Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Demographic Differences in Adolescent-diagnosed and Adult-diagnosed Acetabular Dysplasia Compared With Infantile Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip

Background: Acetabular dysplasia is a common cause of hip pain that can lead to premature osteoarthritis. This study explores whether demographic characteristics of patients diagnosed with acetabular dysplasia in adolescence and adulthood [adult-diagnosed dysplasia (AD)] differ from those who are diagnosed with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in infancy. Methods: Database review identified 633 patients undergoing periacetabular osteotomy for dysplasia from August 1991 to January 2008. Excluding patients with syndromal conditions and 80 lacking contact information, 421 patients received a questionnaire regarding birth and family history; 324 (70.3%) completed the survey. Thirteen were excluded because of unrelated hip conditions, leaving 311 patients for analysis. Results: Respondents were divided into 2 groups according to whether they had a history of DDH in infancy (102 patients) or were diagnosed in adolescence/adulthood (209 patients). Statistically significant differences (P<0.05) were found in sex distribution (female: DDH=98.0%, AD=88.0%), affected limb (left hip: DDH=33.3%, AD=19.1%), bilaterality (DDH=45.1%, AD=61.2%), and breech presentation (DDH=25.3%, AD=9.4%). Over 50% of all the respondents had a family history of hip disease; over 40% were first-order relatives. First-order family members of patients with AD had a higher incidence of hip replacement by the age of 65 (50.0% vs. 22.7%). Patients with DDH were more likely to have first-order family members with DDH (59.0% vs. 15.8%). Conclusions: This study confirms demographic differences between patients diagnosed with hip dysplasia in infancy versus adolescence/adulthood and supports the hypothesis that these represent distinct forms of dysplasia. In both, there is a familial tendency toward hip disease with a higher incidence of arthroplasty in the AD group’s family members and higher frequency of infantile dysplasia in the DDH group’s family members. Clinical Relevance: Infantile DDH is diagnosed with neonatal examination and patients are routinely followed into adolescence. Adolescent/adult AD is not detected until symptoms develop. Further study is needed to determine whether younger family members of patients with hip osteoarthritis should be screened to detect potentially at-risk hips.
The Medial Collateral Ligaments of the Human Ankle Joint: Anatomical Variations

This study aimed to investigate anatomical variations within the medial collateral ligament complex of the human ankle joint. Osteoligamentous preparations of 40 ankles from 20 cadavers were studied. Six different component bands of the medial collateral ligament complex were observed: four superficial bands (tibiospring, tibionavicular, superficial posterior tibiotalar, and tibiocalcaneal ligaments), of which only the tibiospring and tibionavicular ligaments were constant, and two deep bands (deep posterior tibiotalar and deep anterior tibiotalar ligaments), of which only the deep posterior tibiotalar ligament was constant. No pattern was observed in the distribution of additional bands. A consistent and universally accepted system for naming the various bands of the medial collateral ligament is necessary to enable easy and accurate comparisons between studies. We suggest that this system should be based on the attachments of the ligaments.
Entrance surface dose measurement on the thyroid gland in orthopantomography: The need for optimization

