Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Arthritis self-efficacy scale scores in knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing arthritis self-management education with or without exercise.

STUDY DESIGN Systematic literature review and meta-analysis. OBJECTIVE To evaluate studies that used arthritis self-management education alone or with exercise to improve Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale scores of patients with knee osteoarthritis. BACKGROUND Increasing self-efficacy may improve patient knee osteoarthritis symptom management and function. METHODS MEDLINE (1946-March 2013), CINAHL (1981-March 2013), and PsycINFO (1967-March 2013) databases were searched. RESULTS Twenty-four studies, including 3163 subjects (women, n = 2547 [80.5%]; mean ± SD age, 65.3 ± 6.5 years), met the inclusion criteria. A meta-analysis was performed to compare the standardized mean difference effect sizes (Cohen d) of randomized controlled studies that used the Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale pain (13 studies, n = 1906), other symptoms (13 studies, n = 1957), and function (5 studies, n = 399) subscales. Cohen d effect sizes were also calculated for cohort studies that used the Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale pain (10 studies, n = 1035), other symptoms (9 studies, n = 913), and function (3 studies, n = 141) subscales. Both randomized controlled studies and cohort studies were grouped by intervention type (intervention 1, arthritis self-management education alone; intervention 2, arthritis self-management education with exercise), and effect sizes were compared (Mann-Whitney U tests, P<.05). Interventions that used arthritis self-management education with exercise displayed higher methodological quality scale scores (76.8 ± 13.1 versus 61.6 ± 19.6, P = .03). Statistically significant standardized effect-size differences between intervention 1 and intervention 2 were not observed. CONCLUSION Small to moderate effect sizes were observed regardless of whether the intervention included exercise. Exercise interventions used in conjunction with arthritis self-management education programs need to be developed to better enhance the self-efficacy of patients with knee osteoarthritis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapy, level 2b-.
Baseline evaluation in youth ice hockey players: comparing methods for documenting prior concussions and attention or learning disorders.

STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional. OBJECTIVE To examine differences in concussion history and attention or learning disorders reported by elite youth ice hockey players, using a questionnaire that allows parental input compared to a clinic-based test battery that does not. BACKGROUND A history of previous concussion and the presence of attention or learning disorders can affect concussion-management decisions; however, youth athletes may not accurately report their medical history because they may not know or recall important details. METHODS The sample included 714 Bantam (ages 12-14 years) and Midget (ages 15-17 years) ice hockey players (601 male, 113 female) from the most elite divisions of play (AA and AAA). Players completed a take-home preseason questionnaire (PSQ) with the input of a parent/guardian, and also independently completed the baseline Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) at the beginning of the 2011-2012 hockey season. RESULTS In 21.1% (95% confidence interval: 18.1%, 24.1%) of cases, there was disagreement between the PSQ and ImPACT in the number of previous concussions reported. Among those who reported an attention disorder on the PSQ, 85.7% also reported an attention disorder on the ImPACT. Only 9.5% of those who reported a learning disorder on the PSQ also reported a learning disorder on the ImPACT. CONCLUSION In 1 of 5 players, reported concussion history differed between the PSQ and ImPACT, and there was substantial disagreement between instruments for those reporting learning disorders. The method of obtaining medical history may, therefore, affect baseline and postconcussion evaluations.
Validation of a Clinical Test of Thoracolumbar Dissociation in Chronic Low Back Pain.

STUDY DESIGN Clinical test validation. OBJECTIVES Preliminary study of concurrent and discriminant validity of a clinical test of thoracolumbar dissociation. BACKGROUND Control deficits of back muscles and trunk movement are common in chronic/recurrent low back pain (LBP). A reliable clinical test to rate an individual's ability to dissociate lumbopelvic movement from the thoracolumbar region has been described. This test rates the performance quality of 5 key aspects against criterion standards. METHODS Concurrent validity was examined by comparison of clinical test scores (overall score and each individual criterion) against spine kinematics. Discriminant validity was evaluated by comparison of scores between pain-free controls and participants with LBP. A receiver operating characteristic curve was calculated to determine the optimal cutoff or score to differentiate between good and poor performers. RESULTS Concurrent validity was supported by the significant correlation between the total score and motion of the T5 vertebra relative to the S1 vertebra (P<.05). Scores for some (4 correlations of 14 measures) but not all individual criteria were correlated with the kinematic features that each criterion was expected to reflect. Discriminant validity was supported by higher test scores for pain-free controls than for participants with LBP after 2 minutes of training (P = .045). Scores of less than 5.5 were more prevalent in the LBP group (pretraining LBP versus control, 72% versus 35%; P = .008; posttraining LBP versus control, 48% versus 16%; P = .018). CONCLUSION This preliminary study of concurrent and discriminant validity of the test provides a foundation to further investigate its utility to characterize thoracolumbar movement patterns in individuals with LBP.
Perception of Addiction Nurses Towards Clinical Supervision: An Exploratory Study

