Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fixed and Dynamic Equinus in Cerebral Palsy: Evaluation of Ankle Function After Multilevel Surgery

Multilevel surgery for gait improvement was performed on 29 ambulatory children with diplegic cerebral palsy. Patients were divided into two groups based on the presence of dynamic equinus (12 cases) and fixed equinus deformity (17 cases). Dynamic equinus deformities were not corrected surgically, and fixed deformities were corrected by intramuscular gastrosoleus lengthening. Ankle function was evaluated by clinical examination and gait analysis before surgery and a minimum of 3 years after surgery. Positive changes in ankle function were observed in both the groups. Conservative management of dynamic equinus deformities resulted in significant improvements in ankle function. Intramuscular lengthening of fixed equinus deformities does not cause a weakening of the muscle and improves static and dynamic function of the ankle.
Syspect - Modelling, Specifying, and Verifying Real-Time Systems with Rich Data

We introduce the graphical tool Syspect for modelling, specifying, and automatically verifying reactive systems with continuous real-time constraints and complex, possibly infinite data. For modelling these systems, a UML profile comprising component diagrams, protocol state machines, and class diagrams is used; for specifying the formal semantics of these models, the combination CSP-OZ-DC of CSP (Communicating Sequential Processes), OZ (Object-Z) and DC (Duration Calculus) is employed; for verifying properties of these specifications, translators are provided to the input formats of the model checkers ARMC (Abstraction Refinement Model Checker) and SLAB (Slicing Abstraction model checker) as well as the tool H-PILoT (Hierarchical Proving by Instantiation in Local Theory extensions). The application of the tool is illustrated by a selection of examples that have been successfully analysed with Syspect.
Simplifying cellulase production by using environmental selection pressures and recycling substrate

The production of crude cellulase in solid-state fermentation was simplified by using environmental selection pressures as an alternative to specialized strains and by re-using cellulose-to-ethanol fermentation substrate for cellulase production. The performance of wild strains of Trichoderma viride isolated from wheat and bark were found not to differ significantly from a ‘cellulase-enhanced’ strain of Trichoderma reesei. The filter paper activity of a strain of Aspergillus niger isolated in the laboratory was more than two times higher than the specialized T. reesei at 10 days. Activities of enrichment cultures obtained from compost and horse manure were more than double T. reesei after 10 days. Using the solid residue of previous simultaneous saccharification and fermentations of wheat straw to ethanol as substrate for cellulase production brought forward the onset of cellulase production and increased cellulase levels by 50%. The findings may help to simplify the on-site manufacture of cellulase for cellulose-to-ethanol conversion and reduce the amount of substrate required for the overall process.
Epstein‐Barr Virus: Evasive Maneuvers in the Development of PTLD

Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) infection is linked to ∼90% of B‐cell lymphomas associated with posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD), a serious complication for immunosuppressed transplant recipients. In this paper, we review the myriad ways by which EBV can inadvertently drive the genesis and persistence of B‐cell lymphomas, particularly when the antiviral immune response is compromised. Probing the basic mechanisms by which EBV infection proceeds and contributes to malignancy in such cases will hopefully improve our understanding and treatment of PTLD and other EBV‐associated malignancies.
Chest Reconstruction and Chest Dysphoria in Transmasculine Minors and Young Adults: Comparisons of Nonsurgical and Postsurgical Cohorts

Importance Transmasculine youth, who are assigned female at birth but have a gender identity along the masculine spectrum, often report considerable distress after breast development (chest dysphoria). Professional guidelines lack clarity regarding referring minors (defined as people younger than 18 years) for chest surgery because there are no data documenting the effect of chest surgery on minors. Objective To examine the amount of chest dysphoria in transmasculine youth who had had chest reconstruction surgery compared with those who had not undergone this surgery. Design, Setting, and Participants Using a novel measure of chest dysphoria, this cohort study at a large, urban, hospital-affiliated ambulatory clinic specializing in transgender youth care collected survey data about testosterone use and chest distress among transmasculine youth and young adults. Additional information about regret and adverse effects was collected from those who had undergone surgery. Eligible youth were 13 to 25 years old, had been assigned female at birth, and had an identified gender as something other than female. Recruitment occurred during clinical visits and via telephone between June 2016 and December 2016. Surveys were collected from participants who had undergone chest surgery at the time of survey collection and an equal number of youth who had not undergone surgery. Main Outcomes and Measures Outcomes were chest dysphoria composite score (range 0-51, with higher scores indicating greater distress) in all participants; desire for chest surgery in patients who had not had surgery; and regret about surgery and complications of surgery in patients who were postsurgical. Results Of 136 completed surveys, 68 (50.0%) were from postsurgical participants, and 68 (50.0%) were from nonsurgical participants. At the time of the survey, the mean (SD) age was 19 (2.5) years for postsurgical participants and 17 (2.5) years for nonsurgical participants. Chest dysphoria composite score mean (SD) was 29.6 (10.0) for participants who had not undergone chest reconstruction, which was significantly higher than mean (SD) scores in those who had undergone this procedure (3.3 [3.8]; P < .001). Among the nonsurgical cohort, 64 (94%) perceived chest surgery as very important, and chest dysphoria increased by 0.33 points each month that passed between a youth initiating testosterone therapy and undergoing surgery. Among the postsurgical cohort, the most common complication of surgery was loss of nipple sensation, whether temporary (59%) or permanent (41%). Serious complications were rare and included postoperative hematoma (10%) and complications of anesthesia (7%). Self-reported regret was near 0. Conclusions and Relevance Chest dysphoria was high among presurgical transmasculine youth, and surgical intervention positively affected both minors and young adults. Given these findings, professional guidelines and clinical practice should consider patients for chest surgery based on individual need rather than chronologic age.
Regulating immunity to malaria