Background: The anatomic position and proven radiosensitivity of the thyroid make it an organ of concern in dental X-ray examinations. A National Radiation Protection Department (NRPD)-sponsored pilot study carried out in the Dental Radiology Department of RUMS. To assess if the radiation dose in panoramic radiographies could be reduced without significant impairment of the subjective image quality, It is well-known that critical organs such as thyroid gland are exposed to X-rays in panoramic radiography and these exposures should be kept as little as reasonably achievable. To perform quality assurance and optimize the relationship between radiation dose and image quality, accurate dose measurements in diagnostic radiology procedures are necessary. Materials and Methods: Thermoluminescent dosimetry (TLD) is widely acknowledged to be the recommended method for measuring entrance surface doses (ESD). In this study, ESD was measured using LiF thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD-100) on the thyroid of 40 patients who had referred to the School of Dentistry, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences. Patients were not exposed to any additional radiation and the radiographs were used for diagnostic purposes. TLDs were calibrated with radiation energies similar to those commonly used in orthopantomography. The panoramic radiographies were performed using the PM 2002 CC unit. The patients' mean age was 29.53 years. Three TLD chips were placed on the thyroid of each patient. The doses were averaged for each radiography and mean ESD of all patients calculated. Results: Two different tube voltages were applied (66 and 68 kVp). The overall mean ESD (both kVps, 6 mA, and 2.5 mm Al filtration) on the thyroid in orthopantomography was 0.071 ± 0.012 mGy (ranged from 0.01 to 0.40 mGy). The mean ESD for radiographies performed with 66 kVp (20 patients) and 68 kVp (20 patients) were 0.072 ± 0.019, and 0.070 ± 0.016 respectively. No statistically significant difference was found between these means. Conclusions: Despite there is no published national report on the thyroid ESD in orthopantomography, the measured surface doses in our study are inconsistent with the only one already reported about the same experiment. However, due to lack of national diagnostic reference levels for orthopantomography, it is not clear whether in case of the PM 2002 CC unit used in this experiment, reducing the radiation dose to a level that still keeps a diagnostically acceptable image quality is necessary. We hope that similar nationwide studies are performed and the national reference levels for orthopantomography are set.
Consumer attitudes and the governance of food safety

This paper reports the analysis of a recent study of public perception of food safety governance in Spain, using genetically modified (GM) foods as an indicator. The data make clear that Spanish food consumers are aware of their rights and role in the marketplace. They are critical of current regulatory decision making, which they perceive to be unduly influenced by certain social actors, such as industry. In contrast, consumers demand decisions to be based primarily on scientific opinion, as well as consumer preferences. They want authorities to facilitate informed purchasing decisions, and favor labeling of GM foods mostly on the grounds of their right to know. However, consumers' actual level of knowledge with respect to food technology and food safety remains low. There are several ambivalences as to the real impact of these attitudes on actual consumer behavior (specifically when it comes to organizing themselves or searching out background information).
Characteristics and dynamics of surfzone transverse finger bars

Patches of transverse finger bars have been identified in the surf zone of Noordwijk beach (Netherlands). They consisted of three to nine elongated accumulations of sand attached to the low-tide shoreline. The bars extended up to 50 m into the inner surf zone, had an oblique orientation with respect to the shore-normal, and were quasiregularly spaced in the alongshore direction.
Cloning and characterization of a protective outer membrane lipoprotein of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 5

The gene encoding an outer membrane lipoprotein (omlA) of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 5 was cloned, and the protein was expressed in Escherichia coli. One open reading frame of 1,104 bp was detected that encoded a protein (OmlA) with a predicted molecular mass of 40 kDa. A comparison with the omlA gene and the corresponding protein of A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 (G.-F. Gerlach, C. Anderson, S. Klashinsky, A. Rossi-Kampos, A.A. Potter, and P.J. Wilson, Infect. Immun. 61:565-572, 1993) revealed that the nucleic acid sequences had an overall sequence identity of 62.9% and the deduced amino acid sequences showed a sequence agreement of 57.3%. Both proteins were antigenically distinct. In a Western blot (immunoblot) analysis using a specific antiserum against A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 5 OmlA, a homologous protein was detected in the reference strains of A. pleuropneumoniae serotypes 5A, 5B, and 10. Pigs immunized with this recombinant protein were protected from death in an aerosol challenge experiment with an A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 5 isolate.
[Association of a polymorphism in MDR1 C3435T with response to antiepileptic drug treatment in ethic Han Chinese children with epilepsy].

