LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Trends and causes of hospitalizations among HIV-infected persons during the late HAART era: what is the impact of CD4 counts and HAART use?

BACKGROUND
Declining rates of hospitalizations occurred shortly after the availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). However, trends in the late HAART era are less defined, and data on the impact of CD4 counts and HAART use on hospitalizations are needed.


METHODS
We evaluated hospitalization rates from 1999 to 2007 among HIV-infected persons enrolled in a large US military cohort. Poisson regression was used to compare hospitalization rates per year and to examine factors associated with hospitalization.


RESULTS
Of the 2429 participants, 822 (34%) were hospitalized at least once with 1770 separate hospital admissions. The rate of hospitalizations (137 per 1000 person-years) was constant over the study period [relative rate (RR) 1.00 per year change, 95% confidence interval: 0.98 to 1.02]. The hospitalization rates due to skin infections (RR: 1.50, P = 0.02), methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (RR: 3.19, P = 0.03), liver disease (RR: 1.71, P = 0.04), and surgery (RR: 1.17, P = 0.04) significantly increased over time, whereas psychological causes (RR: 0.60, P < 0.01) and trauma (RR: 0.54, P < 0.01) decreased. In the multivariate model, higher nadir CD4 (RR: 0.92 per 50 cells, P < 0.01) and higher proximal CD4 counts (RR of 0.71 for 350-499 vs. <350 cells/mm(3) and RR 0.67 for > or = 500 vs. 350 cells/mm(3), both P < 0.01) were associated with lower risk of hospitalization. Risk of hospitalization was constant for proximal CD4 levels above 350 (RR: 0.94 P = 0.51, CD4 > or = 500 vs. 350-499). HAART was associated with a reduced risk of hospitalization among those with a CD4 <350 (RR: 0.72, P = 0.02) but had smaller estimated and nonsignificant effects at higher CD4 levels (RR: 0.81, P = 0.33 and 1.06, P = 0.71 for CD4 350-499 and > or = 500, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Hospitalizations continue to occur at high rates among HIV-infected persons with increasing rates for skin infections, methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, liver disease, and surgeries. Factors associated with a reduced risk of hospitalization include CD4 counts >350 cells per cubic millimeter and HAART use among patients with a CD4 count <350 cells per cubic millimeter.
Artemisinin-based combination therapies are efficacious and safe for treatment of uncomplicated malaria in HIV-infected Ugandan children.

BACKGROUND
Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) are highly efficacious and safe, but data from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children concurrently receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) and ACTs are limited.


METHODS
We evaluated 28-day outcomes following malaria treatment with artemether-lumefantrine (AL) or dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP) in 2 cohorts of HIV-infected Ugandan children taking various ART regimens. In one cohort, children <6 years of age were randomized to lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) or nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-based ART and treated with AL for uncomplicated malaria. In another cohort, children <12 months of age were started on nevirapine-based ART if they were eligible, and randomized to AL or DP for the treatment of their first and all subsequent uncomplicated malaria episodes.


RESULTS
There were 773 and 165 treatments for malaria with AL and DP, respectively. Initial response to therapy was excellent, with 99% clearance of parasites and <1% risk of repeat therapy within 3 days. Recurrent parasitemia within 28 days was common following AL treatment. The risk of recurrent parasitemia was significantly lower among children taking LPV/r-based ART compared with children taking nevirapine-based ART following AL treatment (15.3% vs 35.5%, P = .009), and those treated with DP compared with AL (8.6% vs 36.2%, P < .001). Both ACT regimens were safe and well tolerated.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment of uncomplicated malaria with AL or DP was efficacious and safe in HIV-infected children taking ART. However, there was a high risk of recurrent parasitemia following AL treatment, which was significantly lower in children taking LPV/r-based ART compared with nevirapine-based ART.
Wild Patterns: Ten Years After the Rise of Adversarial Machine Learning

