Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of a New Spinal Orthosis on Posture, Trunk Strength, and Quality of Life in Women with Postmenopausal Osteoporosis: A Randomized Trial

Pfeifer M, Begerow B, Minne HW: Effects of a new spinal orthosis on posture, trunk strength, and quality of life in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis: A randomized trial. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2004;83:177–186. ObjectiveOne fourth of women ≥50 yrs of age in the general population have one or more vertebral fractures. The orthotic treatment modality in the management of vertebral fractures caused by osteoporosis remains subjective because no objective data from clinical trials are available. The objective of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of a newly developed spinal orthosis in patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures. DesignWe conducted a study that measured trunk muscle strength, angle of kyphosis, body height, body sway, and variables of quality of life such as pain, well-being, and limitations of daily living. ResultsWearing the orthosis for 6-mo period was associated with a 73% increase in back extensor strength, a 58% increase in abdominal flexor strength, an 11% decrease in angle of kyphosis, a 25% decrease in body sway, a 7% increase in vital capacity, a 38% decrease in average pain, a 15% increase in well-being, and a 27% decrease in limitations of daily living. The overall tolerability of the orthosis was good, no side-effects were reported, and the drop-out rate of 3% was rather low. ConclusionsThe use of an orthosis increases trunk muscle strength and thus improves posture in patients with vertebral fractures caused by osteoporosis. In addition, a better quality of life is achieved by pain reduction, decreased limitations of daily living, and improved well-being. Therefore, the use of an orthosis may represent an efficacious nonpharmacologic treatment option for spinal osteoporosis.
N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide After Myocardial Infarction: A Marker Of Cardio-Renal Function

N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is increased early after acute myocardial infarction. We assessed the relationship of NT-proBNP with left ventricular function and mass as well as with renal function, hemodynamic, and anthropometric variables in 625 outpatients in the chronic phase after myocardial infarction and 465 siblings without infarction (control). NT-proBNP was measured by nonextracted, enzyme-linked, sandwich immunoassay. NT-proBNP was correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction, mass index, and renal function, in addition to infarction history, gender, and age, in univariate and multivariate analysis (all P <0.01). Increases in NT-proBNP observed in subjects with infarction (96.6±13.7 versus 31.2±1.8 pmol/L in control subjects, P <0.001) were particularly pronounced in the presence of significant left ventricular dysfunction (182.8±41.9 pmol/L), left ventricular hypertrophy (214.5±61.7 pmol/L), and renal dysfunction (210.3±51.4 pmol/L, all P <0.01). Patients with an ejection fraction <35% were detected by NT-proBNP with a sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value of 75%, 62%, and 99%, respectively, at an optimal cutoff of 44 pmol/L. Patients with an ejection fraction <35% and concomitant left ventricular hypertrophy were detected with a sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value of 90%, 80%, and 99.9%, respectively, at a cutoff of 76 pmol/L. Similar results were obtained for patients with an ejection fraction <35% and concomitant renal dysfunction at a cutoff of 162 pmol/L. NT-proBNP is a biochemical marker of integrated cardio-renal function in the chronic phase after myocardial infarction and a potential diagnostic tool for the detection and exclusion of significant left ventricular dysfunction. Cutoff concentrations have to be chosen according to renal function to optimize the predictive value of NT-proBNP.
Peripheral Amiodarone-Related Phlebitis: An Institutional Nursing Guideline to Reduce Patient Harm

Intravenous amiodarone is one of the most widely used antiarrythmics for the treatment of atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response. Peripheral amiodarone infusion, however, often causes pain during infusion and subsequent phlebitis. Data collection on a cardiac telemetry unit revealed a high rate of phlebitis. A multidisciplinary team developed and implemented amiodarone peripheral infusion guidelines. The pre-guideline phlebitis rate was 85% and post-guideline rate was 38%, representing a 47% change or improvement. An additional finding was that the severity of phlebitis was reduced, as well. The results of this study suggest that the implementation of a peripheral amiodarone infusion guideline reduced the incidence and severity of amiodarone-related phlebitis in the cardiac population.
Adaptive regression algorithm for distributed dynamic clustering in wireless sensor networks

