LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Presenting features and disease course of pediatric ulcerative colitis.

UNLABELLED
Clinical variables and disease course of pediatric ulcerative colitis (UC) have been poorly reported. The aim of this study was to retrospectively describe the phenotype and disease course of pediatric onset UC diagnosed at a tertiary referral Center for Pediatric Gastroenterology.


PATIENTS AND METHODS
110 patients with a diagnosis of UC were identified at our Department database. Records were reviewed for disease location and behavior at the diagnosis, family history for inflammatory bowel disease, pattern changes at the follow-up, need of surgery and cumulative risk for colectomy.


RESULTS
Thirty-five % of patients had an early-onset disease (0-7 years). At the diagnosis, 29% had proctitis, 22% left-sided colitis, 15% extensive colitis and 34% pancolitis. Fifteen % presented with a rectal sparing, while a patchy colonic inflammation was reported in 18%. Rectal sparing was significantly related to the younger age (p: <0.05). Disease extension at the follow up was reported in 29% of pts. No clinical variables at the diagnosis were related to the subsequent extension of the disease. The cumulative rates of colectomy were 9% at 2 year and 14% at 5 years. An extensive disease as well as acute severe colitis and corticosteroid therapy at the diagnosis were significantly associated with an increased risk of colectomy.


CONCLUSIONS
Pediatric UC is extensive and severe at the diagnosis, with an overall high rate of disease extension at the follow-up. Endoscopic atypical features are common in young children. The colectomy rate is related to the location and severity of the disease at the diagnosis.
Role of GP82 in the Selective Binding to Gastric Mucin during Oral Infection with Trypanosoma cruzi

Oral infection by Trypanosoma cruzi has been the primary cause of recent outbreaks of acute Chagas' diseases. This route of infection may involve selective binding of the metacyclic trypomastigote surface molecule gp82 to gastric mucin as a first step towards invasion of the gastric mucosal epithelium and subsequent systemic infection. Here we addressed that question by performing in vitro and in vivo experiments. A recombinant protein containing the complete gp82 sequence (J18), a construct lacking the gp82 central domain (J18*), and 20-mer synthetic peptides based on the gp82 central domain, were used for gastric mucin binding and HeLa cell invasion assays, or for in vivo experiments. Metacyclic trypomastigotes and J18 bound to gastric mucin whereas J18* failed to bind. Parasite or J18 binding to submaxillary mucin was negligible. HeLa cell invasion by metacyclic forms was not affected by gastric mucin but was inhibited in the presence of submaxillary mucin. Of peptides tested for inhibition of J18 binding to gastric mucin, the inhibitory peptide p7 markedly reduced parasite invasion of HeLa cells in the presence of gastric mucin. Peptide p7*, with the same composition as p7 but with a scrambled sequence, had no effect. Mice fed with peptide p7 before oral infection with metacyclic forms developed lower parasitemias than mice fed with peptide p7*. Our results indicate that selective binding of gp82 to gastric mucin may direct T. cruzi metacyclic trypomastigotes to stomach mucosal epithelium in oral infection.
Cognitive Tutors as Research Platforms: Extending an Established Tutoring System for Collaborative and Metacognitive Experimentation

Cognitive tutors have been shown to increase student learning in long-term classroom studies but would become even more effective if they provided collaborative support and metacognitive tutoring. Reconceptualizing an established tutoring system as a research platform to test different collaborative and metacognitive interventions would lead to gains in learning research. In this paper, we define a component-based architecture for such a platform, drawing from previous theoretical frameworks for tutoring systems. We then describe two practical implementation challenges not typically addressed by these frameworks. We detail our efforts to extend a cognitive tutor and evaluate our progress in terms of flexibility, control,
Geoinformation analysis of atmosphere pollution impact on the landscape of Siberian oil-producing territories

The assessment problems of the environmental impact of atmosphere pollution caused by gas burning in torches on forest-swamp ecosystems of West Siberia are considered. Geoinformation approach to the assessment of oil production impact based on the combination of sanitary-hygienic and landscape-geochemical approaches is reported. A pilot territory where main natural complexes are swamps of different types, coniferous-leaf-bearing forests and pine forests is described. The areas of polluted landscapes depending on the volume of oil production and normalized pollution levels are determined. The results may be applied for assessment of environmental impact of oil production within other territories with a similar landscape structure.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Utilization and cost impact of integrating substance abuse treatment and primary care.

