LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Improved Recognition of Heart Attack and Stroke Symptoms After a Community-Based Intervention for Older Adults, Georgia, 2006-2007

INTRODUCTION
In Georgia, mortality from stroke is 16% higher and from cardiovascular disease is 9% higher than it is nationally. Although 75% of Georgia adults have 2 or more modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease, less than half recognize all major heart attack and stroke warning symptoms. To reduce disability and prevent death from cardiovascular events, high-risk population groups should be able to recognize symptoms and seek immediate medical attention.


METHODS
We evaluated a 4-month education intervention in 40 senior centers in Georgia. The intervention focused on improving knowledge of heart attack and stroke symptoms and on promoting lifestyle behaviors that prevent and manage cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Participants in a convenience sample completed a pretest questionnaire, the intervention, and a posttest questionnaire (N = 693, mean age, 75 years, 84% female, 45% black).


RESULTS
After the intervention, recognition of all 5 symptoms of heart attack increased from 29% at the pretest to 46% at the posttest, and recognition of all 5 symptoms of stroke increased from 42% at the pretest to 65% at the posttest (for both conditions, P < .001). In linear regression analyses, independent positive predictors of change in knowledge were younger age and higher education. Most risk factors for cardiovascular disease were not predictive.


CONCLUSION
The results of this evaluation provide an evidence base for the effectiveness of this intervention in improving knowledge about heart attack and stroke symptoms, which may translate to greater preparedness in these older adults for response to cardiovascular events.
Implications of Infliximab Treatment Failure and Influence of Personalized Treatment on Patient-reported Health-related Quality of Life and Productivity Outcomes in Crohn's Disease.

BACKGROUND
This study assessed the effects of infliximab (IFX) treatment failure on patient-reported outcomes and explored the influence of using personalized treatment in this situation.


METHODS
Sixty-nine Crohn's disease patients with IFX treatment failure were randomized to an intensified IFX regimen (n = 36) or personalized treatment defined by IFX and anti-IFX antibodies (n = 33). Health-related quality of life evaluated with the Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ) and productivity evaluated with the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (WPAI:CD) were assessed at treatment failure and after 4, 8, 12 and 20 weeks.


RESULTS
Median IBDQ score at manifestation of IFX treatment failure was 40 and improved markedly in responders by 11 at weeks 4 and 8 (p < 0.001) and by 13 at weeks 12 and 20 (p < 0.001). Non-responders improved modestly at weeks 12 and 20 (increase of median 4, p < 0.05). Overall activity impairment was high at IFX failure (median 70%) and decreased substantially in responders (40-50%, p < 0.001) and to a lesser extent in non-responders (15-40%, p < 0.05). In employed patients (55%), absenteeism was negligible during the entire study period. However, median presenteeism was 40% at manifestation of IFX failure and decreased only among responders across time (decrease 10-30%, p < 0.05). Although anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) therapy was discontinued in most patients handled by personalized treatment, IBDQ and WPAI:CD scores were similar in these patients compared with patients routinely dose-intensified on IFX.


CONCLUSION
Regaining low disease activity after IFX failure is necessary for minimizing patient impairment and indirect disease-related costs. A personalized treatment strategy does not have a negative influence on patient-reported outcomes.
Ethnic identity and perceived stress in HIV+ minority women: the role of coping self-efficacy and social support.

BACKGROUND
Ethnic minority women living with HIV (WLWH) face multiple stigmas that can contribute to overwhelming levels of stress, which could hamper their ability to manage their chronic disease. Little is known about whether having a greater sense of ethnic identity might insulate WLWH from stress. It is also possible that certain cognitive and interpersonal factors (i.e., coping self-efficacy and perceived social support) may act as mediators of this relationship. We hypothesized that WLWH with a greater sense of ethnic identity would report less stress because they access these cognitive and interpersonal resources to better manage stressors.


PURPOSE
The present study (1) related ethnic identity to perceived stress and (2) examined coping self-efficacy and social support as co-mediators of this relationship in a sample of low-income minority WLWH.


