bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ultrashort Time-to-Echo MRI of the Cartilaginous Endplate: Technique and Association with Intervertebral Disk Degeneration
Authors: Law T. , Anthony M. P. , Samartzis D. , Chan Q. , Kim M. , Cheung K. , Khong P. 
Published: June 2012

Introduction An association between cartilaginous endplate (CEP) defects and intervertebral disk (IVD) degeneration has been previously suggested in animal and cadaveric studies. There have been no previous reports in the literature that describe the use of ultrashort time-to-echo (UTE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess the CEP in humans in vivo. As such, the purpose of this study was to report the feasibility of the UTE MRI technique to assess CEP defects in humans in vivo using and to assess their relationship with IVD degeneration. Materials and Methods Nine volunteer subjects (mean age 43.9 years; range: 22 to 61 years) were recruited, representing 54 IVDs and 108 CEPs. The subjects underwent T2-weighted and UTE MRI to assess for the presence and severity of IVD degeneration, and for the presence of CEP defects, respectively, from T12 to S1. Intervertebral disk degeneration was graded according to the Schneiderman et al classification on T2-weighted MRI. CEP defects were defined on UTE MRI as discontinuity of high-signal over 4 consecutive images and were independently assessed by two observers. Results Total 37% out of 108 (34.3%) CEPs had defects, which mainly occurred at T12/L1, L1/L2, and L4/L5 ( p = 0.008). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that lower BMI ( p = 0.009) and younger ( p = 0.034) individuals had a decreased likelihood of having CEP defects. A statistically significant association was found to exist between the presence of CEP defects and IVD degeneration ( p = 0.036).A higher prevalence of degenerated IVDs with CEP defects were found at L4/5 and L5/S1, while degenerated IVDs with no CEP defects were found throughout the whole lumbar region. Mean IVD degeneration scores of the L4/5 and L5/S1 levels with CEP defects were higher in comparison to those with no CEP defects. Conclusion Our study demonstrates the feasibility of using UTE MRI in humans in vivo to assess the integrity of the CEP. A statistically significant association was found to exist between the presence of CEP defects and IVD degeneration. In the lower lumbar region, more severe degeneration was found to occur in the IVDs with CEP defects than in those without defects. Such imaging technology may broaden the understanding of IVD degeneration and facilitate management options that target IVD repair/regeneration. I confirm having declared any potential conflict of interest for all authors listed on this abstract Yes Disclosure of Interest None declared
Interspinous Dynamic Stabilization Using Diam Device at L5-S1 Level
Authors: Aleynik A. , Mlyavikh S. , Bokov A. , Ushakov A. , Perlmutter O. 
Published: June 2012

Introduction Interspinous stabilization has limited indications especially at L5-S1 level. But there's no description of level anatomy of L5-S1 hopeful for DIAM (Medtronic, Memphis, TN, USA) insertion in the literature. Materials and Methods We have suggested that short number of CT parameters could be used to check if level anatomy satisfied the requirements of good interspinous stabilization. The parameters are as follows: sagittal size of the spinous process “working part” (from yellow ligament to curved part)>13 mm, it's width from 4 to7 mm, sagittal translation of the vertebra ≤4 mm, segmental angle from 5 to 20°, interspinous height ≤14 mm, density of spinous process (Hounsfield) >200 units, height of the disk>50% (compared to the upper one), S1 spinous process slope (angle among S1 endplate line and upper edge of it's spinous process)<35°. We performed retrospective study among patients operated on L5-S1 level with DIAM device according to offered parameters (Group A - 52 patients 24 men, 28 women, mean age 39,4 ± 9,1) and group of patients, treated with decompressive operation at L5-S1 alone (Group B - 52 patients 19 men, 33 women, mean age 42.7 ± 10.1). Indication for surgery were: disсal herniations, segmental hypermobility, and lateral recess stenosis. Symptoms of leg and back pain and fail of the conservative treatment for 4 weeks were also necessary. Decompressive operations were: microdiscectomy, laminotomy, and medial facet resection. We have compared close (10 days after surgery) and remote results (24 month after surgery) by visual analog scale of pain, Oswestry disability index, patients satisfaction rate, operation time, and blood loss. Results In Group A, no reoperations, no unsatisfactory results, 3 satisfactory results, 49 good and excellent results, no implant failure. In Group B, 2 reoperations (unsatisfactory results), 7 satisfactory results, 43 good and excellent results. Visual analog scale for back pain; before the surgery: Group A-52.13 ± 23.5; Group B-48.09 ± 22.49 (no difference: p = 0.39); 10 days after surgery: Group A-19.8 ± 8.74, Group B-16.2 ± 8.44(difference at p = 0.02); 24 month after surgery: Group A-13.31 ± 10.73, Group B-20.17 ± 12.52 (difference at p = 0.00043). Oswestry index; before the operation: Group A 46.26 ± 15.62, Group B-51.27 ± 22.54 ( p = 0.27); 24 month after surgery: Group Я-10.26 ± 7.28, Group B-15.02 ± 10.9 ( p = 0.032). Blood loss at Group Я-110.7 ± 35.2 mL, Group B-67.4 ± 15.5 Мл( p = 0.0018). Operative time; Group A-115.5 ± 39.6 minutes, Group B-84.6 ± 26.7 minutes ( p < 0.001). Conclusion Interspinous dynamic stabilization using DIAM device is useful at L5-S1 level in cases where level anatomy lets you to set the device. CT is a method of choice for preoperative planning of the interspinous stabilization. I confirm having declared any potential conflict of interest for all authors listed on this abstract Yes Disclosure of Interest None declared
Can Adjacent Segment Degeneration be Reduced? Hybrid Fusions with Dynamic Topping-off versus 2-Level TLIF: Outcomes, Revisions and Complications of 104 Cases
Authors: Tuschel A. , Becker P. , Eder C. , Ogon M. 
Published: June 2012

