LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Point-of-care procalcitonin test to reduce antibiotic exposure in patients hospitalized with acute exacerbation of COPD

BACKGROUND
This study was conducted to investigate whether point-of-care (POC) procalcitonin (PCT) measurement can reduce redundant antibiotic treatment in patients hospitalized with acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD).


METHODS
One-hundred and twenty adult patients admitted with AECOPD were enrolled in this open-label randomized trial. Patients were allocated to either the POC PCT-guided intervention arm (n=62) or the control arm, in which antibiotic therapy followed local guidelines (n=58).


RESULTS
The median duration of antibiotic exposure was 3.5 (interquartile range [IQR] 0-10) days in the PCT-arm vs 8.5 (IQR 1-11) days in the control arm (P=0.0169, Wilcoxon) for the intention-to-treat population. The proportion of patients using antibiotics for ≥5 days within the 28-day follow-up was 41.9% (PCT-arm) vs 67.2% (P=0.006, Fisher's exact) in the intention-to-treat population. For the per-protocol population, the proportions were 21.1% (PCT-arm) vs 73.9% (P<0.00001, Fisher's exact). Within 28-day follow-up, one patient died in the PCT-arm and two died in the control arm. A composite harm end point consisting of death, rehospitalization, or intensive care unit admission, all within 28 days, showed no apparent difference.


CONCLUSION
Our study shows that the implementation of a POC PCT-guided algorithm can be used to substantially reduce antibiotic exposure in patients hospitalized with AECOPD, with no apparent harm.
A Quasi-Spherical Gravitational Wave Solution in Kaluza-Klein Theory

An exact solution of the source-free Kaluza-Klein field equations is presented. It is a 5D generalization of the Robinson-Trautman quasispherical gravitational wave with a cosmological constant. The properties of the 5D solution are briefly described.
The effects of parental reading socialization and early school involvement on children's academic performance: a panel study of primary school pupils in the Netherlands

This study examines the extent to which parental reading socialization and early school involvement account for performance differences between low-status and high-status children in successive primary school grades. It investigates not only the direct effects of these parental practices on children’s academic performance, but also the indirect effects, that is, controlling for the children’s prior performance. It furthermore examines the influence of parental reading socialization and early school involvement on the longer term development of scholastic performance. Panel data are employed from four waves of the Dutch primary education cohort study, starting in 1996–1997. Using multilevel (repeated measurement) models, we find that parental reading socialization and parental school involvement both explain part of the association between social background and academic performance in successive primary school years. The positive, mainly indirect, impact of these factors, however, is stronger for children’s language performance than for arithmetic achievement. Finally, children socialized in reading retain or even expand their advantage in language performance over children who lack early reading socialization. The positive impact of parental school involvement fades as primary school progresses.
Bortezomib and high-dose melphalan as conditioning regimen before autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with de novo multiple myeloma: a phase 2 study of the Intergroupe Francophone du Myelome (IFM).

Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is recommended for younger patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Achieving complete response (CR) or at least very good partial response (VGPR) is a major prognostic factor for survival with 20% to 30% of patients achieving CR after ASCT. Bortezomib has shown synergistic effects with melphalan and no prolonged hematologic toxicity. In this Intergroupe Francophone du Myélome (IFM) phase 2 study, 54 untreated patients were enrolled between July and December 2007 to receive bortezomib (1 mg/m(2) x 4) and melphalan (200 mg/m(2)) as conditioning regimen (Bor-HDM). Overall, 70% of patients achieved at least VGPR, including 17 patients with CR (32%) after ASCT. No toxic deaths were observed. Bortezomib did not increase hematologic toxicity. Only 1 grade 3 to 4 peripheral neuropathy was reported. A matched control analysis was conducted comparing our cohort with patients from the IFM 2005-01 trial (HDM alone). Patients were matched for response to induction therapy and type of induction: CR was higher in the Bor-HDM group (35% vs 11%; P = .001), regardless of induction therapy. These results suggest that Bor-HDM is a safe and promising conditioning regimen. Randomized studies are needed to assess whether this conditioning regimen is superior to HDM alone. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00642395.
LC/MS/MS METHOD FOR THE SIMULTANEOUS ESTIMATION OF LOSARTAN POTASSIUM AND IRBESARTAN IN RAT PLASMA

A rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method has been developed and validated for simultaneous quantification of Losartan potassium (LOS) and Irbesartan (IRB) in rat plasma using Phenomenex polar RP 80 4μ.The mass transition ion-pair has been followed as m/z 423.4→207.2 for LOS, m/z 429.3→195.1 for IRB.The method involves precipitation extraction from plasma, with gradient elution chromatographic conditions and mass spectrometric detection using an API 3000 instrument that enables detection at nanogram levels. Ketoconazole was used as the internal standard. The proposed method has been validated with a linear range of 5.01–1000.8 ng/ml for LOS and for IRB.
Health technology prioritization: which criteria for prioritizing new technologies and what are their relative weights?