METHOD
Ninety-two minority women (89% African American) completed self-report psychosocial measures including the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Cognitive Coping Self-efficacy Scale (CCSE), and Social Provision Scale (SPS).


RESULTS
Greater ethnic identity was associated with less perceived stress, and this relationship was mediated by greater levels of both coping self-efficacy and social support.


CONCLUSIONS
WLWH who identify more with their ethnic group may experience less stress via their access to more cognitive and interpersonal resources.
Benchmark Control Problems for Seismically Excited Nonlinear Buildings

This paper presents the problem definition and guidelines of a set of benchmark control problems for seismically excited nonlinear buildings. Focusing on three typical steel structures, 3, 9and 20-story buildings designed for the SAC project for the Los Angeles, California region, the goal of this study is to provide a clear basis to evaluate the efficacy of various structural control strategies. A nonlinear evaluation model has been developed that portrays the salient features of the structural system. Evaluation criteria and control constraints are presented for the design problems. The task of each participant in this benchmark study is to define (including sensors and control algorithms), evaluate and report on their proposed control strategies. These strategies may be either passive, active, semi-active or a combination thereof. The benchmark control problems will then facilitate direct comparison of the relative merits of the various control strategies. To illustrate some of the design challenges, a sample control strategy employing active control with a linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) control algorithm is applied to the 20-story structure. Introduction The protection of civil structures, including material content and human occupants, is, without doubt, a world-wide priority. The extent of protection may range from reliable operation and occupant comfort to human and structural survivability. Civil structures, including existing and future buildings, towers and bridges, must be adequately protected from a variety of events, including earthquakes, winds, waves and traffic. The protection of structures is now moving from reliance entirely on the inelastic deformation of the structure to dissipate the energy of severe dynamic loadings, to the application of passive, active and semi-active structural control devices to mitigate undesired responses to dynamic loads. However, even in controlled structures, it can be expected that large seismic events, such as the 1994 Northridge and the 1995 Kobe earthquakes, will cause structural members to exceed the elastic limit. 1. On leave from the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry of Japan.
Ablation of rotor and focal sources reduces late recurrence of atrial fibrillation compared with trigger ablation alone: extended follow-up of the CONFIRM trial (Conventional Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation With or Without Focal Impulse and Rotor Modulation).

OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to determine if ablation that targets patient-specific atrial fibrillation (AF)-sustaining substrates (rotors or focal sources) is more durable than trigger ablation alone at preventing late AF recurrence.


BACKGROUND
Late recurrence substantially limits the efficacy of pulmonary vein isolation for AF and is associated with pulmonary vein reconnection and the emergence of new triggers.


METHODS
Three-year follow-up was performed of the CONFIRM (Conventional Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation With or Without Focal Impulse and Rotor Modulation) trial, in which 92 consecutive patients with AF (70.7% persistent) underwent novel computational mapping. Ablation comprised source (focal impulse and rotor modulation [FIRM]) and then conventional ablation in 27 patients (FIRM guided) and conventional ablation alone in 65 patients (FIRM blinded). Patients were followed with implanted electrocardiographic monitors when possible (85.2% of FIRM-guided patients, 23.1% of FIRM-blinded patients).


RESULTS
FIRM mapping revealed a median of 2 (interquartile range: 1 to 2) rotors or focal sources in 97.7% of patients during AF. During a median follow-up period of 890 days (interquartile range: 224 to 1,563 days), compared to FIRM-blinded therapy, patients receiving FIRM-guided ablation maintained higher freedom from AF after 1.2 ± 0.4 procedures (median 1; interquartile range: 1 to 1) (77.8% vs. 38.5%, p = 0.001) and a single procedure (p < 0.001) and higher freedom from all atrial arrhythmias (p = 0.003). Freedom from AF was higher when ablation directly or coincidentally passed through sources than when it missed sources (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
FIRM-guided ablation is more durable than conventional trigger-based ablation in preventing 3-year AF recurrence. Future studies should investigate how ablation of patient-specific AF-sustaining rotors and focal sources alters the natural history of arrhythmia recurrence. (The Dynamics of Human Atrial Fibrillation; NCT01008722).
GPS-based localization for a surveillance UGV in outdoor areas

