LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Atomoxetine Effects on Executive Function as Measured by the BRIEF-A in Young Adults with ADHD: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of atomoxetine treatment on executive functions in young adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).


METHODS
In this Phase 4, multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, young adults (18-30 years) with ADHD were randomized to receive atomoxetine (20-50 mg BID, N = 220) or placebo (N = 225) for 12 weeks. The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult (BRIEF-A) consists of 75 self-report items within 9 nonoverlapping clinical scales measuring various aspects of executive functioning. Mean changes from baseline to 12-week endpoint on the BRIEF-A were analyzed using an ANCOVA model (terms: baseline score, treatment, and investigator).


RESULTS
At baseline, there were no significant treatment group differences in the percentage of patients with BRIEF-A composite or index T-scores ≥60 (p>.5), with over 92% of patients having composite scores ≥60 (≥60 deemed clinically meaningful for these analyses). At endpoint, statistically significantly greater mean reductions were seen in the atomoxetine versus placebo group for the BRIEF-A Global Executive Composite (GEC), Behavioral Regulation Index (BRI), and Metacognitive Index (MI) scores, as well as the Inhibit, Self-Monitor, Working Memory, Plan/Organize and Task Monitor subscale scores (p<.05), with decreases in scores signifying improvements in executive functioning. Changes in the BRIEF-A Initiate (p = .051), Organization of Materials (p = .051), Shift (p = .090), and Emotional Control (p = .219) subscale scores were not statistically significant. In addition, the validity scales: Inconsistency (p = .644), Infrequency (p = .097), and Negativity (p = .456) were not statistically significant, showing scale validity.


CONCLUSION
Statistically significantly greater improvement in executive function was observed in young adults with ADHD in the atomoxetine versus placebo group as measured by changes in the BRIEF-A scales.


TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00510276.
Disease-modifying effect of strontium ranelate in a subset of patients from the Phase III knee osteoarthritis study SEKOIA using quantitative MRI: reduction in bone marrow lesions protects against cartilage loss.

OBJECTIVE
To explore, using MRI, the disease-modifying effect of strontium ranelate (SrRan) treatment on cartilage volume loss (CVL) and bone marrow lesions (BMLs) in a subset of patients from a Phase III clinical trial in knee osteoarthritis (OA) (SrRan Efficacy in Knee OsteoarthrItis triAl (SEKOIA)).


MATERIAL AND METHODS
Patients with primary symptomatic knee OA were randomised to receive either SrRan 1 g/day or 2 g/day or placebo (SEKOIA study). A subset of these patients had MRIs at baseline, 12, 24 and 36 months to assess the knee cartilage volume and BMLs. Missing values were imputed and the analyses were adjusted according to Bonferroni.


RESULTS
In this MRI subset, the distribution of patients (modified intention-to-treat; n=330) was 113, 105 and 112 for SrRan 1 g/day, 2 g/day and placebo, respectively. The groups were fairly balanced at baseline regarding demographics, clinical symptoms or imaging characteristics. Treatment with SrRan 2 g/day significantly decreased CVL on the plateaus at 12 (p=0.002) and 36 (p=0.003) months compared with placebo. Of note, in the medial femur and plateau, SrRan 1 g/day, but not SrRan 2 g/day, had more CVL than placebo. In patients with BML in the medial compartment at baseline, the BML score at 36 months was decreased in both treatment groups compared with the placebo group (SrRan 1 g/day, p=0.002 and SrRan 2 g/day p=0.001, respectively), and CVL significantly decreased with SrRan 2 g/day (p=0.023) in the plateau compared with placebo.


CONCLUSIONS
In knee OA patients, treatment with SrRan 2 g/day was found to have beneficial effects on structural changes by significantly reducing CVL in the plateau and BML progression in the medial compartment.
Relationship Among Physical Activity Level, Mood and Anxiety States and Quality of Life in Physical Education Students

BACKGROUND
Physical activity level (PAL) is known to play an important role in reducing risk factors associated with sedentarism, in addition to improving the mental health and health-related quality of life (HRQL).