OBJECTIVE
To examine the impact of integrating medical and substance abuse treatment on health care utilization and cost.


RESEARCH DESIGN
Randomized clinical trial assigning patients to one of two treatment modalities: an Integrated Care model where primary health care is provided along with substance abuse treatment within the unit and an Independent Care model where medical care is provided in the HMO's primary care clinics independently from substance abuse treatment.


SUBJECTS
Adult patients entering treatment at the outpatient Chemical Dependency Recovery Program in Kaiser Sacramento.


MEASURES
Medical utilization and cost for 12 months pretreatment and 12 months after treatment entry.


RESULTS
For the full, randomized cohort, there were no statistically significant differences between the two treatment groups over time. However, among the subset of patients with substance abuse related medical conditions (SAMC), Integrated Care patients had significant decreases in hospitalization rates (P = 0.04), inpatient days (P = 0.05) and ER use (P = 0.02). Total medical costs per member-month declined from 431.12 US dollars to 200.03 US dollars (P = 0.02). Among SAMC Independent Care patients, there was a downward trend in inpatient days (P = 0.08) and ER costs (P = 0.05) but no statistically significant decrease in total medical cost.


CONCLUSIONS
(Non)findings for the full sample suggest that integrating substance abuse treatment with primary care, may not be necessary or appropriate for all patients. However, it may be beneficial to refer patients with substance abuse related medical conditions to a provider also trained in addiction medicine. There appear to be large cost impacts of providing integrated care for such patients.
Tissue effects of glutamine in rectal cancer patients treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy.

BACKGROUND
The aim was to evaluate the effects of glutamine on tumor regression and histological damage in patients with rectal patients following chemoradiotherapy previous to surgery.


MATERIAL AND METHODS
Ten patients with rectal cancer surgically removed after chemoradiotherapy were included, a subgroup of a randomized trial that compared glutamine and placebo in the prevention of acute radiation enteritis. Samples of neoplasm and healthy tissue were evaluated by an expert pathologist searching for signs of tumor regression, muciphages, and signs of radiation-induced damage.


RESULTS
There were no differences in the grade of tumor regression with either glutamine or placebo. All patients who received glutamine presented muciphages, compared with 28.6% of the placebo group (p = 0.038). Histological damage was similar in patients receiving glutamine or placebo, and between those with radiation enteritis or without toxicity.


CONCLUSION
Glutamine did not exert a protective effect over chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer or healthy rectal tissue.
[Evaluation of the intake of a low daily amount of soybeans in oxidative stress, lipid and inflammatory profile, and insulin resistance in patients with metabolic syndrome].

OBJECTIVE
Studies show that regular consumption of soybeans reduces the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. However, most of these studies recommend daily intake of 25 g or more of soy protein, an amount considered high and not well tolerated by patients. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of low daily intake of soybeans in oxidative stress and in components of the metabolic syndrome (MS).


SUBJECTS AND METHODS
Forty individuals with MS were selected and divided into two groups: control group (n = 20) and soybean-treated group (n = 20), which consumed 12.95 g of soy protein for 90 days.


RESULTS
After the treatment, the soybean-treated group showed a decrease in fasting glucose and increase in serum HDL and adiponectin.