Abstract Clinical supervision as a priority for addiction nurses is beyond dispute. It is acknowledged that adequate supervision would enable addiction nurses to develop professional competencies and reduce stress and burnout. This paper reports on an exploratory study of the perceptions of clinical supervision among addiction nurses. Their knowledge of the concept, and their views and experiences of clinical supervision are examined. The Clinical Supervision Perception Questionnaire (CSPQ) was administered to 40 addiction nurses. The findings show that addiction nurses with more than 6 years of experience felt supervision was an integral part of their nursing work. The value of clinical supervision was highly regarded by addiction nurses working in combined drug and alcohol services. The study also reveals different supervision requirements among different subgroups, nurses working in combined services, and nurses working in the field for longer period of time having different needs and perceptions of supervision. This has implications for both educational programs and clinical practice.
The Industrial Synthesis of Pure Enantiomers

The ever-increasing demand for more selective drugs, pesticides, etc, which are more targeted in their action, show less toxic side effects, and are more environmentally acceptable, is providing an important stimulus to companies to market these products as pure optical isomers. In reality, a chiral drug administered as a racemic mixture amounts to two separate drugs, each with different pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics, being given simultaneously. This increasing awareness of the importance of chirality in the context of biological activity has stimulated a growing demand for efficient methods for the industrial synthesis of optically active compounds. The various methods for the synthesis of pure enantiomers, viz, use of the chiral pool, resolution of racemates via crystallization techniques, or enzymatic methods and catalytic asymmetric synthesis, are reviewed and compared. The advantages and limitations of the various methods are discussed, and particular emphasis is placed on new developments such as the use of enzymes in organic media and catalytic asymmetric synthesis using metal-Binap complexes. Given the rapidly growing repetoire of cost-effective methods available, the industrial synthesis of most chiral pharmaceuticals in enantiomerically pure form is clearly an economically viable proposition.
Development and control of broken-strap monitoring system for newspaper flexi-roll machines

Strap breaking is a significant maintenance issue that occurs when the newspapers are bound using single or double parallel straps on flexi-roll machine during the rolling process, resulting significant downtime and product loss. To prevent the occurrence of strap breaking, an automatic fault detection system is developed to identify the lateral deflection of binding straps in the early stage using the reflectance sensor. As the reflectance sensor has to travel along the increasing diameter of the paper roll during the rolling process, fixed mounting of sensor would not work. A mobile sensor-carrying mechanism is thus developed in this study, via a DC motor-driven linear actuator. The system is controlled with a programmable logic controller, with a neural network (NN)-based compensator to deal with the actuator deadzone. The photo-eye measurements are then used to detect the broken-strap based on a NN classifier.
Fault detection for the Benfield process using a parametric identification approach

A closed-loop process monitoring framework that entails subspace identification, and parametric fault detection are discussed, and subsequently applied to the Benfield process for fault detection. An extension to the derivation of the observability matrix of the subspace identification method guarantees stable identified system matrices. For fault detection, Extended Kalman filtering is utilized to recursively update a joint-set of initial system states and parameters, using current sampled process data and initial estimated parameters, obtained via the subspace method. Framework validation and verification is established via simulation, as well as using delayed, real-time measured process data from the Benfield process.
Role of Drug Eluting Balloons in Peripheral Endovascular Procedures

In the last year’s drug eluting technology (balloons and stents) moved from coronary to peripheral arteries. Manufacturers supported the evolution of these devices. Actually, Drug Eluting Balloons (DEBs) are widely used to treat all the peripheral arteries. The results are heterogeneous for each arterial bed analysed.
Walking control of humanoid robot based on extreme learning machine

This paper investigates the dynamic balance problem of humanoid robot and presents a systematic control architecture. In order to achieve better locomotion stability and control performance, a hybrid offline and online control algorithm based on all robot joints is proposed. Considering the complicated nonlinear relationship between zero-moment-point (ZMP) and robot joints, an offline learning algorithm based on extreme learning machine (ELM) is adopted to approximate the centre of mass (CoM) correction value according to ZMP error. Then, an online control method is employed to adjust all joints trajectories according to CoM position by minimising energy consumption. Given the optimised joints motion, an adaptive control system is proposed to track the desired trajectories and the stability proof is provided. The simulation results validate the proposed method.
Effect of Burst Frequency and Duration of Kilohertz-Frequency Alternating Currents and of Low-Frequency Pulsed Currents on Strength of Contraction, Muscle Fatigue, and Perceived Discomfort