The optimal outcome of a malaria infection is that parasitized cells are killed and degraded without inducing significant pathology. Since much of the pathology of malaria infection can be immune‐mediated, this implies that immune responses have to be carefully regulated. The mechanisms by which anti‐malarial immune responses are believed to be regulated were discussed at the recent Malaria Immunology Workshop (Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; February 2005). Potential regulatory mechanisms include regulatory T cells, which have been shown to significantly modify cellular immune responses to various protozoan infections, including leishmania and malaria; neutralising antibodies to pro‐inflammatory malarial toxins such as glycosylphosphatidylinositol and haemozoin; and self‐regulating networks of effector molecules. Innate and adaptive immune responses are further moderated by the broader immunological environment, which is influenced by both the genetic background of the host and by co‐infection with other pathogens. A detailed understanding of the interplay between these different immunoregulatory processes may facilitate the rationale design of vaccines and novel therapeutics.
The current place of tubal surgery in the management of subfertility

Treatment of tubal disease can be challenging and complex. It requires accurate assessment of the extent of disease and evaluation of all fertility parameters. Although traditionally treatment involved salpingectomy or IVF or a combination of the two, less invasive treatment options may prove beneficial. We evaluated the various diagnostic tools for disease assessment and the treatment options available.
Pollinarium morphology and floral rewards in Brazilian Maxillariinae (Orchidaceae).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS There is strong support for the monophyly of the orchid subtribe Maxillariinae s.l. , yet generic boundaries within it are unsatisfactory and need re-evaluation. In an effort to assemble sets of morphological characters to distinguish major clades within this subtribe, the pollinarium morphology and floral rewards of representative Brazilian species of this subtribe were studied. METHODS The study was based on fresh material from 60 species and seven genera obtained from cultivated specimens. Variation of pollinarium structure and floral rewards was assessed using a stereomicroscope and by SEM analysis. KEY RESULTS Four morphological types of pollinaria are described. Type 1 appears to be the most widespread and is characterized by a well-developed tegula. Type 2 lacks a stipe and the pollinia are attached directly to the viscidium. Type 3 also lacks a stipe, and the viscidium is rigid and dark. In Type 4, the stipe consists of the whole median rostelar portion and, so far, is known only from Maxillaria uncata. Nectar, trichomes, wax-like and resin-like secretions are described as flower rewards for different groups of species within the genus Maxillaria. Data on the biomechanics and pollination biology are also discussed and illustrated. In Maxillariinae flowers with arcuate viscidia, the pollinaria are deposited on the scuttellum of their Hymenopteran pollinators. In contrast, some flowers with rounded to rectangular, pad-like viscidia fix their pollinaria on the face of their pollinators. CONCLUSIONS Pollinarium morphology and floral features related to pollination in Brazilian Maxillariinae are more diverse than previously suggested. It is hoped that the data presented herein, together with other data sources such as vegetative traits and molecular tools, will be helpful in redefining and diagnosing clades within the subtribe Maxillariinae.
Neurotrophic factor therapy for Parkinson's disease: past, present and future

One of the greatest unmet needs in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) is a disease-modifying therapy, which can halt the ongoing degeneration of dopaminergic neurons that is characteristic of this disorder. Current therapies focus on managing symptoms, rather than on addressing their cause. Promising candidates for disease-modifying therapies are the dopaminergic neurotrophic factors (NTFs). NTFs are secreted proteins which play critical roles in the developing nervous system, directing and supporting the specification, maturation and survival of specific neuronal populations. Several dopaminergic NTFs have shown great potential in animal models of PD, conferring protective and regenerative effects on the nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons which undergo progressive degeneration in this disease (for reviews see Sullivan and Toulouse, 2011; Hegarty et al., 2014a).
An epidemic of enterovirus 71 infection in Taiwan. Taiwan Enterovirus Epidemic Working Group.

