Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Different interventions, same outcomes? Here are four good reasons

Conundrums in musculoskeletal research are common. Halliday and colleagues1 demonstrated similar outcomes for patients with chronic low back pain who received two seemingly different interventions: (1) a McKenzie approach and (2) motor control exercises. Chmielewski and associates2 reported similar knee function and psychosocial status scores in those who received either low intensity or high intensity plyometric exercise programmes. Finally, van Beijsterveildt et al found no differences in the prevention of injuries among amateur footballers when usual care was compared against an exercise strategy that consisted of core stability, eccentric training of thigh muscles, proprioceptive training, dynamic stabilisation and plyometrics exercises.3 These findings beg the question: Why do we see similar outcomes in randomised trials, which compare treatment strategies that are ostensibly different? Our goal is to provide explanations beyond the obvious answers —such as treatments that have similarly effective or ineffective causal mechanisms or failing to account for patient heterogeneity in trial design and consequent insufficient statistical power to detect differences. In this editorial, we present the reader with four additional yet plausible explanations for why trials report similar outcomes. ### Reason 1: the type of outcome assessment may bias findings Our first explanation is the most obvious one. Outcome measures that capture direct measurements of strength and/or flexibility, or other indices of physical performance, may yield findings that are notably different from outcome measures that capture self-reports of pain, function, overall health status or quality of life. Therefore, null findings (no difference among groups) may be related to the fact that different sets of outcome measures are being used to compare the groups being studied. Examples of variant findings among outcomes are present in the literature. One month after total hip arthroplasty, Dayton and colleagues4 report that performance-based function (eg, timed up and go, 6 min walk test and stair climbing test) declined compared with baseline, whereas self-reported …
Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Phenol Formaldehyde Resin Reinforced with Nano-Silica

Reinforced phenol formaldehyde resin (PF) matrix nanocomposites with different nano-SiO2 were fabricated with two-roll compounding and compression molding technology. The mechanical and tribological behaviors of the reinforced composites were studied. The friction and wear experiments were tested on a constant speed machine (D-SM). The impact and flexural strength of nanocomposites were increased by the addition of various types of SiO2, but the flexural modulus was decreased. The effects of the addition of various types of SiO2 on tribological properties of the composites were explored in this study. The results showed that the coefficient of friction of the composites increased, while the wear rate values decreased at various temperatures. Microstructure of worn surface of the tested composites was observed by scanning electronic microscope (SEM) and the wear mechanism of the reinforced composites was studied.
Chromium ion valence transformations in Cr, Ca:YAG used for passive Q-switching

Composite laser devices of passively Q-switched Nd:YAG were prepared by optical contacting of a Ca,Cr:YAG crystal onto a Nd:YAG wafer, followed by thermal treatments at elevated temperatures. Thermal treatments of the composite devices under reducing and/or oxidizing environments enabled to control the Cr4+ ion concentration, which affects its absorption saturation behavior. Optical absorption saturation measurements on partialy reduced Ca,Cr:YAG crystal revealed that residual absorption of the saturable absorber at 1064 nm results from excited-state absorption. Laser damage measurements at the gain/absorber interface of the monolithic device showed that the damage threshold at the gain/absorber interface of the composite device is higher than at the entrance interface. The high optical quality device thus obtained was end-pumped by a fiber-optic-coupled diode laser, and exhibited a high repetition-rate oscillations of short pulses, with fair beam quality.
IgA nephropathy with rapidly progressive course after kidney transplantation.

Dr. N.R. Robles, Sección de Nefrología, Hospital Regional ‘Infanta Cristina’, Ctra. de Portugal s/n, E-06080 Badajoz (Spain) Dear Sir, There are few reports on the clinical course of IgA nephropathy after kidney transplantation [1– 3], but graft loss due to recurrent disease seems to be rare. Recently, Diaz-Tejeiro et al. [4] have reported a case of IgA glomer-ulonephritis with rapidly progressive course and only 4 more cases had previously been reported [5]. We present a new case of IgA nephropathy after kidney transplantation with rapidly progressive renal failure and diffuse crescentic proliferation. The patient was an 18-year-old male who presented with proteinuria, edema and microscopic hematuria in 1977. Percutaneous biopsy showed a membranoprolif-erative glomerulonephritis, but immunofluorescence stain was not performed. In 1986 he begun chronic hemo-dialysis treatment. He was transplanted in September 1987 from a cadaveric donor. The donor HLA antigens were Al, A2, Bll, DR4 and DR7, and the patient’s were A2, B5, B12 and DR7. Initial oligoanuria was present and diuresis started on day 15 after transplantation. Neither acute rejection nor other complication was noted. The serum creatinine stabilized around 1.3 mg/dl (115 mmol/ 1). The patient was discharged on day 30 after transplantation with prednisone and ciclosporin as immunosup-pressive therapy. In February 1988 an increase in serum creatinine was observed (3.8 mg/dl, 336 mmol/l), together with microhematuria and mild proteinuria (680 mg/ day). Allograft biopsy disclosed an IgA nephropathy with mesangial proliferation associated with crescent formation in 80% of the glomeruli. Mild tubulointerstitial and vascular lesions were observed. The patient was treated with methylprednisolone (1,000 mg/day) for 3 days without response. Plasmapheresis was performed every other day for a total of 6 treatments (Plasmaflow separator, 2 liters each time). Simultaneously cyclophos-phamide (2mg/kg/day) was administered in addition to low doses of prednisone (0.2 mg/kg/day) and ciclosporin A (4 mg/kg/day). Fifteen days later serum creatinine had decreased from 7.8 mg/dl (690 mmol/l) and stabilized around 3.9 mg/dl (345 mmol/l). The patient was sent back home and periodically reviewed. In June 1988 the patient was admitted again to the hospital. End-stage renal failure had developed and serum creatinine value was 13.1 mg/dl (1,159 mmol/l). The patient returned to regular hemodialysis.
Why Do Those With Long-Term Substance Use Disorders Stop Abusing Substances? A Qualitative Study

