Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Posterior Pediculectomy and Vertebral Trough-Cut Technique for Reduction of Retropulsed Bone Fragments in Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures: A Surgical Technique and Treatment Algorithm Plan

Introduction: This study aims to describe the feasibility and outcomes of the pediculectomy and vertebral trough-cut technique to reduce bony fragments in thoracolumbar burst fractures. This all-posterior retrovertebral fragment reduction technique requires the complete removal of the pedicle, followed by cutting a trough ventral to displaced retrovertebral burst fragments to create space for easy posterior to anterior fragment reduction. Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures and canal compromise of more than 50% on axial computed tomography (CT). All patients had neurological deficits secondary to spinal fracture. Each patient underwent removal of the pedicle by cutting a trough ventral to the displaced retrovertebral burst fragment to create space for posterior to anterior fracture fragment reduction followed by posterior instrumentation and fusion. Results: Thirteen patientswith a mean age of 33 (24-50) years were analysed. All patients’ retropulsed fracture fragments were approached via a pediculectomy. Additional trough cut was performed in 9 patients when the retropulsed fragment was deemed to be irreducible. The average post to pre-operative improvement in axial compromise was 60.7% while the average improvement in vertebral height was 33.9% and the average improvement in vertebral body angle was 9 degrees. All patients experienced mean improvement in ASIA grade of 2. Eleven out of thirteen of the patients were able to walk independently at last follow-up. Conclusion: The pediculectomy and vertebral trough cut technique for the reduction of retropulsed fragments in burst thoracolumbar fractures is feasible and reproducible with good clinical and radiological outcomes.
Ceramic Matrix Composites Obtained by the Reactive Sintering of Boron Carbide with Intermetallic Compounds from the Ti-Si System

In this study, we investigated the effect of adding two different intermetallics, Ti5Si3 and TiSi2, for the preparation of TiB2-SiC-B4C composites. As part of the research, stoichiometric composites consisting only of two phases TiB2 and SiC were obtained. The TiB2-SiC-B4C composites were prepared via pressureless sintering. The presence of the phases in the sintered composites was confirmed using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The SEM-EDS examination revealed that the TiB2 and SiC phases were formed during the composite process synthesis and were distributed homogeneously in the B4C matrix. The obtained results allowed us to usually exceed 2000 °C and the use of specialized equipment for firing, that is, vacuum or protective atmosphere furnaces as well as control and measurement equipment. Such an approach generates high costs that are decisive for the economics of the technological processes. In the case of our compositions, it is possible to lower the temperature to 1650 °C. The TiB2-SiC-B4C composites were classified as UHTCs.
Bloch oscillation, dynamical localization, and optical probing of electron gases in quantum-dot superlattices in high electric fields

In this paper, we present numerical results for steady-state and time-dependent currents as well as for a long-time average current in strong nonlinear dc and ac electric fields for an electron gas in a one-dimensional 1D quantum-dot superlattice. A microscopic model is employed for the scattering of electrons by phonons and static impurities by means of the Boltzmann equation method. The dc results are favorably compared with recent exact analytic results based on a relaxation-time model for electron-phonon scattering. Our results demonstrate the different roles played by elastic and inelastic scattering on the damped Bloch oscillations as well as the nonlinear steady-state current and their opposite roles on the damped dynamical localization. We also find a suppression of dynamical localization by strong Bloch oscillations and features in the Esaki-Tsu peaks in the presence of an ac electric field when electron scattering is included. On the basis of a nonequilibrium electron distribution obtained from the Boltzmann equation, a self-consistent-field approach is employed to establish a general formalism for the optical response of current-driven electrons in both the linear and nonlinear regimes to a 1D quantum-dot superlattice. The dc-field dependences of both the peak energy and peak strength in the absorption spectrum for a 1D quantum-dot superlattice are calculated, from which we find: 1 both the peak energy and its strength are significantly reduced with increasing dc electric field; and 2 the peak energy and peak strength are anomalously enhanced by raising the temperature for the nonlinear transport of electrons when a strong dc electric field is applied.
Dynamics of Subjective Well-Being in Early Marriage: A Phenomenological Review of Madurese Women

