LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Genetic variation in the neuropeptide Y gene promoter is associated with increased risk of tobacco smoking.

BACKGROUND
Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a strong candidate gene regarding the pathophysiology of tobacco dependence. It has been associated with various addictive and psychiatric disorders, and closely interacts with the brain reward system. The aim of the present study was to test for association between a functional genetic variant in the NP-Y promoter gene (SNP rs16147) and tobacco smoking.


METHODS
In a population-based case-control multicenter study designed for tobacco addiction research, a total of 550 Caucasian current smokers, and 544 never-smokers were genotyped for SNP rs16147 and behaviorally characterized with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).


RESULTS
Subjects with TT genotype of the SNP rs16147 were significantly more frequently smokers than never-smokers (p = 0.046). In addition, TT genotype exhibited increased state anxiety scores compared to carriers of the C allele (p = 0.037).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results provide evidence for an involvement of the functionally relevant SNP rs16147 in the pathophysiology of tobacco dependence. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings.
Multicentric Castleman disease: Where are we now?

Multicentric Castleman disease (MCD) encompasses a spectrum of conditions that give rise to overlapping clinicopathological manifestations. The fundamental pathogenetic mechanism involves dysregulated cytokine activity that causes systemic inflammatory symptoms as well as lymphadenopathy. The histological changes in lymph nodes resemble in part the findings originally described in the unicentric forms Castleman disease, both hyaline vascular and plasma cell variants. In MCD caused by Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus/human herpesvirus-8 (KSHV/HHV8), the cytokine over activity is caused by viral products, which can also lead to atypical lymphoproliferations and potential progression to lymphoma. In cases negative for KSHV/HHV8, so-called idiopathic MCD, the hypercytokinemia can result from various mechanisms, which ultimately lead to different constellations of clinical presentations and varied pathology in lymphoid tissues. In this article, we review the evolving concepts and definitions of the various conditions under the eponym of Castleman disease, and summarize current knowledge regarding the histopathology and pathogenesis of lesions within the MCD spectrum.
Improving colorectal cancer screening in family medicine: an Oklahoma Physicians Resource/Research Network (OKPRN) study.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to describe colorectal cancer screening (CRCS) practices across a variety of primary care clinics and identify the methods used by primary care physicians (PCPs) with higher rates of CRCS ("exemplars").


METHODS
Physician questionnaires, structured interviews, medical record abstractions, and practice observations were conducted for 48 PCPs in 25 practices within a regional practice-based research network followed by secondary in-depth interviews to further investigate the practices of PCPs in the top quartile of CRCS rates ("exemplars").


RESULTS
We abstracted 3596 medical records (mean of 75 records per PCP). Overall, exemplars had higher CRCS rates (median, 57.2% vs. 27.6%; P < .001). Patients of exemplars had higher screening rates for fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) and colonoscopy but not for flexible sigmoidoscopy or double-contrast barium enemas. Exemplars adopted few of the system-based innovations proposed by researchers to improve CRCS. Colonoscopy was promoted as the preferred CRCS method. FOBT was recommended for patients who could not afford or did not want colonoscopy. Flexible sigmoidoscopy or barium enemas were rarely recommended. Exemplars used brief CRCS promotion scripts that informally paralleled theory-driven counseling techniques.


CONCLUSIONS
Experienced PCPs use brief CRCS promotion scripts including counseling techniques that improve CRCS performance. Future research should be directed toward whether these techniques can be used to create an intervention aimed at PCPs to improve CRCS.
Compact triple band antenna for Bluetooth/WiMAX/WLAN applications

A compact printed monopole antenna using two U-type slot working at Bluetooth/WiMAX/WLAN service is present. The antenna can be implemented with a small dimension similarly to the conventional strip-type slot. Based on the simulation and measurement results, triple-band antenna using two U-type slots are very effective in rejecting unwanted frequency in terms of its selectivity and small real estate. The overall dimension of the antenna comes around 30 mm×30 mm×1mm. The measurement results show that the antenna offers excellent performance with Bluetooth ranging from 2.28 GHz to 2.9 GHz, WiMAX ranging from 3.3 GHz to 3.85 GHz and wireless local area network (WLAN) ranging from 4.72 GHz to 6.4 GHz. The proposed antenna gives bidirectional pattern in the E-plane and omni-directional radiation pattern in the H-plane over the frequency range and relatively stable. This antenna configuration would be quiet useful for wireless communication systems.
Will the experience of playing a violent role in a video game influence people's judgments of violent crimes?

