Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Correction of Neglected Clubfoot Using the Ilizarov External Fixator

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate the corrective capability of the Ilizarov external fixator in the treatment of neglected clubfoot. Methods: Thirty patients (38 feet) with a mean age of 19 (5 to 39) years with severe deformities and stiff feet associated with neglected clubfoot were studied. A limited soft-tissue dissection, Achilles tenotomy, and plantar fasciotomy were done. Progressive correction of the deformities was achieved through a standard setting of the Ilizarov external fixator. The device was used for 16 weeks, on average, and after removal a short-leg walking cast was used for an additional 6 weeks, followed by an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) for 6 months. Results: The final outcome was scored as good (complete correction and no pain); fair (partial correction with plantigrade foot and occasional pain); or poor (nonplantigrade foot and continuous pain during walking). After a mean followup of 58 (range 12 to 107) months, the results were good in 30 feet (78.9%); fair in three feet (7.9%); and poor in five feet (13.2%). Early complications were a distal tibial fracture in one foot, dislocation of the first metatarsophalangeal joint in one foot, and arterial damage that resulted in amputation of the toes in one foot. Recurrence of the deformity was found in 19 feet (50%): 11 minor, three mild, and five severe. Spontaneous ankylosis developed in 28 feet (73.7%). Nine feet (23.7%) required arthrodesis for symptomatic arthritis of the ankle or midfoot and deformity that could not be treated with orthoses. Conclusion: The Ilizarov external fixator allows simultaneous correction of all the severe foot deformities associated with neglected clubfoot with minimal surgery, reducing risks of cutaneous or neurovascular complications and avoiding excessive shortening of the foot. Even in those patients in whom final corrective arthrodesis is necessary, this may be carried out with minimal bone resection, since the severe deformities of the foot and ankle have been corrected.
A new brain-computer interface paradigm based on P300 and SSVEP

Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) is a novel communication system without depending on conventional brain output paths (such as peripheral nerve and muscle tissue) of the brain. The evaluation of effective EEG patterns is one of the crucial issues in the current research of BCI. Most of the traditional visual evoked paradigms only evoke one kind of EEG pattern for the subsequent feature classification. This study presents a new paradigm based on P300 and Steady-State Visual Evoked Potential (SSVEP) that involves event-related stimulation and frequency flashing stimulation. P300 and SSVEP patterns are evoked simultaneously to enhance the discriminability of features. Offline comparison is implemented among the proposed paradigm and the traditional P300 and SSVEP paradigms. The results show that the new paradigm evokes more significant P300 features while weaken SSVEP features a little without destroying the online feasibility of the BCI system. Therefore, the proposed paradigm can satisfy requirements from different subjects to enlarge the user of group.
Prédiction automatique de fonctions pragmatiques dans les reformulations (Automatic prediction of pragmatic functions in reformulations)[In French]

La reformulation participe à la structuration du discours, notamment dans le cas des dialogues, et contribue également à la dynamique du discours. Reformuler est un acte significatif qui poursuit des objectifs précis. L’objectif de notre travail est de prédire automatiquement la raison pour laquelle un locuteur effectue une reformulation. Nous utilisons une classification de onze fonctions pragmatiques inspirées des travaux existants et des données analysées. Les données de référence sont issues d’annotations manuelles et consensuelles des reformulations spontanées formées autour de trois marqueurs (c’est-à-dire, je veux dire, disons). Les données proviennent d’un corpus oral et d’un corpus de discussions sur les forums de santé. Nous exploitons des algorithmes de catégorisation supervisée et un ensemble de plusieurs descripteurs (syntaxiques, formels, sémantiques et discursifs) pour prédire les catégories de reformulation. La distribution des énoncés et phrases selon les catégories n’est pas homogène. Les expériences sont positionnées à deux niveaux : générique et spécifique. Nos résultats indiquent qu’il est plus facile de prédire les types de fonctions au niveau générique (la moyenne des F-mesures est autour de 0,80), qu’au niveau des catégories individuelles (la moyenne des F-mesures est autour de 0,40). L’influence de différents paramètres est étudiée.
Changes in respiratory muscle endurance during puberty

