Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stemmed femoral knee prostheses

Although the revision rates for modern knee prostheses have decreased drastically, the total number of revisions a year is increasing because many more primary knee replacements are being done. At the time of revision, bone loss is common, which compromises prosthetic stability. To improve stability, intra-medullary stems are often used. The aim of this study was to estimate the effects of a stem, its diameter and the interface bonding conditions on patterns of the bone remodeling in the distal femur. We created finite element models of the distal half of a femur in which 4 types of knee prostheses were placed. The bone remodeling process was simulated using a strain-adaptive bone remodeling theory. The amount of such remodeling was determined by calculating the changes in bone mineral density in 9 regions of interest from simulated DEXA scans. The computer simulation model showed that revision prostheses tend to cause more bone resorption than primary ones, especially in the most distal regions. Predicted long-term bone loss due to a revision prosthesis with a thin stem equalled that around a prosthesis with an intercondylar box. However, strong regional differences were found— the stemmed prostheses having more bone loss in the most distal areas and some bone gain in the more proximal ones. A prosthesis with a thick stem led to an increase in bone loss. When the prosthesis-cement interface was bonded, more bone loss was predicted than with an unbonded interface. These results suggest that a stem which increases stability initially may reduce stability in the long term. This is due to an increase in stress shielding and bone resorption.
Repetitive exposure to shortened sleep leads to blunted sleep-associated blood pressure dipping

Background: Blood pressure (BP) dips at night during sleep in healthy individuals but in disturbed sleep, dipping is blunted. However, the impact of chronic insufficient sleep duration, with limited intermittent recovery sleep, on BP dipping is not known. The objective of this study was to examine, in a controlled experimental model, the influence of chronic sleep restriction on BP patterns at night and during the day. Method: In a highly controlled 22-day in-hospital protocol, 45 healthy participants (age 32 ± 2 years; BMI 24 ± 1 kg/m2; 22 men and 23 women) were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: repeated sleep restriction (4 h of sleep/night from 0300 to 0700 h for three nights followed by recovery sleep of 8 h, repeated four times in succession) or a sleep control group (8 h/night from 2300 to 0700 h). Results: Beat-to-beat BP and polysomnography were recorded and revealed that sleep-associated DBP dipping was significantly blunted during all four blocks of sleep restriction (P = 0.002). Further, DBP was significantly increased for the whole day during the first, second, and fourth block of sleep restriction (all P < 0.01), and SBP was significantly increased for the whole day during the first block of sleep restriction. Conclusion: Repeated exposure to significantly shortened sleep blunts sleep-associated BP dipping, despite intermittent catch-up sleep. Individuals frequently experiencing insufficient sleep may be at increased risk for hypertension due to repetitive blunting of sleep-associated BP dipping, and resultant elevations in average circadian BP.
Synchronization of Human Autonomic Nervous System Rhythms with Geomagnetic Activity in Human Subjects

A coupling between geomagnetic activity and the human nervous system’s function was identified by virtue of continuous monitoring of heart rate variability (HRV) and the time-varying geomagnetic field over a 31-day period in a group of 10 individuals who went about their normal day-to-day lives. A time series correlation analysis identified a response of the group’s autonomic nervous systems to various dynamic changes in the solar, cosmic ray, and ambient magnetic field. Correlation coefficients and p values were calculated between the HRV variables and environmental measures during three distinct time periods of environmental activity. There were significant correlations between the group’s HRV and solar wind speed, Kp, Ap, solar radio flux, cosmic ray counts, Schumann resonance power, and the total variations in the magnetic field. In addition, the time series data were time synchronized and normalized, after which all circadian rhythms were removed. It was found that the participants’ HRV rhythms synchronized across the 31-day period at a period of approximately 2.5 days, even though all participants were in separate locations. Overall, this suggests that daily autonomic nervous system activity not only responds to changes in solar and geomagnetic activity, but is synchronized with the time-varying magnetic fields associated with geomagnetic field-line resonances and Schumann resonances.
Comparative effectiveness of electro-acupuncture versus gabapentin for sleep disturbances in breast cancer survivors with hot flashes: a randomized trial

