Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Vertebral Morphology in Idiopathic Scoliosis with Use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Multiplanar Reconstruction

Background: Several studies have provided data on the vertebral morphology of normal spines, but there is a paucity of data on the vertebral morphology in patients with idiopathic scoliosis.Methods: The morphology of the pedicles and bodies of 307 vertebrae as well as the distance between the pedicles and the dural sac (the epidural space) in twenty-six patients with right-sided thoracic idiopathic scoliosis were analyzed with use of magnetic resonance imaging and multiplanar reconstruction.Results: A distinct vertebral asymmetry was found at the apical region of the thoracic curves, with significantly thinner pedicles on the concave side than on the convex side (p < 0.05). The degree of intravertebral deformity diminished farther away from the apex, with vertebral symmetry restored at the neutral level. In the thoracic spine, the transverse endosteal width of the apical pedicles measured between 2.3 mm and 3.2 mm on the concave side and between 3.9 mm and 4.4 mm on the convex side (p < 0.05). In the lumbar spine, the pedicle width measured between 4.6 mm at the cephalad part of the curve and 7.9 mm at the caudad part of the curve. The chord length and the pedicle length gradually increased from 34 mm and 18 mm, respectively, at the fourth thoracic vertebra to 51 mm and 25 mm, respectively, at the third lumbar vertebra. The transverse pedicle angle measured 15° in the cephalad aspect of the thoracic spine, decreased to 7° at the twelfth thoracic vertebra, and increased again to 16° at the fourth lumbar vertebra. The width of the epidural space was <1 mm at the thoracic apical vertebral levels and averaged 1 mm at the lumbar apical vertebral levels on the concave side, whereas it was between 3 mm and 5 mm on the convex side (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Idiopathic scoliosis is associated with distinctive intravertebral deformity, with smaller pedicles on the concave side and a shift of the dural sac toward the concavity.Clinical Relevance: Care must be exercised during pedicle-screw instrumentation, especially in the apical region of the concavity of thoracic curves, because of the small pedicle width and the limited epidural safe zone in this area. Surgeons should be aware of these altered conditions when considering pedicle-screw instrumentation for patients with thoracic scoliosis.
Lay perceptions of serious illnesses: An adapted version of the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R) for healthy people

The present study was undertaken to develop a version of the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R) for healthy individuals. The perceptions of AIDS, tuberculosis and skin cancer were assessed in a national sample of 1113 healthy individuals, recruited at random from different working environments. Item selection was determined by principal components analyses, which verified the factorial structure of the questionnaire. Earlier, a pilot study provided some evidence of the good internal reliability of the subscales and the retest reliability at 3 weeks. The results indicate that the factorial structure of the IPQ-R for healthy individuals (IPQ-RH) is similar to the structure for different patient groups, with an internal reliability for each illness dimension ranging from 0.64 to 0.81. The IPQ-RH dimensions account for significant variance in attitudes and intentions towards the adoption of preventive behaviours. The results lend further support for the theoretically derived dimensions of illness representations, and could be used to provide the basis for new research and interventions in health promotion.
Hepatitis C virus infections among HIV-infected men who have sex with men: an expanding epidemic

Background:Since 2000 outbreaks of sexually transmitted hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infections have been reported among HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM). We studied the prevalence and determinants of HCV-infection among MSM attending a large sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic in the Netherlands. Methods:In 2007–2008, 3125 attendees of the STI clinic Amsterdam, including 689 MSM, participated in an anonymous biannual crosssectional survey. Participants were interviewed and screened for HIV and HCV antibodies. Additionally, all anti-HCV positive and HIV-infected individuals were tested for HCV RNA. Using phylogenetic analysis, HCV strains of the STI clinic attendees were compared with those isolated from MSM with acute HCV in 2000–2007. Determinants of HCV-infection were analysed using logistic regression. Results:Two of 532 (0.4%) HIV-negative MSM and 28 of 157 (17.8%) HIV-positive MSM were infected with HCV. Over the study period, HCV prevalence among HIV-infected MSM increased (14.6%–20.9%). Seven of 28 (25.0%) HIV/HCV coinfected MSM had acute HCV infection. Only five of 28 (17.9%) HIV/HCV coinfected MSM ever injected drugs (IDU). HIV-infection, IDU, fisting and gamma hydroxy butyrate (GHB)-use were significantly associated with HCV-infection. Phylogenetic analyses revealed a high degree of MSM-specific clustering. Conclusion:We found a high and increasing HCV prevalence in HIV-infected MSM. Though not statistically significant, this trend, and the relatively large proportion of acute infections suggest ongoing transmission of HCV in HIV-positive MSM. Regardless of IDU, rough sexual techniques and use of recreational drugs were associated with HCV-infection; phylogenetic analysis supported sexual transmission. Targeted prevention, like raising awareness and routine testing, is needed to stop the further spread among HIV-infected MSM, and to prevent possible spillover to HIV-negative MSM.
Intention to Adopt Knowledge through Virtual Communities: Posters vs. Lurkers