One of the most important issues in a wireless sensor network is energy efficiency, in order to extend the lifetime of the network. An effective strategy is to turn off the redundant sensor nodes in the network to spare energy. In this paper, we propose and analyze an adaptive regression algorithm for dynamic environments that can continuously monitor two arbitrary sensors in a sensor field and decide on whether they can be mutually described by non isotonic linear relation, within a user specified error bound, or not. This is done without the need of offline pre-computations, dedicated phases, or base station assistance; thus, it can be utilized in fully distributed manner. The algorithm can dynamically eliminate the redundancy and estimate the deficient data based on the learned relations in a way to ensure that the sensors' energy consumption is near minimal and balanced. We compare our technique with deterministic clustering methods, provide a parameter sensitivity analysis and discuss the simulation results.
Trait Self–Esteem Moderates Decreases in Self–Control following Rejection: An Information–Processing Account

In the current paper, the authors posit that trait self–esteem moderates the relationship between social rejection and decrements in self–control, propose an information–processing account of trait self–esteem's moderating influence and discuss three tests of this theory. The authors measured trait self–esteem, experimentally manipulated social rejection and assessed subsequent self–control in Studies 1 and 2. Additionally, Study 3 framed a self–control task as diagnostic of social skills to examine motivational influences. Together, the results reveal that rejection impairs self–control, but only among low self–esteem individuals. Moreover, this decrement in self–control only emerged when the task had no social implications—suggesting that low self–esteem individuals exert effort on tasks of social value and are otherwise preoccupied with belonging needs when completing nonsocial tasks. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Test – retest reliability of rapid whole body and compartmental fat volume quantification on a widebore 3 T MR system in normal-weight , overweight , and obese subjects

David Newman, Christian Kelly-Morland, Olof Dahlqvist Leinhard, Bahman Kasmai, Richard Greenwood, Paul Malcolm, Thobias Romu, Magnus Borga and Andoni Toms, Test–retest reliability of rapid whole body and compartmental fat volume quantification on a widebore 3T MR system in normal-weight, overweight, and obese subjects, 2016, Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging. http://dx.doi. org/10.1002/jmri.25326 Copyright: Wiley http://eu.wiley. com/WileyCDA/
Beschäftigungseffekte durch den Ausbau der erneuerbaren Energien in Norddeutschland

Spatestens seit Anfang der 1990er Jahre hat die Theorie des anthropogenen, also durch den Menschen selbst verursachten Klimawandels eine weltweite Debatte angestosen, die weite Bereiche des politischen Handelns beeinflusst hat. Insbesondere die Energiepolitik ist von dieser Debatte nachhaltig beruhrt worden. Mit dem Klimawandel verbundene Gesetze wie das Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz, das staatliche Anreize zum Ausbau klimaschonender Energietechnologien setzt, sind Ausdruck dieser Entwicklung. Eine in diesem Zusammenhang haufig vernachlassigte Fragestellung betrifft die okonomischen Wirkungen, die vom Klimawandel und den energiepolitischen Masnahmen ausgehen. So setzt der Klimawandel und die damit verbundenen Gesetze und Verordnungen Anreize fur Unternehmen, Innovationen zur Energieeinsparung und zur Einhaltung der CO2-Reduktionsziele durchzusetzen. Ferner sind mit dem Ausbau der erneuerbaren Energien Investitions- und Beschaftigungseffekte verbunden. In der vorliegenden Analyse wird versucht, diese Beschaftigungseffekteffekte fur die beiden nordlichen Bundeslander Hamburg und Schleswig-Holstein zu quantifizieren. Dabei liegt der Fokus auf der Rolle der erneuerbaren Energien fur die Stromversorgung.
Trauma associated with civil conflict and posttraumatic stress disorder: evidence from the Northern Ireland study of health and stress.

