Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
VERTEBRAL COMPRESSION FRACTURES IN PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH METASTATIC EPIDURAL SPINAL CORD COMPRESSION

OBJECTIVEMetastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC) is a relatively common and debilitating complication of metastatic disease that often results in neurological deficits. Pathological fractures of the vertebral body in patients with MESCC are not uncommon. The goals of this study were to evaluate the effects of compression fractures on long-term neurological function, as well as understand the factors that predict the development of pathological fractures for patients with MESCC. METHODSOne hundred sixty-two patients undergoing decompressive surgery for MESCC at an academic tertiary care institution from 1995 to 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. Multivariate proportional hazards regression analysis was used to assess the effects of pathological vertebral body fractures on ambulatory outcome, whereas multivariate logistical regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with preoperative compression fractures. RESULTSSixty and 102 patients presented with and without pathological vertebral body fractures, respectively, and MESCC. Patients were followed for a mean of 9.7 ± 2.6 months. The presence of preoperative compression fractures was independently associated with decreased postoperative ambulatory status (odds ratio, 2.106; 95% confidence interval, 1.123–4.355; P = 0.03). This was independent of age, preoperative ambulatory status, preoperative motor deficit, duration of preoperative symptoms, immediate postoperative motor deficit, and lytic tumor appearance. The factors strongly associated with preoperative compression fractures in this study include lack of sensory deficits (P = 0.01), primary breast cancer (P = 0.008), anterior spine metastases (P = 0.005), thoracic spine involvement (P = 0.01), preoperative chemotherapy (P = 0.03), and, possibly, preoperative radiation therapy (P = 0.16). CONCLUSIONThe findings of this study may provide insight into risk stratifying as well as guiding surgical management for patients with MESCC.
Comparing Bitmapped microRNA Structure Images using Mutual Symmetry

We present a high-throughput method for analyzing large-scale bitmapped bio-data: processing of elongated molecular structures by 2D images and analyzing their shapes for chemoinformatics databases. Two-dimensional structure databases are transfered to bitmap images — a commonly used visualization widely spread online. Then, an efficient clustering of the molecular structures is achieved by a mutual symmetry-based binary matrix representation of the shapes. We present a method to compute the difference between two of such representations and evaluate its performance with respect to time and quality of matching. In our tests we use two bitmap databases, one containing true human microRNA folded 2D structures and one with claimed human microRNA folded 2D structures. We show the stability of the matching with respect to parameterization and orientation of the shapes. Our method enables a good automatic clustering of structures with high visual similarity.
Are Large Physiological Reactions to Acute Psychological Stress Always Bad for Health

How we react physiologically to stress has long been considered to have implications for our health. There is now persuasive evidence that individuals who show large cardiovascular reactions to stress are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, particularly hypertension. By implication, low reactivity is protective or benign. However, there is recent evidence that low reactivity may predict elevated risk for a range of adverse health outcomes, such as depression, obesity, poor self-reported health and compromised immunity. In addition, low cortisol and cardiovascular reactivity may be a characteristic of individuals with addictions to tobacco and alcohol, as well as those at risk of addiction and those who relapse from abstinence. Our ideas about reactivity may have to be revised in the light of such findings.
A New Combined Feature Extraction Method for Persian Handwritten Digit Recognition

Feature extraction is one of the most important steps in Optical Character Recognition (OCR) systems, that is effective in recognition accuracy. In this paper, a suitable combination of different features such as zoning, hole size, crossing counts, etc. for Persian handwritten digits recognition is proposed. Due to high number of features, feature vector dimensions will be high that increases training time exponentially. In this paper, to solve this problem, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method is employed for reducing the feature vector dimensions. Finally, data are classified by Support Vector Machine (SVM) classification method. The proposed method has been executed on HODA dataset which is one of the largest standard datasets of Persian handwritten digits that includes 60000 training and 20000 test samples. The proposed method reaches to 99.07% of accuracy in this dataset, and the experimental results show significant improvement in accuracy of Persian handwritten OCR compared to the previous methods.
THREE‐DIMENSIONAL AND 2‐DIMENSIONAL ENDOSCOPIC EXPOSURE OF MIDLINE CRANIAL BASE TARGETS USING EXPANDED ENDONASAL AND TRANSCRANIAL APPROACHES

