LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Global patterns and predictors of fish species richness in estuaries.

1. Knowledge of global patterns of biodiversity and regulating variables is indispensable to develop predictive models. 2. The present study used predictive modelling approaches to investigate hypotheses that explain the variation in fish species richness between estuaries over a worldwide spatial extent. Ultimately, such models will allow assessment of future changes in ecosystem structure and function as a result of environmental changes. 3. A comprehensive worldwide data base was compiled of the fish assemblage composition and environmental characteristics of estuaries. Generalized Linear Models were used to quantify how variation in species richness among estuaries is related to historical events, energy dynamics and ecosystem characteristics, while controlling for sampling effects. 4. At the global extent, species richness differed among marine biogeographic realms and continents and increased with mean sea surface temperature, terrestrial net primary productivity and the stability of connectivity with a marine ecosystem (open vs. temporarily open estuaries). At a smaller extent (within a marine biogeographic realm or continent), other characteristics were also important in predicting variation in species richness, with species richness increasing with estuary area and continental shelf width. 5. The results suggest that species richness in an estuary is defined by predictors that are spatially hierarchical. Over the largest spatial extents, species richness is influenced by the broader distributions and habitat use patterns of marine and freshwater species that can colonize estuaries, which are in turn governed by history contingency, energy dynamics and productivity variables. Species richness is also influenced by more regional and local parameters that can further affect the process of community colonization in an estuary including the connectivity of the estuary with the adjacent marine habitat, and, over smaller spatial extents, the size of these habitats. In summary, patterns of species richness in estuaries across large spatial extents seem to reflect from global to local processes acting on community colonization. The importance of considering spatial extent, sampling effects and of combining history and contemporary environmental characteristics when exploring biodiversity is highlighted.
Considering Social and Emotional Artificial Intelligence

This paper presents the concepts of social and emotional intelligence as elements of human intelligence that are complementary to the intelligence assessed by the Turing Test. We argue that these elements are gaining importance as human users are increasingly conceptualising machines as social entities. We describe an implementation of Sensitive Artificial Listeners which provides a hands-on example of technology with some emotional and social skills, and discuss first elements of test methodologies for such technology.
Very long-term survival and durability of mitral valve repair for mitral valve prolapse.

BACKGROUND
Mitral regurgitation (MR) due to mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is often treatable by surgical repair. However, the very long-term (>10-year) durability of repair in both anterior leaflet prolapse (AL-MVP) and posterior leaflet prolapse (PL-MVP) is unknown.


METHODS AND RESULTS
In 917 patients (aged 65+/-13 years, 68% male), surgical correction of severe isolated MR due to MVP (679 repairs and 238 replacements [MVRs]) was performed between 1980 and 1995. Survival after repair was better than survival after MVR for both PL-MVP (at 15 years, 41+/-5% versus 31+/-6%, respectively; P=0.0003) and AL-MVP (at 14 years, 42+/-8% versus 31+/-5%, respectively; P=0.003). In multivariate analysis adjusting for predictors of survival, repair was independently associated with lower mortality in PL-MVP (adjusted risk ratio [RR] 0.61, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.85; P=0.0034) and in AL-MVP (adjusted RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.96; P=0.028). The reoperation rate was not different after repair or MVR overall (at 19 years, 20+/-5% for repair versus 23+/-5% for MVR; P=0.4) or separately in PL-MVP (P=0.3) or AL-MVP (P=0.3). However, the reoperation rate was higher after repair of AL-MVP than after repair of PL-MVP (at 15 years, 28+/-7% versus 11+/-3%, respectively; P=0.0006). From the 1980s to the 1990s, the RR of reoperation after repair of AL-MVP versus PL-MVP did not change (RR 2.5 versus 2.7, respectively; P=0.58), but the absolute rate of reoperation decreased similarly in PL-MVP and AL-MVP (at 10 years, from 10+/-3% to 5+/-2% and from 24+/-6% to 10+/-2%, respectively; P=0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
In severe MR due to MVP, mitral valve repair compared with MVR provides improved very long-term survival after surgery for both AL-MVP and PL-MVP. Reoperation is similarly required after repair or replacement but is more frequent after repair of AL-MVP. Recent improvement in long-term durability of repair suggests that it should be the preferred mode of surgical correction of MVP whether it affects anterior or posterior leaflets and is an additional incentive for early surgery of severe MR due to MVP.
Valuing future risks to life

