Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The influence of graft placement on clinical outcome in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Abstract Purpose: the aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of graft tunnel position on both clinical outcome and instrumental knee stability in patients submitted to arthroscopic ACL reconstruction using a bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) graft. Methods: thirty patients (24 men and 6 women) who underwent ACL reconstruction performed using an autologous bone-patellar tendon-bone graft were studied at a mean follow-up of 18 months. Clinical outcome was assessed on the basis of the Lysholm score, Tegner activity level, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective form and the Short Form-36. Clinical outcomes were correlated with both femoral and tibial tunnel placement measured on standard anteroposterior and lateral knee radiographs, in accordance with established guidelines. Results: tibial tunnel position on the lateral view correlated significantly with both the IKDC subjective form (r = -0.72; p<0.05) and the Lysholm score (r=-0.73; p<0.05). Tibial tunnel position on the lateral view also correlated with stability measured using a KT-1000 arthrometer at 30N of force (r=0.57; p<0.05). No correlation was found between α angle and anteroposterior (AP) laxity measured by KT-1000 arthrometer. No significant correlation was found between femoral tunnel position (on either view) and Lysholm score, IKDC score and Tegner activity level. Similarly, no correlation was found between AP laxity measured by KT-1000 arthrometer and femoral tunnel position. Conclusions: these results suggest that the more anterior the placement of the tibial tunnel, the better the clinical outcome will be. On the basis of literature data and our findings, we discuss the hypothesis that there exists a “correct area” for tunnel placement, making it possible to obtain the best results. Level of evidence: Level IV, case series.
Mechanistic Heterogeneity in Contractile Properties of α-Tropomyosin (TPM1) Mutants Associated with Inherited Cardiomyopathies*

Background: Single residue substitutions in sarcomeric proteins cause most inherited cardiomyopathies. Results: Mutant α-tropomyosins cause multiple functional alterations in actin affinity and Ca2+ sensitivity. Conclusion: Mutants follow distinct mechanisms to change Ca2+ sensitivity. Significance: Fluorescence assays to measure changes in troponin C conformation may provide a simple platform for preliminary high throughput screening of modulatory small molecules to treat inherited cardiomyopathies. The most frequent known causes of primary cardiomyopathies are mutations in the genes encoding sarcomeric proteins. Among those are 30 single-residue mutations in TPM1, the gene encoding α-tropomyosin. We examined seven mutant tropomyosins, E62Q, D84N, I172T, L185R, S215L, D230N, and M281T, that were chosen based on their clinical severity and locations along the molecule. The goal of our study was to determine how the biochemical characteristics of each of these mutant proteins are altered, which in turn could provide a structural rationale for treatment of the cardiomyopathies they produce. Measurements of Ca2+ sensitivity of human β-cardiac myosin ATPase activity are consistent with the hypothesis that hypertrophic cardiomyopathies are hypersensitive to Ca2+ activation, and dilated cardiomyopathies are hyposensitive. We also report correlations between ATPase activity at maximum Ca2+ concentrations and conformational changes in TnC measured using a fluorescent probe, which provide evidence that different substitutions perturb the structure of the regulatory complex in different ways. Moreover, we observed changes in protein stability and protein-protein interactions in these mutants. Our results suggest multiple mechanistic pathways to hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathies. Finally, we examined a computationally designed mutant, E181K, that is hypersensitive, confirming predictions derived from in silico structural analysis.
The complete chloroplast genome of North American ginseng, Panax quinquefolius

Abstract We report complete nucleotide sequence of the Panax quinquefolius chloroplast genome using next-generation sequencing technology. The genome size is 156 359 bp, including two inverted repeats (IRs) of 52 153 bp, separated by the large single-copy (LSC 86 184 bp) and small single-copy (SSC 18 081 bp) regions. This cp genome encodes 114 unigenes (80 protein-coding genes, four rRNA genes, and 30 tRNA genes), in which 18 are duplicated in the IR regions. Overall GC content of the genome is 38.08%. A phylogenomic analysis of the 10 complete chloroplast genomes from Araliaceae using Daucus carota from Apiaceae as outgroup showed that P. quinquefolius is closely related to the other two members of the genus Panax, P. ginseng and P. notoginseng.
Inferential tools in penalized logistic regression for small and sparse data: A comparative study

