Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Pedicle Screw Size on Surgical Outcomes Following Surgery for 412 Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Patients

Study Design. Retrospective Review. Objective. The objective of this study was to determine differences in surgical and post-operative outcomes in AIS patients undergoing spinal deformity correction surgery using standard or large pedicle screw size. Summary of Background. Use of pedicle screw fixation in spinal deformity correction surgery is considered safe and effective. Still, the small size of the pedicle and the complex 3D anatomy of the thoracic spine makes screw placement challenging, with improper pedicle screw fixation leading to catastrophic complications including injuries to nerve roots, spinal cord, and major vessels. Thus, insertion of larger diameter screw sizes has raised concerns amongst surgeons, especially in the pediatric population. Materials and Methods. AIS patients undergoing PSF between 2013 and 2019 were included. Demographic, radiographic, and operative outcomes collected. Patients in the large screw size group (GpI) received 6.5 mm diameter screw sizes at all levels while standard screw size group (GpII) received 5.0 to 5.5 mm diameter screw sizes at all levels. Kruskall-Wallis and Fisher’s exact test performed for continuous and categorical variables respectively. Subanalyses included (1) screw accuracy in patients with available CT scans, (2) stratified analysis of large- and standard-screw patients with ≥60% flexibility rate, (3) stratified analysis of large- and standard-screw patients with <60% flexibility rate, and (4) matched analysis of large- and standard-screw patients by surgeon and year of surgery. Results. GpI patients experienced significantly higher overall curve correction (P<0.001), with 87.6% experiencing at least one grade reduction of apical vertebral rotation from preoperative to postoperative visit(P=0.008). Patients with larger screws displayed higher postoperative kyphosis. No patient experienced medial breaching. Conclusion. Large screw sizes have similar safety profiles to standard screws without negatively impacting surgical and perioperative outcomes in AIS patients undergoing PSF. Additionally, coronal, sagittal, and rotational correction is superior for larger-diameter screws in AIS patients.
Genomic Evidence for the Nonpathogenic State in HIV-1–Infected Northern Pig-Tailed Macaques

Abstract HIV-1 is a highly host-specific retrovirus that infects humans but not most nonhuman primates. Thus, the lack of a suitable primate model that can be directly infected with HIV-1 hinders HIV-1/AIDS research. In the previous study, we have found that the northern pig-tailed macaques (NPMs) are susceptible to HIV-1 infection but show a nonpathogenic state. In this study, to understand this macaque–HIV-1 interaction, we assembled a de novo genome and longitudinal transcriptome for this species during the course of HIV-1 infection. Using comparative genomic analysis, a positively selected gene, Toll-like receptor 8, was identified with a weak ability to induce an inflammatory response in this macaque. In addition, an interferon-stimulated gene, interferon alpha inducible protein 27, was upregulated in acute HIV-1 infection and acquired an enhanced ability to inhibit HIV-1 replication compared with its human ortholog. These findings coincide with the observation of persistently downregulated immune activation and low viral replication and can partially explain the AIDS-free state in this macaque following HIV-1 infection. This study identified a number of unexplored host genes that may hamper HIV-1 replication and pathogenicity in NPMs and provided new insights into the host defense mechanisms in cross-species infection of HIV-1. This work will facilitate the adoption of NPM as a feasible animal model for HIV-1/AIDS research.
Optimization of Detection Networks: Part 11-Tree Structures

A distributed binary detection problem with multimessage (2 1 bit) communications is considered, wherein the nodes (sensors, decision makers (DMs)) of the system are organized in the form of a tree with multiple root nodes. A numerical algorithm is developed for determining the optimal decision rule at each node assuming monotone cost functions imposed only on the root nodes. It is assumed that the observations of each node are conditionally independent of those of the other nodes. It is shown that the problem is equivalent to solving a nonlinear optimal control problem, and the necessary conditions of optimality using Bayes' risk as the optimization criterion are derived. The optimal control approach provides an interpretation of certain functions of the co-state variables in terms of thresholds, and leads to a computationally efficient min-H algorithm to solve for the optimal decision rule at each node. The numerical algorithm provides a tool to investigate the organizational issues of adaptation, structure, and robustness.
Same‐day discharge for left atrial appendage occlusion procedure: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Most patients undergoing a left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) procedure are admitted for overnight observation. A same‐day discharge strategy offers the opportunity to improve resource utilization without compromising patient safety. We compared the patient safety outcomes and post‐discharge complications between same‐day discharge versus hospital admission (HA) (>1 day) in patients undergoing LAAO procedure.
Does Taping Have an Immediate Effect on Shooting the Target?