The study aims to theoretically explain the dynamics of subjective well-being in the early marriage of Madurese women. This study used a qualitative research method with an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach. The data collection used the semi-structured interview with the interview guide containing questions that reflect the ephocē. The participants in this study were 9 Madurese women who lived in Bangkalan Regency, Sampang Regency, Pamekasan Regency, and Sumenep Regency. There were important points that became the findings of this study, including (a) Madurese women who married early could achieve subjective well-being proven with statements that indicated life satisfaction in their marriage and could feel positive emotions more often than negative emotions, and (b) The achievement of subjective well-being of Madurese women who married early could not be separated from their husband's acceptance and support.
The Importance of HDL-Cholesterol and Fat-Free Percentage as Protective Markers in Risk Factor Hierarchy for Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

This research focused on establishing a hierarchy concerning the influence of various biological markers and body composition parameters on preventing, diagnosing and managing Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). Our cross-sectional cohort study included 104 subjects without any atherosclerotic antecedent pathology, organized in two groups (with and without MetS). All participants underwent clinical and anthropometric measurements, DEXA investigation and blood tests for all MetS criteria, together with adiponectin, leptin, insulin, uric acid and CRP. Based on mathematical logic, we calculated a normalized sensitivity score to compare the predictive power of biomarkers and parameters associated with MetS, upon the prevalence of MetS. Patients with MetS report higher levels of uric acid (p = 0.02), CRP (p = 0.012) and lower levels of adiponectin (p = 0.025) than patients without MetS. The top three biological markers with the highest predictive power of the prevalence of the disease are HDL, insulin, and adiponectin:leptin ratio, and the top three body composition parameters are trunk fat-free percentage, waist-height ratio and trunk fat percentage. Their high sensitivity scores differentiate them from all the other markers analysed in the study. Our findings report relevant scores for estimating the importance of cardiometabolic risks in the prevalence of MetS. The high rank of protective markers, HDL and trunk fat-free percentage, suggest that positive effects have a stronger association with the prevalence of MetS, than negative ones do. Therefore, this risk stratification study provides important support for prevention and management programs regarding MetS.
Research to Practice : Rolling Implementation of Evidence-Based Anti-Bullying Strategies in a Swedish Municipality

Introduction Preventing bullying at school is a much researched field (Ttofi & Farrington, 2011). Using the Internet search engine Google Ngram Viewer for the search terms bullying, bully and bullied, in the full “English Corpus”, a clear pattern emerges. From about 1985 graphs for all three terms show a sharply increasing frequency, with the greatest increase arising for the term ‘bullying’ (Google Ngram Viewer, 2016).
Nutrient capture and sustainable yield maximized by a gear modification in artisanal fishing traps

Coral reef artisanal fisheries are an important source of nutrition and economic wellbeing for coastal communities, but their management is subject to conflicts and tradeoffs between short-term food security benefits and long-term ecological function. One potential tradeoff is between nutrient capture and fish yields, where targeting small, nutrient-dense species may be more valuable for food security than maximizing fish yields, which is more closely aligned with supporting biodiversity and ecological function. We explored these potential tradeoffs by comparing two similar gears: traditional African basket traps and traps modified with an escape gap. Traps without escape gaps captured a higher frequency of fish with body sizes below their estimated lengths at maximum sustainable yield than gated traps. Estimates of nutrient yields for six micronutrients among the 208 captured species indicated high hump-shaped relationships for gated traps and low and linear positive relationships for traditional traps. Maximum nutrients in gated traps frequently corresponded to body sizes at maximum sustainable yield. Daily capture rates of nutrients were above daily needs more often in gated than traditional traps, but calcium values were low in both trap designs. Gated traps were more likely to capture species with unique and potentially important functional traits, including browsing herbivores, which could have negative effects on ecological functions and reef recovery. However, gated traps also catch fewer immature fish and fewer predators. Our results indicate that nutrient yields can be maximized while using a gear that captures larger and more sustainable body sizes in coral reef artisanal fisheries. Preferential targeting of nutrient-dense fishes is only one of many metrics for evaluating a nutrition-centered management strategy and may only be a management target in specific contexts.
Phase-shifting interferometry using a two-dimensional regularized phase-tracking technique

