Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Translaminar facet screw fixation Translaminar Facet Screw Fixation

Introduction Lumbar fusion has proven to be an accepted treatment for a variety of indications. Pedicle screw fixation has historically been the gold standard for providing stabilization to the lumbar motion segment while the fusion matures. However, numerous studies have reported high complication rates, increased pain, and juxtalevel degeneration due to the size of the pedicle screw instrumentation, the necessary wide soft tissue dissection, and exposure of the cephalad facet joint (4,7,10,13,25). These criticisms of pedicle screw fixation have necessitated more minimally invasive techniques and less bulky instrumentation. Facet screw fixation was first described in 1948 by King (23). His technique involved short screws placed horizontally across the facet joint. (Figure 1) The screw enters the inferior articular process just medial to the joint and crosses the joint into the ipsilateral superior articular process. Improvements on this technique were made in 1959 by Boucher (5). His method used the same starting point as King, but the screw is directed more vertical into the base of the pedicle thereby increasing the length of screw in the caudal vertebrae. (Figure 2) Magerl changed the starting point of the screw to the junction of the contralateral spinous process and lamina. This translaminar technique described by Magerl in 1984 maximizes the strength and length of the screw both proximal and distal to the facet joint (26). (Figure 3) This technique involves a midline incision with dissection only out to the facet joints. The transverse processes and cephalad juxtalevel facet joints are not exposed. The screw used is significantly longer than that used by both Boucher and King due to an entry point at the base of the contralateral spinous process. This improves the technique by increasing the effective working length of the screw on both sides of the facet joint resulting in increased strength of the fixation. This review focuses on the advantages of translaminar facet screws as established in both the literature and in our experience. Translaminar facet instrumentation involves minimally invasive techniques without significant soft tissue dissection. Improvements over pedicle screw fixation have been shown in biomechanical stability and stiffness, complication rates, reoperation rates, operative time, blood loss, and patient perceived outcomes. Additionally, current intraoperative surgical image navigation techniques are rapidly improving which have increased the accuracy and decreased the operative time in placement of these screws.
Effects of botulinum toxin A therapy and multidisciplinary rehabilitation on upper and lower limb spasticity in post-stroke patients

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of combined botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) and inpatient multidisciplinary (MD) rehabilitation therapy on the improvement of upper and lower limb function in post-stroke patients. Methods. In this retrospective study, a 12-day inpatient treatment protocol was implemented on 51 post-stroke patients with spasticity. Assessments were performed on the day of admission, at discharge, and at 3 months following discharge. Results. At the time of discharge, all of the evaluated items showed a statistically significant improvement. Only the Functional Reach Test (FRT) showed a statistically significant improvement at 3 months. In subgroup analyses, the slowest walking speed group showed a significantly greater change ratio of the 10 Meter Walk Test relative to the other groups, from the time of admission to discharge. This group showed a greater FRT change ratio than the other groups from the time of admission to the 3-month follow-up. Conclusion. Inpatient combined therapy of simultaneous injections of BoNT-A to the upper and lower limbs and MD may improve motor function.
Multiple-access interference suppression employing block-adaptation filtering technique in multipath DS-CDMA