The present study investigates the impact of the experience of role playing a violent character in a video game on attitudes towards violent crimes and criminals. People who played the violent game were found to be more acceptable of crimes and criminals compared to people who did not play the violent game. More importantly, interaction effects were found such that people were more acceptable of crimes and criminals outside the game if the criminals were matched with the role they played in the game and the criminal actions were similar to the activities they perpetrated during the game. The results indicate that people’s virtual experience through role-playing games can influence their attitudes and judgments of similar real-life crimes, especially if the crimes are similar to what they conducted while playing games. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Applications of Machine Learning to Support Dementia Care through Commercially Available Off-the-Shelf Sensing

Applications of Machine Learning to Support Dementia Care through Commercially Available O↵-the-Shelf Sensing
Fast algorithms for L∞ problems in multiview geometry

Many problems in multi-view geometry, when posed as minimization of the maximum reprojection error across observations, can be solved optimally in polynomial time. We show that these problems are instances of a convex-concave generalized fractional program. We survey the major solution methods for solving problems of this form and present them in a unified framework centered around a single parametric optimization problem. We propose two new algorithms and show that the algorithm proposed by Olsson et al. [21] is a special case of a classical algorithm for generalized fractional programming. The performance of all the algorithms is compared on a variety of datasets, and the algorithm proposed by Gugat [12] stands out as a clear winner. An open source MATLAB toolbox that implements all the algorithms presented here is made available.
Duration of androgen suppression before radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer: radiation therapy oncology group randomized clinical trial 9910.

PURPOSE
To determine whether prolonged androgen suppression (AS) duration before radiotherapy improves survival and disease control in prostate cancer.


PATIENTS AND METHODS
One thousand five hundred seventy-nine men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer were randomly assigned to 8 weeks of AS followed by radiotherapy with an additional 8 weeks of concurrent AS (16 weeks total) or to 28 weeks of AS followed by radiotherapy with an additional 8 weeks of AS (36 weeks total). The trial sought primarily to detect a 33% reduction in the hazard of prostate cancer death in the 28-week assignment. Time-to-event end points are reported for up to 10 years of follow-up.


RESULTS
There were no between-group differences in baseline characteristics of 1,489 eligible patients with follow-up. For the 8- and 28-week assignments, 10-year disease-specific survival rates were 95% (95% CI, 93.3% to 97.0%) and 96% (95% CI, 94.6% to 98.0%; hazard ratio [HR], 0.81; P = .45), respectively, and 10-year overall survival rates were 66% (95% CI, 62.0% to 69.9%) and 67% (95% CI, 63.0% to 70.8%; HR, 0.95; P = .62), respectively. For the 8- and 28-week assignments, 10-year cumulative incidences of locoregional progression were 6% (95% CI, 4.3% to 8.0%) and 4% (95% CI, 2.5% to 5.7%; HR, 0.65; P = .07), respectively; 10-year distant metastasis cumulative incidences were 6% (95% CI, 4.0% to 7.7%) and 6% (95% CI, 4.0% to 7.6%; HR, 1.07; P = .80), respectively; and 10-year prostate-specific antigen-based recurrence cumulative incidences were 27% (95% CI, 23.1% to 29.8%) and 27% (95% CI, 23.4% to 30.3%; HR, 0.97; P = .77), respectively.


