Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Comparison of Physician and Nonphysician Acupuncture Treatment For Chronic Low Back Pain

Background:Although up to a third of the 10,000 acupuncturists in the United States are medical doctors, little is known about the acupuncture techniques they use or how their practices compare with those of nonphysician licensed acupuncturists. This is the first study providing descriptive data on physician acupuncture and comparison to nonphysician acupuncture. Purpose:This study describes how a random sample of physician acupuncturists in the United States diagnose and treat chronic low back pain and contrasts their practices with those of nonphysician licensed acupuncturists. Methods:A total of 464 questionnaires were mailed to physician acupuncturists randomly sampled from 3 sources: web-based Yellow Pages, American Academy of Medical Acupuncturists (AAMA) membership, and Pain Clinics associated with American College of Graduate Medical Education-approved fellowship programs. Responses (n = 137, 30%) were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results of this survey were compared with data published from a similar survey of nonphysician licensed acupuncturists in Washington State. Results:Physicians who perform acupuncture use a mixture of styles and emphasize neuroanatomic approaches to needle placement. Most physicians received training in French Energetic acupuncture. In contrast, most nonphysician licensed acupuncturists use a traditional Chinese medicine approach to needle placement. Despite this apparent difference in their predominant styles of acupuncture, there was a high correlation between physician and nonphysician licensed acupuncturist acupoint selection to treat low back pain. In addition to acupuncture needling, physicians use other medical treatments, whereas nonphysician licensed acupuncturists' employ a variety of traditional Chinese medicine adjuncts to needling. Conclusion:This study provides new information about the nature of physician acupuncture practice in the United States and how it compares to acupuncture provided by nonphysician licensed acupuncturists. Further research is necessary to determine if the different types of acupuncture provided by physicians and nonphysician acupuncturists affect treatment outcomes and costs for patients with chronic low back pain.
Linear Convergence of a Frank-Wolfe Type Algorithm over Trace-Norm Balls

We propose a rank-$k$ variant of the classical Frank-Wolfe algorithm to solve convex optimization over a trace-norm ball. Our algorithm replaces the top singular-vector computation ($1$-SVD) in Frank-Wolfe with a top-$k$ singular-vector computation ($k$-SVD), which can be done by repeatedly applying $1$-SVD $k$ times. Alternatively, our algorithm can be viewed as a rank-$k$ restricted version of projected gradient descent. We show that our algorithm has a linear convergence rate when the objective function is smooth and strongly convex, and the optimal solution has rank at most $k$. This improves the convergence rate and the total time complexity of the Frank-Wolfe method and its variants.
Hyper-renormalization: Non-minimization Approach for Geometric Estimation

The technique of “renormalization” for geometric estimation attracted much attention when it appeared in early 1990s for having higher accuracy than any other then known methods. The key fact is that it directly specifies equations to solve, rather than minimizing some cost function. This paper expounds this “non-minimization approach” in detail and exploits this principle to modify renormalization so that it outperforms the standard reprojection error minimization. Doing a precise error analysis in the most general situation, we derive a formula that maximizes the accuracy of the solution; we call it hyper-renormalization. Applying it to ellipse fitting, fundamental matrix computation, and homography computation, we confirm its accuracy and efficiency for sufficiently small noise. Our emphasis is on the general principle, rather than on individual methods for particular problems.
Site of central nervous system (CNS) relapse in patients with diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) by the CNS‐IPI risk model