Deep neural networks and machine-learning algorithms are pervasively used in several applications, ranging from computer vision to computer security. In most of these applications, the learning algorithm has to face intelligent and adaptive attackers who can carefully manipulate data to purposely subvert the learning process. As these algorithms have not been originally designed under such premises, they have been shown to be vulnerable to well-crafted, sophisticated attacks, including training-time poisoning and test-time evasion attacks (also known as adversarial examples). The problem of countering these threats and learning secure classifiers in adversarial settings has thus become the subject of an emerging, relevant research field known as adversarial machine learning. The purposes of this tutorial are: (a) to introduce the fundamentals of adversarial machine learning to the security community; (b) to illustrate the design cycle of a learning-based pattern recognition system for adversarial tasks; (c) to present novel techniques that have been recently proposed to assess performance of pattern classifiers and deep learning algorithms under attack, evaluate their vulnerabilities, and implement defense strategies that make learning algorithms more robust to attacks; and (d) to show some applications of adversarial machine learning to pattern recognition tasks like object recognition in images, biometric identity recognition, spam and malware detection.
Towards an Integrated View of Multi-Sided Platforms Evolution

How do Multi-Sided Platforms (MSPs) evolve over time? Although MSPs are perceived as highly evolvable socio-technical systems, Platform Evolution remains an elusive topic in the MSP literature with many unanswered questions. In particular, Platform Evolution (PE) as a concept has not been explicitly defined in the MSP literature. Rather, there is multiplicity of views, which contributes to the lack of conceptual clarity. In order to address this shortcoming, we put forward a new, integrated conceptualization of PE as a complex, multi-faceted and dynamic process. Rather than proposing yet another view on PE, we adopt a “concept reconstruction” approach, which allows us to integrate the existing work on PE in a coherent manner, and to propose a comprehensive conceptualization of PE.
Prognostic value of 24-hour blood pressure in pregnancy.

CONTEXT
Elevated blood pressure (BP) measured at the physician's office may reflect true hypertension or white coat hypertension (WCH). The prognostic value of WCH among pregnant women is unknown.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the prognostic value of WCH in pregnancy.


DESIGN
Prospective cohort study conducted between September 1994 and October 1997.


SETTING
Community hospital.


PATIENTS
Women without preexisting hypertension and not treated with antihypertensive drugs aid with high (n = 148) or normal (n = 106) office BP (high office BP was defined as > or =140 mm Hg systolic and/or > or =90 mm Hg diastolic) matched for gestational age during their third trimester of pregnancy. All women underwent 24-hour noninvasive BP monitoring, and women without hypertension on 24-hour monitoring (125/74 mm Hg or less for average 24-hour BP) with office hypertension were classified as having WCH. Women were followed up through the end of pregnancy.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Duration of pregnancy, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia or eclampsia, cesarean delivery, placental and neonatal weight, and length of maternal and neonatal hospital stays for those with and without elevated office BP.


RESULTS
After application of exclusion criteria, data for 7 women were removed from the analysis. For the remaining subjects, in the group with elevated BP, prevalence of WCH was 29.2% (42/144). Duration of pregnancy was similar in the normotensive and WCH groups (39.6 vs 39.8 weeks; P = .50), but shorter (38.3 weeks; P<.001) in the true hypertension group. Incidence of preeclampsia was similar in the normotensive and WCH groups (5.8% vs 7.1 %; P = .86) but higher in the true hypertension group (61.7%; P<.001). Frequency of cesarean delivery was lower in the normotensive (12.4%) than in the WCH (45.2%; P = .008) and true hypertension (41.1 %; P = .009) groups. Neonatal weight was lower (P<.001) in the true hypertension (mean, 2911 g) than in the normotensive (3336 g) and WCH groups (3435 g), which did not differ (P = .68). The duration of neonatal hospital stay did not differ between the normotensive and the WCH group (5.3 vs 6.9 days; P = .13) but was longer in the true hypertension group (12.3 days; P<.001).


