Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Subsidence of Polyetheretherketone Intervertebral Cages in Minimally Invasive Lateral Retroperitoneal Transpsoas Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Study Design. A retrospective review. Objective. The objective is to evaluate subsidence related to minimally invasive lateral retroperitoneal lumbar interbody fusion by reviewing our experience with this procedure. Summary of Background Data. Polyetheretherketone intervertebral cages of different lengths, widths, and heights filled with various allograft types are commonly used as spacers in lumbar fusions. Subsidence is a potential complication. To date, there are no published reports specifically addressing subsidence, because it relates to a series of patients undergoing minimally invasive lateral retroperitoneal transpsoas lumbar interbody fusion. Methods. An institutional review board–approved, retrospective review of a prospectively collected database was conducted. One hundred forty consecutive patients who underwent this procedure between L1 and L5 during a 2-year period were included. All patients had T scores of −2.5 or more. Postoperative radiographs during routine follow-ups were reviewed for subsidence, defined as any violation of the vertebral end plate. Results. Radiographical subsidence occurred in 14.3% (20 of 140), whereas clinical subsidence occurred in 2.1%. Subsidence occurred in 8.8% (21 of 238) of levels fused. Construct length had a significant positive correlation with increasing subsidence rates. Subsidence rates decreased progressively with lower levels in the lumbar spine, but had a higher than expected rate at L4–L5. Subsidence rates of 14.1% (19 of 135) and 1.9% (2 of 103) were associated with 18-and 22-mm-wide cages, respectively. No significant trends were observed with cage lengths. Supplemental lateral plates had a higher rate of subsidence than bilateral pedicle screws. Subsidence occurred at the superior end plate 70% of the time. Conclusion. The use of wider intervertebral cages leads to a significantly lower rate of subsidence, but a longer cage does not necessarily offer a similar advantage. Wide cages are protective against subsidence, and the widest cages should be used whenever feasible for interbody fusion in the lumbar spine to protect indirect compression and promote arthrodesis.
Effect of type 2 diabetes on the dynamic response characteristics of leg vascular conductance during exercise

In this study we tested the hypothesis that type 2 diabetes impairs the dynamic response of leg vascular conductance (LVC) during exercise. LVC (leg blood flow/mean arterial pressure) responses were studied during intermittent contractions of the calf muscle in subjects with type 2 diabetes (n = 9), heavy controls (n = 10) and lean controls (n = 8) using a biexponential function and an estimate of the mean response time (MRT). The time constant of the second phase of LVC was significantly greater in type 2 diabetes (66.4 ± 29.2 s) than the heavy (22.2 ± 13.4 s) and lean (21.8 ± 9.3 s) controls, resulting in a significantly greater MRT in the diabetic group (median [IQR] = 30.7 [24.6—46.5] s versus 16.3 [4.3—23.2] s and 18.4 [13.7—19.3] s). These data support the hypothesis and suggest that a slowed hyperaemic response in the exercising limb might contribute to exercise intolerance in diabetic subjects.
2014 ESC/ESA Guidelines on Non-cardiac Surgery: Cardiovascular Assessment and Management

Authors/Task Force Members: Steen Dalby Kristensen* (Chairperson) (Denmark), Juhani Knuuti* (Chairperson) (Finland), Antti Saraste (Finland), Stefan Anker (Germany), Hans Erik Bøtker (Denmark), Stefan De Hert (Belgium), Ian Ford (UK), Jose Ramón Gonzalez-Juanatey (Spain), Bulent Gorenek (Turkey), Guy Robert Heyndrickx (Belgium), Andreas Hoeft (Germany), Kurt Huber (Austria), Bernard Iung (France), Keld Per Kjeldsen (Denmark), Dan Longrois (France), Thomas F. Lüscher (Switzerland), Luc Pierard (Belgium), Stuart Pocock (UK), Susanna Price (UK), Marco Roffi (Switzerland), Per Anton Sirnes (Norway), Miguel Sousa-Uva (Portugal), Vasilis Voudris (Greece), Christian Funck-Brentano (France).
The effect of weighted vest walking on metabolic responses and ground reaction forces.

