The aim of this study was to compare the treatment efficacies of superficial acupuncture and traditional acupuncture on trigger points of the upper trapezius muscle. Forty people were recruited and randomly allocated to the traditional and superficial acupuncture groups. Each subject received two treatments per week in a four-week period. Outcomes were measured by visual analogue scale (VAS), the Northwick Park neck pain questionnaire scores (NPQ), and pressure pain threshold (PPT) assessments of trigger points. Data collected before the interventions were considered as baseline. Assessments were performed after the first treatment and at the end of the second and fourth weeks of treatment. Patients reported significant (p<0.05) and immediate improvements in VAS and PPT for both superficial acupuncture and traditional acupuncture after the first treatment and after two and four weeks. Significant improvements (p<0.05) in NPQ were attained after two weeks of treatments in both groups. Because superficial acupuncture is associated with less pain while producing immediate pain relief, we recommend it for treating myofascial pain syndrome in the upper trapezius muscle.
Reliability engineers must not only consider the consumption of energy, capital and material resources, but also seek more economic means of completing experiments effectively. This study derives formulae for computing ratios of expected type-II censoring times and expected complete sampling times when the lifetime adheres to two-parameter Pareto and Rayleigh distributions. Utilizing such formulae allows the construction of tables providing information about how much experiment time can be saved by employing a type-II censoring plan instead of a complete sampling plan. Engineers can employ the proposed tables to determine the censoring number, the initial sample size and the other relevant parameters for reducing the total experiment time. Illustrative examples demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed procedure.
The purpose of the study was to explore if there was a significant effect on debasing impurity, current and pH value by four common aquatic plants: Taros, Water Hyacinth, Water Spinach, and Water Cabbage. The duration of the experiment was 31 days. The researchers observed and recorded the change of impurity, current and pH value. Furthermore, the researchers utilized MANOVA to analyze the data collected and to explore if there was a significant effect on purifying polluted water by four aquatic plants. According to the results, there was a significant difference on debasing impurity and pH value among the four aquatic plants. These four aquatic plants were able to debase impurity in order as Water Cabbage, Water Hyacinth, Water Spinach and Taros. The effects of debasing impurity were in order as Water Hyacinth, Water Cabbage, Taros, and Water Spinach.
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