Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Combined Innovative Portal Arthroscopy and Fluoroscopy‐Assisted Reduction and Fixation in Subtle Injury of the Lisfranc Joint Complex: Analysis of 10 Cases

Abstract Subtle injuries of the Lisfranc joint complex are uncommon and difficult to diagnose clinically and thus are easily missed even by experienced orthopedic doctors. Misdiagnosed injuries can lead to chronic disability until eventual fusion surgery. We describe 10 cases diagnosed with subtle injury of the Lisfranc joint that were treated with combined innovative portal arthroscopy and fluoroscopy‐assisted reduction and percutaneous screw fixation in an interfragmentary fashion. The distance between the first and second metatarsals (the Lisfranc distance) and that between the medial cuneiform and fifth metatarsal base (foot arch height) was measured before and after surgery. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society function score was evaluated perioperatively. The average preoperative and postoperative Lisfranc distance was 4.38 ± 0.39 mm and 2.68 ± 0.9 mm, the foot arch height was 12.63 ± 2.75 mm and 21.80 ± 3.50 mm, and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score was 59.1 ± 5.69 and 86.8 ± 10.1, respectively. Of the 10 patients, 3 had excellent outcomes, 6 had good outcomes, and 1 had a fair outcome. In conclusion, we report a useful and minimally invasive surgery for acute, subacute, and even chronic subtle injury of the Lisfranc joint. The Lisfranc distance, foot arch height, and function of the foot were restored clinically, and all measurements showed statistically significant differences. &NA; Level of Clinical Evidence: 4
Physical activity and risk of cardiovascular disease events: inflammatory and metabolic mechanisms.

PURPOSE The biological mechanisms through which physical activity lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) are incompletely understood. We examined the extent to which inflammatory/hemostatic factors (C-reactive protein and fibrinogen), metabolic factors (adiposity, total cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol), and hypertension mediate the association between physical activity and risk of CVD events. METHODS Data were collected from a nationally representative sample of 7881 men and women that were linked to a patient-based database of CVD hospital admissions and deaths up to September 2006. RESULTS A total of 226 incident CVD events (64 fatal) occurred over an average follow-up of 7.2 yr. The risk of CVD decreased in relation to physical activity groups according to current recommendations (at least 30 min of moderate activity five times per week or vigorous activity three times per week). The lowest risks for CVD were seen in participants meeting the recommendations through undertaking vigorous activity (hazard ratio = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.22-0.99), although being physically active below the guidelines also conferred protection (hazard ratio = 0.57, 0.42-0.77). Biological risk factors collectively explained between 39.4% and 22.6% of the cardioprotective effects of moderate and vigorous physical activity, respectively. Inflammation and hypertension tended to explain the largest proportion of variance. CONCLUSIONS Participation in any physical activity, irrespective of meeting current guidelines, was associated with a lower risk of CVD. The inverse association between physical activity and CVD risk is partly mediated by biological risk factors.
Population coding of song element sequence in the Bengalese finch HVC

Birdsong is a complex vocalization composed of various song elements organized according to sequential rules. Two alternative views exist that explain the neural representation of song element sequences in the songbird brain. The finding of sequential selective neurons supports the idea that the song element sequence is encoded in a chain of rigid selective neurons. Alternatively, song structure could be encoded in an ensemble of relatively broad selective neurons arranged in a distributed manner. Here we attempted to determine which neural representation actually occurs in the song system by recording neural responses to various stimuli and performing information‐theoretic analysis on the data obtained. We recorded the neural responses to all possible element pairs of stimuli in the Bengalese finch brain nucleus high vocal centre (HVC). Our results showed that each neuron has broad but differential response properties to element sequences beyond the structure of self‐generated song. To quantify the transmitted information by such a broadly tuned neural population, we calculated the time course of mutual information between auditory stimuli and neural activities. Confounded information, which represents the relationship between present and previous elements, increased significantly immediately after stimulus presentation. These results indicate that the song element sequence is encoded in a neural ensemble in the HVC via population coding. These findings give us a new encoding scheme for the song element sequence using a distributed neural representation rather than the chain model of rigid selective neurons.
Current status of haploidentical stem cell transplantation

Haploidentical stem cell transplantation is an alternative transplant strategy for patients without an human leucocyte antigen‐matched donor. The historical experience with haploidentical stem cell transplantation has been characterised by the immunological consequences of crossing a major histocompatibility barrier, namely graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD), graft rejection and impaired immune reconstitution. Ex vivo T‐cell depletion of the graft may reduce the risk of GVHD, but at the expense of a higher risk of engraftment failure and relapse of the underlying malignancy. Myeloablative transplant strategies using vigorously T‐cell‐depleted ‘megadose’ stem cells appear to have improved the outcomes of selected patients with acute leukaemia. Non‐myeloablative stem cell transplantation strategies, in which mixed chimaerism as a platform for adoptive cellular immunotherapy is intentionally induced, show promise for limiting GVHD and lessening transplant‐related mortality. Future approaches, based on promising preclinical and early clinical observations, may include selective allodepletion of the graft, and manipulation of the cellular environment post‐transplant using selected cellular populations or immunomodulatory soluble factors.
Fatigue in lupus is not correlated with disease activity.

