LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
An agent-assisted QoS-based routing algorithm for wireless sensor networks

Existing routing algorithms are not effective in supporting the dynamic characteristics of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) and cannot ensure sufficient quality of service in WSN applications. This paper proposes a novel agent-assisted QoS-based routing algorithm for wireless sensor networks. In the proposed algorithm, the synthetic QoS of WSNs is chosen as the adaptive value of a Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm to improve the overall performance of network. Intelligent software agents are used to monitor changes in network topology, network communication flow, and each node’s routing state. These agents can then participate in network routing and network maintenance. Experiment results show that the proposed algorithm can ensure better quality of service in wireless sensor networks compared with traditional algorithms. Crown Copyright & 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Cardiorheumatology: cardiac involvement in systemic rheumatic disease

Autoimmune rheumatic diseases can affect the cardiac vasculature, valves, myocardium, pericardium, and conduction system, leading to a plethora of cardiovascular manifestations that can remain clinically silent or lead to substantial cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although the high risk of cardiovascular pathology in patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatological diseases is not owing to atherosclerosis alone, this particular condition contributes substantially to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality—the degree of coronary atherosclerosis observed in patients with rheumatic diseases can be as accelerated, diffuse, and extensive as in patients with diabetes mellitus. The high risk of atherosclerosis is not solely attributable to traditional cardiovascular risk factors: dysfunctional immune responses, a hallmark of patients with rheumatic disorders, are thought to cause chronic tissue-destructive inflammation. Prompt recognition of cardiovascular abnormalities is needed for timely and appropriate management, and aggressive control of traditional risk factors remains imperative in patients with rheumatic diseases. Moreover, therapies directed towards inflammatory process are crucial to reduce cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. In this Review, we examine the multiple cardiovascular manifestations in patients with rheumatological disorders, their underlying pathophysiology, and available management strategies, with particular emphasis on the vascular aspects of the emerging field of 'cardiorheumatology'.
Construct validation of a triangular love scale.

This article presents a construct validation of a love scale based upon a triangular theory of love. The article opens with a review of some of the major theories of love, and with a discussion of some of the major issues in love research. Next it briefly reviews selected elements of the triangular theory of love, according to which love can be understood as comprising three componentsÐintimacy, passion, and decision/ commitment. Then the article presents two studies constituting the construct validation of the love scale. The construct validation comprises aspects of internal validationÐdetermination of whether the internal structure of the data is consistent with the theoryÐand external validationÐdetermination of whether the scale based on the theory shows sensible patterns of correlations with external measures. The data are generally, but not completely supportive of the utility of the triangular love scale.
Droxidopa in patients with neurogenic orthostatic hypotension associated with Parkinson's disease (NOH306A).

BACKGROUND
Neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (nOH) is common in Parkinson's disease (PD), and represents a failure to generate norepinephrine responses appropriate for postural change. Droxidopa (L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine) is an oral norepinephrine prodrug.


OBJECTIVE
Interim analyses of the initial patients enrolled in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial of droxidopa for nOH in PD (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01176240).


METHODS
PD patients with documented nOH underwent ≤ 2 weeks of double-blind droxidopa or placebo dosage optimization followed by 8 weeks of maintenance treatment (100-600 mg t.i.d.). The primary efficacy measure was change in Orthostatic Hypotension Questionnaire (OHQ) composite score from baseline to Week 8. Key secondary variables included dizziness/lightheadedness score (OHQ item 1) and patient-reported falls.


RESULTS
Among 24 droxidopa and 27 placebo recipients, mean OHQ composite-score change at Week 8 was -2.2 versus -2.1 (p = 0.98); in response to this pre-planned futility analysis, the study was temporarily stopped and all data from these patients were considered exploratory. At Week 1, mean dizziness/lightheadedness score change favored droxidopa by 1.5 units (p = 0.24), with subsequent numerical differences favoring droxidopa throughout the observation period, and at Week 1, mean standing systolic blood-pressure change favored droxidopa by 12.5 mmHg (p = 0.04). Compared with placebo, the droxidopa group exhibited an approximately 50% lower rate of reported falls (p = 0.16) and fall-related injuries (post-hoc analysis).


CONCLUSIONS
This exploratory analysis of a small dataset failed to show benefit of droxidopa, as compared with placebo by the primary endpoint. Nonetheless, there were signals of potential benefit for nOH, including improvement in dizziness/lightheadedness and reduction in falls, meriting evaluation in further trials.
Motivational enhancement therapy in addition to physical therapy improves motivational factors and treatment outcomes in people with low back pain: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES
To examine whether the addition of motivational enhancement treatment (MET) to conventional physical therapy (PT) produces better outcomes than PT alone in people with chronic low back pain (LBP).


DESIGN
A double-blinded, prospective, randomized, controlled trial.


