Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quality of Low Back Pain Guidelines Improved

Study Design. Systematic review of clinical guidelines. Objective. To assess the methodological quality of clinical guidelines for the management of acute and chronic low back pain (LBP) in primary care and compare their recommendations. Summary of Background Data. A guideline evaluation performed in 2004 concluded that the quality and transparency of the development process and consistency in the reporting of primary care guidelines for LBP need to be improved. At present, several guidelines have been revised and new guidelines are published. We evaluated if the quality of guidelines has improved. Methods. Guidelines published since 2004 were selected by electronically searching in MEDLINE, Cochrane Back Review Group database, Guideline Clearing House, Google, and contacting experts. The methodological quality of the guidelines was assessed by 2 authors independently, using the Appraisal of Guidelines, Research, and Evaluation in Europe instrument. Also, the diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations were compared. Results. Fourteen guidelines were included. In general, the quality was satisfactory. The guidelines had best scores on clarity and presentation. The domain scores of scope and purpose were often moderate due to the absence of description of the clinical questions. The domain of stakeholder involvement scored moderate, mostly because guidelines were not tested among target users. Domains that had generally low scores were applicability and editorial independence. Four guidelines scored low on the rigor of development, but the other guidelines scored high on this domain. The diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations in the guidelines for acute LBP were mainly comparable while the recommendations for the management of chronic LBP varied widely. Conclusion. Compared to the quality assessment performed in 2004, the average quality of guidelines has improved. However, guideline developers should still improve the quality transparency of the development process. Especially the applicability of guidelines and the editorial independence need to be ensured in future guidelines.
EQUILIBRIUM CONFIGURATIONS OF SYNCHRONOUS BINARIES: NUMERICAL SOLUTIONS AND APPLICATION TO KUIPER BELT BINARY 2001 QG298

We present numerical computations of the equilibrium configurations of tidally locked homogeneous binaries rotating in circular orbits. Unlike the classical Roche approximations, we self-consistently account for the tidal and rotational deformations of both components, and relax the assumptions of ellipsoidal configurations and Keplerian rotation. We find numerical solutions for mass ratios q between 10−3 and 1, starting at a small angular velocity for which tidal and rotational deformations are small, and following a sequence of increasing angular velocities. Each series terminates at an appropriate “Roche limit,” above which no equilibrium solution can be found. Even though the Roche limit is crossed before the “Roche lobe” is filled, any further increase in the angular velocity will result in mass-loss. For close, comparable-mass binaries, we find that local deviations from ellipsoidal forms may be as large as 10%–20%, and departures from Keplerian rotation are significant. We compute the light curves that arise from our equilibrium configurations, assuming their distance is ≫1 AU (e.g., in the Kuiper Belt). We consider both backscatter (proportional to the projected area) and diffuse (Lambert) reflections. Backscatter reflection always yields two minima of equal depths. Diffuse reflection, which is sensitive to the surface curvature, generally gives rise to unequal minima. We find detectable intensity differences of up to 10% between our light curves and those arising from the Roche approximations. Finally, we apply our models to Kuiper Belt binary 2001 QG298, and find a nearly edge-on binary with a mass ratio q = 0.93+0.07−0.03, angular velocity ω2/Gρ = 0.333 ± 0.001 (statistical errors only), and pure diffuse reflection. For the observed period of 2001 QG298, these parameters imply a bulk density ρ = 0.72 ± 0.04 g cm−3.
Externalizing and internalizing symptoms in childhood and adolescence and the risk of alcohol use disorders in young adulthood: A meta-analysis of longitudinal studies