The evaluation of respiratory muscle endurance provides clinically useful information on muscle function, especially in children with respiratory and neuromuscular diseases. However, endurance may be lower in young children than in older children because of the major physical changes of puberty. We thus compared respiratory muscle endurance in 15 healthy pre‐ and peripubertal children (S1–S2/P1 group) and 14 healthy children near the end of the pubertal process (S4P4 group). All performed a respiratory muscle endurance test threshold load fixed at 50% of the individual maximal inspiratory pressure; (Pimax), using a standardized method with a controlled breathing pattern. No significant difference was found between groups for Pimax. The mean endurance time limit for the S1–S2/P1 group was 138 ± 20 sec. The S4P4 group was able to breathe with the threshold valve for more than 20 min (1,200 sec) without task failure, except for one girl (385 sec). This study shows that inspiratory muscle endurance is significantly lower in children in early puberty compared to children at the end of the pubertal process. If the underlying mechanisms are not well‐known, the present study revealed that if we use the same inspiratory load in prepubertal children as in adults during clinical testing, we are likely to underestimate the susceptibility to task failure of their respiratory muscles. To define a fatigue threshold for the respiratory muscles, as a function of age, thus appears clinically important in further studies, particularly for the management of children with respiratory diseases. Pediatr Pulmonol. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Eviricilerin harmonik eliminasyonunda optimum anahtarlama açılarının genetik algoritmalar ile elde edilmesi

Bu calismada, eviriciden elde edilen kare dalga formundaki tam sinus olmayan isarette meydana gelen, istenmeyen harmonileri bastirabilmek icin, bir arama ve optimizasyon yontemi olan Genetik Algoritmalar(GA) mantigi icerisinde yazilan bir Matlab programi ile optimum sayida, optimum anahtarlama aci yerlerinin belirlenmesi amaclanmistir. Optimum anahtarlama acilari, birinci harmonik genligini en buyuk, bastirilacak harmonik genliklerini de en kucuk yapan acilardir. Eviricilerde harmonik eliminasyonunun gerekliligi uzerinde durulmus ve eliminasyonun yapilmadigi durumlarda harmoniklerin olumsuz etkileri verilmistir. Var olan bu harmonikleri bastirmak icin kullanilabilecek filtreler hakkinda kisaca bilgi verilmistir. Gerekli matematiksel temeller olusturularak problem GA'ya uygulanmis, amac ve uygunluk fonksiyonu tanimlanarak programin calismasi adim adim anlatilmistir. GAHE(Genetik Algoritmalar ile Harmonik Eliminasyonu) programi ile cozulen problemlerin sonuclari, onceden klasik optimizasyon yontemleriyle bulunmus olan bazi cozumlerle ve degisik giris durumlarinda birbirleriyle karsilastirilarak tablo ve grafik halinde verilmis ve yontemin basarisi belirlenmistir.
Propagation aspects for RF fingerprinting at open areas over irregular terrain

Ray tracing simulations are used to investigate the RF fingerprinting in open areas over irregular terrain profiles. We show that these simulations can project the RF signature exclusiveness of an emitter location in space by means of received power, mean azimuth DoA and delay spread heat maps. Additionally, full-3D ray-tracing simulations allow us to investigate the amount of energy inside and outside the plane of incidence and to classify it according to the terrain profile type and LOS/NLOS. The methodology presented will permit evaluation of the traditional geometric method and the RF fingerprinting technique for position determination.
The Cycle Consistency Matrix Approach to LDPC Absorbing Sets in Separable Circulant-Based Codes

For LDPC codes operating over additive white Gaussian noise channels and decoded using message-passing decoders with limited precision, absorbing sets have been shown to be a key factor in error floor behavior. Focusing on this scenario, this paper introduces the cycle consistency matrix (CCM) as a powerful analytical tool for characterizing and avoiding absorbing sets in separable circulant-based (SCB) LDPC codes. SCB codes include a wide variety of regular LDPC codes such as array-based LDPC codes as well as many common quasi-cyclic codes. As a consequence of its cycle structure, each potential absorbing set in an SCB LDPC code has a CCM, and an absorbing set can be present in an SCB LDPC code only if the associated CCM has a nontrivial null space. CCM-based analysis can determine the multiplicity of an absorbing set in an SCB code and CCM-based constructions avoid certain small absorbing sets completely. While these techniques can be applied to an SCB code of any rate, lower-rate SCB codes can usually avoid small absorbing sets because of their higher variable node degree. This paper focuses attention on the high-rate scenario in which the CCM constructions provide the most benefit. Simulation results demonstrate that under limited-precision decoding the new codes have steeper error-floor slopes and can provide one order of magnitude of improvement in the low FER region.
The function of CreA, the carbon catabolite repressor of Aspergillus nidulans, is regulated at the transcriptional and post‐transcriptional level