CONCLUSIONS
In women with elevated BP during their third trimester of pregnancy, 24-hour BP was superior to office BP (distinguishing true hypertension from WCH) for prediction of the outcome of pregnancy. Outcomes in the normotensive and WCH group were comparable, but the increased incidence of cesarean delivery in the WCH group may reflect decision-making processes influenced by office BP.
Non-Strange Meson Production with Hadronic Probes

Recent progress in the field of meson production in hadron collisions is presented. Special emphasis is put new developments in the application of effective field theory methods to pion production, but also theoretical concepts for two-pion, eta, and vector-meson production will be presented.
Renal excretory responses produced by central administration of opioid agonists in ketamine and xylazine-anesthetized rats.

This study examined the renal excretory responses produced by the intravenous (i.v.) infusion of the alpha-2 agonist, xylazine, in ketamine-anesthetized rats. In addition, the renal responses produced by the intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of opioid agonists were also examined with use of this anesthetic paradigm. In male Sprague-Dawley rats, the i.v. infusion of isotonic saline (55 microl/min) containing ketamine alone (1.0 mg/kg/min) produced low levels of urine flow rate (6.3 +/- 1.3 microl/min/gkw) and urinary sodium excretion (0.28 +/- 0.08 microeq/min/gkw). However, after adding xylazine (50 microg/kg/min) to the ketamine infusate, these renal excretory responses were significantly augmented. Steady-state levels of urine flow rate and urinary sodium excretion were attained approximately 120 min after starting the xylazine infusion and were similar in magnitude to the levels of water and sodium excretion previously observed in untreated, conscious rats. In ketamine/xylazine-anesthetized rats, the i.c.v. injection of the mu opioid agonist, dermorphin (0.1 nmol/kg), or the kappa opioid agonist, U-50488H (1 microg total), produced profound and concurrent diuretic and antinatriuretic responses. The pattern (direction and magnitude) of these opioid-induced renal excretory responses was similar to those previously reported in conscious rats. Together, these results indicate that the i.v. infusion of xylazine enhances the renal excretion of water and sodium in ketamine-anesthetized rats. Moreover, the renal responses produced by i.c.v. administration of opioids are similar in ketamine/xylazine-anesthetized and conscious rats. Thus, it appears that the ketamine/xylazine infusion protocol may provide a valid and useful approach to investigate various aspects of the central opioid control of renal function in rats during experimental procedures that require anesthesia.
Cyber terrorism: a clear and present danger, the sum of all fears, breaking point or patriot games?

Over the past two decades there has developed a voluminous literature on the problem of cyber terrorism. The themes developed by those writing on cyber terrorism appear to spring from the titles of Tom Clancy’s fiction, such as Clear and Present Danger, The Sum of All Fears and Breaking Point, or somewhat more cynically, Patriot Games. This essay examines both the gap between the presumed threat and the known cyber terror behaviors and the continuing literature which suggests an attack is imminent. It suggests that at least part of the explanation lies both in the continuing failure to distinguish between what Denning (Activism, hacktivism, and cyber terrorism: The internet as a tool for influencing foreign policy, 1999) referred to as hactivism and cyberterrorism and also the failure to distinguish between the use of digital means for organizational purposes (information, communication, command and control) and the use of digital communications to actually commit acts of terror.
Adaptation investments: a resource allocation framework

Additional finance for adaptation is an important element of the emerging international climate change framework. This paper discusses how adaptation funding may be allocated among developing countries in a transparent, efficient and equitable way. We propose an approach based on three criteria: the climate change impacts experienced in a country, a country’s adaptive capacity and its implementation capacity. Physical impact and adaptive capacity together determine a country’s vulnerability to climate change. It seems both efficient and fair that countries which are more vulnerable should have a stronger claim on adaptation resources. The third dimension, implementation capacity, introduces a measure of adaptation effectiveness. Rough indicators are proposed for each of the three dimensions. The results are indicative only, but they suggest a strong focus of initial adaptation funding on Africa. African countries are highly vulnerability in part because of the severity of expected impacts, but also because of their very low adaptive capacity. However, their implementation capacity is also limited, suggesting a need for technical assistance in project implementation.
PSPACE-Completeness of Sliding-Block Puzzles and Other Problems through the Nondeterministic Constraint Logic Model of Computation

