LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of group music intervention against agitated behavior in elderly persons with dementia.

OBJECTIVES
This study explored the effectiveness of group music intervention against agitated behavior in elderly persons with dementia.


METHODS
This was an experimental study using repeated measurements. Subjects were elderly persons who suffered from dementia and resided in nursing facilities. In total, 104 participants were recruited by permuted block randomization and of the 100 subjects who completed this study, 49 were in the experimental group and 51 were in the control group. The experimental group received a total of twelve 30-min group music intervention sessions, conducted twice a week for six consecutive weeks, while the control group participated in normal daily activities. In order to measure the effectiveness of the therapeutic sessions, assessments were conducted before the intervention, at the 6th and 12th group sessions, and at 1 month after cessation of the intervention. Longitudinal effects were analyzed by means of generalized estimating equations (GEEs).


RESULTS
After the group music therapy intervention, the experimental group showed better performance at the 6th and 12th sessions, and at 1 month after cessation of the intervention based on reductions in agitated behavior in general, physically non-aggressive behavior, verbally non-aggressive behavior, and physically aggressive behavior, while a reduction in verbally aggressive behavior was shown only at the 6th session.


CONCLUSIONS
Group music intervention alleviated agitated behavior in elderly persons with dementia. We suggest that nursing facilities for demented elderly persons incorporate group music intervention in routine activities in order to enhance emotional relaxation, create inter-personal interactions, and reduce future agitated behaviors.
Secrecy jurisdictions and economic development in Africa: the role of sovereign spaces of exception in producing private wealth and public poverty

Abstract This paper reviews the scope and function of secrecy jurisdictions and includes new research data on their extensive use by development finance institutions in delivering official development assistance. In order to establish what these empirical data mean in terms of economic development, the paper builds a theoretical model of secrecy jurisdictions as constructed spaces of exception and exemption. It then reviews how different economic paradigms explain, analyse and assign normative values to secrecy jurisdictions/tax havens, noting that the neoliberal account proffers ideological assumptions which cannot be empirically verified. This paper argues that the most robust evidence available indicates that secrecy jurisdictions lower ‘onshore’ rewards to national stakeholders, and critically shrink the fiscal base required for sustainable economic development. Further, the paper argues that the extensive use of secrecy jurisdictions by development finance institutions sponsors an elite financial cla...
Food Aid Targeting, Shocks and Private Transfers Among East African Pastoralists

Public transfers of food aid are intended largely to support vulnerable populations in times of stress. We use high frequency panel data among Ethiopian and Kenyan pastoralists to test the efficacy of food aid targeting under three different targeting modalities, food aid’s responsiveness to different types of covariate shocks, and its relationship to private transfers. We find that, in this region, self-targeting food-for-work or indicatortargeted free food distribution more effectively reach the poor than do food aid distributed according to community-based targeting. Food aid flows do not respond significantly to either covariate, community-level income or asset shocks. Rather, food aid flows appear to respond mainly to more readily observable rainfall measures. Finally, food aid does not appear to affect private transfers in any meaningful way, either by crowding out private gifts to recipient households nor by stimulating increased gifts by food aid recipients.
DARWIN: On the Incremental Migration of Legacy Information Systems

