Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biomechanical Basis of Shoulder Osseous Deformity and Contracture in a Rat Model of Brachial Plexus Birth Palsy.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to investigate the relative contributions of two proposed mechanisms, strength imbalance and impaired longitudinal muscle growth, to osseous and postural deformity in a rat model of brachial plexus birth palsy (BPBP). METHODS Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley rat pups were divided into four groups on the basis of surgical interventions to induce a strength imbalance, impaired growth, both a strength imbalance and impaired growth (a combined mechanism), and a sham condition in the left forelimb. Maximum passive external shoulder rotation angle (ERmax) was measured bilaterally at four and eight weeks postoperatively. After the rats were killed at eight weeks, the glenohumeral geometry (on microcomputed tomography) and shoulder muscle architecture properties were measured bilaterally. RESULTS Bilateral muscle mass and optimal length differences were greatest in the impaired growth and combined mechanism groups, which also exhibited >15° lower ERmax (p < 0.05; four weeks postoperatively), 14° to 18° more glenoid declination (p < 0.10), and 0.76 to 0.94 mm more inferior humeral head translation (p < 0.10) on the affected side. Across all four groups, optimal muscle length was significantly correlated with at least one osseous deformity measure for six of fourteen muscle compartments crossing the shoulder on the affected side (p < 0.05). In the strength imbalance group, the glenoid was 5° more inclined and the humeral head was translated 7.5% more posteriorly on the affected side (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Impaired longitudinal muscle growth and shoulder deformity were most pronounced in the impaired growth and combined mechanism groups, which underwent neurectomy. Strength imbalance was associated with osseous deformity to a lesser extent. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Treatments to alleviate shoulder deformity should address mechanical effects of both strength imbalance and impaired longitudinal muscle growth, with an emphasis on developing new treatments to promote growth in muscles affected by BPBP.
Joint Unsupervised Learning of Semantic Representation of Words and Roles in Dependency Trees

In this paper, we introduce WoRel, a model that jointly learns word embeddings and a semantic representation of word relations. The model learns from plain text sentences and their dependency parse trees. The word embeddings produced by WoRel outperform Skip-Gram and GloVe in word similarity and syntactical word analogy tasks and have comparable results on word relatedness and semantic word analogy tasks. We show that the semantic representation of relations enables us to express the meaning of phrases and is a promising research direction for semantics at the sentence level.
Transcranial Doppler Ultrasonography in the Management of Neonatal Hydrocephalus

The pathophysiological changes of progressive neonatal hydrocephalus include: increased intracranial volume of cerebrospinal fluid, progressive dilatation of cerebral ventricles, decreased intracranial compliance, raised intracranial pressure, alteration of cerebral circulation and subsequent secondary brain tissue damage (decreased cerebral blood flow, hypoperfusion, ischaemia), alteration of energy metabolism (tissue acidosis, higher lactate concentration), changes in neurotransmiter systems, damage of white matter, associative tracts and cerebral cortex. The primary target of injury are periventricular axons and myelin. Secondary changes in neurons reflect the compensation to the stress or ultimately the disconnection (De Riggo et al., 2007).
Level of feed intake on performance of two goat genotypes

There is a paucity of literature characterizing response to varying levels of feed intake in goats. A controlled experiment was designed at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) with purebred goats, to measure feed intake, and its subsequent effects on growth of different goat genotypes when raised intensively. Two goat populations, the Spanish (SP) and the Tennessee Stiff-legged (TS) were fed three levels: 100% or ad libitum, 85% and 70% of ad libitum, of the same ration containing 180 g CP/kg and 65% ME. Daily feed intake, bi-weekly growth weights, orts and faeces were collected until yearling age. Feed intake, in intermediate sized SP (67.7 kg), was equal to that of small sized TS (66.7 kg), at 13 months. Feed efficiency calculated for SP and TS breeds, respectively, from weaning to six months was 0.122 vs. 0.167 kg and from 9 to 13 months was 0.088 vs. 0.104 kg), and differed significantly from each other. This implies that the TS breed was more efficient in converting feed into weight gain compared to the SP breed. Knowledge of the interaction between feed intake, genotype and subsequently, body composition changes will help characterize growth curves in goats.
Fracture Toughness of Microfiber Reinforced Cement Composites