OBJECTIVE
Investigate the relationship of PAL and their domains with HRQL, mood state (MS) and anxiety. Method: 140 Physical Education students (23.6 ± 3.7 years) were evaluated. The Baecke Habitual Physical Activity and Quality of Life (QOL-36) questionnaires, State-Trait Anxiety Inventories (STAI-S and STAI-T) and Profile of Mood States (POMS) scale were used to investigate PAL, HRQL and mental health indicators. Pearson's correlation coefficient examined the association between PAL and both mental health and HRQL parameters.


RESULTS
There was a correlation between state anxiety and both the domain leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) (p = 0.013) and total PAL score (p = 0.010). In relation to MS, a negative correlation was found between LTPA and total mood disorder (TMD) (p = 0.004). However, there were positive correlations between the vigor subscale and both LTPA (p=0.001) and total PAL (p=0.019). With respect to HRQL, analysis of the relationship between LTPA and total PAL demonstrated positive coefficients with the physical component summary (PCS) (p=0.000; p = 0.005), mental component summary (MCS) (p = 0.000; p = 0.006) and total HRQL (p = 0.000; p = 0.003).


CONCLUSION
The findings suggest that the rise in LTPA was related to an increase in HRQL and MS. However, PAL was positively related to anxiety.
A portable near infrared spectroscopy system for bedside monitoring of newborn brain

BACKGROUND
Newborns with critical health conditions are monitored in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). In NICU, one of the most important problems that they face is the risk of brain injury. There is a need for continuous monitoring of newborn's brain function to prevent any potential brain injury. This type of monitoring should not interfere with intensive care of the newborn. Therefore, it should be non-invasive and portable.


METHODS
In this paper, a low-cost, battery operated, dual wavelength, continuous wave near infrared spectroscopy system for continuous bedside hemodynamic monitoring of neonatal brain is presented. The system has been designed to optimize SNR by optimizing the wavelength-multiplexing parameters with special emphasis on safety issues concerning burn injuries. SNR improvement by utilizing the entire dynamic range has been satisfied with modifications in analog circuitry.


RESULTS AND CONCLUSION
As a result, a shot-limited SNR of 67 dB has been achieved for 10 Hz temporal resolution. The system can operate more than 30 hours without recharging when an off-the-shelf 1850 mAh-7.2 V battery is used. Laboratory tests with optical phantoms and preliminary data recorded in NICU demonstrate the potential of the system as a reliable clinical tool to be employed in the bedside regional monitoring of newborn brain metabolism under intensive care.
A 10-week randomized trial comparing eccentric vs. concentric hamstring strength training in well-trained soccer players.

PURPOSE
To compare the effects of a 10-week training program with two different exercises -- traditional hamstring curl (HC) and Nordic hamstrings (NH), a partner exercise focusing the eccentric phase -- on muscle strength among male soccer players.


METHODS
Subjects were 21 well-trained players who were randomized to NH training (n = 11) or HC training (n = 10). The programs were similar, with a gradual increase in the number of repetitions from two sets of six reps to three sets of eight to 12 reps over 4 weeks, and then increasing load during the final 6 weeks of training. Strength was measured as maximal torque on a Cybex dynamometer before and after the training period.


RESULTS
In the NH group, there was an 11% increase in eccentric hamstring torque measured at 60 degrees s(-1), as well as a 7% increase in isometric hamstring strength at 90 degrees, 60 degrees and 30 degrees of knee flexion. Since there was no effect on concentric quadriceps strength, there was a significant increase in the hamstrings:quadriceps ratio from 0.89 +/- 0.12 to 0.98 +/- 0.17 (11%) in the NH group. No changes were observed in the HC group.


