Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adultes avec déformation rachidienne : traitement chirurgical et évaluation musculaire

Les deformations rachidiennes se referent aux patients avec une courbure anormal de la colonne vertebrale qui ont termine leur croissance. Par leur prevalence, leur impact clinique, et le taux relativement eleve d'echecs chirurgicaux, elles representent un defi therapeutique. La recherche a permis de demontrer que la preservation ou la restauration de l'alignement, sont des elements cle du traitement chirurgical. L'objectif de cette these etait d'analyser le traitement des patients avec DR, avec un interet particulier pour la restauration de l'alignement sagittal et l'evaluation musculaire. Fonde sur une analyse retrospective d'une base de donnees multicentriques, les deux premiers articles presentent une evaluation du traitement chirurgical en termes d'efficacite clinique et de realignement radiographique. Les ecarts entre la planification preoperatoire et l'execution operationnelle ont aussi ete etudies avec une collecte de donnees prospectives, et ont mis en evidence la necessite de mieux comprendre le role des muscles dans le maintien de la posture. Par consequent, deux protocoles pour la caracterisation des principaux muscles impliques dans l'alignement sagittal ont ete valides. Les deux methodes sont basees sur la segmentation manuelle d'acquisition IRM specifique (methode de Dixon) afin d'obtenir l'infiltration graisseuse en plus du volume musculaire. Une des methodes permet d'obtenir la reconstruction 3D des muscles et donc de generer des modeles musculo-squelettiques personnalises. L'autre ouvre la voie a une pratique clinique car necessite seulement la segmentation de quatre coupes pour obtenir une evaluation des principaux groupes musculaires. Enfin, a partir de la premiere methode, le systeme musculaire de patients avec DR a ete decrit.
Implementation of channel aware scheduling and bit-loading for the multiuser SIMO MAC in a real-time MIMO demonstration test-bed at high data rate

In this paper, we discuss a cross layer approach to apply channel aware scheduling for a multi user SIMO multiple access channel. We show how optimum power and rate allocation can be achieved when successive interference cancellation (SIC) and a MMSE receiver is used at the base station. Combining these capacity optimum results with quality of service requirements of the users (e.g. data rate or delay) we analyze the joint optimization problem and propose a suboptimum but applicable scheduling approach which can be implemented already today on real time capable hardware. Different scheduling policies were implemented in the real time MIMO test-bed in our lab We describe the particular hardware setup for the experiments and present measurement results on various scheduling policies under power and bit error rate constraints with an average uplink spectral efficiency of up to 17 bits/s/Hz with 3 base station antennas.
Natriuretic peptides modulate nitric oxide synthesis in cytokine-stimulated cardiac myocytes.

In patients with congestive heart failure, plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels are frequently increased, but whether natriuretic peptides act directly on the heart has not been clarified. We investigated the effects of natriuretic peptides on nitric oxide (NO) synthase activity in cardiac myocytes. We measured the production of nitrite, a stable metabolite of nitric oxide, and the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) mRNA and protein in cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. Incubation of cardiac myocytes for 24 h with interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) caused a significant increase in NO production. ANP, BNP and 8-bromo-cGMP, but not C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), augmented NO synthesis in IL-1beta-stimulated cardiac myocytes in dose- and time-dependent manners. The same effects of ANP and BNP were observed at different doses of IL-1beta. Simultaneous incubation with IL-1beta in the presence of the NOS inhibitor NG-monomethyl-l-arginine or the RNA synthesis inhibitor actinomycin D for 24 h completely inhibited ANP- and BNP- as well as IL-1beta-induced nitrite production. ANP- BNP-induced NO synthesis in IL-1beta-stimulated cells were accompanied by increased iNOS mRNA and protein levels. The cGMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor Rp-8-Br-cGMPS completely inhibited the effects of ANP and BNP. These findings indicate that both ANP and BNP up-regulate IL-1beta-induced iNOS expression in cardiac myocytes, which is at least partially mediated via activation of cGMP-dependent protein kinase.
Variation of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer birefringence in normal human subjects.