Introduction Pedicle screw-based dynamic implants are considered to be a possibility to obtain stability and at the same time reduce the risk of the development of adjacent segment disease (ASD) in the lumbar spine. The aim of this study was to compare hybrid constructs (TLIF + adjacent dynamic stabilization) with rigid fusions (TLIF) in the lumbar spine, regarding clinical outcome, adjacent segment disease, and possible complications. Materials and Methods Between June 2008 and April 2010, a total of 104 patients underwent either 2-level hybrid surgery (TLIF + adjacent dynamic stabilization) (51 patients) or 2-level fusion (TLIF) (53 patients) in the lumbar spine for lumbar spinal stenosis with or without mild instability. Preoperatively, no significant differences regarding demographic factors, diagnosis or baseline outcome parameters could be found between the groups. To assess clinical outcome, SF36, Oswestry, and VAS pain scores were obtained preoperatively at last follow-up. Any revision surgery for symptomatic adjacent level degeneration and for complications was recorded. Mean follow-up was 27 months. Results Clinical outcome Clinical outcome parameters showed significant improvement from baseline after surgery in both groups; the difference of improvement between the two groups was statistically not significant. Adjacent segment disease In the fusion-group, the revision rate because of ASD was 7.5% compared with 5.9% in the dynamic-group. Fisher exact test showed no statistical difference in the ASD-related revision rates between both groups ( p = 0.513) Mean time until revision surgery was 15.8 months in the fusion-group and 24.3 months in the dynamic group. Complications Fusion Group: Apart from revisions due to ASD, two patients had to undergo revision surgery (1 x infection, 1 x further decompression). No failure of the hardware was noticed in the fusion-group. In the dynamic group, apart from revisions due to ASD, one patient had to undergo revision surgery due to screw-loosening after 15 months. Furthermore, one of the patients with ASD in the dynamic group had an additional loosening of the dynamic part of the rod. Another patient showed a broken dynamic rod at 12 months follow-up. Due to lack of symptoms he did not undergo revision surgery up to now. All together the implant failure rate in the dynamic group was 5.9% Conclusion At a mean follow-up of 27 months, clinical outcomes and ASD-related revision rates of 2-level TLIF and 2-level hybrid fusions with adjacent dynamic stabilization seem to be very comparable. There was a trend towards earlier revisions in the fusion group, but at the same time a trend towards a higher implant-failure rate could be observed in the dynamic group. I confirm having declared any potential conflict of interest for all authors listed on this abstract Yes Disclosure of Interest None declared
Generation of Wear Debris and Inflammatory Reaction around Cervical Disk Prosthesis after a Minimum of 18 Months in Vivo
Authors: Kabir K. , Deml M. , Pflugmacher R. , Wirtz D. C. 
Published: June 2012

