LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Robust and sensitive indicators of groundwater health and biodiversity

XI ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS XIII CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO GROUNDWATER, ITS MANAGEMENT AND GROUNDWATER ECOSYSTEMS 1 1.1 BACKGROUND 2 1.2 MANAGING GROUNDWATER HEALTH 3 1.2.1 FEDERAL AND NSW STATE INITIATIVES 4 1.2.2 COTTON INDUSTRY AND GROUNDWATER IN AUSTRALIA 4 1.2.3 IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATION AND PLANS 6 1.3 GROUNDWATER DEPENDENT ECOSYSTEMS 6 1.3.1 TYPES OF GROUNDWATER DEPENDENT ECOSYSTEMS 6 1.3.2 GROUNDWATER ECOSYSTEMS 8 1.4 AIM, OBJECTIVES AND HYPOTHESES 9 1.5 THESIS STRUCTURE 10 CHAPTER 2: A TIERED FRAMEWORK FOR ASSESSING GROUNDWATER ECOSYSTEM HEALTH 13 PREAMBLE 14 2.1 ABSTRACT 15 2.2 INTRODUCTION 16 2.3 MATERIALS AND METHODS 17 2.3.1. FRAMEWORK DEVELOPMENT 17 2.3.2 FRAMEWORK TESTING: CASE STUDY 17 2.4 RESULTS 18 2.4.1. DEFINITION AND ATTRIBUTES OF HEALTH GROUNDWATER ECOSYSTEMS 19 2.4.2. DEVELOPMENT OF A FRAMEWORK FOR GROUNDWATER ECOSYSTEM HEALTH 31 2.5 DISCUSSION 45 2.6 CONCLUSION 45 CHAPTER 3: HABITAT, WATER QUALITY, CLIMATE OR SITE? IDENTIFYING ENVIRONMENTAL CORRELATES OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF GROUNDWATER BIOTA 47 PREAMBLE 48 3.1 ABSTRACT 49 3.2 INTRODUCTION 50 3.3 MATERIALS AND METHODS 51 3.3.1. STUDY REGION 51 3.3.2 COLLECTION METHODS 52
Self-managed and blockchain-based vehicular ad-hoc networks

Combining Vehicle Ad-hoc Networks (VANETs) and Ethereum's blockchain-based application concepts enables transparent, self-managed and decentralized system which are self-regulating and in no need of a central managing authority.
Laparoscopic approach to distal and subtotal pancreatectomy: a clockwise technique

Laparoscopic surgery is becoming a more widely used approach for benign and malignant lesions in the neck, body, and tail of the pancreas. Recent literature reports appear to demonstrate that laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) has clear benefits compared with open distal pancreatectomy (ODP). However, the procedure is relatively new and in some patients may remain a technically demanding operation. Twenty-nine LDPs were performed by a single surgeon during the course of 12 months by using a multistep clockwise technique described in detail below. The technique appears to simplify and standardize the approach for both the simpler and the more difficult procedure. Retrospective analysis was performed regarding perioperative outcomes. Twenty-three procedures were performed for a neoplastic process with five patients having pancreatic adenocarcinoma. There was no conversion to ODP, but one patient required a hand-assist method. Splenectomy was performed in 26 patients. Median operative time, estimated blood loss, and length of stay was 182 min, 50 ml, and 4 days respectively. Overall morbidity and pancreatic fistula rate was 17.2% and 10.3%, respectively. Median number of lymph nodes was 14, concomitant left adrenalectomy was performed in 3 patients, and margins were negative in 28 patients. LDP has been shown to be an acceptable approach to both benign and malignant disease of the distal pancreas. The technique used in this manuscript appears to facilitate a reliable and safe five-step method to perform this procedure and ensures that appropriate oncologic principles are followed through each step. Even though this is a small feasibility series focused on surgical technique, our results appear to demonstrate an acceptable pancreatic leak rate.
FCET2EC (From controlled experimental trial to = 2 everyday communication): How effective is intensive integrative therapy for stroke-induced chronic aphasia under routine clinical conditions? A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND
Therapy guidelines recommend speech and language therapy (SLT) as the "gold standard" for aphasia treatment. Treatment intensity (i.e., ≥5 hours of SLT per week) is a key predictor of SLT outcome. The scientific evidence to support the efficacy of SLT is unsatisfactory to date given the lack of randomized controlled trials (RCT), particularly with respect to chronic aphasia (lasting for >6 months after initial stroke). This randomized waiting list-controlled multi-centre trial examines whether intensive integrative language therapy provided in routine in- and outpatient clinical settings is effective in improving everyday communication in chronic post-stroke aphasia.