PURPOSE The retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) exhibits linear birefringence due to the oriented cylindrical structure of ganglion cell axons. The birefringence (Deltan) depends on the density and composition of axonal organelles. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the distribution of birefringence around the optic nerve head (ONH) in normal subjects. METHODS Birefringence was calculated along circular scan paths around the ONH as Deltan = R/T, where R is RNFL retardance measured by scanning laser polarimetry (SLP) and T is RNFL thickness measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT). OCT scans on a 3.4 mm diameter circle were obtained from 26 normal subjects aged 18 to 53 years. Scans on circles with various diameters were obtained from 17 of these subjects. RESULTS The average reproducibility of Deltan measured on three separate days in four subjects was +/- 0.05 nm/microm. In most subjects Deltan varied significantly along a circular path around the ONH, with maxima in superior and inferior bundles, minima temporally and nasally, and a mean of 0.32 +/- 0.03 nm/microm. Deltan profiles on circles of different diameter were similar, suggesting that Deltan did not vary along nerve fiber bundles. CONCLUSIONS RNFL birefringence varies with position around the ONH. This variation may result from known structural differences among nerve fiber bundles that serve different retinal regions. Constant Deltan along bundles is consistent with this hypothesis. Measurements of RNFL birefringence may provide a means to detect early subcellular changes in glaucoma.
The use of clostridial spores for cancer treatment

Hypoxic/necrotic regions, absent in normal tissues, can be exploited to target tumours in cancer therapy using nonpathogenic strains of the bacterial genus Clostridium. Following administration of Clostridium spores to tumour‐bearing organisms, these spores can only germinate within the hypoxic/necrotic regions of solid tumours, proving their exquisite selectivity. Low oxygen tension is a common feature of solid tumours, which may arise from the unique physiological environment, generated to a large extent by the abnormal tumour vasculature, and provides as such a niche for anaerobic bacteria. Some clostridia tested clearly showed innate oncolytic activity, but they could not completely eradicate the tumour. Recombinant clostridia producing prodrug‐converting enzymes or cytokines resulted in the production of such proteins solely within the tumour, and where applicable, could convert the prodrug in a toxic compound. Moreover, in some cases, tumour eradication or tumour control could be observed. This review brings an overview of the relative successes and failures of the Clostridium‐directed tumour therapy with both wild‐type strains and strains producing proteins useful in antitumour therapy.
Allocating limited resources.

Medical progress is made at the interface between the biologic and physical sciences and clinical practice. Traditionally, physician-scientists have worked at this interface, providing the expertise to fill the gap between the art and science of medicine. Since the number of physicians who pursue full-time investigative careers is declining, a number of programs have been established to help attract and retain such physician-scientists. Among these programs is one established by the National Institutes of Health under congressional mandate through the Public Health Improvement Act, also known as Public Law 106-505. The law provides educational-debt relief for physicians embarking on investigative .
Genome-Wide Characterization of the Lignification Toolbox in Arabidopsis1[w]

Lignin, one of the most abundant terrestrial biopolymers, is indispensable for plant structure and defense. With the availability of the full genome sequence, large collections of insertion mutants, and functional genomics tools, Arabidopsis constitutes an excellent model system to profoundly unravel the monolignol biosynthetic pathway. In a genome-wide bioinformatics survey of the Arabidopsis genome, 34 candidate genes were annotated that encode genes homologous to the 10 presently known enzymes of the monolignol biosynthesis pathway, nine of which have not been described before. By combining evolutionary analysis of these 10 gene families with in silico promoter analysis and expression data (from a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis on an extensive tissue panel, mining of expressed sequence tags from publicly available resources, and assembling expression data from literature), 12 genes could be pinpointed as the most likely candidates for a role in vascular lignification. Furthermore, a possible novel link was detected between the presence of the AC regulatory promoter element and the biosynthesis of G lignin during vascular development. Together, these data describe the full complement of monolignol biosynthesis genes in Arabidopsis, provide a unified nomenclature, and serve as a basis for further functional studies.
A domino effect in drug action: from metabolic assault towards parasite differentiation