Introduction Cervical disk replacement seems to be a promising alternative to anterior cervical fusion. However, there is still lack of information about the generation of wear particles and local reaction to these particles in human cervical spine under in vivo conditions. The authors report clinical outcome and histological findings of three revised cervical prosthesis after a minimum of 18 months in function. Materials and Methods We report three patients who underwent revision of their cervical disk prosthesis after a minimum of 18 months in vivo. All patients were asymptomatic for a minimum of 6 months after initial procedure. Cervicobrachialgia was the most common presentation. Pain was measured using the self-reporting Visual Analogue pain Scale (VAS). The preoperative diagnostic algorithm consists of functional X-ray, cervical MRI, myelographie, postmyelo-CT, 3-phase bone scintigraphy, and SPECT-CT. All implants were retrieved and the surrounded soft tissue was histological evaluated. All patients were fused in the affected segment. Results The preoperative VAS-Score was 7, 3 + /−1. All implants were retrieved without any complications. All the prostheses were surrounded by a soft fibrotic tissue. Metal and PE debris with signs of foreign body inflammatory reaction was found within the surrounding soft tissue shell of the segment. The soft tissue toward epidural space caused narrowing of epidural space. Only one patient had a loosening of one endplate, which was visible in the preoperative scintigraphy. Two patients were pain free and one patient had minor neck pain (VAS 3) without radicular pain after the revision surgery. Conclusion Despite the limits of our case series, the results show that generation of wear debris and inflammatory reaction to these particles exist after cervical disk replacement. Revision surgery is promising in such patients after a standardized diagnostic algorithm. One goal of the next generation of cervical disk replacement should be low generation of wear particles and less biological active wear particles. I confirm having declared any potential conflict of interest for all authors listed on this abstract No Disclosure of Interest None declared
Influence of Autologous Mononuclear Stem-Cells over Symptomatic Disk Disease in Experimental Animal Model
Authors: Vialle E. , Vialle L. , Arruda A. , Amarante C. 
Published: June 2012

Introduction Various therapeutic strategies have been used for controlling or at least slowing the degenerative cascade that leads to symptomatic disk degeneration. In this context, given its regenerative capability, stem cells (SC) therapy has shown promising results acting early on the degenerative cascade. This study aims to evaluate the influence of autologous adult mononuclear SC on the histological changes of experimentally induced disk degeneration. Materials and Methods After local Ethical Committee approval, 16 rabbits-New Zealand, male, 3.5 to 4.5 kg-underwent needle puncture of the three caudal lumbar intervertebral discs using a previously validated technique, and the remaining discs were used as controls. The animals received either autologous mesenchymal SC or saline solution after 2 weeks (group 1) or 2 months (group 2). Animals underwent euthanasia 8 weeks after the cell administration, and the discs were harvested for analysis. The slides were analyzed on hematoxylin-eosin stains for the presence of degeneration by a previously validated score, and by automated color morphometry, also previously validated by the authors, defining cellular size and cellular population within the nucleus pulposus (NP). Results Total 91 intervertebral discs (IVDs) were obtained for histological analysis, extracted from 16 animals-4 animals were excluded due to inadequate tissue preparation. The study group was divided as follows: 55 control-not punctured-IVDs and 36 experimental IVDs; were 21 have received SC and 15, isotonic saline solution. The microscopically characteristic alterations of the experimental disk degeneration have been observed in all punctured IVDs; however, some slides suggested a less intensive degeneration process and normal areas inside de nucleus pulposus, meaning recovery areas in the IVDs which have received mononuclear stem cells. Through color morphometry, significant differences favoring the SC group regarding number of cells and especially nuclear size ( p = 0.03) give indirect evidence that the injected cells survived within the NP. There was also a trend favoring the group receiving SC earlier (2 weeks). Conclusion Injection of SC was not able to interrupt the degenerative process triggered by disk puncture. However, the histological changes were less severe in the groups receiving cell therapy. Color morphometry showed clusters of cells within the NP, not seen in the control groups. I confirm having declared any potential conflict of interest for all authors listed on this abstract Yes Disclosure of Interest None declared
Determination of the Median Lethal Dose of Botulinum Serotype E in Channel Catfish Fingerlings
Authors: Chatla Kamalakar , Gaunt Patricia S. , Hanson Larry , Gao Dana X. , Wills Robert 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
The median lethal dose of botulinum serotype E in 5.3-g channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus fingerlings was determined. Five tanks (five fish/tank) were assigned to each of the following treatment groups: 70, 50, 35, 25, or 15 pg of purified botulinum serotype E. Fish were injected intracoelomically and observed for 96 h. Administration of the toxin resulted in initial hyperactivity followed by erratic swimming, paresis, and death. The cumulative mortality by treatment group was 100% at 70 pg, 96% at 50 pg, 100% at 35 pg, 88% at 25 pg, and 56% at 15 pg. The median lethal dose was calculated as 13.7 pg/fish (equivalent to a 0.81 median lethal dose for mice Mus musculus) using a logistic regression model. All fish were necropsied; lesions included exophthalmia, ascites, splenic congestion, intussusception of the intestines, congested spleen, and blanching of the intestinal tract. The resultant clinical signs and lesions were similar to those noted in the syndrome of visceral toxicosis of catfish. This study indicates that channel catfish are more sensitive to the effects of botulinum serotype E than laboratory mice, and the signs and lesions of visceral toxicosis of catfish were replicated by injecting catfish with the toxin.
Received October 13, 2011; accepted January 14, 2011
Comparison of Hatchery and Field Performance between a Whirling-Disease-Resistant Strain and the Ten Sleep Strain of Rainbow Trout
Authors: Wagner Eric J. , Bartley Matt , Arndt Ronney , Oplinger Randall W. , Routledge M. Douglas 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
A whirling-disease-resistant strain of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (GRHL strain) derived from a backcross of an F1 hybrid of two strains (German strain × Harrison Lake strain) with German strain females, was compared with the Ten Sleep (TS) strain of rainbow trout. The GRHL strain had consistently superior growth and feed conversion in two consecutive hatchery trials. Hatching and mortality rates were similar between strains. Both strains were stocked into two Utah reservoirs (Hyrum, Porcupine), and a third, Causey Reservoir, was monitored as a control for seasonal variation in prevalence of Myxobolus cerebralis. A total of 1,323 salmonids captured by gill net in spring and fall sampling between 2006 and 2008 were tested for M. cerebralis via pepsin-trypsin digest methods. Only eight of these (&lt;1% per species) had clinical signs consistent with whirling disease. In both reservoirs, GRHL survived better than the TS and had higher growth rates. The prevalence of M. cerebralis was significantly lower for GRHL (18.1%) than TS (50.0%) in Porcupine Reservoir. In Hyrum Reservoir the trend was similar, but prevalence was lower and did not significantly differ between GRHL (9.6%) and TS (23.1%). For infected fish, no significant differences were observed between strains in myxospore counts in either Hyrum (GRHL = 911–28,244 spores/fish [spf], TS = 1,822–155,800 spf) or Porcupine (GRHL = 333–426,667spf, TS = 333–230,511 spf) reservoirs. Unmarked rainbow trout in both reservoirs had significantly higher myxospore counts than stocked fish of either strain. There were significant differences in M. cerebralis prevalence and myxospore loads among other naturally reproducing salmonids in the reservoirs. The trend in susceptibility was cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii &gt; kokanee Oncorhynchus nerka &gt; brown trout Salmo trutta. The GRHL performed well in both hatchery and field settings and is recommended for stocking programs.
Received December 28, 2011; accepted February 2, 2012
Slicely countably determined Banach spaces
Authors: Avilés Antonio , Kadets Vladimir , Martín Miguel , Merí Javier , Shepelska Varvara 
Published: June 2012