SETTING
PT outpatient department.


PARTICIPANTS
Participants (N=76) with chronic LBP were randomly assigned to receive 10 sessions of either MET plus PT or PT alone.


INTERVENTION
MET included motivational interviewing strategies and motivation-enhancing factors. The PT program consisted of interferential therapy and back exercises.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Motivational-enhancing factors, pain intensity, physical functions, and exercise compliance.


RESULTS
The MET-plus-PT group produced significantly greater improvements than the PT group in 3 motivation-enhancing factors; proxy efficacy (P<.001), working alliance (P<.001), and treatment expectancy (P=.011). Furthermore, they performed significantly better in lifting capacity (P=.015), 36-Item Short Form Health Survey General Health subscale (P=.015), and exercise compliance (P=.002) than the PT group. A trend of a greater decrease in visual analog scale and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire scores also was found in the MET-plus-PT group than the PT group.


CONCLUSION
The addition of MET to PT treatment can effectively enhance motivation and exercise compliance and show better improvement in physical function in patients with chronic LBP compared with PT alone.
Structural Interpretation of Vector Autoregressions with Incomplete Identification: Revisiting the Role of Oil Supply and Demand Shocks

Traditional approaches to structural vector autoregressions can be viewed as special cases of Bayesian inference arising from very strong prior beliefs. These methods can be generalized with a less restrictive formulation that incorporates uncertainty about the identifying assumptions themselves. We use this approach to revisit the importance of shocks to oil supply and demand. Supply disruptions turn out to be a bigger factor in historical oil price movements and inventory accumulation a smaller factor than implied by earlier estimates. Supply shocks lead to a reduction in global economic activity after a significant lag, whereas shocks to oil demand do not.
Rehabilitation of the short pelvic floor. I: Background and patient evaluation

Pelvic floor physical therapists have traditionally focused on rehabilitation of the weak pelvic floor of normal length. With the recognition that many urogynecologic symptoms arise from the presence of a short, painful pelvic floor, the role of the physical therapist is expanding. Clinically, the pelvic floor musculature is found to be short, tender, and therefore weak. There are associated trigger points and characteristic extrapelvic connective tissue abnormalities. We report the characteristic patterns of myofascial and connective tissue abnormalities in 49 patients presenting with this syndrome.
Ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation in the management of interdigital (Morton’s) neuroma

To identify the benefits of ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation of Morton’s neuroma as an alternative to surgical excision. We studied a consecutive cohort of surgical candidates for Morton’s neurectomy who we referred, instead, for radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Under local anaesthetic, RFA was performed under ultrasound guidance, by a single radiologist. This out-patient procedure was repeated after 4 weeks if necessary. We followed patients for a minimum of 6 months to assess their change in visual analogue pain scores (VAS), symptom improvement, complications and progression to surgical excision. Thirty feet in 25 patients were studied. There were 4 men and 21 women with an average age of 55 years (range 33–73 years). All had tried previous methods of conservative management. Forty percent presented with 2nd space neuromas and 60% with 3rd space ones. The average number of treatment sessions was 1.6 (range 1–3, mode 1). Prior to treatment, all patients had pain on activity (VAS average: 6.0, range 3–9). Post-treatment there was a statistically significant reduction in pain scores (post-RFA VAS average: 1.7, range 0–8, p < 0.001). The average overall symptom improvement was 76%. There was one minor complication of temporary nerve irritation. Three neuromas (10%) have progressed to surgical excision; 1 patient has ongoing, unchanged pain with no obvious cause. At 6 months, 26 out of 30 feet had a satisfactory outcome. Ultrasound-guided RFA has successfully alleviated patients’ symptoms of Morton’s neuroma in >85% of cases. Only 10% have proceeded to surgical excision in the short term.
Progressive Geometric Algorithms

Progressive algorithms are algorithms that, on the way to computing a complete solution to the problem at hand, output intermediate solutions that approximate the complete solution increasingly well. We present a framework for analyzing such algorithms, and develop efficient progressive algorithms for two geometric problems: computing the convex hull of a planar point set, and finding popular places in a set of trajectories.
On Minimum Variance Unbiased Estimation of Clock Offset in a Two-Way Message Exchange Mechanism

For many applications, distributed networks require the local clocks of the constituent nodes to run close to an agreed upon notion of time. Most of the widely used clock synchronization algorithms in such systems employ the sender-receiver protocol based on a two-way timing message exchange paradigm. Maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) of the clock offset based on the timing message exchanges between two clocks was derived in D. R. Jeske, On maximum likelihood estimation of clock offset[IEEE Trans. Commun., vol. 53, pp. 53-54, Jan. 2005], when the fixed delays are symmetric and the variable delays in each direction assume an exponential distribution with an unknown mean. Herein, the best linear unbiased estimate using order statistics (BLUE-OS) of the clock offset between two nodes is derived assuming both symmetric and asymmetric exponential network delays, respectively. The Rao-Blackwell-Lehmann-Scheffe¿ theorem is then exploited to obtain the minimum variance unbiased estimate (MVUE) for the clock offset which it is shown to coincide with the BLUE-OS. In addition, it is found that the MVUE of the clock offset in the presence of symmetric network delays also coincides with the MLE. Finally, in the presence of asymmetric network delays, although the MLE is biased, it is shown to achieve lesser mean-square error (MSE) than the MVUE in the region around the point where the bidirectional network link delays are symmetric and hence its merit as the most versatile estimator is fairly justified.
Association between mode of delivery and pelvic floor dysfunction.