In overhead shooting athletes may have increased activity of the upper trapezius and inhibition of other shoulder muscles active during upper extremity elevation. In this study, we aimed to increase target retention and shoulder proprioception sense accuracy by taping in a way that would activate the lower trapezius muscle in elite adolescent archers. Our participants were 43 elite young athletes, aged 11–14 years, from the Archers Foundation Sports Club. We gathered athletes' sociodemographic information (age, height, weight, gender, the time they were engaged in archery, and other sports they were involved in), and we assessed their posture via the New York Posture Scale (NYPS) before taping. We evaluated them for the presence of scapular asymmetry using the Lateral Scapular Slide Test (LSST) and assessed their proprioception with the active displacement test and their target-reaching performances with the Archery Shooting Score (ASS). Since testing and scoring with the ASS is different for 11–12 and 13–14 age groups, we divided this sample into two different age groups for all analyses. There were significant changes in ASS and proprioception in both age groups, with medium to large effect sizes. There were between intragroup pre- and post-taping changes in classification according to the presence of scapular asymmetry, and there were significant changes in the archery shooting score and proprioception in both groups, with medium to large effect sizes (p < 0.05). Thus, taping applied to the lower part of the trapezius had a large to medium effect on proprioception and shooting accuracy improvement in these young archers.
Mental Health of Royal Canadian Mounted Police at the Start of the Cadet Training Program

Objective Serving Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have screened positive for one or more mental disorders based on self-reported symptoms with substantial prevalence (i.e., 50.2%). Mental health challenges for military and paramilitary populations have historically been attributed to insufficient recruit screening; however, cadet mental health when starting the Cadet Training Program (CTP) was unknown. Our objective was to estimate RCMP Cadet mental health when starting the CTP and test for sociodemographic differences. Method Cadets starting the CTP completed a survey assessing self-reported mental health symptoms (n = 772, 72.0% male) and a clinical interview (n = 736, 74.4% male) with a clinician or supervised trainee using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview to assess current and past mental health. Results The percentage of participants screening positive for one or more current mental disorders based on self-reported symptoms (15.0%) was higher than the diagnostic prevalence for the general population (10.1%); however, based on clinical interviews, participants were less likely to screen positive for any current mental disorder (6.3%) than the general population. Participants were also less likely to screen positive for any past mental disorder based on self-report (3.9%) and clinical interviews (12.5%) than the general population (33.1%). Females were more likely to score higher than males (all ps<.01; Cohen's ds .23 to .32) on several self-report mental disorder symptom measures. Conclusions The current results are the first to describe RCMP cadet mental health when starting the CTP. The data evidenced a lower prevalence of anxiety, depressive, and trauma-related mental disorders than the general population based on clinical interviews, contrasting notions that more rigorous mental health screening would reduce the high prevalence of mental disorders among serving RCMP. Instead, protecting RCMP mental health may require ongoing efforts to mitigate operational and organizational stressors.
Inhibition of angiotensin II type 1 receptor reduces oxidative stress damage to the intestinal barrier in severe acute pancreatitis