As is painfully evident today, the deterioration of the transportation, education 2 , and other national infrastructures negatively impacts many aspects of life, business, and our economy. This has resulted, in part, when responses to short term crises discourage investing in infrastructure enhancement and when there are no effective means for infrastructure evolution. This paper responds to the deterioration of the information system (IS) infrastructure that has strong negative impacts on ISs, on the organizations they support, and, ultimately, on the economy. This paper addresses the problem of legacy IS migration by methods that mediate between short term crises and long term goals. It presents an effective strategy and a spectrum of supporting methods for migrating legacy ISs into a target environment that includes rightsized hardware and modern technologies (i.e., infrastructure) such as a client-server architecture, DBMSs and CASE. We illustrate the methods with two migration case studies of multi-million dollar, mission critical legacy ISs. The contribution of this paper is a highly flexible set of migration methods that is tailorable to most legacy ISs and business contexts. The goal is to support continuous, iterative evolution. The critical success factor, and challenge in deployment, is to identify appropriate portions of the IS and the associated planning and management to achieve an incremental migration that is feasible with respect to the technical and business requirements. The paper concludes with a list of desirable migration tools for which basic research is required. The principles described in this paper can be used to design future ISs and an infrastructure that will support continuous IS evolution to avoid future legacy ISs. 2 The Edison project of Whittle Communications L.P., is attempting to create a innovative, for-profit alternative to the government funded school systems. It is based on the principle that Darwinian evolution applies not only to the species, but also to our institutions and organizations.
Fascial plasticity - a new neurobiological explanation: Part 1

Part 1 of this two part article showed that immediate fascial responsiveness to manipulation cannot be explained by its mechanical properties alone. Fascia is densely innervated by mechanoreceptors which are responsive to myofascial manipulation. They are intimately connected with the central nervous system and specially with the autonomic nervous system. Part 2 of the article shows how stimulation of these receptors can trigger viscosity changes in the ground substance. The discovery and implications of the existence of fascial smooth muscle cells are of special interest in relation to fibromyalgia, amongst other conditions. An attitudinal shift is suggested, from a mechanical body concept towards a cybernetic model, in which the practitioner’s intervention are seen as stimulation for self-regulatory processes within the client’s organism. Practical implications of this approach in myofascial manipulation will be explored. r 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Associations of volume and other hospital characteristics on mortality within 30 days of acute myocardial infarction in South Korea

OBJECTIVE
The mortality for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has declined worldwide. However, improvements in care for AMI in South Korea have lagged slightly behind those in other countries. Therefore, it is important to investigate how factors such as hospital volume, structural characteristics of hospital and hospital staffing level affect 30-day mortality due to AMI in South Korea.


SETTING
We used health insurance claim data from 114 hospitals to analyse 30-day mortality for AMI.


PARTICIPANTS
These data consisted of 19,638 hospitalisations during 2010-2013.


INTERVENTIONS
No interventions were made.


OUTCOME MEASURE
Multilevel models were analysed to examine the association between the 30-day mortality and inpatient and hospital level variables.


RESULTS
In the 30 days after hospitalisation, 10.5% of patients with AMI died. Hospitalisation cases at hospitals with a higher AMI volume had generally inverse associations with 30-day mortality (1st quartile=ref; 2nd quartile=OR 0.811, 95% CI 0.658 to 0.998, 3rd quartile=OR 0.648, 95% CI 0.500 to 0.840, 4th quartile=OR 0.807, 95% CI 0.573 to 1.138). In addition, hospitals with a greater proportion of specialists were associated with better outcomes (above median=OR 0.789, 95% CI 0.663 to 0.940).


CONCLUSIONS
Health policymakers need to include volume and staffing when defining the framework for treatment of AMI in South Korean hospitals. Otherwise, they must consider increasing the proportion of specialists or regulating the hiring of emergency medicine specialists. In conclusion, they must make an effort to reduce 30-day mortality following AMI based on such considerations.
Evidence into practice: evaluating a child-centred intervention for diabetes medicine management The EPIC Project

BACKGROUND
There is a lack of high quality, child-centred and effective health information to support development of self-care practices and expertise in children with acute and long-term conditions. In type 1 diabetes, clinical guidelines indicate that high-quality, child-centred information underpins achievement of optimal glycaemic control with the aim of minimising acute readmissions and reducing the risk of complications in later life. This paper describes the development of a range of child-centred diabetes information resources and outlines the study design and protocol for a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the information resources in routine practice. The aim of the diabetes information intervention is to improve children and young people's quality of life by increasing self-efficacy in managing their type 1 diabetes.