OBJECTIVE The relationship between fatigue and disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been questioned. We examined whether self-reported fatigue in patients with SLE is correlated with disease activity. METHODS Consecutive patients with SLE at the University of Toronto Lupus Clinic were evaluated for disease activity using the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). They were also evaluated for fibromyalgia (FM) by American College of Rheumatology criteria. One hundred patients completed the following health status questionnaires: the Fatigue Severity Score (FSS), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and Medical Outcomes Study Short Form Health Survey (SF-20). Disease activity was measured by the SLEDAI. Statistical correlations were made using the Spearman test. RESULTS No significant correlation was found between FSS scores and SLEDAI (p = NS). Fatigue was found to be highly correlated with the presence of FM (p < 0.05) and depression (p < 0.01). In addition, fatigue was significantly associated with lower performance in all 6 domains of the SF-20 (p < 0.001); disease activity correlated with decreases in social function, mental health, and health perception areas of the SF-20. SLEDAI was not found to correlate with FM (p = NS). CONCLUSION Fatigue in patients with SLE does not correlate with disease activity. However, fatigue is correlated with FM, depression, and lower overall health status in this population. Fatigue is a manifestation of these conditions, which are commonly co-expressed in SLE, and may reflect a decreased overall coping ability in these patients, rather than active disease itself.
“Group sex” parties and other risk patterns: A qualitative study about the perceptions of sexual behaviours and attitudes of adolescents in Soweto, South Africa

This study explored perceptions about sexual behaviours and attitudes of adolescents living in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, from the perspective of parents, counsellors and adolescents. A qualitative methodology was applied. Nine focus-group discussions (FGDs) were held: three with parents of adolescents, two with counsellors who work with adolescents, two with female adolescents aged 16–18 years and two with male adolescents aged 16–18 years. In total, 80 participants were recruited from in and around Soweto. FGDs were guided by a semistructured interview guide, audiorecorded, transcribed verbatim and translated into English. Data were analysed using MAXQDA, a qualitative software analysis program. There were eight key themes related to adolescent sexuality and perceived attitudes towards relationships. Five themes were common to all participant groupings (parents, counsellors and adolescents): (1) dating during adolescence, (2) adolescent females dating older males, (3) condom use among adolescents, (4) pregnancy and (5) homosexuality. (6) Sex as a regular and important activity among adolescents and (7) group sex practices among adolescents emerged as themes from adolescent and counsellor FGDs. Lastly (8), the role of the media as an influence on adolescent sexuality was common to adolescent and parent groups. Risky sexual behaviours continue among adolescents, with group sex parties a concerning emergent phenomenon that necessitates further study. Human immunodeficiency virus, other sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy prevention interventions should address multiple levels of influence to address context-specific influences.
Comprehensive glyco‐proteomic analysis of human α1‐antitrypsin and its charge isoforms

Human α1‐antitrypsin (A1PI) is a well‐known glycoprotein in human plasma important for the protection of tissues from proteolytic enzymes. The three N‐glycosylation sites of A1PI contain diantennary N‐glycans but also triantennary and even traces of tetraantennary structures leading to the typical IEF pattern observed for A1PI. Here we present an approach to characterize A1PI isoforms from human plasma and its PTMs by LC‐ESI‐MS and LC‐ESI‐MS/MS of peptides obtained by proteolytic digestion. The single cysteine residue of A1PI formed a disulfide bridge with free cysteine. The variability of the number of antennae and hence sialic acids on glycosylation site N107, which even contained minute amounts of tetraantennary structures, emerged as a major cause for the IEF pattern of A1PI. Only negligible amounts of triantennary structures were identified attached to N70, and exclusively diantennary structures were present on site N271 in each of the isoforms analyzed. Exoglycosidase digests revealed α2,6‐linked neuraminic acids on diantennary N‐glycans, and triantennary contained additionally one single α2,3‐neuraminic acid per N‐glycan, which, together with a fucose, formed a sialyl Lewis X determinant on the β1,4‐linked N‐acetylglucosamine, as shown by 2‐D‐HPLC of pyridylaminated asialoglycans. Fucosylation of diantennary structures was marginal and of the core α1,6 type.
Adenine nucleotide levels in and nitrogen fixation by the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain 7120