Although a significant proportion of adults recover from substance use disorders (SUDs), little is known about how they reach this turning point or why they stop using. The purpose of the study was to explore the factors that influence reasoning and decision making about quitting substance use after a long-term SUD. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 18 participants, each of whom had been diagnosed with a SUD and had been abstinent for at least 5 years. A resource group of peer consultants in long-term recovery from SUDs contributed to the study’s planning, preparation, and initial analyses. Participants recalled harmful consequences and significant events during their years of substance use. Pressure and concern from close family members were important in their initial efforts to abstain from substance use. Being able to imagine a different life, and the awareness of existing treatment options, promoted hope and further reinforced their motivation to quit. Greater focus on why those with SUDs want to quit may help direct treatment matching; treatment completion may be more likely if the person’s reasons for seeking help are addressed.
Fast Median Filtering for Phase or Orientation Data

Median filtering is among the most utilized tools for smoothing real-valued data, as it is robust, edge-preserving, value-preserving, and yet can be computed efficiently. For data living on the unit circle, such as phase data or orientation data, a filter with similar properties is desirable. For these data, there is no unique means to define a median; so we discuss various possibilities. The arc distance median turns out to be the only variant which leads to robust, edge-preserving and value-preserving smoothing. However, there are no efficient algorithms for filtering based on the arc distance median. Here, we propose fast algorithms for filtering of signals and images with values on the unit circle based on the arc distance median. For non-quantized data, we develop an algorithm that scales linearly with the filter size. The runtime of our reference implementation is only moderately higher than the Matlab implementation of the classical median filter for real-valued data. For quantized data, we obtain an algorithm of constant complexity w.r. t. the filter size. We demonstrate the performance of our algorithms for real life data sets: phase images from interferometric synthetic aperture radar, planar flow fields from optical flow, and time series of wind directions.
Soil Modification and Stabilization Potential of Calcium Carbide Waste

Laterite was treated with calcium carbide waste and lime as the control, to ascertain its modification and stabilization potential, in incremental order of 2% up to 10 %. Atterbergs limits test, compaction test, California bearing ratio (CBR) and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) test was performed on laterite treated with both additives. The use of χ2 test to compare results of tests, showed that there is no significant difference between the modification potential of both additive as reflected in χ2 values of 1.293, 0.995 and 0.650 obtained from the comparison of liquid limit, plastic limit and plasticity index test results. However difference was observed with CBR and 7 day UCS test results as χ2 values of 13.75 and 11.64 respectively were higher than the standard value of 9.49 obtained from statistical Table at 4 degree of freedom and 5 % level of significance. Based on result of tests, calcium carbide waste is recommended for use in soil modification and stabilization, as usage will provide an effective way of disposing calcium carbide waste.
Prepared for surgery – Communication in nurses' preoperative consultations with patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer after a person‐centred intervention