CONCLUSION
NH training for 10 weeks more effectively develops maximal eccentric hamstring strength in well-trained soccer players than a comparable program based on traditional HC.
Pilot attempt of advanced prostate cancer treatment T3NxMx−1 by intermittent more complete androgen blockade

The aim of the prospective pilot study was evaluating efficacy and tolerance of pharma-cological more complete androgen blockade (mMAB) by using Zoladex LA 10.8 mg, Casodex 50 mg and Proscar 5 mg in patients with advanced prostate cancer (T3,Nx Mx-1). Methods: This five-year study involved 14 patients aged 67–82 years (average 73). Zoladex LA was administered subcutaneously every 3rd month of treatment, and every day 1 tablet Casodex and 1 tablet Proscar. In the time when PSA was <0.1 mg/ml Zoladex and Casodex were withdrawn, and only Proscar was left. The mMAB treatment was resumed when PSA 0.1 ng/ml. Before and every 3 months the following laboratory tests were made: PSA, sedimentation, bilirubine, transaminase, phosphatase, ultrasonography (USG); and adverse events were registered. The following criteria of assessment were adopted: CR – complete response – examination tests normal, improved condition, reduction of prostate dimension in USG and value of PSA < 0.1 ng/ml; PR – partial response i.e. no progression, the PSA level drops down to the reference values and a reduction of prostate dimension in USG occurs, NR – no response i.e. progression, increased prostate dimension in USG and/or metastases in scintygraphy, as well as PSA above normal. Results: The mean followup time was 60 months. After the initial 6 months two patients were off-therapy mMAB because they were qualified for radiotherapy. A successive patient (no. 5) was off-therapy (after 4 years) because he left Warsaw to go abroad. After 60 months results mMAB were based on 11 patients’ records, and a complete response was confirmed in 7 patients, partial response in 3 patients and no response in one patient. Conclusion: Results of this study show that pharmacological intermittent mMAB is an efficient way of treating advanced prostate cancer. Side effects are low and occur in moderate intensity and do not oblige to treatment withdrawal.
Policy-Based Adaptation of Byzantine Fault Tolerant Systems

Malicious attacks, hardware failures or even operator mistakes may cause a system to behave in an arbitrary, and hard to predict manner. Byzantine fault tolerance (BFT) encompasses a number of techniques to make a system robust in face of arbitrary faults. Several BFT algorithms have been proposed in the literature, each optimized for different operational conditions. For that reason, adaptive systems able to adapt BFT systems to the current operational conditions have been proposed but unfortunately all lack expressive mechanisms to specify adaptation policies. Other systems provide expressive mechanisms to specify those policies but lack important abstractions for BFT systems’ adaptation. Considering this context, in this thesis we present an adaptation policy specification language that targets Byzantine fault tolerant systems. In addition, we present a robust engine that, given a policy written in the proposed language, is able to decide the best adaptations to guide a managed system in a path of accordance with its business goals. Palavras Chave Keywords
Optimal multistream sequential prefetching in a shared cache

Prefetching is a widely used technique in modern data storage systems. We study the most widely used class of prefetching algorithms known as sequential prefetching. There are two problems that plague the state-of-the-art sequential prefetching algorithms: (i) cache pollution, which occurs when prefetched data replaces more useful prefetched or demand-paged data, and (ii) prefetch wastage, which happens when prefetched data is evicted from the cache before it can be used.
 A sequential prefetching algorithm can have a fixed or adaptive degree of prefetch and can be either synchronous (when it can prefetch only on a miss) or asynchronous (when it can also prefetch on a hit). To capture these distinctions we define four classes of prefetching algorithms: fixed synchronous (FS), fixed asynchronous (FA), adaptive synchronous (AS), and adaptive asynchronous (AsynchA). We find that the relatively unexplored class of AsynchA algorithms is in fact the most promising for sequential prefetching. We provide a first formal analysis of the criteria necessary for optimal throughput when using an AsynchA algorithm in a cache shared by multiple steady sequential streams. We then provide a simple implementation called AMP (adaptive multistream prefetching) which adapts accordingly, leading to near-optimal performance for any kind of sequential workload and cache size.
 Our experimental setup consisted of an IBM xSeries 345 dual processor server running Linux using five SCSI disks. We observe that AMP convincingly outperforms all the contending members of the FA, FS, and AS classes for any number of streams and over all cache sizes. As anecdotal evidence, in an experiment with 100 concurrent sequential streams and varying cache sizes, AMP surpasses the FA, FS, and AS algorithms by 29--172%, 12--24%, and 21--210%, respectively, while outperforming OBL by a factor of 8. Even for complex workloads like SPC1-Read, AMP is consistently the best-performing algorithm. For the SPC2 video-on-demand workload, AMP can sustain at least 25% more streams than the next best algorithm. Furthermore, for a workload consisting of short sequences, where optimality is more elusive, AMP is able to outperform all the other contenders in overall performance.
 Finally, we implemented AMP in the state-of-the-art enterprise storage system, the IBM system storage DS8000 series. We demonstrated that AMP dramatically improves performance for common sequential and batch processing workloads and delivers up to a twofold increase in the sequential read capacity.
Atlanto-occipital ligament calcification: a novel sign in nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome.