Purpose – This study aims to examine the social capital and technical determinants of knowledge adoption intentions in virtual communities and to explore the differences between posters and lurkers.Design/methodology/approach – An online survey was conducted with a sample of 318 virtual community participants for a structural equation model test.Findings – The structural and cognitive social capital, peer influence, and perceived usefulness positively contribute to virtual community participants' attitudes and intentions toward knowledge adoption. Lurkers' attitudes are more influenced by network ties, reciprocity norms, shared vision, and perceived usefulness, whereas posters are more affected by social trust and shared language.Research limitations/implications – The results produced in the Chinese context may not fully apply to other cultures.Practical implications – Devising effective strategies to increase social capital and content value is crucial for fostering virtual community members' positive a.
Metastasectomy in malignant melanoma.

BACKGROUND Resection of distant metastases in melanoma is occasionally helpful. The extent of applicability of this treatment, the benefit derived, and the prognostic parameters aiding in the selection of the patients need to be defined further. METHODS The cases of one hundred fourteen patients with resected distant metastases were reviewed and subjected to multivariate analysis. RESULTS The median survival after metastasectomy was 19 months and the estimated 5-year survival rate was 22%. The 5-year survival rate was 33% for those with distant subcutaneous metastases, 22% for those with distant lymph node metastases, and 14% for those with pulmonary metastases (p = 0.12). Twenty patients (18%) are disease free at a median follow-up of 106 months. Significant prognostic parameters were the thickness of the primary melanoma (p = 0.05), the number of metastatic lesions (p = 0.03), and the prior disease-free interval (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Resection of distant metastases is applicable in about one fourth of patients with disseminated melanoma. With adherence to certain selection criteria the resulting 5-year survival rate is appreciable and higher than that after other, currently available treatments.
Content-Aware Bit Shuffling for Maximizing PCM Endurance

Recently, phase change memory (PCM) has been emerging as a strong replacement for DRAM owing to its many advantages such as nonvolatility, high capacity, low leakage power, and so on. However, PCM is still restricted for use as main memory because of its limited write endurance. There have been many methods introduced to resolve the problem by either reducing or spreading out bit flips. Although many previous studies have significantly contributed to reducing bit flips, they still have the drawback that lower bits are flipped more often than higher bits because the lower bits frequently change their bit values. Also, interblock wear-leveling schemes are commonly employed for spreading out bit flips by shifting input data, but they increase the number of bit flips per write. In this article, we propose a noble content-aware bit shuffling (CABS) technique that minimizes bit flips and evenly distributes them to maximize the lifetime of PCM at the bit level. We also introduce two additional optimizations, namely, addition of an inversion bit and use of an XOR key, to further reduce bit flips. Moreover, CABS is capable of recovering from stuck-at faults by restricting the change in values of stuck-at cells. Experimental results showed that CABS outperformed the existing state-of-the-art methods in the aspect of PCM lifetime extension with minimal overhead. CABS achieved up to 48.5% enhanced lifetime compared to the data comparison write (DCW) method only with a few metadata bits. Moreover, CABS obtained approximately 9.7% of improved write throughput than DCW because it significantly reduced bit flips and evenly distributed them. Also, CABS reduced about 5.4% of write dynamic energy compared to DCW. Finally, we have also confirmed that CABS is fully applicable to BCH codes as it was able to reduce the maximum number of bit flips in metadata cells by 32.1%.
Granular cell variant of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans

References 3 . Davis 1. Shapiro L. Barall. Vulvitis circumscriota ~ l a s m a cellularis. /. Am. Acad. ofDermatol. 1983: 8: 413-416. 4. Lauchlan SC. Metaplasias and neoplasias of Mullerian epithelium. Histopathology 1984: 8: 543-557. 5 , Fox H, Wells M, Harris M, McWilliam LJ, Anderson G S . Enteric tumours of the lower female genital tract. Histopathology 1988: 12: 167-1 76. 1. Culling CFA. Reid PE. Burton ID, Dunn wL. A histochemical method of differentiating lower gastrointestinal mucin from other mucins in primary or metastatic tumours. 1. Clin. Pathol. 1975: 28: 656-658. 2. Mensing H. Janner M. Vulvitis plasma cellularis Zoon. 2. Hautkr. 1981: 56: 728-732.
Evidence of a relationship between asymmetries in tympanic membrane temperature and lateralised sensory preferences

Ear and eye preference are possible contralateral measures of hemispheric activity, but little physiological evidence in favour of this has ever been presented. It is suggested that tympanic membrane temperature (reflecting temperature of the tympanic membrane, ear canal, and surrounding tissue) is likely to be an index of local hemispheric activity since it provides a measure of heat generated by local neuronal processes. It is hypothesised that ear and eye preference will be contralaterally positively correlated with asymmetries in tympanic membrane temperature. Evidence from two points in time generally supports this perspective. Although relationships were not that strong and there were some inconsistencies, results provide evidence that sensory preferences (ear and eye preference) are useful and non-invasive predictors of stable asymmetries in hemispheric activity.
Decreased cortisol levels in adolescent girls with conduct disorder.