not develop any bleeding related to antithrombotic therapy, including four patients with bleeding histories. Furthermore, two patients developed bleeding on dual AP therapy, known to have a higher risk for bleeding even in the general population (Lee, 2015). Currently, plasma is the standard of care in the US to treat and prevent bleeding episodes in patients with FXID. Given that plasma is associated with the risk of allergic reactions, volume overload and transfusion-related lung injury, limiting the exposure of patients to plasma is paramount in this population. As FXID patients remain at risk for ACS and other thrombotic events, and the diagnosis of FXID may not occur until later in life, it is of great significance to understand the risks and benefits of antithrombotic therapy in this population. In conclusion, in our small series, the use of antithrombotic therapy in patients with FXI deficiency was not associated with major bleeding events. However multicentre prospective studies of patients on antithrombotic therapy are necessary to determine the optimal antithrombotic regimen in these patients. Moreover, due to the widespread use of direct oral AC, such as rivaroxaban and apixaban, it will be of great importance to closely monitor the use of these agents in patients with FXI deficiency. Acknowledgement
Reliability and sensitivity to change of IW-TSE versus DESS magnetic resonance imaging sequences in the assessment of bone marrow lesions in knee osteoarthritis patients: Longitudinal data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) cohort

Background: Bone marrow lesions (BMLs) are associated with osteoarthritis (OA). We assessed the performance of two commonly used MRI sequences, IW-TSE and DESS, for reliability in the detection of BMLs and sensitivity to estimate change over time. We suggested that the IW-TSE would demonstrate higher sensitivity to change than DESS in the assessment of BML prevalence and change over time. This study was performed using a subset of the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) cohort. Methods: A sub-group of 144 patients was selected from the OAI progression cohort who all had IW-TSE and DESS MRI acquisitions at baseline and 24 months. BMLs were assessed using a semi-quantitative scale in the global knee, medial and lateral compartments, and subregions. Intra-reader reliability was assessed on a subset of 51 patients. Results: Intra-reader reliability was substantial for the global knee ≥ 0.64, medial ≥ 0.70, and lateral ≥ 0.63 compartments for IW-TSE and DESS. The prevalence of BML detected at baseline was only slightly greater for IW-TSE compared to DESS. The mean BML score at baseline was significantly higher (p ≤ 0.006) for the IW-TSE than the DESS. However, mean change at 24 months was similar for both sequences for all regions except the medial compartment (p = 0.034) and medial femur (p = 0.015) where they were significantly higher for DESS than IW-TSE. Moreover, the prevalence of BML change at 24 months was similar in all regions except the global knee (p = 0.047) and the lateral tibial plateau (p = 0.031). Conclusion: This study does not suggest superior sensitivity to change of one sequence over the other for almost all the regions. The only difference is a higher BML mean change over time detected by the DESS sequence in the medial compartment and femur. These data bring into perspective that both sequences seem equivalent regarding their use for the assessment of BML in clinical trials.
Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy plus dystonia is caused by a mitochondrial DNA point mutation

A Novemberel point mutation in the ND6 subunit of complex I at position 14,459 of the mitochondrial DNA (MTND6*LDY T14459A) was identified as a candidate mutation for the highly tissue‐specific disease. Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy plus dystonia. Since the MTND6*LDYT14459A mutation was identified in a single family, other pedigrees with the mutation are needed to confirm its association with the disease. Clinical, biochemical, and genetic characterization is reported in two additional pedigress. Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy developed in two family members in one pedigree. The dAugusthter had clinically silent basal ganglia lesions. In a second pedigree, a single individual presented with childhood‐onset generalized dystonia and bilateral basal ganglia lesions. Patient groups that included individuals with Leigh's disease, dystonia plus complex neurodegeneration, and Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy did not harbor the MTND6*LDYT14459A mutation, suggesting that this mutation displays a high degree of tissue specificity, thus producing a narrow phenotypic range. These results confirm the association of the MTND6*LDYT14459A mutation with Leber's herediatary optic neuropathy and/or dystonia. As the first genetic abnormality that has been identified to cause generalized dystonia, this mutation suggests that nuclear DNA or mitochondrial DNA mutations in oxidative phosphorylation genes are important considerations in the pathogenesis of dystonia.
Effect of integrated nutrient management on yield of chilli (Capsicum annum L.) and physico-chemical properties of soil in Konkan region of Maharashtra (India)

