LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
The Role of Core-Needle Biopsy as a First-Line Diagnostic Tool for Initially Detected Thyroid Nodules.

BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of core-needle biopsy (CNB) as a first-line diagnostic tool for initially detected thyroid nodules.


METHODS
This observational study evaluated 632 initially detected thyroid nodules in 632 consecutive patients who underwent CNB between October 2008 and December 2011. CNB results were categorized into the six categories of the Bethesda System. A final diagnosis of malignancy was based on surgery or CNB, whereas a final diagnosis of benign nodules was based on surgery, two benign biopsy results, or benign cytology of stable size after one year. The rates of Bethesda category 1 and inconclusive results, diagnostic performance, unnecessary surgery, and complications were evaluated. Subgroup analysis based on nodule size was performed. Risk factors for inconclusive results were evaluated by multivariate logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
The rates of Bethesda category 1 and inconclusive results by CNB were 1.3% and 5.9%, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for the diagnosis of malignancy were 97.6%, 90.0%, 100%, 100%, and 92.3%, respectively. The rate of unnecessary surgery was 0.5%, and the complications rate was 0.2%. Based on subgroup analysis, the diagnostic performance was not significantly associated with nodule size. There were no independent risk factors associated with inconclusive results.


CONCLUSION
CNB showed low rates of Bethesda category 1 and inconclusive results and a high diagnostic accuracy. CNB also minimized unnecessary surgery. CNB seems to be a promising diagnostic tool for patients with initially detected thyroid nodules.
Effect size of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

OBJECTIVE
To examine duration of efficacy of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (LDX) in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) by effect size in performance and symptom improvement in a simulated adult workplace environment (AWE).


METHODS
Adults (aged 18-55 years) with ADHD enrolled in the AWE study of LDX with open-label dose-optimization and randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, 2-way crossover phases. Efficacy measures included the Permanent Product Measure of Performance (PERMP)-Attempted (-A) and PERMP-Correct (-C) scores assessed throughout the day and the ADHD Rating Scale IV (ADHD-RS-IV) with adult prompts. Model-based least-squares (LS) mean effect size was assessed for PERMP and post-hoc ADHD-RS-IV with adult prompts. Remission was defined as an ADHD-RS-IV total scores ≤ 18. Safety assessments included treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and vital signs.


RESULTS
Least-squares mean (standard error [SE]) effect sizes were 0.9 (0.17) for PERMP-A and 0.8 (0.16) for PERMP-C for all postdose sessions. For PERMP-A, postdose LS mean (SE) effect sizes were 0.5 (0.15), 0.8 (0.16), 0.7 (0.16), 0.7 (0.16), 0.7 (0.16), and 0.6 (0.16) at 2, 4, 8, 10, 12, and 14 hours, respectively. Medium-to-large effect sizes (0.5-0.8) were generally maintained from 2 to 14 hours for all PERMP assessments. Overall LS mean (SE) ADHD-RS-IV total and subscale effect sizes were -1.2 (0.19), -1.2 (0.19), and -1.0 (0.17), respectively. Remission was achieved in 67.6% of participants receiving LDX. Treatment-emergent adverse events (≥ 5% with LDX) during the 4-week dose-optimization phase were decreased appetite, dry mouth, headache, insomnia, upper respiratory tract infection, irritability, nausea, anxiety, and feeling jittery. During the crossover week on LDX, there were no TEAEs ≥ 5%.


CONCLUSIONS
In adults studied in the AWE, medium-to-large model-based effect sizes were maintained from 2 to 14 hours postdose, on a performance-based measure of productivity, suggesting participants experienced improvement in sustained attention throughout the day and into the evening hours. Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate demonstrated a safety profile consistent with long-acting stimulants.
Massive transfusion of blood in the surgical patient.

Hemorrhage remains a leading cause of morbidity and death in both civilian and military trauma. Restoration of effective end-organ perfusion by stopping hemorrhage and restoring intravascular volume in such a way as to minimize acidosis, hypothermia, and coagulopathy, almost always requires the use of blood and/or blood-component therapy. The best method to manage life-threatening hemorrhage is to avoid the circumstance that prompted it or to mitigate blood loss early in the injury cycle; otherwise, blood replacement must suffice. This article reviews current understanding of massive transfusion, along with its attendant unintended consequences, in the management of patients with profound hemorrhage.
Preoperative therapeutic exercise in frail elderly scheduled for total hip replacement: a randomized pilot trial.

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of therapeutic exercise before total hip replacement in frail elderly.


DESIGN
A single-blind, randomized clinical pilot trial.


SETTING
Outpatient physiotherapy department.


SUBJECTS
Frail elderly with hip osteoarthritis awaiting total hip replacement.