CONCLUSION
Extending AS duration from 8 weeks to 28 weeks before radiotherapy did not improve outcomes. A lower than expected prostate cancer death rate reduced ability to detect a between-group difference in disease-specific survival. The schedule of 8 weeks of AS before radiotherapy plus 8 weeks of AS during radiotherapy remains a standard of care in intermediate-risk prostate cancer.
A longitudinal study of serum insulin and glucose levels in relation to colorectal cancer risk among postmenopausal women

Background:It is unclear whether circulating insulin or glucose levels are associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer. Few prospective studies have examined this question, and only one study had repeated measurements.Methods:We conducted a prospective study of colorectal cancer risk using the subsample of women in the Women's Health Initiative study whose fasting blood samples, collected at baseline and during follow-up, were analysed for insulin and glucose. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess associations with colorectal cancer risk in both baseline and time-dependent covariates analyses.Results:Among 4902 non-diabetic women with baseline fasting serum insulin and glucose values, 81 incident cases of colorectal cancer were identified over 12 years of follow-up. Baseline glucose levels were positively associated with colorectal cancer and colon cancer risk: multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) comparing the highest (⩾99.5 mg dl−1) with the lowest tertile (<89.5 mg dl−1): 1.74, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.97–3.15 and 2.25, 95% CI: 1.12–4.51, respectively. Serum insulin and homeostasis model assessment were not associated with risk. Analyses of repeated measurements supported the baseline results.Conclusion:These data suggest that elevated serum glucose levels may be a risk factor for colorectal cancer in postmenopausal women.
Cost effectiveness of peginterferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin versus interferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin for initial treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND
Peginterferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin therapy in previously untreated patients with chronic hepatitis C yields the highest sustained virological response rates of any treatment strategy but is expensive.


AIMS
To estimate the cost effectiveness of treatment with peginterferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin compared with interferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin for initial treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C.


METHODS
Individual patient level data from a randomised clinical trial with peginterferon plus ribavirin were applied to a previously published and validated Markov model to project lifelong clinical outcomes. Quality of life and economic estimates were based on German patient data. We used a societal perspective and applied a 3% annual discount rate.


RESULTS
Compared with no antiviral therapy, peginterferon plus fixed or weight based dosing of ribavirin increased life expectancy by 4.2 and 4.7 years, respectively. Compared with standard interferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin, peginterferon plus fixed or weight based dosing of ribavirin increased life expectancy by 0.5 and by 1.0 years with incremental cost effectiveness ratios of 11,800 euros and 6600 euros per quality adjusted life year (QALY), respectively. Subgroup analyses by genotype, viral load, sex, and histology showed that peginterferon plus weight based ribavirin remained cost effective compared with other well accepted medical treatments.


CONCLUSIONS
Peginterferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin should reduce the incidence of liver complications, prolong life, improve quality of life, and be cost effective for the initial treatment of chronic hepatitis C.
Kinematic Characteristics of Postural Control during Reaching in Preterm Children with Cerebral Palsy

The relationships between kinematic characteristics of sitting posture during reaching movements of the dominant arm and 1) the kinematics of the reaching movement itself and 2) functional performance during daily life activities (PEDI) were assessed in 51 sitting preterm children with cerebral palsy (CP). The children were 2–11 y, 33 had spastic hemiplegia (SH) and 18 bilateral CP (Bi-CP). The data were compared with those of 26 typically developing children (TD). Sitting posture before the onset of reaching of children with CP differed from that of TD children: they sat with a more reclined pelvis and a more collapsed trunk. The more reclined pelvic position was associated with a better quality of reaching movements. The different sitting postures of pelvis and trunk were not related to functional performance during daily life activities. Displacement of the head, trunk, and pelvis of the children with CP did not differ from that of the TD children. Nevertheless, in the children with CP a more stable head, a more mobile trunk, and a more stable pelvis were related to better functional performance and/or a better quality of reaching. This suggests that physiotherapeutic guidance of children with CP should focus rather on the latter postural parameters than on the different sitting posture of pelvis and trunk.
Groundwater depletion: A global problem

