Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High neurological complication rates for extreme lateral lumbar interbody fusion and related techniques: A review of safety concerns

Background: There are frequent reports of lumbosacral plexus and other neurological injuries occurring with extreme lateral interbody fusions (XLIF) and other related lateral lumbar techniques. Methods: This review focuses on the new neurological deficits (e.g. lumbosacral plexus, root injuries) that occur following minimally invasive surgery (MIS) XLIF and other related lateral lumbar techniques. Results: A review of multiple articles revealed the following ranges of new postoperative neurological complications for XLIF procedures: plexus injuries 13.28%; sensory deficits 0–75% (permanent in 62.5%); motor deficits 0.7–33.6%; anterior thigh pain 12.5–25%. Of interest, in a study by Lykissas et al., the frequency of long-term neural injury following lateral lumber interbody fusion (LLIF) with BMP-2 (72 patients) was much higher than for LLIF performed with autograft/allograft (72 patients). The addition of bone morphogenetic protein led to persistent sensory deficits in 29 vs. 20 without BMP; persistent motor deficits in 35 with vs. 17 without BMP; and persistent anterior thigh/groin pain in 8 with vs. 0 without BMP. They should also have noted the unacceptably high incidence of neural injury occurring with LLIF alone without BMP. Conclusion: This review highlights the high risk of neural injury (up to 75% for sensory, 33.6% for motor, and an overall plexus injury rate of 13.28%) utilizing the XLIF and other similar lateral lumbar approaches. With such extensive neurological injuries, is the XLIF really safe, and should it still be performed?
THE THERMAL CLASSIFICATION OF LAKES.

2 R. Caldecott, B. H. Beard, and C. 0. Gardner, Genetics, 39, 240-259, 1954. 3R. C. King, Genetics, 40, 490-499, 1955. 4 M. S. Cave and S. W. Brown, Am. J. Botany, 41, 455-569, 1954. P. Weatherwax, Bull. Torrey Botan. Club, 47, 73-90, 1919. 6 W. R. Singleton and F. J. Clark, Genetics, 25, 136; L. J. Stadler and H. Roman, Genetics, 28, 91, 1943; L. J. Stadler and G. F. Sprague, Science, 85, 57-58, 1937. 7D. W. Barton, Cytologia, 19, 157-175, 1954. 8 A. E. Longley, Report of the Naval Medical Research Section, Joint Task Force One, on Biological Aspects of Atomic Bomb Tests (1950), Appendix 10. 9 A. Hannah, Advances in Genet. , 4, 87-121, 1951. 10 C. F. Konzak and W. R. Singleton (in press, 1956). 11 W. R. Singleton, Genetics, 39, 587-603, 1954. 12 W. R. Singleton and A. L. Caspar, Records Genet. Soc. Amer. , 23, 66, 1954.
Developing the WCRF International/University of Bristol Methodology for Identifying and Carrying Out Systematic Reviews of Mechanisms of Exposure–Cancer Associations

Background: Human, animal, and cell experimental studies; human biomarker studies; and genetic studies complement epidemiologic findings and can offer insights into biological plausibility and pathways between exposure and disease, but methods for synthesizing such studies are lacking. We, therefore, developed a methodology for identifying mechanisms and carrying out systematic reviews of mechanistic studies that underpin exposure–cancer associations. Methods: A multidisciplinary team with expertise in informatics, statistics, epidemiology, systematic reviews, cancer biology, and nutrition was assembled. Five 1-day workshops were held to brainstorm ideas; in the intervening periods we carried out searches and applied our methods to a case study to test our ideas. Results: We have developed a two-stage framework, the first stage of which is designed to identify mechanisms underpinning a specific exposure–disease relationship; the second stage is a targeted systematic review of studies on a specific mechanism. As part of the methodology, we also developed an online tool for text mining for mechanism prioritization (TeMMPo) and a new graph for displaying related but heterogeneous data from epidemiologic studies (the Albatross plot). Conclusions: We have developed novel tools for identifying mechanisms and carrying out systematic reviews of mechanistic studies of exposure–disease relationships. In doing so, we have outlined how we have overcome the challenges that we faced and provided researchers with practical guides for conducting mechanistic systematic reviews. Impact: The aforementioned methodology and tools will allow potential mechanisms to be identified and the strength of the evidence underlying a particular mechanism to be assessed. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 26(11); 1667–75. ©2017 AACR.
Microarray analysis of gene expression on herbal glycoside recipes improving deficient ability of spatial learning memory in ischemic mice