INTERVENTIONS
A short (3-6 weeks) tailor-made, therapeutic exercise programme was compared with usual care.


MAIN MEASURES
Feasibility was assessed through patient satisfaction, adherence, occurrence of adverse events and the number of eligible non-volunteers. Preliminary preoperative effectiveness was assessed with performance and self-reported measures of pain, functioning, physical activity and quality of life. Postoperatively we measured functional recovery and length of hospital stay.


RESULTS
Sixty-two eligible patients were approached of whom 21 (mean age 76 years) agreed to participate. Exercisers (n = 10), rated the intervention as very good 8.9 (8-10) (10-point rating scale). No serious adverse events occurred. Forty-one (66%) eligible patients did not participate, mainly because of logistic considerations, resulting in selection bias. The intervention group (trainings sessions participated 91%) showed relevant preoperative improvements on the chair-rise time (delta -2.9 seconds; 95% confidence interval (CI) -6.2 to 0.4) and timed-up-and-go (delta -4.4 seconds; 95% CI -9.3 to 0.5). Postoperatively, no significant differences were seen.


CONCLUSIONS
A short, tailor-made, exercise programme is well tolerated and appreciated in elderly patients awaiting total hip replacement. However, a larger randomized clinical trial in the same setting is not warranted, because of the high number of eligible non-volunteers.
Low pay, the earnings distribution and poverty in Ireland, 1987-1994

Paper for LOWER Conference on Problems of Low-Wage Employment, Bordeaux, 31 January - 1 February 1997
BDDNOW: A Parallel BDD Package

BDDs (binary decision diagrams) are ubiquitous in formal verification tools, and the time and memory used by the BDD package is frequently the constraint that prevents application of formal verification. Accordingly, several researchers have investigated using parallel processing for BDDs. In this paper, we present a parallel BDD package with several novel features. The parallelization scheme strives for minimal communication overhead, so we are able to demonstrate speed-up even running on networked commodity PC workstations. Average memory utilization per node is comparable to that of efficient sequential packages. In addition, the package supports dynamic variable reordering, and simultaneous computation of multiple BDD operations. Finally, the package is designed for portability – providing a subsetof the CUDD API for the application programmer, and running on the widely available PVM package.
Challenges to Internet e-banking

The extension of money and banking to the cyberspace is an inevitable development in the information age. Over the past few years, many financial institutions have launched e-retail banking over the Internet. Given the requirements of matching marginal gains against marginal costs, evaluating the profitability of market development along specific dimensions and segments, and determining whether the new technology would be accepted, it is imperative that this decision is continually re-evaluated. Commercial banks face significant challenges on both the supply side and demand side, associated in particular with competition, product-service quality and differentiation, transaction security, cost efficiency, and demographic change. As is generally the case in financial innovation, competition is the driving force behind the introduction of Internet e-retail banking. Primarily, commercial banks viewed it as a competitive strategy to retain existing customers, attract additional business, increase market share, and support business re-engineering. Since many of the products and services are newly emerged from R&D departments, supply must be adapted to demand and consumer acceptance. In oligopolistic markets, it is necessary for the e-bank to compete in the first place through the sub-strategy of product-service differentiation. The financial products and services supplied over the Internet must not only be tailored to fulfill wants, preferences, and quality expectations at the present time, but are also required to induce consumers to demand their technological progeny in the future. Expertise in marketing and the ability to anticipate changes in market conditions are therefore crucial to the success of Internet e-retail banking. In particular, strategic priority must be assigned to the establishment of brand name and brand identification. The Internet is exploited as a channel to build, maintain, and develop long-term client relationships through ready access to a broad and increasing array of products, services and low-cost financial shopping, rapid response to customer inquiries, and personalized product-service innovation. Success in this endeavor would enhance product-service differentiation, which would in turn strengthen customer loyalty, promote cross-selling, increase repeated purchases, and attract new business. An
Personality predicts prostate cancer treatment decision-making difficulty and satisfaction.

OBJECTIVE
Prostate cancer (PCa) patients often must decide between several treatment modalities considered equally efficacious, but associated with different benefits and side-effects. For some, the decision-making process can be difficult, but little is known about patient characteristics and cognitive processes that might influence the difficulty of such decisions. This study investigated the roles of dispositional optimism and self-efficacy in PCa treatment decision-making difficulty and satisfaction.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty-five patients with clinically localized PCa completed a mail-in paper-and-pencil survey after they had made their treatment decision, but prior to treatment.


RESULTS
After adjusting for covariates, optimism and treatment decision-making self-efficacy were associated with less difficulty and greater satisfaction with the treatment decision-making process. Effects of optimism on difficulty and satisfaction were partially mediated by self-efficacy for making the treatment decision.