BACKGROUND Female adolescent antisocial behavior is increasing, but little is known about the neuroendocrinologic aspects of this disorder. On the basis of reports of decreased cortisol levels in antisocial males, we investigated morning plasma cortisol levels in adolescent girls with conduct disorder (CD). METHODS Three plasma samples for cortisol levels were taken every 20 minutes between 8 and 9 AM in 47 adolescent girls with CD (mean +/- SD age, 16.5 +/- 0.9 years) and 37 normal control girls (mean age, 16.0 +/- 0.8 years). All blood was drawn within 72 hours after the onset of menstrual flow. RESULTS Girls with CD had significantly lower cortisol levels than girls in the normal control group at all 3 sampling times. This finding was not due to procedural factors, demographic characteristics, or the use of medications. The girls with CD who had no other psychiatric problems had lower cortisol levels than girls with other disorders or those in the normal control group. In the multiple regression analysis, having CD predicted 10% of the variance in cortisol levels. CONCLUSIONS Morning plasma cortisol levels were significantly diminished in adolescent girls with CD. Decreased cortisol levels appear to be most strongly associated with antisocial girls who do not have other psychiatric disorders.
Associations between coerced anal sex and psychopathology, marital distress and non-sexual violence.

BACKGROUND There is a dearth of scientific data on anal intercourse in heterosexual relationships. Likewise, anal sex within marital relationships has yet to be fully explored. OBJECTIVES Among a representative sample of married women in the Iranian capital, Tehran, we aimed to determine the association of self-reported coerced anal sex with: (i) self-reported coerced vaginal sex; (ii) self-reported non-sexual violence; (iii) psychopathology; and (iv) marital attitude. METHOD The data presented here were obtained from the Family Violence Survey conducted in Tehran in 2007. A total of 230 married Iranian women were selected via a multi-cluster sampling method from four different randomized regions. The subjects' sociodemographic data, psychological distress (Symptom Check List; SCL-90-R), personality, and relationship characteristics (Personal and Relationships Profile), and marital attitude (Marital Attitude Survey) were gathered. In addition, the participants' self-reported histories of lifetime victimization through all types of violence by the husband, including coerced anal and vaginal sex as well as psychological and physical assault (Conflict Tactic Scales-Revised; CTS-2), were collected. RESULTS There were associations between self-reported victimization through coerced anal and vaginal sex (P < 0.001), psychological (P < 0.001), and physical aggression (P < 0.001). Those reporting to have been forced into anal intercourse cited higher rates of paranoid and psychotic features, jealousy, attribution of problems to one's own behavior, conflict, and male dominance, as well as lower expectations of improvement in one's marital relationship. CONCLUSION In marital relationships, women are at a higher risk of coerced anal sex if subjected to other types of sexual or non-sexual violence. Higher rates of psychopathology and poorer marital relationships are also allied to self-reported anal sexual coercion.
Estimation of body fat in athletes: skinfolds vs bioelectrical impedance.

AIM The aim of the present study was to compare two different field methods (skinfolds(SKF(vs bioimpedance analysis(BIA) for estimation of body fatness in top-level athletes. METHODS This study was conducted with 219 male professional athletes who were recruited during pre-participation physical examination. Skinfold thicknesses at 7 sites were obtained using a Harpenden caliper while total body resistance was measured with a foot-pad bioelectrical impedance analyzer at a fixed signal frequency of 50 kHz and 500 microA. RESULTS The athletes showed non-significant difference in body fat percentage (%BF) between the average %BFSKF and %BFBIA (P > 0.05). Average time of assessment per subject was significantly longer during skinfold measurement (P < 0.01) as compared with BIA assessment. CONCLUSIONS We found that the estimates of body fat were similar between SKF and BIA with significant correlation (r = 0.96) between methods while BIA method is less time-consuming. In conclusion, the most simple, quick, and inexpensive method of BIA seems to be very useful to the dietitians' routine for assessing body fat in physically active individuals and athletes.
Fertility behaviour of Iranian women: a community-based, cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND The fertility behavior of Iranian women and their reproductive needs is changing and consequently, for providing good services, it is critical to monitor their reproductive behavior at a national level. METHODS This study was carried out by Avicenna Research Institute in the urban and rural parts of Iran between 2010 and 2011. Using cluster sampling, the reproductive history of 17,187 married women aged 20 - 40 years were recorded. The statistical analysis of the data was performed using SPSS software (Version 11.5), and P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS The common methods of contraception at the time of interview were natural methods (29.8%). The first pregnancy was unwanted in 20.6% of the women. The average number of childbirth per 35 - 40 years woman was 2.4. The mean age of women at marriage date and the mean age at the first childbirth both have increased with time (p< 0.001). CONCLUSION Although the fertility rate has declined in Iran, the most important reproductive issues like unwanted pregnancy and use of non-reliable methods of contraception are not resolved yet. Increased mean age at first Childbirth and elevated numbers of couples with no childbirth, because of voluntarily childlessness or Infertility should be noticed more by policy makers. Then allocating enough resources for reproductive health services is vital in new family planning policies.
Therapist Adherence and Competence With Manualized Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for PTSD Delivered via Videoconferencing Technology