The creA gene of A. nidulans encodes a wide‐domain regulatory protein mediating carbon catabolite repression. Northern blot analysis of creA mRNA revealed a complex expression profile: the addition of monosaccharides to a carbon‐starved culture of A. nidulans provoked a strong transient stimulation of creA transcript formation within a few minutes. In the case of repressing carbon sources, creA mRNA levels were subsequently downregulated, whereas the high creA mRNA levels were maintained in a creA mutant strain and in the presence of derepressing monosaccharides. A high creA transcript level is essential to achieve carbon catabolite repression and is dependent on glucose transport and, at least partially, on the creB gene product. Subsequent downregulation of creA mRNA levels, on the other hand, is typical of carbon catabolite repression and requires a functional CreA recognition site in the creA promoter (and thus involves autoregulation) and formation of glucose‐6‐phosphate. Despite the presence of continuing high transcript levels of creA in the presence of derepressing carbohydrates, EMSA demonstrated the presence of only low levels of a CreA–DNA complex in respective cell‐free extracts. Upon transfer of carbon catabolite derepressed mycelia to catabolite‐repressing conditions, a CreA–DNA complex is formed, and this process is dependent on de novo protein synthesis.
Adaptive cooperative control for satellites formation flying based on virtual structure

Aiming at the cooperative control problem of satellites formation flying with mass, inertia uncertainties and external disturbances, an adaptive cooperative control method is proposed. After the virtual structure mode is given, the position and attitude adaptive cooperative controllers of formation satellites and virtual structure are designed. Then, the system stability and the controllers' bounded disturbances suppression are proved. Lastly, a three-satellite formation cooperative maneuver is simulated with the designed controllers. The results show that the designed controllers can estimate satellite mass and inertial adaptively, which can be effectively applied to the satellites formation cooperative control.
Testicular gametogenic and steroidogenic activities in chlorpyrifos insecticide–treated rats: a correlation study with testicular oxidative stress and role of antioxidant enzyme defence systems in Sprague‐Dawley rats

The present works examined an adverse effect of chlorpyrifos insecticide on testes and lipid peroxidation at low doses (5 mg–10 mg kg−1 body weight) and the role of antioxidant enzymes systems at higher doses (20–30 mg kg−1 body weight) in albino rats. At low doses, reduction in plasma levels of testosterone and FSH and LH hormones along with the significant shrinkage of seminiferous tubules and gametogenic changes in germ cells were noticed. But these changes were restored with the revival of serum testosterone, FSH and LH along with regression of testis at higher doses. Similarly, level of testicular lipid peroxidation was elevated, whereas levels of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) and steroidogenic enzymes activities (Δ5, 3β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 17β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase) were reduced significantly at low doses. But, rat testes showed a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation and concomitant increase in antioxidant enzymes and steroidogenic enzymes activities at higher doses. Results showed that at higher doses of chlorpyrifos treatments, rat testes were shown to trigger their natural defence mechanism which became operative possibly through corrective measure of synthesis of antioxidant defence enzymes and steroidogenic enzymes and pituitary gonadotrophins hormone feedback mechanisms.
Cross‐linked poly(vinyl alcohol) as permanent hydrophilic column coating for capillary electrophoresis

A fast method for the generation of permanent hydrophilic capillary coatings for capillary electrophoresis (CE) is presented. Such interior coating is effected by treating the surface to be coated with a solution of glutaraldehyde as cross‐linking agent followed by a solution of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), which results in an immobilization of the polymer on the capillary surface. Applied for capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) such capillaries coated with cross‐linked PVA exhibit excellent separation performance of adsorptive analytes like basic proteins due to the reduction of analyte‐wall interactions. The long‐term stability of cross‐linked PVA coatings could be proved in very long series of CZE separations. More than 1000 repetitive CE separations of basic proteins were performed with stable absolute migration times relative standard deviation (RSD > 1.2%) and without loss of separation efficiency. Cross‐linked PVA coatings exhibit a suppressed electroosmotic flow and excellent stability over a wide pH range.
High hepatitis C viraemia and impaired antibody response in patients coinfected with HIV