BACKGROUND
Normal vaginal delivery can cause significant strain on the pelvic floor. We present a review of the current knowledge on vaginal delivery as a risk factor for urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse compared to caesarean section.


MATERIAL AND METHOD
We conducted a literature search in PubMed with an emphasis on systematic review articles and meta-analyses. The search was completed in January 2014. We also included articles from our own literature archives.


RESULTS
Compared to vaginal delivery, caesarean section appears to protect against urinary incontinence, but the effect decreases after patients reach their fifties. The risk of pelvic organ prolapse increases (dose-response effect) with the number of vaginal deliveries compared to caesarean sections. There are few reliable studies on the association between mode of delivery and anal incontinence, but meta-analyses may indicate that caesarean section does not offer protection after the postpartum period. Women with previous anal sphincter rupture during vaginal delivery are a sub-group with an elevated risk of anal incontinence. The degree of severity of pelvic floor dysfunction is frequently unreported in the literature.


INTERPRETATION
The prevalence of urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse is lower in women who have only delivered by caesarean section than in those who have delivered vaginally. For urinary incontinence this difference appears to level out with increasing age. There is no basis for identifying sub-groups with a high risk of pelvic floor injury, with the exception of women who have previously had an anal sphincter rupture. Caesarean section will have a limited primary preventive effect on pelvic floor dysfunction at a population level.
The F-MACHOP regimen in the treatment of aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas: a single center experience in 72 patients.

BACKGROUND
Since July 1991 we have employed the F-MACHOP regimen for the treatment of aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the response rate and the toxicity of this chemotherapy program.


PATIENTS AND METHODS
Seventy-two consecutive patients entered the study and were treated with the F-MACHOP regimen for 6 planned courses, given every 21 days. G- or GM-CSF were administered whenever required.


RESULTS
Sixty-six patients (92%) obtained a response: 38 (53%) a complete remission (CR) and 28 (39%) a partial remission (PR); 4 (6%) proved to be resistant and 2 (3%) died of chemotherapy-related toxicity. Fifty-seven patients with a good performance status were subsequently selected to undergo autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). During chemotherapy, grade III-IV neutropenia was observed in 59% of the patients; a significant drop in hemoglobin levels was detected, with blood transfusions being required in 21% of the cases; platelet counts were unaffected. The main extrahematological toxic events were: alopecia (100% of the patients), osteoarthromyalgias (58%), grade I-II neuropathy (53%) and grade I-II hepatic toxicity (43%).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study confirms the efficacy of the F-MACHOP regimen in obtaining a high rate of response (CR + PR) in most aggressive NHL cases, with an acceptable toxicity and a low rate of toxic deaths. This regimen enables the majority of patients to be selected for ASCT as consolidation therapy without significant toxicity.
The design features of forecasting support systems and their effectiveness

Forecasts play a key role in the management of the supply chain. In most organisations such forecasts form part of an information system on which other functions such as scheduling, resource planning and marketing depend. Forecast accuracy is, therefore, an important component in the delivery of an effective supply chain. Typically, the forecasts are produced by integrating managerial judgment with quantitative forecasts within a forecasting support system (FSS). However, there is much evidence that this integration is often carried out poorly with deleterious effects on accuracy. This study considers the role that a well-designed FSS might have in improving this situation. It integrates the literatures on forecasting and decision support to explain the causes of the problem and to identify design features of FSSs that might help to ameliorate it. An assessment is made of the extent to which currently available business forecasting packages, which are widely employed in supply chain management, possess these features.
Ant colony optimization based enhanced dynamic source routing algorithm for mobile Ad-hoc network

Article history: Received 3 July 2013 Received in revised form 19 August 2014 Accepted 24 September 2014 Available online 7 October 2014
Water cycle algorithm – A novel metaheuristic optimization method for solving constrained engineering optimization problems