This paper focuses on inferential tools in the logistic regression model fitted by the Firth penalized likelihood. In this context, the Likelihood Ratio statistic is often reported to be the preferred choice as compared to the ‘traditional’ Wald statistic. In this work, we consider and discuss a wider range of test statistics, including the robust Wald, the Score, and the recently proposed Gradient statistic. We compare all these asymptotically equivalent statistics in terms of interval estimation and hypothesis testing via simulation experiments and analyses of two real datasets. We find out that the Likelihood Ratio statistic does not appear the best inferential device in the Firth penalized logistic regression.
Robust Supervision of Industrials Systems by Bond Graph and External Models

This paper considers the Robust Supervision of Industrial Systems (RSIS) by bond graph (BG) and external models (EM). The bond graph is used for the detection and isolation of fault affecting sensors, actuators or physical components of the process. The external models structure the industrial process, according to several modes of operation (degraded and normal). The switching from one operated mode to another mode is described by a graph called management mode operation graph. It represents the man-machine interface system. The logic functions are controlled by the availability of services and therefore the state of technological components. Thus, the availability of services (necessary for conducting a mission) will be provided by the monitoring algorithm based on BG at management operation graph. The combined representation BG-EM as behavioral and functional modeling for Robust Supervision system design is applied to a three tank system.
Estimating the influence of physicians on the underuse of drugs in diabetic nephropathy in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are widely recommended to hinder the progression of renal disease among patients with DM. However, little is known about adherence to these guidelines or the predictors of such use. METHODS Data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance was used to investigate 7,186 DN patients, nested within 2960 randomly assigned primary care physicians in Taiwan over the course of 1 year of treatment. Patient-level variables included gender, age, and co-morbidity (i.e., coronary arterial disease, congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, DM complications, albuminuria, anemia, hyperlipidemia, asthma, gout, and depression). Physician-level variables included work experience, the area of specialization, and the level of the physicians working in the hospital. RESULTS We determined that 63.69% of the variation in the use of ACEIs or ARBs was at the within-physician level and 36.31% was at the between-physician level. Approximately 35.10 % of the total variation was explained by predictors related to patient characteristics. The likelihood of taking ACEIs or ARBs is significantly higher (12.92%) among male patients than females. Cardiologists and family doctors are more likely to prescribe ACEIs or ARBs in of doctors working in medical centers. CONCLUSIONS Management of DN patients is less than optimal due to unfamiliarity on the part of physicians regarding treatment guidelines and a lack of awareness among the general population with regard to DN. Educational initiatives are required to ensure adherence to clinical practice guidelines in the evaluation and care of DN patients.
Real-Time PCR for Simultaneous Detection and Quantification of Borrelia burgdorferi in Field-Collected Ixodes scapularis Ticks from the Northeastern United States

