Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Original Research Article Effects of Different Frequencies (2–3 Days/Week) of Aquatic Therapy Program in Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain. A Non-Randomized Comparison Trial

Objective. To study the effects of an aquatic therapy program with different frequencies (2 vs 3 days per week) in chronic low back pain. Desing. Non-randomized comparison trial. Setting. Sport and spa community health club. Subjects. Fifty-four adults with chronic low back pain (48.9 (cid:2) 10.0 years). Intervention. Eight-week aquatic therapy program. Outcome Measures. Pain (visual analog scale [VAS]), disability (Oswestry Disability Index), and quality of life (Short-Form Health Survey 36), body composition (weight, body mass index, body fat mass, body fat percentage, and skeletal muscle mass), and health-related ﬁtness (sit and reach, handgrip strength, curl-up, Rockport 1-mile test). Results. Both experimental groups presented signiﬁcant improvements in low back pain and disability ( P < 0.001) compared with control group. The 3 days/week group showed signiﬁcantly greater beneﬁts at VAS ﬂexion and disability ( P < 0.001) than the 2 days/week group. Regarding quality of life, both intervention groups presented signiﬁcant differences for Physical Role ( P < 0.05), Bodily Pain ( P < 0.001), General Health ( P = 0.012), and Standardized Physical Component ( P < 0.001) compared with control group. Both experimental groups signiﬁcantly improved all health-related ﬁtness parameters ( P < 0.01). The 3 days/week group showed signiﬁcantly greater beneﬁts at curl-up and heart rate ( P < 0.001) than the 2 days/week group. No signiﬁcant changes between treatment groups and control were found in body composition. Conclusions. Eight weeks of aquatic therapy program decrease levels of back pain and disability, increase quality of life, and improve health-related ﬁtness in adults with chronic low back pain without effects in body composition. A dose–response effect was observed in some parameters, with greater beneﬁts when exercising 3 days per week compared with 2 days.
Full-Duplex MIMO Systems with Hardware Limitations and Imperfect Channel Estimation

We consider a bidirectional in-band full-duplex (FD) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system subject to imperfect channel state information (CSI), hardware distortion, and limited analog cancellation capability as well as the selfinterference (SI) power requirement at the receiver analog domain so as to avoid the saturation of low noise amplifier (LNA). A novel minimum mean square error (MMSE)-based joint design of digital precoder and combiner for SI cancellation is offered, which combines the well-known gradient projection method and non-monotonicity considered in recent machine-learning literature in order to tackle the non-convexity of the optimization problem formulated in this article. Simulation results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed SI cancellation algorithm.
Predictive Digital Current Control of Single-Inductor Multiple-Output Converters in CCM With Low Cross Regulation

This paper presents a new digital current-mode control technique for single-inductor multiple-output converters in continuous-conduction mode. This predictive control method can calculate all the required duty cycles corresponding to the outputs for the next switching cycle. Since the calculation is based on every current reference representing the load current, all current control loops corresponding to different outputs are theoretically independent, which can greatly reduce the cross regulation. To avoid subharmonic oscillation, proper predictive digital current control is adopted. Inductor current estimation is used to remove the current sensing circuit, and corresponding calibration techniques are presented. Simulation and experimental results are given to verify the effectiveness of this control technique.
Relative Potency of Vecuronium on the Diaphragm and the Adductor Pollicis

To quantify the neuromuscular blocking effect of vecuronium on the diaphragm and the adductor pollicis, single twitch stimuli were applied to the phrenic nerves at the neck and the ulnar nerve at the wrist in anaesthetized patients. The evoked responses were measured simultaneously by recording the transdiaphragmatic pressure with a differential pressure transducer and the adductor pollicis strength with a force displacement transducer. Cumulative vecuronium dose-response curves were determined for both muscles in 11 ASA class I adult patients. The mean (SD) doses required to depress adductor pollicis and diaphragm responses to 50% (ED50) were 30 (9) micrograms kg-1 and 37 (12) micrograms kg-1, respectively. Corresponding values for 95% depression of the twitch response (ED95) were 48 (13) micrograms kg-1 and 67 (23) micrograms kg-1 (P less than 0.02), indicating that the diaphragm required approximately 40% more vecuronium for subtotal abolition of the single twitch response.
Chirp control and broadband wavelength-tuning of 40-GHz monolithic actively mode-locked laser diode module with an external CW light injection

