LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
A prospective study of sugar intake and risk of type 2 diabetes in women.

OBJECTIVE
To investigate prospectively whether intake of total or type of sugar is associated with the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The contribution of sugar intake to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes has not been settled in the context of primary prevention because of limited prospective data.


RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
The Women's Health Study is a randomized controlled trial of aspirin and vitamin E in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer. A validated semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire was completed by 39,345 women aged 45 years and older. The main outcome was the incidence of type 2 diabetes. The predictor was sugar intake, including sucrose, glucose, fructose, and lactose. Using Cox proportional hazard models, multivariate RRs of type 2 diabetes for increasing quintiles of sugar intake compared with the lowest quintile were estimated.


RESULTS
Compared with the lowest quintile of sugar intake, the RRs and 95% CIs for the highest quintiles were 0.84 (0.67-1.04) for sucrose, 0.96 (0.78-1.19) for fructose, 1.04 (0.85-1.28) for glucose, and 0.99 (0.80-1.22) for lactose, after adjustment for known risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Similar findings of no association were obtained in subgroup analyses stratified by BMI.


CONCLUSIONS
Intake of sugars does not appear to play a deleterious role in primary prevention of type 2 diabetes. These prospective data support the recent American Diabetes Association's guideline that a moderate amount of sugar can be incorporated in a healthy diet.
A STRATIFIED APPROACH FOR SOUND SPATIALIZATION

We propose a multi-layer structure to mediate essential components in sound spatialization. This approach will facilitate artistic work with spatialization systems, a process which currently lacks structure, flexibility, and interoperability.
Evolutionary Competition in Platform Ecosystems

I competition has received scant attention in prior studies, which predominantly study interplatform competition. We develop a middle-range theory of how complementarity between input control and a platform extension’s modularization—by inducing evolution—influences its performance in a platform market. Primary and archival data spanning five years from 342 Firefox extensions show that such complementarity fosters performance by accelerating an extension’s perpetual evolution.
Capital, Innovation, and Growth Accounting

In this paper we show how moving from the neoclassical model to the more recent endogenous growth paradigm can lead to markedly different interpretations of the same growth accounting data. In neoclassical theory, even if between 30 and 70 per cent of the growth of output per worker in OECD countries can be ‘accounted for’ by capital accumulation, yet in the long run all of the growth in output per worker is caused by technological progress. Next, we develop a hybrid model in which capital accumulation takes place as in the neoclassical model, but productivity growth arises endogenously, as in the Schumpeterian model. The hybrid model is consistent with the empirical evidence on growth accounting, as is the neoclassical model. But the causal explanation that it provides for economic growth is quite different from that of the neoclassical model.
Abstracts of the 25th Annual Conference of APASL, February 20-24, 2016, Tokyo, Japan.

Abstracts of the 25th Annual Conference of APASL, February 20–24, 2016, Tokyo, Japans of the 25th Annual Conference of APASL, February 20–24, 2016, Tokyo, Japan Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver 2016 Presidential Plenary
Single-Port Repair of Diastasis Recti and Umbilical Hernia Combined with Abdominoplasty

Introduction: Evidence-based treatment of abdominal hernias involves the use of prosthetic mesh. However, the most commonly used method of treatment of diastasis of the recti involves plication with non-absorbable sutures as part of an abdominoplasty procedure. This case report describes single-port laparoscopic repair of diastasis of recti and umbilical hernia with prosthetic mesh after plication with slowly absorbable sutures combined with abdominoplasty. Technique Description: Our patient is a 36-year-old woman with severe diastasis of the recti, umbilical hernia and an excessive amount of redundant skin after two previous pregnancies and caesarean sections. After raising the upper abdominal flap, a single-port was placed in the left upper quadrant and the ligamenturn teres was divided. The diastasis of the recti and umbilical hernia were plicated under direct vision with continuous and interrupted slowly absorbable sutures before an antiadhesive mesh was placed behind the repair with 6 cm overlap, transfixed in 4 quadrants and tacked in place with non-absorbable tacks in a double-crown technique. The left upper quadrant wound was closed with slowly absorbable sutures. The excess skin was removed and fibrin sealant was sprayed in the subcutaneous space to minimize the risk of serorna formation without using drains. Discussion: Combining single-port laparoscopic repair of diastasis of recti and umbilical hemia repair minimizes inadvertent suturing of abdominal contents during plication, the risks of port site hernias associated with conventional multipart repair and permanently reinforced the midline weakness while achieving “scarless” surgery.
Robotics and telesurgery in otolaryngology.

