Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Use of Computerized Image Guidance in Lumbar Disk Arthroplasty

Objectives: Surgical navigation systems have been increasingly studied and applied in the application of spinal instrumentation. Successful disk arthroplasty requires accurate midline and rotational positioning for optimal function and longevity. A surgical simulation study in human cadaver specimens was done to evaluate and compare the accuracy of standard fluoroscopy, computer-assisted fluoroscopic image guidance, and Iso-C3D image guidance in the placement of lumbar intervertebral disk replacements. Methods: Lumbar intervertebral disk prostheses were placed using three different image guidance techniques in three human cadaver spine specimens at multiple levels. Postinstrumentation accuracy was assessed with thin-cut computed tomography scans. Results: Intervertebral disk replacements placed using the StealthStation with Iso-C3D were more accurately centered than those placed using the StealthStation with FluoroNav and standard fluoroscopy. Intervertebral disk replacements placed with Iso-C3D and FluoroNav had improved rotational divergence compared with standard fluoroscopy. Iso-C3D and FluoroNav had a smaller interprocedure variance than standard fluoroscopy. These results did not approach statistical significance. Relative to both virtual and standard fluoroscopy, use of the StealthStation with Iso-C3D resulted in improved accuracy in centering the lumbar disk prosthesis in the coronal midline. Conclusions: The StealthStation with FluoroNav appears to be at least equivalent to standard fluoroscopy and may offer improved accuracy with rotational alignment while minimizing radiation exposure to the surgeon. Surgical guidance systems may offer improved accuracy and less interprocedure variation in the placement of intervertebral disk replacements than standard fluoroscopy. Further study regarding surgical navigation systems for intervertebral disk replacement is warranted.
Invited commentary: le mystère de Montréal.

This issue of the Journal features the publication of one of the more controversial studies regarding that most contested of human immunodeficiency virus (HTV) prevention interventions, needle exchange programs (NEPs) (1). The Montreal study, long a focus of speculation by researchers and of misrepresentation by the opponents of NEPs, even as it had remained unpublished, will now rise or fall on its own merits. In my view, the study raises no substantial concerns about the effectiveness of NEPs but does point the way to improving the programs. Some historical background is essential if the place of the present study in the body of needle exchange research is to be fully appreciated. In the fall of 1993, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention completed a review of NEP effectiveness and concluded that NEPs are likely to reduce the incidence of HIV among injection drug users (IDUs) and do not appear to be associated with an increase in drug use rates, the two criteria that must be met for the US federal ban on NEP funding to be lifted. Realizing the political implications of a document in which senior federal scientists recommended that the federal funding ban be lifted, a course seemingly at odds with the government "zero tolerance" policy on drugs, the administration chose to suppress the troublesome document (2). This strategy stifled the debate until the Washington Post obtained the documents in February 1995. This is where the Montreal study became a pawn in the US debate over needle exchange. Forced to justify how the government had ignored its own scientists' recommendations, Assistant Secretary for Health Philip R. Lee defended the ban by citing three unpublished studies, including the Montreal study,
BK viremia surveillance after kidney transplant: single‐center experience during a change from cyclosporine‐to lower‐dose tacrolimus‐based primary immunosuppression regimen

C.C. Geddes, R. Gunson, E. Mazonakis, R. Wan, L. Thomson, M. Clancy, W.F. Carman. BK viremia surveillance after kidney transplant: single‐center experience during a change from cyclosporine‐to lower‐dose tacrolimus‐based primary immunosuppression regimen. Transpl Infect Dis 2011: 13: 109–116. All rights reserved
Endocannabinoids render exploratory behaviour largely independent of the test aversiveness: role of glutamatergic transmission

To investigate the impact of averseness, controllability and familiarity of a test situation on the involvement of the endocannabinoid system in the regulation of exploratory behaviour, we tested conventional and conditional cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1)‐deficient mice in behavioural paradigms with different emotional load, which depended on the strength of illumination and the ability of the animals to avoid the light stimulus. Complete CB1 null‐mutant mice (Total‐CB1‐KO) showed an anxiogenic‐like phenotype under circumstances where they were able to avoid the bright light such as the elevated plus‐maze and the light/dark avoidance task. Conditional mutant mice lacking CB1 expression specifically in cortical glutamatergic neurons (Glu‐CB1‐KO), in contrast, failed to show a similar phenotype under the same experimental conditions. However, both mutant lines showed increased avoidance of open arm exploration during a second exposure to the elevated plus‐maze. If tested in situations where the fear eliciting light could not be avoided, Total‐CB1‐KO mice showed increased thigmotaxis in an open field, decreased social investigation and decreased novel object exploration under aversive light conditions, but not under non‐aversive low light. This time, Glu‐CB1‐KO also showed decreased exploratory behaviour towards objects and conspecific juveniles and increased thigmotaxis in the open field. Taking into consideration that the behavioural performance of wild‐type mice was only marginally affected by changes in light intensities, these data indicate that the endocannabinoid system renders exploratory behaviour largely independent of the test averseness. This process differentially involves endocannabinoid‐controlled glutamatergic transmission, depending on the controllability of the test situation.
Vitamin D status among vegetarians and non-vegetarians.