In order to reveal the mechanism of herbal glycoside recipes retrieving deficient ability of spatial learning memory in mice suffering from cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, a microarray system was used to analyze gene expression in those groups with increasing ability of spatial learning memory who were different from ischemic mice. In this work, we reported a comprehensive characterization of gene expression profiles of mouse hippocampus by the use of cDNA microarray system containing 1176 known genes in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) ischemic mice after treating with different dosage recipes of glycoside herbs (30, 90, and 270 mg/kg). The ability of spatial learning memory in ischemic mice was found to be decreased. The pathological process in ischemic mouse brain showed that a complex related to 100 genes' expression yielded 1.8‐fold. Dose‐dependent effects showed an improvement in the deficient ability and reduction in infarct volume when treated with glycoside recipes. Many genes (38–46) in expression were found greater than 1.8‐fold in those effective recipes groups, including genes in cell cycle regulation, signal transduction, nerve system transcription factors, DNA binding protein, etc. Nine genes related to retrieving deficient ability of spatial learning memory treated with glycoside recipes were also found in this study. These results suggest that microarray analysis of gene expression might be useful for elucidating the mechanisms of pharmacological function of recipes.
An Analysis of 88 Patients with Diffuse and “Benign” Perimesencephalic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Abstract Background and Study Aims Perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage (PMSAH) was previously defined as a variant of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) associated with a relatively benign clinical presentation and better outcomes than aneurysmal SAH. However, several prior studies have shown complications associated with PMSAH including vasospasm and hydrocephalus, and the need for follow-up imaging. We therefore reviewed our experience to further characterize the clinical consequences of PMSAH. Materials and Methods Eighty-eight consecutive patients who sustained spontaneous intracranial SAH and whose cerebral angiograms did not show any obvious source for SAH were retrospectively studied to characterize their prognosis and outcome based on SAH pattern. Glasgow Coma Scale and Hunt-Hess scores on admission, the incidence of vasospasm or hydrocephalus, the need for an external ventricular drain, and shunt dependence, along with Glasgow outcome score (GOS) at discharge and follow-up, were used to draw comparisons between perimesencephalic and diffuse SAH patient populations. Results Patients with perimesencephalic SAH differed statistically (p < 0.05) from patients with diffuse SAH in regard to age, Hunt-Hess score on presentation, hospital length of stay, GOS at discharge, and incidence of hydrocephalus, angiographic vasospasm, and clinical vasospasm. Conclusion Our data demonstrate that although the patients with perimesencephalic SAH fared better than those with diffuse SAH, their outcomes were worse than those of similar patients with PMSAH who have been previously reported in the literature.
The prognostic role of immunohistochemical chromogranin a expression in prostate cancer patients is significantly modified by androgen‐deprivation therapy

Several data suggest that neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation in prostate cancer is implicated in the development of resistance to androgen‐deprivation therapy (ADT). This study was undertaken to assess the prognostic role of tissue chromogranin A (CgA) expression in patients addressed to ADT as opposed to those who did not.
Virtual Adaptive Modulation Trunk Link in Mobile Sink assisted Wireless Sensor Networks