This article reviews the use of robotic technology for otolaryngologic surgery. The authors discuss the development of the technology and its current uses in the operating room. They address procedures such as oropharyngeal transoral robotic surgery (TORS), laryngeal TORS, and thyroidectomy, and also note the role of robotics in teaching.
Optimizing amino acid substitution matrices with a local alignment kernel

Detecting remote homologies by direct comparison of protein sequences remains a challenging task. We had previously developed a similarity score between sequences, called a local alignment kernel, that exhibits good performance for this task in combination with a support vector machine. The local alignment kernel depends on an amino acid substitution matrix. Since commonly used BLOSUM or PAM matrices for scoring amino acid matches have been optimized to be used in combination with the Smith-Waterman algorithm, the matrices optimal for the local alignment kernel can be different. Contrary to the local alignment score computed by the Smith-Waterman algorithm, the local alignment kernel is differentiable with respect to the amino acid substitution and its derivative can be computed efficiently by dynamic programming. We optimized the substitution matrix by classical gradient descent by setting an objective function that measures how well the local alignment kernel discriminates homologs from non-homologs in the COG database. The local alignment kernel exhibits better performance when it uses the matrices and gap parameters optimized by this procedure than when it uses the matrices optimized for the Smith-Waterman algorithm. Furthermore, the matrices and gap parameters optimized for the local alignment kernel can also be used successfully by the Smith-Waterman algorithm. This optimization procedure leads to useful substitution matrices, both for the local alignment kernel and the Smith-Waterman algorithm. The best performance for homology detection is obtained by the local alignment kernel.
Issues facing the future health care workforce: the importance of demand modelling

This article examines issues facing the future health care workforce in Australia in light of factors such as population ageing. It has been argued that population ageing in Australia is affecting the supply of health care professionals as the health workforce ages and at the same time increasing the demand for health care services and the health care workforce.However, the picture is not that simple. The health workforce market in Australia is influenced by a wide range of factors; on the demand side by increasing levels of income and wealth, emergence of new technologies, changing disease profiles, changing public health priorities and a focus on the prevention of chronic disease. While a strong correlation is observed between age and use of health care services (and thus health care workforce), this is mediated through illness, as typified by the consistent finding of higher health care costs in the months preceding death.On the supply side, the health workforce is highly influenced by policy drivers; both national policies (eg funded education and training places) and local policies (eg work place-based retention policies). Population ageing and ageing of the health workforce is not a dominant influence. In recent years, the Australian health care workforce has grown in excess of overall workforce growth, despite an ageing health workforce. We also note that current levels of workforce supply compare favourably with many OECD countries. The future of the health workforce will be shaped by a number of complex interacting factors.Market failure, a key feature of the market for health care services which is also observed in the health care labour market - means that imbalances between demand and supply can develop and persist, and suggests a role for health workforce planning to improve efficiency in the health services sector. Current approaches to health workforce planning, especially on the demand side, tend to be highly simplistic. These include historical allocation methods, such as the personnel-to-population ratios which are essentially circular in their rationale rather than evidence-based. This article highlights the importance of evidence-based demand modelling for those seeking to plan for the future Australian health care workforce. A model based on population health status and best practice protocols for health care is briefly outlined.
CYP2C19*2 and other genetic variants affecting platelet response to clopidogrel in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

INTRODUCTION
Information regarding any possible additional effect of genetic variants other than CYP2C19*2 on platelet reactivity in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), while on dual antiplatelet therapy, is sparse.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
Genotyping for CYP2C19*2, CYP2C19*17, CYP2C9*3, CYP2B6*5, ABCB1 and P2RY12 (c.-217+2739T>C) variants was performed in 146 consecutive PCI patients receiving clopidogrel. Platelet reactivity was assessed by the Verify Now P2Y12 point-of-care assay and high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HTPR) was defined as a Platelet Reactivity Unit (PRU)≥235.


RESULTS
We identified 65(44.5%) patients with HTPR and 38(26%) carriers of at least one CYP2C19*2 allele, which had higher platelet reactivity compared to non-carriers [least square (LS) mean difference 44.5, 95%CI 15.8-77.3, p=0.003]. In the entire study population, the presence of at least one CYP2C19*2 or P2RY12 allelic variant was independently associated with HTPR (OR=3.02, 95%CI 1.16-7.86, p=0.023 and OR=3.11, 95%CI 1.03-9.39, p=0.05 respectively). In CYP2C19*2 non-carriers, carriers of at least one CYP2B6*5 allelic variant had higher platelet reactivity compared to the remainders (LS mean difference 35.6, 95%CI 3.7-67.6, p=0.03) and the presence of at least one CYP2B6*5 or P2RY12 allelic variant was independently associated with HTPR (OR=3.26, 95%CI 1.08-9.86, p=0.04 and OR=4.27, 95%CI 1.11-16.4, p=0.04 respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Apart from the CYP2C19*2, other genetic variants involved in clopidogrel metabolism and action like CYP2B6*5 and P2RY12 seem to have an important association with HTPR.
Impact of tryptophan metabolism on the vulnerability to alcohol-related blackouts and violent impulsive behaviours.