Chirp control behaviors of a 40-GHz monolithic actively mode-locked laser diode (MLLD) with an external continuous wave (CW) light injection were experimentally investigated in detail. Large frequency chirping of the Fabry-Pe/spl acute/rot-type MLLD was found to be reduced by the CW light input with sufficient power. Broad-band wavelength tuning over 60 nm was also successfully achieved using the external CW light as a wavelength-selection element. Optical short pulses shorter than 4 ps were generated leaving small frequency chirping, low timing jitters less of than 0.2 ps, and low relative intensity noise values of less than -130 dB/Hz over the whole tuning range from 1530 to 1592 nm, almost covering both the C and the L bands in the wavelength region of optical communication systems.
The anti‐inflammatory peptides, antiflammins, regulate the expression of adhesion molecules on human leukocytes and prevent neutrophil adhesion to endothelial cells

Antiflammin‐1 and antiflammin‐2 are nonapeptides corresponding to the region of highest similarity between glucocorticoid‐inducible proteins lipocortin‐1 and uteroglobin. We have studied whether antiflammins could affect expression of adhesion molecules on human leukocytes and coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC) and binding of neutrophils (PMNs) to HCAEC. Although neither antiflammin‐1 nor antiflammin‐2 affected expression of adhesion molecules on resting PMNs, monocytes, and lymphocytes in whole blood, they attenuated changes in L‐selectin and CD11/CD18 expression evoked by platelet‐activating factor or interleukin‐8 with IC50 values of 4–20 μmol/l. The maximum inhibition was similar to those seen with human recombinant lipocortin‐1 (100 μg/ml). Unlike dexa‐methasone (100 nmol/l), the antiflammins had little effect on LPS‐stimulated expression of E‐selectin and ICAM‐1 on HCAEC. Consistently, culture of HCAEC with dexamethasone, but not with antiflam‐mins, decreased PMN binding to endothelial cells. Preincubation of PMNs with antiflammins markedly decreased their adhesion to LPS‐activated HCAEC. Inhibition of adhesion was additive with function blocking anti‐E‐selectin and anti‐L‐selectin antibodies, but was not additive with anti‐CD18 antibody. These results show that antiflammins inhibit PMN adhesion to HCAEC by attenuating activation‐induced up‐regulation of CD11/CD18 expression on leukocytes, and suggest that antiflammins may represent a novel therapeutic approach in blocking leukocyte trafficking in host defense and inflammation. —Zouki, C. , Ouellet, S. , Filep, J. G. The antiinflammatory peptides, antiflammins, regulate the expression of adhesion molecules on human leukocytes and prevent neutrophil adhesion to endothelial cells. FASEB J. 14, 572–580 (2000)
The refractory period of atria isolated from mammalian hearts

Towards the end of the Second World War there threatened to be a shortage of quinidine, and a search was therefore made for synthetic substitutes. A method was devised to measure the quinidine-like activity of drugs upon isolated atria by estimating the maximum rate at which they would respond to a series of strong stimuli applied for 10-15 sec (Dawes, 1946). This method was reasonably satisfactory for measuring relative activity, since it was found empirically that the relation between the percentage reduction in maximal rate and the logarithm of the drug concentration was approximately linear, and that the slopes of the regression lines were nearly equal. However, it was by no means clear what the relationship was between the maximal rate measured by this method and the refractory period as determined by interpolating a test stimulus between a series of normal beats. Experiments have therefore been carried out to determine this relationship, and it was soon discovered that even the determination of refractory period by the interpolation of a single test stimulus was by no means a simple or exact procedure even when the experimental conditions were carefully defined. The following paper describes the effect of variations in the experimental conditions upon the measurement of refractory period in isolated atria. METHODS
Recent habitat fragmentation due to roads can lead to significant genetic differentiation in an abundant flightless ground beetle