OBJECTIVEEndoscopic endonasal approaches provide an access method to the midline cranial base. To integrate these approaches into neurosurgical practice, the extent of their anatomic exposure must be compared with that provided by more traditional transcranial approaches. METHODSTen fresh cadaver heads were studied. Both endonasal and transcranial approaches to the midline cranial base were performed. The midline cranial base was divided into several areas, and the relative exposure provided by each approach was described and presented in both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional images. Limitations and advantages of each approach are discussed. RESULTSThe endonasal approaches achieved a direct and wide exposure of the midline extracranial and intracranial cranial base anatomy. The main lateral limitations of the endonasal approaches were the optic nerves, lateral cavernous sinus, vidian nerve, internal carotid artery, abducens nerve in Dorello's canal, jugular tubercle, and hypoglossal canals. Limitations of the transcranial approaches were the neurovascular structures which lie in the operative corridor and create narrow working spaces. CONCLUSIONThe endonasal approaches achieve a direct and wide exposure of the midline cranial base bilaterally. Lateral exposure, beyond the cranial nerves and carotid artery, are challenging. Transcranial approaches are limited by the narrow corridors provided by the cranial nerves, and they do not visualize the contralateral paramedian cranial base very well. Three-dimensional endoscopes augment the spatial orientation and may improve patient safety and the learning curve for endoscopic approaches to the midline cranial base.
Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia and Hypercalcemia

Abstract We studied a patient with acute myeloblastic leukemia, hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia and inappropriately elevated serum parathyroid hormone levels to define the mechanism of the hypercalcemia. On six occasions during two years, hypercalcemia occurred in conjunction with relapses of leukemia. Each time, serum calcium decreased to normal levels in parallel with reduction of the leukemic mass. During two periods of hypercalcemia, immunoreactive parathyroid hormone values were abnormally high. In addition, hormone was detected in vitro after short-term incubation of the leukemic cells (after 24 hours, the patient's cells produced 129 pg of PTH per milliliter, whereas myeloblasts from a normocalcemic patient with leukemia produced only 33 pg). In freezethawing experiments, 39 pg of parathyroid hormone was released from 1 X 108 of the patient's myeloblasts; no hormone was released from the normocalcemic cells. These findings suggest that the hypercalcemia resulted from ectopic parathyroid hormone pro.
Anatomy of the Human Thalamus Based on Spontaneous Contrast and Microscopic Voxels in High‐Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging

BACKGROUND Since the pioneering studies of human thalamic anatomy based on histology and binding techniques, little new work has been done to bring this knowledge into clinical practice. OBJECTIVE With the advent of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) we hypothesized that it was possible, in vitro, to make use of high spontaneous MRI contrasts between white and grey matter to directly identify the subcompartmentalisation of the thalamus. METHODS An anatomic specimen was imaged at high field (4.7 T) (basal ganglia plus thalamus block; 3-dimensional (3D) T1-weighted spin echo sequence; matrix, 256 × 256 × 256; isotropic voxel, 0.250 mm/edge; total acquisition time, 14 hours 30 minutes). Nuclei were manually contoured on the basis of spontaneous contrasted structures; labeling relied on 3D identification from classic knowledge; stereotactic location of centers of nuclei was computed. RESULTS Almost all intrathalamic substructures, nuclei, and white matter laminae were identified. Using 3D analysis, a simplified classification of intrathalamic nuclei into 9 groups was proposed, based on topographic MRI anatomy, designed for clinical practice: anterior (oral), posterior, dorsal, intermediate, ventral, medial, laminar, superficial, and related (epi and metathalamus). The overall 4.7-T anatomy matches that presented in the atlases of Schaltenbrand and Bailey (1959), Talairach et al (1957), and Morel et al (1997). CONCLUSION It seems possible to identify the subcompartments of the thalamus by spontaneous MRI contrast, allowing a tissue architectural approach. In addition, the MRI tissue architecture matches the earlier subcompartmentalization based on cyto- and chemoarchitecture. This true 3D anatomic study of the thalamus may be useful in clinical neuroscience and neurosurgical applications.
Eigenmode of the Decision-by-Majority Process in Complex Networks