OBJECTIVES
To review the criteria and 'other' considerations used internationally for prioritizing new health technologies, and to demonstrate a conjoint-analysis methodology (also known as discrete choice experiments) for deriving relative weights for the criteria.


METHODS
We searched the literature for criteria and other considerations for prioritizing new technologies. A convenience sample of 74 respondents completed a conjoint-analysis survey involving criteria related to technologies' 'benefits'.


RESULTS
Encompassing 11 countries and the US state of Oregon, we were able to distinguish three main groups of criteria: (a) Need, appropriateness and clinical benefits; (b) Efficiency (including cost-effectiveness); and (c) Equality, solidarity and other ethical or social values. For several countries, the quality of the clinical and economic evidence and factors related to strategic issues and procedural justice respectively are also considered. The criteria and their weights from the conjoint-analysis survey are: 'Lives saved'=0.343, 'Life-prolongation benefits'=0.243, 'Quality-of-life gains'=0.217, a criterion representing the availability of alternative treatments=0.107, and 'Other important social/ethical benefits'=0.087.


CONCLUSIONS
The criteria represent a pluralistic combination of needs-based, maximizing and egalitarian principles, and we demonstrated a methodology for deriving the weights for criteria related to technologies' 'benefits'.
Power quality control of an autonomous wind-diesel power system based on hybrid intelligent controller

Wind power generation is gaining popularity as the power industry in the world is moving toward more liberalized trade of energy along with public concerns of more environmentally friendly mode of electricity generation. The weakness of wind power generation is its dependence on nature-the power output varies in quite a wide range due to the change of wind speed, which is difficult to model and predict. The excess fluctuation of power output and voltages can influence negatively the quality of electricity in the distribution system connected to the wind power generation plant. In this paper, the authors propose an intelligent adaptive system to control the output of a wind power generation plant to maintain the quality of electricity in the distribution system. The target wind generator is a cost-effective induction generator, while the plant is equipped with a small capacity energy storage based on conventional batteries, heater load for co-generation and braking, and a voltage smoothing device such as a static Var compensator (SVC). Fuzzy logic controller provides a flexible controller covering a wide range of energy/voltage compensation. A neural network inverse model is designed to provide compensating control amount for a system. The system can be optimized to cope with the fluctuating market-based electricity price conditions to lower the cost of electricity consumption or to maximize the power sales opportunities from the wind generation plant.
Anthroposophic vs. conventional therapy for chronic low back pain: a prospective comparative study.

OBJECTIVE
To compare anthroposophic treatment (eurythmy, rhythmical massage or art therapy; counselling, anthroposophic medication) and conventional treatment for low back pain (LBP) under routine conditions.


METHODS
62 consecutive outpatients from 38 medical practices in Germany, consulting an anthroposophic (A-) or conventional (C-) physician with LBP of >or= 6 weeks duration participated in a prospective non-randomised comparative study. Main outcomes were Hanover Functional Ability Questionnaire (HFAQ), LBP Rating Scale Pain Score (LBPRS), Symptom Score, and SF-36 after 6 and 12 months.


RESULTS
At baseline, LBP duration was > 6 months in 85% (29/34) of A-patients and 54% (15/28) of C-patients (p = 0.004). Unadjusted analysis showed significant improvements in both groups of HFAQ, LBPRS, Symptom Score, SF-36 Physical Component Summary, and three SF-36 scales (Physical Function, Pain, Vitality), and improvements in A-patients of three further SF-36 scales (Role Physical, General Health, Mental Health). After adjustment for age, gender, LBP duration, and education, improvements were still significant in both groups for Symptom Score (p = 0.030), SF-36 Physical Component Summary (p = 0.004), and three SF-36-scales (Physical Function, p = 0.025; Role Physical, p = 0.014; Pain, p = 0.003), and in A-patients for SF-36-Vitality (p = 0.032). Compared to C-patients, A-patients had significantly more pronounced improvements of three SF-36 scales (Mental Health: p = 0.045; General Health: p = 0.006; Vitality: p = 0.005); other improvements did not differ significantly between the two groups.