ABSTRACT The density of spirochetes in field-collected or experimentally infected ticks is estimated mainly by assays based on microscopy. In this study, a real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) protocol targeting the Borrelia burgdorferi-specific recA gene was adapted for use with a Lightcycler for rapid detection and quantification of the Lyme disease spirochete, B. burgdorferi, in field-collected Ixodes scapularis ticks. The sensitivity of qPCR for detection of B. burgdorferi DNA in infected ticks was comparable to that of a well-established nested PCR targeting the 16S-23S rRNA spacer. Of the 498 I. scapularis ticks collected from four northeastern states (Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey), 91 of 438 (20.7%) nymphal ticks and 15 of 60 (25.0%) adult ticks were positive by qPCR assay. The number of spirochetes in individual ticks varied from 25 to 197,200 with a mean of 1,964 spirochetes per nymphal tick and a mean of 5,351 spirochetes per adult tick. No significant differences were found in the mean numbers of spirochetes counted either in nymphal ticks collected at different locations in these four states (P = 0.23 by one-way analysis of variance test) or in ticks infected with the three distinct ribosomal spacer restriction fragment length polymorphism types of B. burgdorferi (P = 0.39). A high degree of spirochete aggregation among infected ticks (variance-to-mean ratio of 24,877; moment estimate of k = 0.279) was observed. From the frequency distribution data and previously published transmission studies, we estimated that a minimum of 300 organisms may be required in a host-seeking nymphal tick to be able to transmit infection to mice while feeding on mice. These data indicate that real-time qPCR is a reliable approach for simultaneous detection and quantification of B. burgdorferi infection in field-collected ticks and can be used for ecological and epidemiological surveillance of Lyme disease spirochetes.
Contrast agents and cerebral hemodynamics

Contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of regional cerebral hemodynamics is discussed. Techniques for measuring cerebral blood volume (CBV) have been validated in animal models and have recently been applied to human studies. Factors affecting CBV measurement in pathologic tissue are addressed. Extension of these techniques to the measurement of cerebral blood flow is presented. © 1991 Academic Press, Inc.
CD8+ T Cells Eliminate Liver-Stage Plasmodium berghei Parasites without Detectable Bystander Effect

ABSTRACT Immunization with attenuated Plasmodium sporozoites or viral vectored vaccines can induce protective CD8+ T cells that can find and eliminate liver-stage malaria parasites. A key question is whether CD8+ T cells must recognize and eliminate each parasite in the liver or whether bystander killing can occur. To test this, we transferred antigen-specific effector CD8+ T cells to mice that were then coinfected with two Plasmodium berghei strains, only one of which could be recognized directly by the transferred T cells. We found that the noncognate parasites developed normally in these mice, demonstrating that bystander killing of parasites does not occur during the CD8+ T cell response to malaria parasites. Rather, elimination of infected parasites is likely mediated by direct recognition of infected hepatocytes by antigen-specific CD8+ T cells.
The GAV Toolkit for Multiple Linked Views

Implementing InfoVis multivariate data tools, timelinked coordinated views and visual dynamic queries with conditioning from scratch is not a simple programming task. Our research objective is to develop a generic GeoAnalytics visualization (GAV) component toolkit, based on the principles behind visual analytics (VA), for dynamically exploring time-varying, geographically referenced and multivariate attributes simultaneously. GAV includes components based on a synergy of technologies from information visualization, geovisualization and scientific visualization. Our research concentrates on improving visual user interfaces (VUI) methods and trying to extend existing visual representation techniques. The effectiveness of our proposed component toolkit and framework is demonstrated in two customized applications GeoWizard analysing multivariate energy usage data for Swedish municipalities and MD-Explorer exploring multivariate data using novel interactive ternary diagrams. We use parallel coordinates with embedded visual inquiry methods that serves as a visual control panel for dynamically linked and coordinated views. Finally, discoveries made during the visual exploration process can be captured and organized in a format for later recall and communication to others.
Towards reliable peer-to-peer data sharing over mobile ad hoc networks

This paper presents a reliable communication method for assuring stable peer-to-peer (P2P) data sharing in mobile ad hoc networks. The method for guaranteeing reliable P2P data sharing mainly tackles the problem of disconnection due to the sudden disappearance of one or more nodes involved in the active transmission route. We propose a communication mechanism which includes two schemes; a configuration scheme and a routing scheme. The configuration scheme discovers mobile devices and automatically constructs a MANET (mobile ad hoc network) using a dynamic IP addressing technique. The routing scheme allows for reliable transmission of data via mobile devices. It does this using our reconnection mechanism that finds emergency routes in instances of abrupt disconnection. We developed a reliable mobile P2P data sharing system with these two schemes. We also performed some experiments for verifying our communication method for stable transmission using our real testbed. The experiments lead us to conclude that our communication method is effective and assures reliable P2P data sharing over mobile ad hoc networks. Our reconnection mechanism affords a good ratio of successful transfers for services requested by users. In addition, our system minimizes the number of relayed transmissions using our scanning table and lookup table. This provides a good transmission performance and reliability, but our system takes a relatively long time for discovery.
Metabolic Routing of Dietary Nutrients in Birds: Effects of Diet Quality and Macronutrient Composition Revealed Using Stable Isotopes