Objective: Sleep disturbance is a major consequence of hot flashes among breast cancer survivors. This study evaluated the effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) versus gabapentin (GP) for sleep disturbances among breast cancer survivors experiencing daily hot flashes. Methods: We analyzed data from a randomized controlled trial involving 58 breast cancer survivors experiencing bothersome hot flashes at least two times per day. Participants were randomly assigned to receive 8 weeks of EA or daily GP (total dose of 900 mg/d). The primary outcome was change in the total Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score between groups at week 8. Secondary outcomes include specific PSQI domains. Results: By the end of treatment at week 8, the mean reduction in PSQI total score was significantly greater in the EA group than the GP group (−2.6 vs −0.8, P = 0.044). The EA also had improved sleep latency (−0.5 vs 0.1, P = 0.041) and sleep efficiency (−0.6 vs 0.0, P = 0.05) compared with the GP group. By week 8, the EA group had improved sleep duration, less sleep disturbance, shorter sleep latency, decreased daytime dysfunction, improved sleep efficiency, and better sleep quality (P < 0.05 for all) compared with baseline, whereas the GP group improved in duration and sleep quality only (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Among women experiencing hot flashes, the effects of EA are comparable with GP for improving sleep quality, specifically in the areas of sleep latency and efficiency. Larger randomized controlled trials with longer follow-ups are needed to confirm this preliminary finding.
Africa&Apos;S Lagging Demographic Transition: Evidence from Exogenous Impacts of Malaria Ecology and Agricultural Technology

Much of Africa has not yet gone through a "demographic transition" to reduced mortality and fertility rates. The fact that the continent's countries remain mired in a Malthusian crisis of high mortality, high fertility, and rapid population growth (with an accompanying state of chronic extreme poverty) has been attributed to many factors ranging from the status of women, pro-natalist policies, poverty itself, and social institutions. There remains, however, a large degree of uncertainty among demographers as to the relative importance of these factors on a comparative or historical basis. Moreover, econometric estimation is complicated by endogeneity among fertility and other variables of interest. We attempt to improve estimation (particularly of the effect of the child mortality variable) by deploying exogenous variation in the ecology of malaria transmission and in agricultural productivity through the staggered introduction of Green Revolution, high-yield seed varieties. Results show that child mortality (proxied by infant mortality) is by far the most important factor among those explaining aggregate total fertility rates, followed by farm productivity. Female literacy (or schooling) and aggregate income do not seem to matter as much, comparatively.
Processing of Horizontal Sound Localization Cues in Newborn Infants

Objectives: By measuring event-related brain potentials (ERPs), the authors tested the sensitivity of the newborn auditory cortex to sound lateralization and to the most common cues of horizontal sound localization. Design: Sixty-eight healthy full-term newborn infants were presented with auditory oddball sequences composed of frequent and rare noise segments in four experimental conditions. The authors tested in them the detection of deviations in the primary cues of sound lateralization (interaural time and level difference) and in actual sound source location (free-field and monaural sound presentation). ERP correlates of deviance detection were measured in two time windows. Results: Deviations in both primary sound localization cues and the ear of stimulation elicited a significant ERP difference in the early (90 to 140 msec) time window. Deviance in actual sound source location (the free-field condition) elicited a significant response in the late (290 to 340 msec) time window. Conclusions: The early differential response may indicate the detection of a change in the respective auditory features. The authors suggest that the late differential response, which was only elicited by actual sound source location deviation, reflects the detection of location deviance integrating the various cues of sound source location. Although the results suggest that all of the tested binaural cues are processed by the neonatal auditory cortex, utilizing the cues for locating sound sources of these cues may require maturation and learning.
A multi-dimensional analysis of deception

This study presents a multi-dimensional (MD) analysis which attempts to explore the linguistic differences between truthful and deceptive statements. Based on the analysis, three primary dimensions of linguistic features are identified, i.e. narrative concerns, interpersonal relationship, and perceptive expressions. These dimensions show significant differences in their distribution between truthful and deceptive statements, and could thus serve as fingerprints for the identification of deception.
Isolation and characterization of N2‐fixing bacteria from giant reed and switchgrass for plant growth promotion and nutrient uptake