Adenine nucleotide levels were determined in whole filaments of Anabaena sp. 7120 grown under different N2-fixing or non-N2-fixing conditions. These were compared with levels in isolated heterocysts, Rhodospirillum rubrum, and Azotobacter vinelandii. Adenine nucleotides in whole filaments of Anabaena sp. do not reflect the energetic expense of N2 fixation as they do in R. rubrum and A. vinelandii. However, adenine nucleotide levels in heterocysts were similar to the levels found in N2-fixing R. rubrum, i.e., an ATP:ADP ratio near 1 and an energy charge between 0.5 and 0.7. Nitrogenase activity was only 50% of optimal in permeabilized heterocysts at an exogenous ATP:ADP ratio of 3.33. Hydrogen, which increases acetylene reduction activity, also causes a transient increase (2 to 5 min) in the ATP:ADP ratio. Hydrogen has little effect on energy charge.
The Association between Posterior Unilateral Crossbite and Craniomandibular Asymmetry: A Systematic Review

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between posterior unilateral crossbite and craniomandibular asymmetry in children, adolescents and adults through a systematic review of the literature. Data source A literature search was performed utilizing the Medline database (Entrez PubMed) and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) covering the period from January 1970 to December 2011. Data selection The literature included reports and studies related to children, adolescents and adults with a history, presence and treatment of posterior unilateral crossbite. Prospective and retrospective studies with untreated, as well as normal controls and clinical trials comparing at least two treatment strategies were also identified. Data extraction and synthesis The search strategy resulted in 15 relevant articles, which met the inclusion criteria. After data extraction and detailed evaluation 4 studies were deemed to have a high risk of bias due to low sample size and hence were excluded from the review. This left 11 studies for qualitative evaluation. The studies were of medium or low methodological quality with serious shortcomings and the results were contradictory. The majority of studies suggested a possible association between posterior unilateral crossbite and positional mandibular asymmetry. Conclusion An evidence-based conclusion could not be drawn due to the low quality level of the retrieved studies and future study designs incorporating three-dimensional evaluation techniques are recommended.
How Laws Affect Contracts: Evidence from Yankee Bond Covenants

We examine how country-level legal and institutional differences in creditor and shareholder rights shape the use of bond covenants. Using comprehensive debt covenant information for a sample of Yankee bonds issued by firms from more than 50 countries, we find that bond contracts for firms incorporated in countries with stronger creditor rights use fewer restrictive covenants. This finding suggests that creditor rights laws substitute for debt covenants in reducing the agency cost of debt. On the other hand, bond contracts for firms incorporated in legal regimes with stronger shareholder rights include more covenants, suggesting that greater shareholder rights may actually increase the shareholder-bondholder agency conflict. These results are robust to alternative measures of creditor rights and shareholder rights. We also document that stronger firm-level corporate governance is positively related to the use of restrictive covenants even after controlling for country institutions.
Activation of LXR increases acyl-CoA synthetase activity through direct regulation of ACSL3 in human placental trophoblast cells

Placental fatty acid transport and metabolism are important for proper growth and development of the feto-placental unit. The nuclear receptors, liver X receptors α and β (LXRα and LXRβ), are key regulators of lipid metabolism in many tissues, but little is known about their role in fatty acid transport and metabolism in placenta. The current study investigates the LXR-mediated regulation of long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 3 (ACSL3) and its functions in human placental trophoblast cells. We demonstrate that activation of LXR increases ACSL3 expression, acyl-CoA synthetase activity, and fatty acid uptake in human tropholast cells. Silencing of ACSL3 in these cells attenuates the LXR-mediated increase in acyl-CoA synthetase activity. Furthermore, we show that ACSL3 is directly regulated by LXR through a conserved LXR responsive element in the ACSL3 promoter. Our results suggest that LXR plays a regulatory role in fatty acid metabolism by direct regulation of ACSL3 in human placental trophoblast cells.
Severity of insomnia correlates with cognitive impairment.

INTRODUCTION AND METHODS Cognitive deficits in insomnia have been already reported (5), however, a correlation between cognitive impairment and severity of insomnia was not as yet studied. Sixteen not medicated patients with primary insomnia according to DSM-IV (4), 7 men an 9 women, of mean age 40.8 year, were compared to 16 controls, matched according to age, sex and education. Standard polysomnographic data (PSG) were recorded. The next day all the subjects completed Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) (7), Hyperarousal Scale (HS) (6), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) (3), Continuous Attention Test (CAT) with simple reaction time (RT) (8) and Selective Reminding Test (SRT) (2). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The psychophysiological differences between patients and controls are shown in Table I. HAM-D and BDI scores were elevated in patients, although none of the patients met clinical criteria of depression. Insomniacs did not differ in the immediate recall, but the number of repetitions necessary to learn all the items of SRT was greater in patients. Insomniacs usually complain of poor performance, however, learning impairment has not been documented in insomnia. Degree of the learning impairment correlated with insomnia score (Fig. 1). Cognitive deficit cannot be due to a daytime sleepiness because sleep latency in all MSLT sessions was not shorter in insomniacs. No correlations between results of SRT and standard PSG parameters were found, in accordance with the thesis that subjective feeling of nonrestorative sleep and other accompanying deficits are only symptoms of an underlying 24-hour disorder (1).
Robust compressive tracking under occlusion