CONCLUSIONS
Men with PCa and who are low in optimism may be at greater risk for treatment decision-making difficulty and lack of treatment decision-making satisfaction, in part, because they have lower confidence in their ability to make the decision compared with those who are more optimistic. As self-efficacy perceptions are modifiable, consideration should be given to including self-efficacy enhancing components as part of PCa treatment decision-making interventions.
The PLAN score: a bedside prediction rule for death and severe disability following acute ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND
We sought to develop and validate a simple clinical prediction rule for death and severe disability after acute ischemic stroke that can be used by general clinicians at the time of hospital admission.


METHODS
We analyzed data from a registry of 9847 patients (4943 in the derivation cohort and 4904 in the validation cohort) hospitalized with acute ischemic stroke and included in the Registry of the Canadian Stroke Network (July 1, 2003, to March 31, 2008; 11 regional stroke centers in Ontario, Canada). Outcome measures were 30-day and 1-year mortality and a modified Rankin score of 5 to 6 at discharge.


RESULTS
Overall 30-day mortality was 11.5% (derivation cohort) and 13.5% (validation cohort). In the final multivariate model, we included 9 clinical variables that could be categorized as preadmission comorbidities (5 points for preadmission dependence [1.5], cancer [1.5], congestive heart failure [1.0], and atrial fibrillation [1.0]), level of consciousness (5 points for reduced level of consciousness), age (10 points, 1 point/decade), and neurologic focal deficit (5 points for significant/total weakness of the leg [2], weakness of the arm [2], and aphasia or neglect [1]). Maximum score is 25. In the validation cohort, the PLAN score (derived from preadmission comorbidities, level of consciousness, age, and neurologic deficit) predicted 30-day mortality (C statistic, 0.87), death or severe dependence at discharge (0.88), and 1-year mortality (0.84). The PLAN score also predicted favorable outcome (modified Rankin score, 0-2) at discharge (C statistic, 0.80).


CONCLUSIONS
The PLAN clinical prediction rule identifies patients who will have a poor outcome after hospitalization for acute ischemic stroke. The score comprises clinical data available at the time of admission and may be determined by nonspecialist clinicians. Additional studies to independently validate the PLAN rule in different populations and settings are required.
Risk Factors for Complications after Reduction Mammoplasty: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND
Reduction mammoplasty (RM) is a proven method of treating macromastia, but the risk factors for postoperative complications have not been clearly identified. Through this meta-analysis, the authors aimed to identify the risk factors of RM complications.


METHODS
An extensive search of the literature describing complications after RM was performed using the PubMed Central, Embase, and Cochrane databases. The following risk factors were extracted: age, body mass index (BMI), tissue resection weight per breast (TRW), smoking and radiation therapy. Odds ratios (OR) were pooled with 95% confidence intervals (CI) to evaluate the relationship between these risk factors and complications after RM.


RESULTS
A total of 16 unique studies including 10 593 patients were included in the final analysis. It showed that there was a significant difference in complications in BMI ≥30 kg/m2 (OR 0.73; 95% CI: 0.61-0.89, p = 0.001) and smoking (OR 1.56; 95% CI: 0.98-2.49, p = 0.06). Infection in those with BMI ≥30 kg/m2 showed a significant difference (OR 0.68; 95% CI: 0.52-0.89, p = 0.004), as well as wound dehiscence in smokers (OR 2.73; 95% CI: 1.60-4.67, p = 0.0002) and infection in irradiated breasts (OR 20.38; 95% CI: 3.42-121.35, p = 0.0009). However, there was no significant difference in age ≥50 years (OR 0.96; 95% CI: 0.71-1.29, p = 0.78), combined TRW ≥1000 g (OR 1.04; 95% CI: 0.43-2.50, p = 0.93).


CONCLUSIONS
BMI ≥30 kg/m2 and smoking increase the risk of complications. Persons who are obese or irradiated are more likely to develop infections, and smokers experienced a higher incidence of wound dehiscence than did nonsmokers. However, patients aged ≥50 years and TRW ≥1000 g are not associated with complications from RM.
Late gadolinium enhancement CMR in primary mitral regurgitation.

AIMS
The appropriate timing for surgery in severe asymptomatic primary mitral regurgitation (MR) remains controversial. It has been shown that late gadolinium enhancement on cardiovascular magnetic resonance (LGE CMR), which may identify myocardial fibrosis, is associated with a worse outcome in various cardiomyopathies. We sought to investigate the prevalence and significance of delayed enhancement in primary MR.


METHODS
We prospectively included 41 patients with at least moderate primary MR and without overt signs of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Patients with evidence of coronary artery disease, arrhythmias or significant concomitant valvular disease were excluded. All patients were scheduled for transthoracic echocardiography and LGE CMR.


