Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Best Research Evidence for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Abstract Summary: Evidence-based medicine is a strong movement in this century, and randomized clinical trials continue to be the best level of evidence for establishing cause-effect relationships between treatment interventions and outcomes. The field of physical medicine and rehabilitation has many excellent research questions on the effects of treatment but seems to rely mostly on weak observational methods (eg, chart review, case series, and single-group designs) for answers. This paper highlights 3 basic and relatively simple principles of good experimental design: control, randomization, and replication that were developed by R. A. Fisher for large, complex, agricultural field trials. The principles diffused readily into many scientific arenas, and Fisher even applied the principles in his backyard studies into Mendelian genetics. The thoughts of R. A. Fisher, arguably the most influential statistician of the 20th century, on the promise and challenges of randomized clinical trials in medicine should motivate rehabilitation clinicians to do their own small-scale controlled trials, with Institutional Review Board approval, when faced with equally realistic and plausible treatment options for their patients.
Calibration of three-axis strapdown magnetometers using Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm

In this work a new algorithm is developed for onboard calibration of three-axis strapdown magnetometers. The sensor errors, namely hard iron, soft iron, nonorthogonality, scale factors, biases and among others are taken into account. Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) strategy is applied to estimate the errors above. The advantages of this method are no need for good initial values or linearization, easy realization and fast convergence. Accuracy and robustness of the proposed algorithm are validated by experiments. The post-calibration residuals are down to less than 10nT compared with approximate 1000nT before calibration. The proposed algorithm yields robust results with sufficient accuracy in tests.
Effect of dextran sulfate sodium and acute exercise on mouse intestinal inflammation and lymphocyte cytochrome c levels.

AIM Athletes may experience gastrointestinal disturbances during intense exercise. Using a mouse model, we determined the influence of acute exercise (AE) and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), a chemical known to induce intestinal inflammation, on: 1) inflammatory changes within small and large intestine, 2) extent of cell death as measured by cytochrome c levels in intestinal lymphocytes (IL) and 3) the effects of bovine lactoferrin (bLf), a dietary protein with anti-inflammatory properties, on these parameters. METHODS DSS was given as 5% w/v in water for 4 days. AE consisted of 3 bouts of 90 min of exhaustive treadmill exercise, each separated by 24 h, with sacrifice before, immediately after, or 24 h after the final exercise bout. Mice were fed 2% bLf or control diet for 2 weeks before AE or DSS. Tissue inflammation was determined by histology and IL cytochrome c levels by Western blotting. RESULTS AE increased plasma 8-iso-PGF2a, a marker of oxidative stress, immediately after relative to before exercise (P<0.01). Cytochrome c levels were elevated following bLf (P<0.01) and DSS (P<0.05) treatment whereas AE had no significant effect. DSS, but not AE, produced histological changes suggestive of intestinal inflammation with no attenuation by bLf. CONCLUSIONS Three bouts of AE were not associated with intestinal inflammation or IL death in this animal model. Gastrointestinal disturbances arising from intense exercise in humans may not be due to direct inflammatory damage although this remains to be determined clinically.
Microcrystallization methods for aspirin, mebutamate, and quinine sulfate.

A technique to obtain microcrystals of some drugs was investigated. As high as 80–90% of the crystals obtained by this method had dimensions below 10 μ. The process is only applicable to drugs that are more soluble in glycerin than in water. It consists of diluting, with ice water, a hot saturated solution of the drug in glycerin while stirring at high speed and applying external cooling. Yields and economics of the process are also mentioned. The microcrystalline drugs (aspirin, mebutamate, and quinine sulfate) were found to possess increased solubilities which seemed to be due to the particle size rather than polymorphism or any other change. When administered orally to experimental animals, microcrystalline aspirin attained quicker and higher serum levels than did the raw form.
Community-based dementia day programmes: Common elements and outcome measures

