Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Syringomyelia secondary to “occult” dorsal arachnoid webs: Report of two cases with review of literature

In a certain group of patients with syringomyelia, even with the advent of sophisticated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), no associated abnormality or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) block is easily identified. This type of syringomyelia is often termed idiopathic. Current literature has less than 10 reports of arachnoid webs to be the causative factor. We present our experience in the management of two cases of syringomyelia secondary to arachnoid webs. Both our patients presented with progressive neurological deterioration with MRI scans demonstrating cervical/thoracic syrinx without Chiari malformation or low-lying cord. There was no history of previous meningitis or trauma. Both patients underwent myelography that demonstrated dorsal flow block implying CSF obstruction. Cord displacement/change in caliber was also noted and this was not evident on MRI scans. Both patients underwent thoracic laminectomy. After opening the dura, thickened/abnormal arachnoid tissue was found that was resected thus widely communicating the dorsal subarachnoid space. Postoperatively at 6 months, both patients had significant symptomatic improvement with follow-up MRI scans demonstrating significant resolution of the syrinx. In patients with presumed idiopathic syringomyelia, imaging studies should be closely inspected for the presence of a transverse arachnoid web. We believe that all patients with idiopathic symptomatic syringomyelia should have MRI CSF flow studies and/or computed tomography (CT) myelography to identify such arachnoid abnormalities that are often underdiagnosed. Subsequent surgery should be directed at the establishment of normal CSF flow by laminectomy and excision of the offending arachnoid tissue.
Evaluation of relative growth performance and genotype by environment effects for cross-bred yellow perch families reared in communal ponds using DNA parentage analyses

From 24 mating sets, 6300 ¢ngerling of yellow perch (Perca £avescens) were stocked into one pond and equal numbers of progeny from six representative sets out of the 24 were stocked into each of two other ponds. After communal rearing for 21 months, total length and body weight were assessed for n 5 300 ¢sh in each of the three ponds and molecular pedigrees were performed for each sampled individual to assign the progeny back to the original parents. The overall average number of alleles per locus was A 516.4 and observed and expected heterozygosities were Ho 5 0.88 and He 5 0.77 respectively. The mean weight of random samples and the top 10% fastgrowing ¢sh from the pond with all the sets was signi¢cantly greater than those from either of the two replicate ponds with six crosses. For the two replicate ponds, no signi¢cant diierences were found in family rankings and assignment of the top10% fast-growing ¢sh, indicating that families with superior growth performance in one pond also exhibited the same superior growth performance in the replicate pond. However, there were no signi¢cant correlations detected in family mean weights of the top 10% ¢sh between any two of the three ponds.
A Controlled Experiment to Assess the Benefits of Estimating with Analogy and Regression Models

To have general validity, empirical results must converge. To be credible, an experimental science must understand the limitations and be able to explain the disagreements of empirical results. We describe an experiment to replicate previous studies which claim that estimation by analogy outperforms regression models. In the experiment, 68 experienced practitioners each estimated a project from a dataset of 48 industrial COTS projects. We applied two treatments, an analogy tool and a regression model, and we used the estimating performance when aided by the historical data as the control. We found that our results do not converge with previous results. The reason is that previous studies have used other datasets and partially different data analysis methods, and last but not least, the tools have been validated in isolation from the tool users. This implies that the results are sensitive to the experimental design: the characteristics of the dataset, the norms for removing outliers and other data points from the original dataset, the test metrics, significance levels, and the use of human subjects and their level of expertise. Thus, neither our results nor previous results are robust enough to claim any general validity.
Effects of Temperature on Development and Survival of Orthopygia glaucinalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Reared on Platycarya strobilacea

ABSTRACT The larvae of Orthopygia glaucinalis (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) are used to produce insect tea in Guizhou, China. We investigated the development and survival of O. glaucinalis reared on dried leaves of Platycarya strobilacea under laboratory conditions at 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34, and 37°C. The duration of development from egg deposition to adult emergence decreased significantly with increasing temperature from 19 to 31°C, whereas the duration of egg and overall development significantly increased at 34°C. Based on the extreme-value distribution function, the optimal temperature for survival of overall development was 24.89°C, and the larval stage was most susceptible to temperature extremes. The common linear model and the Ikemoto and Takai linear model were used to determine the relationship between temperature and the developmental rate, and estimated the low-temperature threshold (11.44 and 11.62°C, respectively) and the threshold constant (1220.70 and 1203.58 degreedays, respectively) of O. glaucinalis. Nonlinear models were used to assess in fitting the experiment data and to estimate the high temperature thresholds (34.00 to 39.08°C) and optimal temperatures (31.61 to 33.45°C). An intrinsic optimal temperature of 24.18°C was estimated for overall development using the Sharpe—Schoolfield—Ikemoto (SSI) model. Model-averaged parameter estimates and the unconditional standard error were also estimated for the temperature thresholds. Based on the biological parameters and model selection, we concluded that common linear, Lactin-1, and SSI models performed better for predicting the temperature-dependent development of O. glaucinalis. Our findings enable breeders to optimize the developmental rate of O. glaucinalis and improve the yield of insect tea.
The impact of extrinsic cache performance on predictability of real-time systems