PURPOSE This study examined how oxygen consumption, relative exercise intensity, vertical ground reaction forces (VGRF), and loading rate (LR) were affected while using a weighted vest (WV) during treadmill walking. METHODS A sample of 10 (aged 23.4 +/- 1.7 yr) subjects performed a standardized walking test (4-min stages at 0.89, 1.12, 1.34, 1.56, and 1.79 m x s(-1)) on a treadmill under four weighted vest conditions (0, 10, 15, and 20% of body mass (BM)). Dependent variables included oxygen consumption (VO2), relative exercise intensity, first (F1) and second (F2) peaks of the VGRF curve, and LR. RESULTS Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed significant vest versus speed interaction for V O2 and relative exercise intensity. Follow-up contrasts showed significant vest effect differences between 0% BM and all other WV conditions, and between 10 and 20% BM at all speeds for V O2. Follow-up analysis of relative exercise intensity demonstrated no significant vest effect difference at slower speeds, but significant differences at higher speeds. A significant main effect for WV condition was found for F1, F2, and LR. Follow-up testing revealed F1 and F2 at 0% BM were significantly different than at 10, 15, and 20% BM. F1 and F2 at 10% BM were significantly different than 20% BM, whereas F1 at 15% BM was significantly different than at 20% BM. LR at 0% BM was significantly different than at 15 and 20% BM. CONCLUSION Using a weighted vest can increase the metabolic costs, relative exercise intensity, and loading of the skeletal system during walking.
Random graphs with arbitrary i . i . d .

In this paper we study distances and connectivity properties of random graphs with an arbitrary i.i. d. degree sequence. When the tail of the degree distribution is regularly varying with exponent 1 − τ there are three distinct cases: (i) τ > 3, where the degrees have finite variance, (ii) τ ∈ (2, 3), where the degrees have infinite variance, but finite mean, and (iii) τ ∈ (1, 2), where the degrees have infinite mean. These random graphs can serve as models for complex networks where degree power laws are observed. The distances between pairs of nodes in the three cases mentioned above have been studied in three previous publications, and we survey the results obtained there. Apart from the critical cases τ = 1, τ = 2 and τ = 3, this completes the scaling picture. We explain the results heuristically and describe related work and open problems. We also compare the behavior in this model to Internet data, where a degree power law with exponent τ ≈ 2.2 is observed. Furthermore, in this paper we derive results concerning the connected components and the diameter. We give a criterion when there exists a unique largest connected component of size proportional to the size of the graph, and study sizes of the other connected components. Also, we show that for τ ∈ (2, 3), which is most often observed in real networks, the diameter in this model grows much faster than the typical distance between two arbitrary nodes.
Segmentation using Isoperimetric Algorithm

Graph cuts proved to be a useful multidimensional optimization tool which can enforce piecewise smoothness while preserving relevant sharp discontinuities. This paper is mainly intended as an application of isoperimetric algorithm of graph theory for image segmentation and analysis of different parameters used in the algorithm like generating weights, regulates the execution, Connectivity Parameter, cutoff, number of recursions,. We present some basic background information on graph cuts and discuss major theoretical results, which helped to reveal both strengths and limitations of this surprisingly versatile combinatorial algorithm.
valuation of single-walled carbon nanohorns as sorbent in dispersive micro olid-phase extraction uan

A new dispersive micro solid-phase extraction method which uses single-walled carbon nanohorns (SWNHs) as sorbent is proposed. The procedure combines the excellent sorbent properties of the nanoparticles with the efficiency of the dispersion of the material in the sample matrix. Under these conditions, the interaction with the analytes is maximized. The determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was selected as model analytical problem. Two dispersion strategies were evaluated, being the functionalization via microwave irradiation better than the use of a surfactant. The extraction was accomplished by adding 1 mL of oxidized SWHNs (o-SWNHs) dispersion to 10 mL of water sample. After extraction, the ingle-walled carbon nanohorns ispersive micro solid-phase extraction olycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons aters mixture was passed through a disposable Nylon filter were the nanoparticles enriched with the PAHs were retained. The elution was carried out with 100 L of hexane. The limits of detection achieved were between 30 and 60 ng L−1 with a precision (as repeatability) better than 12.5%. The recoveries obtained for the analytes in three different water samples were acceptable in all instances. The performance of o-SWNHs was favourably compared with that provided by carboxylated single-walled carbon nanotubes and thermally treated carbon nanocones.
The ‘Power of Process:’ How Negotiation Management Influences Multilateral Cooperation