AIMS
We examined (1) the association of SLC6A4 genotypes and alcohol dependence (AD) in a sample of alcoholics; (2) the validity of lifetime occurrence of blacked-out violent impulsive behaviour (BOVIB) during binge drinking bouts as a criterion for subtyping AD patients and (3) a mechanistic hypothesis for BOVIB involving tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) activity.


METHODS
Three common polymorphisms of the SLC6A4 gene (5-HTTLPR, A/G SNP of LPR region and VNTR in intron 2) were genotyped. An oral tryptophan (Trp) load (OTL) was administered to a sample of patients seeking help for AD. BOVIB history and psychological status were screened by BOVIB-Q, depression (BDI), anxiety (BAI, STAI) and personality (TCI) questionnaires. During the 7 h following Trp load, serum kynurenine (Kyn) and Trp were monitored.


RESULTS
BOVIB+ patients showed significantly higher scores on depression, anxiety and character scales but no significant association was found between SLC6A4 polymorphisms and BOVIB. Patients with a history of BOVIB (BOVIB+ subgroup) differed from those exempt from such episodes (BOVIB- subgroup) for TDO activity response to OTL assessed by the Kyn:Trp ratio (P = 0.043) and the slope of concentration increase ratio (SCIR) of serum Kyn (P = 0.043).


CONCLUSIONS
Put together, these findings support the validity of the BOVIB criterion to differentiate a sub-group of vulnerable AD subjects and suggest that OTL may help to concurrently define a specific endophenotype.
Biologically Inspired Design: A New Program for Computational Sustainability

Biological analogies could help address the increasingly critical and urgent problem of sustainable design.
First American-Ukrainian School of Computer Sciences and Technologies: Reality and Perspective

The problems of American-Ukrainian School of Computer Sciences establishment are discussed in this paper.
Life cycle assessment of geothermal binary power plants using enhanced low-temperature reservoirs

Geothermal binary power plants that use low-temperature heat sources have gained increasing interest in the recent years due to political efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the consumption of finite energy resources. The construction of such plants requires large amounts of energy and material. Hence, the question arises if geothermal binary power plants are also environmentally promising from a cradle-to-grave point of view. In this context, a comprehensive Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) on geothermal power production from EGS (enhanced geothermal systems) low-temperature reservoirs is performed. The results of the analysis show that the environmental impacts are very much influenced by the geological conditions that can be obtained at a specific site. At sites with (above-) average geological conditions, geothermal binary power generation can significantly contribute to more sustainable power supply. At sites with less favorable conditions, only certain plant designs can make up for the energy and material input to lock up the geothermal reservoir by the provided energy. The main aspects of environmentally sound plants are enhancement of the reservoir productivity, reliable design of the deep wells and an efficient utilization of the geothermal fluid for net power and district heat production. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Subcutaneous lateral brow lift (“Z-lift”)

Surgical eyebrow lift has been described by using many different open and endoscopic methods. Difficult techniques and only short time benefits oft lead to patients' complaints. We present a safe and simple temporal Z-incision technique for eyebrow lift in 37 patients. Besides simplicity and safety, our technique shows long lasting aesthetic results with hidden scars and a high rate of patient satisfaction.
DESIGNING MULTIMEDIA MATERIAL USING A PROBLEM- BASED LEARNING DESIGN

Interactive Multimedia (IMM) and Problem-Based Learning (PBL) are two significant contributions to current developments in professional education. IMM offers the opportunity to present rich, multifaceted learning experiences that can be accessed by individual students who are separated by time or geography from more traditional learning opportunities. PBL offers instructional approaches that motivate students to engage with authentic problems of practice and to develop the attitudes and skills required for lifelong independent learning. PBL has not been widely reported as an instructional design for IMM, almost certainly due to the emphasis on group interaction as a component of typical PBL implementations and the individualised nature of IMM. This paper discusses some issues underlying application of the principles of PBL to the development of IMM materials and describes how they have been resolved in the case of an IMM-PBL project for teacher education.
Prevalence and natural course of aging-associated cognitive decline in a population-based sample of young-old subjects.

