LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Empagliflozin reduces body weight and indices of adipose distribution in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

AIMS
To determine the effects of empagliflozin on adiposity indices among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.


METHODS
Changes in weight, waist circumference, estimated total body fat, index of central obesity and visceral adiposity index were assessed using analysis of covariance and testing of treatment by strata for age, sex and baseline waist circumference in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus randomized to blinded treatment with empagliflozin versus placebo in clinical trials of 12 weeks (cohort 1) or 24 weeks (cohort 2) duration.


RESULTS
This study comprised 3300 patients (cohort 1, N = 823; cohort 2, N = 2477). Empagliflozin reduced weight, waist circumference and adiposity indices versus placebo in both cohorts. Adjusted mean (95% confidence interval) change from baseline in empagliflozin versus placebo was -1.7 kg (-2.1 to -1.4 kg) and -1.9 kg (-2.1 to -1.7 kg) for body weight (p < 0.001); -1.3 cm (-1.8 to -0.7 cm) and -1.3 cm (-1.7 to -1.0 cm) for waist circumference (p < 0.001); -0.2% (-0.7% to 0.3%; p = 0.45) and -0.3% (-0.7% to 0.0%; p = 0.08) for estimated total body fat; -0.007 (-0.011 to -0.004) and -0.008 (-0.010 to -0.006) for index of central obesity (p < 0.001); and -0.3 (-0.5 to 0.0; p = 0.07) and -0.4 (-0.7 to -0.1; p = 0.003) for visceral adiposity index in cohorts 1 and 2, respectively. Adipose reductions were seen across most age, sex and waist circumference subgroups.


CONCLUSION
Empagliflozin significantly reduced weight and adiposity indices with the potential to improve cardiometabolic risk among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
A phase II, single-arm study of the anti-α5β1 integrin antibody volociximab as monotherapy in patients with platinum-resistant advanced epithelial ovarian or primary peritoneal cancer.

OBJECTIVE
This phase II, multicenter, single-arm, two-stage study in platinum-resistant, advanced epithelial ovarian or primary peritoneal cancer evaluated the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of weekly single-agent volociximab. Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) studies were also performed.


METHODS
Sixteen patients were enrolled in Stage 1. Volociximab was administered at 15mg/kg IV qwk until progression of disease or drug intolerability. Tumor response was assessed every 8weeks. Serum samples for PK or whole blood for the evaluation of circulating tumor cells, endothelial cells, and endothelial progenitor cells were obtained on Days 1, 8, 15, 29, and 50. Ascites from one patient was collected for volociximab concentration analysis. Archived tumor tissue was analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) for α5 integrin expression.


RESULTS
Safety data are available on all 16 patients; 14 were evaluable for efficacy. One patient had stable disease at 8weeks. The remaining 13 progressed on treatment. Twelve patients (75%) experienced study-related adverse events (AEs); the most common (≥20%) were headache and fatigue. Three patients experienced possible study-related serious AEs (SAEs): reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome, pulmonary embolism, and hyponatremia. Peak serum concentrations of volociximab increased 2-3 fold from Day 1 to Day 50. Clinically relevant trough levels were achieved (>150μg/mL). IHC analysis of archived tumor sections showed low-to-moderate expression of α5 integrin on all ovarian cancer tissue evaluated.


CONCLUSION
Despite insufficient clinical activity in this refractory patient population to continue the study, weekly volociximab was well tolerated, and the gained understanding of the mechanism of action of volociximab will inform future development efforts.
Evaluating Affective Feedback of the 3D Agent Max in a Competitive Cards Game

