Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Viscoelasticity of the muscle–tendon unit is returned more rapidly than range of motion after stretching

The purpose of this study was to clarify the time course of the viscoelasticity of gastrocnemius medialis muscle and tendon after stretching. In 11 male participants, displacement of the myotendinous junction on the gastrocnemius medialis muscle was measured ultrasonographically during the passive dorsiflexion test, in which the ankle was passively dorsiflexed at a speed of 1°/s to the end of the range of motion (ROM). Passive torque, representing resistance to stretch, was also measured using an isokinetic dynamometer. On five different days, passive dorsiflexion tests were performed before and 0, 15, 30, 60 or 90 min after stretching, which consisted of dorsiflexion to end ROM and holding that position for 1 min, five times. As a result, end ROM was significantly increased at 0, 15 and 30 min (P<0.05 each) after stretching as compared with each previous value. Passive torque at end ROM was also significantly increased after stretching. Although the stiffness of the muscle–tendon unit was significantly decreased immediately after stretching (P<0.05), this shift recovered within 15 min. These results showed that the retention time of the effect of stretching on viscoelasticity of the muscle–tendon unit was shorter than the retention time of the effect of stretching on end ROM.
Predictors of Responsiveness to Physiotherapy Management of Cervicogenic Headache

A recent randomized controlled trial tested the effectiveness of therapeutic exercise and manipulative therapy on 200 subjects with cervicogenic headache. Although treatments were efficacious, 25% of patients did not achieve a clinically acceptable outcome – 50% reduction in headache frequency. This study aimed to identify predictors from variables in subjects' demographics and headache history which might identify those who did or did not achieve a 50-79% or 80-100% reduction in headache immediately after the active treatments and 12 months postintervention. The results revealed no consistent pattern of predictors, although the absence of light-headedness indicated higher odds of achieving either a 50-79% [odds ratio (OR) = 5.45) or 80-100% (OR = 5.7) reduction in headache frequency in the long term. Headaches of at least moderate intensity, the patient's age and chronicity of headache did not mitigate against a successful outcome from physiotherapy intervention.
The Argentinian mother-and-child contaminant study: a cross-sectional study among delivering women in the cities of Ushuaia and Salta

ABSTRACT Several ongoing international multidisciplinary projects have examined linkages between environmental chemicals and health. In contrast to Arctic regions, information for the Southern Hemisphere is scarce. Because of the inherent practice of pesticide utilisation and mismanagement, food security is potentially threatened. The most vulnerable period in human life occurs during pregnancy and early childhood, thus a focus on the body burdens of PTS in pregnant or delivering women is warranted. The current study was designed to investigate health risks related to exposure to PTS and food security in two regions of Argentina (Ushuaia and Salta). Our aims were to quantify concentrations of organic and inorganic toxins in serum or whole blood of delivering women and to collect pertinent dietary and medical information. The overall study design, the basic demographic features and essential clinical chemistry findings are described in the current paper. The socioeconomic differences between the two study areas were evident. On average, the women in Ushuaia were 4 years older than those in Salta (28.8 vs. 24.7 years). Respectively, the proportion of current smokers was 4.5 vs. 9.6%; and Salta had a higher birth rate, with 15.6% being para four or more. Saltanean women reported longer breastfeeding periods. Caesarean sections were more frequent in Ushuaia, with 43% of Caesarean deliveries compared with only 6% in Salta. Employment was high in both communities. Recognised environmental pollution sources in the vicinity of participant dwellings were widespread in Salta (56.1%) compared to Ushuaia (9%). The use of pesticides for insect control in homes was most common in Salta (80%). There is an urgent need for a comprehensive assessment of exposures in areas of the Southern Hemisphere. Our data set and the planned publications of observed concentrations of inorganic and organic environmental contaminants in both mothers and their newborns will contribute to this objective.
Community engagement in the Transition movement: views and practices in Portuguese initiatives