The nature of dynamics of opinion formation modeled as a decision-by-majority process in complex networks is investigated using eigenmode analysis. Hamiltonian of the system is defined, and estimated by eigenvectors of the adjacency matrix constructed from several network models. The eigenmodes of initial and final state of the dynamics are analyzed by numerical studies. We show that the magnitude of the largest eigenvector at the initial states are key determinant for the resulting dynamics.
Autonomic neuropathy in AL (primary) amyloidosis and its effect on survival

The significance of autonomic neuropathy (AN) in primary amyloidosis (AL) is unknown. We describe features of AN in 112 AL patients enrolled in a clinical trial. Those with orthostatic hypotension [drop in systolic/diastolic blood pressure (BP) of220/10 mmHg and increase in pulse of <10 beats/min.J were defined as having definite AN. Patients with two or more abnormal results on autonomic testing fexpiration. inspiration ratio, Valsalva and posture indices, increase in diastolic BP with handgrip, increase in systolic BP with standing], were also defined as having definite AN. Patients with abnormal gastric emptying scans and two nongastroenterologic symptoms of AN (dry eyes and mouth, urinary retention symptoms, impotence) were defined as having possible AN.Of a total of 112 patients, twenty-six patients (23%) were defined as having either definite AN (22 patients) or possible AN (4 patients). Among patients with definite or possible AN, signs and symptoms included orthostasis (69%), early satiety (50%), .
Model-Based Identification and Adaptive Control of the Core Module in a Typical Cell Cycle Pathway via Network and System Control Theories

The loss of cell cycle control is often associated with cancers and other different diseases. With the accumulation of omics data, the network for molecule interactions in the cell cycle process will become much clearer. The identification of the crucial modules in a giant network and investigation of inherent control relations are very important to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of diseases for new drug design. The paper proposes novel techniques in analyzing such core regulatory modules based on network and system control theories. We initially define the degree of participation (DOP) and the rate of activity (ROA) for indentifying core module components, and then the diverse contribution elasticity functions for quantifying pairwise regulatory or control activities between those components, thus facilitating the decomposition of expanded core modules and the formation of feedback loops within the control schema. Motivated by the inherent regulatory mechanisms, we expound a kind of multiphase nonlinear adaptive control algorithm in repelling abnormal genetic mutations, which directly and indirectly impact cancer development in biological cells and organs. Experimental predictions are also elucidated within the work, helping those in vivo design, verification and performance evaluation.
Looking for Evidence of Differentiation and Cooperation: Natural Measures for the Study of Evolution of Multicellularity

The understanding of the evolutionary transitions is a major area of research in artificial life and in biology. We follow an artificial life approach to investigate these phenomena, using a system inspired by Anabaena cyanobacteria (which exhibit rudimentary multicellular differentiation and cooperation) in order to look for evidence of emerging differentiation and multicellular cooperation in colonies of individual cells.We first evolve single free-living cells with the help of a Genetic Algorithm (GA). These cells are controlled with genetic regulatory networks. The single cells are evolved to each perform both of two tasks: an abstraction of house-keeping metabolism and a reproductive cycle. Once such a cell was evolved with the GA, the cell is used to seed the growth of a multicellular filamentous colony, whose constituent cells continue to reproduce and evolve. Two types of colonies generated from the seed cell are studied: one with intercellular communication ability and one without.We introduce and apply new measures for assessing the impact of multicellular interaction on individual reproduction and on life span.The conclusion of these studies shows that the colony with the ability to communicate shows, with the help of our new measures, behaviors that hint at the emergence of early cooperation.
A Genetic Algorithm for Detecting Communities in Large-Scale Complex Networks