METHODS/DESIGN
Participants are men and women aged 18 to 70 years, at least 6 months post an ischemic or haemorrhagic stroke resulting in persisting language impairment (i.e., chronic aphasia); 220 patients will be screened for participation, with the goal of including at least 126 patients during the 26-month recruitment period. Basic language production and comprehension abilities need to be preserved (as assessed by the Aachen Aphasia Test).Therapy consists of language-systematic and communicative-pragmatic exercises for at least 2 hours/day and at least 10 hours/week, plus at least 1 hour self-administered training per day, for at least three weeks. Contents of therapy are adapted to patients' individual impairment profiles.Prior to and immediately following the therapy/waiting period, patients' individual language abilities are assessed via primary and secondary outcome measures. The primary (blinded) outcome measure is the A-scale (informational content, or 'understandability', of the message) of the Amsterdam-Nijmegen Everyday Language Test (ANELT), a standardized measure of functional communication ability. Secondary (unblinded) outcome measures are language-systematic and communicative-pragmatic language screenings and questionnaires assessing life quality as viewed by the patient as well as a relative.The primary analysis tests for differences between the therapy group and an untreated (waiting list) control group with respect to pre- versus post 3-week-therapy (or waiting period, respectively) scores on the ANELT A-scale. Statistical between-group comparisons of primary and secondary outcome measures will be conducted in intention-to-treat analyses.Long-term stability of treatment effects will be assessed six months post intensive SLT (primary and secondary endpoints).


TRIAL REGISTRATION
Registered in ClinicalTrials.gov with the Identifier NCT01540383.
DetNet: A Backbone network for Object Detection

Recent CNN based object detectors, no matter one-stage methods like YOLO [1,2], SSD [3], and RetinaNet [4] or two-stage detectors like Faster R-CNN [5], R-FCN [6] and FPN [7] are usually trying to directly finetune from ImageNet pre-trained models designed for image classification. There has been little work discussing on the backbone feature extractor specifically designed for the object detection. More importantly, there are several differences between the tasks of image classification and object detection. (i) Recent object detectors like FPN and RetinaNet usually involve extra stages against the task of image classification to handle the objects with various scales. (ii) Object detection not only needs to recognize the category of the object instances but also spatially locate the position. Large downsampling factor brings large valid receptive field, which is good for image classification but compromises the object location ability. Due to the gap between the image classification and object detection, we propose DetNet in this paper, which is a novel backbone network specifically designed for object detection. Moreover, DetNet includes the extra stages against traditional backbone network for image classification, while maintains high spatial resolution in deeper layers. Without any bells and whistles, state-of-the-art results have been obtained for both object detection and instance segmentation on the MSCOCO benchmark based on our DetNet (4.8G FLOPs) backbone. The code will be released for the reproduction.
Differential genetic effects of ESR1 gene polymorphisms on osteoporosis outcomes.

CONTEXT
Both bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk have a strong genetic component. Estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) is a candidate gene for osteoporosis, but previous studies of ESR1 polymorphisms in this field were hampered by small sample size, lack of standardization, and inconclusive results.


OBJECTIVE
To generate large-scale evidence on whether 3 common ESR1 polymorphisms (intron 1 polymorphisms XbaI [dbSNP: rs9340799] and PvuII [dbSNP: rs2234693] and promoter TA repeats microsatellite) and haplotypes thereof are associated with BMD and fractures.