The authors provide epidemiological estimates of trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and associated mental disorders in Northern Ireland (NI) with a focus on the impact of civil conflict using data from the NI Study of Health and Stress (NISHS), a representative epidemiological survey of adults in NI. Overall 60.6% had a lifetime traumatic event, and 39.0% experienced a presumed conflict-related event. Men were significantly more likely to experience any traumatic event and most conflict-related event types (p < .05). The lifetime and 12-month prevalence of PTSD were 8.8% and 5.1%, respectively. Furthermore, the lifetime prevalence of any mental disorder among men and women who experienced a conflict-related trauma (46.0% and 55.9%, respectively) was significantly higher than the prevalence among men and women who did not experience this type of traumatic event (27.2% and 31.1%, respectively). Given the public health burden posed by PTSD and additional impact of conflict, specific attention must be paid to the policy, service, and clinical challenge of delivering evidence-based treatments in the wake of a tumultuous period of conflict.
Free Radicals in the Genesis of Alzheimer's Disease a

As part of an ongoing investigation of the role of oxygen free radicals in Alzheimer's disease (AD), the formation of peroxidation products, the activities of free radical defense enzymes, and the level of total iron were determined in autopsy brain tissue from donors with AD and from age‐matched non‐demented donors. Calcium uptake was also investigated in mitochondria harvested from fibroblasts grown in tissue culture from skin samples taken from brain donors.
A Primary Care Perspective on Prevailing Assumptions about Persistent Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms

Objective: To re-examine the widespread assumption that medically unexplained physical symptoms represent discrete syndromes resulting from somatization of mental illness. Method: Primary care patients (N = 223) with medically unexplained symptoms of at least one year's duration were recruited to a study of exercise therapy. Data gathered from patients, from their general practitioners, and from medical records were used to examine relationships between self-defined disability, symptoms, mental state, and use of health care. Results: Levels of disability and health care use were both raised, but were only weakly correlated. While most patients were depressed and/or anxious, a minority (14 percent) were neither. Although mental state correlated with disability, health care use was unrelated to either. Among a wide range of recorded symptoms, few correlations were found to support the existence of discrete syndromes. Analysis of agreement between patients and their doctors in assigning symptoms to broadly defined “syndromes” appears to reflect collaboration that is largely expedient. Conclusions: In this sample of primary care patients with persistent unexplained physical symptoms, we found little evidence of discrete somatic syndromes. The level of health care use is no indication of mental state or level of disability, and the findings are equally consistent with depression or anxiety being secondary to disability and its consequences as with them being primary. The observed collaboration between patients and their doctors carries the risk of shaping, reinforcing, and legitimizing dubious syndromes.
Molecular analysis of the APC and MYH genes in Czech families affected by FAP or multiple adenomas: 13 novel mutations

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is an autosomal dominant predisposition to colorectal cancer and is caused by germline mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli gene. The most prominent clinical manifestation is the presence of hundreds to thousands of colorectal polyps. A milder phenotype is found in patients affected with AFAP/ multiple adenomas. We screened the entire APC coding region using the combination of DGGE, PTT and direct sequencing and identified causative mutations in 52 of 77 patients. Thirteen of the mutations found were novel. In addition, we also tested 21 APC mutation/negative probands for the two most common mutations in the MYH gene. Four patients showed neither dominant transmission of the disease nor evidence of APC mutations. In one of them the most common biallelic germline mutation in the MYH gene was detected. Correlations between the localization of germline mutations and clinical manifestations of the diseases are discussed. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Keyword comparison: a user-centered feature for improving web search tools