Dementia Day programmes are considered important in supporting the well-being of both people living with dementia and their caregivers. There is, however, limited evidence on the effectiveness of these programmes. This article reports on a study undertaken in New Zealand on the effectiveness of community-based dementia day programmes. The small-scale pilot study was aimed at investigating the elements that make up an effective client-focused dementia day programme and the methods employed by organisations to measure the outcomes of these programmes. A mixed methods approach was employed with multiple stakeholders. The research revealed that effective day programmes comprised five core elements, and that surveys, reporting and auditing processes are routinely used to measure the quality of outcomes of day programmes. Although these findings are reflective of a specific context, it raises concerns about the nature and availability of evidence informing decisions regarding the design and implementation of day programmes internationally.
Computer analysis of the human embryo growth curve: Differences between published ultrasound findings on living embryos in utero and data on fixed specimens

Accurate information on the normal growth rate of the human embryo is fundamental to a better understanding of the embryonic period of pregnancy. Crown‐rump length measured previously in utero (N = 227) with vaginal ultrasound in 107 in vitro fertilization (IVF) or gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) singleton pregnancies was compared to the greatest length of fixed human embryos from the Carnegie collection, of known developmental stage whose postovulatory ages were estimated from menstrual histories. Average crown‐rump length in utero was 60% of the greatest length of the fixed specimens prior to postovulation day 33, but were equal after postovulation day 40. The growth rate of in utero embryos and fixed specimens, analyzed by computer using exponential equations, was compared to linear and polynomial equations used in previously published embryo growth tables. The exponential equation, length = exp(a + b/age), fit in utero measurements best, while the equation length = exp[a + b/exp(age)] fit the fixed specimens best. Differences between length in utero and in fixed specimens may be related to distortion of the fixed embryos resulting from the formalin fixation, to ultrasound distortion, to curling of the embryo, or to incorrectly estimated ages of the fixed specimens. Study of human embryos in utero is now practical with vaginal ultrasound. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
First detection of porcine circovirus type 3 on commercial pig farms in Poland

Porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3) is a novel circovirus species recently discovered in USA and China in cases of porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome, reproductive failure, respiratory disease and multisystemic inflammation. This study reports on the first identification of PCV3 in Europe, in serum from pigs from Polish farms. A total of 1,050 serum samples were collected between 2014 and 2017 from sows and 3-20 weeks old pigs from 14 commercial farms representing different regions of Poland, different size and health status. The samples were pooled by 4-6 and tested with real-time PCR for PCV3. PCV3 DNA was detected in 12 of 14 farms (85.7%). On the PCV3-positive farms, the virus was detected in 5.9% to 65% serum pools. PCV3 was most common among weaned pigs and finishers (26.1% and 28.0% of serum pools, respectively). Sequence analysis of 359 nucleotide fragment of ORF2 showed highest identity of 99.7% to PCV3-US/SD2016 from USA. Our results indicate that PCV3 is a common virus among Polish pigs but no links to unexplained disease conditions were established.
Matrix development of the calculus of relations

In his very interesting address On the calculus of refations, Professor Tarski discussed alternative bases for that calculus. He was there interested in “…different methods of setting up the foundations of this elementary calculus in a rigorously deductive way…” and so did not discuss the method of developing the calculus of relations with which this paper is concerned. Our purpose here is to show how the use of matrix notation for relations permits an algorithmic rather than a postulational-deductive development of the calculus of relations. One limitation of the present approach is to be admitted at the very outset: to enjoy the full benefits of the matrix approach, we are obliged to confine our investigations to Universes of Discourse which are finite. The reason for this restriction will become apparent presently.
Is there a specific phenotype for asthma?

Since nobody knows what asthma is, it is not yet possible to determine if asthma is one disease with a speeiiic phenolype. In order to look for genetic defects in asthma it is important to define, at least one phenotype and to indicate how a given individual may vary from it. Furlhennore. it is important to define the limits of some of the measurements that are frequently used in the diagnosis of asthma.
Selective phototoxic destruction of rat Merkel cells abolishes responses of slowly adapting type I mechanoreceptor units.