OBJECTIVE P-glycoprotein 170 (P-gp) is a plausible biologic candidate for pharmacoresistance in epilepsy. The expression and efflux efficiency of P-gp is influenced by a polymorphism (C3435T) in the encoding gene (MDR1). The CC genotype at the MDR1 C3435T polymorphism was reported to be associated with the response to antiepileptic drug treatment. This study attempted to replicate this finding by examining the association of this genetic polymorphism with response to antiepileptic drug treatment in ethnic Han Chinese children with epilepsy. METHODS Two hundred and fourteen ethnic Han Chinese children with epilepsy were classified based on the response to antiepileptic drug treatment: drug-nonresponsive and drug-responsive. DNA samples were obtained from the patients. Genotypes of the C3435T polymorphism were determined by traditional polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction digestion (PCR-RFLP). The frequency of genotypes and alleles between the two groups was compared by Chi-square test. RESULTS Of the 214 patients, 164 were drug-responsive and 50 were drug-nonresponsive. There were no significant differences in the allele frequency and genotype frequency between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS There is no an association between the CC genotype or C allele at the locus of C3435T in MDR1 gene and response to antiepileptic drug treatment in ethnic Han Chinese children with epilepsy.
Increased expression of senescence markers p14ARF and p16INK4a in breast cancer is associated with an increased risk of disease recurrence and poor survival outcome

Breast cancer is a hormonally driven disease. Cellular senescence is an age‐related irreversible cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase upon induction. The aim of this study was to characterize the expression patterns of the senescence markers p14ARF, p16INK4a and p21WAF1/Cip1 during breast cancer progression in a large patient cohort.
Planificación multinivel eficiente con aprovisionamiento dinámico en grids y clouds

La consolidacion de las grandes infraestructuras para la Computacion Distribuida ha resultado en una plataforma de Computacion de Alta Productividad que esta lista para grandes cargas de trabajo. Los mejores exponentes de este proceso son las federaciones grid actuales. Por otro lado, la Computacion Cloud promete ser mas flexible, utilizable, disponible y simple que la Computacion Grid, cubriendo ademas muchas mas necesidades computacionales que las requeridas para llevar a cabo calculos distribuidos. En cualquier caso, debido al dinamismo y la heterogeneidad presente en grids y clouds, encontrar la asignacion ideal de las tareas computacionales en los recursos disponibles es, por definicion un problema NP-completo, y solo se pueden encontrar soluciones suboptimas para estos entornos. Sin embargo, la caracterizacion de estos recursos en ambos tipos de infraestructuras es deficitaria. Los sistemas de informacion disponibles no proporcionan datos fiables sobre el estado de los recursos, lo cual no permite la planificacion avanzada que necesitan los diferentes tipos de aplicaciones distribuidas. Durante la ultima decada esta cuestion no ha sido resuelta para la Computacion Grid y las infraestructuras cloud establecidas recientemente presentan el mismo problema. En este marco, los planificadores (brokers) solo pueden mejorar la productividad de las ejecuciones largas, pero no proporcionan ninguna estimacion de su duracion. La planificacion compleja ha sido abordada tradicionalmente por otras herramientas como los gestores de flujos de trabajo, los auto-planificadores o los sistemas de gestion de produccion pertenecientes a ciertas comunidades de investigacion. Sin embargo, el bajo rendimiento obtenido con estos mecanismos de asignacion anticipada (early-binding) es notorio. Ademas, la diversidad en los proveedores cloud, la falta de soporte de herramientas de planificacion y de interfaces de programacion estandarizadas para distribuir la carga de trabajo, dificultan la portabilidad masiva de aplicaciones legadas a los entornos cloud.
Cost effectiveness of molecular profiling for adjuvant decision making in patients with node-negative breast cancer.

PURPOSE To conduct an economic evaluation of the 70-gene signature used to guide adjuvant chemotherapy decision making both in patients with node-negative breast cancer (NNBC) and in the subgroup of estrogen receptor (ER) -positive patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS We used a mixed approach combining patient-level data from a multicenter validation study of the 70-gene signature (untreated patients) and secondary sources for chemotherapy efficacy, unit costs, and utility values. Three strategies on which to base the decision to administer adjuvant chemotherapy were compared: the 70-gene signature, Adjuvant! Online, and chemotherapy in all patients. In the base-case analysis, costs from the French National Insurance Scheme, life-years (LYs), and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) were computed for the three strategies over a 10-year period. Cost-effectiveness acceptability curves using the net monetary benefit were computed, combining bootstrap and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. RESULTS The mean differences in LYs and QALYs were similar between the three strategies. The 70-gene signature strategy was associated with a higher cost, with a mean difference of €2,037 (range, €1,472 to €2,515) compared with Adjuvant! Online and of €657 (95% CI, -€642 to €3,130) compared with systematic chemotherapy. For a €50,000 per QALY willingness-to-pay threshold, the probability of being the most cost-effective strategy was 92% (76% in ER-positive patients) for the Adjuvant! Online strategy, 6% (4% in ER-positive patients) for the systematic chemotherapy strategy, and 2% (20% in ER-positive patients) for the 70-gene strategy. CONCLUSION Optimizing adjuvant chemotherapy decision making based on the 70-gene signature is unlikely to be cost effective in patients with NNBC.
A Comparison of the Activity Profile and Physiological Demands Between Advanced and Recreational Veteran Tennis Players