ABSTRACT As the need to address climate change is ever more urgent, many have emphasised the importance of community-level responses. The Transition movement has advanced community-based action to increase resilience for over a decade and has expanded significantly. Thus, it is a critical setting for examining community engagement towards climate change in practice. Our study is based on 39 interviews with facilitators of Transition initiatives in Portugal, coupled with observational data, and is guided by two main research questions: how do Transition initiatives promote community engagement at the local level? What are the factors constraining or facilitating community engagement within Portuguese Transition initiatives? We identify several aspects of Transition’s constructions of community resilience and engagement that indicate ambivalence towards, or avoidance of, certain issues. They relate do agency, structure, power and inclusion, as well as to the modes of engagement and the communication practices of Transition initiatives. We argue that strategies for community engagement should be specific to social contexts rather than internationally uniform and be based on participatory approaches. Drawing on an extensive empirical analysis, the article contributes to theory building on the Transition movement beyond the Anglo-Saxon context and to the wider field of community-based environment initiatives.
Who Teaches Where? A Descriptive Analysis of Similarities and Differences between Teachers in Traditional and Charter Schools in Pulaski County, Arkansas

Using survey data collected from 893 public school teachers in Pulaski County, Arkansas, this study looks for differences in traditional public school teachers and charter school teachers on their (1) backgrounds and teacher characteristics; (2) motivations for entering the teaching profession; and (3) attitudes towards school and teaching. A multivariate analysis of the data revealed that few differences exist between the two groups of teachers on their backgrounds, teacher characteristics, and motivations to enter the teaching field. However, charter school teachers were found to be more likely to have positive attitudes towards school policy changes, a stronger professional commitment to student learning, and perceived themselves to have a higher level of personal agency within their schools than traditional public school teachers. These findings indicate that charter school teachers and traditional public school teachers in Pulaski County, Arkansas, on average, are not as different as previous research suggests. The differences found in previous studies could be attributed to the types of charter schools that were being studied, which attracted specific types of teachers. In contrast, the charter schools in this study did not have a common mission or recruitment technique and thus few systematic differences were found in teaching backgrounds and motivations for entering the teaching profession between the two groups of teachers. However, the differences found on teacher attitudes towards school and student learning seem to imply that charter schools do cultivate a different type of teacher, at least in Arkansas: one that is more flexible and sees himself or herself as more autonomous. @2018 by Alexandra M. Boyd All Rights Reserved
Insight into the role of histidine in RNR motif of protein component of RNase P of M. tuberculosis in catalysis

RNase P, a ribonucleoprotein endoribonuclease, is involved in the 5′ end processing of pre‐tRNAs, with its RNA component being the catalytic subunit. It is an essential enzyme. All bacterial RNase Ps have one RNA and one protein component. A conserved RNR motif in bacterial RNase P protein components is involved in their interaction with the RNA component. In this work, we have reconstituted the RNase P of M. tuberculosis in vitro and investigated the role of a histidine in the RNR motif in its catalysis. We expressed the protein and RNA components of mycobacterial RNase P in E. coli, purified them, and reconstituted the holoenzyme in vitro. The histidine in RNR motif was mutated to alanine and asparagine by site‐directed mutagenesis. The RNA component alone showed activity on pre‐tRNAala substrate at high magnesium concentrations. The RNA and protein components associated together to manifest catalytic activity at low magnesium concentrations. The histidine 67 in the RNR motif of M. tuberculosis RNase P protein component was found to be important for the catalytic activity and stability of the enzyme. Generally, the RNase P of M. tuberculosis functions like other bacterial enzymes. The histidine in the RNR motif of M. tuberculosis appears to be able to substitute optimally for asparagine found in the majority of the protein components of other bacterial RNase P enzymes. © 2016 IUBMB Life, 68(3):178–189, 2016
Correlates of compliance in a randomized exercise trial in myocardial infarction patients.