The introduction of Mobile Sink (MS) in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) makes energy consumption in network balanced thus prolongs the lifetime of the network. In Mobile sink assisted WSNs (MWSNs), MS travels in a controlled way, with a limited time for data transmission, but the data transmission for traditional Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK) coding scheme in Sensor Nodes (SNs) used a longer time and lower reliability. In this paper, a novel modulation scheme in SNs based on Virtual Adaptive Modulation Trunk Link (VAMTL) is proposed to decrease the retransmission times and reduce the data transmission time in MWSNs. SNs with different modulation modes work together in a cluster, some nodes with a proper modulation scheme are selected as transmission nodes, which form a Virtual Trunk Link (VTL) to collect and forward the sensing data. Simulation results demonstrate that the introduction of VAMTL to MWSNs can reduce the transmission time. Besides, a new parameter called Network Quality Index (NQI) is proposed to measure the channel conditions and residual energy of the network. Both the shorter transmission time and lower energy consumption in a NQI message is used to prolong the lifetime of the network.
Productivity Growth Shocks and Unemployment in the Postwar US Economy

In recent years growing attention has been paid to the dynamic interaction between productivity growth and unemployment in the US economy. In this paper we aim to investigate the effects of productivity growth shocks on unemployment, both in the short run and in the medium - long run. We adopt a structural VAR approach and find that, in the last decades, productivity shocks have exerted persistent effects on unemployment. Moreover, these shocks have played an important role in explaining the fluctuations in the unemployment rate at different frequencies. This conclusion seems to be robust to alternative identification strategies of the structural shocks.
Nucleocytoplasmic Shuttling of BZR1 Mediated by Phosphorylation Is Essential in Arabidopsis Brassinosteroid Signaling[W][OA]

Phytohormone brassinosteroids (BRs) play critical roles in plant growth and development. BR acts by modulating the phosphorylation status of two key transcriptional factors, BRI1 EMS SUPPRESSOR1 and BRASSINAZOLE RESISTANT1 (BZR1), through the action of BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE1/BRI1 ASSOCIATED RECEPTOR KINASE1 receptors and a GSK3 kinase, BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE2 (BIN2). It is still unknown how the perception of BR at the plasma membrane connects to the expression of BR target genes in the nucleus. We show here that BZR1 functions as a nucleocytoplasmic shuttling protein and GSK3-like kinases induce the nuclear export of BZR1 by modulating BZR1 interaction with the 14-3-3 proteins. BR-activated phosphatase mediates rapid nuclear localization of BZR1. Besides the phosphorylation domain for 14-3-3 binding, another phosphorylation domain in BZR1 is required for the BIN2-induced nuclear export of BZR1. Mutations of putative phosphorylation sites in two distinct domains enhance the nuclear retention of BZR1 and BR responses in transgenic plants. We propose that the spatial redistribution of BZR1 is critical for proper BR signaling in plant growth and development.
Effects of frequency and level on auditory stream segregation.

This study examined the effect of center frequency and level on the perceptual grouping of rapid tone sequences. The sequence ABA-ABA-. was used, where A and B represent sinusoidal tone bursts (10-ms rise/fall, 80-ms steady state, 20-ms interval between tones) and - represents a silent interval of 120 ms. In experiment 1, tone A was fixed in frequency at 62, 125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, 6000, or 8000 Hz. Both tones had a level of approximately 40 dB SL. Tone B started with a frequency well above that of tone A, and its frequency was swept toward that of tone A so that the frequency separation between them decreased in an exponential manner. Subjects were required to indicate when they could no longer hear the tones A and B as two separate streams, but heard only a single stream with a "gallop" rhythm. This changeover point between percepts is called the fission boundary. The separation between tones A and B at the fission boundary was roughly independent of the frequency of tone A when expressed as the difference in number of equivalent rectangular bandwidths (ERBs) between A and B, but varied more with frequency when the difference was expressed in barks or cents. In experiment 2, the center frequency was fixed at 250, 1000, or 4000 Hz, and the level of the A and B tones was 40, 55, 70, or 85 dB SPL. The frequency separation of the A and B tones at the fission boundary tended to increase slightly with increasing level, in a manner consistent with the broadening of the auditory filter with increasing level. The results support the "peripheral channeling" explanation of stream segregation advanced by Hartmann and Johnson [Music Percept. 9, 155-184 (1991)], and indicate that the perception of fusion or fission in alternating-tone sequences depends partly upon the degree of overlap of the excitation patterns evoked by the successive sounds in the cochlea, as assumed in the theory of Beauvois and Meddis [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 99, 2270-2280 (1996)].
Practical File System Design with the Be File System