BACKGROUND Vitamin D helps in maintaining bone and muscle health. Vitamin D deficiency is a global problem, with the prevalence of deficiency being widespread in Pakistan. The present study was planned to associate serum vitamin D, Parathyroid Hormone (PTH), calcium and phosphate concentrations with dietary habits of individuals living in urban/rural areas of Sindh, Pakistan. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study at two locations, urban (Karachi) and rural (Haji Goth of Shadadpur city). The study period was May-October 2012 on 176 healthy subjects, aged 20-80 years. Venous blood was collected for analysis of vitamin D, PTH, calcium and phosphorus. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS-18. Statistical differences between variables were determined by student's t-test and p < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS The 176 subjects were divided into non-vegetarians (93, 52.84%) and vegetarians (83, 47.16%) with each group subdivided into urban and rural. The BMI of non-vegetarians vs vegetarians was high (p < 0.001). Vitamin D in non-vegetarians vs vegetarians was low (p < 0.001). The vegetarians of urban compared to rural had low vitamin D (p < 0.05). The PTH of non-vegetarians vs vegetarians was significantly high (p < 0.001). Serum calcium was significantly low (p < 0.05) in urban and rural subjects on either diet. CONCLUSION Non-vegetarians had severe vitamin D deficiency, while vegetarians had vitamin D insufficiency irrespective of belonging to urban or rural area.
Implications of Technological Progress for the Measurement of Technology Acceptance Variables: The Case of Self-efficacy

Despite decades of technological and organizational change our research in the area of technology adoption continues to use measures for constructs that were developed during the late 1980s and early 1990s. In this research-in-progress paper, we examine one such measure, computer-self-efficacy. We consider the implications of changing technologies and context and propose a new direction for conceptualizing and measuring self-efficacy. We present an updated conceptualization and a definition for a new construct called Technology Self-efficacy. We describe our process for developing the item pool for this new construct and outline our plans for testing the new instrument’s validity.
A Framework for Integrated Services Operation over Diffserv Networks

The Integrated Services (Intserv) architecture provides a means for the delivery of end-to-end Quality of Service (QoS) to applications over heterogeneous networks. To support this end-to-end model, the Intserv architecture must be supported over a wide variety of different types of network elements. In this context, a network that supports Differentiated Services (Diffserv) may be viewed as a network element in the total end-to-end path. This document describes a framework by which Integrated Services may be supported over Diffserv networks.
A 7b 1GS/s 60mW folding ADC in 65nm CMOS

A 7b 1GS/s CMOS folding ADC is presented. It utilizes improved track-and-hold circuit using simple clock generator and bootstrapped sampling switch, sequential amplifier settling method in amplifier chain. It also uses low-power thermometer-to-binary encoder realized with transmission gate multiplexer and intermediate track-and-hold circuit for high-speed mediumresolution A/D conversion. The proposed ADC achieves about 6.5 effective bits for 250MHz input at 1GS/s. It consumes 60mW from 1.2V single supply. It is fabricated with 65nm LP CMOS process occupying 0.2mm2 active area.
PREDICTION OF SENSORY TENDERNESS OF BEEF MUSCLES HAVING DIFFERENT COLLAGEN CHARACTERISTICS USING WARNER-BRATZLER SHEAR

Present study was conducted to determine the certain physico-chemical attributes of selected muscles from four to six year old cross-bred cow and their correlation with sensory tenderness. Six years old cross-bred cow (cross between Holstein Friesian bull and Non-descript Indian cow) were utilized in this study and the following muscles were hotdeboned after low-voltage (100-110 V, 1.5 to 2 min) electrical stimulation of the carcasses: serratus ventralis cervicis (SEV), supraspinatus (SPS), infraspinatus (INF), triceps brachii (TRI), longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LNG), psoas major (PSM), vastus lateralis (VAL), rectus femoris (REF), semimembranosus (SEM) and biceps femoris (BIF). Each muscle was stored at 4±1 o C for 72 h and analyzed for physico-chemical and sensory attributes. Significant (p<0.05) difference in the collagen content (CC) and collagen solubility (CS) were observed between the selected muscles. The lowest Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) was observed with PSM, while BIF had the highest WBSF value. The sensory evaluation revealed PSM, INF, SEV, REF and LNG having moderate or higher degrees of tenderness. The correlation coefficients of WBSF with sensory tenderness, overall acceptability, CC, CS, sensory amount of connective tissue were identical.
Appraisal of Sessional EEG Features as a Correlate of Clinical Changes in an rTMS Treatment of Depression

