Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Infected nonunion of tibia

Infected nonunions of tibia pose many challenges to the treating surgeon and the patient. Challenges include recalcitrant infection, complex deformities, sclerotic bone ends, large bone gaps, shortening, and joint stiffness. They are easy to diagnose and difficult to treat. The ASAMI classification helps decide treatment. The nonunion severity score proposed by Calori measures many parameters to give a prognosis. The infection severity score uses simple clinical signs to grade severity of infection. This determines number of surgeries and allows choice of hardware, either external or internal for definitive treatment. Co-morbid factors such as smoking, diabetes, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use, and hypovitaminosis D influence the choice and duration of treatment. Thorough debridement is the mainstay of treatment. Removal of all necrotic bone and soft tissue is needed. Care is exercised in shaping bone ends. Internal fixation can help achieve union if infection was mild. Severe infections need external fixation use in a second stage. Compression at nonunion site achieves union. It can be combined with a corticotomy lengthening at a distant site for equalization. Soft tissue deficit has to be covered by flaps, either local or microvascular. Bone gaps are best filled with the reliable technique of bone transport. Regenerate bone may be formed proximally, distally, or at both sites. Acute compression can fill bone gaps and may need a fibular resection. Gradual reduction of bone gap happens with bone transport, without need for fibulectomy. When bone ends dock, union may be achieved by vertical or horizontal compression. Biological stimulus from iliac crest bone grafts, bone marrow aspirate injections, and platelet concentrates hasten union. Bone graft substitutes add volume to graft and help fill defects. Addition of rh-BMP-7 may help in healing albeit at a much higher cost. Regeneration may need stimulation and augmentation. Induced membrane technique is an alternative to bone transport to fill gaps. It needs large amounts of bone graft from iliac crest or femoral canal. This is an expensive method physiologically and economically. Infection can resorb the graft and cause failure of treatment. It can be done in select cases after thorough eradication of infection. Patience and perseverance are needed for successful resolution of infection and achieving union.
Analysis and Implementation of Phase Synchronization Control Strategies for BCM Interleaved Flyback Microinverters

A flyback converter that operates in the boundary conduction mode or discontinuous conduction mode has been widely used in microinverters. Placing two flyback converters in parallel and utilizing interleaving can extend the power range of microinverters. Interleaving phases between the two converters should be carefully regulated in order to reduce the switching current ripple. In this paper, two open-loop phase synchronization methods are put forward and compared for the interleaved flyback microinverters utilizing the master-slave control principle. The comparison result shows that stable phase regulation can be achieved if synchronization is triggered at the instant when the master converter's primary switch is turned OFF. However, the switching loss will be increased with the transformers' magnetizing inductances mismatch between the two interleaved converters. To solve this problem, a novel closed-loop interleaving phase synchronization control method is proposed in this paper to guarantee high efficiency and stable operation at the same time. Simulation platform together with a 200-W prototype have been built to verify the proposed control methods. These results demonstrate that the proposed closed-loop interleaving phase synchronization control method can achieve high efficiency while maintaining stable phase synchronization for the interleaved flyback microinverter.
The economic costs of illness for rural households in Burkina Faso.

Analyses of the health costs in developing countries have mainly dealt with provider costs. This is in spite of the fact that the bulk of illness related costs is borne by households. Where studied, household time and financial costs have not been treated in a comprehensive way. However, an incomplete cost assessment will lead to an underestimation of household costs. Using data from a household interview survey in a rural area of Burkina Faso, the authors carried out an exhaustive assessment of the economic cost of illness that households incur. Financial costs included out-of-pocket expenditures for drugs, fees, transport to the treatment site, lodging and food for accompanying household members. Time costs, in turn, were comprised of production foregone both by the sick person and by healthy household members, who tended to the sick. Time costs amounted to by far the largest proportion (73%) of total household costs. Of the total amount of illness related time loss of the average household, 45% was due to the fact that healthy household members tended to or accompanied their sick kin. Of the financial cost items, expenditures for drugs or traditional products represented 62%. When Western type services were sought, expenditures for transport, food etc., exceeded those for treatment fees. Total cost of illness was 4,002 F CFA/month for the average household. This amounted to 3.7% of household income and to 6.2% of household expenditures in the reference month. The authors discuss policy measures aimed to reduce household time costs. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Solar Potential Analysis Method Using Terrestrial Laser Scanning Point Clouds