CONCLUSION
Low intake of soy protein for 90 days, besides being well tolerated by the patients, was able to improve several parameters related to the pathophysiology of MS.
Fiber Sensors for Strain Measurements and Axle Counting in High-Speed Railway Applications

High-speed railway systems have begun to be widely deployed. To meet increasingly stringent requirements under harsh running environments, we propose and demonstrate three fiber-Bragg-grating (FBG)-based approaches for the strain measurement and axle counting in high-speed railway systems, including matched gratings, grating under uneven strain distribution, and semi-free grating. All approaches are laboratory verified and evaluated using the train load platform. Pros and cons are also discussed in terms of feasibility and cost-effectiveness.
An observational study of hypertension treatment and patient outcomes in a primary care setting

INTRODUCTION
Evaluation and treatment of high blood pressure are vital to reducing hypertension-related morbidity. There are limited data on treatment of hypertension in Lesotho. The aim of this study was to investigate hypertension treatment and control in a primary care setting in Lesotho.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted among hypertensive patients treated at Domiciliary Health Clinic in Maseru, Lesotho between April and May 2013. We reviewed medical records and evaluated hypertension treatment and blood pressure control in the past 12 months. Patients were interviewed to assess adherence to hypertension treatment. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with poor blood pressure control.


RESULTS
70 patients were enrolled in the study; 90.0% were female, the mean age was 57.7 years, 80.0% were overweight/obese and 27.1% had diabetes mellitus. 90.0% of the patients received combination antihypertensive therapy; the most frequently prescribed drugs were hydrochlorothiazide (90.0%), captopril (67.1%) and atenolol (51.4%). The majority of the patients had chronic uncontrolled hypertension. 67.2% of the patients had continuous access to antihypertensive drugs in the past 12 months; adherence to medication, diet and exercise was 64.3%, 37.1% and 7.1% respectively. Age ≥65 was the strongest independent predictor of poor blood pressure control (AOR = 10.3, 95% CI: 1.21-88.98, p = 0.033).


CONCLUSION
There is a need for interventions to improve hypertension care and outcomes in this setting. Efforts should be made to improve assessment of hypertensive patients, optimise antihypertensive therapy and promote patient adherence to treatment.
The ACCURE-trial: the effect of appendectomy on the clinical course of ulcerative colitis, a randomised international multicenter trial (NTR2883) and the ACCURE-UK trial: a randomised external pilot trial (ISRCTN56523019)

BACKGROUND
Over the past 20 years evidence has accumulated confirming the immunomodulatory role of the appendix in ulcerative colitis (UC). This led to the idea that appendectomy might alter the clinical course of established UC. The objective of this body of research is to evaluate the short-term and medium-term efficacy of appendectomy to maintain remission in patients with UC, and to establish the acceptability and cost-effectiveness of the intervention compared to standard treatment.


METHODS/DESIGN
These paired phase III multicenter prospective randomised studies will include patients over 18 years of age with an established diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and a disease relapse within 12 months prior to randomisation. Patients need to have been medically treated until complete clinical (Mayo score <3) and endoscopic (Mayo score 0 or 1) remission. Patients will then be randomised 1:1 to a control group (maintenance 5-ASA treatment, no appendectomy) or elective laparoscopic appendectomy plus maintenance treatment. The primary outcome measure is the one year cumulative UC relapse rate - defined both clinically and endoscopically as a total Mayo-score ≥5 with endoscopic subscore of 2 or 3. Secondary outcomes that will be assessed include the number of relapses per patient at 12 months, the time to first relapse, health related quality of life and treatment costs, and number of colectomies in each arm.


DISCUSSION
The ACCURE and ACCURE-UK trials will provide evidence on the role and acceptability of appendectomy in the treatment of ulcerative colitis and the effects of appendectomy on the disease course.


TRIAL REGISTRATION
NTR2883 ; ISRCTN56523019.
Behind the Scenes of Duolingo

With over 100 million users, Duolingo is the most popular education app in the world in Android and iOS. In the first part of this talk, we will describe the motivation for creating Duolingo, its philosophy, and some of the basic techniques used to successfully teach languages and keep users engaged. The second part will focus on the machine learning and natural language processing algorithms we use to model student learning. Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Educational Data Mining 3 Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Educational Data Mining 4 Personal Knowledge/Learning Graph George Siemens University of Texas Arlington and Athabasca University gsiemens@gmail.com Ryan Baker Teachers College Columbia University baker2@exchange. tc.columbia.edu Dragan Gasevic Schools of Education and Informatics University of Edinburgh dragan.gasevic@ed.ac.uk
Cervical lymphadenopathy in children--incidence and diagnostic management.