An investigation into the reinforcing behavior of microdiameter fibers in cement composites, with an emphasis on their behavior in the frontal process zone (FPZ) ahead of the crack tip, is presented. Fracture toughness tests were conducted on thin sheet cement composites reinforced with polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and refined cellulose (RC) fibers under air-dry conditions. Fracture toughness in the absence of microscopiic damage was quantified for these composites, as was fracture toughness that included the energy absorbed in the microcracked region prior to failure crack localization. These tests revealed that the PVA and RC fibers were able to effectively postpone microcrack formation, thereby delaying the localization of the failure crack. The PP fibers were not able to provide the same level of reinforcement. An optical microscope was used to monitor the progression of damage during testing. In addition, the acoustic emission technique was used to confirm the accuracy of the fracture toughness values.
A Comparison of Tablet Computer and Paper-Based Questionnaires in Healthy Aging Research

Background Digital questionnaire delivery offers many advantages to investigators and participants alike; however, evidence supporting digital questionnaire delivery via touchscreen device in the older adult population is lacking. Objective The objective of this study was to compare the use of tablet computer-delivered and printed questionnaires as vehicles for the collection of psychosocial data from older adults to determine whether this digital platform would be readily adopted by the sample, and to identify whether tablet delivery influences the content of data received. Methods The participants completed three questionnaires using both delivery methods, followed by a brief evaluation. Results A nonparametric one-sample binomial test indicated a significantly greater proportion of individuals preferred the tablet-delivered questionnaires (z=4.96, SE 3.428, P<.001). Paired sample t tests and Wilcoxon sign-rank tests indicated that measures collected by each method were not significantly different (all P≥.273). Ease of use of the tablet interface and anxiety while completing the digital questionnaires were significantly correlated with preferences, (r s=.665, P<.001 and r s=.552, P<.001, respectively). Participants most frequently reported that the tablet delivery increased speed of use and improved data entry, although navigation was perceived as being more difficult. By comparison, participants felt that the paper packet was easier to read and navigate, but was slow and cumbersome, and they disliked the lack of dynamic features. Conclusions This study provides preliminary evidence suggesting that questionnaires delivered to older adults using contemporary tablet computers may be acceptable and do not substantively influence the content of the collected data.
Expertise reversal effect and sequencing of learning tasks in online English as a second language learning environment

The aim of this paper is to examine the effects of sequencing instructional materials and learners' prior knowledge on learning ESL (English as a second language) through an online learning course. 121 fifth-grade students from an elementary school in Korea participated in the study. Each participant was allocated to one cell of a 2 × 2 between-subjects factorial design, with an instructional format (i.e. sequential or concurrent) as a first factor, and prior knowledge (i.e. high or low) as a second factor. Instructions of the words and grammar rules were allocated to each page for the sequential group, whereas integrated on a single page for the concurrent group. The result indicates that the sequential instruction of words followed by grammar explanations was more effective for the students with higher levels of prior knowledge than the concurrent presentation. The reverse was also found for the students with lower levels of prior knowledge in English. There are four possible explanations for the results. First, split-attention effect, temporal-contiguity effect, or transient information effect might occur. Second, worked-example effect might occur and over-ride the effect of sequencing. Third, intrinsic and extraneous cognitive load might intertwine each other. Last, the levels of element interactivity in two instructional formats might be different from each other. The implications for instructional designers and future research are discussed.
Role of left ventricular hypertrophy in diastolic dysfunction in aged hypertensive patients

