Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Short Term Analgesic Effects of 5% Dextrose Epidural Injections for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Hypertonic dextrose injection (prolotherapy) is reported to reduce pain including non-surgical chronic low back pain (CLBP), and subcutaneous injection of 5% dextrose is reported to reduce neurogenic pain, hyperalgesia and allodynia. The mechanism in both cases is unclear, though a direct effect of dextrose on neurogenic pain has been proposed. This study assessed the short-term analgesic effects of epidural 5% dextrose injection compared with saline for non-surgical CLBP. Methods Randomized double-blind (injector, participant) controlled trial. Adults with moderate-to-severe non-surgical low back pain with radiation to gluteal or leg areas for at least 6 months received a single epidurogram-confirmed epidural injection of 10 mL of 5% dextrose or 0.9% saline using a published vertical caudal injection technique. The primary outcome was change in a numerical rating scale (NRS, 0 - 10 points) pain score between baseline and 15 minutes; and 2, 4, and 48 hours and 2 weeks post-injection. The secondary outcome was percentage of participants achieving 50% or more pain improvement at 4 hours. Results and Conclusions No baseline differences existed between groups; 35 participants (54 ± 10.7 years old; 11 female) with moderate-to-severe CLBP (6.7 ± 1.3 points) for 10.6 ± 10.5 years. Dextrose participants reported greater NRS pain score change at 15 minutes (4.4 ± 1.7 vs 2.4 ± 2.8 points; P = 0.015), 2 hours (4.6 ± 1.9 vs 1.8 ± 2.8 points; P = 0.001), 4 hours (4.6 ± 2.0 vs 1.4 ± 2.3 points; P < 0.001), and 48 hours (3.0 ± 2.3 vs 1.0 ± 2.1 points; P = 0.012), but not at 2 weeks (2.1 ± 2.9 vs 1.2 ± 2.4 points; P = 0.217). Eighty four percent (16/19) of dextrose recipients and 19% (3/16) of saline recipients reported ≥ 50% pain reduction at 4 hours (P < 0.001). These findings suggest a neurogenic effect of 5% dextrose on pain at the dorsal root level; waning pain control at 2 weeks suggests the need to assess the effect of serial dextrose epidural injections in a long-term study with robust outcome assessment.
Role of power grid in side channel attack and power-grid-aware secure design

Side-channel attack (SCA) is a method in which an attacker aims at extracting secret information from crypto chips by analyzing physical parameters (e.g. power). SCA has emerged as a serious threat to many mathematically unbreakable cryptography systems. From an attacker's point of view, the difficulty of mounting SCA largely depends on Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) of the side-channel information. It has been shown that SNR primarily depends on algorithmic and circuit-level implementation, measurement noise, as well as device thermal noise. However, to the best of our knowledge, there has not been any study on the effect of power delivery network (PDN) on SCA resistance. We note that the PDN plays a significant role in SNR of measured supply current. Furthermore, SCA resistance strongly depends on the operating frequency due to RLC structure of a power grid. In this paper, we analyze the effect of power grid on SCA and provide quantitative results to demonstrate the frequency-dependent SCA resistance due to PDN-induced noise. This property can potentially be exploited by an attacker to facilitate the attack by operating a device at favorable frequency points. On the other hand, from a designer's perspective, one can explore countermeasures to secure the device at all operating frequencies while minimizing the design overhead. Based on this observation, we propose a frequency-dependent noise-injection based compensation technique to efficiently protect against SCA. Simulation results using realistic PDN model as well as experimental measurements using FPGA test board validate the observations on role of PDN in SCA and the efficacy of the proposed compensation approach.
Investigating factors associated with suicide and antecedent behavior among African American males: a quest to preserve life