Abstract Phase-shifting interferometry is the most used method whenever the optical stability of the interferometer remain high when several phase-shifted interferograms are taken. In this work we present a two-dimensional regularized phase-tracking (RPT) technique applied to demodulate multiple phase-shifted interferograms. The main advantage of this technique with reference to classical phase-shifting interferometry is its higher signal-to-noise rejection as well as a higher signal′s harmonics rejection. In the RPT technique the unwrapping process is implicit; so it is achieved simultaneously with the phase estimation process; then, no additional unwrapping process is required.
Tetrabromobisphenol A and Diclazuril Evoke Tissue-Specific Changes of Thyroid Hormone Signaling in Male Thyroid Hormone Action Indicator Mice

Thyroid hormone (TH) signaling is a prerequisite of normal tissue function. Environmental pollutants with the potential to disrupt endocrine functions represent an emerging threat to human health and agricultural production. We used our Thyroid Hormone Action Indicator (THAI) mouse model to study the effects of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA; 150 mg/bwkg/day orally for 6 days) and diclazuril (10.0 mg/bwkg/day orally for 5 days), a known and a potential hormone disruptor, respectively, on local TH economy. Tissue-specific changes of TH action were assessed in 90-day-old THAI mice by measuring the expression of a TH-responsive luciferase reporter in tissue samples and by in vivo imaging (14-day-long treatment accompanied with imaging on day 7, 14 and 21 from the first day of treatment) in live THAI mice. This was followed by promoter assays to elucidate the mechanism of the observed effects. TBBPA and diclazuril impacted TH action differently and tissue-specifically. TBBPA disrupted TH signaling in the bone and small intestine and impaired the global TH economy by decreasing the circulating free T4 levels. In the promoter assays, TBBPA showed a direct stimulatory effect on the hdio3 promoter, indicating a potential mechanism for silencing TH action. In contrast, diclazuril acted as a stimulator of TH action in the liver, skeletal muscle and brown adipose tissue without affecting the Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Thyroid axis. Our data demonstrate distinct and tissue-specific effects of TBBPA and diclazuril on local TH action and prove that the THAI mouse is a novel mammalian model to identify TH disruptors and their tissue-specific effects.
Effect of branched structure on microphase separation and electric field induced bending actuation behaviors of poly(urethane–urea) elastomers

Polyurethane elastomers as a type of electroactive polymers have wide applications in soft actuators, soft sensors and energy harvesting due to their high dielectric constant, high electrostriction coefficients, easy processing and structure adjustability, and superior biocompatibility etc. However, the relationship between microstructure and electromechanical properties of EAEs has not been fully understood. In this work, we fabricated the branch structured poly(urethane–urea) elastomers (PUUs) using hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene as soft segment, isophorone diisocyanate and 4,4-diaminodicyclohexylmethane as hard segment, and hydroxyl-terminated four-armed polycaprolactone (PCL410) as branch structured chain extender for improving bending actuation performances, and understanding the relationship between structure and electromechanical properties. The degree of branched structure of PUUs were adjusted by the content of PCL410. The microphase separation kinetics of PUUs was enhanced as increase of PCL410 content, whereas the degree of microphase separation and hard domain size of PUUs were reduced. The mechanical loss and bending actuation stress of PUUs were significantly improved by incorporation of small amount of branched structure into PUU chains. The PUU with 2.60 mol. % of PCL410 showed 5.16 mm of bending displacement and 5.16 Pa of bending actuation stress at 7.2 kV (corresponding to 180 V mm−1 of the nominal electric field), which were 76.3, and 79 times higher than that of PUU without PCL410, respectively. The electric field induced bending actuation mechanism of branch structured PUUs was suggested that the bending actuation mechanism of branch structured PUUs is caused by electrostrictive effect from dipole orientation induced bending deformation of constrained segments and asymmetric charge density distribution on both anode and cathode sides of PUU films. Our results can provide new insight on design novel electroactive polyurethane elastomers.
Association of the FCN2 Gene Promoter Region Polymorphisms with Very Low Birthweight in Preterm Neonates