Although habitat fragmentation is suspected to pose a major threat to biodiversity, its impact on abundant invertebrate species has been little investigated. We assessed the genetic population structure of the flightless ground beetle Abax parallelepipedus in a forest fragmented by two main roads and a highway using five microsatellite loci. We detected low levels of genetic differentiation, which was concordant with the high population densities of 632–1707 individuals/ha estimated with a mark–recapture method. A Mantel test detected a highly significant increase of pairwise FST‐values with the number of roads between sampling locations. As expected, the most pronounced effect of the isolation due to roads was observed in the sample from the smallest fragment (highway exit loop), which was differentiated significantly from most other locations. However, no signs of a recent bottleneck or a loss of genetic variability were detected in this population, indicating a still relatively large effective population size (Ne). Computer simulations confirmed that the observed FST‐values were indeed compatible with a Ne of a few hundred individuals in this fragment, assuming strong or absolute isolation since the construction of the roads. We discuss the implications of our findings for the conservation of abundant but poorly dispersing species in fragmented habitats.
Different modes of plant regeneration and factors affecting in vitro bulblet production in Ornithogalum virens.

Efficient procedures are outlined for plant regeneration through direct shoot bud formation and indirect organogenesis through callus formation in Ornithogalum virens Lindl using bulb scale as explant. Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium containing 1 mg/L (5.4mM) NAA and 2 mg/L (4.4mM) BA was most effective in direct induction of shoot buds from explant. Callus cultures were raised from the bulb scale segment on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/L (9.0mM) 2,4-D. Shoot regeneration from callus was optimum on the medium containing 2 mg/L (10.7mM) NAA and 0.5 mg/L (2.2mM) BA. Shoots developed roots on MS basal medium devoid of growth regulators. Regenerated plants grew profusely in MS liquid medium and were successfully transferred to pots. Bulblets were induced at the base of the regenerants upon transfer to MS basal medium supplemented with enhanced concentrations of sucrose (45 to 90 g/L). Direct induction of bulblets also occurred on the bulb scale grown on the MS media supplemented with 1 mg/L (5.4mM) NAA, 2 mg/L (8.9mM) BA and 60 g/L sucrose. Size of bulblets could be increased by decreasing the salt strength of MS basal medium to half. The effect of in vitro induced bulblet size on the ex vitro survival rate was also reported. Bulblets produced in vitro could be transplanted directly to potted soil. Chromosome analysis of direct explant-derived plants, callus-derived regenerates, and plants sprouted from in vitro-induced bulblets revealed only diploid cells with normal karyotypes comprising 2n = 6 chromosomes. List of abbreviations: List of abbreviations: List of abbreviations: List of abbreviations: List of abbreviations: NAA, a-naphthalene acetic acid; BA, 6 benzyladenine; 2,4-D, 2,4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid.
Gender differences in the incidence and prevalence of patellofemoral pain syndrome

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the association between gender and the prevalence and incidence of patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). One thousand five hundred and twenty‐five participants from the United States Naval Academy (USNA) were followed for up to 2.5 years for the development of PFPS. Physicians and certified athletic trainers documented the cases of PFPS. PFPS was defined as retropatellar pain during at least two of the following activities: ascending/descending stairs, hopping/jogging, prolonged sitting, kneeling, and squatting, negative findings on examination of knee ligament, menisci, bursa, and synovial plica, and pain on palpation of either the patellar facets or femoral condyles. Poisson and logistic regressions were performed to determine the association between gender and the incidence and prevalence of PFPS, respectively. The incidence rate for PFPS was 22/1000 person‐years. Females were 2.23 times (95% CI: 1.19, 4.20) more likely to develop PFPS compared with males. While not statistically significant, the prevalence of PFPS at study enrollment tended to be higher in females (15%) than in males (12%) (P=0.09). Females at the USNA are significantly more likely to develop PFPS than males. Additionally, at the time of admission to the academy, the prevalence of PFPS was not significantly different between genders.
Combined Impact of Socioeconomic Forces and Policy Implications: Spatial-Temporal Dynamics of the Ecosystem Services Value in Yangtze River Delta, China