Objective To evaluate the influence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) on the diastolic dysfunction in older hypertensive patients. Methods In total 665 patients (58% men, 61% White, aged 55–80 years) with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension underwent Doppler echocardiography. Data included left ventricular dimensions, left ventricular mass index, body mass index, E- and A-wave mitral flow velocities, E:A ratio, deceleration time and three mitral flow patterns [normal (E:A ratio >1.0, deceleration time >150 ms), impaired relaxation (E:A ratio <1.0, prolonged deceleration time according to age), and restrictive physiology (E:A ratio >2.1, deceleration time <150 ms)]. Data were distributed according to age (50–59, 60–69, and 70–80 years). Results The overall prevalence of sex-adjusted LVH in this study was 65%. When we compared hypertensive patients with and without LVH, the E- and A-wave velocities, E:A ratio, and deceleration time were similar. Moreover, the prevalences of normal, impaired relaxation, and restrictive physiology patterns among patients with and without LVH did not differ significantly (20, 79.5, and 0.5 versus 24, 75.5, and 0.5%). When the mitral flow patterns were adjusted according to age, the impaired relaxation pattern increased further with age (to 73% during the fifth decade, 83% during the sixth decade, and 88% during the seventh decade). Conclusions LVH is not an independent factor associated with abnormal flow patterns in hypertensive patients aged over 50 years with normal systolic contractility. The impaired relaxation is the predominant pattern of diastolic dysfunction in older hypertensive patients and increases further with aging.
Nutritional Manipulation of Fetal Adipose Tissue Deposition and Uncoupling Protein 1 Messenger RNA Abundance in the Sheep: Differential Effects of Timing and Duration

Abstract A range of epidemiological and experimental studies have indicated that suboptimal nutrition at different stages of gestation is associated with an increased prevalence of adult hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. The timing of prenatal nutrient restriction is important in determining postnatal outcomes—including obesity. The present study, aimed to determine the extent to which fetal adiposity and expression of the key thermogenic protein, uncoupling protein (UCP)1, are altered by restriction of maternal nutrient intake imposed during four different periods, starting from before conception. Maternal nutrient intake was restricted from 60 days before until 8 days after mating (periconceptional nutrient restriction; R-C), from 60 days before mating and throughout gestation (R-R), from 8 days gestation until term (C-R), or from 115 days gestation until term. Fetal perirenal adipose tissue (PAT) was sampled near to term at ∼143 days. UCP1 mRNA, but not protein, abundance in PAT was increased in fetuses in the R-R group (C‐C 63 ± 18; R-C 83 ± 43; C-R 103 ± 38; R-R 167 ± 50 arbitrary units (P < 0.05)). In contrast, the abundance of UCP1 mRNA, but not protein, in fetal PAT was decreased when maternal nutrition was restricted from 115 days gestation. The major effect of maternal nutrient restriction on adipose tissue deposition occurred in the C-R group, in which the proportion of fetal fat was doubled, whereas maternal nutrient restriction from 115 days gestation reduced fetal fat deposition. In conclusion, there are differential effects of maternal and therefore fetal nutrient restriction on UCP1 mRNA expression and fetal fat mass and these effects are dependent on the timing and duration of nutrient restriction.
Predictive Factors of Apgar Scores below 7 in Newborns: Can We Change theRoute of Current Events?

Introduction: The Apgar score is a useful and immediate tool used in the assessment of newborns. The factors that influence its final score may be related with labor, mother or infant itself. The impact of epidural analgesia in the Apgar score is still controversial and not fully understood. One of the limitations while attributing this score is interobserver variability. Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine possible predictive risk factors of low Apgar scores at 5 minutes, namely the influence of maternal factors, labor and newborn characteristics, as well as the effect of different analgesic concentrations used in epidural analgesia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, institutional study conducted during two consecutive years-2014 and 2015, in Centro Materno Infantil do Norte, Portugal. Anesthesiology Department database was used to collect all the relevant information. Results: 3085 deliveries were included in the study. A significant higher number of deliveries with lower Apgar scores in 2015 compared to 2014 were noticed; furthermore a similar result was found when a certain hospital team of obstetricians was on duty (Team 4), when compared with other similar teams. Conclusion: Statistically significant differences on the Apgar indexes were found between delivery teams. Interobserver variability on Apgar classification might explain these results. Low concentrations of local anesthetic combined with opioid in an initial moment of labor do not seem to influence Apgar scores at birth. No other factor was considered predictive of low Apgar scores.
Apparent diffusion coefficient histograms may predict low‐grade glioma subtype

