Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors associated with practicing evidence-based medicine: a study of family medicine residents

Background Evidence-based medicine (EBM) plays a critical part in ensuring that practitioners use the soundest available medical procedures while avoiding ineffective ones. As such, it plays a key role in medical residency education. However, little research has shown what factors influence residents’ adoption of habits in, self-efficacy in, and skills of EBM. Materials and methods This study gathered responses from a cross section of family medicine residents and new interns from 40 different residencies across the USA. The survey was based on Taylor et al’s survey of EBM attitudes and behaviors and the Fresno test’s assessment of EBM knowledge and skills. The study used negative binomial regression, ordinary least squares regression, and nonparametric tests of difference to assess the impact of residents’ background (year in residency, type of residency, previous EBM training, and previous research experience) on these EBM outcomes. Results Residents with previous research experience are associated with stronger EBM habits, more self-efficacy in applying EBM, and greater ability in using EBM skills. Previous research experience had a bigger impact on these outcomes than any other predictor. EBM habits, self-efficacy, and skills did not appear to show even increases by year in residency. Previous EBM training was associated with more hours spent reading the literature and higher EBM skill test scores. Conclusion Our findings suggest the practice of EBM may benefit from medical education increasing research experiences and EBM training. Research experiences provide the practical training, while EBM training provides focused instruction necessary for EBM self-efficacy, habits, and skills. These EBM outcomes are not inherently gained through time in family medicine residency. Future research, particularly longitudinal designs, should continue to pursue this line of inquiry.
Thymosin-β4: A key modifier of renal disease

ABSTRACT Introduction: There is an urgent need for new treatments for chronic kidney disease (CKD). Thymosin-β4 is a peptide that reduces inflammation and fibrosis and has the potential to restore endothelial and epithelial cell injury, biological processes involved in the pathophysiology of CKD. Therefore, thymosin-β4 could be a novel therapeutic direction for CKD. Areas covered: Here, we review the current evidence on the actions of thymosin-β4 in the kidney in health and disease. Using transgenic mice, two recent studies have demonstrated that endogenous thymosin-β4 is dispensable for healthy kidneys. In contrast, lack of endogenous thymosin-β4 exacerbates mouse models of glomerular disease and angiotensin-II-induced renal injury. Administration of exogenous thymosin-β4, or its metabolite, Ac-SDKP, has shown therapeutic benefits in a range of experimental models of kidney disease. Expert opinion: The studies conducted so far reveal a protective role for thymosin-β4 in the kidney and have shown promising results for the therapeutic potential of exogenous thymosin-β4 in CKD. Further studies should explore the mechanisms by which thymosin-β4 modulates kidney function in different types of CKD. Ac-SDKP treatment has beneficial effects in many experimental models of kidney disease, thus supporting its potential use as a new treatment strategy.
Real-Time Large-Scale Dense Mapping with Surfels

Real-time dense mapping systems have been developed since the birth of consumer RGB-D cameras. Currently, there are two commonly used models in dense mapping systems: truncated signed distance function (TSDF) and surfel. The state-of-the-art dense mapping systems usually work fine with small-sized regions. The generated dense surface may be unsatisfactory around the loop closures when the system tracking drift grows large. In addition, the efficiency of the system with surfel model slows down when the number of the model points in the map becomes large. In this paper, we propose to use two maps in the dense mapping system. The RGB-D images are integrated into a local surfel map. The old surfels that reconstructed in former times and far away from the camera frustum are moved from the local map to the global map. The updated surfels in the local map when every frame arrives are kept bounded. Therefore, in our system, the scene that can be reconstructed is very large, and the frame rate of our system remains high. We detect loop closures and optimize the pose graph to distribute system tracking drift. The positions and normals of the surfels in the map are also corrected using an embedded deformation graph so that they are consistent with the updated poses. In order to deal with large surface deformations, we propose a new method for constructing constraints with system trajectories and loop closure keyframes. The proposed new method stabilizes large-scale surface deformation. Experimental results show that our novel system behaves better than the prior state-of-the-art dense mapping systems.
Landmobile Radiowave Multipaths' DOA-Distribution: Assessing Geometric Models by the Open Literature's Empirical Datasets

