Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Combined Injury of the Accessory Nerve and Brachial Plexus

BACKGROUND: Stretch-induced spinal accessory nerve palsy has been considered extremely rare, with only a few cases reported. OBJECTIVE: In 357 patients with stretch lesions of the brachial plexus, we investigated the prevalence, course, and surgical treatment of accessory nerve palsy. METHODS: Accessory nerve palsy was ascertained when the patient was unable to shrug the ipsilateral shoulder. Patients underwent brachial plexus reconstruction between 6 and 8 months after trauma. To confirm paralysis, during surgery, the accessory nerve was stimulated electrically. RESULTS: Accessory nerve palsy occurred in 19 of the 327 patients (6%) with upper type or complete palsy of the brachial plexus. Proximal injuries of the accessory nerve accompanied by voice alteration and complete palsy of the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscle occurred in 2 patients. Proximal palsy without vocal alterations was observed in 6 patients. Palsy of the trapezius muscle with preservation of the sternocleidomastoid muscle occurred in 11 patients. All 7 patients who demonstrated muscle contractions upon electrical stimulation of the accessory nerve during surgery recovered completely. Patients with surgical reconstruction of the accessory nerve through grafting (n = 2) or repair by platysma motor nerve transfer (n = 2) recovered active shoulder shrugging within 36 months of surgery. Seven of the 8 patients without accessory nerve reconstruction recovered from their drop shoulder and head tilt, but remained unable to shrug. CONCLUSION: If intraoperative electrical stimulation produces contraction of the upper trapezius muscle, no repair is needed. In proximal injuries, the platysma motor branch should be transferred to the accessory nerve; whereas in paralysis distal to the sternocleidomastoid muscle, the accessory nerve should be explored and grafted.
Implementation and the Challenges of the Mass Housing Scheme in Abuja, Nigeria

In recent years, Public-Private Partnership approaches are embraced and employed in housing schemes across the country. The Mass Housing Scheme in Abuja was organized to enable the Organized Private Sector produce housing for sale at affordable prices to low and medium-income groups in the city. This study sought to assess the implementation of the mass housing scheme in Abuja to determine the affordability of the housing units to the people. However, from the findings of the study, it was established that the program was carried out without adequate planning and implementation and the partners seem not to have the capability. This impinged on the overall performance of the scheme as the high cost of units disenfranchised the target beneficiaries. The study therefore made case for capacity buildings for the partners, positive quality enabling environment, stricter control and government’s support for the sake of the low-income earners.
A comparative study of nursing staff, care recipients' and their relatives' perceptions of quality of older people care.

BACKGROUND Comparisons of different stakeholders' ratings of the quality of older people care can help to drive quality improvement. AIM The aim was to compare staff, older care recipients' and their relatives' quality of care ratings. DESIGN Cross-sectional questionnaire surveys in 2003 and 2004, using a repeated measures design on an organizational level. METHODS Nursing staff, care recipients and relatives in two older people care organizations were included. The ratings of an overall quality grade, information, activities, general care and staff skills were compared between the respondent groups. RESULTS Care recipients in both organizations rated the overall quality grade significantly higher than nursing staff and relatives. Staff ratings of the information given to care recipients were significantly more positive than care recipients' and relatives' ratings. All three groups gave lowest ratings to the quality of activities offered to care recipients, with lowest ratings from nursing staff. CONCLUSIONS Concurrent measurements of staff, care recipients and relatives' care quality perceptions can provide a broad evaluation of an organization's strength and limitations. Relevance to clinical practice. Staff, care recipients' and relatives' perceptions can be useful for older people care organizations and decision makers in developing care processes and outcomes of care.
Valuing Agricultural Landscape: Lithuanian Case Study Using a Contingent Valuation Method

This study analyses Lithuanian residents’ willingness to pay (WTP) for the agricultural landscape in Lithuania. Since it is a part of the European Union, the agriculture is supported by the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). According to CAP, agri-environmental schemes focus on the maintenance and improvement of agricultural landscape. Under these measures, Lithuanian farmers receive payments for the creation of agricultural landscape services. Therefore, understanding the demand of such agricultural landscape services, as received by the society, may help policymakers better allocate the funds. The present study has revealed that Lithuanian residents are concerned about the maintenance and preservation of the agricultural landscape. Moreover, they demand provision of the agricultural landscape services. Application of the contingent valuation method has shown that the median WTP of 23.59 €/year per family for agricultural landscape services, which is influenced by socioeconomic characteristics. The findings of the present study provide quantitative information about the demand for agricultural landscape services, which could be used to improve the agri-environmental policy, substantiating the internalization of positive and negative externalities (e.g., agricultural landscape services) to the performance of farmers.
Validation of a Novel Multivariate Method of Defining HIV-Associated Cognitive Impairment

