Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The role of shoe design in ankle sprain rates among collegiate basketball players.

CONTEXT Much of the recent focus in shoe design and engineering has been on improving athletic performance. Currently, this improvement has been in the form of "cushioned column systems," which are spring-like in design and located under the heel of the shoe in place of a conventional heel counter. Concerns have been raised about whether this design alteration has increased the incidence of ankle sprains. OBJECTIVE To examine the incidence of lateral ankle sprains in collegiate basketball players with regard to shoe design. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING Certified athletic trainers at 1014 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)-affiliated schools sponsoring basketball during the 2005-2006 regular season were notified of an online questionnaire. Athletic trainers at 22 of the 1014 schools participated. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS A total of 230 basketball players (141 males, 89 females; age = 20.2 +/- 1.5 years) from NCAA Division I-III basketball programs sustained lateral ankle sprains. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Ankle sprain information and type of shoe worn (cushioned column or noncushioned column) were collected via online survey. The incidence of lateral ankle sprains and type of shoes worn were compared using a chi-square analysis. RESULTS No difference was noted in ankle sprain incidence between groups (chi(2) = 2.44, P = . 20, relative risk = 1.47, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.32, 6.86). The incidence of ankle sprains was 1.33 per 1000 exposures in the cushioned column group (95% CI = 0.62, 3.51) and 1.96 per 1000 exposures in the noncushioned column group (95% CI = 0.51, 4.22). CONCLUSIONS No increased incidence of ankle sprains was associated with shoe design.
Dialysis modality and survival: does the controversy live on?

Purpose of reviewContinued debate regarding the relative mortality risk for end-stage renal disease patients treated with either peritoneal dialysis or facility-based three times weekly conventional haemodialysis (CHD) stems from the absence of adequately powered randomized controlled trials, and the reliance on observational studies. These reports have yielded important trends, but also conflicting results. Here, we summarize the contemporary literature on survival comparisons between CHD and peritoneal dialysis, highlighting trends and important differences between studies. Recent findingsLarge observational studies have not conclusively shown an overall survival advantage of either dialysis modality. Studies have consistently shown an early survival advantage for peritoneal dialysis relative to CHD. New insights including accounting for selection bias and the use of central venous catheters as incident haemodialysis access may explain much of this apparent early mortality difference. The relative mortality risk of peritoneal dialysis versus haemodialysis may be decreasing in more contemporary cohorts. Older patients, diabetic patients, and those with comorbidities may have a relatively worse prognosis on peritoneal dialysis compared to CHD. SummaryOverall, survival of incident end-stage renal disease patients is similar for CHD and peritoneal dialysis, but early survival differences may be driven by selection bias. Decisions regarding modality choice should be individualized, considering other important patient outcomes including quality of life. Whereas a future randomized controlled trial is ideally suited to address this question, practical limitations may continue to limit its development.
Construct validity of the items on the Stroke Specific Quality of Life (SS-QOL) questionnaire that evaluate the participation component of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health

