Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Concomitant Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction and Temporary Hemiepiphysiodesis in the Skeletally Immature: A Combined Technique

Background: Young athletes with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) disruption and limb malalignment pose a treatment dilemma. Little has been published regarding limb malalignment in this population. Our aim is to review the results of combined treatment of an ACL deficient knee and genu valgum in skeletally immature patients. Methods: A retrospective review of skeletally immature patients who underwent transphyseal ACL reconstruction and concomitant hemiepiphysiodesis between 2004 and 2015 by 1 surgeon at a single institution was performed. Included patients had at least a year of growth remaining and were followed to skeletal maturity. Patients with a diagnosis of a connective tissue disorder were excluded. Knee stability, rate of retear, the rate of mechanical axis correction, and time to full correction were determined. Results: Ninety skeletally immature patients underwent transphyseal ACL reconstruction, 8 of which met inclusion criteria. Mean time to correction of the valgus deformity was 13 months (0.4 degree/mo). No patient required additional surgeries for malalignment. All patients had improvement in knee stability. One patient had a retear of their ACL reconstruction, for a failure rate of 13%. Preoperative mechanical lateral distal femoral angle and mechanical axis deviation corrected to near-neutral alignment for all treated limbs and were significantly different (P=0.001) than those measured preoperatively. Conclusions: Promising results were seen for simultaneous correction of genu valgum and transphyseal ACL reconstruction. Treatment of both pathologies in a concomitant surgery can be considered in the appropriate population, with expected results comparable to each procedure in isolation. Level of Evidence: Level IV—case series.
The Relationship of Eating Rate and Degree of Chewing to Body Weight Status among Preschool Children in Japan: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study

There is growing recognition that eating slowly is associated with a lower risk of obesity, and chewing well might be an effective way to reduce the eating rate. However, little is known about these relationships among children. We therefore investigated the associations of eating rate and chewing degree with weight status among 4451 Japanese children aged 5–6 years. Information on eating rate (slow, medium, or fast), degree of chewing (not well, medium, or well), and nutrient intake of children were collected from guardians using a diet history questionnaire. Weight status was defined using the International Obesity Task Force cut-offs based on BMI calculated from guardian-reported height and weight. The prevalence of overweight and thinness was 10.4% and 14.3%, respectively. A higher eating rate and a lower degree of chewing were associated with being overweight (both p < 0.001). Eating slowly was associated with being thin (p < 0.001), but no association was observed between chewing degree and thinness. These associations were still evident after controlling for potential confounders including parental educational attainment, weight status, and the child’s nutrient intake. In conclusion, this cross-sectional study suggested that chewing well, rather than eating slowly, might be a more effective way for healthy weight management among Japanese preschool children.
Recruitment and Collection of Dermal Interstitial Fluid Using a Microneedle Patch

Interstitial fluid (ISF) that surrounds cells in tissues of the body is a novel source of biomarker that complements conventional sources like blood, urine, and saliva. To overcome difficulties in harvesting ISF, a minimally invasive, rapid, simple‐to‐use, cost‐effective method is developed to collect ISF from the skin involving a microneedle (MN) patch. By pressing 650 µm long MNs at an angle just below the skin surface, blood‐free ISF flows through micropores to the skin surface and is absorbed into a thin strip of paper on the MN patch backing for subsequent analysis. An optimized method in rat skin in vivo is well tolerated and able to collect >2 µL of ISF within 1 min. Brief skin pretreatment with MNs followed by a 5 min delay dramatically increases subsequent ISF collection by a mechanism believed to involve increased skin hydration. ISF collection using an MN patch has the potential to simplify access to biomarkers in ISF for research and future medical diagnostic and monitoring applications.
Components and Trends in Door to Treatment Times for Endovascular Therapy in Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Hospitals

