Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Progression of Unsupported Curves in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Stability of three types of double scoliotic curves of 10 - 40 ° was analyzed using a biomechanical model: double primary (Type I), primary thoracic with compensatory lumbar (Type II), and primary lumbar with compensatory thoracic (Type III). The load-carrying capacity of each curve was analyzed as a function of magnitude of the curve, its location and flexibility. Curve magnitude was found to be the most influential parameter governing the stability of a scoliotic curve up to 30°. Results suggest that in evaluating curves of comparable magnitudes, Type I and II curves are more likely to progress and, therefore, should be braced at an earlier stage than Type III curves.
IGO-NGO relations and HIV / AIDS: innovation or stalemate?

This paper is concerned with the emergence of transnational cooperative structures in response to AIDS. Of chief concern are efforts to create and maintain links among and between intergovernmental organizations (IGO) in the UN system and the many heterogenous organizations usually included under the nongovernmental organization (NGO) label. After discussing the nature of the AIDS issue, the authors focus upon the various ways of framing the AIDS issue and the effort by the Global Program on AIDS to coordinate IGO and NGO activities. In closing, they identify lessons and insights of broader applicability emanating from the AIDS case. The paper discusses the nature of AIDS, AIDS as a medical problem, AIDS as a human rights problem, AIDS as a socioeconomic problem, forging IGO-NGO links, an international NGO forum, informal networking, NGOs and AIDS-related foreign assistance, representation, formal versus informal coordination, costs of network building, degree of organization, and expertise.
Surgical Biology for the Clinician Biologie chirurgicale pour le clinicien Surgery in the elderly

W their discipline, most surgeons are well acquainted with surgical problems in elderly patients. The number and proportion of the elderly in our population has increased progressively as a result of increased life expectancy, decreased birth rates and changing patterns of immigration. Improvements in anesthesia, perioperative care and surgical technique now allow many elective procedures to be conducted safely in elderly patients, and there is an increasing awareness of surgical options for a variety of clinical problems. This review will focus on evolving topics and recent developments pertinent to the elderly surgical patient. A comprehensive discussion of the scientific and clinical basis for the care of the elderly surgical patient can be found elsewhere. Although not a uniform process, aging is accompanied by more or less predictable physiologic changes, by changing patterns of surgical illness, and by increased morbidity and mortality after surgery, trauma and critical illness. Thus, age is a “surrogate” for a host of biologic, clinical, social and other variables. These relationships, and the heterogeneity of the elderly as a group, need to be kept in mind when considering the relevance of published material to one’s own patients.
Distal phalanx replantation

Microsurgical replantation has been attempted in the distal phalanx of the digits. Twenty‐three complete, single digit amputations are reviewed. The patients' ages ranged from 9 months to 48 years. Viability was 78%. Sensory recovery averaged 7 mm static two‐point discrimination. Range of motion in the distal interphalangeal joint of the finger and the interphalangeal joint of the thumb averaged 64 and 51 degrees, respectively. Eight of the 17 successfully replanted digits had mild to moderate atrophy. Eighty‐two percent of patients were able to use the replanted digit successfully in their daily work. We feel that distal digital replantation is rewarding. In successful cases, it always preserves acceptable function and good appearance at a price of an average of 2.3 months off work. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Reliability of Nested PCR for Detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA in Atheromas: Results from a Multicenter Study Applying Standardized Protocols