1. The fluorescent dye quinacrine which accumulates in Merkel cells in touch domes was administered to rats and the effects of excitation light irradiation on the mechanical responses of slowly adapting (SA) type I units innervating the touch domes were investigated. 2. Histological examination showed that after 10 min of irradiation degeneration was specifically localized to Merkel cells loaded with quinacrine. Nerve terminals associated with Merkel cells remained intact, even after treatment. 3. In SA type I units, responses to standard stimulation (a 100 ms ramp followed by a 2.9 s plateau of 400 microns constant displacement) decreased significantly after irradiation of the domes with quinacrine‐excitation light through a ‘B’ filter (‘B’ light). With 5 min irradiation, the response decreased to 52 +/‐ 7% (n = 10, mean +/‐ S.E.M.) of the pretreated value, to 17 +/‐ 4% with a 10 min treatment and practically disappeared within 20 min. 4. In SA type I units with non‐loaded Merkel cells, the response increased to 119 +/‐ 8% (n = 13) with 5 min irradiation and was 99 +/‐ 9% with the 10 min treatment. At around 15 min after the onset of irradiation there was a gradual decrease and within 60 min the response disappeared. 5. When responses were divided into phasic (0‐120 ms after the onset of stimulation) and tonic (120‐3000 ms) components, ‘tonic’ responses were more affected than ‘phasic’ ones in quinacrine‐loaded SA type I units. 6. Stimulus‐response curves shifted to the right and downwards in SA type I units with quinacrine‐loaded Merkel cells after irradiation, but no significant change was seen in SA type I units without quinacrine. 7. Our observations are consistent with the hypothesis that Merkel cells are responsible for mechanoelectric transduction in SA type I units.
Divisional History and Pluripotency of Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells

Abstract: To maintain self‐renewal and multilineage differentiation capacity, hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) proliferation requires both symmetric and asymmetric cell divisions. We have applied a time‐lapse camera system and our single‐cell culture to correlate early replication behavior with short‐ and long‐term function. Using five‐dimensional flow cytometry to purify subpopulations of fetal liver (FLV), fetal bone marrow (FBM), umbilical cord blood (UCB), adult bone marrow (ABM), and mobilized peripheral blood (MPB), we studied the relationship between colony efficiency (CE) growth pattern and ontogenic age. The highest CE was found among HSC candidates from FLV, FBM, and UCB and the lowest from ABM. Relating the divisional behavior with functional readouts, we demonstrated that although mitotic rate, colony efficiency, and percent of asymmetric divisions all decreased with ontogenic age, the fraction of cells undergoing asymmetric divisions was consistently at 45%. After 10 days of culture, 60.6 ± 9.8% of the PKH bright cells gave rise to colonies (15.8 ± 7.8% dispersed) compared to 15.9 ± 11.1% of the PKH dim cells (2.5 ± 2.5% dispersed). In addition, the much more primitive Myeloid‐Lymphoid Initiating Cells (ML‐IC) are predominantly found in the PKH‐bright population. Thus, primitive function of individual candidate HSCs closely related to their divisional behavior.
Stimulation of d2 dopamine receptors decreases intracellular calcium levels in rat anterior pituitary cells but not striatal synaptosomes: A flow cytometric study using indo‐1

An important question is whether all D2 dopamine (DA) receptors employ the same signal transduction mechanisms. Anterior pituitary cells and striatal synaptosomes, which possess pharmacologically similar D2 DA receptors, were compared with respect to the effect of D2 DA receptor stimulation on free intracellular Ca2+ levels ([Ca2+]i). Flow cytometry, in combination with either the fluorescent calcium indicator indo‐1 or fluorescent voltage‐sensitive dyes, was used to measure [Ca2+]i and to detect changes in membrane potential. In subpopulations of anterior pituitary cells, increases in [Ca2+]i were produced by elevated K+, veratridine, thyrotropin‐releasing hormone, and BAY K 8644. These increases were blocked by nifedipine, suggesting the involvement of L‐type voltage‐sensitive calcium channels (VSCC's). In 10–15% of the cells, D2 agonists decreased resting [Ca2+]i, reversed stimulus‐induced increases in [Ca2+]i, and caused a hyperpolarization. In striatal synaptosomes, elevated K+ and veratridine also increased [Ca2+]i. However, the K+‐induced increase was eliminated if choline was substituted for Na+ in the medium, suggesting that Ca2+ entry in response to sustained K+ depolarization resulted from reversal of Na+/Ca2+ exchange. Nifedipine and verapamil inhibited K+‐induced increases in [Ca2+]i only at concentrations greater than 10 μM, while ω‐conotoxin had no effect. D2 agonists had no effect on resting or stimulated [Ca2+]i but did hyperpolarize 10–20% of the synaptosomes, indicating that D2 DA receptors are functional in this preparation. The ability of pituitary but not striatal D2 DA receptors to modulate [Ca2+]i may reflect the fact that the two systems differ with respect to pathways for Ca2+ influx.
Cocreation at the Base of the Pyramid