Background: Endovascular therapy (EVT) is standard of care in patients with acute disabling ischemic stroke attributable to large-vessel occlusion and is more effective when delivered quickly. It is currently unclear whether time targets achieved in clinical trials can be achieved in clinical practice. We describe interval times from patient arrival in the emergency department (door) to first pass (treatment initiation) in patients receiving EVT within Get With The Guidelines-Stroke hospitals and analyze patient- and hospital-level variables associated with these times. Methods: Data are from sites participating fully as Comprehensive Stroke Centers within Get With The Guidelines-Stroke hospitals from October 2014 to September 2016. Workflow times analyzed include door to imaging, imaging to arterial access, arterial access to first pass, and the composite door to first pass time. Data are described overall and by calendar-year quarters. Multivariable modeling was used to identify patient- and hospital-level variables associated with workflow times. Results: Among 2929 patients with EVT from 195 hospitals (median age, 71 years [interquartile range {IQR}, 60–81]; 50.7% female; median baseline National Institute of Health Stroke Score, 17 [IQR, 12–22]; median annual EVT administration number, 16 [IQR, 10–27]), median door to first pass time was 130 minutes (IQR, 101–170 minutes), door to imaging time was 12 minutes (IQR, 7–20 minutes), imaging to arterial puncture time was 93 minutes (IQR, 68–126 minutes), and arterial puncture to first pass time was 18 minutes (IQR, 4–31 minutes). Overall, 3% patients achieved a door to first pass time ⩽60 minutes. A statistically significant linear time trend was noted for door to first pass time (quarter 4 year 2014 median time, 134.5 minutes to quarter 3 year 2016 median time, 128 minutes, P=0.002). In multivariable analysis, older age, arrival during nonregular hours, and history of diabetes mellitus were associated with longer door to first pass time. Hospitals achieving shorter door to intravenous alteplase administration (door to needle) times were more likely to achieve faster door to first pass time (P<0.001). Each 5 cases/y increase in EVT case volume was associated with a 3% shorter door to first pass time, up to a case volume of 40 per year (P<0.001). Conclusions: Although EVT treatment times are modestly improving, additional efforts are needed to streamline workflow so that the true potential of this treatment is realized. These data may inform benchmark goals for EVT workflow times.
In Vitro Properties and Virulence of Contemporary Recombinant Influenza B Viruses Harboring Mutations of Cross-Resistance to Neuraminidase Inhibitors

Three neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs: Oseltamivir, zanamivir and peramivir) are currently approved in many countries for the treatment of influenza A and B infections. The emergence of influenza B viruses (IBVs) containing mutations of cross-resistance to these NAIs constitutes a serious clinical threat. Herein, we used a reverse genetics system for the current B/Phuket/3073/2013 vaccine strain to investigate the impact on in vitro properties and virulence of H136N, R152K, D198E/N, I222T and N294S NA substitutions (N2 numbering), reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) as clinical markers of reduced or highly-reduced inhibition (RI/HRI) to multiple NAIs. Recombinant viruses were tested by NA inhibition assays. Their replicative capacity and virulence were evaluated in ST6GalI-MDCK cells and BALB/c mice, respectively. All NA mutants (excepted D198E/N) showed RI/HRI phenotypes against ≥ 2 NAIs. These mutants grew to comparable titers of the recombinant wild-type (WT) IBV in vitro, and some of them (H136N, I222T and N294S mutants) induced more weight loss and mortality in BALB/c mice in comparison to the recombinant WT IBV. These results demonstrate that, in contemporary IBVs, some NA mutations may confer RI/HRI phenotypes to existing NAIs without altering the viral fitness. This reinforces the need for development of novel antiviral strategies with different mechanisms of action.
Comparing trends in infanticides in 28 countries, 1960–2009

