Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chance-type fractures of the thoracolumbar spine: imaging analysis in 53 patients.

OBJECTIVE Chance-type fractures are subtle unstable injuries that are often associated with intraabdominal injuries. CT-based observations made during routine interpretations revealed involvement of a burst component to this fracture pattern and a clue on the transaxial images to its presence. The purpose of this review was to determine how often these features occurred in a retrospective study of a large sample because these findings influence diagnosis and management. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective review of all patients identified from the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center trauma registry and IDXRad system diagnosed with flexion-distraction injuries of the thoracolumbar spine over an 8-year period was performed. Three trauma radiologists assessed the admission spinal radiographs, CT studies with multiplanar images, and available MRI examinations. Imaging findings were confirmed by consensus. Abdominopelvic CT studies and surgical reports were reviewed for evidence and type of intraabdominal injury. A literature review of previous similar series was performed. RESULTS Fifty-three patients were identified for inclusion in the study. Associated intraabdominal injury occurred in 40% and most commonly involved the bowel and mesentery. A close examination of the fracture patterns on CT revealed that a burst-type fracture with posterior cortex buckling or retropulsion was a common finding (48%). Also, serial transaxial CT images often (76%) showed a gradual loss of definition of the pedicles that we refer to as the "dissolving pedicle" sign. The study showed that the horizontally oriented fracture planes through the posterior elements can often be recognized radiographically, but these fractures can be very subtle. CONCLUSION Intraabdominal injuries occurred in 40% of flexion-distraction thoracolumbar fractures in our study cohort, which is slightly lower than previously reported. About half of the patients with this injury displayed a burst-type component that could have a significant influence on surgical management. The dissolving pedicle sign can assist in recognition of this often subtle injury on transaxial CT.
Performance Assessment in a Voice Coil Motor for Maximizing the Energy Harvesting with Gait Motions

 Abstract — In this study, an experimental approach is established to assess the performance of different beams coupled to a Voice Coil Motor (VCM) with the aim to maximize mechanically the energy harvesting in the inductive transducer that is included on it. The VCM is extracted from a recycled hard disk drive (HDD) and it is adapted for carrying out experimental tests of energy harvesting. Two individuals were selected for walking with the VCM-beam device as well as to evaluate the performance varying two parameters in the beam; length of the beams and a mass addition. Results show that the energy harvesting is maximized with specific beams; however, the harvesting efficiency is improved when a mass is added to the end of the beams.
Variation in acquisition: An optimal approach

The presence of intra-speaker variation in early acquisition has long presented an intriguing problem for researchers of phonological development. This paper demonstrates how Optimality Theory is useful in identifying three different types of variation in acquisition, only one of which is a true case of ‘multiple optimal outputs. It then illustrates how multiple optimal outputs can be handled from an Optimality theoretic perspective if ‘partial constraint rankings’, or stratified domination hierarchies, are allowed (Demuth 1995, 1997, Tesar & Smokensly 1996). The paper concludes with a discussion of what Optimality Theory can contribute to the understanding of intra-speaker variation in other domains, including second language learning, ‘optional’ structures in adult language, and processes of historical change.
Title Salvianolic acid B inhibits hydrogen peroxide-inducedendothelial cell apoptosis through regulating PI 3 K / Akt signaling

Background. Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) is one of the most bioactive components of Salvia miltiorrhiza, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine that has been commonly used for prevention and treatment of cerebrovascular disorders. However, the mechanism responsible for such protective effects remains largely unknown. It has been considered that cerebral endothelium apoptosis caused by reactive oxygen species including hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) is implicated in the pathogenesis of cerebrovascular disorders. Methodology and Principal Findings. By examining the effect of Sal B on H 2 O 2-induced apoptosis in rat cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (rCMECs), we found that Sal B pretreatment significantly attenuated H 2 O 2-induced apoptosis in rCMECs. We next examined the signaling cascade(s) involved in Sal B-mediated anti-apoptotic effects. We showed that H 2 O 2 induces rCMECs apoptosis mainly through the PI3K/ERK pathway, since a PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) blocked ERK activation caused by H 2 O 2 and a specific inhibitor of MEK (U0126) protected cells from apoptosis. On the other hand, blockage of the PI3K/Akt pathway abrogated the protective effect conferred by Sal B and potentated H 2 O 2-induced apoptosis, suggesting that Sal B prevents H 2 O 2-induced apoptosis predominantly through the PI3K/Akt (upstream of ERK) pathway. Significance. Our findings provide the first evidence that H 2 O 2 induces rCMECs apoptosis via the PI3K/MEK/ERK pathway and that Sal B protects rCMECs against H 2 O 2-induced apoptosis through the PI3K/Akt/Raf/MEK/ERK pathway.
Long‐term protection of axotomized neurons in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus in the rat following a single administration of basic fibroblast growth factor or ciliary neurotrophic factor