RESULTS
A total of 39 patients had interpretable LGE CMR images. Among them, 12 (31%) had late contrast uptake of the LV wall. LGE CMR showed an infarct pattern in three patients, a pattern of mid-wall fibrosis in seven patients and two patients had a combined pattern. Patients with delayed enhancement on CMR had significant higher LV diameters (LV end-systolic diameter 39 ± 4 vs. 34 ± 5 mm, P = 0·002; LV end-diastolic diameter 57 ± 5 vs. 50 ± 5 mm, P = 0·001). There was a trend towards a higher indexed left atrial volume (55 ± 21 vs. 44 ± 13 mL/m², P = 0·06). By contrast, there was no significant association between myocardial contrast uptake and age, LV ejection fraction and MR severity.


CONCLUSION
Left ventricular remodelling seems to be associated with the presence of delayed enhancement on CMR in primary MR. Further data are needed to determine whether LGE CMR can predict a less favourable outcome or could improve risk stratification in asymptomatic primary MR.
Determining an author's native language by mining a text for errors

In this paper, we show that stylistic text features can be exploited to determine an anonymous author's native language with high accuracy. Specifically, we first use automatic tools to ascertain frequencies of various stylistic idiosyncrasies in a text. These frequencies then serve as features for support vector machines that learn to classify texts according to author native language.
Male Elementary School Teachers' Ratings of Job Satisfaction by Years of Teaching Experience

This cross-sectional, descriptive study explored seven aspects of elementary teachers' job satisfaction across six categories of years of teaching experience and by gender. Surveys were mailed to 4,428 elementary teachers in 129 Ohio restructuring public schools. The surveys collected demographic data and measured job satisfaction using the National Followup Survey of Teacher Education Graduates. The return rate was 42 percent (N=1,877). All teacher ratings of job satisfaction were positive and differences were of degree rather than kind. Two-way ANOVA found no statistically significant interaction effects by gender and years of teaching experience on any items or total scale score. There were no statistically significant differences by gender or years of teaching experience in ratings of satisfaction with salary, opportunities for advancement, degree of autonomy/decision making, general working conditions, or total scale score. Teachers with over 26 years of teaching experience rated their satisfaction with interactions with colleagues higher than did teachers in the five other categories. Females rated satisfaction higher than males on job challenge, interaction with colleagues, and interaction with students. Both male and female teachers rated their satisfaction with teaching positively on all seven aspects. (Contains 4 tables and 14 references). (Author/SM) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************************************** Male Elementary School Teachers 1 Running head: MALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS Male Elementary School Teachers' Ratings of Job Satisfaction by Years of Teaching Experience
Cloud computing and mobile devices based system for healthcare application

Nowadays the emergence of mobile devises and Cloud Computing can change the culture of healthcare from direct care services into Mobile Cloud computing (MCC) services. For that, the application targeted at mobile devices becoming copious with others systems in healthcare sector. Consequently, we assume that this technology have a potential effect in healthcare domain. MCC offers new kinds of services and facilities medical tasks. In this regard, we have tried to propose a new mobile medical web service system. The proposed system called Medical Mobile Cloud Multi Agent System (2MCMAS) is a hybrid system which integrates MCC and Multi Agent System in healthcare in order to make efficiency care.
Choosing Qualitative Research: A Primer for Technology Education Researchers

A number of writers have commented on the dearth of substantive research within the field of technology education, and point to the expansion of its research agenda as a means of strengthening the discipline. Waetjen, in his call for good research in technology education, states that “the plea is to use experimental type research as much as possible” (1992, p. 30). Interestingly, the three areas of research need outlined in his essay would all lend themselves to alternative methodologies, including qualitative methodologies. More recently, others have called for an expansion in the types of research methods used. Of the 220 reports included in Zuga’s review of technology education-related research (1994), only 16 are identified as having used qualitative methods, and Zuga notes that many of those studies were conducted outside the United States. Johnson (1995) suggests that technology educators “engage in research that probes for deeper understanding rather than examining surface features.” He notes that qualitative methodologies are powerful tools for enhancing our understanding of teaching and learning, and that they have “gained increasing acceptance in recent years” (p. 4). There are compelling reasons for the selection of qualitative methodologies within the educational research arena, yet many people remain unfamiliar with these methods. Researchers trained in the use of quantitative designs face real challenges when called upon to use or teach qualitative research (Stallings, 1995). There is, however, a growing body of literature devoted to qualitative research in education, some of which is synthesized here. The goals of this article are to elaborate on the reasons for choosing qualitative methodologies, and to provide a basic introduction to the features of this type of research.