Cache memories are commonly avoided in real-time systems because of their unpredictable behavior. Recently, some research has been done to obtain tighter bounds on the worst case execution time of cached programs. These techniques usually assume a non preemptive underlying system. However, some techniques can be applied to allow the use of caches in preemptive systems. This paper compares methods for dealing with extrinsic cache behavior (inter-task cache interference). Time-domain oriented methods (the inter-task cache interference is incorporated in the schedulability analysis) are compared to space-domain oriented ones (increase of the cache predictability by assigning private cache partitions to tasks). The obtained results bound the applicability domain for each method for a variety of hardware and workload configurations. The results can be used as design guidelines.
Parallel Algorithms for the Longest Common Subsequence Problem

A subsequence of a given string is any string obtained by deleting none or some symbols from the given string. A longest common subsequence (LCS) of two strings is a common subsequence of both that is as long as any other common subsequences. The problem is to find the LCS of two given strings. The bound on the complexity of this problem under the decision tree model is known to be mn if the number of distinct symbols that can appear in strings is infinite, where m and n are the lengths of the two strings, respectively, and m/spl les/n. In this paper, we propose two parallel algorithms far this problem on the CREW-PRAM model. One takes O(log/sup 2/ m + log n) time with mn/log m processors, which is faster than all the existing algorithms on the same model. The other takes O(log/sup 2/ m log log m) time with mn/(log/sup 2/ m log log m) processors when log/sup 2/ m log log m > log n, or otherwise O(log n) time with mn/log n processors, which is optimal in the sense that the time/spl times/processors bound matches the complexity bound of the problem. Both algorithms exploit nice properties of the LCS problem that are discovered in this paper. >
Vigilance deficits in schizophrenics and affectively disturbed patients

Vigilance is a concept associated with the early levels of information processing. Vigilance deficits have repeatedly been found in schizophrenic patients. It has not been clear, however, whether such cognitive dysfunctions are specific to schizophrenics or not. In this study, 28 schizophrenics were compared with 19 affectively disturbed patients and 17 normals on a vigilance test that is a hybridization of a Continuous Performance Test (CPT) and a Span of Apprehension Test (SAT). The results showed that schizophrenics performed significantly below the normals only on target hits on the CPT. There were no differences between the two patient groups, either on number of correct hits or on commission errors. On the SAT measures, normals performed better than the two psychiatric groups on all measures. Schizophrenics had more commission errors than the affectives, but there were no differences between the two groups with respect to target hits. Neither CPT nor SAT deficit, thus, seem to be specific schizophrenic characteristics.
[Influence of chronic HBV infection in the husband on the outcome of IVF-ET treatment].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the outcome of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) in couples with the husband positive for chronic infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV). METHODS This study involved 102 infertile couples receiving IVF-ET with the husbands(but not the wives) positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and another 204 couples negative for HBsAg receiving the treatment served as the control group. The cumulative embryo score, fertilization rate, cleavage rate, rate of good quality embryos, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, first trimester and late miscarriage rates, delivery rate, and neonatal malformation rate were recorded and compared between the two groups. RESULTS Between the HBsAg-positive and the control groups, the cumulative embryo score (52.8-/+18.7 vs 55.4-/+16.9), insemination rate (66.9% vs 66.1%), cleavage rate (97.6% vs 97.2%), rate of good quality embryos (34.0% vs 37.1%), implantation rate (40.9% vs 34.6%), clinical pregnancy rate (56.9% vs 50%), first trimester miscarriage rate (6.9% vs 5.9%) and late pregnancy miscarriage rate (8.6% vs 4.9%), delivery rate (40.2% vs 43.6%) and neonatal malformation rate (0 vs 0) were all similar (P>0.05;). CONCLUSION Chronic HBV infection in the husband might not affect the outcome of IVF-ET treatment.
Opsonization of HIV with Complement Enhances Infection of Dendritic Cells and Viral Transfer to CD4 T Cells in a CR3 and DC-SIGN-Dependent Manner1

