Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Laparoscopic ovariectomy in dogs using a single-port multiple-access device

The aim of this case series was to describe a novel technique of single-incision laparoscopic ovariectomy in dogs using the SILS Port (Covidien), a single-port multiple-access device, in 40 client-owned dogs. A single 3 cm incision was made caudal to the umbilicus and the SILS Port device was bluntly introduced. Three cannulae were inserted in the SILS Port through the access channels. In the first 20 cases, a transabdominal suspension suture was used to transfix the ovaries. In all cases, ovariectomy was performed using a standard straight non-roticulated laparoscopic grasper and a vessel sealer/divider device. Mean (sd) duration of the ovarian resection was 25.1 (6.1) minutes (range 16 to 39 minutes). In five dogs (with transabdominal suspension suture), minor bleeding in the mesovarium or in the spleen was observed. Since the SILS Port allows simultaneous use of two instruments and a telescope through a single incision, the suspension suture is not mandatory. The lack of a transabdominal suspension suture increased collision between instruments and the telescope, but triangulation capabilities remained sufficient to achieve visualisation, sufficient manoeuvrability and safe vessel sealer/divider device application. The time to perform ovarian resection remained unaltered with or without suspension suture and regardless of the fat score of the ovarian ligament. Complications were less frequent without a suspension suture.
Surgical versus nonsurgical therapy for lumbar spinal stenosis.

BACKGROUND Surgery for spinal stenosis is widely performed, but its effectiveness as compared with nonsurgical treatment has not been shown in controlled trials. METHODS Surgical candidates with a history of at least 12 weeks of symptoms and spinal stenosis without spondylolisthesis (as confirmed on imaging) were enrolled in either a randomized cohort or an observational cohort at 13 U.S. spine clinics. Treatment was decompressive surgery or usual nonsurgical care. The primary outcomes were measures of bodily pain and physical function on the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form General Health Survey (SF-36) and the modified Oswestry Disability Index at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 and 2 years. RESULTS A total of 289 patients were enrolled in the randomized cohort, and 365 patients were enrolled in the observational cohort. At 2 years, 67% of patients who were randomly assigned to surgery had undergone surgery, whereas 43% of those who were randomly assigned to receive nonsurgical care had also undergone surgery. Despite the high level of nonadherence, the intention-to-treat analysis of the randomized cohort showed a significant treatment effect favoring surgery on the SF-36 scale for bodily pain, with a mean difference in change from baseline of 7.8 (95% confidence interval, 1.5 to 14.1); however, there was no significant difference in scores on physical function or on the Oswestry Disability Index. The as-treated analysis, which combined both cohorts and was adjusted for potential confounders, showed a significant advantage for surgery by 3 months for all primary outcomes; these changes remained significant at 2 years. CONCLUSIONS In the combined as-treated analysis, patients who underwent surgery showed significantly more improvement in all primary outcomes than did patients who were treated nonsurgically. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00000411 [ClinicalTrials.gov].).
High-Gain and Wide-Bandwidth Filtering Planar Antenna Array-Based Solely on Resonators

This paper presents a new approach for the design of high-gain and wide-bandwidth planar antenna arrays. It is based on the coupling matrix theory which allows the design of the arrays using all-resonator structures. The parameters of the matrix offer the flexibility of achieving a controllable bandwidth. They also introduce a frequency filtering functionality into the arrays which can remove the need to place a bandpass filter after the arrays at the very front end of a communication system. The new approach has been applied to using novel topologies to form two wideband $4 \times 4$ planar antenna arrays utilizing rectangular waveguide cavity resonators operated at X-band frequencies. The first topology is seventh order and based on 39 resonators configured in two waveguide-layers; that is one layer for the feed resonators and one layer for the radiating resonators. The second topology is fourth order based on 25 resonators configured only in a single waveguide-layer. Fabrication and measurements have been performed, showing very good agreement with the simulations.
Mitochondrial defect in Huntington's disease caudate nucleus

Although the Huntington's disease (HD) gene defect has been identified, the structure and function of the abnormal gene product and the pathogenetic mechanisms involved in producing death of selective neuronal populations are not understood. Indirect evidence from several sources indicates that a defect of energy metabolism and consequent excitotoxicity are involved in HD. Toxin models of HD may be induced by 3‐nitropropionic acid or malonate, both inhibitors of succinate dehydrogenase, complex II of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. We analyzed mitochondrial respiratory chain function in the caudate nucleus (n = 10) and platelets (n = 11) from patients with HD. In the caudate nucleus, severe defects of complexes II and III (53–59%, p < 0.0005) and a 32–38% (p < 0.01) deficiency of complex IV activity were demonstrated. No deficiencies were found in platelet mitochondrial function. The mitochondrial defect identified in HD caudate parallels that induced by HD neurotoxin models and further supports the role of abnormal energy metabolism in HD. The relationship of the mitochondrial defect to the role of huntingtin is not known.
Degradation of the Reset Switching During Endurance Testing of a Phase-Change Line Cell