PURPOSE Exercise-based rehabilitation programs have been associated with decreased morbidity and mortality after myocardial infarction. Unfortunately, attendance is often poor, and information is limited regarding predictors of long-term compliance to such programs. This study examined factors associated with exercise session compliance over 3 yr in male myocardial infarction (MI) survivors. METHODS Subjects were participants in the National Exercise and Heart Disease Project, a 3-yr (1976-1979) multicenter, randomized clinical trial (N = 651); 308 men, 30-64 yr of age, were randomized to the exercise treatment group, that met three times/week throughout the study. Compliance was defined as the number of sessions attended/number of sessions conducted. Patient characteristics at enrollment were considered as possible predictors of compliance. RESULTS Compliance decreased as time since enrollment increased with the largest decrease observed after the first 8 wk. Compliance correlated positively with exercise test measures [last completed stage (r = 0.17, P < 0.01), peak heart rate (r = 0.11, P = 0.06)], high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (r = 0.15, P = 0.10), age (r = 0.11, P = 0.07), and inversely with body mass index (r = -0.19, P = 0.001), sum of three skinfolds (r = -0.15, P < 0.01), total cholesterol (r = -0.18, P < 0.01), triglycerides (r = -0.16, P < 0.01), and depression (r = -0.09, P < 0.11). Current smokers were less compliant than former and nonsmokers (r = -0.21, P < 0.001). The correlations with last completed stage, BMI, skinfolds, total cholesterol, and smoking status were statistically significant. The model explained 22.2% of the variance in compliance (r2 = 0.222). Baseline work capacity was among the most consistent predictors of early and late compliance. CONCLUSION Compliance decreased over time. Men already at high risk for repeat events due to elevated risk factors were less compliant. These findings have important clinical implications regarding screening, intervention, and participation in potential cardiac rehabilitation program dropouts.
Prenatal Diagnosis of Absent Pulmonary Valve Syndrome

Objective. Absent pulmonary valve syndrome (APVS) is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly. Two variants of this anomaly are known. The postnatal outcome is generally poor. We report 2 patients who were referred to us for fetal echocardiography after abnormal findings on detailed sonography. We discuss the fetal echocardiographic features of this rare cardiac anomaly. Methods. We analyzed the fetal echocardiographic findings of APVS in the 2 patients. The study was performed on an ultrasound machine using a convex transducer and fetal echocardiographic presets. The axis, size, and situs of the heart were evaluated. Color and spectral Doppler evaluations of both inflow and outflow tracts were done, and M‐mode measurements of the cardiac chambers and great arteries were obtained. Results. Both patients had APVS. One fetus had the typical features of APVS, with a dilated pulmonary artery and branches, a subaortic ventricular septal defect, overriding of the aorta, and ductal agenesis. There was typical to‐and‐fro flow noted on color and spectral Doppler imaging. The other fetus showed rare findings of APVS, with an intact ventricular septum (IVS) and a patent ductus arteriosus associated with functional tricuspid atresia. Conclusions. Antenatal diagnosis of the common variant (associated with tetralogy of Fallot) of APVS is easy because of its typical features of a dilated main pulmonary and branch arteries and color Doppler detection of severe stenosis and insufficiency of the functionally absent pulmonary valve. However, the second variant of APVS can have various findings, which can make a specific diagnosis difficult.
The influence of multimodal behavioral treatment on the consumption of acute migraine drugs: a randomized, controlled study

Objectives: To characterize overall drug use in migraine in conjunction with multimodal behavioral treatment (MBT). Methods: Seventy-six adults reporting at least two monthly migraine attacks underwent a randomized, controlled, 24-week MBT intervention. Migraine drugs and symptoms were registered in an Internet-based diary. Results: During 4256 days of baseline registration, 859 drug doses were taken during 655 of the 856 days with migraine headache. Triptans and analgesics constituted 56.7 and 38.3% of all doses with efficacy ratios of 0.41 and 0.20, respectively. Men displayed significantly lower drug efficacy (p = 0.001), and used triptans significantly less (p < 0.001) and analgesics significantly more (p < 0.001) than women. At the end of the MBT, total drug consumption decreased by 22% (p = 0.029), corresponding to 27% fewer days with migraine headache. Drug efficacy increased during MBT from 0.30 to 0.52 (p < 0.001), mainly explained by an increased proportion of mild attacks, which also was the attack category that displayed the largest increase in drug efficacy. Conclusions: Triptans were the most used and efficient drugs. MBT led to decreased and more efficient drug consumption. Men used triptans less frequently.
Vitamin D Kinetics and Parathyroid Gland Function in Patients with Congenital Heart Disease.