From the Publisher: This new guide to the design and implementation of file systems in general - and the Be File System (BFS) in particularcovers all topics related to file systems, going into considerable depth where traditional operating systems books often stop. Advanced topics such as journaling, attributes, indexing, and query processing are covered in detail.
PET study of human voluntary saccadic eye movements in darkness: effect of task repetition on the activation pattern

Using H215O 3D Positron Emission Tomography (PET), regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured in six human subjects under two different conditions: at rest and while performing self‐paced horizontal saccadic eye movements in darkness. These two conditions were repeated four times each.
Torsades de pointes associated with voriconazole use

Abstract: We describe 2 patients who developed prolonged QTc interval on electrocardiogram while being treated with voriconazole. The first patient had undergone induction chemotherapy for acute myelogenous leukemia, and her course had been complicated by invasive aspergillosis and an acute cardiomyopathy. She developed torsades de pointes 3 weeks after starting voriconazole therapy. She was re‐challenged with voriconazole without recurrent QTc prolongation or cardiac dysfunction. The second patient had a significantly prolonged QTc interval while on voriconazole therapy. We recommend careful monitoring for QTc prolongation and arrhythmia in patients who are receiving voriconazole, particularly those who have significant electrolyte disturbances, are on concomitant QT prolonging medications, have heart failure such as from a dilated cardiomyopathy, or have recently received anthracycline‐based chemotherapy. The potential for synergistic cardiotoxicity must be carefully considered.
Differences in clinical manifestations between childhood-onset lupus and adult-onset lupus: a meta-analysis

Objective: It is known that age at disease onset has an impact on the clinical course andoutcome of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); however, the precise differences in theprevalence of SLE manifestations are debated. Our objective was to conduct a systematicliterature review and meta-analysis of all studies that directly compare childhood-onset lupus with adult-onsetlupus to determine which clinical manifestations vary with age at disease onset. Methods: A comprehensive literature search of the MEDLINE/PubMed,EMBASE, CINAHL, and SCOPUS databases was conducted to identify relevant articles. Study quality was assessed using the STROBE checklist. Study sample characteristics and clinical manifestation event rates were extracted from each study. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using the random effects method, and between-study heterogeneity was quantified using the I2 statistic. Results: Of the 484studies identified by the search strategy, 16 were included in this review. The total number of patients was 5993 adults and 905 children with SLE. Study quality was on average 16/32, ranging from 8 to 29. Several statistically significant differences were found: malar rash, ulcers/mucocutaneous involvement, renal involvement, proteinuria, urinary cellular casts, seizures, thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, fever, and lymphadenopathy were more common in childhood-onset SLE with ORs ranging from 1.3 to 3.7; however, Raynaud's, pleuritis, and sicca were more common in adult-onset SLE (twice as common). Conclusions: The results of this meta-analysis suggest that some clinical manifestations of lupus are different in childhood-onset SLE and adult-onset SLE.
Mudslinging on Twitter During the 2014 Election

Following the work of Evans, Cordova, and Sipole, we examine the way that candidates for congressional seats in 2014 used Twitter during the last 2 months of their campaign. Using a content analysis of every tweet sent by all candidates for both the US House and Senate, we show that particular individual-level and campaign-specific characteristics are related to whether and how often candidates go negative on Twitter. In particular, we show that there are differences based on competitiveness, incumbency, gender, and partisanship.
Hypoxic Preconditioning Prevents Cortical Infarction by Transient Focal Ischemia‐Reperfusion