We have studied the long‐term effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) on axotomy‐induced cell death in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) of adult rats. LGN neurons were axotomized by a visual cortex lesion in 31 adult rats. A gelatin sponge soaked in a solution of bFGF, CNTF, or saline (control) was placed on the surface of the lesion, and the animals were allowed to survive for 1–12 weeks.
Multiscale Metrology and Optimization of Ultra-Scaled InAs Quantum Well FETs

A simulation methodology for ultra-scaled InAs quantum well field-effect transistors (QWFETs) is presented and used to provide design guidelines and a path to improve device performance. A multiscale modeling approach is adopted, where strain is computed in an atomistic valence-force-field method, an atomistic sp3d5s* tight-binding model is used to compute channel effective masses, and a 2-D real-space effective mass-based ballistic quantum transport model is employed to simulate three-terminal current-voltage characteristics including gate leakage. The simulation methodology is first benchmarked against experimental I-V data obtained from devices with gate lengths ranging from 30 to 50 nm. A good quantitative match is obtained. The calibrated simulation methodology is subsequently applied to optimize the design of a 20 nm gate length device. Two critical parameters have been identified to control the gate leakage current of the QWFETs, i) the geometry of the gate contact (curved or square) and ii) the Schottky barrier height at the gate metal contact. In addition to pushing the threshold voltage toward an enhancement mode operation, a higher Schottky barrier at gate metal contact can help suppress the gate leakage and enable aggressive insulator scaling.
The Social Network: A Reconsideration of the Concept of Attachment

The concept of attachment is reviewed and is found to be somewhat confusing and restrictive. An alternative to this concept, a social network approach, is offered to clarify the issues central to the study of social relationships. First, the following definition features of attachment are critically examined: (1) the affectionate quality of the relationship; (2) the role of proximity-seeking and maintaining behaviors; (3) the enduring quality of the relationship; (4) the uniqueness of the relationship and differentiality of behavioral expression; (5) attachment as an all-or-none phenomenon, and (6) attachment as a ‘tie’, ‘bond’, or ‘behavioral system’. Second, a social network approach is presented and specific propositions concerning this approach outlined.
Methods of Cognitive Analysis to Support the Design and Evaluation of Biomedical Systems: The Case of Clinical Practice Guidelines

This article provides a theoretical and methodological framework for the use of cognitive analysis to support the representation of biomedical knowledge and the design of clinical systems, using clinical-practice guidelines (CPGs) as an example. We propose that propositional and semantic analyses, when used as part of the system-development process, can improve the validity, usability, and comprehension of the resulting biomedical applications. The framework we propose is based on a large body of research on the study of how people mentally represent information and subsequently use it for problem solving. This research encompasses many areas of psychology, but the more important ones are the study of memory and the study of comprehension. Of particular relevance is research devoted to investigating the comprehension and memory of language, expressed verbally or in text. In addition, research on how contextual variables affect performance is informative because these psychological processes are influenced by situational variables (e.g., setting, culture). One important factor limiting the acceptance and use of clinical-practice guidelines (CPGs) may be the mismatch between a guideline's recommended actions and the physician-user's mental models of what seems appropriate in a given case. Furthermore, CPGs can be semantically complex, often composed of elaborate collections of prescribed procedures with logical gaps or contradictions that can promote ambiguity and hence frustration on the part of those who attempt to use them. An improved understanding of the semantics and structure of CPGs may help to improve such matching, and ultimately the comprehensibility and usability of CPGs. Cognitive methods of analysis can help guideline designers and system builders throughout the development process, from the conceptual design of a computer-based system to its implementation phases. By studying how guideline creators and developers represent guidelines, both mentally and in text, and how end-users understand and make decisions with such guidelines, we can inform the development of technologies that seek to improve the match between the representations of experts and practitioners. We urge informaticians to recognize the potential relevance of cognitive analysis methods and to begin more extensive experimentation with the their use in biomedical informatics research.
“Paradoxical” findings of tumor vascularity and oxygenation in recurrent glioblastomas refractory to bevacizumab