A computationally-efficient fuzzy-logic controlled block adaptive filtering (FLC-BAF) technique is developed for asynchronous DS-CDMA systems with antenna arrays in multipath Rayleigh fading channels. This time-varying block filtering scheme employs a 2-to-1 fuzzy inference system (FIS) to determine the processing block size Q. Consequently, this FLC-BAF approach accomplishes a substantial reduction of the computational cost without compromising bit-error-rate (BER) performance and dynamic-tracking characteristic. Simulations are conducted to illustrate the BER and convergence/tracking superiority and to provide a comparative evaluation of the proposed algorithm to other known block processing algorithms.
Blink Reflex in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Purpose: An evaluation of the extent of damage of the central nervous system in diabetes mellitus is of high value in current research. Electrophysiological abnormalities are frequently present in asymptomatic patients with diabetes mellitus. Diabetic cranial neuropathy is one of the complications of the disease. Blink reflex is used to diagnose subclinical cranial neuropathy. The objective is to test the utility of blink reflex in detecting subclinical cranial nerve involvement in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: Forty patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, aged from 30 to 60 years examined clinically and neurologically. Blink reflex and nerve conduction studies for the upper and lower limbs were performed and compared with 20 matched normal controls. Results: Diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy showed significant prolonged distal latency and reduced amplitudes of the R2C response compared with the control, patients without peripheral neuropathy showed insignificant changes. Alteration of R2 correlated with the type of treatment and the duration of the disease. In patients without peripheral neuropathy, ulnar sensory distal latencies showed significant positive correlation with R2I latency, whereas its Conduction Velocity (CV) showed significant positive correlation with R2C amplitudes and negative correlation with R2C latency. Conclusions: R2C is the most sensitive parameter in the blink reflex, which can help in the diagnosis of subclinical diabetic cranial neuropathy.
Serological relatedness of monkeypox, variola, and vaccinia viruses

Closely related human and monkey orthopoxviruses were differentiated by serologic techniques. Antiviral sera were tested by immunodiffusion for reactivity against six different viral antigens prepared from either infected cell cultures or infected chorioallantoic membranes (CAMs) of embryonated eggs. Portions of each antiserum were separately absorbed with heterologous antigens from infected CAMs to remove common reactivity. The absorbed sera formed immunodiffusion precipitates with both types of antigen preparation and revealed specific‐character differences that made it possible to classify the viruses as variola, vaccinia, or monkeypox. Cross‐complement fixation tests were also used to examine the immunologic reactivities of antisera to detergent‐treated, purified preparations of three orthopoxviruses. Only common reactivities were detected by this method, however, and differentiating reactivities were not observed.
Quantitative imaging of neuroinflammation in human white matter: A positron emission tomography study with translocator protein 18 kDa radioligand, [18F]‐FEPPA

The ability to quantify translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) in white matter (WM) is important to understand the role of neuroinflammation in neurological disorders with WM involvement. This article aims to extend the utility of TSPO imaging in WM using a second‐generation radioligand, [18F]‐FEPPA, and high‐resolution research tomograph (HRRT) positron emission tomography (PET) camera system. Four WM regions of interests (WM‐ROI), relevant to the study of aging and neuroinflammatory diseases, were examined. The corpus callosum, cingulum bundle, superior longitudinal fasciculus, and posterior limb of internal capsule were delineated automatically onto subject's T1‐weighted magnetic resonance image using a diffusion tensor imaging‐based WM template. The TSPO polymorphism (rs6971) stratified individuals to three genetic groups: high‐affinity binders (HAB), mixed‐affinity binders (MAB), and low‐affinity binders. [18F]‐FEPPA PET scans were acquired on 32 healthy subjects and analyzed using a full kinetic compartment analysis. The two‐tissue compartment model showed moderate identifiability (coefficient of variation 15–19%) for [18F]‐FEPPA total volume distribution (VT) in WM‐ROIs. Noise affects VT variability, although its effect on bias was small (6%). In a worst‐case scenario, ≤6% of simulated data did not fit reliably. A simulation of increased TSPO density exposed minimal effect on variability and identifiability of [18F]‐FEPPA VT in WM‐ROIs. We found no association between age and [18F]‐FEPPA VT in WM‐ROIs. The VT values were 15% higher in HAB than in MAB, although the difference was not statistically significant. This study provides evidence for the utility and limitations of [18F]‐FEPPA PET to measure TSPO expression in WM. Synapse 68:536–547, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Do Incident and Perpetrator Characteristics of Elder Mistreatment Differ by Gender of the Victim? Results from the National Elder Mistreatment Study