Using secondary analyses from a randomized trial comparing the effectiveness of manualized cognitive-behavioral therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder, we compared ratings of therapist competency and adherence between two service delivery modes: telepsychiatry (TP) and same room (SR). Patients were 38 male treatment-seeking veterans recruited from a veterans affairs medical center. Domains of therapist competence and adherence included structuring sessions, implementing session activities, providing feedback, dealing with difficulties, developing rapport, and conveying empathy. Only one difference emerged between the two treatment conditions, with more favorable ratings on this item in the TP condition. Findings suggest that therapist competence and adherence to cognitive-behavioral therapy is similar whether the treatment is delivered via TP or by traditional means, and TP does not compromise therapists' ability to effectively structure sessions or build rapport with patients. These data further support the use of TP to address shortages in access to mental health care.
The neural bases of the constructive nature of autobiographical memories studied with a self-paced fMRI design

In Conway and Pleydell-Pearce's model (2000), autobiographical memories are viewed as transitory mental representations, more often generated in an effortful way. An important claim of the model concerns the dynamic process that evolves over time, from the left prefrontal areas to posterior regions, to retrieve specific memories. The present work aims at investigating, using fMRI, the temporal distribution of effortful autobiographical memory construction. In addition, a self-paced design was implemented to elucidate the question of the timing window required to evoke recollections. The results showed a large pattern of brain regions, which included the two major poles of activation predicted by Conway and Pleydell-Pearce's model. Likewise, we were able to detect the earlier implication of the left dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex, by comparison with posterior structures, which seemed to confirm its involvement in the effortful retrieval process. Finally, the self-paced procedure allowed us to refine the timing window necessary to construct past events.
Fiducial Marker Navigation for Mobile Robots

Regarding mobile robots, navigation using fiducial markers has already been achieved and obstacle avoidance using search algorithms is common. However, the combination of these two ideas is relatively uncommon, and therefore, is the focus of this study. Owing to the mobility of these robots, good performance of the system is of utmost importance. Furthermore, since odometers on mobile robots are often innaccurate, and since other means of localization can prove complex and thus reduce performance, this system does not rely on previous map information. The relevant options available for the creation of this hybrid system are investigated, and an efficient system, capable of meeting its objectives, is designed and implemented on the WifibotLab LIDAR mobile robot. Under testing, the system showed good performance and proved accurate in terms of marker detection and the routes determined. Although various complicated scenarios were not feasible, the system was usable in practical scenarios, and therefore viable for integration and use on other similarly equipped mobile robots.
Heterogeneous Task Offloading and Resource Allocations via Deep Recurrent Reinforcement Learning in Partial Observable Multifog Networks

As wireless services and applications become more sophisticated and require faster and higher capacity networks, there is a need for an efficient management of the execution of increasingly complex tasks based on the requirements of each application. In this regard, fog computing enables the integration of virtualized servers into networks and brings cloud services closer to end devices. In contrast to the cloud server, the computing capacity of fog nodes is limited and thus a single fog node might not be capable of computing-intensive tasks. In this context, task offloading can be particularly useful at the fog nodes by selecting the suitable nodes and proper resource management while guaranteeing the Quality-of-Service (QoS) requirements of the users. This article studies the design of a joint task offloading and resource allocation control for heterogeneous service tasks in multifog nodes systems. This problem is formulated as a partially observable stochastic game, in which each fog node cooperates to maximize the aggregated local rewards while the nodes only have access to local observations. To deal with partial observability, we apply a deep recurrent <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$Q$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-network (DRQN) approach to approximate the optimal value functions. The solution is then compared to a deep <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$Q$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-network (DQN) and deep convolutional <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$Q$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-network (DCQN) approach to evaluate the performance of different neural networks. Moreover, to guarantee the convergence and accuracy of the neural network, an adjusted exploration–exploitation method is adopted. Provided numerical results show that the proposed algorithm can achieve a higher average success rate and lower average overflow than baseline methods.