Anti-angiogenic therapy induces the apparent normalization of vascular structure, decreases microvessel density (MVD), and improves tumor oxygenation in glioblastomas (GBMs). Six initial and recurrent tumor pairs after bevacizumab (Bev) treatment were compared with GBMs from nine patients resected under neoadjuvant Bev treatment with regard to histological characteristics; MVD; MIB-1 index; and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors, hypoxia markers (hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha, carbonic anhydrase 9), and nestin as a marker of glioma stem-like cells. In recurrent tumors post-Bev treatment, while the MVD remained low compared with the paired initial tumors (pre-Bev tumors), the expression of hypoxic markers were increased and were even higher in expression compared with the paired pre-Bev tumors in three of the six cases. MIB-1 indices were similar among the initial GBMs, neoadjuvant group, and recurrent tumors post-Bev treatment. The nestin-positive cell ratio of the post-Bev recurrent tumors was as high as that of the pre-Bev tumors. The expression of VEGF and VEGFR1 was increased in the post-Bev recurrent tumors in three and four cases, respectively, compared with the paired pre-Bev tumors. In the majority of Bev-refractory GBMs, tumor hypoxia was present with a paradoxical decrease in MVD. These findings suggest that re-activation of tumor angiogenesis is not initially involved in the acquisition of resistance to Bev.
The Case for Prudent Financial Liberalisation and its Policy Implications

First, the paper will examine the policy issues around domestic financial sectors (their size and structure) as well as that of their regulation. Second, it will examine the policy issues of capital account management. This analysis will be framed by the two aims of the financial sector: to fund in an efficient and sustainable way the needs of companies and households (thus supporting inclusive growth) and to avoid damaging crises by supporting financial stability. Though reference will be made to developed economies, the analysis will focus here more on developing and emerging economies.
The role of microRNAs in regulating myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury

Myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury is a pathological condition characterized by an initial restriction of blood supply to the heart followed by the subsequent restoration of perfusion and concomitant re-oxygenation. This condition may cause heart injury and contribute to morbidity and mortality. Although tremendous advances have been made in understanding the mechanisms of myocardial I/R injury, the translation of these findings into the clinical setting has been largely disappointing. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous, single-stranded, non-coding RNAs ranging from 18-24 nucleotides in length. They are highly conserved and ubiquitously expressed in all species, which control diverse cellular functions by either promoting degradation or inhibiting target mRNA translation. In particular, a multitude of studies demonstrated miRNAs played an important role in acute and chronic cardiovascular disease processes. In this review, we focus on miRNAs and summarize the latest insights on the role of the specific miRNAs in myocardial I/R injury.
Mechanisms of drought resistance in grain legumes I: Osmotic adjustment

When crops are exposed to drought there is commonly an increase in solute-pool of the plant tissue. A series of experiments were conducted in 1994 and 1995 in the University of Hohenheim, Germany, to evaluate whether drought-induced solute accumulation per se will improve drought resistance, to determine the species of active osmotica involved, and to identify alternative mechanisms in grain legumes, namely Common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris ) faba bean ( Vicia faba ), pea ( Pisum sativum ), and chickpea ( Cicer arietinum ). Drought, equivalent to soil water potential of -0.64 MPa, decreased the leaf water potential to -1.67, -1.83, -0.34 and -1.32 MPa and resulted in dry matter yield reduction of 36.4%, 23.9%, 17.6% and 14.5% in faba bean, pea, common bean, and chickpea, respectively. Higher yield of chickpea and common bean under drought was augumented by turgor maintenance. The highest degree of turgor (1.0 MPa) was in common bean, though it had the lowest solute accumulation. Thus, a decrease in osmotic potential was not the only strategy of turgor maintenance in legumes. Increase in solute pool in all was due to concentration effect as a result of water loss and growth inhibition, except in chickpea. The major osmotica in chickpea were of organic origin, namely sugars and sugar alcohols contributing more than 50%, and amino compounds 20% of the osmotic pool. Calcium was the only inorganic osmoticum contributing 19% of the pool. Concentration of solutes in the cell-sap did not necessarily indicate the level of contribution to the osmotic pool, as the most abundant ions (e.g., potassium) did not contribute to osmotic adjustment under drought. It was concluded that it is vital to differentiate solutes accumulated as a concentration effect from active osmotica using cell water volume of control plants before considering solute concentration as a selection criterion for breeding drought resistant varieties/crops. Key words/phrases: Active osmotica, concentration effect, drought, grain legumes SINET: Ethiop. J. Sci Vol.26(1) 2003: 37-46
Unified Stereo-Based 3D Head Tracking Using Online Illumination Modeling

This paper investigates the estimation of 3D head poses with a partial ellipsoid model. To cope with large out-of-plane rotations and translation in depth, we extend conventional head tracking with a single camera to a stereo-based framework. To achieve more robust motion estimation (even under time-varying lighting conditions), we incorporate illumination correction into the aforementioned framework. We approximate the face image variations due to illumination changes as a linear combination of illumination bases. Also, by computing the illumination bases online from the registered face images, after estimating the 3D head poses, user-specific illumination bases can be obtained, and therefore illumination-robust tracking without a prior learning process can be possible. Furthermore, our unified stereo-based tracking is approximated as a linear least-squares problem; a closed-form solution is then provided.
PASSION: Parallel And Scalable Software for Input-Output