ABSTRACT The present multicenter study was designed to find explanations for the discrepancies in the reported rates of detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA in endarterectomy specimens. Coded identical sets of (i) a C. pneumoniae DNA dilution series (panel 1; n = 10), (ii) spiked control tissue specimens (panel 2; n = 10 specimens, including 5 negative controls), and (iii) endarterectomy specimens (panel 3; 15 atheromas, 5 negative controls) were analyzed at four laboratories by three standardized DNA extraction methods in each laboratory and a nested touchdown PCR protocol targeting the ompA gene of C. pneumoniae. Panel 1 samples were correctly identified as positive to levels of 0.3 inclusion-forming units (IFU)/PCR mixture (100%) and 0.03 IFU/PCR mixture (50%). All negative controls were correctly reported as negative. Panel 2 samples were identified as C. pneumoniae positive to levels of 0.01 IFU/PCR mixture (100%) and 0.005 IFU/PCR mixture (91%), independent of the DNA extraction method used, and only one false-positive result was reported. For panel 3 samples, 5 of 240 (2%) analyses (in which DNA extractions and PCR were performed at the same laboratory) were positive; the positive specimens were from three endarterectomy specimens and two negative controls. After exchange of DNA extracts between laboratories, 13 of 15 atheroma samples were C. pneumoniae DNA positive in at least 1 of a series of 48 analyses per atheroma sample; however, the overall positivity rate did not exceed 5% (33 of 720 analyses) and therefore was lower than that for the negative controls (8%; 19 of 240 analyses). Not a single positive result could be achieved when all panel 3 extracts (n = 240 analyses) were reamplified by a 16S rRNA PCR followed by hybridization with a C. pneumoniae-specific probe. Statistical analyses demonstrated that positive results did not occur in an independent and random fashion and could most likely be explained by amplicon carryover at the nested PCR level as well as amplicon introduction during DNA extraction, but not by the patterns of distribution of very low target levels or a certain DNA extraction protocol. The results of studies by nested PCR for detection of the prevalence of C. pneumoniae will always be questionable.
Une approche de fouille de textes pour l’identification automatique de relations spatiales

La decouverte de connaissances a partir de textes, en particulier l’identification d’informations spatiales, est une tâche difficile due a la complexite des textes ecrits en langage naturel. Dans nos travaux, nous proposons une methode combinant deux approches statistiques (analyse lexicale et contextuelle) et une approche de fouille de textes pour identifier les types de relations spatiales.
Maintenance of Basal Plasma Glucose and Insulin Concentrations in Maturity-Onset Diabetes

Normal and mildly diabetic subjects each have their own “set” of basal plasma glucose and insulin concentrations. Diabetic patients have raised basal plasma glucose, with low-normal basal plasma Cpeptide concentrations. Restoring normal glucose levels in mild diabetes by an insulin infusion further reduces the C-peptide concentration, but both the plasma glucose and the C-peptide return to their “set” level when the insulin is withdrawn. These results accord with the action of beta cells and liver in a negative feedback loop that maintains basal plasma glucose and insulin concentrations.
Enhancement of trellis-based stereo matching algorithm using disparity of the upper scan-line

Stereo vision is the process of recovering 3D spatial information from a pair of 2D images. It is very difficult problem due to the fact that stereo matching problem tends to produce as large number of plausible solutions. Thus we need to restrict the solution space in some manner. Trellis-based stereo matching algorithm places hard constraints on the solution by considering the geometry of stereo imaging and by making assumptions about the real depth shape. In that algorithm, permitting the use of the highly parallel Viterbi algorithm (a special case of dynamic programming), real-time stereo vision system can be realized. However, by using a single scan-line for matching, there are too many stripe noises in the result. In this thesis, a new method which can reduce the stripe noise is proposed. Using the disparity information of the upper scan-line, the proposed algorithm achieves more exact disparity map. The proposed algorithm uses Average of Squared Difference (ASD) instead of Euclidean distance in calculating matching cost in order to alleviate the horizontal stripe noise. The experimental results show more precise disparity map compared with the existing algorithm, especially, at low-to-moderate SNR range. Random dot stereogram (RDS) is used to evaluate the quantitative experiment.
Optimal Educational Investment: Domestic Equity and International Competition

We construct a family of models to analyse the effect on optimal educational investment of (i) society's preferences for equity and (ii) competition between countries. The models provide insights about the impact of a variety of parameters on optimal policy. In particular, we identify a form of 'overeducation' that is new to the literature, and provide a counterexample to a common finding in the literature on fiscal federalism.
Seasonal and regional abundance of ticks (Ixodidae) on hares (Leporidae) in Kenya.

Between August 1967 and July 1968, 367 hares, Lepus capensis , were examined for ticks at 3 ecologically different localities in the Rift Valley of Kenya. Among the 3865 ticks collected, the largest number (2122) and the greatest variety of tick species (9) were from Olorgesailie where the mean annual temperature and rainfall were intermediate between the hotter and drier Magadi and the colder and wetter Akira Ranch. The most frequently collected ticks (totalling more than 100) in these areas were as follows: Magadi— Hyalomma sp. (immatures); Olorgesailie— Hyalomma sp. (immatures), Rhipicephalus pravus group (all stages), R. pulchellus (immatures) and Haemaphysalis leachi group (all stages); and Akira Ranch— Hyalomma sp. (immatures), and Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi (immatures). A total of 759 ticks was also taken from 30 Lepus crawshayi at localities, 5 in Kenya and 1 in Uganda. Of interest was the collection of 143 larvae, 113 nymphs and a single adult of R. appendiculatus from 12 hares taken at Lolgorien-Kilgoris, a much wetter area than the 3 L. capensis study sites. The percentage of tick-infested hares was related to monthly rainfall, and more adult male hares carried ticks than did female or young hares.
The infant feeding practices of mothers in the Maldives

Abstract Objective To document the infant feeding practices of Maldivian mothers. Methods A cross-sectional survey of 251 Maldivian mothers recruited in 2004 from the ‘well baby’ or ‘well child’ clinics on the island of Male' and including 75 mothers from three other islands, Hura, Himmafushi and Thulusdhoo. Results The full breast-feeding rate at hospital discharge was 93% but declined to 41% at 4 months. Any breast-feeding rates were high among Maldivian mothers: 100% at 1 month and 85% were still breast-feeding at 6 months. The median duration of breast-feeding was 24 months. Conclusion Breast-feeding rates are high and the average duration of breast-feeding is more than 2 years in the Maldives. Health promotion activities should be directed towards maintaining the already high ‘any breast-feeding’ rates and increasing the proportion of infants exclusively breast-fed to 6 months.
[Work-family conflict and family-work conflict in aspects of sex and intergenerational differences].

BACKGROUND This paper presents the results of the study concerning mutual relations between work-family conflict and family-work conflict in the context of age and sex. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included 223 subjects (115 women, 108 men, 74 mothers and 61 fathers), aged 21-63. The Work-Family and Family-Work Conflicts Questionnaire and socio-demographic questionnaire were used as the survey tools. To verify hypotheses the correlation analysis and the Mann-Whitney U-test were used. RESULTS It has been found that a stronger work-family conflict is experienced by the examined men and fathers and a stronger family-work conflict is observed among parents. The results of the statistical analysis showed that there is a significant relationship between the number of working hours per day and work-family conflict and family-work conflict. Work-family conflict among mothers is significantly correlated with the income. The family-work conflict is stronger in the middle adulthood group. CONCLUSIONS There is a significant relationship between sex and age and work-family conflict and family-work conflict.
THE REPEAT FREQUENCY OF TWINNING

This paper reports an investigation on the repeat frequency of twinning, that is to say, on the twinning frequency among the sibs of twins. This problem has been studied many times since the classical paper of Weinberg (1901). Since, however, there is some disagreement in the literature, it seemed worth while to study the question again, taking into account the variation of the twinning rate with maternal age, which has been ignored by previous authors. Data were obtained from the records of the Maternity and Child Welfare Section of the Health Department of the City of Manchester. These records contain full maternal histories of all mothers in Manchester who have at least one living child under the age of 5. The histories of all mothers who had one or more pairs of twins were extracted ; the numbers of twins are tabulated below by maternal age and sex-type.
The impact of organizational behavior on psychological contract breach in China

Psychological contract received wide interest among researchers from different countries and became an ideal framework in the study of the employment relationship. In this study, we focused on the impact of organizational behavior on psychological contract breach in china. We conducted an in-depth questionnaire survey to 512 MBAs and senior managements in Zhejiang enterprises. By applying structural equation modeling, we found: the influence of organizational communication behavior on psychological contract breach is not significant; organizational justice has some effect on the psychological contract breach between organizations and their employees; the level of organizational human resources practice has a significant impact on the psychological contract breach.
Direct activation of mTOR in B lymphocytes confers impairment in B‐cell maturation andloss of marginal zone B cells

The tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), composed of TSC1/TSC2 heterodimers, is inhibitory to the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Deletion of either TSC1 or TSC2 renders mTOR constitutively active. To directly explore the impact of mTOR activation on B‐cell development, we conditionally deleted TSC1 in murine B cells. This led to impairment in B‐cell maturation. Unexpectedly, and in contrast to Akt activation, marginal zone (MZ) B cells were significantly reduced. Administration of rapamycin partially corrected the MZ defect, indicating a direct role for mTOR in controlling MZ development. When challenged with a T‐cell‐dependent antigen, TSC1 KO mice responded less efficiently. Consistent with the MZ defects, TSC1 KO mice did not respond at all to T‐independent antigens. Because activation of Akt upstream of TSC and mTOR yields the reverse phenotype with respect to MZ development, we conclude that, physiologically, Akt simultaneously emits two opposing signals that counterbalance each other in the control of B‐cell differentiation.
Implementation of Artificial Neural Networks ( ANN ) modelling in Power Plant operation optimisation

Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) consist an alternative method of solving complex problems. They operate as a “black box” model learning from examples, which is capable of dealing with non-linear problems and predicting results at high speed. An advantage of using ANN is their ability to handle large and complex systems with many interrelated parameters. They seem to simply ignore excess data that are of minimal significance and instead they concentrate on the more important input data. The application reported in the present paper considers the implementation of ANN models for the prediction of particulate emissions and ash characteristic temperatures from a Power Plant by taking into consideration main operating parameters and fly ash composition, respectively. This can demonstrate the suitability of Artificial Neural Networks as a tool for Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP) and boiler operation optimisation.
Wavelength assignment in fixed routing WDM networks

We propose a new algorithm for the dynamic centralized wavelength assignment problem in fixed-routing WDM networks without wavelength conversion. The blocking performance of our algorithm is better in many cases (and no worse in tire cases we studied) than other previously proposed algorithms. The performance improvement of our algorithm over other algorithms is high for multi-fiber ring networks with a moderate number of fibers per link. In a multi-fiber mesh-torus network, the difference in performance is not as significant, but the blocking probabilities for all algorithms approach those achievable by wavelength conversion as the number of fibers per link increases. We also extend an earlier analytical model for predicting the blocking probability with and without wavelength conversion to dense multi-fiber networks. Finally, our simulation results on multi-fiber rings and mesh-tori reveal surprising results about the benefits of wavelength conversion as the number of fibers per link increases.
The Economic Impact of Eradicating Peste des Petits Ruminants: A Benefit-Cost Analysis

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an important cause of mortality and production loss among sheep and goats in the developing world. Despite control efforts in a number of countries, it has continued to spread across Africa and Asia, placing an increasing burden on the livelihoods of livestock keepers and on veterinary resources in affected countries. Given the similarities between PPR and rinderpest, and the lessons learned from the successful global eradication of rinderpest, the eradication of PPR seems appealing, both eliminating an important disease and improving the livelihoods of the poor in developing countries. We conducted a benefit-cost analysis to examine the economic returns from a proposed programme for the global eradication of PPR. Based on our knowledge and experience, we developed the eradication strategy and estimated its costs. The benefits of the programme were determined from (i) the averted mortality costs, based on an analysis of the literature, (ii) the downstream impact of reduced mortality using a social accounting matrix, and (iii) the avoided control costs based on current levels of vaccination. The results of the benefit-cost analysis suggest strong economic returns from PPR eradication. Based on a 15-year programme with total discounted costs of US$2.26 billion, we estimate discounted benefits of US$76.5 billion, yielding a net benefit of US$74.2 billion. This suggests a benefit cost ratio of 33.8, and an internal rate of return (IRR) of 199%. As PPR mortality rates are highly variable in different populations, we conducted a sensitivity analysis based on lower and higher mortality scenarios. All the scenarios examined indicate that investment in PPR eradication would be highly beneficial economically. Furthermore, removing one of the major constraints to small ruminant production would be of considerable benefit to many of the most vulnerable communities in Africa and Asia.
Transcription of the Salmonella Invasion Gene Activator, hilA, Requires HilD Activation in the Absence of Negative Regulators

