Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Biomechanical Evaluation of Transcondylar Femoral Fixation of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Grafts

Background Interference screw fixation of the graft in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is considered the gold standard, but limited clinical experience suggests that transcondylar fixation is equally effective. Purpose To compare transcondylar and interference screw fixation. Study Design Ex vivo biomechanical study. Methods Twenty pairs of unembalmed knees underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with patellar tendon autografts. In 1 knee of each pair, the bone plug was stabilized in the femoral tunnel with standard interference screws; in the other knee, transcondylar screws were used. Testing to failure occurred immediately or after 1000 cycles of sinusoidal loading (30 to 150 N) (20 paired reconstructions each). Fixation stiffness, strength, graft creep, displacement amplitude, and change in amplitude were measured and compared (repeated measures anaylsis of variance with Tukey test; P < .05). Results There was no significant difference in acute strength, maximum load within 3 mm, or stiffness between transcondylar fixation (410 ± 164 N, 183 ± 93 N, and 49.6 ± 28 N/mm, respectively) and interference fixation (497 ± 216 N, 206 ± 115 N, and 61 ± 37.8 N/mm, respectively). Similarly, there was no significant difference in cyclic strength, maximum load within 3 mm, or stiffness between transcondylar fixation (496 ± 214 N, 357 ± 82.9 N, and 110 ± 27.4 N/mm, respectively) and interference fixation (552 ± 233 N, 357 ± 76.2 N, and 112 ± 26.8 N/mm, respectively). Predominant modes of failure were bone plug pullout (transcondylar fixation) and tendon failure or bone plug fracture (interference fixation). Conclusions Transcondylar screw fixation of the patellar tendon autograft into the femoral tunnel performed mechanically as well as interference screw fixation. Clinical Relevance The results suggest that transcondylar and interference screws provide similar fixation for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
Establishing a Baseline: Community Benefit Spending by Not-for-Profit Hospitals Prior to Implementation of the Affordable Care Act

Context: Community Benefit spending by not-for-profit hospitals has served as a critical, formalized part of the nation's safety net for almost 50 years. This has occurred mostly through charity care. This article examines how not-for-profit hospitals spent Community Benefit dollars prior to full implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Methods: Using data from 2009 to 2012 hospital tax and other governmental filings, we constructed national, hospital-referral-region, and facility-level estimates of Community Benefit spending. Data were collected in 2015 and analyzed in 2015 and 2016. Data were matched at the facility level for a non-profit hospital's IRS tax filings (Form 990, Schedule H) and CMS Hospital Cost Report Information System and Provider of Service data sets. Results: During 2009, hospitals spent about 8% of total operating expenses on Community Benefit. This increased to between 8.3% and 8.5% in 2012. The majority of spending (>80%) went toward charity care, unreimbursed Medicaid, and subsidized health services, with approximately 6% going toward both community health improvement and health professionals' education. By 2012, national spending on Community Benefit likely exceeded $60 billion. The largest hospital systems spent the vast majority of the nation's Community Benefit; the top 25% of systems spent more than 80 cents of every Community Benefit dollar. Discussion: Community Benefit spending has remained relatively steady as a proportion of total operating expenses and so has increased over time—although charity care remains the major focus of Community Benefit spending overall. Implications: More than $60 billion was spent on Community Benefit prior to implementation of the ACA. New reporting and spending requirements from the IRS, alongside changes by the ACA, are changing incentives for hospitals in how they spend Community Benefit dollars. In the short term, and especially the long term, hospital systems would do well to partner with public health, other social services, and even competing hospitals to invest in population-based activities. The mandated community health needs assessment process is a logical home for these sorts of collaborations. Relatively modest investments can improve the baseline level of health in their communities and make it easier to improve population health. Aside from a population health justification for a partnership model, a business case is necessary for widespread adoption of this approach. Because of their authorities, responsibilities, and centuries of expertise in community health, public health agencies are in a position to help hospitals form concrete, sustainable collaborations for the improvement of population health. Conclusion: The ACA will likely change the delivery of uncompensated and charity care in the United States in the years to come. How hospitals choose to spend those dollars may be influenced greatly by the financial and political environments, as well as the strength of community partnerships.
What Happens Next? The Predictability of Natural Behaviour Viewed through CCTV Cameras