We are developing a software system called PASSION: Parallel And Scalable Software for InputOutput which provides software support for high performance parallel I/O. PASSION provides support at the language, compiler, runtime as well as le system level. PASSION provides runtime procedures for parallel access to les (read/write), as well as for out-of-core computations. These routines can either be used together with a compiler to translate out-of-core data parallel programs written in a language like HPF, or used directly by application programmers. A number of optimizations such as Two-Phase Access, Data Sieving, Data Prefetching and Data Reuse have been incorporated in the PASSION Runtime Library for improved performance. PASSION also provides an initial framework for runtime support for out-of-core irregular problems. The goal of the PASSION compiler is to automatically translate outof-core data parallel programs to node programs for distributed memory machines, with calls to the PASSION Runtime Library. At the language level, PASSION suggests extensions to HPF for out-of-core programs. At the le system level, PASSION provides support for bu ering and prefetching data from disks. A portable parallel le system is also being developed as part of this project, which can be used across homogeneous or heterogeneous networks of workstations. PASSION also provides support for integrating data and task parallelism using parallel I/O techniques. We have used PASSION to implement a number of out-of-core applications such as a Laplace's equation solver, 2D FFT, Matrix Multiplication, LU Decomposition, image processing applications as well as unstructured mesh kernels in molecular dynamics and computational uid dynamics. We are currently in the process of using PASSION in applications in CFD (3D turbulent ows), molecular structure calculations, seismic computations, and earth and space science applications such as FourDimensional Data Assimilation. PASSION is currently available on the Intel Paragon, Touchstone Delta and iPSC/860. E orts are underway to port it to the IBM SP-1 and SP-2 using the Vesta Parallel File System. This work was supported in part by NSF Young Investigator Award CCR-9357840, grants from Intel SSD and IBM Corp., in part by USRA CESDIS Contract # 5555-26 and also in part by ARPA under contract # DABT63-91-C-0028. The content of the information does not necessarily re ect the position or the policy of the US Government and no o cial endorsement should be inferred. Rajeev Thakur is supported by a Syracuse University Graduate Fellowship. Michael Harry is supported by an ARPA Assert Fellowship. Rakesh Krishnaiyer is supported by the CASE Center, a NY State Advance Technology Center. This work was performed in part using the Intel Touchstone Delta and Paragon Systems operated by Caltech on behalf of the Concurrent Supercomputing Consortium. Access to this facility was provided by CRPC. This work was also performed in part using the Intel iPSC/860 and IBM SP-1/SP-2 at NPAC, the IBM SP-1 at Argonne National Laboratory and the Intel Paragon at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
New decision feedback channel estimation for OFDM systems

In this paper, we propose the new channel estimation algorithm in frequency domain for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system in fast fading channels. In this algorithm first we estimate channel response at pilot subcarriers then interpolate channel response at data subcarriers by Gaussian Radial basis function as an efficient nonlinear interpolator. At next step by filtering and processing on the estimated channel taps and using iterative decision feedback we improve accuracy of our channel estimation algorithm. We evaluate and compare performance of our proposed algorithm to similar algorithms by simulation.
Genetic Algorithm for the Topological Design of Survivable Optical Transport Networks

We develop a genetic algorithm for the topological design of survivable optical transport networks with minimum capital expenditure. Using the developed genetic algorithm we can obtain near-optimal topologies in a short time. The quality of the obtained solutions is assessed using an integer linear programming model. Two initial population generators, two selection methods, two crossover operators, and two population sizes are analyzed. Computational results obtained using real telecommunications networks show that by using an initial population that resembles real optical transport networks a good convergence is achieved.
A stage-4 heterogeneous network model in WSNs

We confer a four stage heterogeneous energy efficient network model to defines the stage-one, stage-two, stage-three, and stage-four, heterogeneity, in this work. We consider a stable election protocol (SEP) to estimate the network lifetime and accordingly call its implementations as HSEP-1, HSEP-2, HSEP-3, and HSEP-4. The HSEP-1 is the original SEP protocol in which the network contains the same energy for all nodes. The HSEP-2, HSEP-3, and HSEP-4, contain two, three, and four stage of energy, respectively. Increasing the stage of energy, the network lifetime increases considerably. The HSEP-2, HSEP-3 and HSEP-4 increase the network lifetime by 49.42%, 110.29%, and 248.64% corresponding to the increase in the network energy by 38.58%, 72.58%, and 169.40% with respect to the HSEP-1.