The subtypes of glioma are known to have different prognosis and response to treatment. The purpose of this work was to investigate whether apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) histograms of untreated low‐grade astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas exhibit different characteristics due to their biological differences, and whether a diagnosis of tumour subtype can be made at presentation using the histogram alone, which, if possible, would have an impact on clinical practise. Fifteen patients with astrocytoma (AC) [11 male (mean age ± standard deviation) 40 ± 11 years], nine with oligodendroglioma (OD) (four male, 45 ± 13 years) and three with oligoastrocytoma (OA) (two male, 60 ± 11 years) were recruited and diffusion‐weighted images (b = 0 and 1000 s mm−2) were acquired every 6 months to date or until malignant transformation. Whole tumour ADC histograms were calculated, a multiple discriminant analysis was performed and quantitative morphological parameters extracted, the AC and OD subtypes were then compared using Student's unpaired t‐test. Classification of the histograms was also performed. ODs had significantly lower group ADC values than ACs and up to 83% of the subjects could be correctly classified into the OD and AC groups by reference to the histogram. The group differences were most significant for the multiple discriminant analysis (p = 1 × 10−5) and at the 10th centile point [AC = 1170 ± 170, OD = (1030 ± 80) × 10−6 mm2 s−1] (p = 0.01). ODs have a lower ADC than ACs with differences throughout the histogram. Both tumour types show similar intra‐tumour heterogeneity, as seen from the equal group peak heights, but ACs shows more intra‐group heterogeneity. ADC histogram analysis may aid non‐invasive sub‐classification of low‐grade glioma histological subtypes. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Clinical Outcome of Hemoperfusion in Poisoned Patients

Extracorporeal removal techniques are effective methods for toxin removal from the body. To define the safety and clinical outcomes of hemoperfusion, we evaluated retrospectively clinical outcomes of hemoperfusion over a 3-year period in our clinical center. From January 2006 to December 2008, we analyzed 803 patients. Mortality, catheter-related bleeding, systemic bleeding, hypocalcemia, and thrombocytopenia were investigated. Medical drugs (n = 54) and pesticide toxins (n = 749) were represented. Pesticides included herbicides (n = 598), insecticides (n = 130), mixed herbicides and insecticides (n = 4), and unknown pesticides (n = 17). Among those with herbicide poisoning, 493 cases were caused by paraquat, and among those affected by insecticides, 67 cases were caused by organophosphate insecticides. After hemoperfusion, systemic bleeding complications were observed in 26 cases (3.0%). Systemic bleeding was a greater mortality risk factor than nonsystemic bleeding (OR 2.779, 95% CI 1.07–7.23). Hypocalcemia was observed in 69.1% and thrombocytopenia in 31.1%. Excess mortality was 44.4%. In hemoperfusion cases, systemic bleeding is a major factor to predict adverse outcome.
Stress, insomnia, and chronic idiopathic urticaria--a case-control study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE There is growing evidence that stress might play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of urticaria. This study examined the association between chronic idiopathic urticaria and stress from major life events and explored the validity of the biopsychosocial model of stress as it relates to urticaria. METHODS A total of 75 consecutive cases with chronic idiopathic urticaria and 133 controls with tinea pedis who visited a dermatologic clinic for treatment were recruited for participation in this study. Subjects in both groups were assessed with a semi-structured questionnaire to determine the number and subjective weighting of major life events, somatic symptoms, insomnia, irregularity of daily life, perceived family support, ego-function, positive coping, and negative coping. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the influence of biologic, psychologic, and social factors on the development of urticaria. Cluster analysis was used to classify subjects according to risk of developing urticaria. RESULTS In the 6 months preceding disease onset, patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria had significantly more life events, higher subjective weighting of impacts from life events, more somatic symptoms, more severe insomnia, less family support, more negative coping tendencies, and were younger in age. Good ego-function, coping strategies and family support were associated with decreased frequency of urticaria. CONCLUSIONS Stress is an important risk factor for the development of chronic idiopathic urticaria while positive coping tendencies and good family support appear to have preventative effects. Insomnia might be the most important psychosomatic symptom that is a predisposing factor for chronic urticaria.
Potential of sunflower, castor bean, common buckwheat and vetiver as lead phytoaccumulators