Within the field of Embodied Conversational Agents (ECAs), the simulation of emotions has been suggested as a means to enhance the believability of ECAs and also to effectively contribute to the goal of more intuitive human–computer interfaces. Although various emotion models have been proposed, results demonstrating the appropriateness of displaying particular emotions within ECA applications are scarce or even inconsistent. Worse, questionnaire methods often seem insufficient to evaluate the impact of emotions expressed by ECAs on users. Therefore we propose to analyze non-conscious physiological feedback (biosignals) of users within a clearly arranged dynamic interaction scenario where various emotional reactions are likely to be evoked. In addition to its diagnostic purpose, physiological user information is also analyzed online to trigger empathic reactions of the ECA during game play, thus increasing the level of social engagement. To evaluate the appropriateness of different types of affective and empathic feedback, we implemented a cards game called Skip-Bo, where the user plays against an expressive 3D humanoid agent called Max, which was designed at the University of Bielefeld [6] and is based on the emotion simulation system of [2]. Work performed at the University of Tokyo and NII provided a realtime system for empathic (agent) feedback that allows one to derive user emotions from skin conductance and electromyography [13]. The findings of our study indicate that within a competitive gaming scenario, the absence of negative agent emotions is conceived as stress-inducing and irritating, and that the integration of empathic feedback supports the acceptance of Max as a co-equal humanoid opponent.
The News About New Institutionalism: Journalism's Ethic of Objectivity and Its Political Origins

The author discusses the utility of sociology's new institutionalism (NI) in organizational theory for the study of journalism and contends that NI remedies the political and cultural deficits in most existing social theories of the news. By highlighting how news organizations and journalists are embedded in broader fields of news producers and also politics, NI reveals both the limits and possibilities that journalism confronts as it works to fulfill its ideal role in democratic society. This article explicates one version of NI's applicability to media studies by focusing on how journalism is entangled in the conflicts and values of the “political field,” beyond the more limited domain of journalism proper. It then considers the relevance of this theory for explaining turn-of-the-20th-century transformations in journalism. Between 1865 and 1920, the American press redefined its highest ideals as well as its most mundane organizational practices. It changed from an avidly partisan press to a sober “objec...
Efficacy of repeat sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients who develop recurrent melanoma.

BACKGROUND
Even after negative sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for primary melanoma, patients who develop in-transit (IT) melanoma or local recurrences (LR) can have subclinical regional lymph node involvement.


STUDY DESIGN
A prospective database identified 33 patients with IT melanoma/LR who underwent technetium 99m sulfur colloid lymphoscintigraphy alone (n = 15) or in conjunction with lymphazurin dye (n = 18) administered only if the IT melanoma/LR was concurrently excised.


RESULTS
Seventy-nine percent (26 of 33) of patients undergoing SLNB in this study had earlier removal of lymph nodes in the same lymph node basin as the expected drainage of the IT melanoma or LR at the time of diagnosis of their primary melanoma. Lymphoscintography at time of presentation with IT melanoma/LR was successful in 94% (31 of 33) cases, and at least 1 sentinel lymph node was found intraoperatively in 97% (30 of 31) cases. The SLNB was positive in 33% (10 of 30) of these cases. Completion lymph node dissection was performed in 90% (9 of 10) of patients. Nine patients with negative SLNB and IT melanoma underwent regional chemotherapy. Patients in this study with a positive sentinel lymph node at the time the IT/LR was mapped had a considerably shorter time to development of distant metastatic disease compared with those with negative sentinel lymph nodes.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, we demonstrate the technical feasibility and clinical use of repeat SLNB for recurrent melanoma. Performing SLNB cannot only optimize local, regional, and systemic treatment strategies for patients with LR or IT melanoma, but also appears to provide important prognostic information.
Changes in the Ground Reaction Force, Lower-Limb Muscle Activity, and Joint Angles in Athletes with Unilateral Ankle Dorsiflexion Restriction During A Rebound-Jump Task