Investigating Factors Associated with Suicide and Antecedent Behavior among African American Males: A Quest to Preserve Life. (May 2007) Kyrel LaShea Rowell, B.A., Spelman College; M.P.H. , Emory University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Jeffery Guidry Suicide is a multifaceted issue and its prevention requires addressing multiple contributors. Currently, it is the third leading cause of death worldwide for those ages 15-44, the eleventh leading cause of death in the United States, and the eighth leading cause of death among U. S. men. Among African American males aged 20-44, suicide is the third, fifth, and sixth leading cause of death, respectively, when categorizing the age groups as follows: 20-24, 25-34, 35-44. Given the published data, a public health focus exists regarding suicide prevention among racial/ethnic minorities and vulnerable populations. The jail population is especially vulnerable to suicide. Few studies have focused, however, on addressing suicidal behavior among African American males, in general, nor those incarcerated. To reinforce prevention, a need exists to examine preceding behavior to suicide, specifically suicide attempts. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation was to investigate risk and protective factors associated with suicide and suicide attempts among African American males, including those that are incarcerated. To fulfill the purpose, two components were
Class I HLA antigens in spondyloarthropathy: observations in Alaskan Eskimo patients and controls.

OBJECTIVE To assess the role of HLA-B27 and other class I histocompatibility antigens in overall risk and clinical manifestations of spondyloarthropathy (SpA) in Alaskan Eskimos. METHODS Class I antigens were studied in 104 patients with SpA and in 111 controls. The frequencies of HLA-A, B, and Cw antigens were determined in patients with SpA with various clinical manifestations and compared to frequencies observed in controls. RESULTS Only HLA-B27 differed significantly in cases and controls. Except for B27, no association of particular antigens with specific syndromes or disease features was found. Patients with B27 had more extraarticular manifestations than patients who lacked B27 antigen. Patients putatively homozygous for B27 did not appear to have more severe disease than those who were heterozygotic. B27 was most closely associated with ankylosing spondylitis [odds ratio (OR) = 210], less so with reactive arthritis (OR = 12.9) and undifferentiated SpA (OR = 4.6). CONCLUSION Observations in other population groups that implicated B27 cross reactive group (CREG) and other A, B, and Cw antigens as risk factors for developing SpA were not confirmed in Alaskan Eskimos. Nor were CREG or other B antigens either alone or in combination with B27 associated with specific clinical syndromes. Only HLA-B27 was strongly associated with disease and with extraarticular manifestations.
Time domain passivity control of teleoperation systems with random asymmetric time delays

In this paper, the power and energy behavior of bilateral communication with time delay is analyzed. Time delay may result in activeness and in turn generate energy. In a bilateral system, the energy generated by time delay communication can destabilize the whole system. Based on the power based time domain passivity control previously proposed by the authors, a time domain passivity control approach is derived for bilateral communication. After the compensation of time domain passivity control, the bilateral communication is kept passive at every time instant. Then the approach is applied to a bilateral teleoperation system with random asymmetric time delays. Simulation results verify the effectiveness of the approach.
Analysis of methods for extraction of programs from non-constructive proofs

The present thesis compares two computational interpretations of non-constructive proofs: refined A-translation and Godel's functional "Dialectica" interpretation. The behaviour of the extraction methods is evaluated in the light of several case studies, where the resulting programs are analysed and compared. It is argued that the two interpretations correspond to specific backtracking implementations and that programs obtained via the refined A-translation tend to be simpler, faster and more readable than programs obtained via Godel's interpretation. Three layers of optimisation are suggested in order to produce faster and more readable programs. First, it is shown that syntactic repetition of subterms can be reduced by using let-constructions instead of meta substitutions abd thus obtaining a near linear size bound of extracted terms. The second improvement allows declaring syntactically computational parts of the proof as irrelevant and that this can be used to remove redundant parameters, possibly improving the efficiency of the program. Finally, a special case of induction is identified, for which a more efficient recursive extracted term can be defined. It is shown the outcome of case distinctions can be memoised, which can result in exponential improvement of the average time complexity of the extracted program.
Cross-reactivity of insulin analogues with three insulin assays