Awareness is growing that drug target validation should involve systems analysis of cellular networks. There is less appreciation, though, that the composition of networks may change in response to drugs. If the response is homeostatic (e.g. through upregulation of the target protein), this may neutralize the inhibitory effect. In this scenario the effect on cell growth and survival would be less than anticipated based on affinity of the drug for its target. Glycolysis is the sole free‐energy source for the deadly parasite Trypanosoma brucei and is therefore a possible target pathway for anti‐trypanosomal drugs. Plasma‐membrane glucose transport exerts high control over trypanosome glycolysis and hence the transporter is a promising drug target. Here we show that at high inhibitor concentrations, inhibition of trypanosome glucose transport causes cell death. Most interestingly, sublethal concentrations initiate a domino effect in which network adaptations enhance inhibition. This happens via (i) metabolic control exerted by the target protein, (ii) decreases in mRNAs encoding the target protein and other proteins in the same pathway, and (iii) partial differentiation of the cells leading to (low) expression of immunogenic insect‐stage coat proteins. We discuss how these ‘anti‐homeostatic’ responses together may facilitate killing of parasites at an acceptable drug dosage.
Blood Transfusion is Associated with Infection and Increased Resource Utilization in Combat Casualties

Combat casualty care has made significant advances in recent years, including administration of blood products in far-forward locations. However, recent studies have shown blood transfusion to be a significant risk factor for infection and increased resource utilization in critically injured patients. We therefore sought to investigate the incidence of blood transfusion and its association with infection and resource utilization in combat casualties. Prospective data were collected and retrospectively reviewed on 210 critically injured patients admitted to the USNS Comfort over a 7-week period during the 2003 assault phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Patients were stratified by age, gender, and injury severity score (ISS). Multivariate regression analyses were used to assess blood transfusion and hematocrit (HCT) as independent risk factors for infection and intensive care unit (ICU) admission controlling for age, gender, and ISS. The study cohort had a mean age of 30 ± 2 years, a mean ISS of 14 ± 3, 84 per cent were male, and 88 per cent sustained penetrating trauma. Blood transfusion was required in 44 per cent (n = 93) of the study cohort. Transfused patients had a higher ISS (18 ± 4 vs. 10 ± 3, P < 0.01), a higher pulse rate (105 ± 4 vs. 93 ± 3, P < 0.0001), and a lower admission HCT (27 ± 1 vs. 33 ± 2, P < 0.0001) compared with patients not transfused. Patients receiving blood transfusion had an increased infection rate (69% vs. 18%, P < 0.0001), ICU admission rate (52% vs. 21%, P < 0.0001), and ICU length of stay (6.7 ± 2.1 days vs. 1.4 ± 0.5 days, P < 0.0001) compared with nontransfused patients. However, there was no significant difference in mortality between transfused and nontransfused patients. Multivariate binomial regression analysis identified blood transfusion and HCT as independent risk factors for infection (P < 0.01) and blood transfusion as an independent risk factor for ICU admission (P < 0.05). Combat casualties have a high incidence of blood transfusion. Blood transfusion is an independent risk factor for infection and increased resource utilization. Therefore, consideration should be given to the use of alternative blood substitutes and recombinant human erythropoietin in the treatment and management of combat casualties.
Driver Drowsiness Detection Using Eye-Closeness Detection

The purpose of this paper was to devise a way to alert drowsy drivers in the act of driving. One of the causes of car accidents comes from drowsiness of the driver. Therefore, this study attempted to address the issue by creating an experiment in order to calculate the level of drowsiness. A requirement for this paper was the utilisation of a Raspberry Pi Camera and Raspberry Pi 3 module, which were able to calculate the level of drowsiness in drivers. The frequency of head tilting and blinking of the eyes was used to determine whether or not a driver felt drowsy. With an evaluation on ten volunteers, the accuracy of face and eye detection was up to 99.59 percent.
Obesidad Effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy in morbidity obese candidates for bariatric surgery with and without binge eating disorder