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) localised to the promoter region of the FCN2 gene are known to influence the concentration of ficolin-2 in human serum and therefore potentially have clinical associations. We investigated the relationships between SNPs at positions −986 (A > G), −602 (G > A), −64 (A > C) and −4 (A > G) and clinical complications in 501 preterms. Major alleles at positions −986 and −64 and A/A homozygosity for both polymorphisms were less frequent among babies with very low birthweight (VLBW, ≤1500 g) compared with the reference group (OR = 0.24, p = 0.0029; and OR = 0.49, p = 0.024, respectively for A/A genotypes). A lower frequency of G/G homozygosity at position −4 was associated with gestational age <33 weeks and VLBW (OR = 0.38, p = 0.047; and OR = 0.07, p = 0.0034, respectively). The AGAG haplotype was protective for VLBW (OR = 0.6, p = 0.0369), whilst the GGCA haplotype had the opposite effect (OR = 2.95, p = 0.0249). The latter association was independent of gestational age. The AGAG/GGAA diplotype favoured both shorter gestational age and VLBW (OR = 1.82, p = 0.0234 and OR = 1.95, p = 0.0434, respectively). In contrast, AGAG homozygosity was protective for lower body mass (OR = 0.09, p = 0.0155). Our data demonstrate that some FCN2 variants associated with relatively low ficolin-2 increase the risk of VLBW and suggest that ficolin-2 is an important factor for fetal development/intrauterine growth.
Eigenmode analysis of symmetric parallel waveguide couplers

An analysis of a laterally symmetric parallel waveguide structure has been carried out by using symmetric and antisymmetric eigenmodes in the coupled mode equations. As opposed to modes of each individual guide, eigenmodes are orthogonal and therefore comply with coupled mode formalism. Of particular interest has been the popular configuration Z -cut LiNbO 3 with Wave propagation along the crystal Y -axis. The theory shows that output versus voltage characteristics are nonperiodic in voltage, and furthermore, they are asymmetric if the eigenmodes are not equally excited. The uniform electrode coupler can easily be explained in terms of eigenmode coupling and interference.
Mean Location and Sample Mean Location on Manifolds

In a previous investigation we studied some asymptotic properties of the sample mean location on submanifolds of Euclidean space. The sample mean location generalizes least squares statistics to smooth compact submanifolds of Euclidean space. In this paper these properties are put into use. Tests for hypotheses about mean location are constructed and confidence regions for mean location are indicated. We study the asymptotic distribution of the test statistic. The problem of comparing mean locations for two samples is analyzed. Special attention is paid to observations on Stiefel manifolds including the orthogonal groupO(p) and spheresSk? 1, and special orthogonal groupsSO(p). The results also are illustrated with our experience with simulations.
Ga-assisted catalyst-free growth mechanism of GaAs nanowires by molecular beam epitaxy

The mechanisms of Ga-assisted GaAs nanowires grown by molecular beam epitaxy are addressed. The axial and radial growth rates as a function of the Ga rate and As pressure indicate that on the opposite of what is observed in thin film epitaxy, the growth rate of the nanowires is arsenic limited. As a consequence, the axial growth rate of the wires can be controlled by the As{sub 4} pressure. Additionally, due to the small As{sub 4} pressure leading to nanowire growth, the deposition on the facets is very slow, leading to a much lower radial growth rate. Finally, we present a model that is able to accurately describe the presented observations and predicts a maximum length of nontapered nanowires of 40 {mu}m.
Adiponectin Is a Contributing Factor of Low Appendicular Lean Mass in Older Community-Dwelling Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