Perpetrator and incident characteristics were studied in regard to incidents of emotional, physical, and sexual mistreatment of older adults (age 60+) in a national sample of older men and women. Random digit dialing across geographic strata was used to compile a nationally representative sample; computer assisted telephone interviewing was used to standardize collection of demographic, mistreatment, and perpetrator and incident characteristics data. The final sample size consisted of 5,777 older adults. Approximately one in ten adults reported at least one form of mistreatment, and the majority of incidents were not reported to authorities. Perpetrators of physical mistreatment against men had more “pathological” characteristics compared to perpetrators of physical mistreatment against women. Perpetrators of physical mistreatment (compared to emotional and sexual mistreatment) also evidenced increased likelihood of legal problems, psychological treatment, substance use during incident, living with the victim, and being related to the victim. Implications for future research and social policy are discussed.
Milestones in magnetic resonance imaging and transcranial sonography of movement disorders

Twenty‐five years ago, when this journal was initiated, imaging of movement disorders was in its infancy. Since that time, magnetic resonance imaging has become a standard technique that is routinely performed in patients with movement disorders in order to exclude secondary causes and in some instances to provide specific information that aids in making the diagnosis of a neurodegenerative condition. Transcranial sonography is a more recent advance and is now widely employed to aid in the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and possibly in detecting individuals in the premotor phases of the disease. Investigations are currently under way to evaluate the value of this technique in other movement disorders. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society
Gastroprotective Properties of Manganese Chloride on Acetic Acid Induced Ulcer in Wistar Rats

Drugs with multiple mechanisms of protective action may be effective in minimizing tissue injury during diseases. Manganese has shown varied positive biological properties in reverting diseased conditions. There is dearth of information regarding its effects on gastrointestinal integrity, hence the aim of this study. Seventy male Wistar rats used in this study were randomly assigned into 7 groups viz: Groups 1 – control, 2 – ulcer untreated rats, 3,4,5,6 and 7 received 50mg/kg, 100mg/kg Manganese, 40mg/kg Cimetidine, 1mg/kg Mistoprotol and 30mg/kg Omeprazol respectively. Two weeks oral treatment (in groups 3-7) began 3 days after laparotomy of which chronic gastric ulcer was induced using acetic acid. On days 7 and 14, gastric acid secretion was performed on animals (fasted for 24 hours) from each group and their stomachs were removed, weighed and scored for ulcer before histological evaluation. Data were analyzed using ANOVA & Student t-test and significant at p<0.05. Results revealed that Manganese had dose and treatment duration dependent effect on healing of ulcerated stomach. Ulcer index in Manganese (50 and 100mg/kg) treated groups significantly reduced on days 7 and 14 (77.5% and 94.1%) and (93.8% and 100%) respectively compared with ulcer untreated group. Anti-secretory property was more prominent in animals treated with Omeprazole while Cimetidine treated animals showed similar trends with Manganese (100mg/kg). These results were further buttressed by histological findings that revealed no ulcer in Manganese treated groups. Findings of this study suggests that manganese might possess gastro-protective and anti-secretory activities. Key words: Manganese Chloride, Acetic acid, Ulcer, Rat
The spacing effect in older and younger adults: does context matter?

ABSTRACT Age-related memory change has been a topic of much investigation in recent years, including spacing benefits and reliance on contextual cues. We manipulated the spacing schedule and the context of learning and observed the effects on long-term recall ability in healthy older and younger adults. After learning Swahili–English word pairs, half practiced immediately (massed) and half practiced 24 h later (spaced) either in the same room or a different room (context) from the initial session. A final recall test 10 days after the practice session occurred in the same room as the first session. Participants in the spaced condition remembered more than those in the massed condition 10 days later. Younger adults remembered more word pairs than older adult participants. Context change eliminated the spacing benefit for both age groups.
Distribution of individual inbreeding coefficients, relatedness and influence of stocking on native anadromous brown trout (Salmo trutta) population structure