METHODS/DESIGN
We used published evidence, undertook qualitative research and consulted with children, young people and key stakeholders to design and produce a range of child-centred, age-appropriate children's diabetes diaries, carbohydrate recording sheets, and assembled child-centred, age-appropriate diabetes information packs containing published information in a folder that can be personalized by children and young people with pens and stickers. Resources have been designed for children/young people 6-10; 11-15; and 16-18 years.To evaluate the information resources, we designed a pragmatic randomized controlled trial to assess the effectiveness, cost effectiveness, and implementation in routine practice of individually tailored, age-appropriate diabetes diaries and information packs for children and young people age 6-18 years, compared with currently available standard practice.Children and young people will be stratified by gender, length of time since diagnosis (< 2 years and > 2 years) and age (6-10; 11-15; and 16-18 years). The following data will be collected at baseline, 3 and 6 months: PedsQL (generic, diabetes and parent versions), and EQ-5 D (parent and child); NHS resource use and process data (questionnaire and interview). Baseline and subsequent HbA1c measurements, blood glucose meter use, readings and insulin dose will be taken from routine test results and hand-held records when attending routine 3-4 monthly clinic visits.The primary outcome measure is diabetes self-efficacy and quality-of-life (Diabetes PedsQL). Secondary outcomes include: HbA1c, generic quality of life, routinely collected NHS/child-held data, costs, service use, acceptability and utility.


TRIAL REGISTRATION
ISRCTN17551624.
SYNDROMIC SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS: PUBLIC HEALTH AND BIODEFENSE

Ping Yan, Hsinchun Chen, and Daniel Zeng Department of Management Information Systems University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona pyan@email.arizona.edu; {hchen, zeng}@eller.arizona.edu
Students’ perception of educational environment at Public Sector Medical University of Pakistan

BACKGROUND
Assessing educational environment is vital in determining the success or failure of any institute. A positive environment leads to achievements of students in learning while a negative one would hinder their accomplishments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the medical students' perceptions of their educational environment and to identify any differences related to gender and colleges affiliated with the University.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
This cross-sectional study involved all medical colleges affiliated with Dow University of Health Sciences from September to November 2011. DREEM questionnaire was administered to undergraduate medical students of the colleges. Mean and standard deviation of total DREEM score and five subscales were reported. The internal consistency coefficient (Cronbach's alpha) was calculated. Student's t test and one-way ANOVA were used for statistical analysis.


RESULTS
Total respondents were 586 students (response rate = 90.1%), 463 (79.0%) were female. Total DREEM mean score was 114.4/200 (57.2%). Highest score was found in the domain of student's academic self-perceptions (58.7%) and lowest in domain of student's perception of learning (53.7%). The inventory was found to have good reliability, with an alpha-coefficient of 0.89. There was significant difference of total DREEM score, student's perception of learning, teachers, and atmosphere between different colleges. Females perceived their educational environment to be more positive compared to male students.


CONCLUSION
The undergraduate educational environment of the university is more positive than negative. Highest score was found in domain of student's academic self-perceptions and lowest in domain of student's perception of learning.
The EXCITE stroke trial: comparing early and delayed constraint-induced movement therapy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Although constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) has been shown to improve upper extremity function in stroke survivors at both early and late stages after stroke, the comparison between participants within the same cohort but receiving the intervention at different time points has not been undertaken. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare functional improvements between stroke participants randomized to receive this intervention within 3 to 9 months (early group) to participants randomized on recruitment to receive the identical intervention 15 to 21 months after stroke (delayed group).


METHODS
Two weeks of CIMT was delivered to participants immediately after randomization (early group) or 1 year later (delayed group). Evaluators blinded to group designation administered primary (Wolf Motor Function Test, Motor Activity Log) and secondary (Stroke Impact Scale) outcome measures among the 106 early participants and 86 delayed participants before delivery of CIMT, 2 weeks thereafter, and 4, 8, and 12 months later.