Abstract Purpose: Analyze the construct validity and internal consistency of the Stroke Specific Quality of Life (SS-QOL) items that address the participation component of the ICF as well as analyze the ceiling and floor effects. Methods: One hundred subjects were analyzed: 85 community-dwelling and 15 institutionalized individuals. The analysis of construct validity was performed using classic psychometrics: (1) the comparison of known groups (individuals without restriction to participation vs. those with restriction to participation) using the Mann–Whitney test and (2) convergent validity – correlation between the scores on the SS-QOL items that address participation and the subscale scores of measures used to evaluate the similar constructs and concepts [the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and grip strength test]. Spearman’s correlation coefficients were calculated for this analysis. Cronbach’s α was used for the analysis of internal consistency and both the ceiling and floor effects were analyzed. The level of significance for all analyses was α = 0.05. Results: The a priori hypotheses regarding construct validity were partially demonstrated, as only five of the eight domains exhibited positive moderate to strong correlations (r > 0.40) with measures that address constructs similar to those addressed on the SS-QOL questionnaire. The items demonstrated adequate internal consistency and are capable of differentiating individuals with and without restriction to participation. The ceiling and floor effects were considered adequate for the total SS-QOL score, but beyond acceptable standards for some domains. Conclusions: The 26 items of the SS-QOL questionnaire measure a multidimensional construct and therefore do not only address participation. However, the items demonstrated adequate internal consistency and are capable of differentiating individuals with and without restriction to participation. Implications for rehabilitation The 26 items of the SS-QOL questionnaire demonstrated adequate internal consistency and are capable of differentiating individuals with and without restriction to participation. The present findings can guide healthcare professionals regarding the selection of an assessment tool for the evaluation of post-stroke participation. The findings can lead to consistent and standardization evaluations, which facilitates comparisons and discussion on functional health and social participation after stroke.
DNA Chaos Blend to Secure Medical Privacy

In this technological era, it is highly essential to protect the digital medical data from the fraud and forgery as they are transmitted over the public channel. Also with the increased data traffic, it is hard to transmit the entire bulky medical data. New methods have come into the scene to reduce the traffic while maintaining the sufficient level of security. Partial encryption is one of the methods which selectively encrypt the bulky medical image. Meanwhile, if the same medical image is needed to be reused for another diagnosis, then it is recommended to protect the entire medical image. This paper proposes a hybrid encryption scheme based on deoxyribo nucleic acid and chaotic maps, which can be adaptable for both selective and full medical image encryption. The proposed algorithm uses multiple chaotic maps in single process to generate the highly random keys for encrypting the color digital imaging and communications in medicine image. The algorithm comprises three phases, namely, permutation, encoding, and diffusion. In all the phases, the selection of specific rule set depends on the key sequences produced from the combined chaotic system. Experimental results are carried out to validate the resistance of the developed algorithm toward statistical, differential, and brute force attacks.
Force-Time Entropy of Isometric Impulse

ABSTRACT The relation between force and temporal variability in discrete impulse production has been viewed as independent (R. A. Schmidt, H. Zelaznik, B. Hawkins, J. S. Frank, & J. T. Quinn, 1979) or dependent on the rate of force (L. G. Carlton & K. M. Newell, 1993). Two experiments in an isometric single finger force task investigated the joint force-time entropy with (a) fixed time to peak force and different percentages of force level and (b) fixed percentage of force level and different times to peak force. The results showed that the peak force variability increased either with the increment of force level or through a shorter time to peak force that also reduced timing error variability. The peak force entropy and entropy of time to peak force increased on the respective dimension as the parameter conditions approached either maximum force or a minimum rate of force production. The findings show that force error and timing error are dependent but complementary when considered in the same framework with the joint force-time entropy at a minimum in the middle parameter range of discrete impulse.
Effectiveness of Diabetes Resource Nurse Case Management and Physician Profiling in a Fee-For-Service Setting: A Cluster Randomized Trial

Nurses with advanced training—diabetes resource nurses (DRNs)—can improve care for people with diabetes in capitated payment settings. Their effectiveness in fee-for-service settings has not been investigated. We conducted a 12-month practice-randomized trial involving 22 practices in a fee-for-service metropolitan network with 92 primary care physicians caring for 1891 Medicare patients ≥65 years with diabetes mellitus. Each practice was randomized to one of three intervention groups: physician feedback on process measures using Medicare claims data; Medicare claims feedback plus feedback on clinical measures from medical record (MR) abstraction; or both types of feedback plus a practice-based DRN. The primary endpoint investigated was hemoglobin A1c level. Other measures were low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level, blood pressure, annual hemoglobin A1c testing, annual LDL screening, annual eye exam, annual foot exam, and annual renal assessment. Data were collected from medical chart abstraction and Medicare claims. The number of patients with hemoglobin A1c <9% increased by 4 (0.9%) in the Claims group; 9 (2.1%) in the Claims + MR group (comparison with Claims: P = 0.97); and 16 (3.8%) in the DRN group (comparison with Claims: P = 0.31). Results were similar for the other clinical outcomes, with no differences significant at P = 0.10. For process of care measures, decreases were seen in all groups, with no significant differences in change scores. Quality improvement strategies must be evaluated in the appropriate setting. Initiatives that have been effective in capitated systems may not be effective in fee-for-service environments.
Decision Fatigue and Heuristic Analyst Forecasts