CONCLUSION
Compared to conventional therapy, anthroposophic therapy for chronic LBP was associated with at least comparable improvements.
Probabilistic Assessment of the Impact of Wind Energy Integration Into Distribution Networks

Combined Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) and market-based optimal power flow (OPF) considering different combinations of wind generation and load demand over a year are used to evaluate wind turbines (WTs) integration into distribution systems. MCS is used to model the uncertainties related to the stochastic variations of wind power generation and load demand while the social welfare is maximized by means of market-based OPF with inter-temporal constraints. The proposed probabilistic methodology allows evaluating the amount of wind power that can be injected into the grid as well as the impact of wind power penetration on the social welfare and on distribution-locational marginal prices. Market-based OPF is solved by using step-controlled primal dual interior point method considering network constraints. The effectiveness of the proposed probabilistic method in assessing the impact of wind generation penetration in terms of both technical and economic effects is demonstrated with an 84-bus 11.4-kV radial distribution system.
Complex electrograms within the coronary sinus: time- and frequency-domain characteristics, effects of antral pulmonary vein isolation, and relationship to clinical outcome in patients with paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND
The mechanistic and clinical significance of complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAE) in the coronary sinus (CS) has been unclear.


METHODS AND RESULTS
Antral pulmonary vein isolation (APVI) was performed in 77 patients with paroxysmal (32) or persistent AF (45). CS electrograms recorded for 60 seconds before and after APVI were analyzed in the time- and frequency-domains. Dominant frequency (DF), complexity index (CI: change in polarity of depolarization), and fractionation index (FI: change in direction of depolarization slope) were determined. Before APVI, there was no difference in DF, CI, or FI between paroxysmal and persistent AF. APVI resulted in a significant decrease in DF, CI, and FI in all patients. Baseline CI (43 +/- 13/s vs 54 +/- 14/s, P = 0.03) and FI (64 +/- 23/s vs 87 +/- 30/s, P = 0.02) were lower in patients with paroxysmal AF who had AF terminated by ablation than who did not. At 10 +/- 2 months, 69% of patients with paroxysmal AF and 49% of patients with persistent AF were free from AF after single ablation. Baseline CI was higher among patients with paroxysmal AF who had AF after APVI (56 +/- 20/s vs 44 +/- 10/s, P = 0.03). In patients with persistent AF, there was a larger decrease in DF after APVI among patients who remained free from AF (13 +/- 11% vs 7 +/- 9%, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Complexity of CS electrograms may reflect drivers of AF that perpetuate paroxysmal AF after APVI. In persistent AF, the extent to which APVI decreases DF in the CS correlates with efficacy, suggesting that DF identifies patients who may require additional ablation beyond APVI.
Long-term safety and efficacy of guanfacine extended release in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

OBJECTIVE
Short-term, controlled studies of extended-release guanfacine (GXR), a selective alpha(2A)-adrenoreceptor agonist, demonstrate efficacy in treating attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms as monotherapy. This 2-year open-label study was conducted to further assess the long-term safety and efficacy of GXR.


METHODS
Study participants, aged 6-17 years with ADHD, had previously been exposed to GXR therapy alone or in combination with psychostimulants in one of two antecedent trials. In this study, doses were titrated to 1, 2, 3, or 4 mg/day of GXR alone or in combination with a psychostimulant. Safety and efficacy data collected at clinic visits over 24 months provided further evidence of the overall safety and efficacy of GXR for treating ADHD.


RESULTS
The majority of adverse events (AEs) were mild to moderate, and few patients discontinued the study because of an AE. Efficacy measures demonstrated significant improvement beginning in the first month and lasting through the end of the 24-month treatment period. Throughout the entire 2-year study, 202 subjects (77.1%) discontinued and 60 (22.9%) completed the study.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, these data support that GXR monotherapy is generally safe and effective for treating ADHD.
Role of microglial IKK b in kainic acid-induced hippocampal neuronal cell death

Program in Neuroscience, DRI, and Department of Oral Physiology, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, EwhaWomans University, Department of Anatomy and Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Science, College of Medicine,Yonsei University, Seoul, Department of Microbiology, School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Center for Neural Science, University of Science and Technology, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, Department of Anatomy, Department of Microbiology, Infection Signaling Network Research Center, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea and Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California at San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA These authors contributed equally to this work.
Levels of occupational stress in the remote area nursing workforce.