The aims of this study were to isolate and characterize N2‐fixing bacteria from giant reed and switchgrass and evaluate their plant growth promotion and nutrient uptake potential for use as biofertilizers. A total of 190 bacteria were obtained from rhizosphere soil and inside stems and roots of giant reed and switchgrass. All the isolates were confirmed to have nitrogenase activity, 96.9% produced auxin, and 85% produced siderophores. Then the top six strains, including Sphingomonas trueperi NNA‐14, Sphingomonas trueperi NNA‐19, Sphingomonas trueperi NNA‐17, Sphingomonas trueperi NNA‐20, Psychrobacillus psychrodurans NP‐3, and Enterobacter oryzae NXU‐38, based on nitrogenase activity, were inoculated on maize and wheat seeds in greenhouse tests to assess their potential benefits to plants. All the selected strains promoted plant growth by increasing at least one plant growth parameter or increasing the nutrient concentration of maize or wheat plants. NNA‐14 outperformed others in promoting early growth and nutrient uptake by maize. Specifically, NNA‐14 significantly increased root length, surface area, and fine roots of maize by 14%, 12%, and 17%, respectively, and enhanced N, Ca, S, B, Cu, and Zn in maize. NNA‐19 and NXU‐38 outperformed others in promoting both early growth and nutrient uptake by wheat. Specifically, NNA‐19 significantly increased root dry weight and number of root tips of wheat by 25% and 96%, respectively, and enhanced Ca in wheat. NXU‐38 significantly increased root length, surface area, and fine roots of wheat by 21%, 13%, and 26%, respectively, and enhanced levels of Ca and Mg in wheat. It is concluded that switchgrass and giant reed are colonized by N2‐fixing bacteria that have the potential to contribute to plant growth and nutrient uptake by agricultural crops.
Comparison of clinical pharmacy specialists and primary care physicians in treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in rural Veterans Affairs facilities.

PURPOSE Results of a study to compare the impact of clinical pharmacy specialist (CPS) interventions with primary care physician (PCP) interventions in veterans with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) in a rural setting are presented. METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed examining veterans diagnosed with T2D with a glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) of ≥8% receiving treatment at a rural community-based outpatient clinic associated with the Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Propensity score matching was used to create a 1:1 cohort of patients managed by physicians or clinical pharmacy specialists. Patients were evaluated as their own control and as compared cohorts. The primary outcome was the difference in HbA1c. Secondary outcomes included changes in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and body mass index. RESULTS Data were collected from 124 patients (n = 62 CPS patients, n = 62 PCP patients). Baseline HbA1c in the CPS and PCP groups were 10.2% ± 1.9% and 9.6% ± 1.6%, respectively. Postintervention HbA1c in the CPS cohort was 7.5% ± 1.1% (range, 6-11.7%), indicating an absolute reduction of 2.7% (p < 0.001). Postintervention HbA1c in the PCP cohort was 8.5% ± 1.5% (range, 5.4-12.6%), resulting in an absolute reduction of 1.1% (p < 0.001). The CPS intervention resulted in a greater mean HbA1c absolute reduction of 1.6 percentage points compared to physician intervention (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Compared with physician intervention, clinical pharmacy intervention in the treatment of T2D led to a greater mean HbA1c reduction in patients receiving care through VA facilities in rural settings.
Immunophenotypic analysis of T‐acute lymphoblastic leukemia. A CD5‐based ETP‐ALL perspective of non‐ETP T‐ALL

