LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Quantitative evaluation of acute renal transplant dysfunction with low-dose three-dimensional MR renography.

PURPOSE
To assess prospectively the ability of quantitative low-dose three-dimensional magnetic resonance (MR) renography to help identify the cause of acute graft dysfunction.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
This HIPAA-compliant study was approved by the institutional review board, and written informed consent was obtained. Between December 2001 and May 2009, sixty patients with transplanted kidneys (41 men and 19 women; mean age, 49 years; age range, 22-71 years) were included. Thirty-one patients had normal function and 29 had acute dysfunction due to acute rejection (n = 12), acute tubular necrosis (ATN) (n = 8), chronic rejection (n = 6), or drug toxicity (n = 3). MR renography was performed at 1.5 T with three-dimensional gradient-echo imaging. With use of a multicompartment renal model, the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and the mean transit time (MTT) of the tracer for the vascular compartment (MTT(A)), the tubular compartment (MTT(T)), and the collecting system compartment (MTT(C)) were calculated. Also derived was MTT for the whole kidney (MTT(K) = MTT(A) + MTT(T) + MTT(C)) and fractional MTT of each compartment (MTT(A/K) = MTT(A)/MTT(K), MTT(T/K) = MTT(T)/MTT(K), MTT(C/K) = MTT(C)/MTT(K)). These parameters were compared in patients in the different study groups. Statistical analysis was performed by using analysis of covariance.


RESULTS
There were significant differences in GFR and MTT(K) between the acute dysfunction group (36.4 mL/min ± 20.8 [standard deviation] and 177.1 seconds ± 46.8, respectively) and the normal function group (65.9 mL/min ± 27.6 and 140.5 seconds ± 51.8, respectively) (P < .001 and P = .004). The MTT(A/K) was significantly higher in the acute rejection group (mean, 12.7% ± 2.9) than in the normal function group (mean, 8.3% ± 2.2; P < .001) or in the ATN group (mean, 7.1% ± 1.4; P < .001). The MTT(T/K) was significantly higher in the ATN group (mean, 83.2% ± 9.2) than in the normal function group (mean, 72.4% ± 10.2; P = .031) or in the acute rejection group (mean, 69.2% ± 6.1; P = .003).


CONCLUSION
Low-dose MR renography analyzed by using a multicompartmental tracer kinetic renal model may help to differentiate noninvasively between acute rejection and ATN after kidney transplantation.
A Detailed Rubric for Motion Segmentation

Motion segmentation is currently an active area of research in computer Vision. The task of comparing different methods of motion segmentation is complicated by the fact that researchers may use subtly different definitions of the problem. Questions such as ”Which objects are moving?”, ”What is background?”, and ”How can we use motion of the camera to segment objects, whether they are static or moving?” are clearly related to each other, but lead to different algorithms, and imply different versions of the ground truth. This report has two goals. The first is to offer a precise definition of motion segmentation so that the intent of an algorithm is as welldefined as possible. The second is to report on new versions of three previously existing data sets that are compatible with this definition. We hope that this more detailed definition, and the three data sets that go with it, will allow more meaningful comparisons of certain motion segmentation methods.
Brain MRI abnormalities in schizophrenia: same genes or same environment?

BACKGROUND
Structural brain volume abnormalities are among the most extensively studied endophenotypes in schizophrenia. Bivariate genetic model fitting (adjusted to account for selection) was used to quantify the genetic relationship between schizophrenia and brain volumes and to estimate the heritability of these volumes.


METHOD
We demonstrated by simulation that the adjusted genetic model produced unbiased estimates for endophenotype heritability and the genetic and environmental correlations. The model was applied to brain volumes (whole brain, hippocampus, third and lateral ventricles) in a sample of 14 monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs concordant for schizophrenia, 10 MZ discordant pairs, 17 MZ control pairs, 22 discordant sibling pairs, three concordant sibling pairs, and 114 healthy control subjects.


RESULTS
Whole brain showed a substantial heritability (88%) and lateral ventricles substantial common environmental effects (67%). Whole brain showed a significant genetic correlation with schizophrenia, whereas lateral ventricles showed a significant individual specific correlation with schizophrenia. There were significant familial effects for hippocampus and third ventricle, but the analyses could not resolve whether these were genetic or environmental in origin (around 30%each).


CONCLUSIONS
Using genetic model fitting on twin and sibling data we have demonstrated differential sources of covariation between schizophrenia and brain volumes, genetic in the case of whole brain volume and individual specific environment in the case of lateral ventricles.
The effects of balance training and high-intensity resistance training on persons with idiopathic Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVE
To assess immediate and near-term effects of 2 exercise training programs for persons with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD).


DESIGN
Randomized control trial.


SETTING
Public health facility and medical center.