ObjectiveTo compare hepatitis C virus (HCV) load in patients infected with HCV alone and those coinfected with HIV, and to evaluate the antibody response to HCV in the case of HIV infection. DesignPatients coinfected with both HCV and HIV have been shown to develop hepatic changes more rapidly, which may be due to an interaction between HCV and HIV. In a prospective study, serum samples were taken from 150 patients. MethodsUsing reverse transcription followed by polymerase chain reaction and the branched DNA assay, we detected HCV RNA in 75 patients coinfected with HIV and HCV and in 75 patients infected with HCV alone. The HIV RNA was also quantified by the branched DNA assay and the p24 antigenaemia was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The immune response to HCV was studied in the 150 patients by the use of third generation recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA). ResultsAlthough a comparable number of patients had detectable HCV viraemia in both groups, HCV RNA was quantifiable in 79% of HIV-positive patients and in only 43% of HIV-negative patients (P < 10-5), and the mean HCV RNA level was much higher in the HIV-positive group than in the HIV-negative group (P < 10-7). The quantity of HCV RNA did not correlate with the CD4 count, p24 antigenaemia or HIV RNA level. The analysis of RIBA showed 14.7% indeterminate or negative results in the HIV-positive group and only 4% indeterminate results in the HIV-negative group. HIV-positive patients had reactivity to less antigen bands than HIV-negative patients (P < 10-3), and they had a weaker reactivity to c100, c33c and NS5 antigen bands than HIV-negative patients. ConclusionOur results show that in the case of HIV infection, the HCV RNA levels are strongly increased, but HCV load is not linked to the immunosuppression induced by HIV; therefore, the present data do not support the hypothesis of a direct interaction between HIV and HCV.
Partial discharges and bulk dielectric field enhancement

A consequence of partial discharge activity within a gaseous void is the production of a field enhancement in the solid dielectric in the proximity of the void. This situation arises due to the charge created by the partial discharges accumulating at the void wall. The influence of the spatial extent of this wall charge upon the maximum field strength in the solid is examined and discussed.
Receiver Operating Characteristic Evaluation of Computer Display of Adult Portable Chest Radiographs

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVESThe suitability of using an image console monitor for interpretation of adult portable chest radiographs was evaluated with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and subjective techniques. METHODSRadiologists read 80 chest images, once on a display monitor and once on computed radiography film, for the presence or absence of pneumothorax or atelectasis. Judgments of correct or incorrect positions of tubes and lines were reported, and total viewing time was recorded. RESULTSA statistically significant difference was found in favor of monitor reading for detection of pneumothoraces. Atelectasis detection also was higher with monitor reading, but the difference did not reach statistical significance. Tube/line judgments were equivalent for both modes. Total viewing time was approximately 1 minute longer per image with the monitor. CONCLUSIONSViewing computed radiography images on a workstation monitor does not seem to affect diagnostic accuracy compared with film viewing. Preset image defaults tailored to the individual radiologist could decrease total viewing time to acceptable levels.
Gametes from Embryonic Stem Cells: A Cup Half Empty or Half Full?

When first reported 4 years ago, gametogenesis from embryonic stem (ES) cells promised an accessible in vitro model to facilitate molecular analysis of the germ lineage. Formation of primordial germ cells is robust, but terminal gametogenesis remains inefficient and doubts about gamete function persist. Although useful for research, clinical use of ES cell–derived gametes appears a distant prospect.
Pocket Protein Complexes Are Recruited to Distinct Targets in Quiescent and Proliferating Cells