Studies concerning the tolerance, absorption and distribution of heavy metals in plants are essential for the success of phytoremediation programs. The present study was carried out in order to evaluate the potential of the sunflower, castor bean, common buckwheat and vetiver as lead phytoaccumulators. The species were grown in nutrient solution containing increasing doses of Pb (0, 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg L-1) during a 30-day exposure period. A completely randomized split-plot design was used, with a 4 x 5 factorial and three replicates. Significant reductions of dry matter of the root, shoot and whole plant were found in the all species under study as a function of the increased Pb doses. Vetiver showed higher tolerance to Pb contamination; sunflower and castor bean had intermediate tolerance and the common buckwheat proved to be the most sensitive species. The concentration and total content of Pb in plant compartments were significantly affected by the increased Pb doses in solution, and higher accumulation of this element was observed, in general, in the roots of the studied species. Common buckwheat proved to be not much promising for Pb-phytoremediation programs; sunflower showed potential for Pb phytoextraction and castor bean and vetiver were the most appropriate for Pb phytostabilization.
Workaholics and Dropouts in Organizations

This paper reports the results of experiments designed to test the theory of the optimal composition of prizes in contests. In the aggregate the behavior of subjects is consistent with that predicted by the theory, but we find that such aggregate results mask an unexpected compositional effect on the individual level. Whereas theory predicts that subject efforts are continuous and increasing functions of ability, the actual efforts of our laboratory subjects bifurcate. Lowability workers drop out and exert little or no effort, and high-ability workers try too hard. This bifurcation, which is masked by aggregation, can be explained by assuming loss aversion on the part of the subjects. (JEL: C92, D44, D72, D82, J31)
Efficient Targeted Mutagenesis in Medaka Using Custom-Designed Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases

Transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) have become powerful tools for targeted genome editing. Here we demonstrate efficient targeted mutagenesis in medaka (Oryzias latipes), which serves as an excellent vertebrate model for genetics and genomics. We designed and constructed a pair of TALENs targeting the medaka DJ-1 gene, a homolog of human DJ-1 (PARK7). These TALENs induced a number of insertions and deletions in the injected embryos with extremely high efficiency. This induction of mutations occurred in a dose-dependent manner. All screened G0 fish injected with the TALENs transmitted the TALEN-induced mutations to the next generation with high efficiency (44–100%). We also confirmed that these TALENs induced site-specific mutations because none of the mutations were found at potential off-target sites. In addition, the DJ-1 protein was lost in DJ-1Δ7/Δ7 fish that carried a TALEN-induced frameshift mutation in both alleles. We also investigated the effect of the N- and C-terminal regions of the transcription activator-like (TAL) effector domain on the gene-disrupting activity of DJ1-TALENs and found that 287 amino acids at the N terminus and 63 amino acids at the C terminus of the TAL domain exhibited the highest disrupting activity in the injected embryos. Our results suggest that TALENs enable us to rapidly and efficiently establish knockout medaka strains. This is the first report of targeted mutagenesis in medaka using TALENs. The TALEN technology will expand the potential of medaka as a model system for genetics and genomics.