Network model recently becomes a popular tool for studying complex systems. Detecting meaningful communities in complex networks, as an important task in network modeling and analysis, has attracted great interests in various research areas. This paper proposes a genetic algorithm with a special encoding schema for community detection in complex networks. The algorithm employs a metric, named modularity Q as the fitness function and applies a special locus-based adjacency encoding schema to represent the community partitions. The encoding schema enables the algorithm to determine the number of communities adaptively and automatically, which provides great flexibility to the detection process. In addition, the schema also significantly reduces the search space. Extensive experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Modeling Distributed Collaboration on GitHub

In this paper, we apply concepts from Distributed Leadership, a theory suggesting that leadership is shared among members of an organization, to frame models of contribution that we uncover in five relatively successful open source software (OSS) projects hosted on GitHub. In this qualitative, comparative case study, we show how these projects make use of GitHub features such as pull requests (PRs). We find that projects in which member PRs are more frequently merged with the codebase experience more sustained participation. We also find that projects with higher success rates among contributors and higher contributor retention tend to have more distributed (non-centralized) practices for reviewing and processing PRs. The relationships between organizational form and GitHub practices are enabled and made visible as a result of GitHub's novel interface. Our results demonstrate specific dimensions along which these projects differ and explicate a framework that warrants testing in future studies of OSS, particularly GitHub.
Shaping and Navigating Methods of Microcatheters for Endovascular Treatment of Paraclinoid Aneurysms

OBJECTIVETo determine whether the use of a specific shape and a navigating method of microcatheters are suitable for placement at paraclinoid aneurysms. METHODSThe clinical data from 122 patients with 132 paraclinoid aneurysms that underwent endovascular treatments during a 2.5-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Microcatheter shapes were classified as “straight,” “primary curves” (45, 90, and J), “preshaped-C,” “pigtail” (simple, right, and left), and “S” (simple, right, left, and preshaped). The navigating methods were classified as antegrade/retrograde microcatheter shift, wire-steering, looping, and coil/wire guiding. The shapes and navigating methods were compared among 3 aneurysm groups, which were categorized as superior, medial, and other, based on direction. RESULTSShapes were significantly different between the 3 groups; the most commonly engaged shape in the superior group, medial group, and other group was S (55%), pigtail (60%), and primary (56%), respectively. The straight and S shapes were used in 5 (83%) and 18 (86%) cases, respectively, in the superior group, whereas the pigtail shape was used in 50 (86%) cases in the medial group. Aside from pigtail-simple shape, the side of pigtail, right vs left, coincided with the side of the internal carotid artery involved in every case of the medial group. The navigating methods were not significantly different among the 3 groups. CONCLUSIONA specific shape by paraclinoid aneurysm direction tends to be suitable for the first trial of microcatheter shapes. Operators may reduce unnecessary struggling time of intra-aneurysmal placement of microcatheters by practicing the use of that shape.
Estimating and Enhancing the Feedbackability of Complex Networks

In this paper, we explore the relationship between Minimum Feedbackability Set (MFS) and Feedbackability Set (FS) of complex networks and use simulated annealing algorithm to obtain a relatively fast and reliable estimation of the MFS. Then, we implement this method to estimate the MFS of some real-world networks and explore whether the topological features influence the size of MFS. Additionally, we propose an optimal perturbation strategy to enhance the feedbackability of complex networks. Finally, we also research the intricate relationship between the structural properties and the feedbackability of various networks perturbed by optimal and random perturbation strategies.
Fatores determinantes da capacidade funcional em idosos longevos

