Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Surgery for degenerative lumbar spondylosis.

BACKGROUND Surgical investigations and interventions account for large health care utilisation and costs, but the scientific evidence for most procedures is still limited. OBJECTIVES Degenerative conditions affecting the lumbar spine are variously described as lumbar spondylosis or degenerative disc disease (which we regarded as one entity) and may be associated with back pain and associated leg symptoms, instability, spinal stenosis and/or degenerative spondylolisthesis. The objective of this review was to assess current scientific evidence on the effectiveness of surgical interventions for degenerative lumbar spondylosis. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, PubMed, Spine and ISSLS abstracts, with citation tracking from the retrieved articles. We also corresponded with experts. All data found up to 31 March 2004 are included. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised (RCTs) or quasi-randomised trials of surgical treatment of lumbar spondylosis. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two authors assessed trial quality and extracted data from published papers. Additional information was sought from the authors if necessary. MAIN RESULTS Thirty-one published RCTs of all forms of surgical treatment for degenerative lumbar spondylosis were identified. The trials varied in quality: only the more recent trials used appropriate methods of randomization, blinding and independent assessment of outcome. Most of the earlier published results were of technical surgical outcomes with some crude ratings of clinical outcome. More of the recent trials also reported patient-centered outcomes of pain or disability, but there is still very little information on occupational outcomes. There was a particular lack of long term outcomes beyond two to three years. Seven heterogeneous trials on spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis and nerve compression permitted limited conclusions. Two new trials on the effectiveness of fusion showed conflicting results. One showed that fusion gave better clinical outcomes than conventional physiotherapy, while the other showed that fusion was no better than a modern exercise and rehabilitation programme. Eight trials showed that instrumented fusion produced a higher fusion rate (though that needs to be qualified by the difficulty of assessing fusion in the presence of metal-work), but did not improve clinical outcomes, while there is other evidence that it may be associated with higher complication rates. Three trials with conflicting results did not permit any conclusions about the relative effectiveness of anterior, posterior or circumferential fusion. Preliminary results of two small trials of intra-discal electrotherapy showed conflicting results. Preliminary data from three trials of disc arthroplasty did not permit any firm conclusions. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Limited evidence is now available to support some aspects of surgical practice. Surgeons should be encouraged to perform further RCTs in this field.
Learning and Foraging: Individuals, Groups, and Populations

Models and experiments investigating the effects of learning on foraging are reviewed. Experiments examining descriptive and optimality models of how animals track temporal changes in their environment are compared. A model investigating the ways in which sampling strategies may be affected when animals forage in a group is discussed, and some predictions from this model are examined in experiments with starlings. A model incorporating individual learning rules and migration costs into a many-patch ideal free distribution examines how the spatial distribution of predators and prey mortality are affected.
Influence of a TESb flush on InAs/GaAs submonolayer stacks

The so-called submonolayer growth mode poses an alternative to the conventional Stranski-Krastanov growth for the fabrication of high densities of quantum dots. Previous investigations, however, showed only weak confinement properties of these submonolayer stacks. The incorporation of Sb provides the possibility to intentionally tune the confinement properties. In this work a MOCVD process was developed in which a pulse of triethylantimony leads to a deposition of Sb on the growth surface and its incorporation during the subsequent growth. The resulting structural, electronic and optical properties of the submonolayer stacks were investigated, as well as their application as active media in directly modulated lasers. To analyze the electronic properties it is substantial to record the incorporation of Sb atoms quantitatively as well as to determine their position with respect to the In atoms on the atomic level. This not only enables the modeling of the incorporation behavior using adsorption models but also provides the possibility to theoretically predict the electronic and optical properties by simulating the local band structure and its influence on the electron and hole wave function. A preferential incorporation of Sb into In-rich regions results in the expansion of the electron wave function across several of those regions while the hole wave function is localized more strongly in individual regions. In addition to the resulting increase of the electric dipole moment, a redshift of the emission wavelength is expected from this. These predictions could be confirmed by temperature-dependent photoluminescence and spatially resolved cathodoluminescence measurements. The incorporation of Sb leads to a redshift of the emission, an increase of the inhomogeneous broadening of the observed luminescence and an increase of the intensity of phonon replicas. Moreover, individual emission lines were found in the integral spectrum. Using the amount of supplied Sb, the thickness of the GaAs layer between InAs
Lateral release for chondromalacia patellae.