BACKGROUND Enteroviruses can cause outbreaks of hand-foot-and-mouth disease (characterized by vesicular lesions on the hands, feet, and oral mucosa) or herpangina, usually without life-threatening manifestations. In 1998 an epidemic of enterovirus 71 infection caused hand-foot-and-mouth disease and herpangina in thousands of people in Taiwan, some of whom died. METHODS We assessed the epidemiologic aspects of this outbreak. Cases of hand-foot-and-mouth disease or herpangina in ambulatory patients were reported to the Taiwan Department of Health by a mean of 818 sentinel physicians. Severe cases in hospitalized patients were reported by 40 medical centers and regional hospitals. Viruses were isolated by 10 hospital laboratories and the department of health. RESULTS The sentinel physicians reported 129,106 cases of hand-foot-and-mouth disease or herpangina in two waves of the epidemic, which probably represents less than 10 percent of the estimated total number of cases. There were 405 patients with severe disease, most of whom were five years old or younger; severe disease was seen in all regions of the island. Complications included encephalitis, aseptic meningitis, pulmonary edema or hemorrhage, acute flaccid paralysis, and myocarditis. Seventy-eight patients died, 71 of whom (91 percent) were five years of age or younger. Of the patients who died, 65 (83 percent) had pulmonary edema or pulmonary hemorrhage. Among patients from whom a virus was isolated, enterovirus 71 was present in 48.7 percent of outpatients with uncomplicated hand-foot-and-mouth disease or herpangina, 75 percent of hospitalized patients who survived, and 92 percent of patients who died. CONCLUSIONS Although several enteroviruses were circulating in Taiwan during the 1998 epidemic, enterovirus 71 infection was associated with most of the serious clinical manifestations and with nearly all the deaths. Most of those who died were young, and the majority died of pulmonary edema and pulmonary hemorrhage.
Investigations of Between-Hand Synchronization in Magaloff's Chopin

Between-Hand Synchronization in Magaloff’s Chopin Werner Goebl,∗ Sebastian Flossmann,† and Gerhard Widmer†∗∗ ∗Institute of Musical Acoustics, University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna Anton-von-Webern-Platz 1 1030 Vienna, Austria goebl@mdw.ac. at †Department of Computational Perception Johannes Kepler University Linz Altenberger Strasse 69 4040 Linz, Austria {sebastian.flossmann, gerhard.widmer}@jku.at ∗∗Austrian Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence Freyung 6/6, 1010 Vienna, Austria
Distribution system state estimation using semidefinite programming

Growing penetration of distributed energy resources connected to power distribution networks requires accurate, robust, and dependable real-time system monitoring tools. This paper considers the state estimation (SE) problem in distribution systems and proposes a new convex relaxation based approach to solve it as a semidefinite programming problem. Even with a simple 4-bus case, we have identified that existing approaches such as the iterative Newton's method are more prone to convergence issues when measurement quality varies more significantly across different sources. By relaxing the SE problem to a convex SDP, the proposed method has the potential to closely attain the globally optimum solution without suffering from numerical issues caused by the inclusion of e.g., `virtual measurements' at zero-injection nodes. Numerical tests have been performed on the IEEE 4-bus and 13-bus test feeder cases to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach.
First‐pass and equilibrium‐MRA of the aortoiliac region with a superparamagnetic iron oxide blood pool MR contrast agent (SH U 555 C): results of a human pilot study

The purpose of this study was to study different doses for first‐pass and equilibrium phase MRA of aortoiliac vessels with a superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) intravascular MR contrast agent (SH U 555 C) after single i.v. bolus injection. Sixteen healthy volunteers were prospectively enrolled into this single‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial. SHU 555 C was injected as an i.v. bolus at stepwise increased dose levels of 5, 10, 20 and 40 μmol Fe/kg bodyweight (b.w.) corresponding to injection volumes of 0.01, 0.02, 0.04 and 0.08 ml/kg b.w. Serial high‐resolution three‐dimensional MRA of the aortoiliac vessels was acquired during first‐pass and equilibrium, at 6 min intervals up to 42 min after contrast application using a breath‐hold three‐dimensional FLASH sequence on a 1.5 T scanner. Intravascular enhancement was calculated within the abdominal aorta and the inferior vena cava and a statistical analysis for significant differences in vessel enhancement was performed during the bolus and equilibrium phases. The visibility of vessels was ranked and effects of potential artifacts on image quality were graded for each time point and dose group. SH U 555 C showed a dose‐dependent intravascular enhancement during the observation period (42 min). The highest dose of 40 μmol Fe/kg b.w. revealed the highest image quality during first‐pass and equilibrium phases. The intravascular enhancement in the aorta increased dose‐dependently from 5 to 40 μmol kg b.w. during first‐pass and equilibrium phases (p < 0.05). Intravascular signal inhomogeneities were observed at lower doses and decreased with increasing doses. First‐pass MRA was diagnostic at doses of 10, 20 and 40 μmol Fe/kg b.w. For equilibrium MRA, a dose of 40 μmol Fe/kg b.w. was considered to be diagnostic. SH U 555 C proved to be a contrast agent with a high T1‐effect suitable for both first‐pass MRA comparable to gadolinium‐enhanced MRA and high resolution equilibrium MRA up to 42 min post‐injection (p.i.). Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of fluoridated milk on enamel demineralization adjacent to fixed orthodontic appliances