Can potentially antisocial or criminal behaviour be predicted? Our study aimed to ascertain (a) whether observers can successfully predict the onset of such behaviour when viewing real recordings from CCTV; (b) where, in the sequence of events, it is possible to make this prediction; and (c) whether there may be a difference between naïve and professional observers. We used 100 sample scenes from UK urban locations. Of these, 18 led to criminal behaviour (fights or vandalism). A further 18 scenes were matched as closely as possible to the crime examples, but did not lead to any crime, and 64 were neutral scenes chosen from a wide variety of noncriminal situations. A signal-detection paradigm was used in conjunction with a 6-point rating scale. Data from fifty naïve and fifty professional observers suggest that (a) observers can distinguish crime sequences from neutral sequences and from matches; (b) there are key types of behaviour (particularly gestures and body position) that allow predictions to be made; (c) the performance of naïve observers is comparable to that of experts. However, because the experts were predominantly male, the absence of an effect of experience may have been due to gender differences, which were investigated in a subsidiary experiment. The results of experiment 2 leave open the possibility that females perform better than males at such tasks.
Opportunities for Napier Grass ( Pennisetum purpureum ) Improvement Using Molecular Genetics

Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.) is a fast-growing perennial grass native to Sub-Saharan Africa that is widely grown across the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It is a multipurpose forage crop, primarily used to feed cattle in cut and carry feeding systems. Characterization and diversity studies on a small collection of Napier grasses have identified a moderate level of genetic variation and highlighted the availability of some good agronomic traits, particularly high biomass production, as a forage crop. However, very little information exists on precise phenotyping, genotyping and the application of molecular technologies to Napier grass improvement using modern genomic tools which have been applied in advancing the selection and breeding of important food crops. In this review paper, existing information on genetic resources, molecular diversity, yield and nutritional quality of Napier grass will be discussed. Recent findings on characterizing disease resistance and abiotic stress (drought) tolerance will also be highlighted. Finally, opportunities and future prospects for better conservation and use arising from the application of modern genomic tools in Napier grass phenotyping and genotyping will be discussed.
Two‐Stage Hierarchical Group Testing for Multiple Infections with Application to the Infertility Prevention Project

Screening for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) has benefited greatly from the use of group testing (pooled testing) to lower costs. With the development of assays that detect multiple infections, screening practices now involve testing pools of individuals for multiple infections simultaneously. Building on the research for single infection group testing procedures, we examine the performance of group testing for multiple infections. Our work is motivated by chlamydia and gonorrhea testing for the infertility prevention project (IPP), a national program in the United States. We consider a two‐stage pooling algorithm currently used to perform testing for the IPP. We first derive the operating characteristics of this algorithm for classification purposes (e.g., expected number of tests, misclassification probabilities, etc.) and identify pool sizes that minimize the expected number of tests. We then develop an expectation–maximization (EM) algorithm to estimate probabilities of infection using both group and individual retest responses. Our research shows that group testing can offer large cost savings when classifying individuals for multiple infections and can provide prevalence estimates that are actually more efficient than those from individual testing.
Calcium‐activated potassium channels in native endothelial cells from rabbit aorta: conductance, Ca2+ sensitivity and block.