BACKGROUND
The nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS), first described by Gorlin and Goltz in 1960, is a hereditary autosomal dominant disease with high penetrance and variable expressivity. Almost 70% of patients with NBCCS have some degree of craniofacial anomaly. Among these, the presence of ectopic calcification have been reported but Atlanto-occipital ligament calcification has never been described. Therefore this investigation was carried out to determine the prevalence of atlanto-occipital ligament calcification on lateral x-ray of NBCCS patients aiming to assess the effectiveness of this sign in NBCCS diagnosis.


PATIENTS AND METHODS
Lateral and frontal cephalometric radiographs of 18 patients (11 males and 7 females), aged 8-61 years, with the diagnosis of NBCCS were evaluated for the presence of intracranial calcifications (diaphragma sellae and falx cerebri) and or calcification of the atlanto-occipital ligament.


RESULTS
A total of 11 patients presented calcification of atlanto-occipital ligament to various degrees and in three cases this represented the only sign of ectopic calcification. When compared to the other two sites of ossification, atlanto-occipital ligament calcification had a similar prevalence.


CONCLUSION
The calcification of the atlanto-occipital ligament should be considered in addition to the other major criteria for NBCCS diagnosis.
Incidence and clinical effects of intra-abdominal hypertension in critically ill patients.

OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to determine the epidemiology and outcomes of intra-abdominal hypertension in a heterogeneous intensive care unit population.


DESIGN
This was a prospective cohort study.


SETTING
This study was conducted at a medical-surgical intensive care unit in a university hospital.


PATIENTS
Study patients included all those consecutively admitted during 9 months, staying > 24 hrs, and requiring bladder catheterization.


MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS
On admission, epidemiologic data and risk factors for intra-abdominal hypertension were studied; then, daily maximal and mean intra-abdominal pressures (IAP(max) and IAP(mean)), abdominal perfusion pressure, fluid balances, filtration gradient, and sequential organ failure assessment score, were registered. IAPs were recorded through a bladder catheter every 6 hrs until death, discharge, or along 7 days. Intra-abdominal hypertension was defined as IAP > or = 12 mm Hg. Abdominal compartment syndrome was defined as IAP > or = 20 mm Hg plus > or = 1 new organ failure. Main outcome measure was hospital mortality. Of 83 patients, considering IAP(max), 31% had intra-abdominal hypertension on admission and another 33% developed it after (23% and 31% with IAP(mean)). Main risk factors were mechanical ventilation, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and fluid resuscitation (relative risk, 5.26, 3.19, and 2.50, respectively). Patients with intra-abdominal hypertension were sicker, had higher mortality (53% vs. 27%, p = .02), and consistently showed higher total and renal sequential organ failure assessment score, daily and cumulative fluid balances, and lower filtration gradient. Nonsurvivors had higher IAP(max), IAP(mean), and fluid balances and lower abdominal perfusion pressure. Abdominal compartment syndrome developed in 12%; 20% survived. Logistic regression identified IAP(max) as an independent predictor of mortality (odds ratio, 1.17; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-1.30; p = .003) after adjusting with Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II and comorbidities (odds ratio, 1.15; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-1.25; p = .001; and odds ratio, 2.68; 95% confidence interval, 1.27-5.67; p = .013, respectively). Models with IAP(mean) and abdominal perfusion pressure also performed well. Areas under receiver operating characteristic curves were .81 and .83.