In the present study, we demonstrated that opsonization of primary HIV-1 with human complement enhances infection of immature monocyte-derived dendritic cells (iDC) and transmission in trans of HIV to autologous CD4+ T lymphocytes. Infection of iDC by opsonized primary R5- and X4-tropic HIV was increased 3- to 5-fold as compared with infection by the corresponding unopsonized HIV. Enhancement of infection was dependent on CR3 as demonstrated by inhibition induced by blocking Abs. The interaction of HIV with CCR5 and CXCR4 on iDC was affected by opsonization. Indeed, stromal-derived factor-1 was more efficient in inhibiting infection of iDC with opsonized R5-tropic HIV-1BaL (45%) than with heat-inactivated complement opsonized virus and similarly RANTES inhibited more efficiently infection of iDC with opsonized X4-tropic HIV-1NDK (42%) than with heat-inactivated complement opsonized virus. We also showed that attachment of complement-opsonized virus to DC-specific ICAM-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN) molecule on iDC and HeLa DC-SIGN+ CR3− cells was 46% and 50% higher compared with heat-inactivated complement opsonized virus, respectively. Hence, Abs to DC-SIGN suppressed up to 80% and 60% the binding of opsonized virus to HeLa cells and iDC, respectively. Furthermore, Abs to DC-SIGN inhibited up to 70% of the infection of iDC and up to 65% of infection in trans of autologous lymphocytes with opsonized virus. These results further demonstrated the role of DC-SIGN in complement opsonized virus uptake and infection. Thus, the virus uses complement to its advantage to facilitate early steps leading to infection following mucosal transmission of HIV.
Measurement of general electromagnetic environment for energy harvesting using antenna operation of the human body

This paper presents measurement results in a general electromagnetic environment to evaluate use of the human body as an antenna in energy harvesting technology. Voltage received by an antenna operation of the human body was measured in an outdoor environment. More accurate model of the receiving voltage is also presented to estimate harvesting energy that can be obtained by using the human body as an antenna.
Caregiver burden in Danish family members of patients with severe brain injury: The chronic phase

Abstract Objective: To investigate caregiver burden and factors associated with caregiver burden among family members of patients with severe brain injury in the chronic phase. Additionally, the study aimed at investigating differences in burden between parents and spouses. Methods: Forty-four Danish caregivers of patients with severe brain injury were contacted 3–6 years post-injury and asked to complete a measure of caregiver burden. Results: Medium, high and low levels of burden were observed in 45%, 16% and 39% of family members, respectively. Higher burden was seen in caregivers of patients with more severe injuries, who spent more time on caregiving and reported more unmet needs. Overall, spouses spent significantly more time taking care of their family member than parents and reported higher levels of burden. Conclusions: The findings emphasized the continuing consequences of brain injury on not only the individual with the brain injury, but also on the surrounding family. Spouses, caregivers of patients with more severe injuries, who spent more time on caregiving and reported more unmet needs experienced higher levels of burden in the chronic phase. Future intervention programmes should target such specific caregivers, who might need more support and long-lasting help.
Surgical resection of pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer. 10‐year follow‐up

Pulmonary resection of metastatic lesions from colorectal cancer was performed in 62 patients, and their cumulative 5‐year and 10‐year survival rates were 42% and 22%, respectively. The overall median survival was 24 months. The survival curve decreased even after 5 years after pulmonary resection; four of 13 patients who survived more than 5 years subsequently died of metastatic disease and only two patients survived more than 10 years. The number and size of the pulmonary metastases were significantly correlated with postthoracotomy survival. Solitary metastases less than 3.0 cm in diameter were good indicators of favorable postthoracotomy survival. There were no significant differences in survival based on Dukes' classification or location of the primary lesion. Sex, age, disease‐free interval between the primary tumor and appearance of metastasis, and extent of pulmonary resection had no influence on survival. It is impossible to say from our experience that surgical resection of pulmonary metastases increased the cure rate. Presumably a good 5‐year survival rate after thoracotomy would be a reflection of a length bias caused by the biologic behavior of the metastatic pulmonary lesions.
Psychometric Properties of an Instrument Designed to Measure the Educational Quality of Graduate Training Programs

To assess the quality of residency education programs at an academic medical center for purposes of enhancing individual graduate medical education programs, we asked residents and fellows (N = 419) to evaluate their training programs using a Web-based questionnaire (response rate = 70%). Kruskal-Wallis tests, factor analysis, correlations, generalizability/decision studies, and mean plots were used to examine trainee responses and to assess the questionnaire’s measurement properties. Exploratory factor analysis indicated that the instrument had a threefactor structure that correlated highly with overall program rating. Cronbach’s alpha exceeded . 80 for all factors, and decision studies revealed that 13 to 23 raters were needed to obtain G-coefficients greater than . 70. Mean plots showed that the instrument could discriminate within and among training programs at the item level and the factor level, which should help target improvements across graduate training programs within large institutions.
Ethnobotanical Identification and Anti-microbial Evaluation of Some Anti-Diarrhoeal Plants Used by the Samburu Community, Kenya

