LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Comparing continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration and peritoneal dialysis in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND
There are few reports on the role of peritoneal dialysis in critically ill patients requiring continuous renal replacement therapies.


METHODS
Patients with acute kidney injury and multi-organ involvement were randomly allotted to continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration(CVVHDF, group A) or to continuous peritoneal dialysis (CPD, group B). Cause and severity of renal failure were assessed at the time of initiating dialysis. Primary outcome was the composite correction of uremia, acidosis, fluid overload, and hyperkalemia. Secondary outcomes were improvement of sensorium and hemodynamic instability, survival, and cost.


RESULTS
Groups A and B comprised 25 patients each with mean ages of 45.32 ± 17.53 and 48.44 ± 17.64 respectively. They received 21.68 ± 13.46 hours and 66.02 ± 69.77 hours of dialysis respectively (p = 0.01). Composite correction was achieved in 12 patients of group A (48%) and in 14 patients of group B (56%). Urea and creatinine clearances were significantly higher in group A (21.72 ± 10.41 mL/min and 9.36 ± 4.93 mL/min respectively vs. 22.13 ± 9.61 mL/min and 10.5 ± 6.07 mL/min, p < 0.001). Acidosis was present in 21 patients of group A (84%) and in 16 of group B (64%); correction was better in group B (p < 0.001). Correction of fluid overload was faster and the amount of ultrafiltrate was significantly higher in group A (20.31 ± 21.86 L vs. 5.31 ± 5.75 L, p<0.001). No significant differences were seen in correction of hyperkalemia, altered sensorium, or hemodynamic disturbance. Mortality was 84% in group A and 72% in group B. Factors that influenced outcome were the APACHE (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation) II score (p=0.02) and need for ventilatory support (p < 0.01). Cost of disposables was higher in group A than in group B [INR 7184 ± 1436 vs. INR 3009 ± 1643, p < 0.001 (US$1=INR 47)].


CONCLUSIONS
Based on this pilot study, CPD may be a cost-conscious alternative to CVVHDF; differences in metabolic and clinical outcomes are minimal.
Can Conditional Cash Transfers Serve as Safety Nets to Keep Children at School and Out of the Labor Market

Conditional cash transfer (CCT) programs for education are known to be effective in increasing educational achievements among the rural poor. Using panel data from the Progresa experience with randomized treatment, we show that there is strong state dependence in school attendance. Short term shocks that take children out of school will consequently have long term consequences on their educational achievements. We show that idiosyncratic and covariate shocks do indeed push parents to take children out of school and to use child labor as risk coping instruments. However, CCT help protect children from these shocks, creating an additional benefit from these programs as effective safety nets with long term
Arne Naess and Empirical Semantics

ABSTRACT This article focuses on Arne Naess's work in the philosophy of language, which he began in the mid-1930s and continued into the 1960s. This aspect of his work is nowadays relatively neglected, but it deserves to be revisited. Firstly, it is intrinsically interesting to the history of analytic philosophy in the twentieth century, because Naess questioned some of the established philosophical methodologies and assumptions of his day. Secondly, it suggests a compelling but unacknowledged intellectual pedigree for some recent developments in linguistics. Naess's philosophy of language developed from his reaction against logical positivism, in particular against what he saw as its unempirical assumptions about language. He went on to establish “empirical semantics”, in which the study of language was based on real-life linguistic data, drawn primarily from questionnaires issued to philosophically naive subjects. He also experimented with methods for “occurrence analysis”, but concluded that the collec...
bibliometrix: An R-tool for comprehensive science mapping analysis

The use of bibliometrics is gradually extending to all disciplines. It is particularly suitable for science mapping at a time when the emphasis on empirical contributions is producing voluminous, fragmented, and controversial research streams. Science mapping is complex and unwieldly because it is multi-step and frequently requires numerous and diverse software tools, which are not all necessarily freeware. Although automated workflows that integrate these software tools into an organized data flow are emerging, in this paper we propose a unique open-source tool, designed by the authors, called bibliometrix, for performing comprehensive science mapping analysis. bibliometrix supports a recommended workflow to perform bibliometric analyses. As it is programmed in R, the proposed tool is flexible and can be rapidly upgraded and integrated with other statistical R-packages. It is therefore useful in a constantly changing science such as bibliometrics. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Stress Management through Yoga