A series of7S patients with established chondromalacia patellae is presented. All had a lateral release procedure carried out after failure of conservative treatment. The results are discussed in relation to the findings at operation. In the early stages of chondromalacia, release of the lateral retmaculum was successful in relieving the symptoms for a year or more; review at three years showed a significant number
Action recognition in still images by latent superpixel classification

Action recognition from still images is an important task of computer vision applications such as image annotation, robotic navigation, video surveillance and several others. Existing approaches mainly rely on either bag-of-feature representations or articulated body-part models. However, the relationship between the action and the image segments is still substantially unexplored. For this reason, in this paper we propose to approach action recognition by leveraging an intermediate layer of "superpixels" whose latent classes can act as attributes of the action. In the proposed approach, the action class is predicted by a structural model(learnt by Latent Structural SVM) based on measurements from the image superpixels and their latent classes. Experimental results over the challenging Stanford 40 Actions dataset report a significant average accuracy of 74.06% for the positive class and 88.50% for the negative class, giving evidence to the performance of the proposed approach.
The Multifaceted Poliovirus 2A Protease: Regulation of Gene Expression by Picornavirus Proteases

After entry into animal cells, most viruses hijack essential components involved in gene expression. This is the case of poliovirus, which abrogates cellular translation soon after virus internalization. Abrogation is achieved by cleavage of both eIF4GI and eIF4GII by the viral protease 2A. Apart from the interference of poliovirus with cellular protein synthesis, other gene expression steps such as RNA and protein trafficking between nucleus and cytoplasm are also altered. Poliovirus 2Apro is capable of hydrolyzing components of the nuclear pore, thus preventing an efficient antiviral response by the host cell. Here, we compare in detail poliovirus 2Apro with other viral proteins (from picornaviruses and unrelated families) as regard to their activity on key host factors that control gene expression. It is possible that future analyses to determine the cellular proteins targeted by 2Apro will uncover other cellular functions ablated by poliovirus infection. Further understanding of the cellular proteins hydrolyzed by 2Apro will add further insight into the molecular mechanism by which poliovirus and other viruses interact with the host cell.
Magnetic Sensor Array-Based AC Current Measurement for Multiconductor Cables Using Evolutionary Computation Method

A novel and accurate AC current measurement method for multiconductor cables is proposed in this paper by employing magnetic sensor arrays and evolutionary algorithms. The positions of several conductors within the electrical cables are determined by the computing method. Then the currents in these conductors can be measured in real time by using a matrix multiplication computation. The mathematical model for estimating conductor currents is investigated considering two configurations, i.e., single conductor and multiconductors in the cable. Evolutionary computation methods are investigated and implemented to improve the computing accuracy. In particular, the performances of a variety of evolutionary algorithms in the current computation are compared. The differential evolution (DE) computation method is found outperforming other methods after conducting numerous simulation studies. Finally, comprehensive experiments are carried out by utilizing the DE method to validate the theoretical studies. The experimental results sufficiently verify the feasibility and reliability of the proposed AC current measurement method for multiconductor cables.
Tracking and regulation control of an underactuated surface vessel with nonintegrable dynamics

A continuous, time-varying tracking controller is designed that globally exponentially forces the position/orientation tracking error of an underactuated surface vessel to a neighborhood about zero that can be made arbitrarily small (i.e., global uniformly ultimately bounded, GUUB). The result is facilitated by fusing a filtered tracking error transformation with the dynamic oscillator design presented in Dixon et al. (1999). We also illustrate that the proposed tracking controller yields a GUUB result for the regulation problem. In addition, an extension is provided that illustrates that the proposed unified tracking/regulation controller can be applied to a twin rotor helicopter model.
Edema in childhood.

There are two types of edema: localized edema and generalized edema. The causes of generalized edema in childhood are diverse. Formation of generalized edema involves retention of sodium and water in the kidney. The treatment of generalized edema depends on the primary etiology. Supportive nutritional and medical therapies are needed to prevent further edema. These and related features of edema in childhood are discussed in this review.
Preparation for a Bariatric Center of Excellence Site Survey: The Educator's Perspective

Morbid obesity continues to be a growing problem in the United States. Between 1997 and 2003, the number of U.S. hospitals offering bariatric surgery has nearly tripled. Confronted with increasing demands for bariatric surgery, competency of nursing staff caring for the bariatric surgery patient has emerged as a key area of focus. This article highlights the innovative creation and implementation of a bariatric surgery competency program that would meet the competency standards for a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence.
Stimulation of glutamate uptake and Na, K‐ATPase activity in rat astrocytes exposed to ischemia‐like insults