The ANSER project (airport night surveillance expert robot) is described, exploiting a mobile robot for autonomous surveillance in civilian airports and similar wide outdoor areas. The paper focuses on the localization subsystem of the patrol robot: in contrast with most approaches in literature, we show how a positioning subsystem composed exclusively of a non-differential GPS unit (i.e., without inertial sensors) is enough to ensure accurate estimates of the robot's position and orientation, under the assumption of nonholonomic kinematics.
New social movements, the use of ICTs, and their social impact

The following work is an analysis of new social movements and the use of new technologies from the perspective of political philosophy. It stems from the results obtained in the dissertation "New Social Movements and the Use of ICTs: Case Studies," presented at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid as part of the Communication, Social Change and Development program. While it is true that these movements have existed for a long time, new digital technologies allow for political agendas and proposals to increase in visibility, scope and dissemination. The "know-how" of these new movements and their ability to drive social transformation are expressions of a framework made up of different strategies to those proposed by traditional groups framed by political parties. The methods employed by civic action require a natural flow of information which political parties cannot reproduce. Symbolic resources and expressions of sentiments and emotions play a crucial role in structuring a new form of language and a different way of being. The implications are important, not only in terms of mass media and politics, but also in terms of social change. (Less)
Fruit ripening mutants reveal cell metabolism and redox state during ripening

Ripening which leads to fruit senescence is an inimitable process characterized by vivid changes in color, texture, flavor, and aroma of the fleshy fruits. Our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the regulation of fruit ripening and senescence is far from complete. Molecular and biochemical studies on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) ripening mutants such as ripening inhibitor (rin), nonripening (nor), and never ripe (Nr) have been useful in our understanding of fruit development and ripening. The MADS-box transcription factor RIN, a global regulator of fruit ripening, is vital for the broad aspects of ripening, in both ethylene-dependent and independent manners. Here, we have carried out microarray analysis to study the expression profiles of tomato genes during ripening of wild type and rin mutant fruits. Analysis of the differentially expressed genes revealed the role of RIN in regulation of several molecular and biochemical events during fruit ripening including fruit specialized metabolism and cellular redox state. The role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during fruit ripening and senescence was further examined by determining the changes in ROS level during ripening of wild type and mutant fruits and by analyzing expression profiles of the genes involved in maintaining cellular redox state. Taken together, our findings suggest an important role of ROS during fruit ripening and senescence, and therefore, modulation of ROS level during ripening could be useful in achieving desired fruit quality.
Adalimumab maintains remission of Crohn's disease after up to 4 years of treatment: data from CHARM and ADHERE

BACKGROUND
Therapies that maintain remission for patients with Crohn's disease are essential. Stable remission rates have been demonstrated for up to 2 years in adalimumab-treated patients with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease enrolled in the CHARM and ADHERE clinical trials.


AIM
To present the long-term efficacy and safety of adalimumab therapy through 4 years of treatment.


METHODS
Remission (CDAI <150), response (CR-100) and corticosteroid-free remission over 4 years, and maintenance of these endpoints beyond 1 year were assessed in CHARM early responders randomised to adalimumab. Corticosteroid-free remission was also assessed in all adalimumab-randomised patients using corticosteroids at baseline. Fistula healing was assessed in adalimumab-randomised patients with fistula at baseline. As observed, last observation carried forward and a hybrid nonresponder imputation analysis for year 4 (hNRI) were used to report efficacy. Adverse events were reported for any patient receiving at least one dose of adalimumab.


RESULTS
Of 329 early responders randomised to adalimumab induction therapy, at least 30% achieved remission (99/329) or CR-100 (116/329) at year 4 of treatment (hNRI). The majority of patients (54%) with remission at year 1 maintained this endpoint at year 4 (hNRI). At year 4, 16% of patients taking corticosteroids at baseline were in corticosteroid-free remission and 24% of patients with fistulae at baseline had healed fistulae. The incidence rates of adverse events remained stable over time.