We present a nondeterministic model of computation based on reversing edge directions in weighted directed graphs with minimum in-flow constraints on vertices. Deciding whether this simple graph model can be manipulated in order to reverse the direction of a particular edge is shown to be PSPACEcomplete by a reduction from Quantified Boolean Formulas. We prove this result in a variety of special cases including planar graphs and highly restricted vertex configurations, some of which correspond to a kind of passive constraint logic. Our framework is inspired by (and indeed a generalization of) the “Generalized Rush Hour Logic” developed by Flake and Baum [4]. We illustrate the importance of our model of computation by giving simple reductions to show that several motion-planning problems are PSPACE-hard. Our main result along these lines is that classic unrestricted sliding-block puzzles are PSPACE-hard, even if the pieces are restricted to be all dominoes (1 × 2 blocks) and the goal is simply to move a particular piece. No prior complexity results were known about these puzzles. This result can be seen as a strengthening of the existing result that the restricted Rush Hour puzzles are PSPACE-complete [4], of which we also give a simpler proof. We also greatly strengthen the conditions for the PSPACE-hardness of the Warehouseman’s Problem [6], a classic motion-planning problem. Finally, we strengthen the existing result that the pushing-blocks puzzle Sokoban is PSPACE-complete [2], by showing that it is PSPACE-complete even if no barriers are allowed.
Current evidence does not support the use of Kinesio Taping in clinical practice: a systematic review.

QUESTIONS
Is Kinesio Taping more effective than a sham taping/placebo, no treatment or other interventions in people with musculoskeletal conditions? Is the addition of Kinesio Taping to other interventions more effective than other interventions alone in people with musculoskeletal conditions?


DESIGN
Systematic review of randomised trials.


PARTICIPANTS
People with musculoskeletal conditions.


INTERVENTION
Kinesio Taping was compared with sham taping/placebo, no treatment, exercises, manual therapy and conventional physiotherapy.


OUTCOME MEASURES
Pain intensity, disability, quality of life, return to work, and global impression of recovery.


RESULTS
Twelve randomised trials involving 495 participants were included in the review. The effectiveness of the Kinesio Taping was tested in participants with: shoulder pain in two trials; knee pain in three trials; chronic low back pain in two trials; neck pain in three trials; plantar fasciitis in one trial; and multiple musculoskeletal conditions in one trial. The methodological quality of eligible trials was moderate, with a mean of 6.1 points on the 10-point PEDro Scale score. Overall, Kinesio Taping was no better than sham taping/placebo and active comparison groups. In all comparisons where Kinesio Taping was better than an active or a sham control group, the effect sizes were small and probably not clinically significant or the trials were of low quality.


CONCLUSION
This review provides the most updated evidence on the effectiveness of the Kinesio Taping for musculoskeletal conditions. The current evidence does not support the use of this intervention in these clinical populations. PROSPERO registration: CRD42012003436.
Evidence-based research on the value of school nurses in an urban school system.

BACKGROUND
With the increasing acuity of student health problems, growing rates of poverty among urban families, and widening racial/ethnic health disparities in child and adolescent health indicators, the contributions of school nurses are of increasing interest to policymakers. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of school nurses on promoting a healthy school environment and healthy, resilient learners.


METHODS
A mixed-methods approach was used for this study. Using a cross-sectional design, surveys captured the level of satisfaction that school staff had with the nurse in their school, as well as their perceptions of the impact of the nurse on the efficient management of student health concerns. Using a quasi-experimental design, data from electronic school records were used to compare rates of immunization and completeness of health records in schools with nurses.


RESULTS
This study provides evidence that school nurses positively influenced immunization rates, the accuracy of student health records, and management of student health concerns. This research demonstrates that teachers and other staff consider nurse interventions vital to eliminating barriers to student learning and improving overall school health. A cost analysis revealed the estimated annual cost per school for the time staff spent managing health concerns.


CONCLUSIONS
In an environment of scarce resources, school boards need quality evaluation data to justify hiring and retaining school nurses to support improved school health environments.
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of insulin glargine given in the evening as compared with in the morning in type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE
To compare pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of insulin glargine in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) after evening versus morning administration.


RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
Ten T2DM insulin-treated persons were studied during 24-h euglycemic glucose clamp, after glargine injection (0.4 units/kg s.c.), either in the evening (2200 h) or the morning (1000 h).


RESULTS
The 24-h glucose infusion rate area under the curve (AUC0-24h) was similar in the evening and morning studies (1,058 ± 571 and 995 ± 691 mg/kg × 24 h, P = 0.503), but the first 12 h (AUC0-12h) was lower with evening versus morning glargine (357 ± 244 vs. 593 ± 374 mg/kg × 12 h, P = 0.004), whereas the opposite occurred for the second 12 h (AUC12-24h 700 ± 396 vs. 403 ± 343 mg/kg × 24 h, P = 0.002). The glucose infusion rate differences were totally accounted for by different rates of endogenous glucose production, not utilization. Plasma insulin and C-peptide levels did not differ in evening versus morning studies. Plasma glucagon levels (AUC0-24h 1,533 ± 656 vs. 1,120 ± 344 ng/L/h, P = 0.027) and lipolysis (free fatty acid AUC0-24h 7.5 ± 1.6 vs. 8.9 ± 1.9 mmol/L/h, P = 0.005; β-OH-butyrate AUC0-24h 6.8 ± 4.7 vs. 17.0 ± 11.9 mmol/L/h, P = 0.005; glycerol, P < 0.020) were overall more suppressed after evening versus morning glargine administration.


CONCLUSIONS
The PD of insulin glargine differs depending on time of administration. With morning administration insulin activity is greater in the first 0-12 h, while with evening administration the activity is greater in the 12-24 h period following dosing. However, glargine PK and plasma C-peptide levels were similar, as well as glargine PD when analyzed by 24-h clock time independent of the time of administration. Thus, the results reflect the impact of circadian changes in insulin sensitivity in T2DM (lower in the night-early morning vs. afternoon hours) rather than glargine per se.
Evolutionary Biology: The Origins of Two Sexes

Evidence is accumulating that in the green algae the evolution of female and male gametes differing in size--anisogamy--involves genes linked to the mating-type locus, as was predicted theoretically.
Novel cyclodextrin-based film formulation intended for buccal delivery of atenolol.

BACKGROUND
Unknown influence of cyclodextrin on the properties of the film formulation aimed for buccal application.


AIM
Development and characterization of a novel bioadhesive film formulation for buccal atenolol delivery containing drug/cyclodextrin inclusion.


METHOD
Interaction between atenolol and randomly methylated beta-cyclodextrin (RAMEB) in solution was studied by phase solubility studies. The complex in solid state was prepared by the freeze-drying method and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The drug, free or in complex form, was incorporated into polymeric films prepared by the casting method using ethylcellulose (EC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC). The prepared film formulations were characterized in terms of swelling, bioadhesion, and in vitro drug release.


RESULTS
The formation of a stabile inclusion complex (K(s) = 783.4 +/- 21.6 M(-1)) in 1:1 molar stoichiometry was confirmed in solution and in solid state. The swelling properties of films were predominated by the type of polymer used in the formulation. In vitro bioadhesive properties of the films were well correlated with the swelling properties of the polymers used in the formulation. Although incorporation of the drug, free or in complex form, decreased the bioadhesion of the films, PVA- and HPMC-based formulations retained suitable bioadhesive properties. Higher atenolol solubility upon complexation with RAMEB increased the drug dissolution rate under conditions designed to be similar to those on the buccal mucosa, but it has decreased the drug release rate from the PVA and HPMC film formulation, leading to a sustained drug release pattern. In the case of EC-based films, RAMEB promoted drug release. Other parameters that influenced the drug release rate were associated with the structure of the polymer used in the formulation, swelling characteristics of the films, and the interaction between atenolol and hydrophilic polymers that was demonstrated by FTIR analysis.


CONCLUSION
Incorporation of atenolol in the form of an inclusion complex into hydrophilic films may be an appropriate strategy to prepare a suitable formulation for buccal drug delivery.