During fall migration many songbirds switch from consuming primarily insects to consuming mostly fruit. Fruits with more carbohydrates and less protein may be sufficient to rebuild expended fat stores, but such fruits may be inadequate to replace catabolized protein. We manipulated the concentrations and isotopic signatures of macronutrients in diets fed to birds to study the effects of diet quality on metabolic routing of dietary nutrients. We estimated that approximately 45% and 75%, respectively, of the carbon in proteinaceous tissue of birds switched to high‐ or low‐protein diets came from nonprotein dietary sources. In contrast, we estimated that approximately 100% and 20%–80%, respectively, of the nitrogen in proteinaceous tissues of birds switched to high‐ or low‐protein diets was attributable to dietary protein. Thus, the routing and assimilation of dietary carbon and nitrogen differed depending on diet composition. As a result, δ15N of tissues collected from wild animals that consume high‐quality diets may reliably indicate the dietary protein source, whereas δ13C of these same tissues is likely the product of metabolic routing of carbon from several macronutrients. These results have implications for how isotopic discrimination is best estimated and how we can study macronutrient routing in wild animals.
MSE based antenna selection for MIMO-SDM systems

Antenna selection is a promising technique which provides performance improvement for multiple input multiple output (MIMO) systems at low cost of additionally employed antennas and signal processing. Various antenna selection algorithms based on different criteria have been proposed in the literature. This paper presents a new antenna selection algorithm for MIMO spatial division multiplexing (MIMO-SDM) systems which uses the mean square error (MSE) as a criterion for selecting the best subset of transmit/receive antennas to improve the system error performance. The proposed algorithm helps to achieve lower the bit error rate (BER) for MIMO-SDM systems with linear detectors compared with the previous channel matrix norm based and signal to noise ratio (SNR) based selection algorithms. Compared with the SNR based algorithm, the proposed algorithm provides double diversity gain in receive antenna selection systems and the same diversity order but about 1dB SNR gain in transmit antenna selection systems.
Evaluating Schools Based on the Performance of Students With Disabilities: A Comparison of Status and Value-added Approaches

Title: EVALUATING SCHOOLS BASED ON THE PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: A COMPARISON OF STATUS AND VALUE-ADDED APPROACHES Sandra Dee Embler, Doctor of Philosophy, 2006 Directed By: Professor Philip J. Burke Department of Special Education The purpose of this study was to describe, analyze, and compare the results of five commonly used approaches to measuring school-level performance for the subgroup of students with disabilities. Using the reading and mathematics scale scores of students in grades two, four, and six on the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS) and the California Achievement Tests (CAT/5) within a large school district in the mid-Atlantic, five approaches were applied to classify schools as high-performing or low-performing based on the subgroup students with disabilities. The approaches applied included three status approaches (cross-sectional, cross-sectional with confidence interval, and threeyear rolling average) and two value-added approaches (unadjusted and adjusted for student demographics). The characteristics of schools classified as high-performing and low-performing based on the performance of students with disabilities using each of the approaches were explored. Each approach was also examined for its reliability, fairness, inclusiveness, and usefulness. Significant differences in the performance of students with disabilities based on socioeconomic status were observed across all grade levels, but no differences in gain scores were consistently observed. No significant differences in reading and mathematics performance were consistently found across grade levels based on the disability group and LRE of students. Overall, none of the accountability approaches employed reliably rated schools based on the performance of students with disabilities. Even within the same subject area and using the same approaches, schools labeled as high-performing for students with disabilities one year were labeled as low-performing the following year and vice versa. Schools classified as high-performing using the cross-sectional and three-year averaging approaches demonstrated some bias against high-poverty schools and schools with large percentages of minority students. Schools classified as high-performing using the cross-sectional with confidence approach disproportionately identified schools with small numbers of students as high-performing. The value-added approaches were least biased in terms of socioeconomic status and the percentage of minority students, but were limited in their inclusiveness. The usefulness of all the approaches was limited by complicated assessment and accountability policies and the use of non-standard accommodations. All analyses were affected by the small number of students with disabilities in the subgroup. EVALUATING SCHOOLS BASED ON THE PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITES: A COMPARISON OF STATUS AND VALUE-ADDED APPROACHES
Controls on the spacing of first-order valleys

