRU cytotoxicity data alone did not sufficiently contribute to refinement and reduction in the acute oral toxicity testing of the substance portfolio tested routinely in our laboratory.
Oxidative Unfolding of the Rubredoxin Domain and the Natively Disordered N-terminal Region Regulate the Catalytic Activity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Protein Kinase G*

Mycobacterium tuberculosis escapes killing in human macrophages by secreting protein kinase G (PknG). PknG intercepts host signaling to prevent fusion of the phagosome engulfing the mycobacteria with the lysosome and, thus, their degradation. The N-terminal NORS (no regulatory secondary structure) region of PknG (approximately residues 1–75) has been shown to play a role in PknG regulation by (auto)phosphorylation, whereas the following rubredoxin-like metal-binding motif (RD, residues ∼74–147) has been shown to interact tightly with the subsequent catalytic domain (approximately residues 148–420) to mediate its redox regulation. Deletions or mutations in NORS or the redox-sensitive RD significantly decrease PknG survival function. Based on combined NMR spectroscopy, in vitro kinase assay, and molecular dynamics simulation data, we provide novel insights into the regulatory roles of the N-terminal regions. The NORS region is indeed natively disordered and rather dynamic. Consistent with most earlier data, autophosphorylation occurs in our assays only when the NORS region is present and, thus, in the NORS region. Phosphorylation of it results only in local conformational changes and does not induce interactions with the subsequent RD. Although the reduced, metal-bound RD makes tight interactions with the following catalytic domain in the published crystal structures, it can also fold in its absence. Our data further suggest that oxidation-induced unfolding of the RD regulates substrate access to the catalytic domain and, thereby, PknG function under different redox conditions, e.g. when exposed to increased levels of reactive oxidative species in host macrophages.
A Comparison of Tapered and Nontapered Implants in the Minipig.

PURPOSE Tapered implants are thought to result in equivalent long-term stability and marginal peri-implant bone height in comparison to cylindrical implants. The goal of this study was to compare the primary stability and osseointegration of a novel bone-level tapered-wall implant to a control bone-level cylindrical implant with exactly the same surface characteristics, in a direct side-by-side comparison in an animal model. MATERIALS AND METHODS Mandibular premolars and first molars were extracted in 11 G.ttingen minipigs, and healing was allowed for 3 months. Six implants were placed with a 4-week surgical lag time between hemimandibles (three per side), and either immediately loaded (first implantation time point) or submerged (second implantation time point). Eight-mm-long × 4.1-mm-diameter titanium screw-type bone-level implants with tapered (two per side) and cylindrical bodies (one per side) were used (Institut Straumann); insertion torque and implant stability were measured, and the soft tissue was closed. Standardized radiographs were taken at implant placement and at sacrifice. Following a healing period of 1 month from the last surgical intervention (8 weeks total healing time for loaded implants; 4 weeks total healing time for nonloaded implants), the animals were sacrificed and mandibular blocks were harvested for nondecalcified histologic and histomorphometric analysis. RESULTS All implants were integrated radiographically and osseointegrated histologically. Maximum insertion torque measurements and implant stability quotient values showed no significant difference between tapered and cylindrical implants. Histomorphometric analysis also resulted in comparable bone-to-implant contact values between the implant types and similarly limited marginal peri-implant bone resorption; no significant differences were observed regarding all the evaluated parameters between the groups, regardless of the loading regime. CONCLUSION In a direct side-by-side comparison, in an intraoral minipig model, a novel bone-level tapered screw implant with an SLActive surface showed comparable clinical and histologic outcomes to a parallel-walled bone-level screw implant with an SLActive surface.
Safety and efficacy of radiofrequency-assisted ALPPS (RALPPS) in patients with cirrhosis-related hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract Background and aims: Associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) has high morbidity and mortality. In this study, the safety and efficacy of a modification of ALPPS (radiofrequency-assisted ALPPS, RALPPS) were assessed in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and methods: Patients who were diagnosed with HCC and were considered to have an insufficient future liver remnant (FLR) were enrolled. In stage I, a radiofrequency ablation (RFA) device was used to cauterise along the planned transection plane to form a coagulum avascular area. When the FLR reached above 40%, hepatectomy was performed in stage II along the coagulum area established previously. After two stages, operative morbidity, mortality, per cent increase in FLR, operative time and blood loss were evaluated. Results: Between July 2014 and September 2015, 10 patients with HCC (9 with hepatitis-related cirrhosis) were treated with the RALPPS procedure. The incidence of severe complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥ IIIb) was 20% (2/10). One patient died. No biliary leakage, intraperitoneal infection or post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) occurred after both stages. The median FLR before stage I was 31% (364 ml). This increased to 47% (632 ml) before stage II after a median interval of 28 days. The median percentage increase in FLR was 53% (210 ml). Additionally, the median operative time during the first and second stages was 214 and 281 min, respectively. The corresponding median blood loss was 200 and 550 ml, respectively. Conclusions: RALPPS has a potential advantage in eliminating serious complications of biliary leakage and PHLF associated with classic ALPPS. On the basis of rigorous patient selection criteria, RALPPS may achieve the same effect of promoting significant growth of the FLR in patients with cirrhosis-related HCC and insufficient FLR volume, albeit at the cost of a longer interval time.