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To describe preoperative communication after a person-centred intervention in nurses' consultations with patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer. BACKGROUND Patients all over the world scheduled for surgery are referred to preoperative consultations with healthcare professionals. The goal is to assess the risk of perioperative complications, improving quality of care and enabling patients to be prepared for surgery and recovery. A person-centred intervention was developed, which consisted of an interactive written patient education material and person-centred communication. DESIGN An explorative quantitative and qualitative study based on 18 audio-taped transcriptions. METHODS Eighteen patients preoperative nursing consultations at three Swedish hospitals were analysed quantitatively regarding structure: words, time, phases, questions, discursive space, and qualitatively: topics and how the person-centred communication appeared in the consultations. RESULTS The median time for consultations was 27 min (range 13-64 min). The nurses used two-thirds of the discursive space in the consultations with the patients. The patient education material was used as a support to structure the consultation and discuss sensitive and difficult issues. Seven topics were discussed during the consultation. Two different approaches to communication were identified: Talking with the patient versus Talking to the patient. Talking with the patient (seen as person-centred communication) was defined as: listening to the narrative and confirming each other, raising difficult topics, seeing each other as persons, building on strengths and resources, preparing for surgery and asking open questions. CONCLUSION Ways of communicating influence how the preoperative consultation develops. Talking with the patient could be seen as person-centred communication in the preoperative care, and when using this approach, the intervention purpose of person-centred communication was met. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Education in person-centred communication is important for nurses to improve their skills in performing preoperative consultations.
Fibrin degeneration product concentrations (D-dimers) in the course of ageing.

D-dimers, cross-linked fibrin split products, have been found to be an indicator of thromboembolic disease and may predict, as fibrinogen or other factors of hemostasis, a higher risk of cerebro- and cardiovascular diseases. D-dimers rose with advancing age in healthy elderly subjects and reached values well above the upper limit of the normal test values. The increase is considered to be the result of several causes, i.e. higher fibrinogen concentrations in the elderly, a slower urinary excretion, more frequent fibrin generation, (occult) diseases, risk factors, inflammatory reactions and degenerative vascular damage. In the elderly, moderately elevated D-dimers are therefore an unspecific finding. The specificity of the D-dimer test for diagnosing thromboembolic diseases can be expected to be lower than in young subjects.
Spectroscopic evaluation of synthesized 5β-dihydrocortisol and 5β-dihydrocortisol acetate binding mechanism with human serum albumin and their role in anticancer activity

Our study focus on the biological importance of synthesized 5β-dihydrocortisol (Dhc) and 5β-dihydrocortisol acetate (DhcA) molecules, the cytotoxic study was performed on breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) normal human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK293), the IC50 values for MCF-7 cells were 28 and 25 μM, respectively, whereas no toxicity in terms of cell viability was observed with HEK293 cell line. Further experiment proved that Dhc and DhcA induced 35.6 and 37.7% early apoptotic cells and 2.5, 2.9% late apoptotic cells, respectively, morphological observation of cell death through TUNEL assay revealed that Dhc and DhcA induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. The complexes of HSA–Dhc and HSA–DhcA were observed as static quenching, and the binding constants (K) was 4.7 ± . 03 × 104 M−1 and 3.9 ± . 05 × 104 M−1, and their binding free energies were found to be −6.4 and −6.16 kcal/mol, respectively. The displacement studies confirmed that lidocaine 1.4 ± . 05 × 104 M−1 replaced Dhc, and phenylbutazone 1.5 ± . 05 × 104 M−1 replaced by DhcA, which explains domain I and domain II are the binding sites for Dhc and DhcA. Further, FT-IR, synchronous spectroscopy, and CD results revealed that the secondary structure of HSA was altered in the presence of Dhc and DhcA. Furthermore, the atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy showed that the dimensions like height and molecular size of the HSA–Dhc and HSA–DhcA complex were larger compared to HSA alone. Detailed analysis through molecular dynamics simulations also supported greater stability of HSA–Dhc and HSA–DhcA complexes, and root-mean-square-fluctuation interpreted the binding site of Dhc as domain IB and domain IIA for DhcA. This information is valuable for further development of steroid derivative with improved pharmacological significance as novel anti-cancer drugs.
Effect of Laser Repetition Rate on Silver Nanoparticles Colloid

The silver nanoparticles colloid was prepared by pulsed laser ablation in distilled water under various laser repetition rates. The particles size, morphologies and absorption spectroscopy of the obtained nanoparticles colloids were characterized by ultraviolet to visible (UV-Vis) spectrometer and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The average diameter and its distribution were analyzed by Image-ProPlus software. The results showed that the average diameter of the silver nanoparticles prepared at the laser repetition rate of 10 HZ was the smallest (D=29.75 nm), also, the distribution of particle size decreases with increasing the laser repetition rate.
Applying the Transtheoretical Model to Tobacco Cessation and Prevention: A Review of Literature