Intestinal barrier injury is a common complication of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), which is often accompanied by intestinal mucosal barrier injury and results in serious consequences. However, the exact mechanism remains unclear. We aimed to investigate whether angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1)‐mediated oxidative stress is involved in SAP intestinal barrier injury and assessed the effects of inhibiting this pathway. The SAP model was established by retrograde bile duct injection of sodium taurocholate (5%). The rats were divided into three groups: the control group (SO), the SAP group (SAP), and the azilsartan intervention group (SAP + AZL). Serum amylase, lipase, and other indexes were measured to evaluate SAP severity in each group. Histopathological changes in the pancreas and intestine were evaluated by HE staining. The oxidative stress of intestinal epithelial cells was detected by superoxide dismutase and glutathione. We also detected the expression and distribution of intestinal barrier‐related proteins. The results showed that the serum indexes, the severity of tissue damage, and the level of oxidative stress in the SAP + AZL group were significantly lower than in the SAP group. Our study provided hitherto undocumented evidence of AT1 expression in the intestinal mucosa, confirming that AT1‐mediated oxidative stress is involved in SAP intestinal mucosal injury, and inhibiting this pathway could effectively reduce intestinal mucosal oxidative stress injury, providing a new and effective target for the treatment of SAP intestinal barrier injury.
The PICARD Scientific Mission: status of the program

PICARD is an investigation dedicated to the simultaneous measurement of the absolute total and spectral solar irradiance, the diameter and solar shape, and to the Sun's interior probing by the helioseismology method. The spacecraft was successfully launched into a Sun-synchronous dawn-dusk orbit on 15 June 2010 by a DNEPR-1 launcher for a life expectancy of 2 years; its operational mission ended in March, 2014. The payload consists of the SODISM imager (SOlar Diameter Imager and Surface Mapper) and of two radiometers, SOVAP (SOlar VAriability PICARD) and PREMOS (PREcision MOnitoring Sensor), which measure Total Solar Irradiance. Filter radiometers on PREMOS monitor the Solar Spectral Irradiance in six selected bands in the near UV, visible, and near IR wavelength regions. The SODISM telescope monitors continuously solar activity from the middle ultraviolet (UV) to the near infrared (IR) spectral domains. We shall give an overview of the mission, as well as the behaviour of the instruments in orbit, and the scientific results.
A forward concurrent reasoning approach for rule-based systems using fuzzy colored Petri nets

This paper proposes a forward concurrent reasoning method for rule-based systems using the defined fuzzy colored Petri nets (FCPN). The major differences between the proposed method and the conventional ones are described as follows. Firstly, weighted inference is taken to realize a more reliable and flexible reasoning manner. Secondly, conformal partitioned matrix theory is utilized to achieve forward concurrent reasoning, improving the inference efficiency. Moreover, tokens are not removed while the enabled transitions are fired, meeting the practical cases. The aforementioned aspects are also the prominent advantages of the proposed approach. A case illustrates that the proposed approach is sound and feasible.
Unpacking privacy: Valuation of personal data protection

Information about individual behaviour is collected regularly by organisations. This information has value to businesses, the government and third parties. It is not clear what value this personal data has to consumers themselves. Much of the modern economy is predicated on people sharing personal data, however if individuals value their privacy, they may choose to withhold this data unless the perceived benefits of sharing outweigh the perceived value of keeping the data private. One technique to assess how much individuals value their privacy is to ask them whether they might be willing to pay for an otherwise free service if paying allowed them to avoid sharing personal data. Our research extends previous work on factors affecting individuals’ decisions about whether to share personal data. We take an experimental approach and focus on whether consumers place a positive value on protecting their data by examining their willingness to share personal data in a variety of data sharing environments. Using five evaluation techniques, we systematically investigate whether members of the public value keeping their personal data private. We show that the extent to which participants value protecting their information differs by data type, suggesting there is no simple function to assign a value for individual privacy. The majority of participants displayed remarkable consistency in their rankings of the importance of different types of data through a variety of elicitation procedures, a finding consistent with the existence of stable individual privacy preferences in protecting personal data. We discuss our findings in the context of research on the value of privacy and privacy preferences.
Early detection and recovery of river herring spawning habitat use in response to a mainstem dam removal