Water can carry or overturn a boat. Natural resources form the foundation of human survival and development. However, land use change caused by human urban civilization has damaged the natural environment and in turn threatened the continuation of human civilization. Accordingly, it is crucial to analyze the impacts of human activities on land use change and consequent dynamics of ecosystem service value (ESV). For the sustainable development of human beings, an investigation should be conducted to explore what type of land use behavior will be considerably beneficial to improve our relationship with the natural environment. This study analyzes the spatial–temporal dynamics of ESV of 148 counties in the Yangtze River Delta in China over three five-year periods (2000–2015) and examines the influence of socioeconomic forces and policy implications. Exploratory spatial data analysis and spatial regression were applied to facilitate the analysis. Results show that the averages of the ESV change ratios of the 148 counties in each of the aforementioned periods are −0.667%, −2.690%, and −4.668%, respectively. The number of counties that showed an ESV loss trend in the three periods are 72 (48.6%), 125 (84.4%), and 139 (93.9%), respectively. In terms of spatial pattern, ESV change demonstrates the spatial distribution characteristic of “high loss spreading from the northeast to the middle and west” with a tendency to strengthen spatial agglomeration. Results of the spatial regression analysis determine the overwhelming importance of population growth and economic advancement. The results also indicate that the development mode characterized by industrial structure, capital input, and technology upgrades can exert considerable influence on socioeconomic development, thereby affecting the change of ESV. Moreover, the constraints of policy substantially affect the changes of ESV from 2010 to 2015. Policy makers should consider the relationship between land use patterns and the ESV variation in different development stages to formulate appropriate measures, thereby reducing or preventing the loss of ecological service value and promoting sustainable development.
Guidelines for thrombolytic therapy for acute stroke: a supplement to the guidelines for the management of patients with acute ischemic stroke. A statement for healthcare professionals from a Special Writing Group of the Stroke Council, American Heart Association.

In 1994 a panel of the American Heart Association Stroke Council wrote guidelines on the management of patients with acute ischemic stroke.1 The panel predicted that its recommendations would change as the results of ongoing clinical trials became available. At that time the panel recommended that thrombolytic drugs should not be given to persons with acute ischemic stroke outside the clinical trial setting. Since publication of the guidelines, the results of five clinical trials of intravenously administered thrombolytic drugs have been reported.2 3 4 5 6 The use of intra-arterial thrombolytic drugs continues to be reported. In light of these data, the Stroke Council reviewed the status of thrombolytic therapy and prepared this supplement, which includes recommendations for the use of thrombolytic drugs in clinical practice. In preparing this report, panel members used the rules of evidence for treatments used during the writing of the previous report1 7 (Table 1⇓). The target audience for this statement includes neurologists, emergency physicians, primary care physicians, neurosurgeons, and vascular surgeons who care for persons seen within the first few hours after stroke. View this table: Table 1. Levels of Evidence and Grading of Recommendations for Treatment of Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke* Measures to expedite clot lysis and restore circulation may limit the extent of brain injury and improve outcome after stroke. Unfortunately, intracranial bleeding was frequent among persons enrolled in studies performed in the late 1960s and 1970s, and the therapy was abandoned8 9 10 (Level of Evidence II). More recently, interest in thrombolytic therapy revived because of development of new drugs and their successful use in the care of persons with myocardial ischemia.11 In addition, a meta-analysis combining data from several pilot studies in stroke suggested that thrombolytic therapy might be useful.12 Available thrombolytic drugs are recombinant tissue plasminogen …
XMM-LSS discovery of a z= 1.22 galaxy cluster