Current web search tools are examined. Human cognitive limitations in working memory, text processing and comprehension, problem solving, and decision-making in a search process are analysed. Based on the literature review, a user-centered feature, keyword comparison, was proposed to help users review the search results and extract useful information. Experimental search engines and browsers were developed using Visual Basic, Java and Common Gateway Interface (CGI) programming languages. An experiment was conducted to test the effectiveness of this feature. The dependent variables were the number of relevant web sites identified during the 1-hour period and satisfaction. The independent variable was the interface type of the search tools. A between-subject t -test experimental design was utilized with 20 subjects. Testing of the hypothesis, by contrasting the user-centered feature against the current search engine, indicated that feature keyword comparison improved users' search performance by 77% and satisfaction in using the feature by 35%.
Quality of life in cancer survivors as observed in a population study of Swedish women

Objective. To investigate quality of life, measured by the SF-36 scales, in a population-based sample of women who have survived cancer at any site and, specifically, breast cancer. Design. A representative cohort of women was observed over 24 years with regard to cancer prevalence, incidence, and quality of life. Setting. Gothenburg, Sweden. Subjects. A total of 1462 women aged 38–60 years at baseline. Main outcome measures. Differences in quality of life between cancer survivors and cancer-free controls measured by the SF-36 Short Form Health Survey, with adjustment for age and additionally for social status, and history of major disease (diabetes, stroke, and myocardial infarction) at follow-up in 1992–93. Results. In women who had survived cancer, a lower feeling of general health was the only score found to be significantly associated with having had cancer. Similar analysis was conducted separately for breast cancer cases. Survivors of breast cancer reported lower vitality and when controlled for major disease also lower general health compared with women who had not had cancer. All other results were independent when adjusted for social status, and also for history of major disease. Conclusions. Women who have survived cancer report lowered general health, and breast cancer cases lowered vitality, but considering the non-significant results for the other scores and summary scales it can be concluded that the well-being of women who have survived a cancer on the whole did not differ profoundly from that of other women.
Brief communication: neurotraumatological aspects of head injuries resulting from sharp and blunt force in the early medieval period of southwestern Germany.

Approximately 10% (33 of 304) of the predominantly male skulls from the 6th through 8th centuries in southwestern Germany exhibit cranial fractures derived from blunt or sharp force trauma. No evidence of fracture healing characterizes 24% (n = 8) of these individuals. All nonhealed fractures were caused by sharp force, and four of these wounds cross the sagittal sinus. The lengths of these straight-edged wounds, produced exclusively by sword blows, measure around 8.0 cm for fatal, and about 5.0 cm for nonfatal wounds. Seventy-six percent (n = 25) of these skulls exhibit some healing, which indicates that these injuries did not lead to immediate death. In this group are all depressed fractures resulting from blunt force blows. Two thirds of the 45 cranial injuries noted on these 33 skulls are located on the left side of these individuals, with a concentration in the frontoparietal region. Bony indications of wound infection occur in four cases (12%). Three crania exhibit circular trepanations in association with fractures. These phenomena are discussed in the context of modern neurotraumatological knowledge.
Clinical Study of Pulmonary Hydatid Diseases in a Government Tertiary Hospital

Introduction: The hydatid is endemic zoonotic disease where livestock is raised in association with dogs. Aims and objectives: To define the clinical and epidemiological profile for hydatid diseases among the patients reporting to a tertiary teaching hospital. Material and methods: Retrospective Hospital based study was carried out on a total of (n=28) patients admitted in the Department of Department of C.T. Surgery, Osmania Medical College/ Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad between 1st June 2010 to 29 th Februray 2012. Descriptive statistics (percentage), were used in analyzing the patient characteristics and laboratory parameters. Conclusion: All cases are Echinococcus granulosus. During the study period 28 cases fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Majority of the patients had complaints in chest region, followed by haemoptysis. Majority of the patients (%) had decreased breath sounds.
Cognitive Demand and Transient Nearwork-lnduced Myopia