Management of a multilateral negotiation has frequently played a crucial role in developing global regimes but is often ignored in International Relations theory. The long-awaited UN climate summit in Copenhagen, for example, broke down in 2009 but negotiations reached agreement one year later in Cancun. This article argues that power and interests remained largely constant between Copenhagen and Cancun, and that significantly altered negotiation management by the host government and the UN explains much of the difference. An analytical framework is presented to address whether and how the management of a multilateral negotiation by the organizers increases or decreases the probability of agreement. The empirical focus is on the Danish and Mexican Presidencies of climate negotiations, with extensive evidence from participant observation and 55 interviews with senior negotiators, high-level UN officials, and lead organizers. The argument adds to the scholarship on regime development by complementing structural with process analysis.
Template-based personalized singing voice synthesis

In this paper, a template-based personalized singing voice synthesis method is proposed. It generates singing voices by means of conversion from the narrated lyrics of a song with the use of template recordings. The template voices are parallel speaking and singing voices recorded from professional singers, which are used to derive the transformation models for acoustic feature conversion. When converting a new instance of speech, its acoustic features are modified to approximate those of the actual singing voice based on the transformation models. Since the pitch contour of the synthesized singing is derived from an actual singing voice, it is more natural than modifying a step contour to implement pitch fluctuations such as overshoot and vibrato. It has been shown from the subjective tests that nearly natural singing quality with the preservation of the timbre can be achieved with the help of our method.
AWARD NUMBER: W81XWH-12-1-0282 TITLE: Monoamine Oxidase A: A Novel Target for Progression and Metastasis of Prostate Cancer

Despite advances in the treatment of castration-resistant and bone metastatic prostate cancer (PCa), there is still no clear demonstration that PCa growth and metastases can be unambiguously detected. We review recent advances including our own development of near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) and near-infrared nuclear (NIRN) imaging approaches. We validated our results in experimental models of PCa bone and soft tissue metastases including PCa colonization at metastatic sites by injecting PCa cells either intratibially or intracardiacally. We describe our experience using noninvasive imaging and targeting modalities to probe PCa tumors grown at metastatic sites, molecular studies to understand the multiple molecular and cellular processes within tumor cells and their interactions with the tumor microenvironment, and targeting tumor growth at metastatic bone site. In this review, current knowledge and emerging technologies based on NIRF and NIRN disciplines will be summarized. Additionally the mechanisms of differential uptake of these agents by normal and cancerous cells will be described.
The phytochemical analysis and antimicrobial screening of extracts of Olax subscorpioidea Ayandele

The antimicrobial activities of the aqueous and ethanoic extracts of the stem of Olax subscorpioidea were evaluated. The ethanoic extract showed considerable activity on both the fungi and bacteria with zones of inhibition ranging from 7.2 mm to 21.5 mm, with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 5 to 45 mg/ml, while the aqueous extract was only active against three of the test organisms used. Phytochemical test reveals the presence of alkaloids, steroids, and flavonoids together with other active ingredients in the ethanoic extract with the exception of saponins which is present in the aqueous extract alone.
The I domain is a major recognition site on the leukocyte integrin Mac- 1 (CD11b/CD18) for four distinct adhesion ligands