RESULTS
Although both groups showed significant improvements from pretreatment to 12 months after treatment, the earlier CIMT group showed greater improvement than the delayed CIMT group in Wolf Motor Function Test Performance Time and the Motor Activity Log (P<0.0001), as well as in Stroke Impact Scale Hand and Activities domains (P<0.0009 and 0.0214, respectively). Early and delayed group comparison of scores on these measures 24 months after enrollment showed no statistically significant differences between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
CIMT can be delivered to eligible patients 3 to 9 months or 15 to 21 months after stroke. Both patient groups achieved approximately the same level of significant arm motor function 24 months after enrollment. Clinical Trial Registration-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00057018.
Time to improvement of pain and sleep quality in clinical trials of pregabalin for the treatment of fibromyalgia.

OBJECTIVE
To determine the time to immediate and sustained clinical improvement in pain and sleep quality with pregabalin in patients with fibromyalgia.


DESIGN
A post hoc analysis of four 8- to 14-week phase 2-3, placebo-controlled trials of fixed-dose pregabalin (150-600 mg/day) for fibromyalgia, comprising 12 pregabalin and four placebo treatment arms.


PATIENTS
A total of 2,747 patients with fibromyalgia, aged 18-82 years.


METHODS
Pain and sleep quality scores, recorded daily on 11-point numeric rating scales (NRSs), were analyzed to determine time to immediate improvement with pregabalin, defined as the first of ≥2 consecutive days when the mean NRS score was significantly lower for pregabalin vs placebo in those treatment arms with a significant improvement at endpoint, and time to sustained clinical improvement with pregabalin, defined as a ≥1-point reduction of the baseline NRS score of patient responders who had a ≥30% improvement on the pain NRS, sleep NRS, or Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) from baseline to endpoint, or who reported "much improved" or "very much improved" on the Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) at endpoint.


RESULTS
Significant improvements in pain and sleep quality scores at endpoint vs placebo were seen in 8/12 and 11/12 pregabalin treatment arms, respectively (P < 0.05). In these arms, time to immediate improvements in pain or sleep occurred by day 1 or 2. Time to sustained clinical improvement occurred significantly earlier in pain, sleep, PGIC, and FIQ responders (P < 0.02) with pregabalin vs placebo.


CONCLUSIONS
Both immediate and sustained clinical improvements in pain and sleep quality occurred faster with pregabalin vs placebo.
Effect of Buprenorphine Implants on Illicit Opioid Use Among Abstinent Adults With Opioid Dependence Treated With Sublingual Buprenorphine: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

IMPORTANCE
The effectiveness of buprenorphine treatment of opioid dependence is limited by suboptimal medication adherence, abuse, and diversion.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether 6-month buprenorphine implants are noninferior to daily sublingual buprenorphine as maintenance treatment for opioid-dependent patients with stable abstinence.


DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
Outpatient, randomized, active-controlled, 24-week, double-blind, double-dummy study conducted at 21 US sites from June 26, 2014, through May 18, 2015. Outpatients were prescribed daily sublingual buprenorphine for 6 months or more, were abstinent while taking 8 mg/d or less of sublingual buprenorphine for 90 days or longer, and were determined to be clinically stable by their physician.


INTERVENTIONS
Participants were randomized to receive sublingual buprenorphine plus 4 placebo implants or sublingual placebo plus four 80-mg buprenorphine hydrochloride implants (expected efficacy, 24 weeks).


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE
The primary end point was between-group difference in proportion of responders (≥4 of 6 months without opioid-positive urine test result [monthly and 4 times randomly] and self-report). The noninferiority established for the lower bound of the 95% confidence interval was greater than -0.20 (P < .025). Secondary end points included cumulative percentage of negative opioid urine results, abstinence, and time to first illicit opioid use. Safety was assessed by adverse event reporting.