Abstract Background The optimum method of defining cognitive impairment in virally suppressed people living with HIV is unknown. We evaluated the relationships between cognitive impairment, including using a novel multivariate method (NMM), patient– reported outcome measures (PROMs), and neuroimaging markers of brain structure across 3 cohorts. Methods Differences in the prevalence of cognitive impairment, PROMs, and neuroimaging data from the COBRA, CHARTER, and POPPY cohorts (total n = 908) were determined between HIV-positive participants with and without cognitive impairment defined using the HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), global deficit score (GDS), and NMM criteria. Results The prevalence of cognitive impairment varied by up to 27% between methods used to define impairment (eg, 48% for HAND vs 21% for NMM in the CHARTER study). Associations between objective cognitive impairment and subjective cognitive complaints generally were weak. Physical and mental health summary scores (SF-36) were lowest for NMM-defined impairment (P < .05). There were no differences in brain volumes or cortical thickness between participants with and without cognitive impairment defined using the HAND and GDS measures. In contrast, those identified with cognitive impairment by the NMM had reduced mean cortical thickness in both hemispheres (P < .05), as well as smaller brain volumes (P < .01). The associations with measures of white matter microstructure and brain-predicted age generally were weaker. Conclusion Different methods of defining cognitive impairment identify different people with varying symptomatology and measures of brain injury. Overall, NMM-defined impairment was associated with most neuroimaging abnormalities and poorer self-reported health status. This may be due to the statistical advantage of using a multivariate approach.
Binomial parameters differ across neocortical layers and with different classes of connections in adult rat and cat neocortex

Binomial model-based analysis compared excitatory connections involving different classes of neurons in different neocortical layers. Single-sweep excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) from dual intracellular recordings in adult cat and rat slices were measured. For data subsets corresponding to first EPSPs exhibiting different degrees of posttetanic potentiation and second, third etc. EPSPs in trains at different interspike intervals, coefficient of variation (CV), transmission failure rates (F), variance (V), and V/M were plotted against mean EPSP amplitude (M). Curves derived from binomial models in which subsets varied only in p (release probability) were fit and parameters q (quantal amplitude), and n (number of release sites) were estimated. Estimates for q and n were similar for control subsets and subsets recorded during Ca2+ channel blockade, only p varied. Estimates from the four methods were powerfully correlated, but when CV, F, V, and V/M were plotted against M, different types of connections occupied different regions of parameter space. Comparisons of linear fits to V/M against M plots and of parameter estimates indicated that these differences were significant. Connections between pyramids in different layers and inputs to different cell classes in the same layer differed markedly. Monte Carlo simulations of more complex models subjected to simple binomial model-based analysis confirmed the significance of these differences. Binomial models, either simple, in which p and q are identical at all terminals involved, or more complex, in which they differ, adequately describe many neocortical connections, but each class uses different combinations of n, mean p, and mean q.
Robust speech recognition over IP networks

This work looks at the issues involved in performing robust speech recognition over a packet-based network such as the IP network. This involves the combination of robust speech recognition together with a reliable method of sending speech data over the IP network. The format in which the speech is sent over the network is considered and results show that much better robustness is achieved when the front-end features are transmitted directly rather than encoding the speech with a codec. The problem of packet loss is addressed and a novel detection and estimation scheme for missing frames is introduced to overcome this problem. This is shown to recover performance with 50% packet loss from 33% to 90% which is only 3% below the no loss case.
Laboratory study of shear strength response of Chlef natural sand: Effect of saturation

Abstract The study of the unsaturated soils is a very complex field to which several researches in laboratory and on site are directed these last years. An experimental study aims to quantify the influence of the Skempton coefficient B characterizing the degree of saturation on the behavior of the granular sand to the liquefaction resistance of sand. The study is based on undrained triaxial tests performed on natural Chlef sand carried out at an initial relative density Dr = 50% under a confining pressure of 50, 100 and 200 kPa for Skempton coefficient B = 10 to 92%. The results of the tests show that an increase of confining pressure leads to an increase of the shear stress of the samples. For the lower value of the degree of saturation results of our findings indicate an increase of the resistance to liquefaction; our results are in good agreement with others observed in several research projects conducted with other sands. The increase of Skempton coefficient B induces an increase of pore water pressure and a decrease of the shear strength. The pore pressure (u) increases with an exponential manner with the increase of the degree of saturation; while the residual shear strength (Rs) decreases with logarithmic manner with the increase of degree of saturation (B).
Progestagens Use Before Menopause and Breast Cancer Risk According to Histology and Hormone Receptors