¿Geometric modeling¿ idealizes the spatial geometric relationships among the transmitter, the scatterers, and the receiver in a wireless propagation channel - to produce closed-form formulas of various channel-fading metrics (e.g., the distribution of the azimuth angle-of-arrival of the arriving multipaths). Scattered in the open literature are numerous such ¿geometric models,¿ each advancing its own closed-form formula of a fading metric, each based on a different idealization of the spatial geometry of the scatterers. Lacking in the open literature is a comprehensive and critical comparison among all such single-cluster geometric-model-based formulas of the arriving multipaths' azimuth direction-of-arrival distribution. This paper fills this literature gap. The comparison here uses all empirical data legibly available in the open literature for landmobile wireless radiowave propagation. No one geometric model is best by all criteria and for all environments. However, a safe choice is the model with a Gaussian density of scatterers centered at the transmitter. Despite this model's simplicity of having only one degree of freedom, it is always either the best fitting model or offers an LSE within one third of an order-of-magnitude as the best fitting model for all empirical dataset of all environments.
Some Chemical Properties of Luffa and Its Suitability for Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) Production

This study was conducted to evaluate suitability of luffa (Luffa cylindrica) fiber for medium density fiberboard (MDF) production. For the experiment, luffa and commercially manufactured fibers (Pinus sylvestris (30%), Fagus orientalis Lipsky (35%) and Quercus robur L. (35%)) with 11% moisture content were used. Luffa was mixed with commercially manufactured fibers in the following fashion: a layer of luffa fiber (30 g) placed in the middle of the mat, two equidistantly placed layers (60 g) in the mat, three layers (90 g) instead of two in the mat, and homogenously (90 g) dispersed without a district pattern in the mat, respectively. In panel production the only variable tested was the addition of luffa fiber at various weights to the wood fibers. Commercial urea formaldehyde (UF) adhesive was used as a binder. Chemical properties, including holo-, α-cellulose, and contents, alcohol-benzene solubility in dilute alkali (1% NaOH), and hot and cold water solubility, were determined. In addition, some physical and mechanical properties, such as density, thickness swelling (TS), bending strength (BS), modulus of elasticity (MOE), and internal bond (IB) of the panel of MDF were also measured. The chemical composition and solubility of luffa were found to be similar to those of nonwoods in general. Thus, the results suggest that luffa (Luffa cylindrica Mill.) fiber can be used as an alternative raw material for MDF manufacturing.
In Vivo Imaging of Muscle-tendon Morphogenesis in Drosophila Pupae

Muscles together with tendons and the skeleton enable animals including humans to move their body parts. Muscle morphogenesis is highly conserved from animals to humans. Therefore, the powerful Drosophila model system can be used to study concepts of muscle-tendon development that can also be applied to human muscle biology. Here, we describe in detail how morphogenesis of the adult muscle-tendon system can be easily imaged in living, developing Drosophila pupae. Hence, the method allows investigating proteins, cells and tissues in their physiological environment. In addition to a step-by-step protocol with helpful tips, we provide a comprehensive overview of fluorescently tagged marker proteins that are suitable for studying the muscle-tendon system. To highlight the versatile applications of the protocol, we show example movies ranging from visualization of long-term morphogenetic events – occurring on the time scale of hours and days – to visualization of short-term dynamic processes like muscle twitching occurring on time scale of seconds. Taken together, this protocol should enable the reader to design and perform live-imaging experiments for investigating muscle-tendon morphogenesis in the intact organism.
Oral Reading for Language in Aphasia (ORLA): Evaluating the Efficacy of Computer-Delivered Therapy in Chronic Nonfluent Aphasia

Abstract Purpose: This study examined the efficacy of a treatment, Oral Reading for Language in Aphasia (ORLA), delivered by computer to individuals with chronic nonfluent aphasia and compared its efficacy with the same treatment delivered by a speech-language pathologist (SLP). Method: With ORLA, the person with aphasia systematically and repeatedly reads aloud sentences, first in unison and then independently. Following a no-treatment period, 25 individuals with chronic nonfluent aphasia were randomly assigned to receive 24 sessions of ORLA, 1–3 times per week, either by computer or by the SLP. Results: For participants receiving computer ORLA, change made on the Western Aphasia Battery Aphasia Quotient (WAB-AQ) during the treatment phase was larger than the change made during the no-treatment phase. Positive effect sizes for change during treatment compared with change during the no-treatment phase were obtained and were benchmarked as medium or large for the WAB-AQ and discourse measures. There was no significant difference between outcomes for computer ORLA compared with SLP-ORLA. Conclusion: Low-intensity ORLA, delivered by computer to individuals with chronic nonfluent aphasia, is efficacious and may be equivalent to ORLA delivered by an SLP.
Does early change predict long-term (6 months) improvements in subjects who receive manual therapy for low back pain?

