LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Early Prediction of Students' Grade Point Averages at Graduation: A Data Mining Approach.

Problem Statement: There has recently been interest in educational databases containing a variety of valuable but sometimes hidden data that can be used to help less successful students to improve their academic performance. The extraction of hidden information from these databases often implements aspects of the educational data mining (EDM) theory, which aims to study available data in order to shed light on more valuable, hidden information. Data clustering, classification, and regression methods such as K-means clustering, neural networks (NN), extreme learning machine (ELM), and support vector machines (SVM) can be used for to predict aspects of the educational data. EDM outputs can ultimately identify which students will need additional help to improve their grade point averages (GPAs) at graduation. Purpose of Study: This study aims to implement several prediction techniques in data mining to assist educational institutions with predicting their students’ GPAs at graduation. If students are predicted to have low GPAs at graduation, then extra efforts can be made to improve their academic performance and, in turn, GPAs. Methods: NN, SVM, and ELM algorithms are applied to data of computer education and instructional technology students to predict their GPAs at graduation. Findings and Results: A comparative analysis of the results indicates that the SVM technique yielded more accurate predictions at a rate of 97.98%. By contrast, the ELM method yielded the second most accurate prediction rate (94.92%) evaluated based on the criterion of correlation coefficient. NN reported the least accurate prediction rate (93.76%). Conclusions and Recommendations: The use of data mining methodologies has recently expanded for a variety of educational purposes. The *Dr. Fırat University, Turkey, e_mail: atekin@firat.edu.tr
Big Data Analytics with Datalog Queries on Spark

There is great interest in exploiting the opportunity provided by cloud computing platforms for large-scale analytics. Among these platforms, Apache Spark is growing in popularity for machine learning and graph analytics. Developing efficient complex analytics in Spark requires deep understanding of both the algorithm at hand and the Spark API or subsystem APIs (e.g., Spark SQL, GraphX). Our BigDatalog system addresses the problem by providing concise declarative specification of complex queries amenable to efficient evaluation. Towards this goal, we propose compilation and optimization techniques that tackle the important problem of efficiently supporting recursion in Spark. We perform an experimental comparison with other state-of-the-art large-scale Datalog systems and verify the efficacy of our techniques and effectiveness of Spark in supporting Datalog-based analytics.
The Persona Effect: Affective Impact of Animated Pedagogical Agents

Animated pedagogical agents that inhabit interactive learning environments can exhibit strikingly lifelike behaviors. In addition to providing problem-solving advice in response to students’ activities in the learning environment, these agents may also be able to play a powerful motivational role. To design the most effective agent-based learning environment software, it is essential to understand how students perceive an animated pedagogical agent with regard to affective dimensions such as encouragement, utility, credibility, and clarity. This paper describes a study of the affective impact of animated pedagogical agents on students’ learning experiences. One hundred middle school students interacted with animated pedagogical agents to assess their perception of agents’ affective characteristics. The study revealed the persona eflecr, which is that the presence of a lifelike character in an interactive learning environment~ven one that is not expressive— can have a strong positive effect on student’s perception of their learning experience. The study also demonstrates the interesting effect of multiple types of explanatory behaviors on both affective perception and learning performance.
2017 Version of LI-RADS for CT and MR Imaging: An Update.

The Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) is a reporting system created for the standardized interpretation of liver imaging findings in patients who are at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This system was developed with the cooperative and ongoing efforts of an American College of Radiology-supported committee of diagnostic radiologists with expertise in liver imaging and valuable input from hepatobiliary surgeons, hepatologists, hepatopathologists, and interventional radiologists. In this article, the 2017 version of LI-RADS for computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging is reviewed. Specific topics include the appropriate population for application of LI-RADS; technical recommendations for image optimization, including definitions of dynamic enhancement phases; diagnostic and treatment response categories; definitions of major and ancillary imaging features; criteria for distinguishing definite HCC from a malignancy that might be non-HCC; management options following LI-RADS categorization; and reporting. ©RSNA, 2017.
Sensorless Finite-Control Set Model Predictive Control for IPMSM Drives