1. Isolated native endothelial cells, obtained by treatment of rabbit aortic endothelium with papain and dithiothreitol, were voltage clamped, and single channel (unitary) and spontaneous transient outward currents (STOCs) were recorded from both whole cells and excised membrane patches. 2. In inside‐out patches, the reversal potential of unitary currents was dependent on the extracellular K+ concentration and had a single‐channel slope conductance of 220 pS in symmetrical 140 mM‐K+ solutions. The open‐state probability (Po) of the unitary K+ currents was sensitive to the intracellular Ca2+ concentration with half‐maximal activation at approximately 1 microM at +20 mV. The ionic selectivity and Ca2+ sensitivity indicate that a large conductance, Ca(2+)‐activated K+ channel is present in freshly dissociated rabbit aortic endothelial cells. 3. The frequency and amplitude of whole‐cell unitary currents and amplitude of spontaneous transient outward currents were voltage‐dependent. Whole‐cell outward K+ currents evoked by depolarizing voltage ramps had amplitudes often corresponding to the simultaneous opening of more than five single Ca(2+)‐activated K+ channels. Lowering the intracellular EGTA concentration tenfold, and hence the Ca2+ buffering capacity of the cell, increased unitary K+ current activity and shifted the relationship between Po and membrane potential by approximately ‐20 mV. 4. Bradykinin (1 microM), adenosine 5'‐triphosphate (3 microM) and acetylcholine (3 microM) applied extracellularly evoked a biphasic increase in N Po (where N is number of channels activated) of the Ca(2+)‐activated K+ channel studied in the whole‐cell recording configuration. The development of a biphasic response to agonist stimulation requires a source of extracellular Ca2+. The sustained increase in N Po of the Ca(2+)‐activated K+ channel was attenuated upon the removal of external Ca2+ (Mg2+ replacement) or in the presence of the Ca2+ entry blocker, Ni2+, and the potassium channel blockers tetrabutylammonium (TBA) or tetraethylammonium (TEA). 5. Unitary and spontaneous transient outward currents were inhibited by extracellularly applied TEA (0.5 mM), TBA (0.5‐5 mM) and charybdotoxin (100 nM). Ca(2+)‐activated K+ currents were blocked completely by 5 mM‐TEA, whereas 3,4‐diaminopyridine (1 mM), Ba2+ (10 mM) and apamin (0.1‐1 microM) did not abolish these K+ currents. 6. The K+ channel opener cromakalim (10 microM) evoked a sustained increase in N Po of the Ca(2+)‐activated K+ channels which was not potentiated by the addition of bradykinin. Glibenclamide (10 microM) alone increased N Po and partially inhibited the cromakalim‐induced increase in N Po with respect to control. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
The Real Effects of Financial Shocks: Evidence from Exogenous Changes in Analyst Coverage

We study the causal effects of analyst coverage on corporate investment and financing policies. We hypothesize that a decrease in analyst coverage increases information asymmetry and thus increases the cost of capital; as a result, firms decrease their investment and financing. We use broker closures and broker mergers to identify changes in analyst coverage that are exogenous to corporate policies. Using a difference-in-differences approach, we find that firms that lose an analyst decrease their investment and financing by 2.4% and 2.6% of total assets, respectively. These results are significantly stronger for firms that are smaller, have less analyst coverage, have a bigger increase in information asymmetry, and are more financially constrained.
The Effect of Physical Activity on Passive Leg Movement-Induced Vasodilation with Age.

INTRODUCTION Because of reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability with age, passive leg movement (PLM)-induced vasodilation is attenuated in older sedentary subjects and, unlike the young subjects, cannot be augmented by posture-induced elevations in femoral perfusion pressure. However, whether vasodilator function assessed with PLM, and therefore NO bioavailability, is preserved in older individuals with greater physical activity and fitness is unknown. METHODS PLM was performed on four subject groups: young sedentary (Y, 23 ± 1 yr, n = 12), old sedentary (OS, 73 ± 2 yr, n = 12), old active (OA, 71 ± 2 yr, n = 10), and old endurance trained (OT, 72 ± 1 yr, n = 10) in the supine and upright-seated posture. Hemodynamics were measured using ultrasound Doppler and finger photoplethysmography. RESULTS In the supine posture, PLM-induced peak change in leg vascular conductance was significantly attenuated in the OS compared with the young subjects (OS = 4.9 ± 0.5, Y = 6.9 ± 0.7 mL·min·mm Hg) but was not different from the young in the OA and OT (OA = 5.9 ± 1.0, OT = 5.4 ± 0.4 mL·min·mm Hg). The upright-seated posture significantly augmented peak change in leg vascular conductance in all but the OS (OS = 4.9 ± 0.5, Y = 11.8 ± 1.3, OA = 7.3 ± 0.8, OT = 8.1 ± 0.8 mL·min·mm Hg), revealing a significant vasodilatory reserve capacity in the other groups (Y = 4.92 ± 1.18, OA = 1.37 ± 0.55, OT = 2.76 ± 0.95 mL·min·mm Hg). CONCLUSIONS As PLM predominantly reflects NO-mediated vasodilation, these findings support the idea that augmenting physical activity and fitness can protect NO bioavailability, attenuating the deleterious effects of advancing age on vascular function.
Design of self‐processing antimicrobial peptides for plant protection