Background: Evidence suggests that externalizing and internalizing symptoms are expressed early in life and are associated with problematic drinking in young adulthood. However, few studies have examined their role during childhood and adolescence in predicting alcohol problems later in life. Objectives: To examine the role of childhood and adolescent externalizing and internalizing symptoms in predicting alcohol use disorders in young adulthood. Methods: We searched five electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Sciences and Embase) for studies which diagnosed alcohol use disorders through either the International Classification of Diseases or American Psychiatric Association – Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria and followed up children or adolescents into the transition to young adulthood. We performed a meta-analysis and obtained pooled odds ratio estimates with 95% confidence intervals using random-effects models. Results: A total of 12 longitudinal studies met eligibility criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. All measured the outcome using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria. The majority were of good quality and were conducted in the United States. A total of 19,407 participants (50% female) were included in this meta-analysis. Of these, n = 2337 (12%) had diagnoses of alcohol use disorders/alcohol dependence. Participant ages ranged from birth to 36 years. Internalizing symptoms increased the risk of young adult alcohol use disorders by 21% (odds ratio = 1.21; 95% confidence interval = [1.05, 1.39]), with no strong evidence of publication bias. Subgroup analysis suggested significantly lower heterogeneity than for externalizing studies. Externalizing symptoms increased the risk of alcohol use disorders by 62% (odds ratio = 1.62, 95% confidence interval = [1.39, 1.90]). We found some evidence of publication bias and significant heterogeneity in the studies. Conclusion: Our findings highlight the contribution of early behavioural problems to the development of alcohol use disorders in young adulthood and the need for timely scrutiny of and intervention on early behavioural problems.
Cervical Cancer Trends Related to Mortality in Japan

Objective: Our study aims to identify the major trends in mortality from cancer of the cervix uteri in Japan during a 50-year period (1950-2000); and to consider the negative contribution of cancer of the cervix uteri to life expectancy. Materials and Methods: The age specific rates for mortality of cervical cancer, were based on the data collected by Vital Statistics of Japan. The contribution of cervical cancer to the overall change in life expectancy was calculated by the causeelimination life table. Results: The mortality rates show a large variance during this 50-year period. The highest mortality rate was 3.74/100 000 in 2000, and the lowest mortality rate was 1.19/100 000 in 1950. The rate for 2000 was about 3 times higher than that for 1950. The high mortality rates occurred mainly in the elderly population during the period from 1950-2000. In addition, the difference observed in cervical cancer death was thus found to affect life expectancy. The highest negative contribution was 0.08 year in 1960 and the lowest was 0.02 year in 1950. Discussion: The mortality rates of cervical cancer in Japan showed a large difference during the period from 1950 to 2000. This cancer had no negative effect on the prolongation in life expectancy in Japan.
A Perturbation-Based Proportional Integral Extremum-Seeking Control Approach

This paper proposes a proportional-integral extremum-seeking control technique. The technique is a generalization of the standard perturbation based techniques which provides fast transient performance of the closed-loop system to the optimum equilibrium of a measured cost function. Under the assumption that the equations describing the dynamics of the nonlinear system and the cost function to be minimized are unknown, it is shown that, for a class of minimum-phase nonlinear system with a cost function of relative degree one, the closed-loop ESC can practically stabilize the unknown equilibrium optimum. The stabilization result provides an alternative approach to output feedback control of nonlinear systems.The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated using simulation examples.
Oncostatin M Regulates Eotaxin Expression in Fibroblasts and Eosinophilic Inflammation in C57BL/6 Mice1