Background: This study compared differences between a control group and a group with unilateral ankle dorsiflexion restriction in the ground reaction force (GRF), angles of the lower limbs joints, and muscular activity during a rebound-jump task in athletes who continue to perform sports activities with unilateral ankle dorsiflexion restriction. Methods: The athletes were divided into the following two groups: The dorsiflexion group included those with a difference of ≥7◦ between bilateral ankle dorsiflexion angles (DF), and the control group included those with a difference of <7◦ between the two ankles (C). An ankle foot orthosis was attached to subjects in group C to apply a restriction on the right-angle dorsiflexion angle. The percentage of maximum voluntary contraction (%MVC) of the legs musculature, components of the GRF, and the hip and knee joint angles during the rebound-jump task were compared between groups DF and C. Results: Group DF showed increased %MVC of the quadriceps muscle, decreased upward component of the GRF, decreased hip flexion, and increased knee eversion angles. Conclusions: This study highlighted that athletes with ankle dorsiflexion restriction had significantly larger knee eversion angles in the rebound-jump task. The reduced hip flexion was likely caused by the restricted ankle dorsiflexion and compensated by the observed increase in quadriceps muscle activation when performing the jump.
High incidence of diagnosis with syphilis co-infection among men who have sex with men in an HIV cohort in Ontario, Canada

BACKGROUND
The re-emergence of syphilis among HIV-positive gay and other men who have sex with men (MSM) requires vigilance. We estimated incidence of and risk factors for first and subsequent syphilis diagnoses among MSM in HIV care in Ontario, Canada.


METHODS
We analyzed data from 2,280 MSM under follow-up from 2006 to 2010 in the Ontario HIV Treatment Network Cohort Study (OCS), a multi-site clinical cohort. We obtained syphilis serology results via record linkage with the provincial public health laboratory. Rates were calculated using Poisson regression.


RESULTS
First syphilis diagnoses occurred at a rate of 2.0 per 100 person-years (95 % CI 1.7, 2.4; 121 cases) whereas the re-diagnosis rate was 7.5 per 100 person-years (95 % CI 6.3, 8.8; 136 cases). We observed higher rates over time and among men who were aged <30 years, receiving care in the two largest urban centers, or had a previous syphilis diagnosis. Syphilis diagnosis was less common among Indigenous men, men with higher CD4 cell counts, and, for first diagnoses only, among men with less than high school education.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared to reported cases in the general male population, incidence of a new syphilis diagnosis was over 300 times greater among HIV-positive MSM but year-to-year changes reflected provincial trends. Re-diagnosis was common, suggesting treatment failure or re-infection. Novel syphilis control efforts are needed among HIV-positive MSM.
Comparison of Instances Seletion Algorithms I. Algorithms Survey

Several methods were proposed to reduce the number of instances (vectors) in the learning set. Some of them extract only bad vectors while others try to remove as many instances as possible without significant degradation of the reduced dataset for learning. Several strategies to shrink training sets are compared here using different neural and machine learning classification algorithms. In part II (the accompanying paper) results on benchmarks databases have been presented.
DIET , LIFESTYLE , AND THE RISK OF TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS IN WOMEN

A BSTRACT Background Previous studies have examined individual dietary and lifestyle factors in relation to type 2 diabetes, but the combined effects of these factors are largely unknown. Methods We followed 84,941 female nurses from 1980 to 1996; these women were free of diagnosed cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer at base line. Information about their diet and lifestyle was updated periodically. A low-risk group was defined according to a combination of five variables: a bodymass index (the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters) of less than 25; a diet high in cereal fiber and polyunsaturated fat and low in trans fat and glycemic load (which reflects the effect of diet on the blood glucose level); engagement in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for at least half an hour per day; no current smoking; and the consumption of an average of at least half a drink of an alcoholic beverage per day. Results During 16 years of follow-up, we documented 3300 new cases of type 2 diabetes. Overweight or obesity was the single most important predictor of diabetes. Lack of exercise, a poor diet, current smoking, and abstinence from alcohol use were all associated with a significantly increased risk of diabetes, even after adjustment for the body-mass index. As compared with the rest of the cohort, women in the low-risk group (3.4 percent of the women) had a relative risk of diabetes of 0.09 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.05 to 0.17). A total of 91 percent of the cases of diabetes in this cohort (95 percent confidence interval, 83 to 95 percent) could be attributed to habits and forms of behavior that did not conform to the low-risk pattern. Conclusions Our findings support the hypothesis that the majority of cases of type 2 diabetes could be prevented by the adoption of a healthier lifestyle. (N Engl J Med 2001;345:790-7.)
Co-Occurrence Matrix Analysis-Based Semi-Supervised Training for Object Detection