ABSTRACT Early change is commonly assessed for manual therapy interventions and has been used to determine treatment appropriateness. However, current studies have only explored the relationship of between or within-session changes and short-/medium-term outcomes. The goal of this study was to determine whether pain changes after two weeks of pragmatic manual therapy could predict those participants with chronic low back pain who demonstrate continued improvements at 6-month follow-up. This study was a retrospective observational design. Univariate logistic regression analyses were performed using a 33% and a 50% pain change to predict improvement. Those who experienced a ≥33% pain reduction by 2 weeks had 6.98 (95% CI = 1.29, 37.53) times higher odds of 50% improvement on the GRoC and 4.74 (95% CI = 1.31, 17.17) times higher odds of 50% improvement on the ODI (at 6 months). Subjects who reported a ≥50% pain reduction at 2 weeks had 5.98 (95% CI = 1.56, 22.88) times higher odds of a 50% improvement in the GRoC and 3.99 (95% CI = 1.23, 12.88) times higher odds of a 50% improvement in the ODI (at 6 months). Future studies may investigate whether a change in plan of care is beneficial for patients who are not showing early improvement predictive of a good long-term outcome.
Clinical Experience With Regenerative Therapy in Heart Failure: Advancing Care With Cardiopoietic Stem Cell Interventions.

Adoption of regenerative strategies for heart failure is challenged by mixed outcomes in clinical trials. Ongoing development plans strive to improve biotherapeutic potency, optimize delivery, standardize dosing, and target responsive patient populations. The CHART (Congestive Heart Failure Cardiopoietic Regenerative Therapy ) program offers advanced experience in clinical development of next-generation regenerative therapies. Patients with cardiac remodeling and ventricular chamber dilation are at risk to progress into pump failure refractory to standard of care. Innovative treatments are needed to alter disease course, avert end-stage organ deterioration, and delay/avoid destination assist device implantation or transplantation. Targeting tissue restoration, cell-based therapies are potentially paradigm-shifting interventions. However, clinical trials are confounded by intertrial and interpatient variability underscoring the complexity in translating promising biotherapies into viable solutions. Inconsistent efficacy is ascribed to an unpredictable potency of cell products, limited retention after delivery, and disease heterogeneity.1 Calls for transnational cooperation have been issued to ensure that translational and clinical readiness of regenerative therapies is pursued in a systematic manner.2 The CHART development program draws from multinational public–private collaborations. This science-driven discovery–development–delivery pathway leverages an optimizing approach of guided cardiopoiesis to mitigate variability inherent to cell products/patients and integrates a quality system to certify regenerative proficiency of a biotherapy candidate.3 Cardiopoiesis imposes lineage-specifying instructions on stem cells to promote cardioreparative proclivity (Figure). Accordingly, a cardiopoietic index which uses gene expression profiling was developed to assess the regenerative quotient of patient-derived stem cells.4 This quality standard allows pre-assessment of repair potential. The cardiopoietic cell phenotype demonstrated promise in proof-of-concept preclinical studies, both in small5 and large6 animal models, providing the foundation for clinical exploration. The first-in-man C-CURE trial (Cardiopoietic Stem Cell Therapy in Heart Failure) evaluated feasibility and safety of the cardiopoiesis technology in 48 randomized patients with chronic ischemic heart failure.7 …
Mild Cerebellar Neurodegeneration of Aged Heterozygous PCD Mice Increases Cell Fusion of Purkinje and Bone Marrow-Derived Cells

Bone marrow-derived cells have different plastic properties, especially regarding cell fusion, which increases with time and is prompted by tissue injury. Several recessive mutations, including Purkinje Cell Degeneration, affect the number of Purkinje cells in homozygosis; heterozygous young animals have an apparently normal phenotype but they undergo Purkinje cell loss as they age. Our findings demonstrate that heterozygous pcd mice undergo Purkinje cell loss at postnatal day 300, this slow but steadily progressing cell death starting sooner than has been reported previously and without massive reactive gliosis or inflammation. Here, transplantation of bone marrow stem cells was performed to assess the arrival of bone marrow-derived cells in the cerebellum in these heterozygous mice. Our results reveal that a higher number of cell fusion events occurs in heterozygous animals than in the controls, on days 150 and 300 postnatally. In sum, this study indicates that mild cell death promotes the fusion of bone marrow-derived cells with surviving Purkinje neurons. This phenomenon suggests new therapies for long-lasting neurodegenerative disorders.
Pretty in pink vs pretty in black: blogs as gendered avatars

Blogs are usually treated as texts, despite the expressive potential of their visual elements through which ideology is often not expressed straightforwardly, but encoded in the imagery. This study offers an analysis of blog design themes and blog sidebar ‘badges’ produced by Jewish-Israeli girls aged 11 to 16 on Israblog, Israel’s largest blogging community. By looking at the blog as a ‘digital body’ or an avatar of the blogger, the author examines design elements as resources of identity performance and contextualizes the findings within the fields of girl studies and feminist theory. She argues that under the surface of the distinctive subcultural styles often presented as adversarial lies the same hegemonic Western girlhood model; however, global girlhood models may be interpreted as subversive in the Israeli cultural context.
Mitochondria Transcription Factor A: A Putative Target for the Effect of Melatonin on U87MG Malignant Glioma Cell Line