ABSTRACT Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium causes human gastroenteritis and a systemic typhoid-like infection in mice. Infection is initiated by entry of the bacteria into intestinal epithelial cells and is mediated by a type III secretion system that is encoded by genes in Salmonella pathogenicity island 1. The expression of invasion genes is tightly regulated by environmental conditions such as oxygen and osmolarity, as well as by many bacterial factors. The hilA gene encodes an OmpR/ToxR family transcriptional regulator that activates the expression of invasion genes in response to both environmental and genetic regulatory factors. HilD is an AraC/XylS regulator that has been postulated to act as a derepressor of hilA expression that promotes transcription by interfering with repressor binding at the hilA promoter. Our research group has identified four genes (hilE, hha, pag, and ams) that negatively affect hilA transcription. Since the postulated function of HilD at the hilA promoter is to counteract the effects of repressors, we examined this model by measuring hilA::Tn5lacZY expression in strains containing negative regulator mutations in the presence or absence of functional HilD. Single negative regulator mutations caused significant derepression of hilA expression, and two or more negative regulator mutations led to very high level expression of hilA. However, in all strains tested, the absence of hilD resulted in low-level expression of hilA, suggesting that HilD is required for activation of hilA expression, whether or not negative regulators are present. We also observed that deletion of the HilD binding sites in the chromosomal hilA promoter severely decreased hilA expression. In addition, we found that a single point mutation at leucine 289 in the C-terminal domain of the α subunit of RNA polymerase leads to very low levels of hilA::Tn5lacZY expression, suggesting that HilD activates transcription of hilA by contacting and recruiting RNA polymerase to the hilA promoter.
On the mean modulus of an analytic function

For fixed ƒ and r this mean modulus Mt(r;f) as a function of / is continuous, nonnegative, nondecreasing, and is bounded above by the maximum modulus of ƒ on C(r) [l, 2 ] . 1 Therefore the limit of Mt(r;f) exists as /—>0 and /—» oo. This limit is defined to be the mean modulus of ƒ on C(r) of order 0 and of order oo respectively. I t may be shown that the mean modulus of order 0 is the geometric mean of the modulus o f / o n C(r), which is simply evaluated by Jensen's formula, and that the mean modulus of order oo is the maximum modulus of ƒ on C(r) [l, 2] . Thus Mt(r;f) is defined for all parameters / in the compact infinite interval 0 = ^ ^ oo. For fixed ƒ and t ( 0 ^ / ^ oo) the mean modulus Mt(r\f) as a function of r in the interval 0 ^ r < l is continuous, nonnegative, nondecreasing, and, except for the limiting parameters 0 and oo, possesses a continuous derivative with respect to r[l, 3] . Moreover, its logarithm is a nondecreasing convex function of log r (for t = oo this is the Hadamard three-circle theorem) [l, 3] . We shall be concerned here with the convexity of the mean modulus Mt{r\f) as a function of r. Let T(f) be the set of all parameters / in the compact infinite interval 0 ^t^ oo such that Mt(r;f) is a convex function of r in the interval O ^ X l . Since Mt(r\f) is continuous with respect to the parameter / and since any function which is the limit of convex functions is also convex, the set T(J) is a closed and hence compact subset of the parameter interval 0 ^t^ oo. The set T(J) need not, however, coincide with the entire parameter interval and indeed