The present study was carried out during 2014 and 2015 rabi season at Vegetable Improvement Scheme, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Dist. Ratnagiri, Maharashtra state (India). The field experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design comprising of thirteen treatments replicated thrice. Treatments comprised of T1 [25% N through FYM + 75% N through Urea], T2 [50% N through FYM + 50% N through Urea], T3 [75% N through FYM + 25% N through Urea], T4 [25% N through Vermicompost + 75% N Urea], T5 [50% N through Vermicompost + 50% N through Urea], T6 [75% N through Vermicompost + 25% N through Urea], T7 [25% through N Poultry manure + 75% N through Urea], T8 [50% through N Poultry manure + 50% N through Urea], T9 [75% N through Poultry manure + 75% N through Urea], T10 [25% N through Groundnut cake + 75% N through Urea], T11 [50% N through Groundnut cake + 50% N through Urea], T12 [75% N through Groundnut cake + 25% N through Urea] and T13 [Absolute control]. Among the treatments, application of 50 % N through Poultry manure and 50 per cent N through urea was recorded highest yield and yield contributing character such as green pod yield of chilli (128.01 q ha-1), dry matter of green pod yield (11.22 q ha-1), stover yield (15.28 q ha-1) and weight of fresh fruit/ plant (345.63 g plant-1). The different sources of organic manures and their combination with of inorganic fertilizer (urea) do not showed any significant effect on physico-chemical properties (pH, Electrical conductivity and Organic carbon) of soil.
Estimation of Parameters Influencing Waterborne Transmission of Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHNV) in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar)

Understanding how pathogenic organisms spread in the environment is crucial for the management of disease, yet knowledge of propagule dispersal and transmission in aquatic environments is limited. We conducted empirical studies using the aquatic virus, infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV), to quantify infectious dose, shedding capacity, and virus destruction rates in order to better understand the transmission of IHN virus among Atlantic salmon marine net-pen aquaculture. Transmission of virus and subsequent mortality in Atlantic salmon post-smolts was initiated with as low as 10 plaque forming units (pfu) ml−1. Virus shedding from IHNV infected Atlantic salmon was detected before the onset of visible signs of disease with peak shed rates averaging 3.2×107 pfu fish−1 hour−1 one to two days prior to mortality. Once shed into the marine environment, the abundance of free IHNV is modulated by sunlight (UV A and B) and the growth of natural biota present in the seawater. Virus decayed very slowly in sterilized seawater while rates as high as k = 4.37 d−1 were observed in natural seawater. Decay rates were further accelerated when exposed to sunlight with virus infectivity reduced by six orders of magnitude within 3 hours of full sunlight exposure. Coupling the IHNV transmission parameter estimates determined here with physical water circulation models, will increase the understanding of IHNV dispersal and provide accurate geospatial predictions of risk for IHNV transmission from marine salmon sites.
Mobile genetic elements in Neisseria gonorrhoeae: movement for change

Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the causative agent of the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhoeae, possesses several mobile genetic elements (MGEs). The MGEs such as transposable elements mediate intrachromosomal rearrangements, while plasmids and the gonococcal genetic island are involved in interchromosomal gene transfer. Additionally, gonococcal MGEs serve as hotspots for recombination and integration of other genetic elements such as bacteriophages, contribute to gene regulation or spread genes through gonococcal populations by horizontal gene transfer. In this review, we summarise the literature on the structure and biology of MGEs and discuss how these genetic elements may play a role in the pathogenesis and spread of antimicrobial resistance in N. gonorrhoeae. Although an abundance of information about gonococcal MGEs exists (mainly from whole genome sequencing and bioinformatic analysis), there are still many open questions on how MGEs influence the biology of N. gonorrhoeae.
Ventricular arrhythmias: from the electrophysiology laboratory to clinical practice. Part I: malignant ventricular arrhythmias.