OBJECTIVE It has been recently reported that vitamin D deficiency may contribute to systemic illnesses that accompany chronic heart failure. These reports also suggest the serum levels of parathormone, which activates vitamin D in the liver, can be a useful marker of heart failure. This study was designed to evaluate the clinical implications of vitamin D and parathormone levels in patients with congenital heart diseases and chronic heart failure. DESIGN We measured 25-hydroxyvitamin D and parathormone serum levels in 103 adult patients with congenital heart diseases (age range 20-89 years). Of 103 patients, 54 were in New York Heart Association functional classes II or III. Their clinical data regarding cardiothoracic ratio, fractional shortening of the systemic ventricle, brain natriuretic peptide plasma levels, and pulse oximetry were also evaluated. RESULTS Of 54 patients with chronic heart failure, 50 (93%) exhibited vitamin D deficiency (25-hydroxyvitamin D serum levels <50 nmol/L) or elevation of parathormone (serum levels >65 pg/mL). These two parameters were inversely correlated. In multivariate analyses including age, gender, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, parathormone, pulse oximetry, cardiothoracic ratio, calcium, phosphorus, glomerular filtration rate, albumin, creatine kinase, end-diastolic diameter and fractional shortening of the systemic ventricle, and ratio of early diastolic transmitral flow velocity to mitral annular velosity, only the parathormone serum levels (P < .01) remained independently associated with brain natriuretic peptide plasma levels. Moreover, in multivariate analyses including the same variables minus parathormone serum levels, both pulse oximetry (P < .01) and glomerular filtration rate (P < .01) remained independently associated with parathormone levels. CONCLUSIONS Vitamin D deficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism are common in patients with congenital heart diseases and heart failure. Serum parathormone and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels correlated with several clinical heart failure markers, suggesting that vitamin D deficiency may deteriorate heart function in congenital heart disease patients.
Structure, Dynamics, and Functionality of Tankyrase Inhibitor-Induced Degradasomes

Tankyrase (TNKS) enzymes, due to their poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activity, have emerged as potential targets in experimental cancer therapy. However, the functional consequences of TNKS inhibition remain incompletely resolved because of the binding promiscuity of TNKS. One of the hallmarks of small-molecule TNKS inhibitors (TNKSi) is the stabilization of AXIN, which plays a pivotal role in the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway. The present study focused on the known ability of TNKSi to induce cytoplasmic puncta (degradasomes) consisting of components of the signal-limiting WNT/β-catenin destruction complex. Using the colorectal cancer cell line SW480 stably transfected with GFP-TNKS1, it was demonstrated that a TNKS-specific inhibitor (G007-LK) induces highly dynamic and mobile degradasomes that contain phosphorylated β-catenin, ubiquitin, and β-TrCP. Likewise, G007-LK was found to induce similar degradasomes in other colorectal cancer cell lines expressing wild-type or truncated versions of the degradasome component APC. Super-resolution and electron microscopy revealed that the induced degradasomes in SW480 cells are membrane-free structures that consist of a filamentous assembly of high electron densities and discrete subdomains of various destruction complex components. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching experiments further demonstrated that β-catenin–mCherry was rapidly turned over in the G007-LK-induced degradasomes, whereas GFP-TNKS1 remained stable. In conclusion, TNKS inhibition attenuates WNT/β-catenin signaling by promoting dynamic assemblies of functional active destruction complexes into a TNKS-containing scaffold even in the presence of an APC truncation. Implications: This study demonstrates that β-catenin is rapidly turned over in highly dynamic assemblies of WNT destruction complexes (degradasomes) upon tankyrase inhibition and provides a direct mechanistic link between degradasome formation and reduced WNT signaling in colorectal cancer cells. Mol Cancer Res; 13(11); 1487–501. ©2015 AACR.
The intersection of disability and in-work poverty in an advanced industrial nation: The lived experience of multiple disadvantage in a post-financial crisis UK