Oncostatin M (OSM) is a member of the IL-6/LIF (or gp130) cytokine family, and its potential role in inflammation is supported by a number of activities identified in vitro. In this study, we investigate the action of murine OSM on expression of the CC chemokine eotaxin by fibroblasts in vitro and on mouse lung tissue in vivo. Recombinant murine OSM stimulated eotaxin protein production and mRNA levels in the NIH 3T3 fibroblast cell line. IL-6 could regulate a small induction of eotaxin in NIH 3T3 cells, but other IL-6/LIF cytokines (LIF, cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1)) had no effect. Cell signaling studies showed that murine OSM, LIF, IL-6, and CT-1 stimulated the tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT-3, suggesting STAT-3 activation is not sufficient for eotaxin induction in NIH 3T3 cells. OSM induced ERK-1,2 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation in NIH 3T3 cells, and inhibitors of ERK (PD98059) or p38 (SB203580) could partially reduce OSM-induced eotaxin production, suggesting partial dependence on mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling. OSM (but not LIF, IL-6, or CT-1) also induced eotaxin release by mouse lung fibroblast cultures derived from C57BL/6 mice. Overexpression of murine OSM in lungs of C57BL/6 mice using an adenovirus vector encoding murine OSM resulted in a vigorous inflammatory response by day 7 after intranasal administration, including marked extracellular matrix accumulation and eosinophil infiltration. Elevated levels of eotaxin mRNA in whole lung were detected at days 4 and 5. These data strongly support a role of OSM in lung inflammatory responses that involve eosinophil infiltration.
Delirium duration and mortality in lightly sedated, mechanically ventilated intensive care patients*

Objectives:To determine the relationship between the number of delirium days experienced by intensive care patients and mortality, ventilation time, and intensive care unit stay. Design:Prospective cohort analysis. Setting:Patients from 68 intensive care units in five countries. Patients:Three hundred fifty-four medical and surgical intensive care patients enrolled in the SEDCOM (Safety and Efficacy of Dexmedetomidine Compared with Midazolam) trial received a sedative study drug and completed at least one delirium assessment. Interventions:Sedative drug interruption and/or titration to maintain light sedation with daily arousal and delirium assessments up to 30 days of mechanical ventilation. Measurements and Main Results:The primary outcome was all-cause 30-day mortality. Multivariable analysis using Cox regression incorporating delirium duration as a time-dependent variable and adjusting for eight relevant baseline covariates was conducted to quantify the relationship between number of delirium days and the three main outcomes. Overall, delirium was diagnosed in 228 of 354 patients (64.4%). Mortality was significantly lower in patients without delirium compared to those with delirium (15 of 126 [11.9%] vs. 69 of 228 [30.3%]; p < .001). Similarly, the median time to extubation and intensive care unit discharge were significantly shorter among nondelirious patients (3.6 vs. 10.7 days [p < .001] and 4 vs. 16 days [p < .001], respectively). In multivariable analysis, the duration of delirium exhibited a nonlinear relationship with mortality (p = .02), with the strongest association observed in the early days of delirium. In comparison to 0 days of delirium, an independent dose-response increase in mortality was observed, which increased from 1 day of delirium (hazard ratio, 1.70; 95% confidence interval, 1.27–2.29; p < .001), 2 days of delirium (hazard ratio, 2.69; confidence interval, 1.58–4.57; p < .001), and ≥3 days of delirium (hazard ratio, 3.37; confidence interval, 1.92–7.23; p < .001). Similar independent relationships were observed between delirium duration and ventilation time and intensive care length of stay. Conclusions:In ventilated and lightly sedated intensive care unit patients, the duration of delirium was the strongest independent predictor of death, ventilation time, and intensive care unit stay after adjusting for relevant covariates.
Deep Manifold Structure Transfer for Action Recognition

While intrinsic data structure in subspace provides useful information for visual recognition, it has not yet been well studied in deep feature learning for action recognition. In this paper, we introduce a new spatio-temporal manifold network (STMN) that leverages data manifold structures to regularize deep action feature learning, aiming at simultaneously minimizing the intra-class variations of learned deep features and alleviating the over-fitting problem. To this end, the manifold prior is imposed from the top layer of a convolutional neural network (CNN) and propagated across convolutional layers during forward–backward propagation. The observed correspondence of manifold structures in the data space and feature space validates that the manifold priori can be transferred across the CNN layers. The STMN theoretically recasts the problem of transferring the data structure prior into the deep learning architectures as a projection over the manifold via an embedding method, which can be easily solved by an alternating direction method of multipliers and backward propagation (ADMM-BP) algorithm. The STMN is generic in the sense that it can be plugged into various backbone architectures to learn more discriminative representation for action recognition. The extensive experimental results show that our method achieves comparable or even better performance compared with the state-of-the-art approaches on four benchmark datasets.
Molecular Pathways Molecular Pathways : Microsatellite Instability in Colorectal Cancer : Prognostic , Predictive , and Therapeutic Implications