Background: Low-frequency pulsed currents (LPCs) and kilohertz-frequency alternating currents (KACs) are used clinically to augment muscle contractions. Treatment effectiveness may be enhanced by selecting stimulation parameters that evoke the strongest contractions with minimal discomfort and fatigue. Objective: The objective of this study was to compare maximally induced strength (force-producing capacity) of contractions, muscle fatigue, and discomfort associated with an LPC and with 3 KACs differing in frequency and duration of burst modulation. Design: This was a repeated-measures trial, with randomized order of current presentation. Setting: The study was conducted in the physical therapy laboratory at the University of Haifa. Subjects: Twenty-six volunteers without impairments, with a mean age of 27.4 years (SD=5.0, range=21–45), participated. Intervention: All currents were applied in separate sessions to the wrist extensors of each subject. Currents consisted of an LPC with a 50-Hz pulse frequency and 3 KACs with a 2.5-kHz carrier frequency, including the “Russian current” (RC) burst modulated at 50 Hz with 25 cycles per burst and 2 currents burst modulated at 20 or 50 Hz with 10 cycles per burst. Measurement: The maximal electrically induced isometric force, the force integral of 21 electrically induced consecutive contractions, and the degree of discomfort were recorded. Results: Force of contraction was not affected by type of current. The LPC was least fatiguing, and the RC was most fatiguing, with the 2 other KACs having an intermediate effect. Degree of discomfort was higher with the KAC modulated at 20 Hz. Conclusions: When comfort, strength, and fatigue are considered jointly, the LPC is advantageous. Electrically induced fatigue is affected by the number of cycles per second, rather than the number of bursts per second.
Treadmill Testing of Children Who Have Spina Bifida and Are Ambulatory: Does Peak Oxygen Uptake Reflect Maximum Oxygen Uptake?

Background: Earlier studies have demonstrated low peak oxygen uptake (V̇o2peak) in children with spina bifida. Low peak heart rate and low peak respiratory exchange ratio in these studies raised questions regarding the true maximal character of V̇o2peak values obtained with treadmill testing. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether the V̇o2peak measured during an incremental treadmill test is a true reflection of the maximum oxygen uptake (V̇o2max) in children who have spina bifida and are ambulatory. Design: A cross-sectional design was used for this study. Methods: Twenty children who had spina bifida and were ambulatory participated. The V̇o2peak was measured during a graded treadmill exercise test. The validity of V̇o2peak measurements was evaluated by use of previously described guidelines for maximum exercise testing in children who are healthy, as well as differences between V̇o2peak and V̇o2 during a supramaximal protocol (V̇o2supramaximal). Results: The average values for V̇o2peak and normalized V̇o2peak were, respectively, 1.23 L/min (SD=0.6) and 34.1 mL/kg/min (SD=8.3). Fifteen children met at least 2 of the 3 previously described criteria; one child failed to meet any criteria. Although there were no significant differences between V̇o2peak and V̇o2supramaximal, 5 children did show improvement during supramaximal testing. Limitations: These results apply to children who have spina bifida and are at least community ambulatory. Conclusions: The V̇o2peak measured during an incremental treadmill test seems to reflect the true V̇o2max in children who have spina bifida and are ambulatory, validating the use of a treadmill test for these children. When confirmation of maximal effort is needed, the addition of supramaximal testing of children with disability is an easy and well-tolerated method.
Coronary artery disease in 2010