The base of the pyramid (BOP) approach suggests that business with low-income consumers or producers can simultaneously foster well-being, environmental sustainability, and profits. A central tenet of the BOP approach is cocreation between companies, low-income communities, and other actors. However, recent research has strongly questioned the necessity and feasibility of such cocreation. This article undertakes a systematic review of BOP research on cocreation and finds a considerable range in the proposed participants and purpose of cocreation: Cocreation can refer to a deep process of social transformation or, at the other extreme, arms-length cooperation that merely legitimizes a corporation as a development agent. Drawing on development studies, this review proposes a framework for organizing the diverse conceptualizations, and shows how the framework facilitates elaboration on the necessity and feasibility of cocreation at the BOP.
From scrawny to brawny: the quest for neomusculogenesis; smart surfaces and scaffolds for muscle tissue engineering

The successful generation of functional muscle tissues requires both an in-depth knowledge of muscle tissue physiology and advanced engineering practices. The inherent contractile functionality of muscle is a result of its high-level cellular and matrix organization over a multitude of length scales. While there have been many attempts to produce artificial muscle, a method to fabricate a highly organized construct, comprised of multiple cell types and capable of delivering contractile strengths similar to that of native smooth, skeletal or cardiac muscle has remained elusive. This is largely due to a lack of control over phenotype and spatial organization of cells. This paper covers state-of-the-art approaches to generating both 2D and 3D substrates that provide some form of higher level organization or multiple biochemical, mechanical or electrical cues to cells in order to successfully manipulate their behavior, in a manner that is conducive to the production of contractile muscle tissue. These so-called ‘smart surfaces’ and ‘smart scaffolds’ represent vital steps towards surface-engineered substrates for the engineering of muscle tissues, showing confidently that cellular behavior can be effectively and reproducibly manipulated through the design of the physical, chemical and electrical properties of the substrates on which cells are grown. However, many challenges remain to be overcome prior to reaching the ultimate goal of fully functional 3D vascularized engineered muscle.
Atypical imaging appearance of toxoplasmosis in an HIV patient as a butterfly lesion

In acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients, differentiating toxoplasmosis and primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma remains a clinical and radiographic dilemma. The presence of butterfly lesions crossing the corpus callosum is customarily used to exclude the possibility of toxoplasmosis. We present an AIDS patient who had Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) ‐positive cerebrospinal fluid studies with a butterfly toxoplasmosis lesion confirmed by multiple methods signifying the importance of including toxoplasmosis in the differential diagnosis of butterfly lesions. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;30:873–875. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Large unphosphorylated aggregates as the active form of hsp27 which controls intracellular reactive oxygen species and glutathione levels and generates a protection against TNFalpha in NIH-3T3-ras cells.