One of the most important factors in training object recognition networks using convolutional neural networks (CNN) is the provision of annotated data accompanying human judgment. Particularly, in object detection or semantic segmentation, the annotation process requires considerable human effort. In this paper, we propose a semi-supervised learning (SSL)-based training methodology for object detection, which makes use of automatic labeling of un-annotated data by applying a network previously trained from an annotated dataset. Because an inferred label by the trained network is dependent on the learned parameters, it is often meaningless for re-training the network. To transfer a valuable inferred label to the unlabeled data, we propose a re-alignment method based on co-occurrence matrix analysis that takes into account one-hot-vector encoding of the estimated label and the correlation between the objects in the image. We used an MS-COCO detection dataset to verify the performance of the proposed SSL method and deformable neural networks (D-ConvNets) [1] as an object detector for basic training. The performance of the existing state-of-the-art detectors (D-ConvNets, YOLO v2 [2], and single shot multi-box detector (SSD) [3]) can be improved by the proposed SSL method without using the additional model parameter or modifying the network architecture.
Factorization Models for Forecasting Student Performance

Predicting student performance, one of the tasks in educational data mining, has been taken into account recently [Toscher and Jahrer 2010; Yu et al. 2010; Cetintas et al. 2010; Thai-Nghe et al. 2011]. It was selected as a challenge task for the KDD Cup 2010 [Koedinger et al. 2010]. Concretely, predicting student performance is the task where we would like to know how the students learn (e.g. generally or narrowly), how quickly or slowly they adapt to new problems or if it is possible to infer the knowledge requirements to solve the problems directly from student performance data [Corbett and Anderson 1995; Feng et al. 2009], and eventually, we would like to know whether the students perform the tasks (exercises) correctly (or with some levels of certainty). As discussed in Cen et al. [2006], an improved model for predicting student performance could save millions of hours of students’ time and effort in learning algebra. In that time, students could move to other specific fields of their study or doing other things they enjoy. From educational data mining point of view, an accurate and reliable model in predicting student performance may replace some current standardized tests, and thus, reducing the pressure, time, as well as effort on “teaching and learning for examinations” [Feng et al. 2009; Thai-Nghe et al. 2011]. To address the problem of predicting student performance, many papers have been published but most of them are based on traditional classification/regression techniques [Cen et al. 2006; Feng et al. 2009; Yu et al. 2010; Pardos and Heffernan 2010]. Many other works can be found in Romero et al. [2010]. Recently, [Thai-Nghe et al. 2010; Toscher and Jahrer 2010; Thai-Nghe et al. 2011] have proposed using recommendation techniques, e.g. matrix factorization, for predicting student performance. The authors have shown that predicting student performance can be considered as rating prediction since the student, task, and performance would become user, item, and rating in recommender systems, respectively. We know that learning and problem-solving are complex cognitive and affective processes that are different to shopping and other e-commerce transactions, however, as discussed in Thai-Nghe et al. [2011], the factorization models in recommender systems are implicitly able to encode latent factors of students and tasks (e.g. “slip” and “guess”), and especially in case where we do not have enough meta data about students and tasks (or even we have not enough background knowledge of the domain), this mapping is a reasonable approach.
Iterative refinement for linear systems and LAPACK

The technique of iterative refinement for improving the computed solution to a linear system was used on desk calculators and computers in the 1940s and has remained popular. In the 1990s iterative refinement is well,supported in software libraries, notably in LAPACK. Although the behaviour of iterative refinement in floating point arithmetic is reasonably well understood, the existing theory is not sufficient to justify the use of fixed precision iterative refinement in all the LAPACK routines in which it is implemented. We present analysis that provides the theoretical support needed for LAPACK. The analysis covers both mixed and fixed precision iterative refinement with an arbitrary number of iterations, makes only a general assumption on the underlying solver, and is relatively short We identify some remaining open problems.
Optimal Pancreatic Phase Delay with 64-Detector CT Scanner and Bolus-tracking Technique.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES
To assess the optimal pancreatic phase delay in terms of parenchymal enhancement and tumor-to-pancreas contrast with a bolus-tracking method.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
Patients referred for suspicion of pancreatic tumor and undergoing 64-detector computed tomography scanner were randomized to an individualized scan delay of 10, 20, or 30 seconds of nonionic contrast material (370 mg I/mL) after aortic enhancement above 150 Hounsfield units. The volume of contrast was adjusted to patient weight. Pancreatic and tumor enhancements were measured. Statistical analysis included analysis of variance and post hoc Tukey tests.