Analysis of sunlight or solar potential requires the data for a targeted scene to be authentic and accessible as much as possible. In this regard, the data for a real-world scene acquired by ground-based laser scanners are comprehensive and convenient, thus potentially meeting this requirement. To get an accurate result and offer an automatic solution for sunlight analysis, this paper proposes a solar potential analysis method that is run directly on 3-D ground laser scanning point clouds. Our method simulates natural illumination, sunlight hours, and solar radiation of the targeted scene for a specified period. This method first extracts the region of interest (ROI) to obtain targeted points. Then, we compute solar position as a virtual light source and propose a control method acting on the ROI to constraint deviation from the point light source. Finally, we adopt the generalized hidden point removal algorithm to cast shadow of obstruction on the ROI. Besides, experiments to validate the shading method results are carried out for three different periods. The quantitative results in the Xiamen case evaluated by the Hausdorff distance demonstrate the advantage and feasibility of our proposed method.
Effects of Xenon Anesthesia on Cerebral Blood Flow in Humans: A Positron Emission Tomography Study

Background:Animal studies have demonstrated a strong neuroprotective property of xenon. Its usefulness in patients with cerebral pathology could be compromised by deleterious effects on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). Methods:15O-labeled water was used to determine rCBF in nine healthy male subjects at baseline and during 1 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of xenon (63%). Anesthesia was based solely on xenon. Absolute changes in rCBF were quantified using region-of-interest analysis and voxel-based analysis. Results:Mean arterial blood pressure and arterial partial pressure for carbon dioxide remained unchanged. The mean (± SD) xenon concentration during anesthesia was 65.2 ± 2.3%. Xenon anesthesia decreased absolute rCBF by 34.7 ± 9.8% in the cerebellum (P < 0.001), by 22.8 ± 10.4% in the thalamus (P = 0.001), and by 16.2 ± 6.2% in the parietal cortex (P < 0.001). On average, xenon anesthesia decreased absolute rCBF by 11.2 ± 8.6% in the gray matter (P = 0.008). A 22.1 ± 13.6% increase in rCBF was detected in the white matter (P = 0.001). Whole-brain voxel-based analysis revealed widespread cortical reductions and increases in rCBF in the precentral and postcentral gyri. Conclusions:One MAC of xenon decreased rCBF in several areas studied. The greatest decreases were detected in the cerebellum, the thalamus and the cortical areas. Increases in rCBF were observed in the white matter and in the pre- and postcentral gyri. These results are in clear contradiction with ketamine, another N-methyl-d-aspartate antagonist and neuroprotectant, which induces a general increase in cerebral blood flow at anesthetic concentrations.
Overconfidence and Disposition Effect in Indian Equity Market: An Empirical Evidence

The article investigates the presence of the disposition effect and overconfidence in the Indian equity market during 2006–2013 and provides some robust empirical evidence. It applies bivariate and trivariate vector autoregression (VAR) models and associated impulse response functions on the Indian equity market from NIFTY 50 index and individual security returns. The study arrives at three key findings. First, the presence of the biases, overconfidence and the disposition effect is detected in Indian equity market for our sample period. Second, the impact of these two biases can be distinctly segregated for 20 companies among the companies in the index. Lastly, the overconfidence bias is found to be predominant of the two. The study endorses the fact that like other developing markets, the Indian markets are not so efficient with respect to overconfidence and the disposition effect. This article is one of the few to provide empirical evidence for the behavioural issues (i.e., overconfidence and the disposition effect) at a market level that is otherwise studied at the individual investor level.
Severity of inflammation is a risk factor for colorectal neoplasia in ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Patients with ulcerative colitis are at increased risk of colorectal cancer. It is widely believed that this is secondary to colonic inflammation. However, the severity of colonic inflammation has never been shown to be a risk factor. METHODS We devised a case-control study of patients with long-standing extensive ulcerative colitis to examine various potential risk factors for neoplasia. All cases of colorectal neoplasia detected from our surveillance program between January 1, 1988, and January 1, 2002, were studied (n = 68). Each patient was matched with 2 control patients from the same surveillance population (n = 136). Matching was for sex, colitis extent, age at onset, duration of colitis, and year of index surveillance colonoscopy. Segmental colonoscopic and histological inflammation was recorded by using a simple score (0, normal; 1, quiescent/chronic inflammation; and 2, 3, and 4, mild, moderate, and severe active inflammation, respectively). Other data collected included history of primary sclerosing cholangitis, family history of colorectal cancer, and smoking and drug history (mesalamine 5-aminosalicylic acid, azathioprine, and folate). RESULTS Univariate analysis showed a highly significant correlation between the colonoscopic (odds ratio, 2.5; P = 0.001) and histological (odds ratio, 5.1; P < 0.001) inflammation scores and the risk of colorectal neoplasia. No other factors reached statistical significance. On multivariate analysis, only the histological inflammation score remained significant (odds ratio, 4.7; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS In long-standing extensive ulcerative colitis, the severity of colonic inflammation is an important determinant of the risk of colorectal neoplasia. Endoscopic and histological grading of inflammation could allow better risk stratification for surveillance programs.
Retaining Minority Students in Higher Education