We present details of the discovery of XLSS J022303.0−043622, a z= 1.2 cluster of galaxies. This cluster was identified from its X-ray properties and selected as a z > 1 candidate from its optical/near-infrared (IR) characteristics in the XMM Large-Scale Structure Survey (XMM-LSS). It is the most distant system discovered in the survey to date. We present ground-based optical and near-IR observations of the system carried out as part of the XMM-LSS survey. The cluster has a bolometric X-ray luminosity of 1.1 ± 0.7 × 10^44 erg s^−1 , fainter than most other known z > 1 X-ray selected clusters. In the optical it has a remarkably compact core, with at least a dozen galaxies inside a 125 kpc radius circle centred on the X-ray position. Most of the galaxies within the core, and those spectroscopically confirmed to be cluster members, have stellar masses similar to those of massive cluster galaxies at low redshift. They have colours comparable to those of galaxies in other z > 1 clusters, consistent with showing little sign of strong ongoing star formation. The bulk of the star formation within the galaxies appears to have ceased at least 1.5 Gyr before the observed epoch. Our results are consistent with massive cluster galaxies forming at z > 1 and passively evolving thereafter. We also show that the system is straightforwardly identified in Spitzer/IRAC 3.6- and 4.5-μm data obtained by the Spitzer Wide-area Infrared Extragalactic (SWIRE) survey emphasizing the power and utility of joint XMM and Spitzer searches for the most distant clusters.
Benefits and Costs of Recombinant Human Erythropoietin for End-Stage Renal Failure: A Review: Benefits and Costs of Erythropoietin

Abstract Recombinant human erythropoietin is an efficacious therapy in treatment of the anemia of end-stage renal failure. However, the scale of impact on quality of life and medical care resources remains uncertain. By reviewing the literature we evaluate cost-effectiveness of recombinant human erythropoietin and show how previous studies may have implicitly overestimated cost-effectiveness.
Late vitamin K deficiency bleeding despite intramuscular prophylaxis at birth - is there a need for additional supplementation?

Jelena MARTIĆ Radoja Dakića 6 11070 Belgrade, Serbia jelena@net2yu.net SUMMARY Introduction/Objective Vitamin K deficiency is common in newborn infants and without prophylaxis there is a risk of vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB). The most frequent prophylactic approach is an intramuscular (IM) injection of vitamin K1 immediately after birth. Its efficiency to prevent late VKDB has been recently questioned by several reports. Based on our experience, we discuss the need for additional vitamin K1 supplementation after its IM administration at birth. Methods We present a retrospective review of 12 infants, 11 with confirmed and one with probable late VKDB despite IM prophylaxis at birth, who were treated in the two largest tertiary care pediatric hospitals in Serbia during the last 15 years. Results All the patients were exclusively breastfed. In 11 patients, daily weight gain was normal or increased, and one patient had failure to gain weight. Six infants were previously healthy, three infants received antibiotics prior to bleeding, and in two diarrhea and cholestasis, respectively, existed previously. An intracranial bleeding was documented in nine infants, four of whom died. Conclusion Low content of phytomenadione in human milk could occasionally be attributed to late VKDB despite postnatal IM injection of vitamin K1 in otherwise healthy, exclusively breastfed infants. This might be aggravated by transient disturbance of vitamin K turnover due to antibiotic use, acute diarrhea, or transient cholestasis. We suggest that an additional vitamin K1 supplementation after postnatal IM prophylaxis could be justified in exclusively breastfed infants.
Mononuclear and Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte Dispositions of Clarithromycin and Azithromycin in AIDS Patients Requiring Mycobacterium avium Complex Prophylaxis

ABSTRACT The intracellular dispositions of clarithromycin and azithromycin in AIDS patients requiring Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) prophylaxis were studied. The dispositions of both drugs in mononuclear and polymorphonuclear leukocytes were markedly different. Our data support the proven efficacy of these agents for MAC prophylaxis since clarithromycin and azithromycin displayed sustained intracellular concentrations which exceeded their MICs for MAC throughout the dosing periods.