The term ‘infanticide’ refers to the homicide of a child younger than one year old. In this article, we describe infanticide trends in 28 industrialized countries between 1960 and 2009. The analysis is based on the cause of death data from the WHO Mortality Database and national materials. The purpose is to compare those trends in all these 28 countries not to compare countries per se. Cause of death statistics are based on ICD classification. During the review period, ICD classification changed three times. In addition to describing infanticide trends, we will analyse the impact of those changes on statistical infanticide levels, to be sure that changes in trends could be seen as real, not statistical artefacts. According to our analysis, the change from ICD-7 to ICD-9 in 1968–1970 seems to have had some impact on registered infanticide mortality levels in three of the studied countries. In other countries, the changes did not have any general impact on registered infanticide levels. During the period, infanticide rates decreased in almost all European countries, and increased or were stable in most non-European industrialized countries. Even in Europe, there were significant differences in the decreasing trend between countries. We also found some structural variation behind the trend figures, which raised the question of whether the aggregated infanticide levels really describe an identical phenomenon in different countries.
When trafficking and signaling mix: How subcellular location shapes G protein‐coupled receptor activation of heterotrimeric G proteins

G protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) physically connect extracellular information with intracellular signal propagation. Membrane trafficking plays a supportive role by “bookending” signaling events: movement through the secretory pathway delivers GPCRs to the cell surface where receptors can sample the extracellular environment, while endocytosis and endolysosomal membrane trafficking provide a versatile system to titrate cellular signaling potential and maintain homeostatic control. Recent evidence suggests that, in addition to these important effects, GPCR trafficking actively shapes the cellular signaling response by altering the location and timing of specific receptor‐mediated signaling reactions. Here, we review key experimental evidence underlying this expanding view, focused on GPCR signaling mediated through activation of heterotrimeric G proteins located in the cytoplasm. We then discuss lingering and emerging questions regarding the interface between GPCR signaling and trafficking.
TGF-β3 Decreases Type I Collagen and Scarring after Labioplasty

Cleft lip is a common congenital malformation, and labioplasty performed on infants to repair such defects often results in severe scar formation. Since TGF-β3 has been implicated in wound healing, we therefore hypothesized that TGF-β3 functions to reduce scarring after cleft lip repair. In this investigation, we demonstrated that exogenous TGF-β3 reduced scar formation in an incised and sutured mouse lip in vivo. During labioplasty, endogenous TGF-β3 expression was also elevated. In vitro experiments showed that exogenous TGF-β3 reduced type I collagen accumulation. Furthermore, TGF-β3 inhibited alpha-smooth-muscle actin expression, a marker for myofibroblasts. In tandem, TGF-β3 induced the expression and activity of MMP-9. Analysis of our data suggests that TGF-β3 is normally secreted following labioplastic wound healing. An elevated level of TGF-β3 reduces type I collagen deposition by restricting myofibroblast differentiation and thereby collagen synthesis, and by promoting collagen degradation by MMP-9. In combination, these events lead to TGF-β3-mediated reduced scar formation.
Confidential Performance Feedback and Organizational Capacity Building to Improve Hospital Patient Safety: Results of a Randomized Trial

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of two intervention strategies, performance feedback reporting and organizational capacity building, both of which aim to improve patient safety in hospitals but for which there is a paucity of empirical data on effectiveness. Methods: We randomly assigned the 127 non-Federal, acute care hospitals in Wisconsin to one of three groups: (1) performance feedback reporting, (2) performance feedback reporting and organizational capacity building, and (3) control (no interventions). Reported medical injury rates were based on the Wisconsin Medical Injury Prevention Program (WMIPP) surveillance criteria. We compared adjusted preand postintervention injury rates overall, in four broad categories, and for five priority areas targeted in the organizational capacity building. Results: The groups of hospitals were similar with respect to location, structure, inpatient utilization, facilities, and services offered. Overall medical injury rates for drug-associated injuries increased significantly during the study period in all groups. No statistically significant differences among the intervention groups or between either of the intervention groups and the control group were detected for overall injury or any of the five major category injury rates. Conclusion: The inability to demonstrate a reduction in medical injury rates in relation to either confidential performance feedback reporting or organizational capacity building may be due to either methodologic limitations of the study or ineffectiveness of the interventions.
Turbulence and interphase mass diffusion assumptions on the performance of secondary settling tanks