RESULTS
Of 177 participants (mean age, 39 years; 40.9% female), 90 were randomized to sublingual buprenorphine with placebo implants and 87 to buprenorphine implants with sublingual placebo; 165 of 177 (93.2%) completed the trial. Eighty-one of 84 (96.4%) receiving buprenorphine implants and 78 of 89 (87.6%) receiving sublingual buprenorphine were responders, an 8.8% difference (1-sided 97.5% CI, 0.009 to ∞; P < .001 for noninferiority). Over 6 months, 72 of 84 (85.7%) receiving buprenorphine implants and 64 of 89 (71.9%) receiving sublingual buprenorphine maintained opioid abstinence (hazard ratio, 13.8; 95% CI, 0.018-0.258; P = .03). Non-implant-related and implant-related adverse events occurred in 48.3% and 23% of the buprenorphine implant group and in 52.8% and 13.5% of participants in the sublingual buprenorphine group, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
Among adults with opioid dependence maintaining abstinence with a stable dose of sublingual buprenorphine, the use of buprenorphine implants compared with continued sublingual buprenorphine did not result in an inferior likelihood of remaining a responder. However, the study population had an exceptionally high response rate in the control group, and further studies are needed in broader populations to assess the efficacy in other settings.


TRIAL REGISTRATION
clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT02180659.
Boosting Image Captioning with Attributes

Automatically describing an image with a natural language has been an emerging challenge in both fields of computer vision and natural language processing. In this paper, we present Long Short-Term Memory with Attributes (LSTM-A) - a novel architecture that integrates attributes into the successful Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) plus Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) image captioning framework, by training them in an end-to-end manner. Particularly, the learning of attributes is strengthened by integrating inter-attribute correlations into Multiple Instance Learning (MIL). To incorporate attributes into captioning, we construct variants of architectures by feeding image representations and attributes into RNNs in different ways to explore the mutual but also fuzzy relationship between them. Extensive experiments are conducted on COCO image captioning dataset and our framework shows clear improvements when compared to state-of-the-art deep models. More remarkably, we obtain METEOR/CIDEr-D of 25.5%/100.2% on testing data of widely used and publicly available splits in [10] when extracting image representations by GoogleNet and achieve superior performance on COCO captioning Leaderboard.
An Interpolative Finite-Element Modeling and the Starting Process Simulation of a Large Solid Pole Synchronous Machine

Direct simulation of the starting process of an electric machine using a 3-D transient finite-element analysis (FEA) is very time consuming. To overcome this difficulty, an interpolative finite-element modeling of a large solid pole synchronous motor (SPSM) is presented and its starting process is simulated in this paper. In order to take into account the effects of cooling ducts and end turns, three different simplified 3-D finite-element models (FEMs) are proposed to reduce the computing time and save memory storage. With the proposed algorithm, an appropriate postprocess is exploited to deduce an effective core length and an end-turn leakage inductance. Then, a 2-D transient FEM with the modified parameters from 3-D FEA is used to simulate the starting process. The proposed method is validated by the test results of a 15 000-hp, 13.2-kV, 4-pole SPSM.
DASSO : Connections Between the Dantzig Selector and Lasso

We propose a new algorithm, DASSO, for fitting the entire coef fici nt path of the Dantzig selector with a similar computational cost to the LA RS algorithm that is used to compute the Lasso. DASSO efficiently constructs a piecewi s linear path through a sequential simplex-like algorithm, which is remarkably si milar to LARS. Comparison of the two algorithms sheds new light on the question of how th e Lasso and Dantzig selector are related. In addition, we provide theoretical c onditions on the design matrix, X, under which the Lasso and Dantzig selector coefficient esti mates will be identical for certain tuning parameters. As a consequence, in many instances, we are able to extend the powerful non-asymptotic bounds that have been de veloped for the Dantzig selector to the Lasso. Finally, through empirical studies o f imulated and real world data sets we show that in practice, when the bounds hold for th e Dantzig selector, they almost always also hold for the Lasso. Some key words : Dantzig selector; LARS; Lasso; DASSO