Background Immunometric assays have recently shown higher specificity in the detection of human insulin than radioimmunoassays with almost no cross-reaction with proinsulin or C peptide. The introduction of the new insulin analogues on the market, however, has raised the need to define their cross-reactivity in these assays. Several studies have been published in this regard with different results. Methods The analogues studied were insulins lispro, aspart, glargine, detemir, and glulisine. Insulin concentrations were measured in Immulite® 2000 and Advia Centaur® XP (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics), and Elecsys® Modular Analytics E170 (Roche). All samples were processed 15 times in the same analytical run following a random sequence. Those samples which showed statistically and clinically significant changes in insulin concentration were reprocessed using increasing concentrations of analogue, and this was done twice, using two different serum pools, one with a low concentration of insulin and one with a high concentration of insulin. Results In the Elecsys® E170 analyser, glargine showed statistical changes (comparison of mean concentrations with p < 0.05) and clinically significant changes in measured insulin (percentage difference 986.2% > reference change value: 59.8%), and the interference increased with increasing concentrations of analogue; the differences were not significant in the case of the other analogues. In the Advia Centaur® and Immulite® 2000 only the results for glulisine did not present significance (percentage difference 44.7% < reference change value 103.5%). Increasing concentrations of aspart, glargine, and lispro showed increased interference in Immulite® 2000. Conclusions In the Elecsys® E170 assay, relevant cross-reactivity was only detected with insulin glargine, whereas in the other analysers all analogues except glulisine showed significant interference.
Artificial ventilation by means of electrical activation of the intercostal/accessory muscles alone in anesthetized dogs.

We have previously shown that large inspired volumes can be achieved in phrenicotomized animals by intercostal/accessory muscle activation via spinal cord stimulation. In the present study, we evaluated the utility of this technique to provide complete ventilatory support for prolonged time periods (6 to 8 h, selected arbitrarily). In 10 deeply anesthetized dogs, a single electrode was introduced onto the epidural surface of the spinal cord and positioned at the T2-T3 spinal level. Bilateral phrenicotomy was performed in all animals to prevent possible diaphragm activation. The spinal cord was rhythmically stimulated approximately 13 times/min with trains of 15- to 20-Hz impulses of sufficient amplitude to achieve inspired volumes of 13 to 15 ml/kg and pressure-time index (product of duty cycle and delta P/Pmax) of less than 0.15 with each contraction. Level of alveolar ventilation was monitored by end-tidal PCO2 and intermittent arterial blood gas measurements. Mean inspired volume and minute ventilation were 236 +/- 7.84 (SE) ml and 3.12 +/- 0.13 (SE) L/min, respectively, and not significantly different between the first and sixth hours of continuous stimulation. Mean duty cycle (Ti/Ttot) was 0.26 +/- 0.01. Mean airway pressure (delta P) during prolonged electrical stimulation under conditions of airway occlusion was 8.05 +/- 0.61 (SE) cm H2O. Mean ratio of delta P/Pmax was 0.47 +/- 0.03 (SE) cm H2O; mean pressure-time index was 0.12 +/- 0.01 (SE). There was no evidence of system fatigue, as evidenced by the lack of any significant shift in the pressure frequency curve over a 6-h time period. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
How fast does a seal swim? Variations in swimming behaviour under differing foraging conditions

SUMMARY The duration of breath-hold dives and the available time for foraging in submerged prey patches is ultimately constrained by oxygen balance. There is a close relationship between swim speed and oxygen utilisation, so it is likely that breath-holding divers optimise their speeds to and from the feeding patch to maximise time spent feeding at depth. Optimal foraging models suggest that transit swim speed should decrease to minimum cost of transport (MCT) speed in deeper and longer duration dives. Observations also suggest that descent and ascent swimming mode and speed may vary in response to changes in buoyancy. We measured the swimming behaviour during simulated foraging of seven captive female grey seals (two adults and five pups). Seals had to swim horizontally underwater from a breathing box to a submerged automatic feeder. The distance to the feeder and the rate of prey food delivery could be varied to simulate different feeding conditions. Diving durations and distances travelled in dives recorded during these experiments were similar to those recorded in the wild. Mean swim speed decreased significantly with increasing distance to the patch, indicating that seals adjusted their speed in response to travel distance, consistent with optimality model predictions. There was, however, no significant relationship between the transit swim speeds and prey density at the patch. Interestingly, all seals swam 10–20% faster on their way to the prey patch compared to the return to the breathing box, despite the fact that any effect of buoyancy on swimming speed should be the same in both directions. These results suggest that the swimming behaviour exhibited by foraging grey seals might be a combination of having to overcome the forces of buoyancy during vertical swimming and also of behavioural choices made by the seals.
Food insecurity among Iraqi refugees living in Lebanon, 10 years after the invasion of Iraq: data from a household survey