This paper investigates the feasibility of a sensorless field-oriented control combined with a finite-control set model predictive current control (FCS-MPC) for an interior permanent-magnet synchronous motor. The use of an FCS-MPC makes the implementation of most of the existing sensorless techniques difficult due to the lack of a modulator. The proposed sensorless algorithm exploits the saliency of the motor and the intrinsic higher current ripple of the FCS-MPC to extract position and speed information using a model-based approach. This method does not require the injection of additional voltage vectors or the periodic interruption of the control algorithm and consequently it has no impact on the performance of the current control. The proposed algorithm has been tested in simulation and validated on an experimental setup, showing promising results.
Adherence to guidelines for treatment of depression in in-patients.

BACKGROUND
Adherence to treatment guidelines enhances treatment outcome. However, in clinical practice many patients with depression do not receive appropriate treatment.


AIMS
To evaluate the treatment of depression in in-patients of German psychiatric hospitals with respect to treatment outcome and adherence to guidelines.


METHOD
We recruited 1202 in-patients with depression from ten different hospitals. Quality data concerning treatment were collected at admission, during the treatment course and at discharge.


RESULTS
The level of depression was significantly decreased and most patients were satisfied with treatment. Many aspects of the treatment routine adhered to guideline recommendations. Adherence to guidelines could be improved with respect to adjustment of antidepressant dosage, reduction of benzodiazepine prescription, enhanced use of electroconvulsive therapy and wider use of interpersonal therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
The study reveals a high standard of psychiatric treatment of in-patients with depression. Nevertheless there is still room for improvement. Differences between hospitals in adherence to guidelines indicates the need for individual application of quality management tools.
Epidemiology of RBC Transfusions in Patients With Severe Acute Kidney Injury: Analysis From the Randomized Evaluation of Normal Versus Augmented Level Study.

OBJECTIVE
To assess the epidemiology and outcomes associated with RBC transfusion in patients with severe acute kidney injury requiring continuous renal replacement therapy.


DESIGN
Post hoc analysis of data from a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial.


SETTING
Thirty-five ICUs in Australia and New Zealand.


PATIENTS
Cohort of 1,465 patients enrolled in the Randomized Evaluation of Normal versus Augmented Level replacement therapy study.


INTERVENTIONS
Daily information on morning hemoglobin level and amount of RBC transfused were prospectively collected in the Randomized Evaluation of Normal versus Augmented Level study. We analyzed the epidemiology of such transfusions and their association with clinical outcomes.


MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS
Overall, 977 patients(66.7%) received a total of 1,192 RBC units. By day 5, 785 of 977 transfused patients (80.4%) had received at least one RBC transfusion. Hemoglobin at randomization was lower in transfused than in nontransfused patients (94 vs 111 g/L; p < 0.001). Mean daily hemoglobin was 88 ± 7 and 99 ± 12 g/L in transfused and nontransfused patients. Among transfused patients, 228 (46.7%) had died by day 90 when compared with 426 (43.6%) of nontransfused patients (p = 0.27). Survivors received on average 316 ± 261 mL of RBC, whereas nonsurvivors received 302 ± 362 mL (p = 0.42). On multivariate Cox regression analysis, RBC transfusion was independently associated with lower 90-day mortality (hazard ratio, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.38-0.79). However, we found no independent association between RBC transfusions and mortality when the analyses were restricted to patients surviving at least 5 days (hazard ratio, 1.29; 95% CI, 0.90-1.85). We found no independent association between RBC transfusion and renal replacement therapy-free days, mechanical ventilator-free days, or length of stay in ICU or hospital.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with severe acute kidney injury treated with continuous renal replacement therapy, we found no association of RBC transfusion with 90-day mortality or other patient-centered outcomes. The optimal hemoglobin threshold for RBC transfusion in such patients needs to be determined in future randomized controlled trials.
Locating Facial Features with an Extended Active Shape Model