CONCLUSIONS
Prolonged adalimumab therapy maintained clinical remission and response in patients with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease for up to 4 years. No increased risk of adverse events or new safety signals were identified with long-term maintenance therapy. (clinicaltrials.gov number: NCT00077779).
Rate of observation and inter-observer agreement for LI-RADS major features at CT and MRI in 184 pathology proven hepatocellular carcinomas

To compare frequency and inter-reader agreement for LI-RADS v2014 major features at CT vs. MRI in pathology-proven cases of hepatocellular carcinoma. Pathology reports and imaging studies from patients having undergone liver transplant or hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma were reviewed. Size, location, washout, and capsule appearance for each lesion were recorded by two radiologists. Cohen’s kappa and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated. One hundred and thirty-four patients with 184 tumors were reviewed. Seventy-seven percentage of lesions were imaged by CT and 23% by MRI. No lesions were evaluated with both modalities. Mean lesion diameter was 2.6 ± 1.3 cm (ICC = 0.92). Arterial phase hyperenhancement was seen in 86% of lesions (κ = 0.75). Washout was seen in 82% of studies (κ = 0.61). Arterial phase hyperenhancement and washout were seen equally at CT and MRI (p = 1.00 and 0.46, respectively). Capsule was infrequently observed (27%) but was seen more commonly at MRI (44%) than at CT (17%) with p = 0.002 and (κ = 0.56). Forty-seven percent of lesions with at least one prior study met LI-RADS criteria for threshold growth. The rates of LI-RADS categories 3, 4, and 5 were 9%, 37%, and 54%, respectively. More 1–2 cm LI-RADS 5 lesions were seen at MRI (43%) than at CT (8%), p = 0.01. A combined LI-RADS 4/5 group was 91% sensitive for hepatocellular carcinoma. Arterial enhancement and washout were seen more frequently than capsule, the sole finding seen more frequently at MRI than at CT. Inter-reader reliability was substantial for arterial hyperenhancement and washout but moderate for capsule. Capsule remains an important finding in small arterially enhancing lesions (1–2 cm) which require a second major criterion to upgrade to a LI-RADS 5 lesion.
Student Perceptions About and Performance in Problem-Based Learning

Many graduate and professional programs include Problem Based Learning (PBL) as a mainstay in their curricula. For many undergraduate students, this is a change from a teacher-centered to a student-centered learning method. This study was undertaken to learn about perceptions and test performances of college students (N=116) enrolled in liberal education classes when PBL is used vs. traditional teaching methods. Results indicated students perceived traditional teacher-centered learning more favorably than studentcentered PBL. Nevertheless, test scores were similar. Negative student perceptions about learning in PBL classes did not support either teacher observations of learning activity in the classroom or compromised test
Surgery with versus without preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy for mid/low rectal cancer: an interim analysis of a prospective, randomized trial.

INTRODUCTION
Multimodality therapy, including preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and total mesorectal excision (TME), has effectively reduced local recurrence rates of rectal cancer over the past decade. However, the benefits and risks of the addition of neoadjuvant CRT to surgery need to be evaluated. This study was to compare the efficacy of TME with versus without preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) involving XELOX regimen (oxaliplatin plus capecitabine) in Chinese patients with stages II and III mid/low rectal adenocarcinoma.


METHODS
We randomly assigned patients to the TME group (TME without preoperative CCRT) or CCRT + TME group (TME with preoperative CCRT). The primary endpoint was disease-free survival (DFS); the secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), local and distant recurrence, tumor response to CRT, toxicity, sphincter preservation, and surgical complications. An interim analysis of the potential inferiority of DFS in the CCRT + TME group was planned when the first 180 patients had been followed up for at least 6 months.