Secondary settling tanks (SSTs), also known as secondary sedimentation tanks or secondary clarifiers, are a basic yet complicated process in a biological water resource recovery facility. In order to understand and improve SST performance, computational fluid dynamics methods have been employed over the last 30 years. In the present investigation, a Fluent‐based two‐dimensional axisymmetric numerical model is applied to understand the effects of the buoyancy term (Gb) in the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) equation and two model parameters (the coefficient of buoyancy term (C3) in the turbulent dissipation rate equation and the turbulent Schmidt number (σc) in the sludge transport equation) on the performance of an SST. The results show that the hydrodynamics can only be correctly predicted by buoyancy‐coupled TKE equation, unless the mixed liquor suspended solids is low and sludge settling velocity is extremely high. When the field observations show the SST is operating well, the buoyancy‐decoupled TKE equation predicts the correct result, but the buoyancy‐decoupled TKE equation may predict failure. Care is required in selecting the correct modeling technique for various conditions. This study provides guidance on how to avoid modeling problems and increase rates of convergence.
Towards Understanding Software Requirements Capture: Experiences of Professional Students using the NIA to Support the Win-Win Spiral Model

Abstract This paper presents a critical appraisal of the Win-Win Spiral model as a possible process model for developing small-scale software from inception to implementation within a semester framework at higher education institutions. It also presents the Negotiated Incremental Architecture (NIA) and its decision rationale, developed at the University of North London as being a possible architecture that supports the Win-Win Spiral model with respect to developing software within higher education institutions over a semester time frame. A group of mature students undertook a coursework, which involved implementing a reasonably straightforward web-based application using the Win-Win Spiral model [1, 2]. The task was to produce an on-line golf league system where players could input match results and view their league rankings on the web. The coursework was a requirement for the module ‘Software Engineering’ on the postgraduate masters programme at the University of North London, during semester A of 2001/2002 academic session. Having used the Win-Win Spiral model, we consider the model to be too heavy on documentation and will propose to support the on-going research at the University of North London, to develop a collaborative model, which is an adaptive hybrid of the Win-Win Spiral and the Incremental Development. This proposed Negotiated Incremental Model [3, 4, 5] will prove to be attainable within a semester framework as well as realistic to implement in industry.
The Efficacy of Combination Extract Andrographis peniculata and Syzygium polyanthum on Glucose Uptake in Skletal Muscle in Diabetic Rats

Insulin resistance is impaired insulin signaling cascade in target cells to respond normal or elevated circulating insulin to the final cellular effect, such as translocation of vesicles containing GLUT4 glucose transporters, which is the major mediator of glucose removal from the circulation and a key regulator of whole-body glucose homeostasis. Among the several plants, Andrographis peniculata (sambiloto) and Syzygium polyanthum (Daun salam). In the present study, a combination was made, Andrographis peniculata (sambiloto) and Syzygium polyanthum (Daun salam), and to determine the effects of combination on tretament insulin resistance. Male Wistar rats (weight, 200-300 g) were randomized into five groups (6 rats/group). Group 1: negative group. Group 2: positive group (metformin 63 mg/kgBW ). Group 3,4 and 5: treatment with extract combination, each group 250 mg/kgBW, 500 mg/kgBW and 1000 mg/kgBW. Rats were induced by high fat diet-glucocorticoid for insulin resistance. Insulin and GLUT-4 were assayed by ELISA. Treatment with extract combination (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kgBW) and metformin for 2 weeks showed a sigificant decrease in fasting plasma insulin compare with the negative control rats with a reduction of 11,2%, 33,6%, 20% and 19,4%, respectively. Two weeks treatment either extract combination or metformin in diabetic rats, significantly increased GLUT 4 level (p<0,05) with a percentage increase of 6,68%, 15,21%, 12,76% and 1,77%.
An evaluation of the methods to estimate effective population size from measures of linkage disequilibrium