T‐cell antigens [CD5,CD1a,CD8] define early T‐cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ETP‐ALL). To understand immature T‐ALL of which ETP‐ALL is part, we used these antigens to subcategorize non‐ETP T‐ALL for examining expression of myeloid/stem cell antigens (M/S) and clinical features. Using CD5 (+/−) to start categorization, we studied 69 routinely immunophenotyped patients with T‐ALL. CD5− was a homogenous (CD8,CD1a)− M/S+ ETP‐ALL group (n = 9). CD5+ cases were (CD8,CD1a)− pre‐T‐ALL (n = 22) or (CD8,CD1a)+ (n = 38) thymic/cortical T‐ALL; M/S+ 20/22 (90.91%) in former and 22/38 (57.89%) in latter (P = 0.007). ETP‐ and pre‐T‐ALL together (CD1a−,CD5−/+ immature T‐ALL group) were nearly always M/S+ (29/31; 93.55%). In multivariate analysis, only ETP‐ALL predicted poor overall survival (P = 0.02). We conclude (i) CD5 negativity in T‐ALL almost always means ETP‐ALL. CD1a and CD8 negativity, as much as CD5, marks immaturity in T‐ALL, and the CD5+/−/CD1a−/CD8− immature T‐ALL group needs further study to understand the biology of the T‐ALL–myeloid interface. (ii) ETP‐ALL patients may be pre‐T‐ALL if CD2+; CD2+, conversely, CD5−/CD1a−/CD8− pre‐T ALL patients are ETP‐ALL. (iii) Immunophenotypic workup of T‐ALL must not omit CD1a, CD5, CD8 and CD2, and positivity of antigens should preferably be defined as recommended for ETP‐ALL, so that this entity can be better evaluated in future studies of immature T‐ALL, a group to which ETP‐ALL belongs. (iv) ETP‐ALL has poor prognosis.
Personality traits and quality of life of mothers who have children with cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND The quality of life (QOL) of mothers who have children with cerebral palsy (CP) is significantly worse than in mothers with typically developing children. In available literature we have not found an approach which analyzes the correlation of mothers' personality traits with their QOL and health related quality of life (HrQOL). SUBJECTS AND METHODS The study included 101 mothers of children with CP, aged 4 to 18 years. Mothers' personalities have been assessed by Eysenck EPQ - R questionnaire that determines three personality traits: neuroticism/emotional stability, extroversion/introversion and psychoticism. Maternal HrQOL was assessed by SF-36 questionnaire, Short Form, and their emotional well-being by WHO 5 well-being index. In addition, the influence of mothers' religiosity was also analyzed, using DUREL Religiosity Questionnaire. Motor assessment of children was performed using Gross Motor Function Classification System. The control group consisted of mothers of typically developing children of the same age. RESULTS Participants with high levels of extraversion had better QOL and HrQOL, as opposed to those with high levels of neuroticism and psychoticism, who had worse physical and mental health. The degree of children's motor impairment and mothers' religiosity did not influence QOL. Regression analysis distinguishes the following predictors for better mothers' QOL: better their mental health, greater level of their vitality, extroversion, living with a partner, a lesser degree of children's motor impairment and better their QOL. CONCLUSIONS It is vital to identify the factors that affect QOL of a mother and a child with CP. We consider it justified to regularly conduct mothers' professional monitoring and treatment simultaneously with children's treatment and we propose the protocol for the individual and targeted approach.
Enhancement of Dissolution and Skin Permeability of Pentazocine by Proniosomes and Niosomal Gel

Proniosomes (PN) are the dry water-soluble carrier systems that may enhance the oral bioavailability, stability, and topical permeability of therapeutic agents. The low solubility and low oral bioavailability due to extensive first pass metabolism make Pentazocine as an ideal candidate for oral and topical sustained release delivery. The present study was aimed to formulate the PNs by quick slurry method that are converted to niosomes (liquid dispersion) by hydration, and subsequently formulated to semisolid niosomal gel. The PNs were found in spherical shape in the SEM and stable in the physicochemical and thermal analysis (FTIR, TGA, and XRD). The quick slurry method produced high recovery (> 80% yield) and better flow properties (θ = 28.1–37.4°). After hydration, the niosomes exhibited desirable entrapment efficiency (44.45–76.23%), size (4.98–21.3 μm), and zeta potential (− 9.81 to − 21.53 mV). The in vitro drug release (T100%) was extended to more than three half-lives (2–4 h) and showed good fit to Fickian diffusion indicated by Korsmeyer-Peppas model (n = 0.136–0.365 and R2 = 0.9747–0.9954). The permeation of niosomal gel was significantly enhanced across rabbit skin compared to the pure drug-derived gel. Therefore, the PNs are found promising candidates for oral as dissolution enhancement and sustained release for oral and topical delivery of pentazocine for the management of cancer pain.
Therapist Effects on Dropout From a College Counseling Center Practice Research Network