ABSTRACT Biochemical and genetic studies have determined that retinoblastoma protein (pRB) tumor suppressor family members have overlapping functions. However, these studies have largely failed to distinguish functional differences between the highly related p107 and p130 proteins. Moreover, most studies pertaining to the pRB family and its principal target, the E2F transcription factor, have focused on cells that have reinitiated a cell cycle from quiescence, although recent studies suggest that cycling cells exhibit layers of regulation distinct from mitogenically stimulated cells. Using genome-wide chromatin immunoprecipitation, we show that there are distinct classes of genes directly regulated by unique combinations of E2F4, p107, and p130, including a group of genes specifically regulated in cycling cells. These groups exhibit both distinct histone acetylation signatures and patterns of mammalian Sin3B corepressor recruitment. Our findings suggest that cell cycle-dependent repression results from recruitment of an unexpected array of diverse complexes and reveals specific differences between transcriptional regulation in cycling and quiescent cells. In addition, factor location analyses have, for the first time, allowed the identification of novel and specific targets of the highly related transcriptional regulators p107 and p130, suggesting new and distinct regulatory networks engaged by each protein in continuously cycling cells.
A gesture recognition library for the therapy domain and its applications

Implementar um algoritmo computacional de reconhecimento de gesto tem sido um desafio por muitos anos. Hoje em dia, com o desenvolvimento das câmeras RGB-D, e possivel adquirir um conjunto de dados que representa a posicao de uma pessoa no espaco. Apesar disso, os dados adquiridos por estas câmeras ainda nao sao suficientes para identificar, em tempo real e de forma continua, movimentos predefinidos dos usuarios, os quais podem ser usados em aplicacoes como, por exemplo, a analise de movimentos ou exercicios fisioterapeuticos. Este trabalho apresenta duas novas tecnicas de reconhecimento de gestos, ambas voltadas ao dominio de fisioterapia; a primeira e baseada em padroes da fisioterapia, chamados de planos biomecânicos, e a segunda tem como proposito reconhecer os gestos realizados durante os exercicios funcionais e e baseada num conceito chamado de checkpoints. Ambas tecnicas foram testadas e validadas por fisioterapeutas do Departamento de Fisioterapia da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. Essas tecnicas foram integradas em uma biblioteca, a qual entao foi utilizada para desenvolver dois estudos de caso e duas aplicacoes de proposito gerais, onde suas aplicabilidades foram testadas tanto no dominio fisioterapeutico como fora dele, obtendo bons resultados e mostrando que tais tecnicas tambem podem ser usadas em aplicacoes gerais.
Demonstration of recessed SiGe S/D and inserted metal gate on HfO/sub 2/ for high performance pFETs.

This paper demonstrates for the first time the integration of an HfO2/TiN/poly gate stack and a recessed SiGe S/D module. It also shows that by combining the SiGe stressor with a compressive nitride contact etch stop layer, it is possible to reach improvements in IDSAT of up to 65%, showing that the various strain mechanisms are additive on advanced gate stacks. This way an IDSAT of 422 muA/mum at 20pA/mum I OFF and VDD = 1.1 V can be obtained when a 25% SiGe S/D module is combined with a 1.5 GPa compressive sCESL layer
Ozone Nation: EPA Standard Panned by the People

Under the Clean Air Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to review the science underpinning the National Ambient Air Quality Standards to ensure those standards are adequately protective of public and environmental health. But in the decade-long deliberations over the EPA’s update of the ground-level ozone standard, science and regulatory action had a head-on collision.
Phenotypic and phylogenetic analyses show Microcoleus chthonoplastes to be a cosmopolitan cyanobacterium

We used micromanipulation to isolate from their environment representative samples of seven geographically distant field populations fitting the description of Microcoleus chthonoplastes (a cyanobacterium) and obtained seven corresponding cultured strains. Samples of both field populations and cultures were phenotypically characterized by microscale techniques, and their partial 16S rRNA gene sequences were compared by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and in some cases by sequencing. All field populations and strains were phenotypically extremely coherent, and their 16S rRNA sequences were indistinguishable by DGGE. The sequences determined were identical or virtually identical. Thus, M. chthonoplastes represents a single, well-delimited taxon with a truly cosmopolitan distribution. Comparison with three culture collection strains originally assigned to M. chthonoplastes revealed that strain PCC 7420 belongs to the same tightly delimited group, both phenotypically and in 16S rRNA gene sequence, but that strains SAG 3192 and 10mfx do not.