In this paper, we present a robust and fast object tracking algorithm based on sub-region classifiers and compressive tracking. Compared with the original CT algorithm, the tracker can improve the robustness to occlusion, especially long-term occlusion. Firstly, the target region is divided into four sub-regions in a fixed mode. Then a simple but feasible classification and update strategy is used for these sub-regions classifiers. On the assumption of rigidity, the final location of the target can be evaluated by these sub-regions classifiers. The experiments on many challenging image sequences demonstrate that the proposed method achieves more favorable performance than several state-of-the-art tracking algorithms in terms of speed, accuracy and robustness.
An Efficient 16-Bit Multiplier based on Booth Algorithm

Multipliers are key components of many high performance systems such as microprocessors, digital signal processors, etc. Optimizing the speed and area of the multiplier is major design issue which is usually conflicting constraint so that improving speed results mostly in bigger areas. A VHDL designed architecture based on booth multiplication algorithm is proposed which not only optimize speed but also efficient on energy use.
Repeated provocation tests in asthmatic children for testing tachyphylaxis to histamine

Tachyphylaxis to histamine was investigated in 16 children, aged 7–15 years, with mild asthma. Three consecutive histamine challenges were performed at intervals of 24 hours and 1 hour, respectively. No significant differences in IVC, FEV1, and PC20‐histamine values between the three measurements were observed. After a 24 hour interval there was no difference in percentage fall of FEV1, but there was a slight (not significant) decrease in fall of FEV1 after a 1 hour interval. The PC20‐histamine values showed good reproducibility with a 24 hour as well as with a 1‐hour period between the tests (geometric mean PC20, 2.04 mg/mL ± 3.50 %SD, 1.96 mg/mL ± 4.37 %SD, 2.17 mg/mL ± 4.12 %SD; correlation coefficients for a 24 hour interval, r = 0.87 and for a one‐hour interval, r = 0.94 (P < 0.01)).
Pursuing the identification of O2 deprivation survival mechanisms in plants related to selective mRNA translation, hormone-independent cellular elongation and preparation for the arrival of oxygen

Anoxia can occur in crop fields when flooding forms a physical barrier that reduces oxygen availability. Rice, but not wheat, can germinate and elongate its coleoptile under anoxia, providing an excellent model for understanding mechanisms of anoxia tolerance. We have shown differential molecular responses of rice and wheat coleoptiles to anoxia and discovered novel metabolic adaptations in amino acid metabolism for tissue tolerance.1 In this addendum, we elaborate on our discussion to speculate on the functions of differentially regulated proteins and their possible roles in selective transcription and translation, alternative elongation strategies and preparedness for exposure to air. In addition, it is thought that rapid growth is a stress avoidance strategy; if adequate coleoptile growth occurs then plants can outgrow floodwaters to resume or begin aerobic respiration. An innate response mechanism to the arrival of air, and the oxidative stress inherent to this, would therefore be necessary in survival beyond the alleviation of anoxia. Thus, we emphasize the importance of recognizing anoxia as a multi-stage stress where responses otherwise considered counter-intuitive may have evolved as preparative defenses for when exposure to air occurs.
Evaluation of a commercially available vaccine against Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis for use in sheep.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of a commercially available bacterin-toxoid vaccine for preventing Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis-induced abscesses in sheep. DESIGN Prospective randomized controlled trial. ANIMALS 31 mixed-breed sheep seronegative for C pseudotuberculosis. PROCEDURE Sheep were randomly assigned to vaccinate (n = 20) or nonvaccinate (11; control) groups. Sheep in the vaccinate group received 2 doses of serial A or serial B bacterin-toxoid vaccine at 4-week intervals. Serologic testing was conducted after vaccination to document an antibody response to vaccination. All sheep were challenge inoculated with virulent C pseudotuberculosis organisms 32 weeks after the second vaccination. Twenty weeks after challenge inoculation, all sheep were examined for external and internal abscesses secondary to C pseudotuberculosis infection. RESULTS Vaccinated sheep developed an antibody response to both components of the vaccine, as measured by use of ELISA tests. After challenge inoculation, vaccinated sheep had significantly less external, internal, and total abscesses than control sheep. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Vaccination of sheep with a commercially available bacterin-toxoid against C pseudotuberculosis could substantially decrease the prevalence and number of abscesses that form secondary to C pseudotuberculosis infection.