In the past half-century, ready access to pumped wells has ushered in a worldwide “explosion” of groundwater development for municipal, industrial, and agricultural supplies. Globally, groundwater withdrawals total 750–800 km/year (Shah et al. 2000). Economic gains from groundwater use have been dramatic. However, in many places, groundwater reserves have been depleted to the extent that well yields have decreased, pumping costs have risen, water quality has deteriorated, aquatic ecosystems have been damaged, and land has irreversibly subsided. Groundwater depletion is the inevitable and natural consequence of withdrawing water from an aquifer. Theis (1940) showed that pumpage is initially derived from removal of water in storage, but over time is increasingly derived from decreased discharge and/or increased recharge. When a new equilibrium is reached, no additional water is removed from storage. In cases of fossil or compacting aquifers, where recharge is either unavailable or unable to refill drained pore spaces, depletion effectively constitutes permanent groundwater mining. In renewable aquifers, depletion is indicated by persistent and substantial head declines. Excessive groundwater depletion affects major regions of North Africa, the Middle East, South and Central Asia, North China, North America, and Australia, and localized areas throughout the world. Although the scope of the problem has not been quantified globally, on-going analysis by the senior author indicates that about 700–800 km of groundwater has been depleted from aquifers in the US during the 20th century. One of the best documented cases is the 450,000 km High Plains aquifer system in the central US, where the net amount of water removed from storage during the 20th century was more than 240 km—a reduction of about 6% of the predevelopment volume of water in storage (McGuire et al. 2003). In some of the most depleted areas, use of groundwater for irrigation has become impossible or cost prohibitive (Dennehy et al. 2002). In some cases, removing the most easily recoverable fresh groundwater leaves a residual with inferior water quality. This is due, in part, to induced leakage from the land surface, confining layers, or adjacent aquifers that contain saline or contaminated water. In coastal areas, where many of the world’s largest cities are located, the available volume of fresh groundwater is reduced by seawater intrusion and upconing, which in turn are caused by head declines in the aquifer. As depletion continues worldwide, its impacts worsen, portending the need for objective analysis of the problem and its possible solutions. This essay examines future options for evaluating and managing groundwater depletion in a changing physical and social landscape.
Affective response to one's own moral violations

Morality depends on a set of cultural rules that regulate interpersonal behaviour and provide a basis for social cohesion. The interpretation of moral transgressions and their affective consequences depends on whether the action is intentional or accidental, and whether one is the agent of or witness to the action. We used event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate whether the amygdala is involved in judging one's own moral violation of social norms. In this study, participants (n = 12) were asked to make evaluations regarding the degree of inappropriateness of social behaviours described in stories in which they themselves, or someone else, transgressed social norms either intentionally or accidentally. Consistent with our hypothesis, the amygdala was activated when participants considered stories narrating their own intentional transgression of social norms. This result suggests the amygdala is important for affective responsiveness to moral transgressions.
Efficacy of a Six-Month versus a 36-Month Regimen for Prevention of Tuberculosis in HIV-Infected Persons in India: A Randomized Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND
The optimal duration of preventive therapy for tuberculosis (TB) among HIV-infected persons in TB-endemic countries is unknown.


METHODS
An open-label randomized clinical trial was performed and analyzed for equivalence. Seven hundred and twelve HIV-infected, ART-naïve patients without active TB were randomized to receive either ethambutol 800 mg and isoniazid 300 mg daily for six-months (6EH) or isoniazid 300 mg daily for 36-months (36H). Drugs were dispensed fortnightly and adherence checked by home visits. Patients had chest radiograph, sputum smear and culture performed every six months, in addition to investigations if they developed symptoms. The primary endpoint was incident TB while secondary endpoints were all-cause mortality and adverse events. Survival analysis was performed on the modified intent to treat population (m-ITT) and rates compared.