The 2007–2008 financial crisis has affected the prospects for workers in a range of ways. In-work poverty represents just one, yet key feature of how prospects for workers have changed in recent times. In-work poverty disproportionately impacts on marginalised groups, such as the disabled. Current research reveals little about how disability and poverty intersect in the context of employment. To address this oversight, life history interviews were conducted with disabled people in in-work poverty. The findings were analysed using the social model of disability and the lens of intersectionality. The results highlight how government policies, employer practices and household finances impact on disabled workers’ lived experience of in-work poverty. The findings suggest that governments and employers can do more to reduce barriers to escaping in-work poverty for disabled workers.
Progression of Lumbosacral Isthmic Spondylolisthesis in Adults

Study Design. A retrospective clinical and radiographic review of adult patients with progressive isthmic lumbosacral spondylolisthesis. Objectives. To describe the clinical presentation of adult-onset progression of isthmic spondylolisthesis and to analyze its causes. Summary of Background Data. Until recently, progression of lumbosacral spondylolisthesis in adults was rarely reported. On the contrary, although slip progression before skeletal maturity has been widely recorded, its occurrence in adults has been doubted. Only sporadic case reports of adult slip progression and only brief notes on the subject in clinical studies describing other aspects of spondylolisthesis have been published. Methods. Patients with isthmic lumbosacral spondylolisthesis who had serial radiographs of the lumbar spine on which slip progression during adult life was noted were evaluated. The amount of vertebral slip was calculated in millimeters from decubitus lateral spinal radiographs. The calculation was expressed as the percentage of slipped vertebral body length. Results. From 1989 to 1995, 18 patients (9 women and 9 men), ages 32 to 55 years, with documented adult isthmic slip progression were identified at the Spinal Surgery Unit of the Hadassah University Hospital. All patients reported incapacitating low back pain, accompanied in most by significant sciatica. Documented slip progression ranged from 9% to 30% (average, 14.6%), and occurred during a period of 2 to 20 years (average duration, 6.8 years). Slip progression started after the third decade of life and coincided with marked disc degeneration at the olisthetic level. Slip progression associated with disc degeneration (i.e., intervertebral space narrowing and the formation of spondylophytes and vacuum phenomenon) brought about severe clinical symptomatology related to segmental instability and spinal stenosis. Of the 18 patients in this study, 14 were treated with surgery. All these patients except 1 underwent decompression, pedicle screw fixation, and bilateral lateral fusion. One patient underwent posterolateral fusion without instrumentation. Immediate postoperative complications were observed in three patients, including two superficial wound infections and one transient foot drop. Solid fusion was obtained in 11 of the 14 patients who underwent surgery. Conclusions. The concurrent occurrence of disc degeneration at the slip level and adult slip progression explains how an asymptomatic developmental lesion, present for at least two to three decades, may become symptomatic.
Sexuality after spinal cord injury: the Greek male's perspective.

OBJECTIVE This study explored how Greek men with spinal cord injury experience sexuality. METHODS Six men with spinal cord injury acted as key informants and data collection consisted of in-depth unstructured interviews, field notes, and a reflective log. The transcribed interviews were analyzed thematically. RESULTS The themes that emerged were: Barriers, Metamorphoses, and Enjoying. Sexuality was important in the life of the informants and they were engaged in various patterns of adaptation. Rather than impairment as such, certain social beliefs and values prevalent in Greek society were found to act upon the informants in compromising ways. CONCLUSION The results suggest that the process of reclaiming one's sexuality is a process of meaning-finding. The data support a conclusion that occupational therapists should respect the cultural nature of sexuality. Moreover, the topic of sexuality should be approached in a holistic manner, perceiving it as extending in a continuum, which may be positively or negatively affected as a result of an acquired impairment.