Psychological evidence indicates that decision quality declines after an extensive session of decision-making, a phenomenon known as decision fatigue. We study whether decision fatigue affects analysts’ judgments. Analysts cover multiple firms and often issue several forecasts in a single day. We find that forecast accuracy declines over the course of a day as the number of forecasts the analyst has already issued increases. Also consistent with decision fatigue, we find that the more forecasts an analyst issues, the higher the likelihood the analyst resorts to more heuristic decisions by herding more closely with the consensus forecast, by self-herding (i.e., reissuing their own previous outstanding forecasts), and by issuing a rounded forecast. Finally, we find that the stock market understands these effects and discounts for analyst decision fatigue.
Role of seed germination in adaptation and reproductive isolation in Arabidopsis lyrata

Seed germination is an important developmental and life history stage. Yet, the evolutionary impact of germination has mainly been studied in the context of dormancy, or for its role in reproductive isolation between species. Here, we aim to examine multiple consequences of genetic divergence on germination traits between two Arabidopsis lyrata subspecies: ssp. petraea (Eurasia) and ssp. lyrata (North America). Postdormancy germination time, a potentially adaptive trait, showed differentiation between the populations, and quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping revealed that the trait variation is mainly controlled by two antagonistic loci. These QTL areas contain several candidate genes with known function in postdormancy germination in A. thaliana. The sequence variation of three genes was consistent with differential selection, and they also included fixed nonsynonymous substitutions with potential to account for the phenotypic differentiation. We further show that the divergence between the subspecies has led to a slight but significant reduction in hybrid germination proportions, indicating incipient reproductive isolation. Comparison of reciprocal F1 and F2 progenies suggests that Bateson–Dobzhansky–Muller incompatibilities likely act through uniparentally inherited factors. Examination of genomewide transmission ratio distortion further revealed that cytonuclear interactions cause substantial pregermination inviability in the hybrids. These results confirm that seed germination has adaptive potential beyond the dormancy stage and that hybrid seed inviability can be one of the first reproductive barriers to arise during divergence.
Systemic detection of doxycycline after local administration

Objectives. Controlled release delivery (CRD) systems are used to extend the half-life of topical antibiotics in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), while avoiding systemic contamination with antibiotics. When multiple periodontitis sites are treated by subgingival application of a one-component copolymer gel containing 14% doxycycline, it is likely that low levels of the antibiotic can be detected in blood by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Methods. Twelve patients with severe periodontitis and one single defect per patient were treated with one single subgingival application of a new one-component doxycycline gel (14%) in each defect (the UNISITE group). Furthermore, 12 patients with between 3 and 9 periodontal defects were treated with a single application of the same doxycycline gel in each defect, resulting in 3–9 applications per patient (the MULTISITE group). Doxycycline was separated and quantitatively measured with HPLC using a UV detector. Results. In saliva, the maximum doxycycline concentration of the MULTISITE patients was nearly 10-fold higher than in the UNISITE group. In GCF specimens, maximum doxycycline concentrations were the same magnitude in both the MULTISITE and UNISITE groups. Only one UNISITE patient showed detectable levels of doxycycline in blood serum (maximum application: 0.18 µg/ml). Six MULTISITE patients exhibited measurable concentrations of doxycycline in their serum samples (maximum values: 0.12–0.76 µg/ml). The mean systemic concentration following application of the doxycycline-containing gel to multiple sites was as high as 160 ng/ml within minutes following application. Within approximately 1 h, this fell to levels below the limit of detection by HPLC (<50 ng/ml). Conclusions. Systemic contamination with doxycycline after topical administration may occur even after unisite application if no periodontal dressing is used. Locally administered doxycycline can be identified in the systemic circulation at levels far below those expected to have antibacterial effects. Systemic concentration following application to a single site was always below levels capable of detection by HPLC.
Sustainable Education: Analyzing the Determinants of University Student Dropout by Nonlinear Panel Data Models