Fernandez-Fernandez, J, Sanz-Rivas, D, Sanchez-Muñoz, C, Pluim, BM, Tiemessen, I, and Mendez-Villanueva, A. A comparison of the activity profile and physiological demands between advanced and recreational veteran tennis players. J Strength Cond Res 23(2): 604-610, 2009-The aim of the study was to examine whether differences in playing level influence the activity profile and physiological demands of advanced and recreational veteran men's tennis players during an hour of tennis match play. Ten advanced (International Tennis Number [ITN] 3-5, 45.3 ± 5.1 years) and 10 recreational (ITN 7-9, 44.8 ± 4.7 years) veteran men's tennis players participated in 4 experimental sessions: (1) an ITN on-court assessment, (2) a laboratory incremental treadmill test, (3) an hour of simulated tennis match play, and (4) 30 minutes of tennis match play using a portable gas analyzer. Subjects' &OV0312;o2 and heart rate (HR) were recorded by portable analyzers. Moreover, energy expenditure was evaluated by indirect calorimetry. Temporal structure and distance covered were determined from video recordings. Subjects' &OV0312;o2 (24.5 ± 4.1 vs. 23.3 ± 3 ml·kg−1·min−1), HR (148.3 ± 11.5 vs. 149.8 ± 8.4 bpm), duration of rallies (DR) (6.3 ± 4.1 vs. 7.6 ± 5.5 seconds), and effective playing time (EPT) (21.7 ± 5.0 vs. 23.6 ± 5.4%), HR (148.3 ± 11.5 vs. 149.8 ± 8.4 bpm), and energy expenditure (263.1 ± 49.4 and 281.3 ± 61.8 kcal·min−1) during play did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) between advanced and recreational players. The advanced players covered significantly more meters than the recreational players during their 1-hour tennis matches (mean ± SD: 3568.8 ± 532.2 vs. 3173.8 ± 226 m, p < 0.01) at lower running speeds. The results indicate that, independently of ability, tennis match play satisfies the American College of Sports Medicine recommendations for quantity and quality of exercise for the development and maintenance of cardiovascular fitness in healthy adults and seems to be a viable and highly popular mode of healthy activity.
Methotrexate dosage as a source of bias in biological trials in rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review

Objectives To evaluate if optimal dose of either oral or injectable regimens of methotrexate (MTX) of 25 mg/week was used in the comparator arms of studies comparing biologic drugs with MTX in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods A systematic literature search was carried out in MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library databases for randomised controlled trials comparing biologics with MTX in RA. A systematic review was performed among studies that met predefined criteria focusing on assessment of dose of MTX used in the comparator arm. Study authors were contacted when necessary. Study quality was assessed. Results A total of 3276 references were identified and 13 trials were included. We obtained maximal dose and regimen for all. The maximal dose of MTX used in the comparator arm of the trials was no more than 20 mg/week in any trial and for all but one trial, MTX was given orally and not by injection. The trial that used an injectable form reached a maximum of 15 mg/week. Conclusions A suboptimal dose of MTX was used in biological clinical trials performed in RA, particularly regarding route of administration. This may have biased findings in favour of biological agents.
Revision of total hip arthroplasty using the R.M. isoelastic prosthesis.