OBJECTIVE
  To identify key workplace demands and resources for nurses working in very remote Australia and measure levels of occupational stress in this population.


METHODS
  The study used a cross-sectional design, utilising a structured questionnaire.


SETTING
  Health centres in very remote Australia.


RESULTS
  Nurses working in very remote Australia experience significantly higher levels of psychological distress and emotional exhaustion, compared with other professional populations. Paradoxically, results also highlight higher than average levels of work engagement. Nurses working in very remote regions in Australia further report moderate levels of job satisfaction. Most significant job demands identified were emotional demands, staffing issues, workload, responsibilities and expectations, and social issues. Key job resources included supervision, opportunities for professional development, and skill development and application.


CONCLUSION
  In a context of high stress, high levels of work engagement and moderate levels of job satisfaction do not obviate high workforce turnover for this population. There is a need to reduce job demands and increase job resources in order to foster long-term work engagement and reduced emotional exhaustion. This might subsequently decrease remote area nursing workforce turnover.
Lessons Learned from AlphaGo

The game of Go is known to be one of the most complicated board games. Competing in Go against a professional human player has been a long-standing challenge for AI. In this paper we shed light on the AlphaGo program that could beat a Go world champion, which was previously considered non-achievable for the state of the art AI.
Variational Inference for Gaussian Process Models with Linear Complexity

Large-scale Gaussian process inference has long faced practical challenges due to time and space complexity that is superlinear in dataset size. While sparse variational Gaussian process models are capable of learning from large-scale data, standard strategies for sparsifying the model can prevent the approximation of complex functions. In this work, we propose a novel variational Gaussian process model that decouples the representation of mean and covariance functions in reproducing kernel Hilbert space. We show that this new parametrization generalizes previous models. Furthermore, it yields a variational inference problem that can be solved by stochastic gradient ascent with time and space complexity that is only linear in the number of mean function parameters, regardless of the choice of kernels, likelihoods, and inducing points. This strategy makes the adoption of largescale expressive Gaussian process models possible. We run several experiments on regression tasks and show that this decoupled approach greatly outperforms previous sparse variational Gaussian process inference procedures.
How publics respond to crisis communication strategies: The interplay of information form and source

Through an experiment with 162 college students this study empirically evaluates an emerging communication model: the social-mediated crisis communication model (SMCC). As part of a series of studies testing the SMCC model, this study focuses on two of the SMCC model’s components: the effects of crisis information form (traditional media, social media, and word-of-mouth) and source (third party and organization) on publics’ acceptance of crisis response strategies and publics’ crisis emotions. The findings clearly indicate the importance of strategically matching crisis information form and source when organizations respond to crises. In addition, the selection of crisis information form and source affects publics’ attribution independent and dependent emotions. © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Social networks and blogs account for one in every four and half minutes spent online worldwide (“Social networks/blogs,” 2010). During crises, publics spend even more time online (Pew Internet & American Life, 2006; Rainie, 2005), changing how organizations manage crises (Coombs, 2008). Yet, many communicators have reservations about the credibility of social media (Wright & Hinson, 2009) while others do not know how to obtain management support for social media (Hathi, 2009). Therefore, emerging research that empirically documents how and why social media affect successful crisis communication management is extremely valuable for professionals (e.g., Coombs, 2008; Yang, Kang, & Johnson, 2010). This study tests and refines the only known theoretical model that helps organizations generate desirable crisis outcomes through understanding how publics use social media: the social-mediated crisis communication model (SMCC) (Jin & Liu, 2010; Liu, Jin, Briones, & Kuch, in press). This model proposes that publics use social media during crises for the following three motivations: issue relevance, information seeking/sharing, and emotional venting/support. The model further posits how crisis communication form and source affect how successful organizational crisis response strategies will be. Through an experiment with 162 college students, this study is the first test of the following SMCC model components: audience motivations, organizational crisis response strategies, and the interplay of crisis information form and source. 1. Literature review In this section, we first define social media, crises, and issues. We then explain the SMCC model and review research associated with the primary SMCC components tested in this study. ∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 301 405 6524; fax: +1 301 314 9471. E-mail address: bfliu@umd.edu (B.F. Liu). 0363-8111/$ – see front matter © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.pubrev.2011.08.004 346 B.F. Liu et al. / Public Relations Review 37 (2011) 345– 353