RESULTS
One hundred and fifty patients were randomized to individualized scan delays of 10, 20, or 30 seconds. Pancreatic parenchymal enhancement in all patients (n = 150) was significantly higher with a delay of 20 or 30 seconds than that with 10 seconds (P < .001 for both). Tumor-to-pancreas contrast for solid tumors (n = 59) was significantly higher with a delay of 30 seconds than that with 10 seconds (P = .015). Adenocarcinoma-to-pancreas contrast during pancreatic phase was significantly higher for a 20- or 30-second delay than for a 10-second delay (P = .027 and .011, respectively) for one reader.


CONCLUSIONS
With a flow rate of 4 mL/s and weight-adjusted contrast volume, an individualized scan delay of 30 seconds after aortic transit time revealed higher pancreatic enhancement and tumor-to-pancreas contrast than that with a delay of 10 seconds.
Having a baby in the new land: a qualitative exploration of the experiences of Asian migrants in rural Tasmania, Australia.

INTRODUCTION
Australia is a land of cultural diversity. Cultural differences in maternity care may result in conflict between migrants and healthcare providers, especially when migrants have minimal English language knowledge. The aim of the study was to investigate Asian migrant women's child-birth experiences in a rural Australian context.


METHOD
The study consisted of semi-structured interviews conducted with 10 Asian migrant women living in rural Tasmania to explore their childbirth experiences and the barriers they faced in accessing maternal care in the new land. The data were analysed using grounded theory and three main categories were identified: 'migrants with traditional practices in the new land', 'support and postnatal experiences' and 'barriers to accessing maternal care'.


RESULTS
The findings revealed that Asian migrants in Tasmania faced language and cultural barriers when dealing with the new healthcare system. Because some Asian migrants retain traditional views and practices for maternity care, confusion and conflicting expectations may occur. Family and community play an important role in supporting migrant women through their maternity care.


CONCLUSIONS
Providing interpreting services, social support for migrant women and improving the cross-cultural training for healthcare providers were recommended to improve available maternal care services.
IGHV gene features and MYD88 L265P mutation separate the three marginal zone lymphoma entities and Waldenström macroglobulinemia/lymphoplasmacytic lymphomas

To clarify the relationships between marginal zone lymphomas (MZLs) and Waldenström macroglobulinemia/lymphoplasmacytic lymphomas (WM/LPLs), immunoglobulin heavy chain variable gene (IGHV) features were analyzed and the occurrence of MYD88 L265P mutations was identified in a series of 123 patients: 53 MZLs from the spleen (SMZLs), 11 from lymph nodes (NMZLs), 28 mucosa-associated lymphatic tissue (MALT) lymphomas and 31 WM/LPLs. SMZLs were characterized by overrepresentation of IGHV1–2 gene rearrangements with a canonical motif, without selection pressure and with long CDR3 segments. NMZLs had increased frequencies of IGHV3 genes. The IGHV gene was unmutated in most cases, often with long CDR3 segments. MALT lymphomas were usually associated with a mutated IGHV gene, but with the absence of selection pressure. WM/LPLs were associated with an IGHV3–23 overrepresentation and high IGHV mutation rate, with features of selection pressure and short CDR3 segments. MYD88 L265P mutations were almost restricted exclusively to WM/LPL patients. Taken all diagnoses together, all patients with MYD88 L265P mutations had an immunoglobulin M peak and almost all patients except one had bone marrow infiltration. These results demonstrate that the history of antigen exposure of the four entities studied was different and MYD88 L265P was specifically associated with WM/LPLs. WM/LPL may thus be functionally associated with constitutive nuclear factor-κB activation.