PARTICIPANTS
Fifteen persons with IPD.


INTERVENTION
Combined group (balance and resistance training) and balance group (balance training only) underwent 10 weeks of high-intensity resistance training (knee extensors and flexors, ankle plantarflexion) and/or balance training under altered visual and somatosensory sensory conditions, 3 times a week on nonconsecutive days. Groups were assessed before, immediately after training, and 4 weeks later.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Balance was assessed by computerized dynamic posturography, which determined the subject's response to reduced or altered visual and somatosensory orientation cues (Sensory Orientation Test [SOT]). Muscle strength was assessed by measuring the amount of weight a participant could lift, by using a standardized weight-and-pulley system, during a 4-repetition-maximum test of knee extension, knee flexion, and ankle plantarflexion.


RESULTS
Both types of training improved SOT performance. This effect was larger in the combined group. Both groups could balance longer before falling, and this effect persisted for at least 4 weeks. Muscle strength increased marginally in the balance group and substantially in the combined group, and this effect persisted for at least 4 weeks.


CONCLUSION
Muscle strength and balance can be improved in persons with IPD by high-intensity resistance training and balance training.
An Interoperable Data Framework to Manipulate the Smart City Data using Semantic Technologies

During the last decade, enormous volumes of urban data have been produced by the Government agencies, the NGOs and the citizens. In such a scenario, we are presented with a diverse set of data which holds valuable information. This information can be extracted and analyzed and have a number of usages for the well-being of citizens. The major impediment to achieve this goal is the data itself, the available data are redundant, scattered and come with various legacy formats. Data interoperability, scalability and integration are paramount issues which could not be resolved unless the scattered data silos are accessible with a standard representation. In this paper, we propose a framework that resolves the data interoperability and associated challenges in the smart city environment. The framework takes the raw smart city data from several resources and stores them in a NoSQL database. The framework transforms the scattered data into machine-processable data. Besides, the database is linked with an API and simple dashboard for further analysis, which can be utilized to build big data applications based on urban data so that government agencies can get a summarized overview of resource distribution. Keywords—Smart cities; Smart Data Integration; Big data; IOT; Software architecture
Order-Based Backorders and Their Implications in Multi-Item Inventory Systems

In a multi-item inventory system, such as an assemble-to-order manufacturing system or an online-retailing system, a customer order typically consists of several different items in different amounts. The average order-based backorders are the average number of customer orders that are not yet completely filled. While this is an important measure of customer satisfaction, it has not been widely studied in the operations management literature. This is largely because its evaluation involves the joint distribution of inventory levels of different items and other intricate relations, which is computationally dreadful. Taking a novel approach, this paper develops a tractable way of evaluating this measure exactly. We also develop easy-to-compute bounds, which require the evaluation of item-based backorders only. Numerical experiments indicate that the average of the lower and upper bounds is very effective. The exact results show surprisingly simple structures, which shed light on how system parameters affect the performance. Using these results, we study several examples to gain managerial insights. Questions addressed include: What are the implications of item-based inventory planning decisions on the order-based performance? What is the impact of introducing common components on inventory and service trade-offs? Would order-delivery performance be improved if we restrict the number of choices in product configurations? (Multi-Item Systems; Backorders; Demand Correlation; Performance Evaluation; Approximation; Assemble-to-Order; Component Commonality; Product Structure)
Convergence Analysis of Two-layer Neural Networks with ReLU Activation

In recent years, stochastic gradient descent (SGD) based techniques has become the standard tools for training neural networks. However, formal theoretical understanding of why SGD can train neural networks in practice is largely missing. In this paper, we make progress on understanding this mystery by providing a convergence analysis for SGD on a rich subset of two-layer feedforward networks with ReLU activations. This subset is characterized by a special structure called “identity mapping”. We prove that, if input follows from Gaussian distribution, with standard O(1/ √ d) initialization of the weights, SGD converges to the global minimum in polynomial number of steps. Unlike normal vanilla networks, the “identity mapping” makes our network asymmetric and thus the global minimum is unique. To complement our theory, we are also able to show experimentally that multi-layer networks with this mapping have better performance compared with normal vanilla networks. Our convergence theorem differs from traditional non-convex optimization techniques. We show that SGD converges to optimal in “two phases”: In phase I, the gradient points to the wrong direction, however, a potential function g gradually decreases. Then in phase II, SGD enters a nice one point convex region and converges. We also show that the identity mapping is necessary for convergence, as it moves the initial point to a better place for optimization. Experiment verifies our claims.
Harnessing mechanochemical effects with ultrasound-induced reactions