We examined polymorphism at seven microsatellite loci in 4023 brown trout (Salmo trutta) collected from 32 tributaries to the Limfjord, Denmark (~200 km) and from two hatcheries used for stocking. Populations differ in their estimated sizes and stocking histories. Mean individual inbreeding coefficients do not differ among locations within rivers. Relatedness varies between sites within rivers indicating varied local dynamics at a very small geographical scale. Relatedness is sometimes lower than expected among an equal number of simulated individuals with randomized genotypes, suggesting structure within locations. Five per cent of the genetic variance is distributed among rivers (FST = 0.049), but in the western, less heavily stocked, area of the Limfjord a higher proportion of the genetic variance is distributed among rivers than among locations within rivers. The reverse is true of the eastern, more heavily stocked, area of the Limfjord. Here, a higher proportion of the genetic variance is distributed among locations within rivers than among rivers. Assignment tests reveal that the majority of trout (mean 77% of all fish) are more probably of local origin than hatchery origin but this proportion varies regionally, with rivers in the western area of the Limfjord showing a relatively high (mean 88%) and those in the eastern area showing a relatively low (mean 72%) proportion of locally assigned trout. These results can be interpreted as reflecting stocking impact. Also, the proportion of locally assigned trout correlates with the populations’ stocking histories, with rivers presently subjected to stocking (hatchery trout) showing low (mean ~0.73), and rivers where stocking was discontinued showing high (mean ~0.84) proportions of local fish, probably reflecting lower survival of hatchery than of wild trout. There is evidence for isolation by distance at a large geographical scale when individual river populations are pooled into nine geographical regions but not at a small geographical scale when populations are considered individually. We reject the null hypothesis that stocking has had no impact on population structure but the relatively high proportion of locally assigned trout in populations where stocking with domestic fish no longer takes place suggests limited long‐term success of stocking.
Numerical Evaluation of Radio Frequency Power Deposition in Human Models during MRI

Concerns have been expressed about safety of MRI examination of two groups of people, namely pregnant mothers and cardiac pacemaker bearers. The main uncertainty relates to excessive heating by pulsed radio frequency (RF) fields. To address these issues, numerical evaluations of the power deposition are performed for a 27-week old fetus in a simplified model of the mother, and a realistic model of a human torso with an in situ pacemaker including its leads. The evaluations are supplemented with organ dosimetry for a realistic model of the human torso. An ideal non-resonant and two resonant birdcage coils operating at 64 MHz (corresponding to 1.5 T MRI) are evaluated. All simulations are performed with the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method
GLUT 1 Is Not the Primary Binding Receptor but Is Associated with Cell-to-Cell Transmission of Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1

Viral Immunology Section, Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892; Basic Research Program, SAIC-Frederick, Frederick, Maryland 21702; Experimental Diabetes, Metabolism, and Nutrition Section, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892; and Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, Maryland 21702
Nonequivalent Nucleotide Trapping in the Two Nucleotide Binding Folds of the Human Multidrug Resistance Protein MRP1*

Multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1) and P-glycoprotein, which are ATP-dependent multidrug efflux pumps and involved in multidrug resistance of tumor cells, are members of the ATP binding cassette proteins and contain two nucleotide-binding folds (NBFs). P-glycoprotein hydrolyzes ATP at both NBFs, and vanadate-induced nucleotide trapping occurs at both NBFs. We examined vanadate-induced nucleotide trapping in MRP1 stably expressed in KB cell membrane by using 8-azido-[α-32P]ATP. Vanadate-induced nucleotide trapping in MRP1 was found to be stimulated by reduced glutathione, glutathione disulfide, and etoposide and to be synergistically stimulated by the presence of etoposide and either glutathione. These results suggest that glutathione and etoposide interact with MRP1 at different sites and that those bindings cooperatively stimulate the nucleotide trapping. Mild trypsin digestion of MRP1 revealed that vanadate-induced nucleotide trapping mainly occurs at NBF2. Our results suggest that the two NBFs of MRP1 might be functionally nonequivalent.
An analysis of the proxy problem in distributed systems