Stress is a common condition, a response to a physical threat or psychological distress, that generates a host of chemical and hormonal reactions in the body. In essence, the body prepares to fight or fiee, pumping more blood to the heart and muscles and shutting down all nonessential functions. As a temporary state, this reaction serves the body well to defend itself When the stress reaction is prolonged, however, the normal physical functions that have in response either been exaggerated or shut down become dysfunctional. Many have noted the benefits of exercise in diminishing the stress response, and a host of studies points to these benefits. Yoga, too, has been recommended and studied in relationship to stress, although the studies are less scientifically replicable. Nonetheless, several researchers claim highly beneficial results from Yoga practice in alleviating stress and its effects. The practices recommended range from intense to moderate to relaxed asana sequences, along yNith.pranayama and meditation. In all these approaches to dealing with stress, one common element stands out: The process is as important as the activity undertaken. Because it fosters self-awareness. Yoga is a promising approach for dealing with the stress response. Yoga and the Stress Response Stress has become a common catchword in our society to indicate a host of difficulties, both as cause and effect. The American Academy of Family Physicians has noted that stress-related symptoms prompt two-thirds of the office visits to family physicians.' Exercise and alternative therapies are now commonly prescribed for stress-related complaints and illness. Even a recent issue of Consumer Reports suggests Yoga for stress relief.̂ Many books and articles claim, as does Dr. Susan Lark, that practicing Yoga will "provide effective relief of anxiety and stress."^ But is this an accurate promise? What Is the Stress Response? A review of the current thinking on stress reveals that the process is both biochemical and psychological. A very good summary of research on the stress response is contained in Robert Sapolsky's Why Zebras Don't Get
The Effects of Infliximab Therapy on Health-Related Quality of Life in Ulcerative Colitis Patients

OBJECTIVES:The impact of infliximab induction and maintenance therapy on health-related quality of life (HRQL) was evaluated in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).METHODS:In two placebo-controlled, double-blind studies (the Active Ulcerative Colitis Trials 1 and 2 [ACT 1 and 2]), 728 patients were randomized to placebo or infliximab 5 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg. Infusions were administered at weeks 0, 2, 6, and every 8 wk thereafter, up to week 22 (ACT 2) or 46 (ACT 1). Changes in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ) and Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey physical and mental component summary (PCS and MCS, respectively) scores were analyzed.RESULTS:Baseline scores for the pooled patient population indicated substantial impairment in HRQL. Improvement at week 8 in the total IBDQ score was significantly greater in the infliximab 5-mg/kg (40, P < 0.001) and 10-mg/kg (36, P < 0.001) groups compared with the placebo group (28). Improvement at week 8 was also significantly greater in the infliximab 5- and 10-mg/kg groups for the PCS (6.8 and 5.9, respectively) and MCS (5.9 and 6.4, respectively) compared with placebo (PCS = 3.7, MCS = 3.0, P < 0.01 for all comparisons). Continued benefit was seen at weeks 30 and 54 with infliximab maintenance therapy (P < 0.001 for all comparisons). Improvement in total IBDQ score correlated significantly (P < 0.001) with improvement in both PCS and MCS scores, and Mayo score.CONCLUSIONS:Infliximab therapy substantially improved HRQL in patients with UC. This benefit was sustained through 1 yr with maintenance infliximab therapy.
Fabrication of TiC/WC ultra hard nanocomposite layers by plasma electrolysis and study of its characteristics

Abstract Ultra hard ceramic based matrix nanocomposite layers of tungsten carbide (WC) on matrix of titanium carbide were fabricated in an organic electrolyte. The dependence of WC amount in nanocomposite coatings was investigated in relation to the temperature of electrolyte, WC concentration in bath, current density and stirring rate. It was shown that volume percentage of WC in the layer can be affected by these parameters. The fabricated phases were studied with X-ray diffraction and their microhardness values were reached near to 2580 Hv 0.5 . Increasing of the WC nanoparticles concentration in the electrolyte in a constant stirring rate will lead to an increase in content of nanoparticles in the nanocomposite layers. Concentration of WC nanoparticles in the bath illustrated specific level for increasing of tungsten percentage in the nanocomposite layers. Concentration of WC nanoparticles in the bath had an optimum level around 6 g l − 1 for achieving the minimum nano-roughness on the surface of nanocomposite layer. It may vary for different current densities.
Effect of Honey and Green Tea Solutions on Streptococcus mutans.

OBJECTIVES
The aim of this cross-sectional in vivo study was to assess the effect of green tea and honey solutions on the level of salivary Streptococcus mutans.


STUDY DESIGN
A convenient sample of 30 Saudi boys aged 7-10 years were randomly assigned into 2 groups of 15 each. Saliva sample was collected for analysis of level of S. mutans before rinsing. Commercial honey and green tea were prepared for use and each child was asked to rinse for two minutes using 10 mL of the prepared honey or green tea solutions according to their group. Saliva samples were collected again after rinsing. The collected saliva samples were prepared and colony forming unit (CFU) of S. mutans per mL of saliva was calculated.


RESULTS
The mean number of S. mutans before and after rinsing with honey and green tea solutions were 2.28* 10(8)(2.622*10(8)), 5.64 *10(7)(1.03*10(8)), 1.17*10(9)(2.012*10(9)) and 2.59*10(8) (3.668*10(8)) respectively. A statistically significant reduction in the average number of S. mutans at baseline and post intervention in the children who were assigned to the honey (P=0.001) and green tea (P=0.001) groups was found.


CONCLUSIONS
A single time mouth rinsing with honey and green tea solutions for two minutes effectively reduced the number of salivary S. mutans of 7-10 years old boys.
MoonGen: A Scriptable High-Speed Packet Generator

We present MoonGen, a flexible high-speed packet generator. It can saturate 10 GbE links with minimum-sized packets while using only a single CPU core by running on top of the packet processing framework DPDK. Linear multi-core scaling allows for even higher rates: We have tested MoonGen with up to 178.5 Mpps at 120 Gbit/s. Moving the whole packet generation logic into user-controlled Lua scripts allows us to achieve the highest possible flexibility. In addition, we utilize hardware features of commodity NICs that have not been used for packet generators previously. A key feature is the measurement of latency with sub-microsecond precision and accuracy by using hardware timestamping capabilities of modern commodity NICs. We address timing issues with software-based packet generators and apply methods to mitigate them with both hardware support and with a novel method to control the inter-packet gap in software. Features that were previously only possible with hardware-based solutions are now provided by MoonGen on commodity hardware. MoonGen is available as free software under the MIT license in our git repository at https://github.com/emmericp/MoonGen
Sparse Approximation Via Iterative Thresholding

The well-known shrinkage technique is still relevant for contemporary signal processing problems over redundant dictionaries. We present theoretical and empirical analyses for two iterative algorithms for sparse approximation that use shrinkage. The general IT algorithm amounts to a Landweber iteration with nonlinear shrinkage at each iteration step. The block IT algorithm arises in morphological components analysis. A sufficient condition for which general IT exactly recovers a sparse signal is presented, in which the cumulative coherence function naturally arises. This analysis extends previous results concerning the orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP) and basis pursuit (BP) algorithms to IT algorithms
Sparse Codes for Speech Predict Spectrotemporal Receptive Fields in the Inferior Colliculus

We have developed a sparse mathematical representation of speech that minimizes the number of active model neurons needed to represent typical speech sounds. The model learns several well-known acoustic features of speech such as harmonic stacks, formants, onsets and terminations, but we also find more exotic structures in the spectrogram representation of sound such as localized checkerboard patterns and frequency-modulated excitatory subregions flanked by suppressive sidebands. Moreover, several of these novel features resemble neuronal receptive fields reported in the Inferior Colliculus (IC), as well as auditory thalamus and cortex, and our model neurons exhibit the same tradeoff in spectrotemporal resolution as has been observed in IC. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that receptive fields of neurons in the ascending mammalian auditory pathway beyond the auditory nerve can be predicted based on coding principles and the statistical properties of recorded sounds.
Nail psoriasis in Germany: epidemiology and burden of disease.

BACKGROUND
Although nail psoriasis affects a marked proportion of patients with psoriasis and causes significant psychological stress, only few epidemiological data characterizing patients with nail involvement are available.


OBJECTIVES
To gain robust data on the epidemiology and disease burden of nail psoriasis in Germany.


METHODS
Two nationwide, noninterventional, cross-sectional studies on psoriasis health care were conducted in 2005 and 2007, involving 48 (2005) and 130 (2007) German office-based and clinic-based dermatological centres. Data of n=3531 patients with psoriasis were collected using standardized questionnaires and physical examinations by trained dermatologists. Patients with nail psoriasis were compared with patients without any nail involvement concerning sex, age, disease duration, family history, disease severity, presence of psoriatic arthritis (PsA), health-related quality of life (HRQoL), number of inpatient therapies, and days off work.


RESULTS
Nail psoriasis was diagnosed in 40·9% of the patients; prevalence was 11·2 percentage points higher in men than in women. Patients with nail involvement had a longer disease duration (21·9 vs. 18·1 years), higher disease severity (mean Psoriasis Area and Severity Index 12·7 vs. 9·3), higher frequency of PsA (26·0% vs. 12·7%), stronger impairment of HRQoL (mean Dermatology Life Quality Index 8·9 vs. 7·3), and a 2·5-fold higher rate of inpatient treatments.


CONCLUSIONS
Nail involvement is a relevant manifestation of psoriasis and is associated with a higher disease severity and quality of life impairment. Accordingly, management of psoriasis should include a special focus on nail involvement.
Formulation and Evaluation of Mouth Dissolving Film of Ropinirole Hydrochloride by Using Pullulan Polymers

The present work aimed at preparing mouth dissolvin g films of Ropinirole Hydrochloride with the purpose of developing a dosage form for a very quick onset of action, which is very convenient for administration , without the problem of swallowing and using water. The film s of Ropinirole Hydrochloride were prepared by using polymers such as pullulan and PEG 400 as plasticize r, by a solvent casting method. Formulation batches w re formulated with the help of 3 2 full factorial designs. The fast dissolving oral f ilms were designed using optimal design and numerical optimization technique was app lied to find out the best formulation. The formulat ed mouth dissolving films were evaluated for physical haracteristics such as uniformity of weight, thick ness, folding endurance, drug content uniformity, surface pH, percentage elongation, and tensile strength, a nd gave satisfactory results. The formulations were subject ed to disintegration, In-vitro drug release tests and stability study. The FTIR and DSC studies revealed that no ph ysicochemical interaction between excipients and dr ug. A marked increase in the % drug release was exhibited y mouth dissolving films of Ropinirole Hydrochlor ide containing pullulan as a polymer at 60 sec., when c ompared to other polymers films. Mouth dissolving f ilm of Ropinirole Hydrochloride containing pullulan as pol ymer showed 99.48 ± 0.18 % drug release at 60 sec. Mouth dissolving films of Ropinirole Hydrochloride contai ning pullulan showed better tensile strength (9.67 ± 0.064 g/mm), Percentage elongation (21.59 ± 0.29 %), folding endurance (88.00 ± 1.00 No. of folds), in-vitro disintegration time (20.33 ± 0.57 sec.) , surface pH (6.60 ± 0.10 pH), thickness (0.07 ± 0.01 mm) and percentage content uniformity (99.53 ±0.37 %). Stability studies revealed that optimized formula tion was stable. Mouth dissolving films of Ropinirole Hydrochloride can be considered suitable for clinical use in the treatm ent of parkinson’s disease and rest leg syndrome, where a quicker onset of action for a dosage form is desira ble long with the convenience of administration.
Success of serial external electrical cardioversion of persistent atrial fibrillation in maintaining sinus rhythm; a randomized study.

AIMS
The aim of this prospective, randomized study was to determine the efficacy of a serial external electrical cardioversion strategy in maintaining sinus rhythm after 12 months in patients with recurrent persistent atrial fibrillation.