CONCLUSIONS
Intra-abdominal hypertension, diagnosed either with IAP(max) or IAP(mean), was frequent and showed an independent association with mortality. Intra-abdominal hypertension was significantly associated with more severe organ failures, particularly renal and respiratory, and a prolonged intensive care unit stay.
Nocturnal 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion in insomnia and its relation to the response to melatonin replacement therapy.

PURPOSE
Melatonin, which is produced by the pineal gland at night, is an endogenous sleep regulator. Both sleep disorders and impaired melatonin production are common among the elderly. We examined the excretion of the major melatonin metabolite 6-sulfatoxymelatonin in insomnia patients aged >or=55 years and its relation with the subsequent response to melatonin therapy.


METHODS
We studied 517 insomnia patients, along with 29 age-matched and 30 younger healthy volunteers. Nocturnal urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion was assessed between 10 pm and 10 am. Three hundred and ninety-six of the insomnia patients were treated for 2 weeks with placebo and for 3 weeks with 2 mg per night of controlled-release melatonin, of which 372 provided complete datasets. Clinical response, assessed with the Leeds Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire, was defined as an improvement of 10 mm or more on the visual analog scales.


RESULTS
Mean (+/- SD) 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion was lower in the insomnia patients (9.0 +/- 8.3 microg per night) than in volunteers of the same age (18.1 +/- 12.7 microg per night, P <0.05) and in younger volunteers (24.2 +/- 11.9 microg per night, P <0.05). About 30% of patients (112/372) excreted <or=3.5 microg of sulfatoxymelatonin per night, which is considered to be lower than normal for this age group. These "low excretors" had a significantly higher response to melatonin replacement therapy (58% [65/112] vs. 47% [122/260], P <0.05).


CONCLUSION
Low nocturnal melatonin production is associated with insomnia in patients aged 55 years or older, and identifies patients who are somewhat more likely to respond to melatonin replacement.
Scheduling flexible flow shops with sequence-dependent setup effects

This paper presents a Lagrangian relaxation-based approach for production scheduling of flexible flow shops (PSFFS) where sequence-dependent setup effects (time and cost) are significant. The approach exploits the idea that scheduling the production of individual parts without considering machine setup effects and scheduling the use of a machine to process a given set of parts are both simpler than PSFFS with setup effects. Since the setup of each machine must match its processing of parts, in a feasible solution to PSFFS, the part production and machine usage schedules must be synchronized. PSFFS is first formulated as a separable integer programming problem with synchronization constraints between part production and machine usage scheduling variables. Lagrangian relaxation is then applied to synchronization constraints, and the scheduling problem is decomposed into two classes of subproblems: part production and machine scheduling subproblems. In these subproblems, there are network flow structures in the equality constraints describing machine status change and production flow balance. Our iterative solution algorithm applies a minimum cost network flow algorithm to solving individual subproblems and adopts an efficient surrogate subgradient method of Luh et al. (1997) to optimize Lagrangian multipliers. A machine availability-searching heuristic finally adjusts the solution to satisfy all synchronization constraints by exploiting the network structure, economic interpretation of Lagrangian multipliers, and the slack time policy. Numerical results of 16 cases, each having 20 test problems, demonstrate that differences between the schedules obtained by our approach and the true optima are on average within 15%. CPU times spent are all less than 17 min on a Pentium-II personal computer. Among the problem dimension factors, the number of part types has the most significant effect on both optimality and computation efficiency. Application of the methodology to daily scheduling of a realistic integrated circuit testing facility of 30 machines takes about 6 min of CPU time to generate a near-optimal solution.
The BSSN formulation is a partially constrained evolution system

It is shown that the BSSN formulation of the Einstein equations, which forms the basis of most simulations in numerical relativity, explicitly uses the momentum constraints to evolve the conformal connection coefficients.