Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Are Drains Useful for Lumbar Disc Surgery?: A Prospective, Randomized Clinical Study

Objective In this prospective, observer-masked clinical study, we evaluated if insertion of a drain had a significant role in decreasing the existence and the size of postoperative epidural hematoma, which is believed to be a factor causing epidural fibrosis in patients undergoing lumbar discectomy. Method Fifty patients undergoing lumbar disc surgery were randomly assigned to two groups: with or without insertion of a drain in the epidural space. A drain was inserted in 22 patients, whereas 28 were left without a drain. All patients were evaluated, by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on the first postoperative day, specifically looking for the existence and the size of epidural hematoma. The size of epidural hematoma was graded as none, minimal, moderate, or prominent. The patients were clinically examined preoperatively and at the follow-up of 6 months by Oswestry Disability Index and recurrence of pain. A follow-up MRI was repeated at 6 months, and the subsequent development of epidural fibrosis was evaluated. Results Epidural hematoma was detected in 36% of patients with a drain and in 89% of patients without a drain (P=0.000). There were significant less number of minimum, moderate, and prominent sized hematomas in the group with a drain (P=0.000). On the 6-month follow-up, epidural fibrosis was found in 58.3% of patients without a drain and in 31.6% of patients with a drain (P=0.08). Late clinical outcome (improvement in Oswestry Index and no recurrent pain) was better in the group with drain, but not statistically significant (P=0.4). Conclusions Occurrence of hematoma in the epidural space is common after lumbar disc surgery even if meticulous hemostasis has been achieved. Insertion of a drain decreases both the incidence and the size of hematoma on the first postoperative day as detected by MRI. This may have practical implications for the prevention of significant postoperative fibrosis and obtaining better surgical outcome.
Tilmicosin antibacterial activity and pharmacokinetics in cows.

The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of tilmicosin for 90% of 112 Staphylococcus aureus isolates from the bovine udder was 0.78 microgram/mL and 149 of 164 (90.8%) other gram-positive udder pathogens were inhibited by tilmicosin concentrations < 3.12 micrograms/mL. The MIC of the drug for 19 of 22 S. aureus isolates was < 0.78 microgram/mL when the test was conducted using Mueller-Hinton (MH) agar or MH agar containing 7.5% skimmed milk. Acute cardiac toxicity followed intravenous (i.v.) injection of the drug at 10 mg/kg to 3 cows, but animals appeared clinically normal within 30 min after treatment. The pharmacokinetics of i.v. -administered tilmicosin is typical for the macrolide class of antibiotics, i.e. low serum drug concentrations and a large volume of distribution (> 2.0 L/kg). The elimination half-life (t1/2 beta) values for 3 cows were 46.4, 56.0 and 72.8 min. The drug was administered subcutaneously (s.c.) to 5 cows at 10 mg/kg; the elimination half-life (t1/2el) was 4.18 +/- 0.55 h and the mean s.c. bioavailability was 22%. Rapid and extensive penetration of tilmicosin from blood into milk, and slow elimination from the milk were among the characteristic kinetic features of the drug after i.v. and s.c. administration. Tilmicosin was injected s.c. at 10 mg/kg once to 9 cows after the last milking of lactation; dry udder secretion samples were collected daily for 11 consecutive days and assayed microbiologically. Concentrations of drug > 0.78 microgram/mL were found in the secretion for 8-9 days after dosing. Systemic side-effects were not observed after s.c. drug administration.
Following the trail: connecting unit characteristics with never events.

T he Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has recently announced that hospitals won’t be reimbursed for a host of never events.1 Nurse leaders want to respond by reducing their hospitals’ risk of preventable medical errors related to nursing care, such as hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (HAPU) and patient injuries from falls. But where to start? Nurse managers are learning to measure and analyze nursing’s impact on healthcare delivery; however, the saying “data rich and information poor” often applies, as many are struggling to turn their data into actionable plans. Many systems collect and report health outcome data for hospitals. This process averages data for all units within the hospital, making it impossible to know if a particular unit is functioning well or poorly and where to target nursing process improvement. Nurse staffing ratios and patient outcomes do vary across units within hospitals. For example, patients are more likely to acquire pressure ulcers in critical care units than in medical-surgical units. Conversely, patients are more likely to fall in medical-surgical units than in critical care units. The nursing unit is the ideal level of measurement and analysis because it’s where nursing is organized and patient care delivered. The purpose of this article is to identify unit characteristics that influence interpretation of your data reports.
Recollection deficits in dysphoric mood: An effect of schematic models and executive mode?