DESIGN AND SETTING
Meta-analysis of individual-level data involving standardized genotyping of 18 917 individuals in 8 European centers.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
BMD of femoral neck and lumbar spine; all fractures and vertebral fractures by genotype.


RESULTS
No between-center heterogeneity was observed for any outcome in any genetic contrast. None of the 3 polymorphisms or haplotypes had any statistically significant effect on BMD in adjusted or unadjusted analyses, and estimated differences between genetic contrasts were 0.01 g/cm2 or less. Conversely, we found significant reductions in fracture risk. In women homozygous for the absence of an XbaI recognition site, the adjusted odds of all fractures were reduced by 19% (odds ratio, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.71-0.93]; P = .002) and vertebral fractures by 35% (odds ratio, 0.65 [95% CI, 0.49-0.87]; P = .003). Effects on fractures were independent of BMD and unaltered in adjusted analyses. No significant effects on fracture risk were seen for PvuII and TA repeats.


CONCLUSIONS
ESR1 is a susceptibility gene for fractures, and XbaI determines fracture risk by mechanisms independent of BMD. Our study demonstrates the value of adequately powered studies with standardized genotyping and clinical outcomes in defining effects of common genetic variants on complex diseases.
Reducing IPTV channel zapping time based on viewer’s surfing behavior and preference

This paper presents a method of prejoining the expected next TV channels for reducing IPTV channel zapping time with a consideration of the channel surfing behavior and the particular preference of each viewer. In this method, a home gateway of multicast protocol proxy for set-top boxes (STB) prejoins the expected and preferred channels based on aggregated data from STBs. The experimental results show that the method improves the prediction accuracy of prejoin channels with little network bandwidth overhead, which leads to reduce the channel zapping time for IPTV services.
Cluster-Based Cross-Layer Design for Cooperative Caching in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

Several protocols have been proposed to improve data accessibility and reduce query delay in MANETs. Some of these proposals have adopted the cooperative caching scheme, allowing multiple mobile hosts within a neighborhood to cache and share data items in their local caches. Cross-layer optimization has not been fully exploited to further improve the performance of cooperative caching in these proposals. In this paper we propose a cluster-based cooperative caching scheme. A cross-layer design approach is employed to further improve the performance of cooperative caching and prefetching schemes. The cross-layer information is maintained in a separate data structure and is shared among network protocol layers. The experimental results in the NS-2 simulation environment demonstrate that the proposed approach improves caching performance in terms of data accessibility, query delay and query distance compared to the caching scheme that does not adopt the cooperative caching strategy.
Taking a fresh perspective: Vicarious restoration as a means of recovering self-control

a r t i c l e i n f o In the realm of self-regulation, recent work shows that the state of ego depletion can be vicariously transmitted from a target to a perceiver simply by imagining the perspective of a depleted target (i.e., vicarious depletion ; Ackerman et al., 2009). The present study asked whether such vicarious effects can extend to the domain of self-regulatory recovery. In Experiment 1, depleted participants who took the perspective of someone engaging in a restorative activity showed recovered self-control on a later task. Experiments 2 and 3 expanded upon this effect by illustrating that such vicarious self-regulatory processes only emerge if the target is similar to the participant. Taken together, the present studies offer a powerful method by which mental resources can be replenished, and identify one critical boundary condition of its effectiveness., self-control allows us to act in ways that are better for ourselves and for society as a whole. With such practical and personal relevance to our everyday lives, researchers have been greatly interested in the stability of people's self-regulatory capacities across time and context. For over a decade, the depletion model of self-regulation has been one of the most prominent perspectives to consider these questions of self-control. In short, this model proposes that self-control is a limited resource that, when depleted, significantly impairs future self-regulation (Baumeister, Bratslavsky, Muraven, & Tice, 1998). Thus, when people self-regulate their behavior in one situation (e.g., resisting unhealthy food while on a diet), they are less able to self-regulate in a subsequent situation (e.g., inhibiting stereotypes when forming impressions of others). Interestingly, recent work suggests that one need not even engage in a self-regulatory activity to experience ego depletion effects. Borrowing from the burgeoning literature of vicarious mood (e. showed that people can be vicariously depleted of their mental resources simply by imagining the self-control behaviors of another individual. Compared to individuals who took the perspective of a target that engaged in neutral behaviors, participants who took the perspective of a target that resisted his or her impulses showed poorer self-control on a subsequent task. These results imply that it is not the act of perspective-taking and the cognitive effort that act requires which leads to depletion effects; rather, it is the nature of the perspective one takes which has the ability to deplete mental resources. Regardless of its actual or vicarious origins, the …
Family psychosocial risk, distress, and service utilization in pediatric cancer: predictive validity of the Psychosocial Assessment Tool.