University dropout is a serious problem. It affects not only the individual who drops out but also the university and society. However, most previous studies have focused only on the subjective/individual level. University dropout is a very important issue in South Korea, but it has not received much research attention so far. This study examined the possible causes of university dropout in South Korea at the aggregate level, focusing on four fundamental categories: students, resources, faculty, and university characteristics. Three-year balanced panel data from 2013 to 2015 were constructed and estimated by using nonlinear panel data models. The findings show that cost and burden for students, financial resources, qualitative and quantitative features of faculty, and type/size of the university have significant effects on university dropout.
ANIMALS MIX IT UP TOO: THE DISTRIBUTION OF SELF-FERTILIZATION AMONG HERMAPHRODITIC ANIMALS

Abstract Excluding insects, hermaphroditism occurs in about one-third of animal species, providing numerous opportunities for the evolution of selfing. Here we provide an overview of reproductive traits in hermaphroditic animal species, review the distribution of selfing rates in animals, and test for ecological correlates of selfing. Our dataset (1342 selfing-rate estimates for 142 species) is 97% based on estimates derived from the analysis of population structure (FIS-estimates) using genetic markers. The distribution of selfing is slightly 𝗨-shaped and differs significantly from the more strongly 𝗨-shaped plant distribution with 47% of animal t-estimates being intermediate (falling between 0.2 and 0.8) compared to 42% for plants. The influence of several factors on the distribution of selfing rates was explored (e.g., number of populations studied per species, habitat, coloniality, sessility, or fertilization type), none of which significantly affect the distribution. Our results suggest that genetic forces might contribute to the evolution of self-fertilization to the same extent in animals and plants, although the high proportion of intermediate outcrossing suggests a significant role of ecological factors (e.g., reproductive assurance) in animals. However, we caution that the distribution of selfing rates in animals is affected by various factors that might bias FIS-estimates, including phylogenetic underrepresentation of highly selfing and outcrossing species, various genotyping errors (e.g., null alleles) and inbreeding depression. This highlights the necessity of obtaining better estimates of selfing for hermaphroditic animals, such as genotyping progeny arrays, as in plants.
On the evidence of rebound effects in the lighting sector: Implications for promoting LED lighting

[Introduction . ] The aim of this paper is to assess the evidence of rebound effects in the lighting sector through empirical studies and derive policy implications for promoting LED lighting. In the first section energy consumption for lighting in Germany is considered to estimate the relevance of possible rebound effects. Following on from a brief definition of the term rebound, empirical studies on rebound effects in the lighting sector will be considered and analyzed. This will provide insight into the potential relevance of rebound effects in the sector under consideration and provide the opportunity to derive policy implications for promoting energy efficient LED.
Local rhBMP-12 on an Absorbable Collagen Sponge as an Adjuvant Therapy for Rotator Cuff Repair— A Phase 1, Randomized, Standard of Care Control, Multicenter Study