Abstract: One of the proposed pathologic actions underlying brain infarction is excess free radicals resulting from reoxygenation. In this paper we report an investigation of the neuroprotective effect of hypoxic preconditioning on transient focal ischemia‐reperfusion injuries in rat brain. Female Wistar rats were subjected to 380 mmHg in an altitude chamber for 15 hours/day. Our ex vivo studies showed that auto‐oxidation and iron‐induced lipid peroxidation of brain homogenates of the four‐week hypoxia‐preconditioned rats were significantly lower than those of the normoxic rats. A focal infarction in the cerebral cortex of normoxic rats was consistently observed 24 hours after a 60‐minute transient ischemic occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery and bilateral common carotid arteries. Hypoxic preconditioning in fact attenuated cortical infarction in a duration‐dependent manner. Induction of the neuroprotection required two weeks of hypoxic preconditioning. Four weeks of hypoxic preconditioning significantly reduced the cortical infarcted area, the elevated lipid peroxidation, and resulted in an acute increase in cytosolic cytochrome c in the infarcted cortex of normoxic rats. The protective effect of four weeks of hypoxic preconditioning lasted seven days under a renormoxic condition. Our data suggest that oxidative stress may result in apoptosis in the transient focal ischemia‐reperfusion injuries. Furthermore, hypoxic preconditioning attenuated cortical infarction in the rat brain. Although supplementation of antioxidants may encounter difficulty at the blood‐brain barrier, hypoxic preconditioning is very likely to protect CNS targets from oxidative injuries without any barrier.
[Genetics and molecular classification of colorectal cancer].

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer is a genetic disease for which the adenoma-carcinoma-sequence has served as a teaching model. This article presents an update on carcinogenesis and classification, according to the increased understanding of precursors and the improved insight into molecular biological mechanisms. MATERIAL AND METHODS Literature from 1.1 2002 to 15.7 2007 was reviewed from PubMed by using the search words "colorectal cancer" matched with MeSH-terms "genetic instability", "epigenetic", "molecular classification", "crypt", "apoptosis", "proliferation" and "carcinogenesis". Focus is based on recent reviews (including systematic reviews), and selected original papers. RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION Colorectal cancer develops in the stem cells of the crypts through deregulated molecular mechanisms such as the Wnt-pathway, which lead to increased proliferation, lack of differentiation and loss of apoptosis. Precursors, such as the aberrant crypt foci, have potential as early biomarkers, but consensus lacks for their clinical utility. Assumed "innocent" polyps, such as serrated adenomas, appear to play a larger role than previously expected, mainly through epigenetics (CpG Island Methylator Phenotype; CIMP) and microsatellite instability (MSI). Three main pathways occur in the colorectal carcinogenesis (chromosomal instability [CIN] , MSI and CIMP), of which CIN represents the major part. These pathways have distinct clinical, pathological, and genetic characteristics, which can be used for molecular classification for improved diagnostics, prognosis and treatment.
Estimation of Cost of Quality in an Indian Textile Industry for Reducing Cost of Non-conformance

This case study reflects the importance of estimating quality-related costs to diagnose and redress quality-related problem areas. It is only possible to eliminate the costs of non-conformance if they can be identified. In today's business environment of global competition, reduction of the cost of non-conformance strengthens one's competitive position by focusing on customer orientation. Quite naturally, this facilitates survival and further growth of the company. And, of course, reduction of cost of non-conformance is much more preferable to increasing the volume of sales turnover, especially in a competitive market or a recession. The distinguishing feature of this study is the simultaneous increase in sales turnover as well as the reduction in cost of poor quality over a span of three years.
Interference, information and performance in linear matrix modulation

The choice of basis for linear matrix modulation (linear space-time code with linear combination constellation) is considered. Unitarily invariant polynomials of square matrices are discussed, the full spectrum of invariants interpolating between the well-known trace and determinant. These give the full spectrum of space-time code design criteria. The diagonal dominance (expansion around the trace) of these invariants is considered. Using this, it is shown that minimizing the self-interference, or equivalently, maximizing the second order expansion coefficient of the mutual information around SNR=0, is required when maximizing the mutual information and/or optimizing performance at any SNR. As an example, symbol rate 3 schemes for 4 transmit antennas are considered.