Depression and dysphoric mood states are often accompanied by quantitative or qualitative shifts in performance across a range of retention tasks. This study focuses on the recollection of both autobiographical events and word lists in dysphoric states. Recollection occurs when people are aware of some contextual detail allied to the encoding experience. This study establishes the presence of a recollection deficit in dysphoria in two distinct paradigms. In both autobiographical recall and in recognition memory, recollection in a dysphoric group was at lower levels than recollection in matched controls. The study examines the hypothesis that the extent of recollection is influenced by two factors: (1) the degree of differentiation of schematic mental models; and (2) the executive mode that predominates when memory tasks are carried out, with the latter assumed to be altered by rumination. The relationship between responses based on recollection and alternative mnemonic responses could be predicted by measures of these two factors. The results are discussed in terms of the Interacting Cognitive Subsystems model (Teasdale & Barnard, 1993) and the perspective it offers on the relationship between meaning systems and executive functions (Barnard, 1999).
Structure and molecular analysis of RGR1, a gene required for glucose repression of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

An RGR1 gene product is required to repress expression of glucose-regulated genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The abnormal morphology of rgr1 cells was studied. Scanning and transmission electron microscopic observations revealed that the cell wall of the daughter cell remained attached to that of mother cell. We cloned the RGR1 gene by complementation and showed that the cloned DNA was tightly linked to the chromosomal RGR1 locus. The cloned RGR1 gene suppressed all of the phenotypes caused by the mutation and encoded a 3.6-kilobase poly(A)+ RNA. The RGR1 gene is located on chromosome XII, as determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and we mapped rgr1 between gal2 and pep3 by genetic analysis. rgr1 was shown to be a new locus. We also determined the nucleotide sequence of RGR1, which was predicted to encode a 123-kilodalton protein. The null mutation resulted in lethality, indicating that the RGR1 gene is essential for growth. On the other hand, a carboxy-terminal deletion of the gene caused phenotypes similar to but more severe than those caused by the original mutation. The amount of reserve carbohydrates was reduced in rgr1 cells. Possible functions of the RGR1 product are discussed.
Bcl-2 inhibits hydrogen peroxide-induced ER Ca2+ pool depletion.

The mechanism by which Bcl-2 inhibits apoptosis is unknown. The Bcl-2 protein is localized to intracellular membranes, including the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The ER is the major intracellular reservoir of Ca2+ in non-muscle cells, sequestering Ca2+ for use in intracellular signaling, and is a prime target of oxidative damage. Because of the recent suggestion that Bcl-2 acts in an antioxidant pathway, we wondered whether Bcl-2 might protect the ER Ca2+ pool in cells exposed to reactive oxygen species. To test this hypothesis, we assessed the effect of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) treatment on the ER Ca2+ pool in WEH17.2 cells, which do not express Bcl-2, and two stable transfectants, W.Hb13 and W.Hb12. The Bcl-2 level by Western blotting is 4-fold higher in W.Hb12 cells compared to W.Hb13 cells. The ER Ca2+ pool in H2O2-treated and untreated cells was measured according to the amount of Ca2+ mobilized from the ER lumen into the cytoplasm by thapsigargin (TG), a selective inhibitor of the ER (Ca2+)-ATPase. H2O2 treatment produced a significant reduction in the TG-mobilizable Ca2+ pool in WEH17.2 and W.Hb13 cells, but not in W.Hb12 cells, indicating that overexpression of Bcl-2 preserves the integrity of the ER Ca2+ pool in cells exposed to reactive oxygen species.
Immunogenetic markers as probes for polymorphism, gene regulation and gene transfer in man – the Gm system in perspective

The genetic markers of immunoglobulins (Ig) demonstrable by immunological methods have shown their usefulness as genetic probes. The study of these allotypes originally proved that Ig production is under conventional genetic control and also established that allelic exclusion is valid for the key molecules of the immune response. The codons responsible for the Glm(a) marker and their position in the human genome are precisely known. This knowledge implies that Gm typing may be used as a convenient and reliable means of following the fate of IgG constant gene segments. Anti‐Gm's are common in rheumatoid arthritis. They appear early in the disease and may persist throughout life. The stimulus for their appearance has not yet been established. The anti‐Gm's in the allegedly autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis are commonly and apparently paradoxically specific for Gm gene products of other persons. Another apparent paradox brought to light by Ig allotype research is the occasional appearence of non‐nominal allotypes in contradiction to Mendelian laws. It is proposed that a plausible explanation for these two paradoxes is Ig gene transfer between individuals with viral vectors. Reasons for this proposal and some possible consequences of gene transfer in a polymorphic species are delineated. Immunogenetics and DNA technology in combination provide powerful tools to elucidate the fate of genes. A method allowing the assignment of Glm(a+) and Glm(a‐) at the gene level by polymerase chain reaction analysis has recently been established and is briefly described.
It's time to flower: the genetic control of flowering time

In plants, successful sexual reproduction and the ensuing development of seeds and fruits depend on flowering at the right time. This involves coordinating flowering with the appropriate season and with the developmental history of the plant. Genetic and molecular analysis in the small cruciform weed, Arabidopsis, has revealed distinct but linked pathways that are responsible for detecting the major seasonal cues of day length and cold temperature, as well as other local environmental and internal signals. The balance of signals from these pathways is integrated by a common set of genes to determine when flowering occurs. Excitingly, it has been discovered that many of these same genes regulate flowering in other plants, such as rice. This review focuses on recent advances in how three of the signalling pathways (the day‐length, vernalisation and autonomous pathways) function to control flowering. BioEssays 26:363–373, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Phrase-based language modelling for statistical machine translation

In this paper, we present our submitted MT system for the IWSLT2014 Evaluation Campaign. We participated in the English-French translation task. In this article we focus on one of the most important component of SMT: the language model. The idea is to use a phrase-based language model. For that, sequences from the source and the target language models are retrieved and used to calculate a phrase n-gram language model. These phrases are used to rewrite the par-allel corpus which is then used to calculate a new translation model.
Relative biological effectiveness of x-rays and 0.43-MeV monoenergetic neutrons on somatic mutations and loss of reproductive integrity in Tradescantia stamen hairs.

Young inflorescences of Tradescantia clone 02 were irradiated with 0.43-MeV neutrons at doses of 0.163, 0.54, 1.07, 2.16, 4.34, 7.97, 12.7, 17.2, and 24.4 rads. Data from this experiment were compared with data from 250-kVp x-rays with doses of 11.5, 24.0, 48.0, 96.0, 144.0, 192.0, 240.0, 288.0, and 432.0 rads. In both experiments, the stamen hairs were scored daily from day 7 through day 23 postirradiation. Relative biological effectiveness (RBE) values were determined for four cellular aberrations: the color change from blue to pink and to colorless, and the morphological change from normal-sized blue cells to either blue dwarf or blue giant cells. Maximum RBE values found were 23.5 for blue dwarf, 30.7 for pink, 39.1 for colorless, and 120.5 for blue giant cells. In all cases, the RBE decreased with increasing dose but only slightly so for blue dwarf cells. Survival curves were constructed with hairs of three different lengths (cell numbers) being considered as the surviving fraction. RBE values of abo.
Physiological actions of diethylstilbestrol in lambs fed varying levels of protein and energy.

Stilbestrol administration to lambs being fed rations with different protein and energy levels resulted in increased gains, feed efficiency and a variable influence upon fat deposition, depending upon the energy-protein ratio of the ration. The anterior pituitary, secondary sex glands, liver, kidneys and serum glucose levels were increased, and serum amino nitrogen decreased by stilbestrol feeding. The relation of these observations to a possible mode-of-action of stilbestrol in ruminants is discussed. Submitted on January 19, 1959
Low-loss bandpass RF filter using MEMS capacitance switches to achieve a one-octave tuning range and independently variable bandwidth

We demonstrate a low insertion loss (1.5dB) tunable two-pole bandpass radio frequency filter with a tuning range of one octave (812-1752 MHz). It is also tunable in band width, with 3dB-bandwidths of 7 to 42% being achieved. The circuit used consists of two fixed high quality factor toroidal inductors mounted on a printed circuit board next to a fused-quartz substrate on which were fabricated the MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical System) capacitance switches. Five arrays of MEMS elements, with a total of 34 MEMS bridges, are used on this chip. Each array is independently addressable in a four-bit scheme to permit well matched, independent tuning of the center frequency and bandwidth.
Comparison of HR MAS MR spectroscopic profiles of breast cancer tissue with clinical parameters

Breast cancer is the most frequent form of cancer in women and improved diagnostic methods are desirable. Malignant cells have altered metabolism and metabolic mapping might become a tool in cancer diagnostics. High‐resolution magic angle spinning (HR MAS) MR spectroscopy of tissue biopsies provides detailed information on metabolic composition. The 600 MHz 1H HR MAS spectra were acquired of breast cancer tissue from 85 patients and adjacent non‐involved tissue from 18 of these patients. Tissue specimens were investigated by microscopy after MR analysis. The resulting spectra were examined by three different approaches. Relative intensities of glycerophosphocholine (GPC), phosphocholine (PC) and choline were compared for cancerous and non‐involved specimens. Eight metabolites, choline, creatine, β‐glucose, GPC, glycine, myo‐inositol, PC and taurine, were quantified from the recorded spectra and compared with tumor histological type and size, patient's lymph node status and tissue composition of sample. The spectra were also compared with tumor histological type and size, lymph node status and tissue composition of samples using principal component analysis (PCA). Tumor samples could be distinguished from non‐involved samples (82% sensitivity, 100% specificity) based on relative intensities of signals from GPC, PC and choline in 1H HR MAS spectra. Tissue concentrations of metabolites showed few differences between groups of samples, which can be caused by limitations in the quantification procedure. Choline and glycine concentrations were found to be significantly higher in tumors larger than 2 cm compared with smaller tumors. PCA of MAS spectra from patients with invasive ductal carcinomas indicated a possible prediction of spread to axillary lymph nodes. Metabolite estimates and PCA of MAS spectra were influenced by the percentage of tumor cells in the investigated specimens. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impact of a family-focused intervention on self-concept after acquired brain injury

The present study examined the impact of a family inclusive intervention on the multidimensional self-concept of individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Forty one individuals with TBI and a matched control group completed the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale: Second Edition (TSCS: 2), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE), the Family Assessment Device (FAD), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) on two occasions: at immediate contact (pre-group, T1) and post-group (3 months after initial contact, T2). Controls did not attend the intervention. Total scores for the measures, as well as scores on subdomains of self-concept, taken pre- and post-intervention for the TBI sample and at the same time for matched controls were compared between groups using Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA); followed by a series of repeated measures analyses of variance (ANOVA) to determine whether significant changes occurred. Contrary to the main aim, the use of a family-focused intervention did not result in self-concept improvement, either globally or across self-concept domains. Nor did mood or family functioning improve for the TBI sample. Measures remained stable across time for the controls.
Incidence and spectrum of neonatal lupus erythematosus: a prospective study of infants born to mothers with anti-Ro autoantibodies.