[1] Many landscapes are composed of ridges and valleys that are uniformly spaced, even where valley locations are not controlled by bedrock structure. Models of long-term landscape evolution have reproduced this phenomenon, yet the process by which uniformly spaced valleys develop is not well understood, and there is no quantitative framework for predicting valley spacing. Here we use a numerical landscape evolution model to investigate the development of uniform valley spacing. We find that evenly spaced valleys arise from a competition between adjacent drainage basins for drainage area (a proxy for water flux) and that the spacing becomes more uniform as the landscape approaches a topographic equilibrium. Valley spacing is most sensitive to the relative rates of advective erosion processes (such as stream incision) and diffusion-like mass transport (such as soil creep) and less sensitive to the magnitude of a threshold that limits the spatial extent of stream incision. Analysis of a large number of numerical solutions reveals that valley spacing scales with a ratio of characteristic diffusion and advection timescales that is analogous to a Peclet number. We use this result to derive expressions for equilibrium valley spacing and drainage basin relief as a function of the rates of advective and diffusive processes and the spatial extent of the landscape. The observed scaling relationships also provide insight into the cause of transitions from rill-like drainage networks to branching networks, the spatial scale of first-order drainage basins, the contributing area at which hillslopes transition into valleys, and the narrow range of width-to-length ratios of first-order basins.
The BCL3 locus on chromosome 19 displays an informative microsatellite polymorphism.

P.H. St George-Hyslop, H.Ohnol, J.F. Gusella2 and T.McKeithan1 Department of Medicine and Neurology, Tanz Neuroscience Building, University of Toronto, 6 Queen's Park Crescent, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada, 1Departments of Pathology and Medicine, University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave, Chicago, IL 60687 and 2Molecular Neurogenetics Laboratory, CNY-6, Massachusetts General Hospital, Fruit St, Boston, MA 02114, USA
Analysis of mobile broadband competition: 3G vs. WiFi

This paper analyses optimal pricing of two different platforms of broadband mobile internet access where one provider uses third generation (3G) and the other WiFi. The authors utilised a game theoretic competition model considering population density, user's preference for bandwidth and coverage, user's willingness-to-pay, the number of hot-spots, cost structure of deployment, and market penetration rate. The authors used both simulation and computation methods to find the market equilibrium point. Through the equilibrium analysis, the authors found that the 3G network is more profitable as WiFi coverage percentage increases, and 3G is more favourable in higher density areas.
Area-efficient digitally controlled CMOS feedback delay element with programmable duty cycle

A novel area-efficient on-chip feedback delay element (FDE) has been designed and evaluated in 0.18-µm CMOS technology. The circuit utilizes positive feedback to achieve both digitally controlled propagation delay and programmable duty cycle with only 9.5% silicon area of the conventional capacitor-loaded delay element (DE). The proposed FDE with monotonic delay step is suitable for use in area-sensitive and high-speed CMOS VLSI applications for memories and CPUs.