The authors look at the problem of delegation of rights or proxy in distributed object systems. Two signature-based schemes for achieving delegation which require different inter-object trust assumptions are presented. These schemes have been instantiated using public key and secret key based cryptographic techniques. Additional trust implications which arise from these implementations are also considered. Then the authors consider the issue of revocation of delegations and propose several ways of achieving this. These solutions have been compared with the mechanism found in the Distributed System Security Architecture (M. Gasser et al., 1990). Finally, the authors consider the Kerberos authentication system (J. Steiner et al., 1988) and propose extensions to implement the delegation scheme. <<ETX>>
SYNTHESIS OF FATTY ACID ETHYL ESTER FROM CHICKEN FAT USING ZnO/SiO2 HETEROGENEOUS CATALYST

The synthesis of fatty acid ethyl ester from chicken fat waste using ZnO/SiO 2 heterogeneous catalyst was carried out using t wo-step procedures of acid pretreatment by esterification and transesterification of the pretreated oil. The first step reduces the high free fatty acid in the oil to an acceptable level for transesterification using concentrated sulphuric acid at a temperature of 60 o C during 1 h of reaction time. The second step was transesterification of the preheated oil using silica promoted zinc oxide as heterogeneous catalyst. A three level, four factorial box behnken design (BBD) of response surface methodology was used whereby the biodiesel yield obtained in the range of 56−88%and a second order quadratic polynomial regression model that established the relationship between biodiesel yield and the process variables was developed. The quality of the produced biodiesel was determined by investigating its physicochemical properties which results are obtained for specific gravity at 15 o C to be 0.889 g/cm 3 , Flash point was 175 o C, Cloud Point was -3 o C, Pour point was -8 o C, Cetane number was 57.72 and Kinematic Viscosity at 40 o C was 7.95mm 2 /s. The results obtained are consistent and in line with ASTM standard for biodiesel; hence, chicken fat as non-edible oil can be a good renewable feedstock for biodiesel production for a sustainable green environment. http://dx.doi. org/10.4314/njt.v35i1. 16
Seroepidemiology of clinical isolates of Klebsiella in Connecticut

The distribution of capsular serotypes of 200 clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Klebsiella oxytoca from four Connecticut hospitals was determined. Serotyping was done by an indirect fluorescent-antibody technique. Hospitals included three community hospitals from the Hartford area and one university hospital in New Haven. During the test period, epidemiological surveillance did not detect any nosocomial epidemic involving Klebsiella species. Ninety-two percent of the isolates were typable. Of the 72 possible serotypes, 62 were represented among these strains. Forty-two percent of the typable strains were distributed among 10 serotypes. The predominant serotypes were types 31, 22, and 18 representing 19% of the typable strains (8, 6, and 5%, respectively). No one particular serotype was associated exclusively with a specific site of infection.
The Formins FMNL1 and mDia1 Regulate Coiling Phagocytosis of Borrelia burgdorferi by Primary Human Macrophages

ABSTRACT Spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex are the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis, a tick-borne infectious disease primarily affecting the skin, nervous system, and joints. During infection, macrophages and dendritic cells are the first immune cells to encounter invading borreliae. Phagocytosis and intracellular processing of Borrelia by these cells is thus decisive for the eventual outcome of infection. Phagocytic uptake of Borrelia by macrophages proceeds preferentially through coiling phagocytosis, which is characterized by actin-rich unilateral pseudopods that capture and enwrap spirochetes. Actin-dependent growth of these pseudopods necessitates de novo nucleation of actin filaments, which is regulated by actin-nucleating factors such as Arp2/3 complex. Here, we demonstrate that, in addition, also actin-regulatory proteins of the formin family are important for uptake of borreliae by primary human macrophages. Using immunofluorescence, live-cell imaging, and ratiometric analysis, we find specific enrichment of the formins FMNL1 and mDia1 at macrophage pseudopods that are in contact with borreliae. Consistently, small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown of FMNL1 or mDia1 leads to decreased formation of Borrelia-induced pseudopods and to decreased internalization of borreliae by macrophages. Our results suggest that macrophage coiling phagocytosis is a complex process involving several actin nucleation/regulatory factors. They also point specifically to the formins mDia1 and FMNL1 as novel regulators of spirochete uptake by human immune cells.