Small antimicrobial peptides are excellent candidates for inclusion in self‐processing proteins that could be used to confer pathogen resistance in transgenic plants. Antimicrobial peptides as small as 22 amino acids in length have been designed to incorporate the residual amino acids left from protein processing by the tobacco etch virus'(TEVs') NIa protease. Also, by minimizing the length of these peptides and the number of highly hydrophobic residues, haemolytic activity was reduced without affecting the peptide's antimicrobial activity.
Speech-Language Pathologists Perception of Bilingualism as a Risk Factor for Stuttering

Researchers have suggested that being bilingual may increase the likelihood of development of stuttering. This suggestion was recently discounted by the data that indicate bilingual children who do not stutter produce an atypically high number of speech disfluencies. Thus, bilingual children are not at increased risk for development of stuttering, but they do appear to be at increased risk for false positive diagnosis of stuttering. This risk may be further increased by persisting public misperception that being bilingual increases the likelihood that the child will develop stuttering. The present study explored whether speech-language pathologists (SLPs) inaccurately classify bilingualism as a risk factor for the onset and persistence of stuttering and what factors uniquely influence their perception of bilingualism as a risk factor. Participants included 207 speech-language pathologists recruited through the American Speech-Language Hearing Association Membership Directory. Participants completed web-based surveys addressing their generalized knowledge of perceived risk factors associated with stuttering including bilingualism. Preliminary results indicate that some, but not all speech-language pathologists view bilingualism as a risk factor. Results further indicate that clinical experiences and personal perspectives significantly contribute to this misperception.
Numerical assessment on the effective mechanical stimuli for matrix‐associated metabolism in chondrocyte‐seeded constructs

The self‐regeneration capacity of articular cartilage is limited, due to its avascular and aneural nature. Loaded explants and cell cultures demonstrated that chondrocyte metabolism can be regulated via physiologic loading. However, the explicit ranges of mechanical stimuli that correspond to favourable metabolic response associated with extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis are elusive. Unsystematic protocols lacking this knowledge produce inconsistent results. This study aims to determine the intrinsic ranges of physical stimuli that increase ECM synthesis and simultaneously inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production in chondrocyte–agarose constructs, by numerically re‐evaluating the experiments performed by Tsuang et al. ( 2008 ). Twelve loading patterns were simulated with poro‐elastic finite element models in ABAQUS. Pressure on solid matrix, von Mises stress, maximum principle stress and pore pressure were selected as intrinsic mechanical stimuli. Their development rates and magnitudes at the steady state of cyclic loading were calculated with MATLAB at the construct level. Concurrent increase in glycosaminoglycan and collagen was observed at 2300 Pa pressure and 40 Pa/s pressure rate. Between 0–1500 Pa and 0–40 Pa/s, NO production was consistently positive with respect to controls, whereas ECM synthesis was negative in the same range. A linear correlation was found between pressure rate and NO production (R = 0.77). Stress states identified in this study are generic and could be used to develop predictive algorithms for matrix production in agarose–chondrocyte constructs of arbitrary shape, size and agarose concentration. They could also be helpful to increase the efficacy of loading protocols for avascular tissue engineering. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chronic Lymphatic Leukaemia: Cellular Effects of Glucocorticoids in Vitro