In a previous study, we found a positive association between premenopausal use of progestagens and breast cancer risk. We conducted the present study to assess the risk of breast cancers defined by their histology and hormone receptors status. We evaluated the association between progestagen-only intake (except for mini pills) before menopause and after the age of 40 years and invasive breast cancer risk in 67,057 women participating in the French E3N cohort study. Histologically confirmed invasive breast cancers (2,264) were identified through biennial self-administered questionnaires completed from 1992 to 2002. Risk estimates were calculated using the Cox proportional hazard model. We found an increased risk of lobular carcinoma associated with premenopausal use of progestagens among both current and past users [hazard raatio (HR), 1.51; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.02-2.24 and HR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.08-1.75, respectively]. Among current users, the use of progestagens for 4.5 years or more was associated with an increased risk of estrogen receptor–positive/progesterone receptor–positive carcinomas (HR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.05-2.68), whereas current use of progestagens for <4.5 years was associated with an increase in the estrogen receptor–positive/progesterone receptor–negative carcinoma risk (HR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.05-2.46). The premenopausal use of progestagens after the age of 40 years may be preferentially associated with the risk of lobular breast cancer and differentially affect the risk of breast cancer according to the hormone receptor status. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(10):2723–8)
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of ezogabine (retigabine) in partial epilepsy

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ezogabine (United States adopted name)/retigabine (international nonproprietary name) (EZG[RTG]) 1,200 mg/day as adjunctive treatment in adults with drug-resistant epilepsy with partial-onset seizures with or without secondary generalization. Methods: RESTORE 1 was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group trial. Following a prospective 8-week baseline phase, patients entered an 18-week double-blind treatment period (6-week forced dose titration to EZG[RTG] 1,200 mg/day in 3 equally divided doses or placebo, followed by a 12-week maintenance phase). Results were analyzed on an intent-to-treat basis for the entire 18-week period and for patients reaching the maintenance phase. Results: In 306 patients randomized, 305 received EZG(RTG) 1,200 mg/day (n = 153) or placebo (n = 152). Median percent reduction in total partial-seizure frequency was 44.3% vs 17.5% (p < 0.001) for EZG(RTG) and placebo, respectively, during the 18-week double-blind period; responder rates (≥50% reduction in total partial-seizure frequency from baseline) were 44.4% vs 17.8% (p < 0.001). In 256 patients (EZG[RTG], 119; placebo, 137) entering the 12-week maintenance phase, median percent reduction in seizure frequency for EZG(RTG) vs placebo was 54.5% and 18.9% (p < 0.001), respectively; responder rates were 55.5% vs 22.6% (p < 0.001). The proportion of patients discontinuing due to treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) was 26.8% (EZG[RTG]) vs 8.6% (placebo). Dizziness, somnolence, fatigue, confusion, dysarthria, urinary tract infection, ataxia, and blurred vision were the most common TEAEs reported by more patients treated with EZG(RTG) than placebo. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that EZG(RTG) is effective as add-on therapy for reducing seizure frequency in patients with drug-resistant partial-onset seizures. Classification of evidence: This study provides Class II evidence that EZG(RTG) 1,200 mg/day is effective as adjunctive therapy in adults with partial-onset seizures with or without secondary generalization.
ASSESSMENT OF EFFICACY OF PSA NERVE BLOCK TECHNIQUE AND LOCAL INFILTRATION TECHNIQUE IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING SURGICAL REMOVAL OF MAXILLARY THIRD MOLARS : A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of PSA block injection technique with infiltration technique regarding local anesthesia for surgical extraction of maxillary third molar. Methodology: A prospective single-blind randomized controlled trial was designed to study the severity of pain during injection and after surgical extraction of the bilaterally and symmetrically similar upper third molar in a total of 50 patients, in addition to evaluating the need to repeat the injection. Results: Even though the mean pain score for all studied patients in PSA side was lower than the average pain score in infiltration technique, repeated statistical measures confirmed that no significant pain diminution occurred in the two techniques. Conclusion: Both methods have the same statistic equivalence for the surgical extraction of maxillary third molars with the significant advantages of PSA nerve block technique over infiltration technique that least number of necessary injections but at the same time the risk of a potential complication like hematoma also must be considered.
Expression and Action of Kit Ligand/Stem Cell Factor in Normal Human and Bovine Ovarian Surface Epithelium and Ovarian Cancer1