We introduce the class of slicely countably determined Banach spaces which contains in particular all spaces with the Radon-Nikodým property and all spaces without copies of

ℓ
1

\ell _1

. We present many examples and several properties of this class. We give some applications to Banach spaces with the Daugavet and the alternative Daugavet properties, lush spaces and Banach spaces with numerical index

1
1

. In particular, we show that the dual of a real infinite-dimensional Banach space with the alternative Daugavet property contains

ℓ
1

\ell _1

and that operators which do not fix copies of

ℓ
1

\ell _1

on a space with the alternative Daugavet property satisfy the alternative Daugavet equation.
The homotopy fixed point spectra of profinite Galois extensions
Authors: Behrens Mark , Davis Daniel 
Published: June 2012

LetEEbe akk-local profiniteGG-Galois extension of anE∞E_\infty-ring spectrumAA(in the sense of Rognes). We show thatEEmay be regarded as producing a discreteGG-spectrum. Also, we prove that ifEEis a profaithfulkk-local profinite extension which satisfies certain extra conditions, then the forward direction of Rognes’s Galois correspondence extends to the profinite setting. We show that the function spectrumFA((EhH)k,(EhK)k)F_A((E^{hH})_k, (E^{hK})_k)is equivalent to the localized homotopy fixed point spectrum((E[[G/H]])hK)k((E[[G/H]])^{hK})_k, whereHHandKKare closed subgroups ofGG. Applications to MoravaEE-theory are given, including showing that the homotopy fixed points defined by Devinatz and Hopkins for closed subgroups of the extended Morava stabilizer group agree with those defined with respect to a continuous action in terms of the derived functor of fixed points.
Perturbed dynamical systems with an attracting singularity and weak viscosity limits in Hamilton-Jacobi equations
Authors: Perthame B. 
Published: June 2012

We give a new PDE proof of the Wentzell-Freidlin theorem concerning small perturbations of a dynamical system
\[

L
ε

u
ε

=
−

ε
2

Δ

u
ε

−
b
⋅
∇

u
3

=
0

in

Ω
,

u
ε

=
φ

on

∂
Ω
.