In this brief, we studied the endurance properties of an integrated phase-change line cell. The different characteristics typically observed during the endurance lifetime are described. The monitoring of the switching parameters of the cell (reset current and threshold voltage) during endurance testing could be correlated with a gradual degradation of the reset switching. The following conclusions were drawn: 1) The reset-switching degradation is closely associated to both an increase of the minimum reset current and a decrease of the obtained reset and set resistances, pointing to material change; 2) the extent of the degradation strongly depends on the reset pulsewidth, and it was found to scale with tm 3/2, tm being the melting time during reset pulse; however, higher reset currents did not quicken the onset of degradation; and 3) the tm 3/2 dependence together with polarity-dependent endurance tests suggests the contribution of an electrical-field-driven migration mechanism. Based on these insights, the extended endurance lifetime of more than 1010 cycles could be demonstrated, using short reset pulses, which could be further increased by changing reset polarity before stuck-set failure.
Energy-Efficient Approximate Multiplication for Digital Signal Processing and Classification Applications

The need to support various digital signal processing (DSP) and classification applications on energy-constrained devices has steadily grown. Such applications often extensively perform matrix multiplications using fixed-point arithmetic while exhibiting tolerance for some computational errors. Hence, improving the energy efficiency of multiplications is critical. In this brief, we propose multiplier architectures that can tradeoff computational accuracy with energy consumption at design time. Compared with a precise multiplier, the proposed multiplier can consume 58% less energy/op with average computational error of $\sim 1$ %. Finally, we demonstrate that such a small computational error does not notably impact the quality of DSP and the accuracy of classification applications.
On the stability analysis and modelling of a multirate control direct-drive machine tool axis subject to large changes in load dynamics

The high performance demands on commercial CNC machine tools have led to the widespread adoption of direct-drive servo axes. In cases where the workpiece is manipulated by the axis, the plant dynamics seen by the control system may vary widely between different workpieces. In practice it is often found that an axis which has been optimally tuned for a given workpiece becomes unstable when a new workpiece with significantly different geometry is loaded. This paper analyses such a situation. It is shown that conventional modelling approaches, in which the low-order vibrational modes of the axis are represented, but in which details of the current servo are neglected, are unable to predict the experimentally observed limit-cycles. Accurate prediction of these phenomena are obtained by a combination of modal analysis for the mechanical dynamics, and a single-rate representation of the multirate control system, which takes account of computational delays and the current servo dynamics.
A Qualitative Examination of the Needs of Families Faced With the Option of Organ Donation

Fewer than half of families approached about organ donation provide consent. Identifying specific support needs of family members in these situations is critical to help them cope and for improving consent rates. This focus group study retrospectively investigated donor and non-donor family members' perceived social support needs while facing the death of their loved one. Implications for nursing care and other interventions are discussed for interested healthcare providers.
Influence of Service Quality on Banking Customers' Behavioural Intentions

Investigating the influence of SERVQUAL variables on multidimensional model of customers’ behavioral intentions should help to measure, control and improve customer perception of service quality by public banks. Hence, this relational impact should be a central concern for public retail bank managers as well as for service management academics and practitioners. Purposive sampling technique is used to select the respondents from two major public banks of Tirchirappalli city of Tamilnadu, India. Univariate analysis is used to analyze the demographic and rational variables. The service quality variables of tangibility, responsiveness and empathy dimensions play an important role in predicting Customer behavioral intention which is identified using multiple regression analysis. Specific managerial implications and recommendations also presented in this study.
LEF‐1 contains an activation domain that stimulates transcription only in a specific context of factor‐binding sites.

Lymphoid enhancer factor 1 (LEF‐1) is a member of the high mobility group (HMG) family of proteins and participates in the regulation of the T cell receptor (TCR) alpha enhancer. We have previously shown that DNA binding by the HMG domain of LEF‐1 induces a sharp bend in the DNA helix. Together with the dependence of LEF‐1 on other factor‐binding sites to regulate gene expression, DNA bending induced by the HMG domain suggested an ‘architectural’ role for LEF‐1. In this study, we performed experiments to distinguish between a model in which the HMG domain is the only functional determinant of LEF‐1 and a model in which additional domains of LEF‐1 are involved in the regulation of gene expression. First, we show that the HMG domain alone is not sufficient to stimulate TCR alpha enhancer function. Second, we replaced the HMG domain of LEF‐1 with the DNA‐binding domain of the bacterial repressor LexA, which binds a specific nucleotide sequence without inducing a sharp bend in the DNA helix. The chimeric LEF‐LexA protein increased the activity of a TCR alpha enhancer in which the LEF‐1‐binding site had been replaced with a LexA recognition sequence. Transcriptional stimulation by LEF‐LexA, however, was less efficient than that observed with endogenous LEF‐1. The LEF‐LexA‐mediated activation of gene expression was dependent upon an amino‐terminal region of LEF‐1 and a specific context of factor‐binding sites in the TCR alpha enhancer. Neither multimerized LexA‐binding sites, nor TCR alpha enhancers with altered spatial arrangements of factor‐binding sites, were functional for regulation by LEF‐LexA. Together, these data suggest that an aminoterminal region in LEF‐1 contributes to the context‐dependent regulation of the TCR alpha enhancer by LEF‐1, presumably by interacting with other enhancer‐bound proteins.
State-Dependent Alterations in Hippocampal Oscillations in Serotonin 1A Receptor-Deficient Mice