Iraqi refugees in Lebanon are vulnerable to food insecurity because of their limited rights and fragile livelihoods. The objective of the present study was to assess household food insecurity among Iraqi refugees living in Lebanon, almost 10 years after the invasion of Iraq. A representative survey of 800 UN High Commissioner for Refugees-registered refugee households in Lebanon was conducted using multi-stage cluster random sampling. We measured food insecurity using a modified US Department of Agriculture household food security module. We collected data on household demographic, socio-economic, health, housing and dietary diversity status and analysed these factors by food security status. Hb level was measured in a subset of children below 5 years of age (n 85). Weighted data were used in univariate and multivariate analyses. Among the Iraqi refugee households surveyed (n 630), 20·1 % (95 % CI 17·3, 23·2) were found to be food secure, 35·5 % (95 % CI 32·0, 39·2) moderately food insecure and 44·4 % (95 % CI 40·8, 48·1) severely food insecure. Severe food insecurity was associated with the respondent's good self-reported health (OR 0·3, 95 % CI 0·2, 0·5), length of stay as a refugee (OR 1·1, 95 % CI 1·0, 1·2), very poor housing quality (OR 3·3, 95 % CI 1·6, 6·5) and the number of children in the household (OR 1·2, 95 % CI 1·0, 1·4), and resulted in poor dietary diversity (P< 0·0001). Anaemia was found in 41 % (95 % CI 30·6, 51·9) of children below 5 years of age, but was not associated with food insecurity. High food insecurity, low diet quality and high prevalence of anaemia in Iraqi refugees living in Lebanon call for urgent programmes to address the food and health situation of this population with restricted rights.
Origin and Evolution of Eukaryotic Large Nucleo-Cytoplasmic DNA Viruses

Background/Aims: The nucleo-cytoplasmic large DNA viruses (NCLDV) constitute an apparently monophyletic group that consists of 6 families of viruses infecting a broad variety of eukaryotes. A comprehensive genome comparison and maximum-likelihood reconstruction of NCLDV evolution reveal a set of approximately 50 conserved genes that can be tentatively mapped to the genome of the common ancestor of this class of eukaryotic viruses. We address the origins and evolution of NCLDV. Results: Phylogenetic analysis indicates that some of the major clades of NCLDV infect diverse animals and protists, suggestive of early radiation of the NCLDV, possibly concomitant with eukaryogenesis. The core NCLDV genes seem to have originated from different sources including homologous genes of bacteriophages, bacteria and eukaryotes. These observations are compatible with a scenario of the origin of the NCLDV at an early stage of the evolution of eukaryotes through extensive mixing of genes from widely different genomes. Conclusions: The common ancestor of the NCLDV probably evolved from a bacteriophage as a result of recruitment of numerous eukaryotic and some bacterial genes, and concomitant loss of the majority of phage genes except for a small core of genes coding for proteins essential for virus genome replication and virion formation.
Complexity Analysis of the Viking Labeled Release Experiments