Inflammation is a chronic, sterile, low-grade inflammation that develops with advanced age in the absence of overt infection and may contribute to the pathophysiology of sarcopenia, a progressive and generalized skeletal muscle disorder. Furthermore, a series of biomarkers linked to sarcopenia occurrence have emerged. To aid diagnostic and treatment strategies for low muscle mass in sarcopenia and other related conditions, the objective of this work was to investigate potential biomarkers associated with appendicular lean mass in community-dwelling older women. This is a cross-sectional study with 71 older women (75 ± 7 years). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to assess body composition. Plasmatic blood levels of adipokines (i.e., adiponectin, leptin, and resistin), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and soluble receptors (sTNFr1 and sTNFr2), interferon (INF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and interleukins (IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Older women with low muscle mass showed higher plasma levels of adiponectin, sTNFr1, and IL-8 compared to the regular muscle mass group. In addition, higher adiponectin plasma levels explained 14% of the lower appendicular lean mass. High adiponectin plasmatic blood levels can contribute to lower appendicular lean mass in older, community-dwelling women.
Bounds on the von Neumann dimension of $L\sp 2$-cohomology and the Gauss-Bonnet theorem for open manifolds

In this paper we continue the discussion of [6]. In §§1-3, we prove those results concerning the Von Neumann dimension of ZΛcohomology spaces (L Betti numbers) whose proofs were given only for normal coverings which are profinite. The ZΛcohomology techniques turn out to be useful in other contexts as well. For example, in [7] we simplify the proof of the theorem of Gottlieb and Stallings, which states that if a K{π, l)-space is homotopy equivalent to a finite complex and π has nontrivial center, then the Euler characteristic χ(ΛΓ(π, 1)) vanishes. In fact, we show that it suffices to assume that ΊT has a nontrivial normal amenable subgroup. In §4 we extend the result of [6] concerning the η-invariant to the not necessarily profinite case. For this we define a corresponding invariant τ/(2) by means of the Γ-trace. In §5 we extend our results to certain metrics which are conformally related to those considered in §1. We also give an intrinsic criterion (Theorem 5.5) for a metric to be of this type. As background for §§1-3 of the present paper, we now recall some material from [6]. There we considered a complete riemannian manifold M, whose sectional curvature, K, and volume, Vol(M), satisfy \K\ < 1, Vol(Λf) < oo. Here we will be concerned exclusively with the particular case in which
Superconducting terahertz metamaterials mimicking electromagnetically induced transparency

We designed and fabricated planar terahertz (THz) metamaterials made from superconducting NbN films to mimic electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) system. They are characterized using THz time domain spectroscopy over a temperature range from 8 to 300 K. High transmittance and large delay-bandwidth product at transparency window are demonstrated, which mainly arise from the enhanced coupling and decreased damping in superconducting state. The EIT-like spectral response could be tuned in a wide frequency range. By applying two dark resonators with different resonance frequencies coupled with a radiative resonator, we experimentally demonstrated the planar metamaterials mimicking four-level EIT system.
Fault Ride-Through Techniques for Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator Wind Turbines (PMSG-WTGs): A Systematic Literature Review

Global warming and rising energy demands have increased renewable energy (RE) usage globally. Wind energy has become the most technologically advanced renewable energy source. Wind turbines (WTs) must ride through faults to ensure power system stability. On the flip side, permanent magnet synchronous generators (PMSG)-based wind turbine power plants (WTPPs) are susceptible to grid voltage fluctuations and require extra regulations to maintain regular operations. Due to recent changes in grid code standards, it has become vital to explore alternate fault ride-through (FRT) methods to ensure their capabilities. This research will ensure that FRT solutions available via the Web of Science (WoS) database are vetted and compared in hardware retrofitting, internal software control changes, and hybrid techniques. In addition, a bibliometric analysis is provided, which reveals an ever-increasing volume of works dedicated to the topic. After that, a literature study of FRT techniques for PMSG WTs is carried out, demonstrating the evolution of these techniques over time. This paper concludes that additional research is required to enhance FRT capabilities in PMSG wind turbines and that further attention to topics, such as machine learning tools and the combination of FRT and wind power smoothing approaches, should arise in the following years.