Improving Public Policy and Practice Through Research The Educational Policy Institute is please to announce a new ASHE-ERIC monograph written by EPI president Watson Scott Swail, with Kenneth Redd and Laura Perna. Retaining Minority Students in Higher Education is a key reference for stakeholders regarding the realities of and strategies for student retention, and serve as a “compass” for those involved with the complex task of improving student persistence on college and university campuses. This edition of epicenter is devoted to the monograph (see Page 3). The project was underwritten through a generous grant from the Ford Foundation. For further information, please visit www.josseybass. com or visit www.educationalpolicy. org. EPI Opens Toronto Office (Ottawa, ON) The Educational Policy Institute, Inc., a non-profit research firm based in Northern Virginia, announced the appointment of Mr. Alex Usher today as Vice President of Postsecondary Research and Director of EPI Canada. In his dual role with the Educational Policy Institute, Mr. Usher will provide leadership in the development of postsecondary projects, including international efforts, related to the institute’s mission of educational opportunity. In addition, he will develop and manage the Canadian office of EPI Canada in Toronto, Ontario. Speaking at a research conference in Ottawa sponsored by the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation, EPI President Watson Scott Swail had this to
Cluster Innovation Capability: a systematic review

Most studies on innovation capability analyze the firm level. Little efforts have been made to understand the interactions that take place in inter-organizational agglomerations and the capabilities that such arrangements retain. This study aims to develop a theoretical framework of cluster innovation capability. The academic production about innovation capability of clusters in the business field from 2005 to 2014 was analyzed and the databases consulted were: EBSCO, SCOPUS, and Web of Knowledge.311 items were cataloged, 144 were available in full text, and among those 18 papers were selected. The cluster innovation capability was structured based on a theoretical framework through qualitative content analysis. Thus, acquisition capability, diffusing capability, and knowledge management capability are the main capabilities that constitute the cluster innovation capability.
A LMF based broken strand faults detection scheme for steel core in ACSR

Overhead transmission lines generally operate in the wild harsh environment, and can be damaged for all kinds of causes. Steel stranded wire plays a supportive role for aluminum conductor steel-reinforced (ACSR), so that detection for broken strand of steel core is an important mean to insure safety operation of transmission lines. As steel core is wrapped in the ACSR, it is hard to detect broken strand fault by traditional artificial distance method. Overhead transmission line inspection robot examines the conductor with detectors, so a detection scheme and correspondingly sensor based on leakage magnetic flux (LMF) theory for broken strand of steel core in ACSR is developed by this paper. The density of LMF field is calculated in the different degree damage and location of steel core in ACSR. The influence of magnetic field generated by transmission current to the detection scheme proposed by this paper is analyzed. Theoretical analysis and simulation results show that the proposed scheme based on LMF can detect all kinds of broken strand faults of steel core in ACSR with high precision and reliability. The principle of the proposed detection scheme is simple, so it could be applied to engineering practice.
A Synthesis of Progress and Uncertainties in Attributing the Sources of Mercury in Deposition

Abstract A panel of international experts was convened in Madison, Wisconsin, in 2005, as part of the 8th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant. Our charge was to address the state of science pertinent to source attribution, specifically our key question was: “For a given location, can we ascertain with confidence the relative contributions of local, regional, and global sources, and of natural versus anthropogenic emissions to mercury deposition? ” The panel synthesized new research pertinent to this question published over the past decade, with emphasis on four major research topics: long-term anthropogenic change, current emission and deposition trends, chemical transformations and cycling, and modeling and uncertainty. Within each topic, the panel drew a series of conclusions, which are presented in this paper. These conclusions led us to concur that the answer to our question is a “qualified yes,” with the qualification being dependent upon the level of uncertainty one is willing to accept. We agreed that the uncertainty is strongly dependent upon scale and that our question as stated is answerable with greater confidence both very near and very far from major point sources, assuming that the “global pool” is a recognizable “source. ” Many regions of interest from an ecosystem-exposure standpoint lie in between, where source attribution carries the greatest degree of uncertainty.
What β-cell Defect Could Lead to Hyperproinsulinemia in NIDDM?: Some Clues From Recent Advances Made in Understanding the Proinsulin-Processing Mechanism