Microsatellite instability (MSI) is the molecular fingerprint of the deficient mismatch repair (MMR) system, which characterizes 15% of colorectal cancers. MSI develops as a result of germline mutations in MMR genes or, more commonly, from epigenetic silencing of MLH1 in sporadic tumors occurring in a background of methylation of CpG islands in gene promoter regions and in tumors that frequently show hotspot mutations in the BRAF oncogene. MSI tumors have distinct phenotypic features and have been consistently associated with a better stage-adjusted prognosis compared with microsatellite stable tumors. MSI negatively predicts response to 5-fluorouracil and may also determine responsiveness to other drugs used for treatment of colorectal cancers. Recent data have expanded the molecular heterogeneity of MSI tumors and may contribute to our understanding of differential chemosensitivity. The ability to identify deficient MMR has important implications for patient management, and it holds promise for therapeutic exploitation and for the development of novel therapeutics. Clin Cancer Res; 18(6); 1–7. 2012 AACR.
Strength Training Associated with Task-Oriented Training to Enhance Upper-Limb Motor Function in Elderly Patients with Mild Impairment After Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to verify the effects of loaded exercises associated with a task-oriented training (TOT) program in the recovery of upper-limb function in individuals with chronic hemiparesis after stroke. DesignThis study used a single-blinded, randomized controlled trial. Patients were included into two TOT groups: one that performed the task-oriented therapy without load (TOT group, n = 10) and another one that performed task-oriented therapy with personalized resistance (TOT_ST group, n = 10) for 6 wks, for a total of 12 sessions. Main measures included The Upper Extremity Performance Test, shoulder flexor and handgrip strength, shoulder active range of motion, motor impairment (Fugl-Meyer Scale), and muscle tone. ResultsThe TOT_ST group demonstrated better scores relating to unilateral tasks and in the quality aspects of bilateral movements (The Upper Extremity Performance Test, P = 0.04) at the end of rehabilitation protocol. The highest muscle force gain was reached by the TOT_ST group for the shoulder flexors (P = 0.001). Similarly, the active range of motion (P = 0.01) and Fugl-Meyer scores (P = 0.001) were higher in the TOT_ST group compared with the TOT group. Both groups showed improvement after training. ConclusionsStrength training was able to intensify the upper-limb rehabilitation, as demonstrated by the superior scores achieved by the TOT_ST group in most of the evaluated parameters. Muscle strength training might be a pivotal element of the task-oriented rehabilitation program of chronic patients with mild impairment after stroke.
Role of Protein Kinase C-MAPK, Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Pathways in Diabetic Nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy is the most common cause of end-stage renal disease. It is assumed that hyperglycemia is one of the major systemic risk factors for diabetic complications. Numerous hypotheses exist to enlighten the adverse effect of hyperglycemia. One of these hypotheses is the activation of the calcium- and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C signaling pathway by hyperglycemia which subsequently mediates cellular response and affects gene expression and protein function to cause cellular dysfunction and damage. It is well known that the intracellular protein kinase C activation is achieved by the elevated diacylglycerol levels in vascular tissues as well as in nonvascular tissues. Besides diacylglycerol, oxidative stress has also been reported to induce prolonged activation of protein kinase C within cells through the reactive oxygen species. Activation of protein kinase C and oxidative stress have been associated with vascular alterations such as increases in permeability of endothelial cells, extracellular matrix synthesis, cell growth and apoptosis, angiogenesis, and cytokines activation and inhibition. These derangements in vascular cell homeostasis caused by the activation protein kinase C as well as oxidative stress are connected to the occurrence of pathologies affecting large vessel and small vessel complications. Accumulating evidences have also shown that the inflammation process is an essential pathogenetic mechanism in diabetic nephropathy. Therefore, modulation of this process is an important target for both metabolic and hemodynamic derangements in diabetic nephropathy. In this review, we will discusses the role of protein kinase C, oxidative stress and inflammation process and the signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy.
Improving Manual Tracking of Systems With Oscillatory Dynamics