Mice lacking the serotonin 1A receptor (5-HT1AR) show increased levels of anxiety-related behavior across multiple tests and background strains. Tissue-specific rescue experiments, lesion studies, and neurophysiological findings all point toward the hippocampus as a potential mediator of the phenotype. Serotonin, acting through 5-HT1ARs, can suppress hippocampal theta-frequency oscillations, suggesting that theta oscillations might be increased in the knock-outs. To test this hypothesis, local field potential recordings were obtained from the hippocampus of awake, behaving knock-outs and wild-type littermates. The magnitude of theta oscillations was increased in the knock-outs, specifically in the anxiety-provoking elevated plus maze and not in a familiar environment or during rapid eye movement sleep. Theta power correlated with the fraction of time spent in the open arms, an anxiety-related behavioral variable. These results suggest a possible role for the hippocampus, and theta oscillations in particular, in the expression of anxiety in 5-HT1AR-deficient mice.
Impairment due to combined sleep restriction and alcohol is not mitigated by decaying breath alcohol concentration or rest breaks

Epidemiological and laboratory‐based driving simulator studies have shown the detrimental impact of moderate, legal levels of alcohol consumption on driving performance in sleepy drivers. As less is known about the time course of decaying alcohol alongside performance impairment, our study examined impairment and recovery of performance alongside decaying levels of alcohol, with and without sleep restriction.
Methods for Measuring Autophagy in Mice

Autophagy is a dynamic intracellular process that mediates the degradation of damaged cytoplasmic components by the lysosome. This process plays important roles in maintaining normal cellular homeostasis and energy balance. Measuring autophagy activity is critical and although the determination of autophagic flux in isolated cells is well documented, there is a need to have reliable and quantitative assays to evaluate autophagy in whole organisms. Because mouse models have been precious in establishing the functional significance of autophagy under physiological or pathological conditions, we present in this chapter a compendium of the current available methods to measure autophagy in mice, and discuss their advantages and limitations.
Immunotoxic effects of cyclophosphamide and cyclosporine in the dog

Limited non-clinical immunotoxicity data are available in the dog, although this is a major non-rodent species in regulatory safety studies. The present study aimed to test whether widely accepted immunotoxicity endpoints including lymphocyte subset immunophenotyping, the anti-KLH TDAR assay, and histological examination of the main lymphoid organs were reliable to detect immunosuppression induced by cyclosporine and cyclophosphamide in dogs and could, therefore, be used for non-clinical immunotoxicity evaluation in this species. Male and female Beagle dogs were treated orally from Day 1 for 4 weeks with 25 mg/kg cyclosporine daily, or with 2 mg/kg cyclophosphamide on 4 consecutive days each week, or the same volume of drinking water daily. Blood samples were withdrawn pre-test and on Days 11, 18, and 23 to measure standard hematology parameters and analyze lymphocyte subsets. All animals received an intramuscular injection of 5 mg KLH on Day 11. Sandwich ELISA assays were used to quantify anti-KLH IgM and anti-KLH IgG levels in blood samples taken pre-test, on Days 18 and 23, and pre-test, on Days 23 and 28, respectively. At the end of the treatment period, all animals were submitted to histological examination of lymphoid organs, liver, and kidneys. No signs of marked toxicity were observed. No changes in lymphocyte subsets, but markedly decreased primary anti-KLH IgM and IgG responses, and a slightly-to-markedly increased cortex/medulla ratio in the thymus were observed in cyclosporine-treated dogs. Lower total WBC counts correlating with lower total and B-lymphocyte subset and decreased germinal center development in mesenteric lymph nodes, but no changes in primary anti-KLH IgM and IgG responses were observed in cyclophosphamide-treated dogs. These results demonstrate that widely accepted immunotoxicity endpoints can adequately detect the effects of known immunosuppressive drugs in the dog and support the conclusion that it is a relevant animal species for immunotoxicity evaluation.
Glued Catheters during Embolisation of Brain AVMs with Acrylic Glue