The mammalian small stress protein hsp27 is an oligomeric phosphoprotein which interferes with the cell death induced by several stimuli. In that sense, we and others have recently shown that human hsp27 expression induced cellular protection against tumor necrosis factor (TNFalpha), a protection which depends on the ability of hsp27 to decrease the level of reactive oxygen species and increase that of glutathione. Here, we have analyzed unphosphorylatable mutants of human hsp27 in which serines 15, 78, and 82 were replaced by alanines, glycines, or aspartic acids. Depending on the amino acid which was used to substitute the serine sites, a different pattern of hsp27 structural organization was observed. Alanine substitution generated large hsp27 aggregates while glycine and aspartic acid did the reverse. Hence, these phosphorylatable serine residues can be considered as key elements affecting hsp27 structural organization. Only the large aggregates of hsp27 were able to modulate reactive oxygen species and glutathione and generated cellular protection against TNFalpha. Moreover, using drugs that modulate the intracellular level of glutathione, we show that an increase in glutathione by itself was sufficient to generate large hsp27 structures while the reverse was observed in the case of glutathione deprivation.
On the Properties of Augmented Open-Loop Stable Plants Using LQG/LTR Control

In this technical note are presented new properties on the application of the continuous- and discrete-time LQG/LTR control methodology when an open-loop stable process plant is augmented by integrators and a specific choice of design parameters is made. It is shown that the target feedback loop transfer matrix is made equal to a diagonal transfer matrix of integrators with specifiable gains, guaranteeing equal and decoupled responses in each of the system's outputs.
Prevention of obesity-linked renal disease: age-dependent effects of dietary food restriction.

BACKGROUND Hyperphagic obese Zucker rats develop glomerular injury and die of renal disease, an outcome prevented by food restriction at an early age. We examined the effects of food restriction imposed at different ages on systemic, renal hemodynamic, and hormonal changes to gain insight into the mechanisms of obesity-linked glomerular injury. METHODS At 6 weeks of age obese Zucker rats were either fed ad libitum or were restricted in food intake at various ages (6, 12, 26, or 50 weeks) to that consumed by lean Zucker rats (14 g/day). Every four weeks 24-hour urine collections, blood pressure, and venous blood samples were obtained until the end of study (60 weeks). RESULTS Food restriction at 6 or 12 weeks of age prevented glomerular injury and hypertrophy and delayed the development of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and hyperinsulinemia. Food restriction at 26 weeks of age reduced proteinuria, while restriction at 50 weeks prevented further increases in proteinuria without altering pre-existing hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, or hyperinsulinemia. Hypertriglyceridemia and glomerular hyperfiltration in the obese animals were reversed at any age by food restriction. Plasma leptin levels were elevated in all obese groups. CONCLUSIONS (1) Early food restriction provided the greatest metabolic and renal benefits; (2) glomerular injury correlated with hyperphagia-induced hyperfiltration and hypertriglyceridemia and both were prevented by food restriction; (3) hypercholesterolemia was due to an increase in LDL and/or VLDL cholesterol; and (4) leptin does not directly contribute to glomerular injury in the obese Zucker rat.
Analysis on the Phenomenon of College Students' Blogs

With the rapid development of Internet technology,Blog—the new network word was born.The phenomenon of college students' Blogs is increasing obviously.This paper gives the concept of Blog,describes the development of Blog and especially the college student's Blogs,analyzes the chance and challenge that Blog brings to college education,and proposes the thoughts on helping students to build the correct view on Blog,using Blog to construct excellent college education,and utilizing Blog to manage college students.
Design and evaluation of a collaborative system for content diffusion and retrieval in vehicular networks

The availability of infotainment contents to be accessed while driving constitutes an added value to both drivers and passengers, improving their travel experience. These contents can be already on-board, diffused through broadcast networks (e.g., FM radio) or delivered on demand by servers as data streams. Vehicular ad-hoc networks (VANET) allow envisaging a new way to access contents based on epidemic data dissemination, tearing down the costs for both the user and the content publisher, and increasing system scalability. In this paper, we present the design and the evaluation of a collaborative system for content diffusion and retrieval among traveling vehicles. This system relies on multicast epidemic dissemination of messages and exploits vehicles mobility and their local storage capabilities. In order to assess its performance, several simulations have been carried out, using real-world maps and realistic mobility models, and varying intrinsic system parameters. Experimental results suggest that the system is feasible, produces reliable results, almost independent of the mobility scenario, and can be used as a peer-to-peer download accelerator for improving client-server access.