BACKGROUND
The way families negotiate diagnosis and early treatment for pediatric cancer sets the stage for their adaptation throughout treatment and survivorship. The Psychosocial Assessment Tool (PAT) is a brief parent-report screener capable of systematically identifying families at risk for problems of adaptation. The current study evaluated stability and predictive validity of PAT psychosocial risk classification with regard to distress, family functioning, and the use of psychosocial services over the first 4 months of treatment.


METHODS
Caregivers of children with cancer completed the PAT and measures of distress and family functioning at diagnosis and again 4 months into treatment. At the second time point, social workers completed checklists of services provided and rated the intensity of their work with each family. Referrals to psychologists also were tracked.


RESULTS
Psychosocial risk classification, based on the PAT, was stable across the first 4 months of cancer treatment; 57% to 69% of families remained at the same level of risk. PAT total scores did not differ across time, but subscale scores indicated increases in family and child (patient) problems and decreases in unhelpful beliefs. Families classified at higher levels of psychosocial risk at diagnosis had more distress, more family problems, and greater psychosocial service use 4 months into treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Understanding and identifying risks for psychosocial adjustment difficulties within families of children with cancer, considering changes across treatment and beyond, is very complex. Despite evidence of the predictive validity of PAT, additional research is necessary to find ways to effectively use this screener in practice to guide intervention.
Integrating usability techniques into software development

Now merged into Siemens Medical Solutions Health Services, our company, formerly called Shared Medical Systems, creates clinical, financial, and administrative software for the healthcare industry. Like other medium to large companies, SMS had reached a scale and maturity level that required the development process to be documented, predictable, repeatable, measurable, and usable by the development groups. After much study and consideration, senior management committed to implementing a universal OO development methodology. Senior management recognized the need to improve customer satisfaction, which had always been high but needed to he better in an increasingly competitive market. Management saw the introduction of usability practices as a prime means to achieve this objective. So they began to place greater emphasis on usability-even to the point of building and staffing dual state-of-the-art usability labs. Our goal throughout the projects we describe was to combine the best OO analysis and design practices and usability techniques to create a powerful, unified way to develop software.
PREDICTING MATHEMATICS ACHIEVEMENT: THE INFLUENCE OF PRIOR ACHIEVEMENT AND ATTITUDES

Achievement in mathematics is inextricably linked to future career opportunities, and therefore, understanding those factors that influence achievement is important. This study sought to examine the relationships among attitude towards mathematics, ability and mathematical achievement. This examination was also supported by a focus on gender effects. By drawing on a sample of Australian secondary school students, it was demonstrated through the results of a multivariate analysis of variance that females were more likely to hold positive attitudes towards mathematics. In addition, the predictive capacity of prior achievement and attitudes towards mathematics on a nationally recognised secondary school mathematics examination was shown to be large (R = 0.692). However, when these predictors were controlled, the influence of gender was non-significant. Moreover, a structural equation model was developed from the same measures and subsequent testing indicated that the model offered a reasonable fit of the data. The positing and testing of this model signifies growth in the Australian research literature by showing the contribution that ability (as measured by standardised test results in numeracy and literacy) and attitude towards mathematics play in explaining mathematical achievement in secondary school. The implications of these results for teachers, parents and other researchers are then considered.
Active, population-based surveillance for severe rotavirus gastroenteritis in children in the United States.