The disruption of mitochondrial activity has been associated with cancer development because it contributes to regulating apoptosis and is the main source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) is a protein that maintains mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) integrity, and alterations in its expression are associated with mitochondrial damage and cancer development. In addition, studies have shown that mitochondria are a known target of melatonin, the pineal gland hormone that plays an important anti-tumorigenic role. Thus, we hypothesized that melatonin decreases the expression of TFAM (RNA and protein) in the human glioblastoma cell line U87MG, which disrupts mtDNA expression and results in cell death due to increased ROS production and mitochondrial damage. Our results confirm the hypothesis, and also show that melatonin reduced the expression of other mitochondrial transcription factors mRNA (TFB1M and TFB2M) and interfered with mtDNA transcription. Moreover, melatonin delayed cell cycle progression and potentiated the reduction of cell survival due to treatment with the chemotherapeutic agent temozolomide. In conclusion, elucidating the effect of melatonin on TFAM expression should help to understand the signaling pathways involved in glioblastoma progression, and melatonin could be potentially applied in the treatment of this type of brain tumor.
Changes in lower limb muscle function and muscle mass following exercise-based interventions in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A review of the English-language literature

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients often experience lower limb muscle dysfunction and wasting. Exercise-based training has potential to improve muscle function and mass, but literature on this topic is extensive and heterogeneous including numerous interventions and outcome measures. This review uses a detailed systematic approach to investigate the effect of this wide range of exercise-based interventions on muscle function and mass. PUBMED and PEDro databases were searched. In all, 70 studies (n = 2504 COPD patients) that implemented an exercise-based intervention and reported muscle strength, endurance, or mass in clinically stable COPD patients were critically appraised. Aerobic and/or resistance training, high-intensity interval training, electrical or magnetic muscle stimulation, whole-body vibration, and water-based training were investigated. Muscle strength increased in 78%, muscle endurance in 92%, and muscle mass in 88% of the cases where that specific outcome was measured. Despite large heterogeneity in exercise-based interventions and outcome measures used, most exercise-based trials showed improvements in muscle strength, endurance, and mass in COPD patients. Which intervention(s) is (are) best for which subgroup of patients remains currently unknown. Furthermore, this literature review identifies gaps in the current knowledge and generates recommendations for future research to enhance our knowledge on exercise-based interventions in COPD patients.
ASE/SCA guidelines for performing a comprehensive intraoperative multiplane transesophageal echocardiography examination: recommendations of the American Society of Echocardiography Council for Intraoperative Echocardiography and the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Task Force for Certifi

Since the introduction of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to the operating room in the early 1980s,1-4 its effectiveness as a clinical monitor to assist in the hemodynamic management of patients during general anesthesia and its reliability to make intraoperative diagnoses during cardiac operations has been well established.5-26 In recognition of the increasing clinical applications and use of intraoperative TEE, the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) established the Council for Intraoperative Echocardiography in 1993 to address issues related to the use of echocardiography in the operating room. In June 1997, the Council board decided to create a set of guidelines for performing a comprehensive TEE examination composed of a set of anatomically directed cross-sectional views. The Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Task Force for Certification in Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography has endorsed these guidelines and standards of nomenclature for the various anatomically directed cross-sectional views of the comprehensive TEE examination. This document, therefore, is the collective result of an effort that represents the consensus view of both anesthesiologists and cardiologists who have extensive experience in intraoperative echocardiography. The writing group has several goals in mind in creating these guidelines. The first is to facilitate training in intraoperative TEE by providing a framework in which to develop the necessary knowledge and skills. The guidelines may also enhance quality improvement by providing a means to assess the technical quality and completeness of individual studies. More consistent acquisition and description of intraoperative echocardiographic data will facilitate communication between centers and provide a basis for multicenter investigations. In recognition of the increasing availability and advantages of digital image storage, the guidelines define a set of cross-sectional views and nomenclature that constitute a comprehensive intraoperative TEE examination that could be stored in a digital format. These guidelines will encourage industry to develop echocardiography systems that allow quick and easy acquisition, labeling, and storage of images in the operating room, as well as a simple mechanism for side-by-side comparison of views made at different times. ASE/SCA Guidelines for Performing a Comprehensive Intraoperative Multiplane Transesophageal Echocardiography Examination: Recommendations of the American Society of Echocardiography Council for Intraoperative Echocardiography and the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Task Force for Certification in Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography