LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Immediate effects of lumbar spine manipulation on the resting and contraction thickness of transversus abdominis in asymptomatic individuals.

STUDY DESIGN
Randomized, blinded, controlled crossover trial.


OBJECTIVE
To determine if thrust joint manipulation (TJM) to the lumbar spine would result in changes to the resting and contraction thickness of transversus abdominis (TrA) in healthy individuals.


BACKGROUND
Recent studies have demonstrated an immediate decrease in resting thickness and an increase in contraction thickness in TrA following lumbar TJM in patients with low back pain (LBP) who met a clinical prediction rule (CPR) for spinal manipulation. This observed phenomenon has not been investigated in healthy individuals.


METHODS
Thirty-five healthy participants were randomly assigned to receive a TJM or sham manipulation treatment. All participants received instruction on how to produce an isolated concentric contraction of the TrA that involved visual ultrasound imaging biofeedback. Data were analyzed using ultrasound imaging to measure changes in thickness of the TrA at rest and during contraction, following the administration of each treatment.


RESULTS
There were no interactions observed between treatment and time for TrA muscle thickness at rest (P = .351) and during the contracted state (P = .761).


CONCLUSION
Our results indicate that TJM to the lumbar spine does not appear to affect the resting or contraction thickness of TrA in healthy individuals. These findings are in contrast to previous research in which patients with LBP who met a CPR demonstrated an immediate decrease in resting thickness and an increase in contraction thickness in TrA following lumbar TJM.
Logic, Programming and Prolog (2ed)

Copyright c ©2000, Ulf Nilsson and Jan MaÃluszyński. The book may be downloaded and printed for personal use only provided that the text (1) is not altered in any way, and (2) is accompanied by this copyright notice. The book may also be copied and distributed in paper-form for non-profit use only. No other form of distribution is allowed. It is not allowed to distribute the book electronically.
The relationship between the therapeutic alliance and treatment outcome in two distinct psychotherapies for chronic depression.

OBJECTIVE
This study tested whether the quality of the patient-rated working alliance, measured early in treatment, predicted subsequent symptom reduction in chronically depressed patients. Secondarily, the study assessed whether the relationship between early alliance and response to treatment differed between patients receiving cognitive behavioral analysis system of psychotherapy (CBASP) vs. brief supportive psychotherapy (BSP).


METHOD
395 adults (57% female; Mage = 46; 91% Caucasian) who met criteria for chronic depression and did not fully remit during a 12-week algorithm-based, open-label pharmacotherapy trial were randomized to receive either 16-20 sessions of CBASP or BSP in addition to continued, algorithm-based antidepressant medication. Of these, 224 patients completed the Working Alliance Inventory-Short Form at Weeks 2 or 4 of treatment. Blind raters assessed depressive symptoms at 2-week intervals across treatment using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Linear mixed models tested the association between early alliance and subsequent symptom ratings while accounting for early symptom change.


RESULTS
A more positive early working alliance was associated with lower subsequent symptom ratings in both the CBASP and BSP, F(1, 1236) = 62.48, p < .001. In addition, the interaction between alliance and psychotherapy type was significant, such that alliance quality was more strongly associated with symptom ratings among those in the CBASP treatment group, F(1, 1234) = 8.31, p = .004.


CONCLUSIONS
The results support the role of the therapeutic alliance as a predictor of outcome across dissimilar treatments for chronic depression. Contrary to expectations, the therapeutic alliance was more strongly related to outcome in CBASP, the more directive of the 2 therapies.
Torque ripple minimization of switched reluctance motor using modified torque sharing function

Torque pulsation mechanism and highly nonlinear magnetic characterization of switched reluctance motors(SRM) lead to unfavourable torque ripple and limit the variety of applications in industry. In this paper, a modification method proposed for torque control of SRM based on conventional torque sharing functions(TSF) to improve maximum speed of torque ripple-free operation considering converter voltage limitation. Due to increasing phase inductance in outgoing phase during the commutation region, reference current tracking can be deteriorated especially when the speed increased. Moreover, phase torque production in incoming phase may not be reached to the reference value near the turn-on angle in which the incremental inductance would be dramatically decreased. Torque error for outgoing phase can cause increasing the resultant motor torque while it would be negative for incoming phase and yields reducing the motor torque. In the proposed modification method, phase torque tracking error for each phase under the commutation added to the other phase so that the resultant torque remained in constant level. This yields to enhance motor efficiency compared than the conventional receding turn-on and turn-off angles. An experimental four phase 1.6 KW, 8/6 SRM set of magnetic characterization data used to simulate and validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Distributed Computation on Graphs: Shortest Path Algorithms

We use the paradigm of diffusing computation, introduced by Dijkstra and Scholten, to solve a class of graph problems. We present a detailed solution to the problem of computing shortest paths from a single vertex to all other vertices, in the presence of negative cycles.
Effect of a low glycaemic index diet on blood glucose in women with gestational hyperglycaemia.

AIM
The objectives of this pilot study were to determine the feasibility and effect on glycaemic control of a low-glycaemic-index (GI) diet in women with gestational diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance of pregnancy.


METHODS
participants, recruited from the Diabetes-in-Pregnancy Clinic of an inner-city teaching hospital serving a predominantly non-Caucasian population, were randomized to a low-GI (n=23) or control (n=24) diet and followed from 28 weeks gestation until delivery. Self-monitored-blood-glucose (SMBG), maternal and infant weight were collected from medical charts. Dietary intakes were assessed using diet records and questionnaires.


RESULTS
diet GI on control (58, 95% CI: 56,60) was significantly higher than on low-GI (49, 95% CI: 47,51; p=0.001). Glycaemic control improved on both diets, but more postprandial glucose values were within target on low-GI (58.4% of n=1891) than control (48.7% of n=1834; p<0.001). SMBG post-breakfast was directly related to pre-pregnancy BMI in the control, but not the low-GI group (BMI*diet interaction; p=0.021). Participants accepted the study foods and were willing to consume them post-intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
a low-GI diet was feasible and acceptable in this sample and facilitated control of postprandial glucose. A larger study is needed to determine the effect of a low-GI diet on maternal and infant outcomes.
Dynamic changes in arterial waveform derived variables and fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated patients: a systematic review of the literature.

OBJECTIVES
: A systematic review of the literature to determine the ability of dynamic changes in arterial waveform-derived variables to predict fluid responsiveness and compare these with static indices of fluid responsiveness. The assessment of a patient's intravascular volume is one of the most difficult tasks in critical care medicine. Conventional static hemodynamic variables have proven unreliable as predictors of volume responsiveness. Dynamic changes in systolic pressure, pulse pressure, and stroke volume in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation have emerged as useful techniques to assess volume responsiveness.


DATA SOURCES
: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials and citation review of relevant primary and review articles.


STUDY SELECTION
: Clinical studies that evaluated the association between stroke volume variation, pulse pressure variation, and/or stroke volume variation and the change in stroke volume/cardiac index after a fluid or positive end-expiratory pressure challenge.


DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS
: Data were abstracted on study design, study size, study setting, patient population, and the correlation coefficient and/or receiver operating characteristic between the baseline systolic pressure variation, stroke volume variation, and/or pulse pressure variation and the change in stroke index/cardiac index after a fluid challenge. When reported, the receiver operating characteristic of the central venous pressure, global end-diastolic volume index, and left ventricular end-diastolic area index were also recorded. Meta-analytic techniques were used to summarize the data. Twenty-nine studies (which enrolled 685 patients) met our inclusion criteria. Overall, 56% of patients responded to a fluid challenge. The pooled correlation coefficients between the baseline pulse pressure variation, stroke volume variation, systolic pressure variation, and the change in stroke/cardiac index were 0.78, 0.72, and 0.72, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves were 0.94, 0.84, and 0.86, respectively, compared with 0.55 for the central venous pressure, 0.56 for the global end-diastolic volume index, and 0.64 for the left ventricular end-diastolic area index. The mean threshold values were 12.5 +/- 1.6% for the pulse pressure variation and 11.6 +/- 1.9% for the stroke volume variation. The sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio were 0.89, 0.88, and 59.86 for the pulse pressure variation and 0.82, 0.86, and 27.34 for the stroke volume variation, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
: Dynamic changes of arterial waveform-derived variables during mechanical ventilation are highly accurate in predicting volume responsiveness in critically ill patients with an accuracy greater than that of traditional static indices of volume responsiveness. This technique, however, is limited to patients who receive controlled ventilation and who are not breathing spontaneously.
Intravenous versus intracoronary bolus of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor administration during primary percutaneous coronary intervention on long-term left ventricular systolic and diastolic function.

BACKGROUND
In primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitors are often given in order to attain and maintain better myocardial perfusion. We tested the hypothesis that intracoronary (IC) bolus of GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors might produce a greater improvement in left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function than an intravenous(IV) bolus.


METHODS AND RESULTS
Seventy seven patients undergoing primary PCI for their first ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) were randomly assigned to either an IC or IV bolus of GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor, followed by IV infusion. Compared with the echocardiographic findings within 3 days after PCI, LV ejection fraction was higher at 1 year, with no significant differences between the IV and IC groups (IV: 44% vs. 49%, p = 0.001; IC: 43% vs. 48%,p < 0.001). LV diastolic function (E/E') did not significantly change at 1 year by either approach.


CONCLUSIONS
LV systolic function improved by a similar magnitude following primary PCI, with either IC or IV bolus administration of GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor therapy. However, no significant changes were observed in LV diastolic function.
Forecasting Non-Stationary Diarrhea, Acute Respiratory Infection, and Malaria Time-Series in Niono, Mali

BACKGROUND
Much of the developing world, particularly sub-Saharan Africa, exhibits high levels of morbidity and mortality associated with diarrhea, acute respiratory infection, and malaria. With the increasing awareness that the aforementioned infectious diseases impose an enormous burden on developing countries, public health programs therein could benefit from parsimonious general-purpose forecasting methods to enhance infectious disease intervention. Unfortunately, these disease time-series often i) suffer from non-stationarity; ii) exhibit large inter-annual plus seasonal fluctuations; and, iii) require disease-specific tailoring of forecasting methods.


METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS
In this longitudinal retrospective (01/1996-06/2004) investigation, diarrhea, acute respiratory infection of the lower tract, and malaria consultation time-series are fitted with a general-purpose econometric method, namely the multiplicative Holt-Winters, to produce contemporaneous on-line forecasts for the district of Niono, Mali. This method accommodates seasonal, as well as inter-annual, fluctuations and produces reasonably accurate median 2- and 3-month horizon forecasts for these non-stationary time-series, i.e., 92% of the 24 time-series forecasts generated (2 forecast horizons, 3 diseases, and 4 age categories = 24 time-series forecasts) have mean absolute percentage errors circa 25%.


CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE
The multiplicative Holt-Winters forecasting method: i) performs well across diseases with dramatically distinct transmission modes and hence it is a strong general-purpose forecasting method candidate for non-stationary epidemiological time-series; ii) obliquely captures prior non-linear interactions between climate and the aforementioned disease dynamics thus, obviating the need for more complex disease-specific climate-based parametric forecasting methods in the district of Niono; furthermore, iii) readily decomposes time-series into seasonal components thereby potentially assisting with programming of public health interventions, as well as monitoring of disease dynamics modification. Therefore, these forecasts could improve infectious diseases management in the district of Niono, Mali, and elsewhere in the Sahel.
Early post-operative morbidity following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: patellar tendon versus hamstring graft

This study documented postoperative morbidity during the first 4 months following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using either patellar tendon or hamstring tendon autograft. Sixty-five patients undergoing primary arthroscopically assisted single-incision ACL reconstruction were randomized to have a central third bone patellar tendon bone autograft (PT) or a doubled semitendinosus/doubled gracilis autograft (HS). Postoperatively patients undertook a standard 'accelerated' rehabilitation protocol. Patients were reviewed after 2 weeks, 8 weeks, and 4 months. At each review the location and severity of general knee pain and the presence and severity of anterior knee pain (AKP) were recorded as were the presence and size of an effusion as well as the active and passive flexion and passive extension deficits compared to the contralateral limb. Pain on kneeling, KT-1000 measured side to side difference in anterior tibial displacement, isokinetic assessment of quadriceps and hamstring peak torque deficits, IKDC score and Cincinnati sports activity level were also recorded after 4 months. After 2 weeks more patients in the PT group complained of AKP and reported that the pain was more severe. After 8 weeks there was no significant difference between the groups for any variable. After 4 months the severity of general pain experienced and the incidence of pain on kneeling were greater in the PT group. The PT group also demonstrated a significantly greater quadriceps peak torque deficit at 240°/s. IKDC scores were higher in the HS group, but Cincinnati sports activity scores were higher in the PT group. Although we observed a lower morbidity in the HS group, primarily related to pain, the severity of pain in both groups was relatively low and, in light of the higher mean sports activity level observed in the PT group at 4 months the clinical impact of the difference may not be significant.
Pose Invariant Face Recognition Under Arbitrary Unknown Lighting Using Spherical Harmonics

We propose a new method for face recognition under arbitrary pose and illumination conditions, which requires only one training image per subject. Furthermore, no limitation on the pose and illumination conditions for the training image is necessary. Our method combines the strengths of Morphable models to capture the variability of 3D face shape and a spherical harmonic representation for the illumination. Morphable models are successful in 3D face reconstructions from one single image. Recent research demonstrates that the set of images of a convex Lambertian object obtained under a wide variety of lighting conditions can be approximated accurately by a low-dimensional linear subspace using spherical harmonics representation. In this paper, we show that we can recover the 3D faces with texture information from one single training image under arbitrary illumination conditions and perform robust pose and illumination invariant face recognition by using the recovered 3D faces. During training, given an image under arbitrary illumination, we first compute the shape parameters from a shape error estimated by the displacements of a set of feature points. Then we estimate the illumination coefficients and texture information using the spherical harmonics illumination representation. The reconstructed 3D models serve as generative models to render sets of basis images of each subject for different poses. During testing, we recognize the face for which there exists a weighted combination of basis images that is the closest to the test face image. We provide a series of experiments on approximately 5000 images from the CMU-PIE database. We achieve high recognition rates for images under a wide range of illumination conditions, including multiple sources of illumination.
LHD: Improving Cache Hit Rate by Maximizing Hit Density