METHODS AND RESULTS
Ninety patients with persistent atrial fibrillation lasting more than 72 h but less than 1 year were randomized in a one to one fashion to repetition of up to two electrical cardioversions in the event of relapse of atrial fibrillation detected within 1 month of the previous electrical cardioversion (Group AGG), or to non-treatment of atrial fibrillation relapse (Group CTL). ECGs were scheduled at 6 h, 7 days, and 1 month. Clinical examination and ECGs were repeated during the 6-month and 12-month follow-up examinations. Echocardiography was repeated during the 6-month follow-up examination. Clinical and echocardiographic characteristics were similar in the two groups. All patients were treated with antiarrhythmic drugs before electrical cardioversion and throughout follow-up. After 12 months, sinus rhythm was maintained in 53% of Group AGG patients and in 29% of Group CTL patients (P<0.03). After 6 months, left ventricular ejection fraction had recovered significantly only in Group AGG (56.8 +/- 9.0% at enrollment vs 60.4 +/- 9.4% at 6 months,P <0.001).


CONCLUSION
These results demonstrate that an aggressive policy towards persistent atrial fibrillation by means of repetition of electrical cardioversion after early atrial fibrillation recurrence is useful in maintaining sinus rhythm after 12 months.
Intermittent versus continuous renal replacement therapy for acute renal failure in intensive care units: results from a multicenter prospective epidemiological survey

Abstract Objectives. To describe the current practice of hemodialysis in acute renal failure (ARF) and to estimate the impact of hemodialysis modality on patient outcome. Design. Prospective multicenter observational study conducted from March 1996 to May 1997. Setting. The 28 multidisciplinary ICUs in the Rhône-Alpes region in France. Patients. The 587 patients who required hemodialysis. Measurements and results. Patients were followed until hospital discharge. Among the 587 patients 354 received continuous (CRRT) and 233 intermittent (IRRT) renal replacement therapy as first choice. CRRT patients had a higher number of organ dysfunctions on admission and at the time of ARF and higher SAPS II at time of ARF. Mortality was 79% in the CRRT group and 59% in the IRRT group. Logistic regression analysis showed decreased patient survival to be associated with SAPS II on admission, oliguria, admission from hospital or emergency room, number of days between admission and ARF, cardiac dysfunction at time of ARF, and ischemic ARF. No underlying disease or nonfatal disease, and absence of hepatic dysfunction were associated with an increase in patient survival. The type of renal replacement therapy was not significantly associated with outcome. Conclusions. Renal replacement therapy mode was not found to have any prognostic value. Randomized controlled trials should be undertaken to assess this important question.
Children with anogenital symptoms and signs referred for sexual abuse evaluations.

OBJECTIVE
To determine whether children referred to a sexual abuse clinic because of anogenital symptoms or signs have examination findings that are suggestive of or probable or definitive for sexual abuse.


DESIGN
Case series of 157 patients.


SETTING
Child and adolescent ambulatory care sexual abuse clinic.


RESULTS
A medical records review of 3660 cases was done; 157 cases were identified for study. Most (75%) referrals were from medical clinics. Of 184 complaints, the most common presenting symptom or sign was anogenital bleeding or bruising (29.3%), followed by irritation or redness (21.7%), abnormal anogenital anatomy (20.7%), vaginal discharge (18.4%), lesions (6.5%), and "other" symptoms or signs (3.3%). We used a standardized classification system and determined that 25 patients (15%) had examination findings in the sexual abuse clinic that were suggestive of or probable or definitive for sexual abuse. Although 85 patients had examination findings that corroborated the presenting symptom(s), 70 had nonspecific examination findings or a diagnosis other than sexual abuse. Seventy-two patients had normal examination findings. Only patients with the presenting symptom of lesions had an increased likelihood of a sexual abuse diagnosis. Common examination findings included anogenital erythema, enhanced vascularity of the hymen or vestibule in prepubertal girls, labial adhesions, and culture-negative vaginitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Few children are referred for sexual abuse evaluations based on physical signs or symptoms alone. Children with anogenital symptoms but without a disclosure or suspicion of sexual abuse are unlikely to have examination findings suggestive of abuse. The evaluation of children with anogenital symptoms and signs should include a consideration of alternative conditions and causes not directly related to sexual abuse.