The burden of coronary artery disease (CAD) remains high across Europe and the rest of the world. CAD continues to be the main cause of death and a major cause of morbidity and loss of quality of life. The decline in age-standardized mortality rates and in incidence of CAD in many countries illustrates the potential for prevention of premature deaths and for prolonging life expectancy. New therapeutic options for prevention and treatment of CAD have resulted in an increasing number of patients who survive a cardiovascular event; in developed countries the burden has shifted from the middle-aged to the elderly and the prevalence of CAD increases exponentially with aging. CAD is a leading public health problem accounting for a significant proportion of total societal costs and representing 27% of total cardiovascular disease costs. Together with cerebrovascular diseases, CAD accounts for 64% of all cardiovascular deaths. There are a number of lifestyle changes that can be implemented to improve the prognosis of patients with stable CAD, including smoking cessation, adoption of a Mediterranean diet, body weight reduction, and increased physical activity. Concomitant risk factors such as diabetes, dyslipidaemia, and hypertension should be managed aggressively. Current treatment options for stable CAD involve a two-pronged approach combining antianginal treatment to improve symptoms and quality of life along with a cardioprotective treatment to prevent cardiovascular events. Optimal medical treatment should be the initial management approach in the majority of patients with stable CAD, even if extensive and multi-vessel atherosclerosis is involved. A large body of evidence suggests that high resting heart rate (HR) is a potential risk factor for mortality and morbidity in various populations, including patients with CAD. Experimental evidence indicates that high HR plays a role in endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis progression. An HR ≥70 b.p.m. is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. Ongoing randomized trials are evaluating the role of selective HR reduction in improving cardiovascular outcomes. These trial data will be complemented by CLARIFY, a large-scale international registry of outpatients with stable CAD which will analyse not only the baseline characteristics and management practices but will also capture all suspected important determinants of outcomes including resting HR.
On “Modified constraint-induced therapy…” Page et al. Phys Ther. 2008;88:333–340.

Over the past 6 years, Stephen J Page, PhD, FAHA, has shown a remarkable level of research productivity with considerable efforts directed toward a modification of constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT)—or constraint-induced therapy (mCIT)—and its interfaces with other modalities or approaches, including functional electrical stimulation, electromyographic-triggered electrical stimulation, telerehabilitation, and mental practice. These efforts have resulted in the genesis of a perspective that mCIT is a reimbursable procedure1,2 or “a reimbursable protocol. ”3(p339) Before this form of mCIT progresses toward the next logical step—a phase III randomized controlled study—a pause for reflection may be in order. This response is intended to offer a critical assessment and allows us to contemplate if, indeed, the cart is being placed too far before the horse. The “signature” form of CIT requires intensive practice, the primary factor that differentiates it from the distributed practice forms of CIT that generally have been referred to as “modified. ” Undoubtedly, there are frustrations that might occur with such concentrated effort required over 10 or 15 weekdays of training for up to 6 hours per day. In the recently completed EXtremity Constraint-Induced Therapy Evaluation (EXCITE) Trial,4,5 the average duration of daily training (actual time on task) over 10 days using repetitive task practice and adaptive task practice (shaping) was 3 hours. Many of the 222 EXCITE participants simply did not possess the endurance to train for the entire 6 hours; in fact, the average time progressed from 1.5 hours to 4.5 hours. Given a mean of 3 hours over 10 days, the total on-task time was 30 hours for the signature CIT that characterized EXCITE. In contrast, the present study3 used approximately half that time (1.5 hours of clinic-based training per week over 10 weeks, for a total of 15 contact hours). However, …
Balance Impairment as a Risk Factor for Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults Who Are High Functioning: A Prospective Study

Background Screening should have simple and easy-to-administer methods that identify impairments associated with future fall risk, but there is a lack of literature supporting validation for their use. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the independent contribution of balance assessment on future fall risk, using 5 methods to quantify balance impairment, for the outcomes “any fall” and “any injurious fall” in community-dwelling older adults who are higher functioning. Design This was a prospective cohort study. Methods A sample of 210 community-dwelling older adults (70% male, 30% female; mean age=79.9 years, SD=4.7) received a comprehensive geriatric assessment at baseline, which included the Berg Balance Scale to measure balance. Information on daily falls was collected for 12 months by each participant's monthly submission of a falls log calendar. Results Seventy-eight people (43%) fell, of whom 54 (30%) sustained an injurious fall and 32 (18%) had recurrent falls (≥2 falls). Different balance measurement methods identified different numbers of people as impaired. Adjusted relative risk (RR) estimates for an increased risk of any fall were 1.58 (95% confidence interval [CI]=1.06, 2.35) for self-report of balance problems, 1.58 (95% CI=1.03, 2.41) for one-leg stance, and 1.46 (95% CI=1.02, 2.09) for limits of stability. An adjusted RR estimate for an increased risk of an injurious fall of 1.95 (95% CI=1.15, 3.31) was found for self-report of balance problems. Limitations The study was a secondary analysis of data. Conclusions Not all methods of evaluating balance impairment are associated with falls. The number of people identified as having balance impairment varies with the measurement tool; therefore, the measurement tools are not interchangeable or equivalent in defining an at-risk population. The thresholds established in this study indicate individuals who should receive further comprehensive fall assessment and treatment to prevent falls.