Despite the identification and characterization of several distinct ligands for the leukocyte integrin (CD11/CD18) family of adhesion receptors, little is known about the structural regions on these molecules that mediate ligand recognition. In this report, we use alpha subunit chimeras of Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) and p150,95 (CD11c/CD18), and an extended panel of newly generated and previously characterized mAbs specific to the alpha chain of Mac-1 to map the binding sites for four distinct ligands for Mac-1: iC3b, fibrinogen, ICAM-1, and the as-yet uncharacterized counter-receptor responsible for neutrophil homotypic adhesion. Epitopes of mAbs that blocked ligand binding were mapped with the chimeras and used to localize the ligand recognition sites because the data obtained from functional assays with the Mac-1/p150,95 chimeras were not easily interpreted. Results show that the I domain on the alpha chain of Mac-1 is an important recognition site for all four ligands, and that the NH2-terminal and perhaps divalent cation binding regions but not the COOH-terminal segment may contribute. The recognition sites in the I domain appear overlapping but not identical as individual Mac-1-ligand interactions are distinguished by the discrete patterns of inhibitory mAbs. Additionally, we find that the alpha subunit NH2-terminal region and divalent cation binding region, despite being separated by over 200 amino acids of the I domain, appear structurally apposed because three mAbs require the presence of both of these regions for antigenic reactivity, and chimeras that contain the NH2 terminus of p150,95 require the divalent cation binding region of p150,95 to associate firmly with the beta subunit.
Biomedical applications of THz imaging

The technology behind optically-driven terahertz (THz) system is now well developed and commercial applications of this new technology are now beginning to emerge. The terahertz frequency range (0.1 to 10 THz) covers far infrared wavelengths. Terahertz light has the advantages that it is non-ionizing and is not highly scattered like visible and near-infrared light. Terahertz pulsed imaging (TPI) is a reflection imaging method that has been used successfully in the past for non-medical applications. More recently, a portable TPI has been used to image a variety of human tissues, like teeth, skin and breast.
Depression of endothelial and smooth muscle cell oxygen consumption by endotoxin

Motterlini, Roberto, Heinz Kerger, Colin J. Green, Robert M. Winslow, and Marcos Intaglietta. Depression of endothelial and smooth muscle cell oxygen consumption by endotoxin. Am. J. Physiol. 275 (Heart Circ. Physiol. 44): H776–H782, 1998. —An optical method based on the oxygendependent quenching of a phosphorescent probe (palladiumporphyrin) was used to investigate the effect of bacterial endotoxin [lipopolysaccharide (LPS)] on oxygen consumption (V̇O2) by vascular cells. Endothelial (EC) and smooth muscle (SMC) cells from pig aorta were suspended in culture medium in the presence of palladium-porphyrin and transferred to glass capillary tubes that were sealed to create a hypoxic environment. Measured PO2 changed as a function of time in a highly predictable fashion when cell suspensions were exposed to agents or treatment known to affect cellular metabolism. Both EC and SMC showed a significant decrease in V̇O2 as cell density increased, and SMC V̇O2 was significantly higher than EC (1.94 6 0.09 vs. 1.0 6 0.15 nmol ·min21 ·106 cells21). Exposure to LPS (1 μg/ml) caused a decrease in V̇O2 of 46% and 15% for EC and SMC, respectively. Pretreatment of cells with N-acetyl-L-cysteine, a substrate for glutathione synthesis with antioxidant properties, restored V̇O2 to normal values after exposure to LPS. These data suggest that endotoxin impairs V̇O2 in cells derived from the vascular wall and indicate the importance of EC and SMC respiration in maintaining vascular homeostasis under conditions of sepsis.
Rejection of Unfair Offers Can Be Driven by Negative Emotions, Evidence from Modified Ultimatum Games with Anonymity