Chemical reactions may experience numerous and varied effects under the influence of ultrasound. This soft radiation, often viewed as a lab trick, induces and improves both physical and chemical transformations by means of efficient agitation, dissolution, mass and heat transfers, and reagents sonolysis, which all arise from the cavitational collapse. An empirical rationale that distinguishes between true chemical effects and mechanical ones, especially in heterogeneous reactions, was introduced more than two decades ago and has been a useful guidance on reporting sonochemical mechanisms. Recent studies have witnessed a truly remarkable data set that boosts sonochemistry over the wall of applied science. This perspective highlights the importance of the so-called false sonochemistry-closely related to mechanochemistry-in modern synthesis, thus illustrating the advantages of using pressure waves in chemistry. Emphasis is put on green transformations, mild polymerization reactions and the selective cleavage of functionalized polymers, which may have an effective impact in process chemistry and represent a realistic option in industry.
Psychometric validation of the German translation of the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) and Quality of Life in Reflux and Dyspepsia (QOLRAD) questionnaire in patients with reflux disease

BACKGROUND
Symptoms of heartburn has an impact on health-related quality of life (HRQL). When a questionnaire is translated into a new language, a linguistic validation is necessary but not sufficient unless the psychometric characteristics have been verified. The aim is to document the psychometric characteristics of the German translation of the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) and Quality of Life in Reflux and Dyspepsia (QOLRAD) questionnaire.


METHODS
142 patients with symptoms of heartburn (Age: M = 47.5, +/- 14.6; Males = 44.4%) completed the German translation of GSRS, the QOLRAD, the Short-Form-36 (SF-36) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale.


RESULTS
The internal consistency reliability of GSRS ranged from 0.53-0.91 and of QOLRAD from 0.90-0.94, respectively. The test-retest reliability of GSRS ranged from 0.49-0.73 and of QOLRAD from 0.70-0.84. The relevant domains of the GSRS and QOLRAD domain scores significantly correlated. GSRS domains of Abdominal Pain and Constipation correlated (negatively) with most of the domains of the SF-36. The relevant QOLRAD domains significantly correlated with all SF-36 domains.


CONCLUSIONS
The psychometric characteristics of the German translation of GSRS and QOLRAD were found to be good, with satisfactory reliability and validity. The reliability of the GSRS Abdominal Pain domain was moderate.
Functional and radiological evaluations of high-energy tibial plateau fractures treated with double-buttress plate fixation

OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to evaluate the functional and radiological outcomes of patients with complex tibial plateau fractures treated with double-buttress plate fixation.


METHODS
Sixty five cases of complex (Schatzker type V and VI) tibial plateau fractures were treated with double-buttress plate fixation in our centre from September 2001 to September 2006 through two separate plate incisions. Fifty four patients were followed up for a period ranging from 12 to 48 months and evaluated for the functional and radiological outcomes by a series of standard questionnaire and measurement.


RESULTS
Due to the good exposure without any extensive soft-tissue dissection of the double-buttress plate fixation, the fractures in all 54 patients were healed and the treatment achieved greater than 90% of satisfactory-to-excellent rates of reduction. The mean time of bone union was 15.4 weeks (range, 12-30 weeks), and the mean time of full weight-bearing was 18.7 weeks (range, 14-26 weeks). At the final follow-up visit, no patients showed knee instability; the mean range of motion was 107.6 degrees (range, 85 degrees -130 degrees ). For all patients, no statistically significant difference in the functional outcomes was observed between their 6-months and final follow-up visits; or in the radiological findings between their immediate postoperative and final follow-up examinations.


CONCLUSION
Double-buttress plate fixation is a feasible treatment option for bilcondylar and complex tibial plateau fractures. Although technically demanding, it offers reliable stability without additional postoperative adjuvant external fixation, and at the same time avoids extensive soft tissue dissection, allowing the early painless range of motion.
Belotecan/cisplatin versus etoposide/cisplatin in previously untreated patients with extensive-stage small cell lung carcinoma: a multi-center randomized phase III trial