Glucocorticoid receptor levels and steroid induced inhibition of nucleic acid precursors have been examined in lymphocytes from 27 patients at different stages of chronic lymphatic leukaemia. No correlation can be found between the level of glucocorticoid receptors and the stage of the disease. On the other hand, a significant difference (P < 0.02) was found between stage 0 and stage III/IV patients, in terms of the in vitro effect of dexamethasone on [3H]uridine incorporation.
Fast polylog-time reconfiguration of structurally fault-tolerant multiprocessors

We present a general methodology for the design of structurally k-fault-tolerant multiprocessors that can reconfigure quickly and in a distributed manner around any k processors faults. Structural fault tolerance is defined as the ability of the multiprocessor to reconfigure around faults in order to retain its original interconnection structure; this prevents any performance degradation when faults occur. The basic methodology used here is a generalization of the node covering approach that was introduced by Dutt and Hyes in (1992). The reconfiguration time of previous node-covering designs is linear in the number of processors, which, though faster than those of other designs, can be too slow for many application environments. In this paper, we present new types of node-covering designs that have configuration times T/sub R/ in the range {/spl Theta/(x log (N/x))}, where x is a design parameter that can range of 1 to N, and N is the number of processors. These designs also naturally present a hardware-cost to reconfiguration-time tradeoff; however, the extra hardware cost is nominal even for the fastest reconfiguring designs. We also suggest strategies for efficiently laying out these fast-reconfiguring designs in order to minimize the total wiring area. <<ETX>>
Cytokines du fluide gingival après accumulation de plaque chez des fumeurs et des non-fumeurs

Le but etait de determiner les niveaux de IL-1β, IL-4 et IL-8 du fluide gingival chez 10 fumeurs et 12 non-fumeurs lors d'une periode de gingivite experimentale. Des echantillons de fluide ont ete preleves dans 12 sites par sujet, 2 jours avant, ainsi qu'au debut et a la fin de la gingivite experimentale. La production de cytokines a ete mesuree par ELISA. Cliniquement, les fumeurs montraient moins d'inflammation et de saignement au sondage que les non-fumeurs. A l'examen initial, les non-fumeurs montraient davantage de IL-4 et moins de IL-8 que les fumeurs. La quantite de IL1 β et IL-8 a augmente significativement dans les 2 groupes apres accumulation de plaque. Le niveau de IL-4 a diminue de facon significative seulement chez les non-fumeurs. Les resultats ont montre que le tabac a une influence sur la production des cytokines, facteurs essentiels de la reponse inflammatoire des tissus parodontaux.
Cognitive and Problem Solving Training in Children with Cancer: A Pilot Project

Background Neurocognitive sequelae are among the most debilitating late effects experienced by survivors of childhood cancer, with far reaching consequences for educational, social, and adaptive development. Empirically validated interventions to address such disease and treatment related psychosocial morbidities are needed. Procedure We conducted a pilot study to evaluate participants' acceptance and impact of a 15-session, clinic-based training program to teach compensatory learning and problem-solving skills in survivors with cognitive deficits. The intervention program consisted of 5 core components designed to improve daily problem solving, attention and memory, and academic performance. Results A sample of 12 survivors completed the program. Virtually all objective performance scores showed gains from preintervention to postintervention in the expected positive direction, although only 2 of the gains were statistically significant. Parent responses indicated they perceived the skills taught to be useful, to have improved the child's problem-solving ability and learning skills, to have provided concrete and practical interventions for the home, and to have increased parental knowledge. Similarly, the children rated the overall program high, and reported satisfaction with learning more about their relative cognitive strengths and weaknesses and practical problem solving for academic difficulties. Conclusions Although the majority of enrolled families completed at least 70% of the training sessions, the overall low participation rate from eligible families raise concern about widespread acceptance of such programs in the oncology clinic. The limitations of the study design and recommendations for future research are discussed.