OBJECTIVE
Palpable lymph nodes are common due to the reactive hyperplasia of lymphatic tissue mainly connected with local inflammatory process. Differential diagnosis of persistent nodular change on the neck is different in children, due to higher incidence of congenital abnormalities and infectious diseases and relative rarity of malignancies in that age group. The aim of our study was to analyse the most common causes of childhood cervical lymphadenopathy and determine of management guidelines on the basis of clinical examination and ultrasonographic evaluation.


MATERIAL AND METHODS
The research covered 87 children with cervical lymphadenopathy. Age, gender and accompanying diseases of the patients were assessed. All the patients were diagnosed radiologically on the basis of ultrasonographic evaluation.


RESULTS
Reactive inflammatory changes of bacterial origin were observed in 50 children (57.5%). Fever was the most common general symptom accompanying lymphadenopathy and was observed in 21 cases (24.1%). The ultrasonographic evaluation revealed oval-shaped lymph nodes with the domination of long axis in 78 patients (89.66%). The proper width of hilus and their proper vascularization were observed in 75 children (86.2%). Some additional clinical and laboratory tests were needed in the patients with abnormal sonographic image.


CONCLUSIONS
Ultrasonographic imaging is extremely helpful in diagnostics, differentiation and following the treatment of childhood lymphadenopathy. Failure of regression after 4-6 weeks might be an indication for a diagnostic biopsy.
The future of the internet of things

The IoT can become ubiquitous worldwide---if the pursuit of systemic trustworthiness can overcome the potential risks.
Early effects of Communities That Care on targeted risks and initiation of delinquent behavior and substance use.

PURPOSE
Communities That Care (CTC) is a prevention system designed to reduce levels of adolescent delinquency and substance use through the selection and use of effective preventive interventions tailored to a community's specific profile of risk and protection. This article describes early findings from the first group-randomized trial of CTC.


METHODS
A panel of 4407 fifth-grade students was surveyed annually through seventh grade. Analyses were conducted to assess the effects of CTC on reducing levels of targeted risk factors and reducing initiation of delinquent behavior and substance use in seventh grade, 1.67 years after implementing preventive interventions selected through the CTC process.


RESULTS
Mean levels of targeted risks for students in seventh grade were significantly lower in CTC communities compared with controls. Significantly fewer students in CTC communities than in control communities initiated delinquent behavior between grades 5 and 7. No significant intervention effect on substance use initiation by spring of seventh grade was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
CTC's theory of change hypothesizes that it takes from 2 to 5 years to observe community-level effects on risk factors and 5 or more years to observe effects on adolescent delinquency or substance use. The early findings indicating hypothesized effects of CTC on targeted risk factors and initiation of delinquent behavior are promising.
The effect of different fabrication steps on the marginal adaptation of two types of glass-infiltrated ceramic crown copings fabricated by CAD/CAM technology.

PURPOSE
Marginal adaptation is an important factor affecting the longevity of all-ceramic restorations, although the effects of different fabrication steps on marginal adaptation at various stages of fabrication are not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to assess with an in vitro model whether In-Ceram alumina (IA) or In-Ceram zirconia (IZ) copings produced by the CAD/CAM method would be clinically acceptable, and to evaluate the effect of each fabrication step (post-milling, post-trimming, and post-glass infiltration) on the marginal discrepancy of the coping.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
A melamine tooth was prepared, duplicated, poured with inlay wax, and then cast with metal to fabricate a master die. An InLab 3D system was used to scan the master die and to design and mill the copings. Thirty IA and IZ copings each were developed with thicknesses of 0.6 mm and a 30-μm thick computer luting space. Epoxy resin replicas of the master die were fabricated, and the vertical and horizontal marginal discrepancies were measured using a Micro-Vu optical microscope at three stages of the fabrication (post-milling, post-trimming, post-infiltration). One-way ANOVA was used to analyze the data between the three stages of fabrication for each marginal discrepancy, and a t-test was used to compare vertical and horizontal marginal discrepancies (after glass infiltration) between IZ and IA copings