OBJECTIVE
"Mild cognitive impairment" refers to cognitive deficits in older age that exceed age-related cognitive decline but do not fulfill criteria for dementia. Affected subjects are assumed to be at higher risk for the development of dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease. However, little is known about the group of young-old subjects with respect to the prevalence and natural course of cognitive decline.


METHOD
Within the population-based Interdisciplinary Longitudinal Study on Adult Development and Aging, neuropsychological functioning was assessed in 500 community-dwelling young-old subjects of two German urban regions who were born during 1930-1932. The participants were carefully screened for physical and mental health and reexamined 4 years later. The concept of "aging-associated cognitive decline" was applied.


RESULTS
At baseline, 13.4% of the subjects fulfilled criteria for aging-associated cognitive decline. Four years later, the prevalence rates for rose to 23.6%; 52.3% of the subjects initially classified as having aging-associated cognitive decline retained the diagnosis at follow-up. Although subjects with aging-associated cognitive decline showed a reduced performance in all neuropsychological domains addressed, a significant decline was confined to delayed verbal memory test performance during the 4-year follow-up period in relation to comparison subjects. Aging-associated cognitive decline did not predict conversion to dementia during the follow-up interval.


CONCLUSIONS
In young-old community-dwelling individuals, aging-associated cognitive decline is a frequent condition with a high temporal stability. During a 4-year follow-up, subjects with aging-associated cognitive decline deteriorated specifically in measures of episodic memory, underscoring the value of the respective deficits in characterizing "mild cognitive impairment."
A piecewise-linear 10b DAC architecture with drain-current modulation for compact AMLCD driver ICs

DACs in data-driver ICs for Active-Matrix LCD (AMLCD) systems play the key role of data voltage generation. Especially stringent requirements are imposed on the DACs for AMLCD data drivers: uniform performance in each data channel, and compactness in chip implementation, as well as extremely low power consumption. The prevalent use of resistor-DAC (RDAC) architectures is partly owing to their uniform characteristics, because each RDAC in the data channels shares a common resistor string for reference voltage generation.
India Transformed: Insights from the Firm Level 1988–2007

Using firm-level data this paper analyzes, the transformation of India’s economic structure following the implementation of economic reforms. The focus of the study is on publicly-listed and unlisted firms from across a wide spectrum of manufacturing and services industries and ownership structures such as stateowned firms, business groups, private and foreign firms. Detailed balance sheet and ownership information permit an investigation of a range of variables such as sales, profitability, and assets. Here we analyze firm characteristics shown by industry before and after liberalization and investigate how industrial concentration, the number, and size of firms of the ownership type evolved between 1988 and 2005. We find great dynamism displayed by foreign and private firms as reflected in the growth in their numbers, assets, sales and profits. Yet, closer scrutiny reveals no dramatic transformation in the wake of liberalization. The story rather is one of an economy still dominated by the incumbents (state-owned firms) and to a lesser extent, traditional private firms (firms incorporated before 1985). Sectors dominated by state-owned and traditional private firms before 1988-1990, with assets, sales and profits representing shares higher than 50%, generally remained so in 2005. The exception to this broad pattern is the growing importance of new and large private firms in the services sector. Rates of return also have remained stable over time and show low dispersion across sectors and across ownership groups within sectors.
The use of levonorgestrel - IUD in the treatment of uterine myoma in Thai women.

OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to evaluate the potential usefulness of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device (LNG - IUD ; Mirena) in treating women with uterine myomas.


DESIGN
Prospective before-and-after (comparing) study.


SETTING
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.


SUBJECTS
Sixteen women with uterine myomas who intended to receive treatment with the LNG IUD.


INTERVENTION(S)
Clinical and ultrasound examinations were performed prior to and at 1, 3 and 6 months after the LNG IUD insertion.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Myoma and Uterine volume, menstrual blood loss assessed with pictorial blood loss assessment charts and hematocrit.


RESULTS
Use of the LNG IUD was associated with a statistically significant reduction in the total myoma volume, average uterine size and marked reduction in menstrual blood loss. After 6 months of use, the median total myoma volume decreased from 19.82 mL to 11.63 mL (p < 0.05), median pictorial blood loss assessment chart score declined from 89 to 3 (p < 0.05). Hematocrit level increased over 6 months of use. The most common side effects were bleeding disturbances (68.8%). No pregnancies occurred during the study.


CONCLUSION
The LNG IUD was associated with a profound reduction in myoma and uterine volume. For women with myomas of this size, the LNG IUD provides effective medical treatment of bleeding.