FINDINGS
Tuberculosis developed in 22 (6.4%) of 344 subjects in the 6EH arm and 13 (3.8%) of 339 subjects in the 36H arm with incidence rates of 2.4/100 py (95%CI- 1.4-3.5) and 1.6/100 py (95% CI-0.8-3.0) with an adjusted rate ratio (aIRR) of 1.6 (0.8-3.2). Among TST-positive subjects, the aIRR of 6EH was 1.7 (0.6-4.3) compared to 36H, p = 0.8. All-cause mortality and toxicity were similar in the two arms. Among 15 patients with confirmed TB, 4 isolates were resistant to isoniazid and 2 were multidrug-resistant.


INTERPRETATION
Both regimens were similarly effective in preventing TB, when compared to historical incidence rates. However, there was a trend to lower TB incidence with 36H. There was no increase in isoniazid resistance compared to the expected rate in HIV-infected patients. The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00351702.
Workplace management of upper limb disorders: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND
Upper limb pain is common among working-aged adults and a frequent cause of absenteeism.


AIMS
To systematically review the evidence for workplace interventions in four common upper limb disorders.


METHODS
Systematic review of English articles using Medline, Embase, Cinahl, AMED, Physiotherapy Evidence Database PEDro (carpal tunnel syndrome and non-specific arm pain only) and Cochrane Library. Study inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials, cohort studies or systematic reviews employing any workplace intervention for workers with carpal tunnel syndrome, non-specific arm pain, extensor tenosynovitis or lateral epicondylitis. Papers were selected by a single reviewer and appraised by two reviewers independently using methods based on Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) methodology.


RESULTS
1532 abstracts were identified, 28 papers critically appraised and four papers met the minimum quality standard (SIGN grading + or ++) for inclusion. There was limited evidence that computer keyboards with altered force displacement characteristics or altered geometry were effective in reducing carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms. There was limited, but high quality, evidence that multi-disciplinary rehabilitation for non-specific musculoskeletal arm pain was beneficial for those workers absent from work for at least four weeks. In adults with tenosynovitis there was limited evidence that modified computer keyboards were effective in reducing symptoms. There was a lack of high quality evidence to inform workplace management of lateral epicondylitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Further research is needed focusing on occupational management of upper limb disorders. Where evidence exists, workplace outcomes (e.g. successful return to pre-morbid employment; lost working days) are rarely addressed.
Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using seed exudates of Sinapis arvensis as a novel bioresource, and evaluation of their antifungal activity

Background: In general, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are particles of silver with a size less than 100 nm. In recent years, synthesis of nanoparticles using plant extract has gained much interest in nanobiotechnology. In this concern, this study investigates green synthesis of AgNPs from silver nitrate using Sinapis arvensis as a novel bioresource of cost-effective nonhazardous reducing and stabilizing compounds. A stock solution of silver nitrate (0.1 M) was prepared. Different concentrations of silver nitrate (1, 2.5, 4, and 5 mM) were prepared from the above solution, then added to 5 mL of S. arvensis seed exudates. The mixtures were kept in 25°C. The synthesis of AgNPs was confirmed by the change in mixtures color from light yellow to brown. The antifungal activity of synthesized AgNPs was investigated in vitro. Results: The resulting AgNPs were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Formation of the AgNPs was confirmed by the change in mixture color from light yellow to brown and maximum absorption at 412 nm due to surface plasmon resonance of AgNPs. The role of different functional groups in the formation of AgNPs was shown by FTIR. X-ray diffraction was shown that the AgNPs formed in our experiments were in the form of nanocrystal, and TEM analysis showed spherical particles with an average size of 14 nm. Our measurements indicated that S. arvensis seed exudates can mediate facile and eco-friendly biosynthesis of colloidal-spherical AgNPs with a size range of 1 to 35 nm. The synthesized AgNPs showed significance antifungal activity against Neofusicoccum parvum cultures. Conclusion: The AgNPs were synthesized using a biological source. This synthesis method is nontoxic, eco-friendly, and a low-cost technology for the large-scale production. The AgNPs can be used as a new generation of antifungal agents.