RESULTS
There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in the vertical marginal discrepancies (μm) between IA (36 ± 14) and IZ (40 ± 14) copings after glass infiltration. ANOVA (comparing three stages within horizontal marginal discrepancy for IZ copings) showed that post-milling (40 ± 26) > post-trimming (23 ± 11) = post-infiltration (19 ± 13). ANOVA (comparing three stages within vertical marginal discrepancy for IZ copings) showed that post-milling (53 ± 12) = post-trimming (47 ± 13) > post-infiltration (36 ± 14). ANOVA (comparing three stages within horizontal marginal discrepancy for IA copings) showed that post-milling (52 ± 28) > post-trimming (30 ± 16) > post-infiltration (30 ± 16). ANOVA (comparing three stages within vertical marginal discrepancy for IA copings) showed that post-milling (54 ± 13) = post-trimming (56 ± 26) > post-infiltration (40 ± 14).


CONCLUSION
There was no significant difference in the marginal adaptation of both material copings. After the trimming process, the glass infiltration firing cycle improved the vertical marginal discrepancy for both IZ and IA copings. Clinical implications. IA and IZ copings fabricated by CAD/CAM technology have an acceptable marginal fit as documented in the literature, and the glass infiltration process improves the marginal fit after machining.
Heat-shock induction of tumor-derived danger signals mediates rapid monocyte differentiation into clinically effective dendritic cells.

PURPOSE
This study characterizes, biologically and clinically, a novel type of dendritic cells (DC) produced in the short term and called tumor antigen-presenting cells (TAPCells). In particular, we identified factors present in a lysate derived from heat-shocked allogeneic melanoma cells (TRIMEL) that are associated with TAPCells' enhanced capability to induce CD8(+) T-cell responses in vitro and in vaccinated melanoma patients.


EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
First, extensive phenotypic and functional characterization of TAPCells was performed, followed by vaccination of 45 melanoma patients with four doses of TAPCells over a period of 2 months. Specific delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction was analyzed posttreatment and correlated with overall survival rates. Furthermore, heat-shock (HS)-induced factors present in TRIMEL and their effects on DC activation were identified and studied.


RESULTS
TRIMEL induced a committed, mature, DC-like phenotype in TAPCells and effectively activated melanoma-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. Clinically, 64% of vaccinated patients showed positive DTH reaction against TRIMEL, and this was associated with improved overall survival. HS treatment of tumor cells increased calreticulin (CRT) plasma membrane translocation and induced the release of high-mobility group box 1 proteins (HMGB1). Both CRT and HMGB1 mobilization were associated with enhanced TAPCells' maturation and antigen (Ag) cross-presentation, respectively. DTH infiltration analysis revealed the presence of CD8(+)/CD45RO(+) T cells, thus confirming TAPCells' ability to cross-present Ags in vivo.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that lysates derived from heat-shocked tumor cells are an optimal source of tumor-associated Ags, which are crucial for the generation of DCs with improved Ag cross-presentation capacity and clinically effective immunogenicity.
LightSail Program Status: One Down, One to Go

The LightSail program involves two 3U CubeSats designed to advance solar sailing technology state of the art. The entire program is privately funded by members and supporters of The Planetary Society, the world’s largest nonprofit space advocacy organization. Spacecraft design started in 2009; by the end of 2011 both spacecraft had largely been built but not fully tested, and neither had a firm launch commitment. Following an 18-month program pause during 2012-2013, the effort was resumed after launch opportunities had been secured for each spacecraft. The first LightSail spacecraft—dedicated primarily to demonstrating the solar sail deployment process—was launched into Earth orbit on 2015 May 20 as a secondary payload aboard an Atlas 5 rocket, and on June 9 mission success was declared. The mission plan for the second LightSail includes demonstration of solar sailing in Earth orbit, among other objectives. It is on track for a launch in 2016 aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket as a key element of the Prox-1 mission. Lessons learned from the 2015 test mission will be applied to the 2016 mission, and lessons from both LightSail missions will inform planned NASA solar sail-based CubeSat missions and hopefully enhance their chances for mission success.