The rejection of unfair offers can be affected by both negative emotions (e.g. anger and moral disgust) and deliberate cognitive processing of behavioral consequences (e.g. concerns of maintaining social fairness and protecting personal reputation). However, whether negative emotions are sufficient to motivate this behavior is still controversial. With modified ultimatum games, a recent study (Yamagishi T, et al. (2009) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 106∶11520–11523) found that people reject unfair offers even when this behavior increases inequity, and even when they could not communicate to the proposers. Yamagishi suggested that rejection of unfair offers could occurr without people’s concerning of maintaining social fairness, and could be driven by negative emotions. However, as anonymity was not sufficiently guaranteed in Yamagishi’s study, the rejection rates in their experiments may have been influenced by people’s concerns of protecting personal reputation (reputational concerns) in addition to negative emotions; thus, it was unclear whether the rejection was driven by negative emotions, or by reputational concerns, or both. In the present study, with specific methods to ensure anonymity, the effect of reputational concerns was successfully ruled out. We found that in a private situation in which rejection could not be driven by reputational concerns, the rejection rates of unfair offers were significantly larger than zero, and in public situations in which rejection rates could be influenced by both negative emotions and reputational concerns, rejection rates were significantly higher than that in the private situation. These results, together with Yamagishi’s findings, provided more complete evidence suggesting (a) that the rejection of unfair offers can be driven by negative emotions and (b) that deliberate cognitive processing of the consequences of the behavior can increase the rejection rate, which may benefit social cooperation.
Identification and quantification of granulocytes in caecal mucosa and submucosa of chickens experimentally infected with Eimeria tenella and Salmonella enteritidis

1. Poultry granulocytes are not clearly distinguished from each other with haematoxylineosin (HE) stain; thus, histochemical techniques must be used. Three experiments were carried out using 4-week-old Leghorn chickens. 2. Three, 80-chicken groups were orally infected with (1) 10 8 colony forming units (CFUs) Salmonella enteritidis , or (2) 10 4 Eimeria tenella oocysts, or (3) 10 8 CFUs S. enteritidis + 10 4 E. tenella oocysts. Ten chickens from each group were euthanased and caecum samples obtained. Caecum samples were fixed in 10% formalin (buffered, pH 7.4) at 4, 8, 12 h, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 d post-inoculation (PI). 3. Samples were stained using three different staining techniques: HE for the identification of heterophils and eosinophils, Ziehl-Neelsen for mast cells, and p -phenilenediamine dihydrochloride plus pyrocatechol (PPD + PC) for eosinophils. 4. Birds from Experiment 1 showed no changes in the numbers of granulocytes. Birds from Experiments 2 and 3 showed higher numbers of heterophils in caecal mucosa and submucosa separately, on d 5 and 7. In Experiment 3, a decrease was observed in submucosal mast cells on d 3. Chickens from Experiments 2 and 3 showed increased numbers of mucosal mast cells between d 7 and 14. 5. PPD + PC positively stained eosinophils, but not heterophils. 6. Numbers of heterophils and mast cells were increased during the acute inflammatory process caused by E. tenella . Therefore, mast cells could play a role as primary inflammatory cells. Eosinophils seem not to be part of the inflammatory process caused by E. tenella .
Overview of the Third DARPA Speech and Natural Language Workshop

The Third DARPA Speech and Natural Language Workshop was designed to provide a forum for the presentation of research results and the discussion of technical issues related to a variety of DARPA research programs in spoken language systems, speech recognition, natural language processing, and related areas. The workshop also provided an opportunity to discuss the long-term goals of these programs, to develop strategies that will facilitate the sharing of databases and useful technology by all sites in the DARPA community, and to develop standards by which progress can be evaluated.
New Control Method for Regulating State-of- Charge of a Battery in Hybrid Wind Power/Battery Energy Storage System

Although wind power generation has been introduced continuously in Japan, it is of considerable concern that, an intermittent power output would have affected interconnected grids. As an approach for the output fluctuation, authors are making a research in smoothing out a short-term fluctuation using a hybrid system of a battery energy storage system and a wind farm. In order to operate the hybrid system, the charging-level of the battery has to be regulated not to exceed its operable range. This paper presents a control system called as "state-of-charge feed back control" to keep the charging level of the battery within its proper range while the battery energy storage system smoothes out output fluctuation of a wind farm. Furthermore, this paper clarifies fundamental characteristics of the control to show its effectiveness through a theoretical study and numerical simulations
Cryptanalysis of the parameterized improved fast encryption algorithm for multimedia

The parameterized improved fast encryption algorithm for multimedia (PIFEA-M) is a fast cipher recently proposed by Chefranov (IEEE communications letters, Vol. 12, No. 6, June 2008) to resist an implementation dependent differential attack on earlier versions of the cipher. In this paper we show that a similar differential style attack can still break PIFEA-M with a very low data and computational complexity.