OBJECTIVES
Routine vaccination of US infants against rotavirus was implemented in 2006, prompting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention New Vaccine Surveillance Network to begin population-based acute gastroenteritis surveillance among US children<3 years of age. This surveillance system establishes baseline estimates of rotavirus disease burden and allows for the prospective monitoring of rotavirus vaccination impact.


METHODS
Eligible children with acute gastroenteritis (>or=3 episodes of diarrhea and/or any vomiting in a 24-hour period) who were hospitalized, were seen in emergency departments, or visited selected outpatient clinics in 3 US counties during the period of January through June 2006 were enrolled. Epidemiological and clinical information was obtained through parental interview and medical chart review, and stool specimens were tested for rotavirus with enzyme immunoassays. Rotavirus-positive specimens were genotyped by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assays.


RESULTS
Stool specimens were collected from 516 of the 739 enrolled children with acute gastroenteritis (181 inpatient, 201 emergency department, and 134 outpatient) and 44% tested positive for rotavirus (227 of 516 specimens). The most common strain was P[8]G1 (84%), followed by P[4]G2 (5%) and P[6]G12 (4%). None of the 516 children had received rotavirus vaccine. The rotavirus detection rate was 50% for hospitalized acute gastroenteritis cases, 50% for emergency department visits, and 27% for outpatient visits. Rotavirus-related acute gastroenteritis cases were more likely than non-rotavirus-related acute gastroenteritis cases to present with vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and lethargy. Directly calculated, population-based rates for rotavirus hospitalizations and emergency department visits were 22.5 hospitalizations and 301.0 emergency department visits per 10 000 children<3 years of age, respectively. A sentinel outpatient clinic visit rate of 311.9 outpatient visits per 10,000 children<3 years of age was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Population-based, laboratory-confirmed rotavirus surveillance in the final rotavirus season before implementation of the US rotavirus vaccine program indicated a considerable burden of disease on the US health care system.
No evidence for genetically determined alteration in insulin secretion or sensitivity predisposing to type 1 diabetes: a study of identical twins.

OBJECTIVE
To determine whether inherited changes in insulin secretion or sensitivity could predispose to type 1 diabetes, we studied identical twins of type 1 diabetic patients.


RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
We studied prospectively a consecutive series of 27 identical twins of patients with type 1 diabetes who were initially nondiabetic, as well as 14 control subjects, over a period of 18 years. Of these 27 twins, 15 remain nondiabetic (now estimated at low disease risk) and 12 developed diabetes (pre-diabetic twins). Subjects were tested when not diabetic on at least two occasions with an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT), and we estimated insulin secretion as first-phase insulin response (FPIR), glucose clearance (K(g)), and insulin sensitivity both by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and relative to insulin response by the basal HOMA-IR-to-FPIR ratio.


RESULTS
Twins now at low risk and control subjects had similar fasting blood glucose and insulin levels, FPIR, K(g), HOMA-IR, and HOMA-IR-to-FPIR ratio. In contrast, pre-diabetic twins compared with control twins had higher fasting insulin levels (10.3 +/- 6.0 vs. 4.6 +/- 4.0 mIU/ml), lower FPIR (245 +/- 129 vs. 796 +/- 622 mIU . ml(-1) . 10 min(-1)), lower K(g) (1.5 +/- 0.6 vs. 2.6 +/- 0.8% per min), and higher HOMA-IR-to-FPIR ratio (0.007 +/- 0.005 vs. 0.001 +/- 0.0009) (all P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
These observations in low-risk nondiabetic identical twins failed to identify a familial alteration in either insulin secretion or sensitivity predisposing to type 1 diabetes.