The postsynaptic actions of glutamate are rapidly terminated by high affinity glutamate uptake into glial cells. In this study we demonstrate the stimulation of both glutamate uptake and Na,K‐ATPase activity in rat astrocyte cultures in response to sublethal ischemia‐like insults. Primary cultures of neonatal rat cortical astrocytes were subjected to hypoxia, or to serum‐ and glucose‐free medium, or to both conditions (ischemia). Cell death was assessed by propidium iodide staining of cell nuclei. To measure sodium pump activity and glutamate uptake, 3H‐glutamate and 86Rb were both simultaneously added to the cell culture in the presence or absence of 2 mM ouabain. Na,K‐ATPase activity was defined as ouabain‐sensitive 86Rb uptake. Concomitant transient increases (2–3 times above control levels) of both Na,K‐ATPase and glutamate transporter activities were observed in astrocytes after 4–24 h of hypoxia, 4 h of glucose deprivation, and 2–4 h of ischemia. A 24 h ischemia caused a profound loss of both activities in parallel with significant cell death. The addition of 5 mM glucose to the cells after 4 h ischemia prevented the loss of both sodium pump activity and glutamate uptake and rescued astrocytes from death observed at the end of 24 h ischemia. Reoxygenation after the 4 h ischemic event caused the selective inhibition of Na,K‐ATPase activity. The observed increases in Na,K‐ATPase activity and glutamate uptake in cultured astrocytes subjected to sublethal ischemia‐like insults may model an important functional response of astrocytes in vivo by which they attempt to maintain ion and glutamate homeostasis under restricted energy and oxygen supply. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss Inc.
Caspase-2 mediates a Brucella abortus RB51-induced hybrid cell death having features of apoptosis and pyroptosis

Programmed cell death (PCD) can play a crucial role in tuning the immune response to microbial infection. Although PCD can occur in different forms, all are mediated by a family of proteases called caspases. Caspase-2 is the most conserved caspase, however, its function in cell death is ill-defined. Previously we demonstrated that live attenuated cattle vaccine strain Brucella abortus RB51 induces caspase-2-mediated and caspase-1-independent PCD of infected macrophages. We also discovered that rough attenuated B. suis strain VTRS1 induces a caspase-2-mediated and caspase-1-independent proinflammatory cell death in infected macrophages, which was tentatively coined “caspase-2-mediated pyroptosis”. However, the mechanism of caspase-2-mediated cell death pathway remained unclear. In this study, we found that caspase-2 mediated proinflammatory cell death of RB51-infected macrophages and regulated many genes in different PCD pathways. We show that the activation of proapoptotic caspases-3 and -8 was dependent upon caspase-2. Caspase-2 regulated mitochondrial cytochrome c release and TNFα production, both of which are known to activate caspase-3 and caspase-8, respectively. In addition to TNFα, RB51-induced caspase-1 and IL-1β production was also driven by caspase-2-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction. Interestingly, pore formation, a phenomenon commonly associated with caspase-1-mediated pyroptosis, occurred; however, unlike its role in S. typhimurium-induced pyroptosis, pore formation did not contribute to RB51-induced proinflammatory cell death. Our data suggest that caspase-2 acts as an initiator caspase that mediates a novel RB51-induced hybrid cell death that simulates but differs from typical non-proinflammatory apoptosis and caspase-1-mediated proinflammatory pyroptosis. The initiator role of the caspase-2-mediated cell death was also conserved in cellular stress-induced cell death of macrophages treated with etoposide, naphthalene, or anti-Fas. Caspase-2 also regulated caspase-3 and -8 activation, as well as cell death in macrophages treated with each of the three reagents. Taken together, our data has demonstrated that caspase-2 can play an important role in mediating a proinflammatory response and a hybrid cell death that demonstrates features of both apoptosis and pyroptosis.
Superconnections and the Higgs field

Within the mathematical framework of Quillen, one interprets the Higgs field as part of the superconnection D on a superbundle. We propose to take as superbundle the exterior algebra ∧V obtained from a Hermitian vector bundle V of rank n with structure group U(n) and study the curvature F=D2. The Euclidean action, at most quadratic in F and invariant under gauge transformations, depends on n+1 central charges. Spontaneous symmetry breaking is related to a nonvanishing constant scalar curvature in the ground state, F=Lc2, where Lc is the Higgs condensate. The U(1) Higgs model is nothing but the familiar Ginzburg–Landau theory, whereas the U(2) Higgs model relates to the electro-weak theory (without matter fields). The present formulation leads to the relation g2=3g′2 for the coupling constants, the formula sin2 θ=1/4 for the Weinberg mixing angle, and the ratio mW2:mZ2:mH2=3:4:12 for the masses of W±, Z0, and the Higgs boson. Experimentally observed deviations are attributed to loop corrections.
Propranolol–induced Impairment of Contextual Fear Memory Reconsolidation in Rats: A similar Effect on Weak and Strong Recent and Remote Memories