Historical loss of river and stream habitats due to impassable dams has contributed to the severe decline of many fish species. Anadromous fishes that migrate from the sea to freshwater streams to spawn have been especially impacted as dams restrict these fish from accessing ancestral spawning grounds. In 2018, Bloede Dam was removed from the Patapsco River near Baltimore, Maryland, restoring approximately 100 km of potential habitat for migratory fish. We assessed the response of anadromous river herring, alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) and blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis), to this dam removal by monitoring environmental DNA (eDNA) and eggs from 2015 to 2021 at locations upstream and downstream of the dam site during their spawning migrations. We additionally assessed the presence of fish by collecting electrofishing samples and tracked the movements of individual adult fish within the river using passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags. No adult river herring, eDNA, or eggs were detected upstream of Bloede Dam in the four years prior to its removal despite the presence of a fish ladder. Our results suggest initial habitat use recovery by spawning river herring in the first year post-removal, although a relatively small proportion of the population in the river used the newly accessible habitat. In the three years post-removal, the likelihood of detecting river herring eDNA upstream of the former dam site increased to 5% for alewife and 13% for blueback herring. Two adult fish were also collected in electrofishing samples upstream of the dam site in 2021. We found no evidence of changes in egg abundance and no tagged fish were detected upstream of the dam site post-removal. While long term monitoring is needed to assess population changes, this study highlights the value of integrating methods for comprehensive understanding of habitat use following dam removal.
SH3 domain‐binding kinase 1 promotes proliferation and inhibits apoptosis of cervical cancer via activating the Wnt/β‐catenin and Raf/ERK1/2 signaling pathways

SH3 domain‐binding kinase 1 (SBK1), is a member of the serine/threonine protein kinases family, and was confirmed to be upregulated in cervical cancer in our previous study. Nonetheless, the role of SBK1 in regulating cancer occurrence and development is unclear. In this study, the stable SBK1‐knockdown and ‐overexpressed cell models were constructed by plasmid transfection technology. Cell viability and growth were assessed through CCK‐8, colony formation, and BrdU methods. Cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. The JC‐1 staining assay was used to explore mitochondrial membrane potential. The scratch and Transwell assays were used to evaluate the cell metastatic ability. The nude mice models were utilized to explore the SBK1 expression affecting tumor growth in vivo. Our research indicated a high expression of SBK1 both in tissues and cells of cervical cancer. The proliferative, migratory, as well as invasive capacities of cervical cancer cells, were suppressed, and apoptosis was enhanced after SBK1 silence, whereas SBK1 upregulation led to opposite results. In addition, Wnt/β‐catenin and Raf/ERK1/2 pathways were activated by SBK1 upregulation. Furthermore, downregulation of c‐Raf or β‐catenin, reversed the proliferation promotion and apoptosis inhibition effects in SBK1‐overexpressed cells. The same results were observed with the use of the specific Raf inhibitor. SBK1 overexpression also contributed to tumor growth in vivo. Overall, SBK1 played a vital role in cervical tumorigenesis via activating the Wnt/β‐catenin and Raf/ERK1/2 pathways.
Predictive values of metabolic score for insulin resistance on risk of major adverse cardiovascular events and comparison with other insulin resistance indices among Chinese with and without diabetes mellitus: Results from the 4C cohort study

To investigate the relationship between the metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS‐IR) index and major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) and to compare its ability to predict MACEs with other IR indices including homeostatic model assessment for IR (HOMA‐IR) and triglyceride glucose (TyG) index‐related parameters.
Differences in innate fear behaviour in native Japanese chickens