RESULTS
A total of 94 patients in the TME group and 90 patients in the CCRT + TME group were able to be evaluated. The 3-year DFS and OS rates were 86.3 % and 91.5 % in the whole cohort, respectively. The 3-year DFS rates of the TME and CCRT + TME groups were 85.7% and 87.9 % (P = 0.766), respectively, and the 3-year OS rates were 90.7 % and 92.3 % (P = 0.855), respectively. The functional sphincter preservation rates of the TME and CCRT + TME groups were 71.3 % and 70.0 % (P = 0.849), respectively. In the TME group, 16 (17.0 %) patients were proven to have pTNM stage I disease after surgery. In the CCRT + TME group, 32 (35.6 %) patients achieved a pathologic complete response (pCR).


CONCLUSIONS
Preliminary results indicated no significant differences in the DFS, OS, or functional sphincter preservation rates between the TME and CCRT + TME groups. However, preoperative CCRT with XELOX yielded a high pCR rate. Newer techniques are needed to improve the staging accuracy, and further investigation is warranted.


CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
Chi CTR-TRC-08000122.
GENERATION IN ITSELF OR FOR ITSELF

ABSTRACT The concept of welfare generation and the idea of possible conflicts between generations have been discussed frequently in the context of pension systems. In order to form interest groups that could engage in such a conflict, the generations in question would have to form clear collectives with strong agendas. This article shows that the concept of generation is rather vague and that it is not possible to define a generational collective characterised by its experiences with and attitudes towards the welfare state or the pension system. Pensioner cohorts have so far been identified mainly on the basis of financial transactions. If other resources and characteristics are taken into account, the seemingly clear-cut differences between generations get blurred. Apart from these external factors, there is also no evidence to be found for specific generations perceiving themselves as winners or losers, nor do they show an outspoken conflict potential that would mark them as actors in generational disputes.
Sexual function in women with female genital mutilation.

OBJECTIVE
To compare the sexual function of women with female genital mutilation (FGM) to women without FGM.


DESIGN
A prospective case-control study.


SETTING
A tertiary referral university hospital.


PATIENT(S)
One hundred and thirty sexually active women with FGM and 130 sexually active women without FGM in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.


INTERVENTION(S)
Women with and without FGM were asked to answer the Arabic-translated version of the female sexual function index (FSFI) questionnaire.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)
The individual domain scores for pain, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, pain, and overall score of the FSFI were calculated.


RESULT(S)
The two groups were comparable in demographic characteristics. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in mean desire score (+/- standard deviation) or pain score. However, there were statistically significant differences between the two groups in their scores for arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and satisfaction as well as the overall score.


CONCLUSION(S)
Sexual function in women with FGM is adversely altered. This adds to the well-known health consequences of FGM. Efforts to document and explain these complications should be encouraged so that FGM can be abandoned.
Online Computation of Hysteresis Boundary for Constant Switching Frequency Current-Error Space-Vector-Based Hysteresis Controller for VSI-Fed IM Drives

This paper proposes a current-error space-vector-based hysteresis controller with online computation of boundary for two-level inverter-fed induction motor (IM) drives. The proposed hysteresis controller has got all advantages of conventional current-error space-vector-based hysteresis controllers like quick transient response, simplicity, adjacent voltage vector switching, etc. Major advantage of the proposed controller-based voltage-source-inverters-fed drive is that phase voltage frequency spectrum produced is exactly similar to that of a constant switching frequency space-vector pulsewidth modulated (SVPWM) inverter. In this proposed hysteresis controller, stator voltages along α- and β-axes are estimated during zero and active voltage vector periods using current errors along α- and β-axes and steady-state model of IM. Online computation of hysteresis boundary is carried out using estimated stator voltages in the proposed hysteresis controller. The proposed scheme is simple and capable of taking inverter upto six-step-mode operation, if demanded by drive system. The proposed hysteresis-controller-based inverter-fed drive scheme is experimentally verified. The steady state and transient performance of the proposed scheme is extensively tested. The experimental results are giving constant frequency spectrum for phase voltage similar to that of constant frequency SVPWM inverter-fed drive.