Previous findings on electrophysiological features related to depression predict that these correlate with clinical assessment, and potentially act as proxy measures of state changes. We investigated selected electrophysiological features to evaluate their utility as proxies for clinical ratings and in prediction of treatment outcome. Using typical EEG data from an repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) treatment regime, we analyzed individual alpha power and frequency, and asymmetry index from 39 patients with treatment resistant depression. The prognostic utility of these features was assessed in terms of group identification, correlation with clinical rating, or association with the time course of treatment. There was no significant group difference in asymmetry between depression patients and normal and clinical controls. Background alpha was significantly less in depression patients than controls, with the schizophrenia group midway between. There was no significant group change in asymmetry index or background alpha activity with treatment. There was a weak effect of rTMS over each session on alpha power and on asymmetry, but in the opposite direction to predictions. There was weak evidence of predicted correlation between asymmetry index change and clinical rating change, as well as in final scores that was opposite to predictions. Finally there was no strong evidence that either feature fitted a linear or more complex model of daily treatment. In conclusion, the findings are not sufficient, under our current clinical treatment regime, to support the use of background alpha activity or frontal asymmetry as proxies for clinical assessment. Several findings, however, provide support for further research in this direction.
Proinsulin, adiponectin and hsCRP in reproductive age women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)--the effect of metformin treatment.

INTRODUCTION Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) often suffer from obesity and insulin resistance. The role of proinsulin, which is known to be an indicator of fertility outcomes in PCOS women, and that of adiponectin, in the pathogenesis of PCOS is not well elucidated. Our objective was to determine proinsulin, adiponectin, hsCRP and other hormonal and metabolic parameters in PCOS women before and after metformin treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS Two PCOS groups of patients of reproductive age (90 lean and 88 obese or overweight) with two control groups, adjusted for body mass index (BMI), were compared at baseline. 32 PCOS women were studied at baseline, after three and six months of metformin (1,000 mg/day) treatment. Clinical, anthropometric, biochemical and hormonal parameters were assessed. RESULTS Proinsulin and hsCRP levels were the highest in obese PCOS women and were statistically different than in lean PCOS women (proinsulin: 11.4 v. 6.9 pmol/L; hsCRP 2.46 v. 0.47 mg/L, p < 0.01) and than in obese controls. Levels of adiponectin were dependant on BMI. Plasma proinsulin and androstenedione levels decreased after metformin treatment only in obese PCOS women. CONCLUSIONS PCOS, when accompanied by obesity, is associated with elevated proinsulin concentrations, which correlates with higher hsCRP and increased FAI. Proinsulin level decreases due to metformin treatment. Our results suggest that obese or overweight PCOS and lean PCOS are characterised by different hormonal and metabolic parameters and have a different response to metformin treatment.
Behçet’s disease with cerebral vasculitis

While taking prednisolone, she developed depression including suicidal ideation. Neurological examination was normal. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein level was elevated (1.03 g/L), but glucose and microscopic examination were normal. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) of the brain was normal. After neuropsychiatric assessment, an adjustment disorder and a situational crisis with emotional lability due to prednisolone were diagnosed. Prednisolone was reduced and cyclosporine A was commenced. Subsequent assessment 1 year later for amnesia and paraesthesia revealed normal lumbar puncture, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nerve conduction studies. Six months later she ceased prednisolone.
How long is a piece of string? Concordance searches and user behavior investigated

In the last few years, an ever-increasing number of translation resources have been moved into the cloud where shared repositories of language resources, such as Translation Memories, can be found. Access to these external TMs is generally granted through bilingual and multilingual concordancers. Concordancing tools enable users to be fully in control of the search process because searches are performed manually. This form of external support is used both by translators to solve translation problems and by non-translators to satisfy other information needs. This study analyzes concordance searches in terms of user behavior by drawing a comparison with Web search logs. It aims to identify the most common search strategies and types of interactions, recurrent search patterns, as well as possible issues that can negatively affect search efficiency. A large corpus of queries submitted by translators working at the European institutions will be analyzed across the EU official languages. Inferring user behavior directly from large volumes of authentic data can be used to gain further insights into translators' and general users’ needs to improve currently available tools as well as develop new ones.
Effects of semen sexing kits (HeiferplusTM and BullplusTM) supplemented to frozen-thawed bull semen on pregnancy rates, foetal sex ratios and selected reproductive parameters in cows