Aims: The antibacterial effect of some selected Samburu medicinal plants were evaluated on bacterial strains like Staphylococcus aureus-ATCC 20591, Bacillus subtillis-local isolate, Salmonella typhi-ATCC 2202, Escherichia coli-STD� 25922 and Pseudomonas aeruginosaATCC 25852. Methodology and Results: Methanol was used as an extraction solvent for the medicinal plants after they had been dried and ground using the laboratory grinding miller. The in vitro antibacterial activity was performed by agar disc diffusion method. The significant antimicrobial ac tivity of active extracts was compared with the standard antibiotics, cefrodoxima and amoxicillin. These results were significant at p < 0.01. The MICs were also determined by the micro titreplate method. The MICs of the most active pla nts ranged from 18.75 mg/mL to 37.5 mg/mL. The MBCs ranged between 18.75 mg/mL to 37.5 mg/mL. The most active plant that had substantial activity in at least all the test cultures was found to be Lannea triphylla (A.Rich) Engl. A number of phytochemicals were also found to be present with tannins being the most abundant followed by flavonoids and saponins. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: The findings show that most of the medicinal plants used by the Samburu community have some significant activity on the bacterial isolates known to cause diarrhoea.
Differential ranking of causes of fatal versus non-fatal injuries among US children

Objective: Leading causes of fatal and non-fatal injury among US children aged <15 years were compared. Method: A descriptive study was conducted using nationally representative data on injury related deaths (National Vital Statistics System) and on non-fatal injury related emergency department visits (IEDV; National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program). Data were accessed using a publicly available web based system. Results: Annually, an estimated 7 100 000 pediatric IEDV and 7400 injury deaths occurred. The overall non-fatal to fatal ratio (NF:F) was 966 IEDV:1 death. Among deaths, the leading causes were motor vehicle traffic occupants (n = 1700; NF:F = 150:1), suffocations (n = 1037; NF:F = 14:1), and drownings (n = 971, NF:F = 6:1). Among non-fatal injuries, falls (estimated 2 400 000) and struck by/against (estimated 1 800 000) were the most common causes, but substantially less lethal (NF:F = 19 000:1 and 15 000:1, respectively). Conclusions: The leading causes of pediatric fatal and non-fatal injuries differed substantially. This study indicates the need for consideration of common causes of non-fatal injury, especially falls.
Effect of interleukin‐10 on dendritic cell maturation and function

The main function of dendritic cells (DC) is to induce the differentiation of naive T lymphocytes into helper cells producing a large array of lymphokines, including interleukin (IL)‐2; interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ), IL‐4, IL‐5 and IL‐10. The potent immunostimulatory properties of DC develop during a process of maturation that occurs spontaneously in vitro. Since IL‐10 has been shown to inhibit Th1 responses, we determined its effect on DC maturation and accessory function. Our data show that DC that have undergone maturation in vitro in the presence of IL‐10, have an impaired capacity to induce a Th1‐type response in vivo, leading to the development of Th2 lymphocytes. Their inability to promote the synthesis of IFN‐γ seems to correlate with a decreased production of IL‐12, an heterodimeric cytokine necessary for optimal generation of Th1‐type cells. These results suggest that IL‐10 skews the Th1/Th2 balance to Th2 in vivo by selectively blocking IL‐12 synthesis by the antigen‐presenting cells that play a role of adjuvant of the primary immune response. The cytokines present in the environment at the presentation step may, therefore, determine the class of the immune response induced by DC in vivo, i.e. Th0 Th1 and/or Th2.
Statistical Stylistics and Authorship Attribution: an Empirical Investigation

This paper investigates the effectiveness and accuracy of multivariate analysis, specifically cluster analysis, of the frequencies of very frequent words in distinguishing texts by different authors and grouping texts by a single author. An examination of groups of texts by known authors shows that cluster analyses typically achieve an accuracy rate of less than 90 per cent for contemporary novels, modern British and American novels, and contemporary literary critical texts, both on relatively large groups of texts and on smaller subsets of those texts. Although limiting the analysis to third-person narration, and disambiguating homographic function words improves the results, inaccuracies remain. Furthermore, small groups of problematic texts extracted from the larger groups in simulated authorship studies also fail to cluster correctly. These failures suggest general rather than local problems with the technique, and cast doubt on the effectiveness of cluster analysis for authorship attribution and stylistic study.
Trust and Growth Revisited

The paper extends Breggren et al. (2008, EE) on ‘trust and growth: a shaky relationship” by incorporating recent developments in the trust-growth literature and using a robust methodological underpinning that accounts for the presence of outliers. The empirical evidence is based on 63 countries. Two main findings are established. First, the substantially documented positive trust-growth nexus is broadly confirmed. Second, when initial levels of growth come into play in determining the relationship, only the 25th quartile and 90th decile confirm the positive nexus. The results suggest that the trust-growth nexus cannot be generalized for all countries as some previous studies have concluded. Accordingly, trust-growth policies should be contingent on existing levels of development and tailored differently across rich and poor countries.