In 1971, John Sved derived an approximate relationship between linkage disequilibrium (LD) and effective population size for an ideal finite population. This seminal work was extended by Sved and Feldman (Theor Pop Biol 4, 129, 1973) and Weir and Hill (Genetics 95, 477, 1980) who derived additional equations with the same purpose. These equations yield useful estimates of effective population size, as they require a single sample in time. As these estimates of effective population size are now commonly used on a variety of genomic data, from arrays of single nucleotide polymorphisms to whole genome data, some authors have investigated their bias through simulation studies and proposed corrections for different mating systems. However, the cause of the bias remains elusive. Here, we show the problems of using LD as a statistical measure and, analogously, the problems in estimating effective population size from such measure. For that purpose, we compare three commonly used approaches with a transition probability‐based method that we develop here. It provides an exact computation of LD. We show here that the bias in the estimates of LD and effective population size are partly due to low‐frequency markers, tightly linked markers or to a small total number of crossovers per generation. These biases, however, do not decrease when increasing sample size or using unlinked markers. Our results show the issues of such measures of effective population based on LD and suggest which of the method here studied should be used in empirical studies as well as the optimal distance between markers for such estimates.
Therapeutic Targets for Bone and Soft-Tissue Sarcomas

Due to the rarity and heterogeneity of bone and soft-tissue sarcomas, investigation into molecular targets and new treatments has been particularly challenging. Although intensive chemotherapy and establishment of surgical procedures have improved the outcomes of patients with sarcoma, the curative rate of recurrent and metastatic sarcomas is still not satisfactory. Recent basic science research has revealed some of the mechanisms of progression and metastasis of malignancies including proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, tumor microenvironment, migration, invasion, and regulation of antitumor immune systems. Based on these basic studies, new anticancer drugs, including pazopanib, trabectedin, eribulin, and immune checkpoint inhibitors have been developed and the efficacies and safety of the new drugs have been assessed by clinical trials. This review summarizes new molecular therapeutic targets and advances in the treatment for bone and soft tissue sarcomas.
Optimization of flotation, DNA extraction and PCR methods for detection of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in cat faeces.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of selected oocysts concentration methods, DNA extraction protocols and PCR assays targeting the B1 gene, for the development of procedures which would be effective and useful in laboratory practice for the detection of T. gondii in faecal samples from cats. MATERIAL AND METHODS In order to compare the influence of the flotation fluids on microscopy and PCR detection of T. gondii, saturated solutions of saccharose, MgSO4, ZnSO4 and NaNO3 were used. To determine the sensitivity of PCR tests used: Real time PCR (RT) and nested PCR, water samples spiked with T. gondii tachyzoites and oocysts were tested. DNA was extracted using DNeasy Blood and Tissue Kit (Qiagen) (K1). The same PCR tests were used to assess the efficacy of T. gondii DNA detection in samples of cat faeces spiked with oocysts, using DNA extraction by a K1 set and a K2 set (QIamp DNA Stool Mini Kit, (Qiagen). RESULTS The initial results showed that NaNO3 was most useful as a flotation fluid due to the lack negative effect on the oocysts and amplification efficacy in PCR. The level of detection for water samples (100 µl) was determined as 100 tachyzoites and 1-50 oocysts in RT, and 2-20 oocysts in nested PCR. The limit of detection (LD) for stool samples (250 mg) spiked with oocysts, where the K1 set was used, determined as 250 and 5 oocysts in RT and nested PCR, respectively. For samples extracted with the K2 set, LD in RT was determined as 1-50 oocysts (depending on the variant) and 50 oocysts in nested PCR. CONCLUSIONS The most effective methods for detection of T. gondii in cat faeces seem to be centrifugal flotation with NaNO3, followed by DNA extraction with removing of inhibitors (K2 set) and Real Time PCR targeting B1 gene.
Reverberation Reduction for Better Speech Recognition

In this paper we present a dereverberation algorithm for improving automatic speech recognition (ASR) results with minimal CPU overhead. As the reverberation tail hurts ASR the most, late reverberation is reduced via gain-based spectral subtraction. We use a multi-band decay model with an efficient method to update it in realtime. In reverberant environments the multi-channel version of the proposed algorithm reduces word error rates (WER) up to one half of the way between those of a microphone array only and a close-talk microphone. The four channel implementation requires less than 2% of the CPU power of a modern computer.