Previous studies have suggested that nearwork-induced myopia may be related to the amount of mental effort and cognitive demand required during the course of near-vision tasks. Accordingly, we compared measurements of the far point of accommodation (FPA) obtained before and immediately after 10-min sustained near-vision tasks involving either low, moderate, or high cognitive demand. All measurements of the FPA were obtained objectively using an open-field infrared optometer. Although a significant myopic shift in the FPA was observed after all conditions, no significant difference was recorded between the three cognitive levels. The mean myopic shift in the FPA immediately after the near-vision task was 0.23 D. It is concluded that the transient, task-induced myopic shift in the FPA is related to the within-task accommodative response rather than to variations in cognitive demand during the course of the near-visual activity.
Stability and Reconfiguration Analysis of a Circularly Spinning Two-Craft Coulomb Tether

The concept of a spinning two-craft Coulomb tether is introduced. Here a physical tether is replaced with an electrostatic force field resulting in an attractive Coulomb force between the two craft. This results in conic section motions similar to the two-body gravitational problem, with spinning in-plane and out-of-plane motions. The spacecraft charge is assumed to be regulated with an active charge servo system. The stability of a Coulomb tether with constant spacecraft charges is investigated. The reduced equations of motion for a deep-space mission are obtained and linearized to determine eigenvalues of the perturbed motion. This analysis shows that if the plasma Debye length is smaller than the spacecraft separation distance, the radial motion is guaranteed to be unstable. For larger Debye lengths the nonlinear radial motion is locally stable. The perturbed out-of-plane motion is shown to always be stable regardless of Debye length. Further, open-loop charge solutions are obtained to perform reconfiguration where the circular orbit radius is changed to a new value. This maneuver is related to the classical Hohmann transfer orbit between circular orbits. However, in the Coulomb tether concept, the reconfiguration is achieved by varying the effective gravitational parameter through spacecraft charge changes.
Sequential N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide and High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin Measurements During Albumin Replacement in Patients With Severe Sepsis or Septic Shock*

Objectives:Myocardial dysfunction is a frequent complication in patients with severe sepsis and can worsen the prognosis. We investigated whether circulating biomarkers related to myocardial function and injury predicted outcome and were associated with albumin replacement. Design:A multicenter, randomized clinical trial about albumin replacement in severe sepsis or septic shock (the Albumin Italian Outcome Sepsis trial). Setting:Forty ICUs in Italy. Patients:Nine hundred and ninety-five patients with severe sepsis or septic shock. Interventions:Randomization to albumin and crystalloid solutions or crystalloid solutions alone. Measurements and Main Results:Plasma concentrations of N- terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T were measured 1, 2, and 7 days after enrolment. We tested the relationship of single marker measurements or changes over time with clinical events, organ dysfunctions, albumin replacement, and ICU or 90-day mortality in the overall population and after stratification by shock. N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels were abnormal in 97.4% of the patients and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T in 84.5%, with higher concentrations in those with shock. After extensive adjustments, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide concentrations predicted ICU or 90-day mortality, better than high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T. Early changes in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide or high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T concentrations were independently associated with subsequent mortality in patients with shock. Patients given albumin had significantly higher N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels; in addition, early rise in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide was associated with a better outcome in this subgroup. Conclusions:Circulating N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T are frequently elevated in severe sepsis or septic shock and have relevant prognostic value, which may be important in monitoring the clinical efficacy of supporting therapy.
[Medicinal Lamiaceae with antioxidant properties, a potential source of rosmarinic acid].

Hydroalcholic extracts from four native medicinal Lamiaceae, Lycopus europaeus L. , Melissa officinalis L. , Origanum vulgare L. and Prunella vulgaris L. have shown significant antioxidative activities, by free radical scavenger effect on DPPH, compared with those of Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Salvia officinalis L. extracts. The antioxidative activity was partly in relation to the rosmarinic acid content. The major hydroxycinnamic compound, quantitatively determinated by HPLC, was present in large amount. The content in Prunella vulgaris L. spikes average 6.1%, based on dry weight.