The only extraterrestrial life detection experiments ever conducted were the three which were components of the 1976 Viking Mission to Mars. Of these, only the Labeled Release experiment obtained a clearly positive response. In this experiment 14 C radiolabeled nutrient was added to the Mars soil samples. Active soils exhibited rapid, substantial gas release. The gas was probably CO2 and, possibly, other radiocarbon-containing gases. We have applied complexity analysis to the Viking LR data. Measures of mathematical complexity permit deep analysis of data structure along continua including signal vs. noise, entropy vs.negentropy, periodicity vs. aperiodicity, order vs. disorder etc. We have employed seven complexity variables, all derived from LR data, to show that Viking LR active responses can be distinguished from controls via cluster analysis and other multivariate techniques. Furthermore, Martian LR active response data cluster with known biological time series while the control data cluster with purely physical measures. We conclude that the complexity pattern seen in active experiments strongly suggests biology while the different pattern in the control responses is more likely to be non-biological. Control responses that exhibit relatively low initial order rapidly devolve into near-random noise, while the active experiments exhibit higher initial order which decays only slowly. This suggests a robust biological response. These analyses support the interpretation that the Viking LR experiment did detect extant microbial life on Mars.
Maternal serum interleukin-1β, -6 and -8 levels and potential determinants in pregnancy and peripartum

Abstract Aims: To measure maternal serum interleukins (IL) in pregnancy, delivery and early puerperium, and to identify their potential determinants. Methods: Prospective longitudinal measures of serum IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 in 38 healthy pregnant women at antenatal visits, through labor and delivery, with clinical correlates (infection, vaginal hemorrhage and anemia) recorded by questionnaire. Results: Pregnancy IL levels remained consistently low. IL-1β increased shortly before delivery, then returned to pregnant levels, except where blood loss exceeded 500 ml. IL-6 and IL-8 rose at labor onset and exceeded pregnancy levels through postpartum day three. Postpartum IL-6 was higher after non-elective cesarean section than after spontaneous delivery (P < 0.0001), and where blood loss exceeded 500 ml. IL-6 and IL-8 were higher with systemic infection during delivery (P < 0.0001) and on postpartum day one (P < 0.05); IL-8 was higher in anemia (delivery: P < 0.005; postpartum day 1: P < 0.05). Differences due to delivery mode and systemic infection remained significant after correction for other conditions. Conclusions: Labor-dependent inflammation increases all IL levels at delivery. Further studies with larger sample sizes are required to establish reference values differentiating physiology from pathology as an aid to peripartum management.
Characterizing crosstalk in anaglyphic stereoscopic images on LCD monitors and plasma displays

Abstract— In 1853, William Rollman developed the inexpensive and easy to use anaglyph method for displaying stereoscopic images. Although it can be used with nearly any type of full‐color display, the anaglyph method compromises the accuracy of color reproduction, and it often suffers from crosstalk (or ghosting) between the left‐ and right‐eye image channels. Crosstalk degrades the ability of the observer to fuse the stereoscopic image, and hence reduces the quality of the 3‐D image. Crosstalk is present in various levels with most stereoscopic displays; however, it is often particularly evident with anaglyphic 3‐D images. This paper summarizes the results of two projects that characterized the presence of anaglyphic crosstalk due to spectral issues on 13 LCD monitors, 14 plasma displays, and a CRT monitor when used with 25 different pairs of anaglyph 3‐D glasses. A mathematical model was used to predict the amount of crosstalk in anaglyphic 3‐D images when different combinations of displays and glasses are used, and therefore highlight displays, glasses, and combinations thereof which exhibit lower levels of crosstalk when displaying anaglyphic 3‐D images.
Stimulus dependence and developmental differences in Probabilistic Categorization and Sequence Learning

The Weather Prediction (WP) task is one of the most extensively used Probabilistic Category Learning tasks. Although it has been usually treated as an implicit task, its implicit nature has been questioned with focus on the structural knowledge of the acquired information. The goal of the current studies is to test if participants acquire explicit knowledge on the WP task. Experiment 1 addresses this question directly with the help of a subjective measure on self-insight in two groups: an experimental group facing the WP task, and a control group with a task lacking predictive structure. Participants in the experimental group produced more explicit reports than the control group, and only on trials with explicit knowledge was their performance higher. Experiment 2 provided further evidence against the implicitness of the task by showing that decreasing stimulus presentation times extends the learning process, but does not result in more implicit processes.