Dropout has been a pervasive and costly problem in psychotherapy, particularly for college counseling centers. The present study examined potential predictors of dropout using a large data set (N = 10,147 clients, 481 therapists) that was gathered through a college counseling center practice research network as a replication and extension of recent findings regarding therapist effects on dropout. The final model resulted in a dropout rate of 15.9% and a therapist effect of 9.51% on dropout variance. Therapist demographic variables were investigated, though none were found to be significant. Variables found to be predictive of increased likelihood of dropping out included higher levels of general presenting concerns, alcohol-related distress, and current financial stress. Ultimately, this study showed that therapists may play an important role in the likelihood of client dropout, and that additional research should be conducted to identify additional predictors, particularly at the therapist and center level.
Prediction of long-term outcome subtypes in ARDS: first steps towards personalised medicine in critical care

In Thorax , Samuel Brown and colleagues present their result on early identification of physical, cognitive and mental health outcome subtypes in patients who survived acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). 1 Using data from the ARDSNet Long-Term Outcomes Study, the authors identified a group of 645 patients who had been studied with a comprehensive battery of validated health outcome instruments, which included measures of physical, cognitive and mental health (anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder), as well as quality of life status, obtained at 6-month follow-up. After splitting the data into derivation and validation datasets, the authors used a data mining approach, weighted network analysis, to identify and validate four outcome subphenotypes. They identified four subtypes: (1) mildly impaired physical and mental health status; (2) moderately impaired physical and mental health status; (3) severely impaired physical and moderately impaired mental health status; and (4) severely impaired physical and mental health status. In each of the four subtypes, one-third of patients suffered a significant decrease from baseline in their health state measured with the EQ-5D or SF36. Separation of outcome subtypes in relation to various instruments of physical and mental health assessment was good, while cognitive function evaluated with Mini-Mental State Examination did not differ significantly across subtypes. Cognitive outcomes remained unrelated to the subtypes defined by physical and mental health outcomes also when using a battery of more detailed cognitive tests available for a subset of patients. This multicentre study confirms that ARDS is associated with long-lasting disability after the resolution of the acute condition: fewer than half of patients were living at home independently at 6 months compared with 91% at baseline. Physical and mental impairments were both severe in one quarter of them, who were mainly female, current smokers …
Similar outcomes between adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast and invasive ductal carcinoma: a population-based study from the SEER 18 database

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast (breast-ACC) is a rare and indolent tumor with a good prognosis despite its triple-negative status. However, we observed different outcomes in the present study. Utilizing the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, we enrolled a total of 89,937 eligible patients with an estimated 86 breast-ACC cases and 89,851 invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) patients. In our study, breast-ACC among women presented with a higher proportion of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which was more likely to feature well-differentiated tumors, rare regional lymph node involvement and greater application of breast-conserving surgery (BCS). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that patients with breast-ACC and breast-IDC patients had similar breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) and overall survival (OS). Moreover, using the propensity score matching method, no significant difference in survival was observed in matched pairs of breast-ACC and breast-IDC patients. Additionally, BCSS and OS did not differ significantly between TNBC-ACC and TNBC-IDC after matching patients for age, tumor size, and nodal status. Further subgroup analysis of molecular subtype indicated improved survival in breast-ACC patients with hormone receptor-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/Her2-) tumors compared to IDC patients with HR+/Her2- tumors. However, the survival of ACC-TNBC and IDC-TNBC patients was similar. In conclusion, ACCs have an indolent clinical course and result in similar outcomes compared to IDC. Understanding these clinical characteristics and outcomes will endow doctors with evidence to provide the same intensive treatment for ACC-TNBC as for IDC-TNBC and lead to more individualized and tailored therapies for breast-ACC patients.