V entricular arrhythmias represent a common problem for the clinical cardiologist in everyday practice. Apart from being commonly asymptomatic, they may manifest with a variety of clinical symptoms, such as palpitations, “strong” precordial beats, “missing” heart beats, chest pounding, or occasionally episodes of long-lasting tachycardia accompanied with dyspnoea, chest discomfort, hypotension and syncope. However, most concerns are directed towards the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) due to the unpredictable occurrence of sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Thus, risk stratification for SCD should always be among the first priorities for all patients presenting with ventricular arrhythmias. According to the findings of this risk stratification process and of the clinical presentation, the most appropriate treatment plan will be selected, including simple measures such as regular follow up with psychological support and symptomatic treatment with antiarrhythmic medication, as well as more complex therapeutic interventions, such as endocardial catheter ablation of the arrhythmogenic foci and prophylactic insertion of automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillators (AICD) with adequate treatment of all coexisting haemodynamic or ischaemic abnormalities. The electrophysiology (EP) laboratory provides us with great opportunities in patients with potential life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias who are at risk for SCD, in terms of completing the risk stratification, implementation of all interventional therapies previously mentioned and effective suppression of ventricular arrhythmias in cases where antiarrhythmic pharmacological treatment has failed. On the other hand, the role of the electrophysiological study (EPS) is limited to research purposes when ventricular arrhythmias are considered to be “benign”, after non-invasive electrocardiographic and haemodynamic assessment.
Negative effective magnetic pressure in turbulent convection

We investigate the effects of weakly and strongly stratified turbulent convection on the mean effective Lorentz force, and especially on the mean effective magnetic pressure. Earlier studies with isotropically forced non-stratified and stratified turbulence have shown that the contribution of the turbulence to the mean magnetic pressure is negative for mean horizontal magnetic fields that are smaller than the equipartition strength, so that the effective mean magnetic pressure that takes into account the turbulence effects can be negative. Compared with earlier cases of forced turbulence with an isothermal equation of state, we find that the turbulence effect is similar to or even stronger in the present case of turbulent convection. This is argued to be due to the anisotropy of turbulence in the vertical direction. Another important difference compared with earlier studies is the presence of an evolution equation for the specific entropy. Mean-field modelling with entropy evolution indicates that the negative effective magnetic pressure can still lead to a large-scale instability which forms local flux concentrations, even though the specific entropy evolution tends to have a stabilizing effect when applied to a stably stratified (e.g. isothermal) layer. It is argued that this large-scale instability could be important for the formation of solar large-scale magnetic structures such as active regions.
Genes that determine immunology and inflammation modify the basic defect of impaired ion conductance in cystic fibrosis epithelia

Background The cystic fibrosis (CF) basic defect, caused by dysfunction of the apical chloride channel CFTR in the gastrointestinal and respiratory tract epithelia, has not been employed so far to support the role of CF modifier genes. Methods Patients were selected from 101 families with a total of 171 F508del-CFTR homozygous CF patients to identify CF modifying genes. A candidate gene based association study of 52 genes on 16 different chromosomes with a total of 182 genetic markers was performed. Differences in haplotype and/or diplotype distribution between case and reference CF subpopulations were analysed. Results Variants at immunologically relevant genes were associated with the manifestation of the CF basic defect (0.01<Praw<0.0001 at IL1B, TLR9, TNFα, CD95, STAT3 and TNFR). The intragenic background of F508del-CFTR chromosomes determined disease severity and manifestation of the basic defect (Praw=0.0009). Allele distributions comparing transmitted and non-transmitted alleles were distorted at several loci unlinked to CFTR. Conclusions The inherited capabilities of the innate and adaptive immune system determine the manifestation of the CF basic defect. Variants on F508del-CFTR chromosomes contribute to the observed patient-to-patient variability among F508del-CFTR homozygotes. A survivor effect, manifesting as a transmission disequilibrium at many loci, is consistent with the improvement of clinical care over the last decades, resulting in a depletion of risk alleles at modifier genes. Awareness of non-genetic factors such as improvement of patient care over time is crucial for the interpretation of CF modifier studies.
3D foot shape generation from 2D information