Objetivo: Analizar cambios en la psicopatología general y específica de pacientes con obesidad mórbida (OM) candidatos a Cirugía Bariátrica (CB) tras aplicación de terapia cognitiva-conductual(TCC) y evaluar diferencias entre pacientes con y sin trastorno por atracón (TA y NTA respectivamente), y entre grados de obesidad III y IV; estudiando su influencia en la pérdida peso. Material y métodos: Se incluyeron110 pacientes candidatos a CB [77mujeres; con 41 ± 9 años e IMC 49,1 ± 9,0 kg/m] que recibieron TCC preoperatoria (12-sesiones de 2 horas) Se evalúo comorbolidad psicológica pre-post-TCC mediante test validados para la población española. Resultados: Basalmente los pacientes con TA mostraron mayor ansiedad y depresión y menor autoestima y calidad de vida que aquellos NTA (p < 0,05). También mostraron mayor preocupación por la comida, el peso y la figura revelando sentir más hambre, temor y culpa, importándoles más el contexto (p < 0,005). Tras TCC, las diferencias en autoestima, depresión y desordenes alimentarios desaparecieron, asociado a una significativa mejoría en pacientes con TA. No hubo diferencias entre grados de obesidad III y IV en ninguno de los test pre y post-TCC aplicados. El análisis multivariante demostró efectividad de la TCC para tratar la psicopatología independientemente de la presencia de TA o del grado de obesidad. Tras 1 año post-TCC, la pérdida de peso con respecto a la basal fue > 10% en 67 pacientes. Sin diferencia entre los grupos de estudio. Conclusiones: La TCC es efectiva en el tratamiento de la comorbilidad psicológica, independientemente de la presencia de TA y del grado de obesidad.
Direct Kinetic Measurements of Criegee Intermediate (CH2OO) Formed by Reaction of CH2I with O2

Criegee Sighting Standard mechanistic models for the reaction of ozone with unsaturated hydrocarbons implicate a transient carbonyl oxide compound, termed the “Criegee intermediate,” which has largely eluded detection. Welz et al. (p. 204; see the Perspective by Marston) have now detected the compound by using mass spectrometry, following the low-pressure photolytic reaction of oxygen with diiodomethane, and measured its decay kinetics in the presence of nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. Reaction rates were higher than expected, suggesting that the intermediate may play a more prominent role in atmospheric chemistry than previously assumed. An elusive intermediate implicated in atmospheric oxidation chemistry has been identified in the laboratory. Ozonolysis is a major tropospheric removal mechanism for unsaturated hydrocarbons and proceeds via “Criegee intermediates”—carbonyl oxides—that play a key role in tropospheric oxidation models. However, until recently no gas-phase Criegee intermediate had been observed, and indirect determinations of their reaction kinetics gave derived rate coefficients spanning orders of magnitude. Here, we report direct photoionization mass spectrometric detection of formaldehyde oxide (CH2OO) as a product of the reaction of CH2I with O2. This reaction enabled direct laboratory determinations of CH2OO kinetics. Upper limits were extracted for reaction rate coefficients with NO and H2O. The CH2OO reactions with SO2 and NO2 proved unexpectedly rapid and imply a substantially greater role of carbonyl oxides in models of tropospheric sulfate and nitrate chemistry than previously assumed.
The influence of annealing on the passivation quality of A-SiCX:H on crystalline silicon and germanium surfaces

This paper is addressed to the surface passivation of c-Si and c-Ge wafers by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) of Si-rich a-SiCx. We report upon excellent effective lifetimes on 1 ¿cm CZ p-Ge substrates exceeding 400 ¿s after an annealing step of 450°C. The comparison of the thermal stability of the passivation quality on the respective substrates reveals experimentally, that contrary to the system c-Si/a-SiCx, hydrogen plays a minor role in the electrical passivation of c-Ge surfaces by a-SiCx. This phenomenon is discussed considering the different work functions and band gaps of the respective materials and different possibilities for the role of carbon in the passivating matrix are outlined.
The Stages of Human Life: A Biography of Entire Man

I: The stages in general. - II: Gestation. - III: Infancy. - IV: Childhood. - V: The primary school years. - VI: Adolescence. - VII: Youth. - VIII: Early Manhood. - IX: Maturity. - X: Later middle age. - XI: Old age. - XII: Senescence.
Surrogate atherosclerotic markers and atherosclerosis risk assessments.