No novel chemotherapeutic combinations have demonstrated superior efficacy to etoposide/cisplatin (EP), a standard treatment regimen for extensive-stage small cell lung carcinoma (ES-SCLC) over the past decade. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of belotecan/cisplatin (BP) and EP regimens in chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-naïve patients with previously untreated ES-SCLC. We conducted a multi-center, randomized, open-label, parallel-group, phase III clinical study. A total of 157 patients were recruited at 14 centers with 147 patients meeting the inclusion/exclusion criteria and randomized to either BP (n = 71) or EP (n = 76) treatment arms. A non-inferior response rate (RR) in the BP arm, analyzed by intent-to-treat analysis according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.0 criteria, was used as the primary endpoint. The secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). In the BP arm, one patient had a complete response, 41 had a partial response (PR), and 17 had stable disease (SD). In the EP arm, 35 patients had PR and 28 had SD. The RR in the BP arm was non-inferior to the EP regimen in patients with ES-SCLC (BP: 59.2 %, EP: 46.1 %, difference: 13.1 %, 90 % two-sided confidence interval: -0.3–26.5, meeting the predefined non-inferiority criterion of -15.0 %). No significant differences in OS or PFS were observed between the treatment arms. Hematologic toxicities, including grade 3/4 anemia and thrombocytopenia, were significantly more prevalent in the BP arm than the EP arm. The RR to the BP regimen was non-inferior to the EP regimen in chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-naïve patients with previously untreated ES-SCLC. Hematologic toxicities were significantly more prevalent in the BP group, indicating that BP should be used with care, particularly in patients with a poor performance status. Further studies assessing PFS and OS are required to validate the superiority of the BP regimen. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT00826644 . Date of Registration: January 21, 2009.
Safety, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy of a specific anti-IL-1alpha therapeutic antibody (MABp1) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AIMS
The role of the IL-1 system in development of type 2 diabetes is well established. Using an IL-1 receptor antagonist, which blocks IL-1alpha and -beta activity, or by specifically neutralizing IL-1beta, several clinical studies have demonstrated improvement in insulin secretion and glycaemia. However, the role of IL-1alpha remains to be investigated.


METHODS
We evaluated the safety and preliminary efficacy of a neutralizing true human™ monoclonal antibody against IL-1alpha (MABp1) in an open label trial in patients with type 2 diabetes. Seven patients between 50 to 66years with type 2 diabetes mellitus were enrolled in the study. The study subjects received four biweekly intravenous infusions of MABp1 at 1.25mg/kg body weight up to day 60 and were followed up for a total of 90days.


RESULTS
Compared to baseline, after the 60-day period of treatment HbA1c was numerically reduced by 0.14±0.21% (p=0.15), fasting C-peptide was increased by 88% (p=0.03), pro-insulin by 48% (p=0.03) and insulin numerically increased by 74% (p=0.11). Systolic blood pressure numerically decreased by 11mmHg (p=0.2). Both HbA1c and blood pressure rebounded to baseline levels thirty days after the end of MABp1 application. Treatment with MABp1 was well tolerated, and no adverse events occurred during the study.


CONCLUSION
The results point to a role of IL-1alpha in type 2 diabetes and encourage further investigations. (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT01427699).
Parameter selection for health monitoring of electronic products

Please cite this article in press as: Kumar S doi:10.1016/j.microrel.2009.09.016 This paper presents an approach for selecting precursor parameters for health monitoring of electronic products. The approach includes failure modes, mechanisms, and effects analysis (FMMEA) and life cycle profile analysis of a product. The criticality of the failure mechanisms is established using a risk priority number (RPN), where the RPN for each failure mechanism is calculated as a product of the occurrence and the severity of each mechanism. Performance parameters that can be associated with the critical failure mechanisms should be selected for health monitoring of the product. These parameters could be used for diagnostic purposes. A case study is presented to demonstrate the parameter selection approach for a computer server system. FMMEA was performed on the server, and precursor parameters of the server were selected for monitoring based on the failure modes and mechanisms that posed the highest risk. The utilization of identified parameters for fault detection is presented through a diagnostic algorithm. This approach can be used to select parameters for health monitoring of any system. 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The effect of breakfast type on total daily energy intake and body mass index: results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III).

OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between breakfast type, energy intake and body mass index (BMI). We hypothesized not only that breakfast consumption itself is associated with BMI, but that the type of food eaten at breakfast also affects BMI.


METHODS
Data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), a large, population-based study conducted in the United States from 1988 to 1994, were analyzed for breakfast type, total daily energy intake, and BMI. The analyzed breakfast categories were "Skippers," "Meat/eggs," "Ready-to-eat cereal (RTEC)," "Cooked cereal," "Breads," "Quick Breads," "Fruits/vegetables," "Dairy," "Fats/sweets," and "Beverages." Analysis of covariance was used to estimate adjusted mean body mass index (BMI) and energy intake (kcal) as dependent variables. Covariates included age, gender, race, smoking, alcohol intake, physical activity and poverty index ratio.


RESULTS
Subjects who ate RTEC, Cooked cereal, or Quick Breads for breakfast had significantly lower BMI compared to Skippers and Meat and Egg eaters (p < or = 0.01). Breakfast skippers and fruit/vegetable eaters had the lowest daily energy intake. The Meat and Eggs eaters had the highest daily energy intake and one of the highest BMIs.


CONCLUSIONS
This analysis provides evidence that skipping breakfast is not an effective way to manage weight. Eating cereal (ready-to-eat or cooked cereal) or quick breads for breakfast is associated with significantly lower body mass index compared to skipping breakfast or eating meats and/or eggs for breakfast.