We evaluated the frequency and the side effects associated with gluing a piece of microcatheter in the feeder during embolisation of brain AVMs with acrylic glue. A retrospective analysis of 233 brain AVMs embolised with acrylic glue over a 15 year period has shown that 29 microcatheters were glued into the feeder. This represents 936 superselective catheterizations of different feeders followed by injection of glue. There was no side effect in 27 cases. Eight cases were operated upon a few hours or days after the complication occurred. The piece of tubing was removed in six cases. The reason for early surgery was the fear of extensive thrombosis of a major trunk (MCA or BA) or taking advantage of the catheter being still free in the cerebral vessel. In one case of temporal AVM, a Magic 1.5F coiled up into the distal basilar and PCA. In one case of left parietotemporal AVM, surgery was done one month after having glued a piece of tubing into the left MCA without side effect. The patient became hemiplegic and aphasic two hours after surgery. The thrombosed left MCA was reopened with Urokinase. The patient recovered with minor residual aphasia. The risk of side effects increases with the use of the Magic 1.5F that coils up into the vessel more easily than the Magic 1.8F. Leaving a piece of Magic catheter in the feeder to a brain AVM usually has no side effect. When there is a risk of thrombosis of a major trunk (MCA, BA) or when surgical resection is indicated, surgery should be done as soon as possibile because it is usually possible and easy to retrieve the piece of tubing from the intracranial circulation. The frequency of this complication has decreased since we starded using more diluted acrylic glue.
Discordance between malignant hyperthermia susceptibility and RYR1 mutation C1840T in two Scandinavian MH families exhibiting this mutation

The ryanodine receptor 1 (RYR1) mutation C1840T has been reported to segregate with malignant hyperthermia (MH) susceptibility in several families. We have investigated several Scandinavian MH families with respect to five different RYR1 mutations reported to cause predisposition to MH, and we here report on two of the families in which the C1840T mutation was detected. In these two families there was recombination between MH susceptibility and this mutation in one and three individuals, respectively. These findings may suggest that it is necessary to reconsider the specificity of the IVCT and the role of C1840T as a cause of MH susceptibility in some families exhibiting this mutation.
Isolation of Rochalimaea species from cutaneous and osseous lesions of bacillary angiomatosis.

BACKGROUND Bacillary angiomatosis is characterized by vascular lesions, which occur usually in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A newly described gram-negative organism, Rochalimaea henselae, has been associated with cutaneous bacillary angiomatosis, but no organism has been isolated and cultivated directly from cutaneous tissue. METHODS We used two methods to isolate the infecting bacterium from four HIV-infected patients with cutaneous lesions suggestive of bacillary angiomatosis: cultivation with eukaryotic tissue-culture monolayers and direct plating of homogenized tissue onto agar. The patients' blood was cultured with the lysis-centrifugation method. Isolates recovered from skin and blood were identified by sequencing all or part of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplified with the polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS R. quintana, historically known as the agent of trench fever, was isolated from cutaneous lesions in three patients, after tissue homogenates were cultivated with endothelial-cell monolayers; R. henselae was isolated from a cutaneous lesion in one patient. In two patients, R. quintana was isolated from both cutaneous tissue and blood; in one patient it was also isolated from bone. CONCLUSIONS In bacillary angiomatosis, either of two species of rochalimaea--R. quintana or R. henselae--can be isolated from cutaneous lesions or blood, providing an additional method of diagnosis.
Implementation of a Hydrotherapy Protocol to Improve Postpartum Pain Management

Introduction: A growing number of women are seeking alternatives to traditional pharmacologic pain management during birth. While there has been an extensive array of nonpharmacologic options developed for labor, there are limited offerings in the postpartum period. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement a hydrotherapy protocol in the early postpartum period to improve pain management for women choosing a nonmedicated birth. Process: The postpartum hydrotherapy protocol was initiated in a certified nurse‐midwife (CNM) practice in an urban academic medical center. All women who met criteria were offered a 30‐minute warm water immersion bath at one hour postpartum. Pain scores were assessed prior to the bath, at 15 minutes after onset, and again at the conclusion (30 minutes). Women who completed the bath were also asked to complete a brief survey on their experience with postpartum hydrotherapy. Outcomes: In women who used the bath (N = 45), there was a significant reduction in pain scores (P < .001) between the onset of the bath and scores at both 15 minutes and 30 minutes. There was no significant difference between pain scores at 15 minutes and 30 minutes (P = .97). Of those women who completed a survey (n = 43), 97.7% reported both that the bath reduced their pain and improved their birth experience. One hundred percent reported they would use it again in another birth. Discussion: This project demonstrated successful implementation of a hydrotherapy protocol as an alternative or adjunct to medication for early postpartum pain management that significantly reduced pain and improved the birth experience for those who used it. It offers a nonpharmacologic alternative where there have traditionally been limited options.