It has been claimed that artificial insemination (AI) of cows with frozen-thawed semen treated with commercially produced kits, Heiferplus TM (HP, in favour of female gender) and Bullplus TM (BP, in favour of male gender), increases the birth chance of calves with desired sex ratio by at least 20-25% and pregnancy rates by at least 5-20%. Hence, this study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of HP and BP kits as combined with AI on the pregnancy rates, foetal sex ratios and some reproductive parameters in cows. For this, a total of 200 cows (100 Holsteins and 100 Simmentals) from three to five years old were used. Fifty Holstein and 50 Simmental cows served as controls. The other half of Holstein and Simmental cows was artificially inseminated with frozen-thawed semen treated with HP and BP, respectively. Findings showed that the AI of cows with frozen-thawed semen treated with HP had no significant effect on the pregnancy rate (52.0% (26/50) in HP group; 56.0% (28/50) in control group), female calf ratio (52.0% (13/25) in HP group; 44.4% (12/27) in control group), embryonic death, abortion, stillbirth, twinning and gestation length as compared to the control group. Similarly, AI of cows with frozen-thawed semen treated with BP did not lead to any significant effect on the pregnancy rate (64.0% (32/50) in BP group; 58.0% (29/50) in control group), male calf ratio (53.1% (17/32) in BP group; 39.3% (11/28) in control group) and other reproductive parameters as compared to the control group. In conclusion, HP and BP treatments of semen used in the AI provided only slight, non-significant increases in female (7.6%) and male (13.8%) calf ratios, respectively.
Types of study in medical research: part 3 of a series on evaluation of scientific publications.

BACKGROUND The choice of study type is an important aspect of the design of medical studies. The study design and consequent study type are major determinants of a study's scientific quality and clinical value. METHODS This article describes the structured classification of studies into two types, primary and secondary, as well as a further subclassification of studies of primary type. This is done on the basis of a selective literature search concerning study types in medical research, in addition to the authors' own experience. RESULTS Three main areas of medical research can be distinguished by study type: basic (experimental), clinical, and epidemiological research. Furthermore, clinical and epidemiological studies can be further subclassified as either interventional or noninterventional. CONCLUSIONS The study type that can best answer the particular research question at hand must be determined not only on a purely scientific basis, but also in view of the available financial resources, staffing, and practical feasibility (organization, medical prerequisites, number of patients, etc.).
The fetal portal vein: normal blood flow development during the second half of human pregnancy

The umbilical vein is the major source of blood for the fetal liver, but portal blood, which has not been measured directly in human fetuses, probably constitutes a physiologically important contribution. We aimed to establish a method for measuring blood flow in the fetal portal vein and to produce longitudinal reference ranges for diameter, blood flow velocities and volume blood flow during the second half of pregnancy.
On the ra-Way Graph Partitioning Problem

The m-way graph partitioning problem (GPP) is an intractable combinatorial optimization problem with many important applications in the design automation of VLSI circuits and in the mapping problem for distributed computing systems. In this paper, we introduce a technique based on a problem-space genetic algorithm (PSGA) for the GPP to reduce the weighted cut-size while keeping the size of each subset balanced. The proposed PSGA based approach integrates a problem-specific simple and fast heuristic with a genetic algorithm to search a large solution space efficiently and effectively to find the best possible solution in an acceptable CPU time. Experimental study shows that our technique produces better results with respect to both the quality of the solution and the computational time over the previous work. The PSGA is a simple, versatile and a generic optimization technique which can also be applied to other combinatorial optimization problems.
The Importance of Head Growth Patterns in Predicting the Cognitive Abilities and Literacy Skills of Small-for-Gestational-Age Children

This study evaluated the effects of head growth compromise beginning in utero and continuing, in some cases, through the first 9 months of life on the cognitive and literacy skills of school-age small-for-gestational-age (SGA) children. Seventy-one SGA children, aged 7 to 9 years (gestational ages, 24-41 weeks) and 16 full-term appropriate-for-gestational-age control children of comparable socioeconomic backgrounds and age at testing completed tests assessing intelligence, receptive language, working memory, problem solving, visual-motor integration, phonological awareness, reading, and spelling. SGA children were subdivided into head-growth pattern groups based on their head circumference at birth and at 9 months postterm. Analyses showed that SGA children with poor prenatal and postnatal head growth had the worst outcomes, followed by those with prenatal brain compromise, but good postnatal head growth. SGA children with preserved head growth in utero as well as good head growth after birth demonstrated the best outcomes, although spelling skills were deficient relative to full-term peers. The Verbal and Full Scale IQ ratings of the SGA children who had experienced brain compromise in utero declined significantly from 5 to 8 years of age. We conclude that mild intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) has a minimal effect on the development of cognitive or academic abilities, providing that brain growth in utero is not affected. IUGR that slows brain growth in utero impairs the acquisition of some cognitive and academic abilities, even when followed by good catch-up head growth after birth, whereas poor brain growth in utero followed by little or no catch-up head growth results in widespread impairments. Findings highlight the limits to brain plasticity and emphasize the importance of optimal prenatal and postnatal brain growth.