Cloud application performance is heavily reliant on the hit rate of datacenter key-value caches. Key-value caches typically use least recently used (LRU) as their eviction policy, but LRU’s hit rate is far from optimal under real workloads. Prior research has proposed many eviction policies that improve on LRU, but these policies make restrictive assumptions that hurt their hit rate, and they can be difficult to implement efficiently. We introduce least hit density (LHD), a novel eviction policy for key-value caches. LHD predicts each object’s expected hits-per-space-consumed (hit density), filtering objects that contribute little to the cache’s hit rate. Unlike prior eviction policies, LHD does not rely on heuristics, but rather rigorously models objects’ behavior using conditional probability to adapt its behavior in real time. To make LHD practical, we design and implement RankCache, an efficient key-value cache based on memcached. We evaluate RankCache and LHD on commercial memcached and enterprise storage traces, where LHD consistently achieves better hit rates than prior policies. LHD requires much less space than prior policies to match their hit rate, on average 8× less than LRU and 2–3× less than recently proposed policies. Moreover, RankCache requires no synchronization in the common case, improving request throughput at 16 threads by 8× over LRU and by 2× over CLOCK.
A Randomized Prospective Trial of Endoscopic Ultrasound to Guide Combination Medical and Surgical Treatment for Crohn's Perianal Fistulas

AIMS:To prospectively determine if rectal endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) can guide combination medical and surgical therapy and improve outcomes for patients with perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease.METHODS:Ten patients with perianal Crohn's disease were prospectively enrolled in a randomized prospective pilot study. The patients were randomized to either the EUS cohort or the control group. All patients underwent a rectal EUS to delineate fistula anatomy followed by an examination under anesthesia by a colorectal surgeon with seton placement and/or incision and drainage, as indicated. The surgeon was blinded to the initial EUS results of patients in the control group. Medical treatment was maximized with 6-mercaptopurine (1.0–1.5 mg/kg) or azathioprine (2.0–2.5 mg/kg), ciprofloxacin (1,000 mg a day) or metronidazole (1,500 mg a day), and infliximab (5 mg/kg at 0, 2, and 6 wk and then every 8 wk). For patients in the control group, additional interventions (seton removal and repeat surgery) were at the discretion of the surgeon (without EUS guidance). Patients in the EUS cohort had EUS performed at weeks 22 and 38, with additional surgical interventions based on EUS findings. The primary end point was complete cessation of drainage at week 54. All patients had a repeat EUS performed at week 54 to determine the fistula status on EUS (secondary end point). The need for additional surgery was defined as a treatment failure.RESULTS:Ten patients were enrolled in the study. One of 5 (20%) in the control group and 4 of 5 (80%) in the EUS group had complete cessation of drainage. From the control group, 3 patients failed due to repeat surgery (2 for persistent/recurrent fistula and 1 for abscess), and 1 had a persistent drainage at week 54. In the EUS cohort, 1 patient had a recurrent abscess after his seton fell out prematurely.In the EUS cohort, the median time to cessation of drainage was 99 days, and the time to EUS evidence of fistula inactivity was 229 days.CONCLUSION:This pilot study suggests that using EUS to guide combination medical and surgical therapy for perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease improves the outcomes.
What's language got to do with it?: A case study of academic language instruction in a high school “English Learner Science” class

This article presents a case study of academic language instruction in a high school ‘‘English Learner Science’’ course. It illustrates how a teacher’s understanding of academic language affects her instruction and students’ opportunities for learning. We examine a transcript of classroom discourse for the ‘‘didactic tension’’ that exists between this educator’s teaching of science vocabulary and students’ development of conceptual understanding in science. We assert that the teacher’s emphasis on vocabulary serves to obscure important semantic relationships among the phenomena she is teaching about in her lesson, as well as ignores the linguistic resources needed to express those relationships. We propose that the social action accomplished by this didactic tension may be to produce an economy of discourse for English Learners which, contrary to the goals of academic language instruction, serves to withhold from them opportunities to not only to talk, but think, like scientists. We use our findings to call for further research into teachers’ beliefs, practices, and discourse related to academic language instruction and the impact of these on students’ language as well as content learning. r 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.