CONTEXTUALIZACAO: A faixa etaria que mais cresce no Brasil e no mundo e a de idosos com 80 anos e mais. Entre esses individuos, a prevalencia de incapacidades e morbidades e maior que em outros grupos. OBJETIVOS: Investigar a influencia de fatores socioeconomicos, demograficos, biologicos e de saude, nutricionais, de relacoes sociais, alem da autoavaliacao da saude sobre a capacidade funcional de idosos longevos (80 anos e mais). METODOS: Trata-se de um estudo transversal, de base populacional, em que os dados foram obtidos por meio de questionarios e medidas antropometricas. A capacidade funcional foi avaliada utilizando-se o modelo desenvolvido por Andreotti e Okuma (1999). Foram realizadas analises univariada e multivariada. RESULTADOS: Os fatores independentes associados a pior capacidade funcional foram: ter 85 anos e mais (OR=2,91), ser do genero feminino (OR=6,09), fazer uso continuo de cinco ou mais medicamentos (OR=2,67), nao visitar parentes e/ou amigos pelo menos uma vez por semana (OR=11,91) e considerar a propria saude pior que a de seus pares (OR=4,40). CONCLUSOES: Os resultados sugerem que a capacidade funcional esta associada a uma complexa rede de fatores multidimensionais, sendo importante o desenvolvimento de acoes relacionadas aqueles fatores que sao passiveis de intervencao, visando propiciar melhores condicoes de saude e qualidade de vida a esses individuos.
Longitudinal Prospective Long‐term Radiographic Follow‐up After Treatment of Single‐Level Cervical Disk Disease With the Bryan Cervical Disc

BACKGROUNDMany short- and intermediate-term radiological and clinical studies on cervical arthroplasty with the Bryan Cervical Disc have been published, providing, most of the time, satisfactory results. OBJECTIVETo prospectively assess the intermediate and long-term radiographic characteristics of disk replacement surgery with the Bryan Cervical Disc and to correlate these results with clinical outcome. METHODSRange of motion was measured with a validated tool. Intervertebral disk degeneration was assessed with a quantitative scoring system. Heterotopic ossification was evaluated with a previously published scoring system. Device stability was investigated by measuring subsidence and anteroposterior migration. General clinical patient outcome was assessed with the Odom classification system. RESULTSEighty-nine patients were initially included in this prospective long-term study. One patient was reoperated on at the index level and 4 were reoperated on at an adjacent level; those patients were not further analyzed. The mobility at the treated level was preserved in ≥ 85% of our cases. The insertion of the prosthesis did not lead to an increase in mobility at the adjacent levels. The degeneration score increased at both adjacent levels. Heterotopic ossification was present in 34% to 39% of the patients, depending on the follow-up point. No cases of anteroposterior migration or subsidence were found. More than 82% of all patients had a good to excellent clinical outcome in the long run. CONCLUSIONThe device maintains preoperative motion at the index and adjacent levels, seems to protect against acceleration of adjacent-level degeneration as seen after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, and remains securely anchored in the adjacent bone mass in the long run. Heterotopic ossification was frequently seen. The vast majority of all patients had a good to excellent clinical outcome.
Optimal Timing and Equilibrium Price for Soe Property Rights Transfer under Imperfect Information

This paper develops a model of pricing for state-owned enterprise (SOE) property rights transfer in a dynamic economic environment. We incorporate competition and imperfect information in the model, and determine the equilibrium selling price and optimal timing of takeovers by solving a real options exercise game between bidders and a target. The main conclusions are consistent with real-world experience. The model generates new results as the equilibrium transfer price and the optimal timing relate to industry, the target, the transfer costs, the expected synergies, the re-divestiture option, and the transfer markets' microstructure. The more the bidders' expected synergy effects, the faster the acquisitions. The expected synergy effects differ among various bidders, and auction is the only way to reflect the synergy effects correctly. An active market for corporate control will be helpful for the transfer of SOE property rights. The model's applications include pricing M&A, venture capital, and IPOs.