0045-7949/$ see front matter 2012 Elsevier Ltd. A http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruc.2012.07.010 ⇑ Corresponding author. Tel.: +60 379675266; fax: E-mail addresses: hadi.eskandar@yahoo.com (H. hoo.com (A. Sadollah), bahreininejad@um.edu.my (A m.edu.my (M. Hamdi). This paper presents a new optimization technique called water cycle algorithm (WCA) which is applied to a number of constrained optimization and engineering design problems. The fundamental concepts and ideas which underlie the proposed method is inspired from nature and based on the observation of water cycle process and how rivers and streams flow to the sea in the real world. A comparative study has been carried out to show the effectiveness of the WCA over other well-known optimizers in terms of computational effort (measures as number of function evaluations) and function value (accuracy) in this paper. 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
How do habits guide behavior ? Perceived and actual triggers of habits in daily life

a r t i c l e i n f o What are the psychological mechanisms that trigger habits in daily life? Two studies reveal that strong habits are influenced by context cues associated with past performance (e.g., locations) but are relatively unaffected by current goals. Specifically, performance contexts—but not goals—automatically triggered strongly habitual behaviors in memory (Experiment 1) and triggered overt habit performance (Experiment 2). Nonetheless, habits sometimes appear to be linked to goals because people self-perceive their habits to be guided by goals. Furthermore, habits of moderate strength are automatically influenced by goals, yielding a curvilinear, U-shaped relation between habit strength and actual goal influence. Thus, research that taps self-perceptions or moderately strong habits may find habits to be linked to goals. Introduction Having cast off the strictures of behaviorism, psychologists are showing renewed interest in the psychological processes that guide This interest is fueled partly by the recognition that automaticity is not a unitary construct. Hence, different kinds of automatic responses may be triggered and controlled in different ways (Bargh, 1994; Moors & De Houwer, 2006). However, the field has not yet converged on a common understanding of the psychological mechanisms that underlie habits. Habits can be defined as psychological dispositions to repeat past behavior. They are acquired gradually as people repeatedly respond in a recurring context (e.g., performance settings, action sequences, Wood & Neal, 2007, 2009). Most researchers agree that habits often originate in goal pursuit, given that people are likely to repeat actions that are rewarding or yield desired outcomes. In addition, habit strength is a continuum, with habits of weak and moderate strength performed with lower frequency and/or in more variable contexts than strong habits This consensus aside, it remains unclear how goals and context cues influence habit automaticity. Goals are motivational states that (a) define a valued outcome that (b) energizes and directs action (e.g., the goal of getting an A in class energizes late night studying; Förster, Liberman, & Friedman, 2007). In contrast, context cues for habits reflect features of the performance environment in which the response typically occurs (e.g., the college library as a setting for late night studying). Some prior research indicates that habits are activated automatically by goals (e.g., Aarts & Dijksterhuis, 2000), whereas others indicate that habits are activated directly by context cues, with minimal influence of goals In the present experiments, we first test the cognitive associations …
Telephone-administered cognitive behavioral therapy for veterans served by community-based outpatient clinics.

OBJECTIVE
Multiple trials have found telephone-administered cognitive behavioral therapy (T-CBT) to be effective for the treatment of depression. The aim of this study was to evaluate T-CBT for the treatment of depression among veterans served by community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) outside of major urban areas.


METHOD
Eighty-five veterans meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) criteria for major depressive disorder were randomized to receive 16 sessions of T-CBT over 20 weeks or treatment as usual through the CBOC. Veterans were assessed at baseline, 12 weeks, 20 weeks (posttreatment), and 6-month follow-up using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (Hamilton, 1960), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (Kroenke, Spitzer, & Williams, 2001), and a standardized psychiatric interview.


RESULTS
There were no significant Time × Treatment effects (ps > .20). Patients were compliant, with 38 (92.7%) completing at least 12 sessions, and 32 (78.0%) having no missed sessions whatsoever. Ratings of audiotaped sessions showed the therapists to be highly competent.


CONCLUSIONS
This trial yielded negative results for an intervention that has been shown to be effective under other circumstances. We speculate that veterans served within the Veterans Affairs system are more refractory to treatment than other populations, and they may require a more rigorous intervention.


TRIAL REGISTRATION
clinicaltrials.gov NCT00223652.
Wireless home automation networks: A survey of architectures and technologies

Wireless home automation networks comprise wireless embedded sensors and actuators that enable monitoring and control applications for home user comfort and efficient home management. This article surveys the main current and emerging solutions that are suitable for WHANs, including ZigBee, Z-Wave, INSTEON, Wavenis, and IP-based technology.
PITCH DETECTION ALGORITHM : AUTOCORRELATION METHOD AND AMDF

This paper describes the pitch tracking techniques using autocorrelation method and AMDF (Average Magnitude Difference Function) method involving the preprocessing and the extraction of pitch pattern. It also presents the implementation and the basic experiments and discussions.
Water Quality Criteria

EPA develops water quality criteria based on the latest scientific knowledge to protect human health and aquatic life. This information serves as guidance to states and tribes in adopting water quality standards.