Introduction Previous studies have demonstrated that the β-adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol impairs fear memory reconsolidation in experimental animals. There are experimental parameters such as the age and the strength of memory that can interact with pharmacological manipulations of memory reconsolidation. In this study, we investigated the ability of the age and the strength of memory to influence the disrupting effects of propranolol on fear memory reconsolidation in rats. Methods The rats were trained in a contextual fear conditioning using two (weak training) or five (strong training) footshocks (1mA). Propranolol (10mg/kg) injection was immediately followed retrieval of either a one-day recent (weak or strong) or 36-day remote (weak or strong) contextual fear memories. Results We found that propranolol induced a long-lasting impairment of subsequent expression of recent and remote memories with either weak or strong strength. We also found no memory recovery after a weak reminder shock. Furthermore, no significant differences were found on the amount of memory deficit induced by propranolol among memories with different age and strength. Discussion Our data suggest that the efficacy of propranolol in impairing fear memory reconsolidation is not limited to the age or strength of the memory.
Drug target central

Background: One of the primary pillars of drug discovery is the drug target, its relationship to both the drugs designed against it and the biological processes in which it is involved. Here we review the informatics approaches required to build a complete catalogue of known drug targets. Objective: Using Pfizer's internal target database as a narrative, we review the steps involved in the construction of an integrated, enterprise target-informatics system. We consider how compiling the drug target universe requires integration across several resources such as competitor intelligence and pharmacological activity databases, as well as input from techniques such as text-mining. In particular, we address data standards and the complexities of representing targets in a structured ontology as well as opportunities for future development. Conclusion: Drug target-orientated databases address important areas of drug discovery such as chemogenomics, drug/candidate repurposing and business intelligence. As research in industry and academia drives continued expansion of the druggable genome, it is crucial that such systems be maintained to provide an accurate picture of the landscape. This power of this information stretches beyond drug discovery and into the wider scientific community where small molecule tool compounds can enable the dissection of complex cellular pathways.
Risk of biodegradable stent-induced hypergranulation causing re-stenosis of a gastric conduit after esophageal resection

Biodegradable stents are increasingly used to treat benign gastrointestinal strictures [1,2]. Here, we report on two patients who developed persistent vomiting after thoraco-abdominal esophageal resection for cancer and perforation. Assessments byendoscopyand imaging studiesdemonstrated a severe stricture of the distal gastric conduit in both patients (●" Fig.1), which were thought likely to be due to low-flow ischemia of the gastric conduit. The treatment of both patients was identical. Because balloon dilation (20-mm CRE Wireguided Balloon Dilator; Boston Scientific, Galway, Ireland) had not produced an improvement in symptoms, a 10-cm long biodegradable stent (BD Ella; Ella-CS, s.r.o., Hradec Králové, Czech Republic) was placed. Patient 1 became immediately symptomfree and remained so 12 months later. The stent was fully resorbed after 16weeks. In contrast, patient 2 experienced persistent grade 4 dysphagia due to insufficient stent expansion (●" Fig.2a) as the stenosis was too rigid for the maximal expansive capacity of the stent. Follow-up imaging and endoscopy revealed progressive stenosis due to stent-induced hypergranulation (●" Fig.2b and●" Fig.3), a rare complication after the use of biodegradable stents that was also observed in some earlier studies [1,3,4]. Despite repeated balloon dilation to 20mm, the grade 4 dysphagia persisted. After 13 weeks, the stent was fully resorbed. The stenotic area was slightly enlarged compared with the situation before placement of the stent, but was still considerably smaller than the original lumen of the gastric conduit. A small, 1 to 2-cm long segment with a high-grade stenosis remained in the middle of the conduit, probably a remnant of the hypergranulation (●" Fig.4). Repeated balloon dilation to 20mm at monthly intervals resulted in a progressive improvement over the course of 6 months (●" Fig.5). Thereafter, the patient was able to eat semisolid foods, consistent with grade 2 dysphagia. Placement of biodegradable stents is an emerging and promising treatment alternative for benign esophageal strictures, but if stenosis due to stent-induced hypergranulation occurs, significant morbidity ensues. Endoscopy_UCTN_Code_CPL_1AH_2AD
Model checking security policy model using both UML static and dynamic diagrams

An operating system relies heavily on its security model to defend against malicious attacks. It has been one of the hottest research domains for decades to validate security models' correctness by formal methods during the development of security operating systems. However, current studies on the formal verification of security models are sometimes too sophisticated for the developers of operating systems, who are usually not experts in mathematical reasoning and proving. So representing a security model in UML becomes a compromise choice for the developers' verification work during system developing. In this paper, we propose a new method to verify the security policy model against the security goals using model checker SPIN and UML modeling language. Given a security policy model and the security property to be validated, our approach leverages UML class diagrams and statechart diagrams to specify its state model and its state transitions respectively. Then we translate these UML diagrams into the input language of SPIN automatically, as well as the security property. The conformance between the security goal and security model can finally be analyzed by SPIN. We proved the effectiveness of our approach by checking the violation of confidentiality of the DBLP model.