Objective. To comprehensively review all published, peer-reviewed research on the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) and tobacco cessation and prevention by exploring the validity of its constructs, the evidence for use of interventions based on the TTM, the description of populations using TTM constructs, and the identification of areas for further research. The three research questions answered were: “How is the validity of the TTM as applied to tobacco supported by research? ” “How does the TTM describe special populations regarding tobacco use? ” “What is the nature of evidence supporting the use of stage-matched tobacco interventions? ” Data Source. Computer Database search (PsychInfo, Medline, Current Contents, ERIC, CINAHL-Allied Health, and Pro-Quest Nursing) and manual journal search. Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria. All English, original, research articles on the TTM as it relates to tobacco use published in peer-reviewed journals prior to March 1, 2001, were included. Commentaries, editorials, and books were not included. Data Extraction and Synthesis. Articles were categorized as TTM construct validation, population descriptions using TTM constructs, or intervention evaluation using TTM constructs. Summary tables including study design, research rating, purpose, methods, findings, and implications were created. Articles were further divided into groups according to their purpose. Considering both the findings and research quality of each, the three research questions were addressed. Results. The 148 articles reviewed included 54 validation studies, 73 population studies, and 37 interventions (some articles fit two categories). Overall, the evidence in support of the TTM as applied to tobacco use was strong, with supportive studies being more numerous and of a better design than nonsupportive studies. Using established criteria, we rated the construct validity of the entire body of literature as good; however, notable concerns exist about the staging construct. A majority of stage-matched intervention studies provided positive results and were of a better quality than those not supportive of stage-matched interventions; thus, we rated the body of literature using stage-matched tobacco interventions as acceptable and the body of literature using non–stage-matched interventions as suggestive. Population studies indicated that TTM constructs are applicable to a wide variety of general and special populations both in and outside of the United States, although a few exceptions exist. Conclusions. Evidence for the validity of the TTM as it applies to tobacco use is strong and growing; however, it is not conclusive. Eight different staging mechanisms were identified, raising the question of which are most valid and reliable. Interventions tailored to a smoker's stage were successful more often than nontailored interventions in promoting forward stage movement. Stage distribution is well-documented for U.S. populations; however, more research is needed for non-U.S. populations, for special populations, and on other TTM constructs.
A higher incidence of congenital structural talipes equinovarus in gypsies.

The incidence of congenital structural talipes equinovarus was 3.41 ± 0.64 per 1,000 gipsy livebirths in the county Baranya in 1970-1974 which is significantly higher than both the incidence of congenital talipes equinovarus in the Hungarian newborns (1.3) and in the livebirths of the county Baranya (1.5).
Biofilm history and oxygen availability interact to affect habitat selection in a marine invertebrate

Abstract In marine systems, oxygen availability varies at small temporal and spatial scales, such that current oxygen levels may not reflect conditions of the past. Different studies have shown that marine invertebrate larvae can select settlement sites based on local oxygen levels and oxygenation history of the biofilm, but no study has examined the interaction of both. The influence of normoxic and hypoxic water and oxygenation history of biofilms on pre-settlement behavior and settlement of the bryozoan Bugula neritina was tested. Larvae used cues in a hierarchical way: the oxygen levels in the water prime larvae to respond, the response to different biofilms is contingent on oxygen levels in the water. When oxygen levels varied throughout biofilm formation, larvae responded differently depending on the history of the biofilm. It appears that B. neritina larvae integrate cues about current and historical oxygen levels to select the appropriate microhabitat and maximize their fitness.
MF59-adjuvanted influenza vaccine (FLUAD®) elicits higher immune responses than a non-adjuvanted influenza vaccine (Fluzone®): A randomized, multicenter, Phase III pediatric trial in Mexico

ABSTRACT The poor immune response elicited by trivalent influenza vaccines (TIVs) in children can be enhanced by the addition of adjuvants. This observer-blind, randomized Phase III trial assessed the immunogenicity and safety of the MF59-adjuvanted trivalent influenza vaccine FLUAD® (aTIV) and a non-adjuvanted TIV, in healthy children (aged 6 to <72 months) from 3 centers in Mexico, during the 2014–2015 season. The primary objectives were to assess the non-inferiority of aTIV to TIV, measured by geometric mean titers (GMTs), and the safety of aTIV and TIV. Seroconversion was one of several secondary objectives. In total, 287 children were enrolled. The non-inferiority criteria for GMTs and seroconversion were met for aTIV for all 3 vaccine strains. Lower bounds of the 95% confidence intervals for all 3 aTIV:TIV vaccine ratios were >2, showing that the immunogenicity of aTIV was superior to that of TIV for all 3 strains. Solicited adverse events (AEs) were experienced more frequently with aTIV than TIV by younger children (aged 6 to <36 months), but were more frequent with TIV than aTIV in older children (aged 36 to <72 months) who had been vaccinated previously. More unsolicited AEs were associated with aTIV than the TIV. All AEs were of mild or moderate severity. No deaths, serious AEs, or AEs leading to premature withdrawal were reported. Overall, aTIV was highly immunogenic and was well tolerated in healthy children 6 to <72 months of age. These results indicate that aTIV may be a beneficial addition to national pediatric vaccination programs.