Pancreatic β-cell dysfunction is a characteristic of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). An aspect of this dysfunction is that an increased proportion of proinsulin is secreted, but an actual β-cell defect that leads to hyperproinsulinemia is unknown. Nevertheless, an impairment in β-cell proinsulin conversion mechanism has been suggested as the most likely cause. Insulin is produced from its precursor molecule, proinsulin, by limited proteolytic cleavage at two dibasic sequences (Arg31, Arg32 and Lys64, Arg65xs). Two endopeptidase activities catalyze this cleavage: PC2 and PC3. PC2 endopeptidase cleaves predominately at Lys64, Arg65, and PC3 endopeptidase cleaves at Arg31, Arg32. The recent identification and characterization of these endopeptidases has enabled a better understanding of the human proinsulin-processing mechanism. In particular, experimental evidence suggests that the majority of human proinsulin processing is sequential. PC3 cleaves proinsulin first to generate a proinsulin conversion intermediate that is the preferred substrate of PC2. Both PC2 and PC3 activities are influenced by Ca2+ and pH, but the more stringent Ca2+ and pH requirements of PC3 suggest it as the most likely enzyme to regulate proinsulin conversion, as well as initiate it. When an increased demand is placed on the proinsulin-processing mechanism by a glucose-stimulated increase in proinsulin biosynthesis, there is a coordinate increase in PC3 biosynthesis (but not in PC2). This supports PC3 as the key endopeptidase that regulates proinsulin processing. In this perspective, the current concepts of the enzymology and regulation of proinsulin conversion at a molecular level are reviewed. Then, several hypothetical points of β-cell dysfunction that might affect the proinsulin-processing mechanism and lead to hyperproinsulinemia are considered. Because the term NIDDM encompasses a wide variety of different disorders, any one or a combination of these possible points of β-cell dysfunction could result in hyperproinsulinemia for a certain subset of NIDDM
Effects of a Strength Training Session After an Exercise Inducing Muscle Damage on Recovery Kinetics

Abstract Abaïdia, A-E, Delecroix, B, Leduc, C, Lamblin, J, McCall, A, Baquet, G, and Dupont, G. Effects of a strength training session after an exercise inducing muscle damage on recovery kinetics. J Strength Cond Res 31(1): 115–125, 2017—The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an upper-limb strength training session the day after an exercise inducing muscle damage on recovery of performance. In a randomized crossover design, subjects performed the day after the exercise, on 2 separate occasions (passive vs. active recovery conditions) a single-leg exercise (dominant in one condition and nondominant in the other condition) consisting of 5 sets of 15 eccentric contractions of the knee flexors. Active recovery consisted of performing an upper-body strength training session the day after the exercise. Creatine kinase, hamstring strength, and muscle soreness were assessed immediately and 20, 24, and 48 hours after exercise-induced muscle damage. The upper-body strength session, after muscle-damaging exercise accelerated the recovery of slow concentric force (effect size = 0.65; 90% confidence interval = −0.06 to 1.32), but did not affect the recovery kinetics for the other outcomes. The addition of an upper-body strength training session the day after muscle-damaging activity does not negatively affect the recovery kinetics. Upper-body strength training may be programmed the day after a competition.
Education decisions and labour market outcomes

ABSTRACT The financial return to a college degree is an increasing concern amid rising tuition costs and stagnant wages. Using the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002), I analyse the effect of post-secondary choices on wages for individuals entering the labour force between 2004 and 2012. Matching methods provide evidence of strong returns to earning a bachelor’s degree for both genders, similar to previous literature. Relative to high school graduates, women see wage benefits of 8–21% for some college attendance. However, men see negative effects of between 6%–13% from some college relative to high school graduates. The returns to a sub-baccalaureate degree as compared to earning some two-year credits is between 8%–25% for women and 8–14% for men. Further, the wage returns to a sub-baccalaureate degree as compared to earning some four-year credits is between 9%–17% for women and 9–20% for men. This translates into an additional $2,500-$4,700 per year for women and an additional $2,900-$6,400 per year for men. Since the average respondent with some four-year college experience has 2.3 years of earned post-secondary credits, shifting some into sub-baccalaureate programs may substantially decrease both the financial and time commitments of post-secondary education while increasing the returns after degree attainment.
Cancer Testes Antigens in Breast Cancer: Biological Role, Regulation, and Therapeutic Applicability

Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of death among women across the world. The last few decades have seen significant reduction in mortality owing to earlier detection and better adjuvant treatments that were developed based on clinical staging and morphological features. As these treatments have evolved, the heterogeneity of breast cancer poses a new challenge, since there is no standard gold-therapy suitable for all tumors of the mammary gland. Therefore, contemporary management and research efforts are directed toward specific prognostic and predictive molecular signatures that can guide targeted individualized therapy. The goal of ongoing research in this field is to identify specific molecular targets for developing novel therapeutic approaches. These targets can also serve to improve screening of breast cancer. This review focuses on the role of cancer testis antigens (CTAs) in breast carcinogenesis and explores the potential for development of targeted screening and therapeutic approaches. Normally found in the testes, these antigens are highly correlative with cancers of the breast, skin, and ovaries. These implications have been further corroborated through uncovering the interaction of CTAs with genes and proteins involved in tumor suppression and homeostasis like p53. There is some evidence that these genes can be targeted for early detection in addition to being candidates for cancer immunotherapy.