Abstract Objective. To investigate the effect of daily intake of fluoridated milk on enamel demineralization adjacent to fixed orthodontic brackets assessed with quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF). Materials and methods. Sixty-four healthy adolescents (13–18 years) undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances were enrolled and randomly allocated to a randomized controlled trial with two parallel groups. The intervention group was instructed to drink one glass of milk (∼ 200 ml) supplemented with fluoride (5 ppm) once daily and the subjects of the control group to drink the same amount of milk without fluoride. The intervention period was 12 weeks and the end-point was mineral gain or loss in enamel, assessed by QLF on two selected sites from each individual. The attrition rate was 12.5% and 112 sites were included in the final evaluation. Results. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups concerning fluorescence (ΔF) values and lesion area (A mm2) at baseline. After 12 weeks, a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in ΔF was registered in the fluoridated milk group and a significant increase in the non-fluoride control group (p < 0.05). The mean reduction in the test group was somewhat lower (14%) than the increase in the control group (18%), but individual variations were evident. Only minor alterations of lesion area were recorded over the 12-week period and no statistically significant differences compared with baseline were found in any of the groups. Conclusion. Daily intake of fluoridated milk may aid remineralization of white spot lesions adjacent to fixed orthodontic appliances.
Anatomical Localization of the Umbilicus: An Indian Study

Background: The umbilicus is essential to the aesthetic appearance of the abdomen. However, very little has been written about the exact location of the aesthetically pleasing umbilicus as far as the Indian cosmopolitan population is concerned. Although a variety of reconstructive methods are available, no real standards define the location of the umbilicus. Methods: In this study, 75 cosmopolitan female volunteers were evaluated in supine position, and the distance of the umbilicus (from central stalk) to fixed bony points over the anterior abdominal wall was measured. These linear measurements were subjected to standard statistical methods. Results: In this study, the authors observed that the umbilicus is situated around the midline plane such that the ratio of the distance between the xiphisternum and the umbilicus and the distance between the pubic symphysis and the umbilicus is 1.6:1; also, the ratio of the distance between the umbilicus and anterior superior iliac spine and the inter–anterior superior iliac spine is approximately 0.6:1. Conclusions: During umbilicoplasty, when each anterior superior iliac spine is taken as a center, and arcs are drawn with a radius 0.6 times that of the inter–anterior superior iliac spine distance, the point of intersection of these arcs is the approximate location of the umbilicus around the midline plane, which should match the ratio of 1.6:1 (i.e., the ratio of the distance from the umbilicus to the xiphisternum and the distance from umbilicus to the pubic symphysis). An effort is made to find and establish the body proportions and symmetry and to determine the critical ratios so as to help the reconstructive surgeon to plan an aesthetically pleasing umbilicus.
Achieving housestaff competence in emergency airway management using scenario based simulation training: comparison of attending vs housestaff trainers.

STUDY OBJECTIVES To evaluate a teaching protocol comparing a critical care attending to a housestaff team in training medical interns in initial airway management skills using a computer-controlled patient simulator (CPS) and scenario-based simulation training (SST). DESIGN Prospective, randomized, controlled, unblinded trial. SETTING Internal medicine residency training program in an urban teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS Forty-nine starting internal medicine interns in July 2003, all of whom had been certified in advanced cardiac life support in June 2003. INTERVENTIONS All interns were tested and scored with a CPS while responding to a standardized respiratory arrest scenario. Random allocation to either training by a single experienced teaching attending or by a housestaff team occurred immediately following testing. All interns were retested using the same scenario 6 weeks following the initial training, and their clinical performance of airway management was scored during actual patient events throughout the year. MEASUREMENTS Initial airway management was divided into specific scorable steps. For each intern, individual step scores and total scores were recorded before and after training. For 10 consecutive months following training, intern airway management scores were recorded for actual patient airway events. RESULTS All starting medical interns demonstrated poor initial airway management skills. SST was effective in improving these skills, both on retesting with the patient simulator and in actual patient situations. Interns trained by a housestaff team performed as well as interns trained by the attending. CONCLUSIONS SST is effective in training medical interns, and the results are equivalent whether the training is provided by an experienced teaching attending or by a housestaff training team.