We make some simple extensions to the Active Shape Model of Cootes et al. [4], and use it to locate features in frontal views of upright faces. We show on independent test data that with the extensions the Active Shape Model compares favorably with more sophisticated methods. The extensions are (i) fitting more landmarks than are actually needed (ii) selectively using twoinstead of one-dimensional landmark templates (iii) adding noise to the training set (iv) relaxing the shape model where advantageous (v) trimming covariance matrices by setting most entries to zero, and (vi) stacking two Active Shape Models in series.
Spironolactone does not prevent acute mountain sickness: a prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial by SPACE Trial Group (spironolactone and acetazolamide trial in the prevention of acute mountain sickness group).

OBJECTIVES
Over the last 20 years a number of small trials have reported that spironolactone effectively prevents acute mountain sickness (AMS), but to date there have been no large randomized trials investigating the efficacy of spironolactone in prevention of AMS. Hence, a prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of spironolactone in the prevention of AMS.


METHODS
Participants were sampled from a diverse population of western trekkers recruited at 4300 m on the Mount Everest base camp approach (Nepal side) en route to the study endpoint at 5000 m. Three hundred and eleven healthy trekkers were enrolled, and 251 completed the trial from October to November 2007. Participants were randomly assigned to receive at least 3 doses of spironolactone 50 mg BID, acetazolamide 250 mg BID, or visually matched placebo. A Lake Louise AMS Score of 3 or more, together with the presence of headache and 1 other symptom, was used to evaluate the incidence and severity of AMS. Secondary outcome measures were blood oxygen content and the incidence and severity of high altitude headache (HAH).


RESULTS
Acetazolamide was more effective than spironolactone in preventing AMS (OR = 0.28, 95% CI 0.12-0.60, p < 0.01). Spironolactone was not significantly different from placebo in the prevention of AMS. AMS incidence for placebo was 20.3%, acetazolamide 10.5%, and spironolactone 29.4%. Oxygen saturation was also significantly increased in the acetazolamide group (83% ± 0.04) vs spironolactone group (80% ± 0.05, p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Spironolactone (50 mg BID) was ineffective in comparison to acetazolamide (250 mg BID) in the prevention of AMS in partially acclimatized western trekkers ascending to 5000 m in the Nepali Himalaya.
Leaf phenology is associated with soil water availability and xylem traits in a tropical dry forest

In tropical dry forests, spatial heterogeneity in soil water availability is thought to determine interspecific differences in key components of resource use strategies, such as leaf phenology and xylem function. To understand the environmental drivers of variation in leaf phenology and xylem function, we explored the relation of soil water potential to topographic metrics derived from a digital elevation model. Subsequently, we compared nine xylem hydraulic, mechanical and storage traits in 18 species in three phenological classes (readily deciduous, tardily deciduous, and evergreen) in the dry tropical forest of Chamela, Mexico. Soil water potential was negatively correlated with elevation, insolation and water flow accumulation. Evergreen species characterized low-elevation moist sites, whereas deciduous species dominated hills and dry sites. Overall, evergreen species had lower xylem specific conductivity than deciduous species, and tardily deciduous species were different from readily deciduous and evergreen species in five of eight xylem traits. In dry tropical forests, water availability promotes divergence in leaf phenology and xylem traits, ranging from low wood density, evergreen species in moist sites to a combination of low wood density, readily deciduous species plus high wood density, tardily deciduous species in dry sites.
Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoperfusion in combined treatment of locally advanced and disseminated gastric cancer: results of a single-centre retrospective study.

BACKGROUND
Patients with locally advanced gastric cancer (GC) and/or peritoneal metastases have a poor prognosis despite systemic chemotherapy or palliative surgery. The aim of this retrospective comparative non-randomised study was to evaluate aggressive cytoreduction in combination with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoperfusion (HIPEC) as a novel treatment strategy for patients with intraperitoneal disseminated and locally advanced GC.