ABSTRACT 1. Comprehensive knowledge of innate fear in chickens has important implications for understanding the adaptation of native Japanese chickens in modern production and behavioural changes caused by modern breeding goals. Innate fear behaviour seen in chicks from six native Japanese chicken breeds;, Ingie (IG), Nagoya (NAG), Oh-Shamo (OSM), Tosa-Jidori (TJI), Tosa-Kukin (TKU) and Ukokkei (UK), were compared with those in two lines of White Leghorn (WL-G and WL-T) in tonic immobility (TI) and open field (OF) tests. 2. TI and OF tests were conducted for 267 chicks at 0-1 days of age in the eight breeds. Raw data for four TI traits and 13 OF traits were corrected for environmental factors. Breed differences were analysed by the Kruskal–Wallis test followed by the Steel Dwass post hoc test. Principal component (PC) analyses were conducted. 3. The results showed that OSM was the least sensitive to fear in both the TI and OF tests. The WL-G birds showed higher sensitivity to TI fear but lower sensitivity to OF fear. The PC analysis of OF traits classified the tested breeds into three groups: least (OSM and WL-G), moderate (IG, WL-T, NAG, TJI and TKU) and most sensitive (UK).
Inhalation adherence for asthma and COPD improved during the COVID-19 pandemic: a questionnaire survey at a university hospital in Japan

Abstract Background: Good adherence to an inhaled medication protocol is necessary for the management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and several interventions to improve adherence have been reported. However, the impact of patient life changes and psychological aspects on treatment motivation is obscure. Here, we investigated changes in inhaler adherence during the COVID-19 pandemic and how lifestyle and psychological changes affected it. Methods: Seven-hundred sixteen adult patients with asthma and COPD who had visited Nagoya University Hospital between 2015 and 2020 were selected. Among them, 311 patients had received instruction at a pharmacist-managed clinic (PMC). We distributed one-time cross-sectional questionnaires from January 12 to March 31, 2021. The questionnaire covered the status of hospital visits, inhalation adherence before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, lifestyles, medical conditions, and psychological stress. The Adherence Starts with Knowledge-12 (ASK-12) was used to assess adherence barriers. Results: Four-hundred thirty-three patients answered the questionnaire. Inhalation adherence was significantly improved in both diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic. The most common reason for improved adherence was fear of infection. Patients with improved adherence were more likely to believe that controller inhalers could prevent COVID-19 from becoming more severe. Improved adherence was more common in patients with asthma, those not receiving counseling at PMC, and those with poor baseline adherence. Conclusions: Inhalation adherence for asthma and COPD improved in the COVID-19 pandemic. The patients seemed to realize the necessity and benefits of the medication more strongly than before the pandemic, which motivated them to improve adherence.
Mitogen-activated protein kinase-interacting kinase 1 is involved in mTOR-mediated pancreatic exocrine function of bovine pancreatic acinar cells with leucine supply

ABSTRACT Leucine improves the exocrine capacity of the cow pancreas, but the mechanism was not revealed clearly. Mitogen-activated protein kinase-interacting kinase 1 (MNK1) is a pancreatic acinar cell-specific stress response kinase that regulates digestive enzyme abundance. We aimed to investigate the MNK1 gene and protein expression profiles among various organs or tissues of dairy cows and to demonstrate the mechanism by which leucine-stimulated MNK1 regulates pancreatic exocrine function. Firstly, the expression profiles of MNK1 protein and gene in the tissues and organs of dairy cows were measured using immunohistochemistry and RT-qPCR methods. Next, an in vitro model of cultured Holstein dairy calf pancreatic acinar cells was used to detect the role of MNK1 during pancreatic enzymes release which is stimulated by leucine. Cells were incubated in culture medium containing L-leucine (0.45 mM) for 180 min, and samples were collected hourly, with the control not containing L-leucine (0 mM). MNK1 was expressed at very high levels in the pancreatic tissue of dairy cows. Leucine supplementation increased the α-amylase level but not lipase level at three time-points (60, 120, and 180 min), and the interaction between treatments and times was significant only for α-amylase. Leucine treatment enhanced (P < 0.05) the phosphorylation of MNK1 and eIF4E. In addition, inhibition of MNK1 decreased leucine-mediated α-amylase and lipase release (P < 0.05) and the phosphorylation of Mnk1 and eIF4E but did not affect (P > 0.05) the phosphorylation of the mTOR signalling pathway factors 4EBP1 and S6K1. In summary, MNK1 is a key regulator of pancreatic exocrine function, which is regulated by leucine in the pancreas of dairy cows.