Atherosclerotic disease (stroke, acute coronary syndrome, chronic coronary artery disease, and peripheral artery disease) is the most important health problem facing the developed world. Recent advances in vascular biology have provided a better understanding of the roles of cellular adhesion and transendothelial infiltration, oxidation of low-density lipoprotein–cholesterol, macrophage and foam cell transformation, plaque rupture, platelet aggregation, and the cascade of coagulation in pathogenesis and clinical manifestation of atherothrombotic disease. Evidence-based treatments have naturally targeted thrombolytic, anticoagulant, and antiplatelet therapies. Subsequently, intensive secondary preventive measures have focused on more aggressive control of the predisposing risk factors (smoking, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and hyperfibrinogenaemia). Evidence for treatment benefit in primary prevention has been less than overwhelming, and the application of such strategies is questionable on cost-effectiveness grounds, particularly in light of the constraints on public health resources.
Effet du type d’agencement temporel des répétitions d’une information sur la récupération explicite

La facon dont une information se repete au cours du temps a une influence sur la facon dont nous nous souviendrons de cette information. Les recherches en psychologie ont mis en evidence l’effet de pratique distribuee, selon lequel on retient mieux les informations qui se repetent avec des intervalles inter-repetitions longs que celles qui se repetent avec des intervalles courts. Nos travaux ont porte specifiquement sur les situations ou l’information se repete sur plusieurs jours, et nous avons compare l’efficacite relative de differents types d’agencement temporel des repetitions. Un agencement uniforme consiste en des repetitions se produisant a intervalles reguliers, un agencement expansif en des repetitions se produisant selon des intervalles de plus en plus espaces, et un agencement contractant en des repetitions se produisant selon des intervalles de plus en plus rapproches. Les Experiences 1 et 2 consistaient en une phase d’apprentissage d’une semaine et ont revele la superiorite des agencements expansif et uniforme apres un delai de retention de deux jours. L’Experience 3 consistait en une phase d’apprentissage de deux semaines, et les sujets etaient ensuite testes lors de trois delais de retention differents (2, 6 ou 13 jours). La superiorite de l’agencement expansif sur les deux autres agencements est apparue progressivement, suggerant que les differents agencements induisaient des taux d’oubli differents. Nous avons egalement tente de tester differentes theories explicatives des effets de l’agencement temporel des repetitions sur la memorisation, en particulier les theories de la variabilite de l’encodage (Experience 4) et de la recuperation en phase d’etude (Experience 2). Les resultats observes tendent a confirmer la theorie de la recuperation en phase d’etude. Nous insistons sur l’importance de la prise en compte des apports des autres disciplines des sciences cognitives dans l’etude de l’effet de pratique distribuee.
Resting energy expenditure and body composition in bedridden institutionalized elderly women with advanced-stage pressure sores.

BACKGROUND Our study investigated nutritional status, body composition, and resting energy expenditure (REE) in elderly patients with advanced-stage pressure sores (PS), in addition to researching any hypermetabolic condition and its relationship with PS size. METHODS The study involved 52 institutionalized bedridden elderly women (aged 83.7 +/- 6.3 years), divided into two groups: 23 with advanced-stage (stage 3 and 4) PS and 29 without PS. Albumin, prealbumin, and retinol-binding protein were measured in all patients, and fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM) were obtained by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). REE was measured by indirect calorimetry and predicted with the Harris-Benedict formula. PS area and volume were also measured. RESULTS The elderly women with and without PS were comparable in age, FFM, and FM. Mean albumin, prealbumin, and retinol-binding protein values were lower in cases with PS. Unadjusted mean REE was significantly higher in patients with PS (1212.3 +/- 236.7 vs 1085.5 +/- 161.3 kcal/d; p <.05), even after adjusting for FFM or expressed per kilogram of body weight (25.8 +/- 6.7 vs 21.1 +/- 4.0 kcal/d/kg; p <.01). Hypermetabolism, i.e., a measured REE > 110% of the predicted REE, was seen in 74% of patients with PS and 38% of controls. The difference between measured and predicted REE (DeltaREE) correlated with PS volume (r = 0.58; p <.01), but not with area. CONCLUSION Advanced-stage PS in elderly women are associated with a hypermetabolic state that is influenced by the volume of the PS.