PATIENTS AND METHODS
Forty-nine GC patients with serosal invasion (n = 19), limited peritoneal metastases (n = 20), or disseminated peritoneal metastases and tense ascites (n = 10) underwent combination therapy with HIPEC. Three matched control groups undergoing standard therapies were retrospectively identified.


RESULTS
Combination therapy for serosa-invasive GC reduced the level of metachronous peritoneal carcinomatosis and increased median survival from 12 months to 22.5 months (p = 0.001). The median and 1-year survival rates for intraperitoneal disseminated GC patients undergoing therapy with the use of HIPEC were 12 months and 68.8% compared with 8 months and 25%, respectively (p = 0.004) for control subgroup patients (palliative chemotherapy). The symptomatic use of HIPEC allows effective elimination of recurrent ascites in GC patients.


CONCLUSION
HIPEC is a well-tolerated and effective method of adjuvant therapy for gastric cancer with high risk of intraperitoneal progression. Cytoreduction followed by HIPEC improves survival in patients with limited peritoneal carcinomatosis of gastric origin.
Classification and regression trees

Classification and regression trees are machine-learning methods for constructing prediction models from data. The models are obtained by recursively partitioning the data space and fitting a simple prediction model within each partition. As a result, the partitioning can be represented graphically as a decision tree. Classification trees are designed for dependent variables that take a finite number of unordered values, with prediction error measured in terms of misclassification cost. Regression trees are for dependent variables that take continuous or ordered discrete values, with prediction error typically measured by the squared difference between the observed and predicted values. This article gives an introduction to the subject by reviewing some widely available algorithms and comparing their capabilities, strengths, and weakness in two examples. C © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. WIREs Data Mining Knowl Discov 2011 1 14–23 DOI: 10.1002/widm.8
Counselling for burnout in Norwegian doctors: one year cohort study 

OBJECTIVE
To investigate levels and predictors of change in dimensions of burnout after an intervention for stressed doctors.


DESIGN
Cohort study followed by self reported assessment at one year.


SETTING
Norwegian resource centre.


PARTICIPANTS
227 doctors participating in counselling intervention, 2003-5.


INTERVENTIONS
Counselling (lasting one day (individual) or one week (group based)) aimed at motivating reflection on and acknowledgement of the doctors' situation and personal needs.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Levels of burnout (Maslach burnout inventory) and predictors of reduction in emotional exhaustion investigated by linear regression.


RESULTS
185 doctors (81%, 88 men, 97 women) completed one year follow-up. The mean level of emotional exhaustion (scale 1-5) was significantly reduced from 3.00 (SD 0.94) to 2.53 (SD 0.76) (t=6.76, P<0.001), similar to the level found in a representative sample of 390 Norwegian doctors. Participants had reduced their working hours by 1.6 hours/week (SD 11.4). There was a considerable reduction in the proportion of doctors on full time sick leave, from 35% (63/182) at baseline to 6% (10/182) at follow-up and a parallel increase in the proportion who had undergone psychotherapy, from 20% (36/182) to 53% (97/182). In the whole cohort, reduction in emotional exhaustion was independently associated with reduced number of work hours/week (beta=0.17, P=0.03), adjusted for sex, age, and personality dimensions. Among men "satisfaction with the intervention" (beta=0.25, P=0.04) independently predicted reduction in emotional exhaustion.


CONCLUSIONS
A short term counselling intervention could contribute to reduction in emotional exhaustion in doctors. This was associated with reduced working hours for the whole cohort and, in men, was predicted by satisfaction with the intervention.
Preliminary studies on the isolation of bacteria from sea lice, Lepeophtheirus salmonis, infecting farmed salmon in British Columbia, Canada

Using standard OIE bacteriological screening protocols, we sampled the external carapace and internal stomach contents of motile stages (preadult and adult) of Lepeophtheirus salmonis collected from farmed Atlantic salmon from May 2007 to April 2008 in British Columbia, Canada. Three potentially pathogenic bacteria (Tenacibaculum maritimum, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Vibrio spp.) were isolated from external (58–100%) and internal (12.5–100%) samples of sea lice. The prevalence of bacteria was higher from lice collected during the months with higher water temperatures and among adult lice. These preliminary results have led to a comprehensive, multi-year study where we plan to examine the possible role of sea lice as a vector for disease.
Early changes in hepatic function among HIV-tuberculosis patients treated with nevirapine or efavirenz along with rifampin-based anti-tuberculosis therapy.