This paper examines the manual control of systems with oscillatory dynamics. Tracking performance is improved by using input shaping to suppress command-induced oscillation. An operator study tested tracking behavior using controlled elements with both low-frequency (1.25 rad/s) and high-frequency (5 rad/s) oscillatory modes. After each experimental trial, measures of tracking performance and subjective task difficulty were recorded, and frequency-domain control characteristics were computed. Results showed that the high-frequency oscillatory mode did not greatly decrease the tracking performance from the nonoscillatory case; thus, input shaping did not produce a significant improvement in the tracking performance. However, input shaping did cause a decrease in the average subjective task difficulty and made the system closely resemble McRuer's “crossover model. ” For the low-frequency case, the addition of input shaping significantly improved the tracking performance and reduced the tracking difficulty. These results demonstrate that input shaping can greatly improve the continuous tracking ability of human-machine systems that have oscillatory modes.
Falls-related self-efficacy is independently associated with quality-adjusted life years in older women.

BACKGROUND falls-related self-efficacy is associated with falls, falls-related injury and subsequent functional decline which may lead to poor health-related quality-of-life (HRQL). To our knowledge, no previous studies have examined the independent contribution of falls-related self-efficacy to HRQL. Our primary objective was to determine whether falls-related self-efficacy is independently associated HRQL, measured by quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), in older women after accounting for known covariates. METHOD we conducted a secondary analysis of 135 community-dwelling older women aged 65-75 years who participated in a 12-month randomised controlled trial of resistance training. We assessed falls-related self-efficacy using the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale and QALYs calculated from the EuroQol EQ-5D (EQ-5D). RESULTS our multivariate linear regression model demonstrated that falls-related self-efficacy as assessed using the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale was independently associated with QALYs after accounting for age, group, education, functional co-morbidity index, general mobility, global cognition and physiological falls risk. The final model explained 52% of the variation in QALYs. The ABC Scale accounted for 5% of the total variance in the final model. CONCLUSIONS although falls-related self-efficacy was independently associated with QALYs after controlling for a number of known variables, there may well be other factors not investigated, such as risk taking behaviour and psychological measures, which could account for some of the association. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00426881.
Evolution of Double Positive Autoregulatory Feedback Loops in CYCLOIDEA2 Clade Genes Is Associated with the Origin of Floral Zygomorphy[W]

This work examines the role of CYC2 clade genes in floral asymmetry in Primulina heterotricha, finding that CYC1C and CYC1D positively auto- and cross-regulate both themselves and each other in a double positive autoregulatory feedback loop, a regulatory mechanism that may be conserved in other clades with zygomorphic flowers. Members of the CYCLOIDEA2 (CYC2) clade of the TEOSINTE BRANCHED1, CYCLOIDEA, and PCF transcription factor genes are widely involved in controlling floral zygomorphy, a key innovation in angiosperm evolution, depending on their persistently asymmetric expression in the corresponding floral domains. However, it is unclear how this asymmetric expression is maintained throughout floral development. Selecting Primulina heterotricha as a model, we examined the expression and function of two CYC2 genes, CYC1C and CYC1D. We analyzed the role of their promoters in protein–DNA interactions and transcription activation using electrophoresis mobility shift assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and transient gene expression assays. We find that CYC1C and CYC1D positively autoregulate themselves and cross-regulate each other. Our results reveal a double positive autoregulatory feedback loop, evolved for a pair of CYC2 genes to maintain their expression in developing flowers. Further comparative genome analyses, together with the available expression and function data of CYC2 genes in the core eudicots, suggest that this mechanism might have led to the independent origins of floral zygomorphy, which are associated with plant–insect coevolution and the adaptive radiation of angiosperms.