A cemented revision of failed total hip arthroplasty is prone to early mechanical failure. Cementless revision seems to be much more promising. We present our 2 year follow-up of 19 cementless revisions using the R.M. isoelastic stem. During follow-up special attention focused on the restoration of bone stock on the femoral side of the arthroplasty. Bone stock deficiencies encountered during the operation were managed with grafts. Other complications to solve during the procedure were encountered frequently. The average follow-up was 58 months. Rating the results following Merle d'Aubigné and Postel showed very good or good result only in half of the cases, one case needed a revision. Nevertheless good restoration of bone stock was observed in nearly all cases. A greater number of patients should be followed for a longer period of time to establish the exact role of this prosthesis design.
A random phased array device for delivery of high intensity focused ultrasound

Randomized phased arrays can offer electronic steering of a single focus and simultaneous multiple foci concomitant with low levels of secondary maxima and are potentially useful as sources of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). This work describes laboratory testing of a 1 MHz random phased array consisting of 254 elements on a spherical shell of radius of curvature 130 mm and diameter 170 mm. Acoustic output power and efficiency are measured for a range of input electrical powers, and field distributions for various single- and multiple-focus conditions are evaluated by a novel technique using an infrared camera to provide rapid imaging of temperature changes on the surface of an absorbing target. Experimental results show that the array can steer a single focus laterally to at least ±15 mm off axis and axially to more than ±15 mm from the centre of curvature of the array and patterns of four and five simultaneous foci ±10 mm laterally and axially whilst maintaining low intensity levels in secondary maxima away from the targeted area in good agreement with linear theoretical predictions. Experiments in which pork meat was thermally ablated indicate that contiguous lesions several cm3 in volume can be produced using the patterns of multiple foci.
Australian Physiological and Pharmacological Society Symposium : Ischaemia and the Heart ACTIVITY OF THE Na + / H + EXCHANGER CONTRIBUTES TO CARDIAC DAMAGE FOLLOWING ISCHAEMIA AND REPERFUSION

1. The present review considers the evidence that Na –H exchange activity contributes to cardiac damage following ischaemia and reperfusion. The basic mechanism involved is that protons are produced during ischaemia and leave the myocytes on the Na/H exchanger during either ischaemia and/or reperfusion. The resulting elevation of [Na]i causes Ca loading through the Na/Ca exchanger and the elevated [Ca ]i is thought to lead to myocardial damage. 2. Inhibition of the Na/H exchanger during ischaemia and/or reperfusion produces a substantial cardioprotective effect by blocking the damage caused by the coupled exchanger mechanism described above. Preconditioning also produces a cardioprotective effect and the evidence that this also involves the Na/H exchanger is reviewed. 3. The intracellular mechanisms associated with ischaemic damage and preconditioning are of great interest because they may provide targets for potential therapeutic interventions. The intracellular regulation of the Na/H exchanger appears to be an important component of these pathways and may become a focus for therapeutic approaches.
The Evolving Debate on the Effect of Foreign Aid on Corruption and Institutions in Africa

This policy chapter summarises an evolving debate on the effect of foreign aid on corruption and institutions. It entails a series of publications that have been successively motivated by feedbacks from academic and policy making circles. The plethora of papers explores debates sustaining the direct, conditional and indirect effects of foreign aid on institutions. Moreover, another debate on the incidence of foreign aid distortions on corruption is also assessed in light of a recently celebrated literature on development assistance. Overall, the findings show that the effects of foreign aid on corruption and institutions are: directly positive; conditionally positive with a magnitude dependent on initial institutional capacity levels; contingent on fundamental characteristics of development due to heterogeneity and; indirectly positive or negative depending on the transmission mechanism. While the impact of foreign aid uncertainty on corruption is also positive, the sign on governance could change in light of governments’ commitment to increase its dependence on local tax revenues.
Drug Endangered Children : Risk Factors & Neuropsychological and Psychosocial Development

The National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children fully endorses this white paper “Drug Endangered Children: Risk Factors & Neuropsychological and Psychosocial Development” authored by Kiti Freier Randall, PhD, which offers content to the Core DEC training program. This program’s evidence-based paper was developed from the nation’s top experts in the fields of pediatric neurodevelopment and psychological assessment research. The National DEC Working Group professionals listed below, from a variety of fields with many years of experience in the substance abuse and child maltreatment reviewed and endorses this paper.