OBJECTIVES
To describe the longitudinal changes in hepatic function among HIV-infected tuberculosis (TB) patients receiving once-daily nevirapine (NVP)- or efavirenz (EFV)-based antiretroviral treatment (ART) along with rifampin-containing anti-TB treatment.


METHODS
This was a nested study within a randomized clinical trial, taking place between May 2006 and June 2008 at the National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Chennai, India. Antiretroviral-naïve HIV-infected TB patients were initiated on an intermittent short-course regimen and randomized to receive didanosine and lamivudine with either NVP (400 mg) or EFV (600 mg) once-daily. Blood was analyzed for alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP), and bilirubin at baseline, at ART initiation, fortnightly after ART initiation until 2 months, then monthly until 6 months and 6-monthly thereafter.


RESULTS
Of the 168 patients included (79% men, median CD4 count 93 cells/mm3, median viral load 242,000 copies/ml), 104 were on EFV-based ART and 64 on NVP-based ART. There was a small but statistically significant elevation in ALT and SAP at 2 weeks and AST at 6 weeks after ART initiation. The proportion of patients with rate-limiting toxicity of liver enzymes was small. None had treatment terminated because of hepatotoxicity.


CONCLUSION
Hepatotoxicity is not a major concern when HIV-infected TB patients, with normal baseline liver function initiate treatment for both infections simultaneously.
SAPIENS DIGITAL : FROM DIGITAL IMMIGRANTS AND DIGITAL NATIVES TO DIGITAL WISDOM

This is the translation of a paper by Marc Prensky, the originator of the famous metaphor digital natives digital immigrants. Here, ten years after the birth of that successful metaphor, Prensky outlines that, while the distinction between digital natives and immigrants will progressively become less important, new concepts will be needed to represent the continuous evolution of the relationship between man and digital technologies. In this paper Prensky introduces the concept of digital wisdom, a human quality which develops as a result of the empowerment that the natural human skills can receive through a creative and clever use of digital technologies. KEY-WORDS Digital natives, digital immigrants, digital wisdom, digital empowerment. Prensky M. (2010). H. Sapiens Digitale: dagli Immigrati digitali e nativi digitali alla saggezza digitale. TD-Tecnologie Didattiche, 50, pp. 17-24 17 I problemi del mondo d’oggi non possono essere risolti facendo ricorso allo stesso tipo di pensiero che li ha creati
High-efficiency enhancement on thermal and electrical properties of epoxy nanocomposites with core-shell carbon foam template-coated graphene

Abstract Recently, three-dimensional graphene foam has received considerable attention and displayed excellent properties as reinforcement for polymer composites. However, the brittleness and poor controllability limited its application in resin to form conducting pathways for phonons and electrons. This study developed a facile method with compressible and constitutionally stable commercial melamine foam (MF) as template to prepare a core-shell composite with carbon skeleton structure. The core carbon structure was fabricated by carbonization of MF, while the shell carbon structure was the in-situ self-assembled coating of graphene. Vacuum-impregnated method was employed to fabricate epoxy resin composites. The thermal and electrical conductivities of epoxy composites were significantly increased to 0.92 W/(m·K) and 0.70 S/cm, which was 318% and 13 orders of magnitude higher than that of pure epoxy. Herein, we provide a highly efficient, green, high-quality method for building a double-layer heat conduction path, which facilitates the utilization of graphene. The proposed method proves to be efficient in enhancing the multifunctionality of epoxy resin composites. Furthermore, we explored the thermal and electrical conductive mechanisms of the three-dimensional core-shell structure in resin matrix.