\begin {gathered} {L_\varepsilon }{u_\varepsilon } = - \tfrac {\varepsilon } {2}\Delta {u_\varepsilon } - b \cdot \nabla {u_3} = 0\quad {\text {in}}\;\Omega , \hfill \\ {u_\varepsilon } = \varphi \quad {\text {on}}\;\partial \Omega . \hfill \\ \end {gathered}

\]
We prove that, if

b
b

has a single attractive singular point,

u
ε

{u_\varepsilon }

converges uniformly on compact subsets of

Ω
\Omega

, and with an exponential decay, to a constant

μ
\mu

, and we determine

μ
\mu

. We also treat the case of Neumann boundary condition. In order to do so, we perform the asymptotic analysis for some ergodic measure which leads to a study of the viscosity limit of a Hamilton-Jacobi equation. This is achieved under very general assumptions by using a weak formulation of the viscosity limits of these equations. Résumé. Nous donnons une nouvelle preuve, par des méthodes EDP, du théorème de Wentzell-Freidlin concernant les petites perturbations d’un système dynamique:
\[

L
ε

u
ε

=
−

ε
2

Δ

u
ε

−
b
⋅
∇

u
ε

=
0

dans

Ω
,

u
ε

=
φ

sur

∂
Ω
.

\begin {gathered} {L_\varepsilon }{u_\varepsilon } = - \tfrac {\varepsilon } {2}\Delta {u_\varepsilon } - b \cdot \nabla {u_\varepsilon } = 0\quad {\text {dans}}\;\Omega , \hfill \\ {u_\varepsilon } = \varphi \quad {\text {sur}}\;\partial \Omega . \hfill \\ \end {gathered}

\]
Nous prouvons que, si

b
b

a un seul point singulier attractif, alors

u
ε

{u_\varepsilon }

converge vers une constant

μ
\mu

, uniformément sur tout compact, et avec une vitesse exponentielle. Nous déterminons

μ
\mu

. Nous traitons aussi le cas de conditions aux limites de Neuman. Pour cela, nous faisons l’analyse asymptotique d’une mesure ergodique intervenant naturellement dans le problème, ce qui revient à étudier la limite par viscosité évanescente dans une équation de Hamilton-Jacobi. Ceci est réalisé sous des hypothèses très générales gâce à un passage à la limite faible dans cette équation.
Minimal identities of symmetric matrices
Authors: Ma Wen Xin , Racine Michel L. 
Published: June 2012

Let

H
n

(
F
)

{H_n}(F)

denote the subspace of symmetric matrices of

M
n

(
F
)

{M_n}(F)

, the full matrix algebra with coefficients in a field

F
F

. The subspace

H
n

(
F
)
⊂

M
n

(
F
)

{H_n}(F)\subset {M_n}(F)

does not have any polynomial identity of degree less than

2
n

2n

. Let
\[

T
k
i

(

x
1

,
…
,

x
k

)
=

∑

α
∈

S

k

1
≤
i
≤
k
,

σ

−
1

(
i
)
≡
1
,
2
mod
⁡
4

(
−
1
)

σ

x

σ
(
1
)

x

σ
(
2
)

⋯

x

σ
(
k
)

,

T_k^i({x_1}, \ldots ,{x_k}) = \sum \limits _{\begin {array}{*{20}{c}} {\alpha \in {\mathcal {S}_k}} \\ {1 \leq i \leq k,{\sigma ^{ - 1}}(i) \equiv 1,2\operatorname {mod} 4} \\ \end {array} } {{{( - 1)}^\sigma }{x_{\sigma (1)}}} {x_{\sigma (2)}} \cdots {x_{\sigma (k)}},

\]
, and

e
(
n
)
=
n

e(n) = n

if

n
n

is even,

n
+
1

n + 1

if

n
n

is odd. For all

n
≥
1
,

T

2
n

i

n \geq 1,T_{2n}^i

is an identity of

H
n

(
F
)

{H_n}(F)

. If the characteristic of

F
F

does not divide

e
(
n
)
!

e(n)!

and if

n
≠
3

n \ne 3

, then any homogeneous polynomial identity of

H
n

(
F
)

{H_n}(F)

of degree

2
n

2n

is a consequence of

T

2
n

i

T_{2n}^i

. The case

n
=
3

n = 3

is also dealt with. The proofs are algebraic, but an equivalent formulation of the first result in graph-theoretical terms is given.