OBJECTIVE Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is characterized by complete congenital heart block (CCHB), cutaneous rash, and laboratory abnormalities in infants born to mothers with autoantibodies directed against SSA/Ro, SSB/La, or both. We carried out a prospective study to determine the incidence of individual NLE features. STUDY DESIGN The study was performed in two centers: Toronto, Canada, and Milano, Italy. Mothers had been referred for the presence of anti-SSA/Ro autoantibodies, regardless of their diagnosis. All the children were seen at least once within the first 6 months of life for clinical evaluation and laboratory testing. The study group consisted of 128 infants born from 124 pregnancies in 112 women with anti-Ro antibodies with or without anti-La antibodies. RESULTS There were two cases of CCHB for an overall percentage of 1.6%. Twenty-one children (16%) developed cutaneous NLE. Laboratory testing showed hematologic abnormalities in 27% of the babies and elevation of liver enzymes in 26%. CONCLUSIONS Mothers with autoimmune diseases and anti-Ro antibodies are at risk of delivering a child with NLE but at a low risk of delivering a child with CCHB. Infants born to mothers with anti-Ro or anti-La antibodies should be monitored for other features of NLE in addition to CCHB.
Adaptations of hydrothermal vent organisms to their environment

Introduction The deep sea hydrothermal vents are one of the most unusual habitats found on earth (review in Humphris et al. 1995). Vents are surrounded by a dense community which is supported by primary production through chemoautotrophic bacteria. Most of this fauna is composed of sessile animals that harbor bacteria as intracellular symbionts. Such geothermally-driven communities are dependent on the reduced sulfur compounds found in the emerging hot hydrothermal fluid (up to 400°C), which are the main energy source for free-living and symbiotic bacteria.
Perpetration of Intimate Partner Aggression by Men and Women in the Philippines

This study uses data from the 2002 Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey to examine the prevalence of and factors associated with intimate partner violence perpetration by husbands and wives in Cebu, Philippines. Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify the factors associated with wife-only, husband-only, and reciprocal perpetration. About 26% of women reported that either they or their partner perpetrated at least one physically aggressive act during the past year, whereas 22% reported sexual coercion by their husband during their relationship. The most common reason cited for hurting the partner was his or her alcohol use, partner nagging, the wife fighting back, and jealousy. In the regression analysis, the wife's alcohol use and violence between the wife's parents were predictors of all three perpetrator groups. The importance of regular church attendance and husband control and dominance varied for the groups. Research and prevention implications are discussed.
The Incidence and Nature of Letter Orientation Errors in Reading Disability

Letter orientation confusions (reversals) in the reading and writing of 10-year-old children with and without reading disability were investigated to determine whether reading disability is associated with letter orientation errors and to identify the nature of the errors. In a variety of tasks measuring letter orientation confusions in reception (reversal detection and recognition) and production (controlled writing, copying), individuals with reading disability made more orientation confusions than average readers. Orientation errors were more frequent for reversible than for nonreversible items in tasks involving long-term memory processes. The results did not appear to be related to group differences in attention or speed of motor responding. Possible sources of orientation confusions, including deficient magnocellular system processing, mislabeling, and overreliance on visual strategies, are discussed.
HUMAN CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN (hCG): A TREATMENT OF OLIGOSPERMIA

The most commonly accepted definition of the term infertility is the lack of pregnancy (regardless of cause) after one year of unprotected intercourse. Infertility affects approximately 15% of couples of reproductive age. Its prevalence has been stable during the past 50 years, although a shift in etiology and in the age of the patient has occurred. In Pakistan there are roughly 10-15% newly married couples who require some kind of medical help before they can become parents. Even if the wife is fertile and the husband is normal, there is roughly 1 in 3 chances the wife will conceive. A total of 17 patients were diagnosed for Oligospermia and were placed in one group. 5000 IU of hCG were administered intramuscularly once a week for four month. Every month serum testosterone and semen count was analyzed. Progressive increase of semen count was observed in four month. hCG though, never produced in male but has significant effect on spermatogenesis via LH receptor. Initial value of 25 million/ml roused to 69 million/ml in just four month. Use of hCG in male infertility is though common world wide but it has not gained its popularity in Pakistan. General awareness of its usage especially among physicians treating infertility is required.