Abstract Greater than 95% of ovarian cancers originate from the epithelial cells on the surface of the ovary termed ovarian surface epithelium (OSE). A normal aspect of OSE function is repeated proliferation after ovulation, and this is postulated to be involved in part in the onset of ovarian cancer. The hypothesis tested is that locally produced growth factors have an important role in controlling OSE proliferation. The current study investigates the potential role of the growth factor kit ligand (KL)/stem cell growth factor and its receptor c-kit in normal OSE biology and ovarian cancer. Human tumors from borderline, stage I, and stage III cases of ovarian cancer were found to express KL and c-kit protein in the epithelial cell component by ICC analysis. The stromal cell component of human ovarian tumors contained little immunostaining. Bovine ovarian physiology and endocrinology are similar to the human such that cow ovaries were used as a model system to investigate normal OSE functions. KL and c-kit proteins were detected in the OSE from both normal human and bovine ovaries. Adjacent ovarian stromal tissue contained less intense but positive KL and c-kit immunostaining. To extend the ICC results, RNA was collected from normal bovine OSE and ovarian stromal cells to examine KL gene expression. KL transcripts were detected in cultured OSE and stromal cells by Northern blot analysis. KL gene expression was found to be high in freshly isolated OSE but low in freshly isolated stroma using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction procedure. Levels of KL gene expression in cultured OSE and stroma increased to high levels. Observations indicate that normal OSE expresses high levels of KL in vivo and in vitro. The actions of KL on the growth of both normal OSE cells and ovarian cancer cells was investigated. KL was found to stimulate the growth of normal OSE cells in a similar manner to epidermal growth factor. Observations demonstrate the production and action of KL by normal OSE cells and ovarian cancer cells. Coexpression of KL and c-kit by normal OSE suggests that KL can act as an autocrine factor for OSE. The local production and action of KL on OSE provides insight into normal OSE biology, and a factor that may be involved in the onset and progression of ovarian cancer.
AN INVESTIGATION OF SAFETY BELT USAGE AND EFFECTIVENESS

Seat belt effectiveness in accidents is initially discussed from a population parameter point of view. The report also includes some exploratory studies of the degree of misclassification errors involved in the police reports on belt usage and degree of injury along with some tools to partially resolve such problems. Methodology is developed for investigating the bivariate injury distribution for belted and unbelted drivers to provide insight into the mechanism of the injury-reducing potential of belts in accidents.
Gene expression signature for biliary atresia and a role for interleukin‐8 in pathogenesis of experimental disease

Biliary atresia (BA) is a progressive fibroinflammatory obstruction of extrahepatic bile ducts that presents as neonatal cholestasis. Due to the overlap in clinical, biochemical, and histological features with other causes of cholestasis, the diagnosis requires an intraoperative cholangiogram. Thus, we determined whether diseased livers express a gene expression signature unique to BA. Applying stringent statistical analysis to a genome‐wide liver expression platform of 64 infants with BA at the time of diagnosis, 14 age‐appropriate subjects with intrahepatic cholestasis as diseased controls and seven normal controls, we identified 15 genes uniquely expressed in BA with an accuracy of 92.3%. Among these genes, IL8 and LAMC2 were sufficient to classify subjects with BA distinctly from diseased controls with an area under the curve of 0.934 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.84‐1.03), sensitivity of 96.9%, and specificity of 85.7% using their combined first principal component. Direct measurement of interleukin (IL)8 protein in the serum, however, was not different between the two groups. To investigate whether the liver‐restricted increase in IL8 was relevant to disease pathogenesis, we inactivated the signaling of IL8 homologs by genetic targeting of the Cxcr2 receptor in a murine model of experimental BA. Disruption of Cxcr2 shortened the duration of cholestasis, decreased the incidence of bile duct obstruction, and improved survival above wild‐type neonatal mice. Conclusion: The hepatic expression of IL8 and LAMC2 has high sensitivity for BA at diagnosis and may serve as a biomarker of disease, with an important role for the IL8 signaling in experimental BA. (Hepatology 2014;60:211–223)
Radiologic progression of hip and knee osteoarthritis.

RADIOGRAPHIC assessment is widely used in osteoarthritis (OA) as an outcome measure in clinical trials of structure modifying drugs and in epidemiological studies. This review summarizes the results obtained and the key points to consider when using plain X-rays. The influence of di#erent radiographic techniques on radiological findings is reviewed with particular emphasis on the need for standardization of radiographic procedures and the di#erent views possible (extended view, semiflexed view, flexed view). The properties of these di#erent views are discussed. Factors a#ecting structural disease progression, such as demographic data and characteristics of OA (localization, structural severity, symptomatic severity, biological status) are reviewed. Suggestions are made regarding the presentation of results and the data analysis of studies in OA using radiographic outcome assessment. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disorder which a#ects synovial joints, particularly the hip and the knee. The process is characterized on the basis of structural changes in articular cartilage and periarticular bone [1]. Pain severity and development of severe disability are important outcome measures in OA. However, it seems reasonable to employ surrogates such as radiological modification to assess disease progression in OA [2–7]. In crosssectional studies, structural changes are classically poorly related to the severity of joint pain or disability [8]. However, a relationship between changes in clinical parameters and changes in radiological parameters has been recently demonstrated in longitudinal studies [9]. Radiographic assessment is widely used as an outcome measure of the structural severity of OA in clinical trials of structure-modifying drugs and