Two methods to generate an individual 3D foot shape from 2D information are proposed. A standard foot shape was first generated and then scaled based on known 2D information. In the first method, the foot outline and the foot height were used, and in the second, the foot outline and the foot profile were used. The models were developed using 40 participants and then validated using a different set of 40 participants. Results show that each individual foot shape can be predicted within a mean absolute error of 1.36 mm for the left foot and 1.37 mm for the right foot using the first method, and within a mean absolute error of 1.02 mm for the left foot and 1.02 mm for the right foot using the second method. The second method shows somewhat improved accuracy even though it requires two images. Both the methods are relatively cheaper than using a scanner to determine the 3D foot shape for custom footwear design.
Impact of Thrombus Length on Outcomes After Intra-Arterial Aspiration Thrombectomy in the THERAPY Trial

Background and Purpose— Increasing thrombus length (TL) impedes recanalization after intravenous (IV) thrombolysis. We sought to determine whether the clinical benefit of aspiration thrombectomy relative to IV r-tPA (recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator) may be greater at longer TL. Methods— THERAPY was a randomized trial of aspiration thrombectomy plus IV r-tPA versus IV r-tPA alone in large-vessel stroke patients with prospective TL measurement ≥8 mm. In this post hoc study, we evaluated the association of TL with trial end points and potential endovascular treatment effect, using univariate, multivariable, and multiplicative interaction analyses. Results— TL data were available for all 108 patients (28% internal carotid artery, 62% M1, and 10% M2). Median TL was 14.0 mm (interquartile range, 9.7–19.5 mm). Longer TL was associated with worse outcome (90-day modified Rankin Scale score: odds ratio, 1.24 per 5-mm TL increment; 95% confidence interval, 1.04–1.52; P=0.02), even after adjusting for key outcome predictors (adjusted P=0.004). Longer TL was also associated with more serious adverse events (adjusted P=0.01), more symptomatic hemorrhages (adjusted P=0.03), and increased mortality (adjusted P=0.01). No significant relationship was observed between TL and angiographic reperfusion (modified thrombolysis in cerebral ischemia 2b-3), but greater TL was associated with longer endovascular procedural times (&rgr;=0.36; P=0.045). Increasing TL was associated with greater aspiration thrombectomy treatment effect (interaction term P=0.03). This might be related to a potentially stronger adverse effect of increasing TL on 90-day modified Rankin Scale for patients treated with IV r-tPA (&rgr;=0.39; P=0.01) compared with intra-arterial therapy (&rgr;=0.20; P=0.165). Conclusions— Ischemic stroke patients with longer symptomatic thrombi have worse 90-day clinical outcomes but may have a greater relative benefit of aspiration thrombectomy over IV r-tPA alone. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: http://www.clinicaltrials. gov. Unique identifier: NCT01429350.
Reimagining Democracy: An Exploration of Anies Baswedan's "Desak Anies" Program

Global democracy is at a crossroads, amidst geopolitical turmoil and socioeconomic upheaval. Despite widespread support for democratic principles such as popular sovereignty and civic involvement, their practical implementation is frequently hampered by entrenched power dynamics and vested interests. Anies Baswedan's pioneering "Desak Anies" program in Indonesia takes a novel approach to democratic government, questioning traditional top-down methods and calling for active citizen participation in decision-making processes. This study, based on theoretical frameworks proposed by authors such as Dahl and Rousseau, investigates the Desak Anies initiative's complex impact. The study's qualitative research approaches, which include a literature review and content analysis observations, aim to provide thorough insights into Desak Anies' transformative potential in transforming democratic behaviors. The findings show that Desak Anies had a significant impact on youth empowerment, instilling a sense of agency and political efficacy in young Indonesians. Furthermore, the program has made a substantial contribution to improving community cohesiveness by giving a forum for varied views to be heard and respected. Desak Anies has ushered in a new era of governmental openness, with an emphasis on open data projects and citizen involvement, which promote accountability and trust in government institutions; establishes a new benchmark for democratic renewal and sustainability by leveraging grassroots mobilization and adopting inclusive policies, providing a replicable model for advancing democracy and fostering inclusive government on a global scale.