Background: Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein–12 (rhBMP-12) has been shown to induce tendon and ligament formation in rats and to improve tendon healing; however, the safety and feasibility of implanting rhBMP-12/absorbable collagen sponge (ACS) in humans are not known. Purpose: To investigate the safety and feasibility of rhBMP-12 on an ACS as an adjuvant therapy in open rotator cuff repair. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: This study consisted of 20 patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears. Patients were randomized either to standard of care (SOC) treatment (open rotator cuff repair) or to receive 0.015 mg/mL rhBMP-12/ACS and SOC treatment during their open rotator cuff repair (rhBMP-12/ACS group) at a rate of 1/4 SOC/rhBMP-12/ACS. The feasibility of implanting the product and the safety of the product were evaluated during the 1-year follow-up period. The evaluation involved up to 10 postoperative visits, which included physical examinations, radiographs, computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans with an emphasis on heterotopic ossification (HO), pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, laboratory evaluations, and local and systemic adverse events at specified time points. Results: Small amounts of HO were seen on follow-up CT scans in 10 of 16 patients in the rhBMP-12/ACS group and in 2 of 3 patients in the SOC group. HO did not increase at 26 weeks and was not associated with any adverse events or unsatisfactory clinical outcomes. Pharmacokinetics demonstrated that circulating levels of rhBMP-12 were not detectable after administration. Five of 16 patients showed a postoperative immunogenic response but did not show any correlating adverse events. Complete healing of the rotator cuff was observed in 14 of 16 patients; 2 of 16 imaging results could not be analyzed because of artifacts in the rhBMP-12 group on MRI scans. In the SOC group, 1 of 4 patients showed a retear at 12 weeks after surgery. Conclusion: The use of rhBMP-12/ACS has been shown to be feasible and safe in a concentration of 0.015 mg/mL when used in open rotator cuff repair. Higher dose concentrations of rhBMP-12 should be evaluated in the future to evaluate their safety and potential to increase rotator cuff healing after open surgical repair.
Real Convergence in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe

This paper analyses real income convergence in central, eastern and south-eastern Europe (CESEE) to the most advanced EU economies between 2000 and 2016. The relevance of this topic stems both from the far-reaching implications of real income convergence for economic welfare and the importance of convergence for economic and monetary integration with, and within the European Union. The paper establishes stylised facts of convergence, analyses the drivers of economic growth and identifies factors that might explain the differences between fast- and slow-converging economies in the region. The results show that the most successful CESEE economies in terms of the pace of convergence share common characteristics such as, inter alia, a strong improvement in institutional quality and human capital, more outward-oriented economic policies, favourable demographic developments and the quick reallocation of labour from agriculture into other sectors. Looking ahead, accelerating and sustaining convergence in the region will require further efforts to enhance institutional quality and innovation, reinvigorate investment, and address the adverse impact of population ageing. JEL Classification: E01, F15, O11, O43, O47, O52, O57
EN FACE OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY OF MACULAR MICROCYSTS DUE TO OPTIC NEUROPATHY FROM NEUROMYELITIS OPTICA.

PURPOSE To describe the multimodal imaging, including en face optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography, findings of a case of macular microcysts associated with neuromyelitis optica. METHODS Findings on clinical examination, color fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, fundus autofluorescence, visual fields, and OCT including en face OCT and OCT angiography are presented. RESULTS A 12-year-old African American boy presented with bilateral optic atrophy from neuromyelitis optica. Clinical examination was notable for bilateral optic nerve head pallor. Visual fields of both eyes showed generalized depression. Fluorescein angiography and fundus autofluorescence were unremarkable. Spectral domain OCT B-scan images showed characteristic paracentral, hyporeflective, microcystic lesions in the inner nuclear layer of both eyes, and en face OCT images demonstrated a corresponding pattern of large paracentral cysts radiating peripherally into smaller diffuse cysts. Optical coherence tomographic angiography of the superficial and deep retinal capillary plexuses was unremarkable. CONCLUSION Macular microcysts have been associated with various forms of optic atrophy, including neuromyelitis optica. Spectral domain and en face OCT imaging of the microcysts demonstrated a very characteristic pattern. Normal fluorescein and OCT angiography suggest that nonvascular causes, such as Müller cell degeneration, might contribute to the etiologic mechanism.