Environmental policies that alter future mortality rates may affect both current and future generations. This paper examines willingness to pay for future risk reductions from the perspective of the current generation. The life cycle consumption/saving model implies that an individual discounts future risks to himself at the consumption rate of interest. If capital markets are perfect, the consumption rate equals the market rate of interest; otherwise, the consumption rate exceeds the market rate, and numerical results suggest that the implied discount factor may be substantial. The overlapping generations model implies that a member of the current generation discounts the value of risks to future generations at the rate at which current consumption is substituted for a bequest. o 1990 Academic press, inc.
Parallelization Strategies for Ant Colony Optimization Parallelization Strategies for Ant Colony Optimization

Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) is a new population oriented search metaphor that has been successfully applied to NP-hard combinatorial optimization problems. In this paper we discuss parallelization strategies for Ant Colony Optimization algorithms. We empirically test the most simple strategy, that of executing parallel independent runs of an algorithm. The empirical tests are performed applying MAX{MIN Ant System, one of the most eecient ACO algorithms, to the Traveling Salesman Problem and show that using parallel independent runs is very eeective.
On the metaphysics of belief

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Linguistics and Philosophy, 1998.
Kinetics of Ca+ adsorption and cationic selectivity with a synaptic membrane protein

Abstract A study was conducted on the adsorption of 45 Ca 2+ to a surface film of a hydrophobic protein derived from synaptic membranes isolated from bovine cerebellum. A kinetic analysis of Ca 2+ displacement from the protein by various metal and organic cations could be described by a rate law based on diffusion and displacement. The relative rate constants for the displacement of bound Ca 2+ were in the order Li + + , Rb + + + , NH 4 + . Among the alkaline earth series the sequence was Mg 2+ , Sr 2+ 2+ . Ca 2+ adsorption could be described by a theoretical formulation which takes into account an interfacial energy and potential barrier as well as the diffusional process. An attempt was made to consider the effect of energy of hydration of the cations, surface charge, and the chemical environment at the interface on catonic selectivity. The behavior of the cations in this system significantly resemble their behavior in natural membranes, particularly excitatory ones. The structural and physicochemical environment of the protein at the interface is discussed in relation to Ca 2+ binding and cationic selectivity.
Autologous Umbilical Cord Blood Transfusion in Young Children With Type 1 Diabetes Fails to Preserve C-Peptide

OBJECTIVE
We conducted an open-label, phase I study using autologous umbilical cord blood (UCB) infusion to ameliorate type 1 diabetes (T1D). Having previously reported on the first 15 patients reaching 1 year of follow-up, herein we report on the complete cohort after 2 years of follow-up.


RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
A total of 24 T1D patients (median age 5.1 years) received a single intravenous infusion of autologous UCB cells and underwent metabolic and immunologic assessments.


RESULTS
No infusion-related adverse events were observed. β-Cell function declined after UCB infusion. Area under the curve C-peptide was 24.3% of baseline 1 year postinfusion (P < 0.001) and 2% of baseline 2 years after infusion (P < 0.001). Flow cytometry revealed increased regulatory T cells (Tregs) (P = 0.04) and naive Tregs (P = 0.001) 6 and 9 months after infusion, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Autologous UCB infusion in children with T1D is safe and induces changes in Treg frequency but fails to preserve C-peptide.
Comparison of miniscalpel-needle release, acupuncture needling, and stretching exercise to trigger point in myofascial pain syndrome.

OBJECTIVE
Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is one of the most common causes of chronic musculoskeletal pain. Several methods have been recommended for the inactivation of trigger points (TrPs). We carried out this study to investigate the effectiveness of miniscalpel-needle (MSN) release and acupuncture needling and self neck-stretching exercises on myofascial TrPs of the upper trapezius muscle.


METHODS
Eighty-three TrPs in 43 patients with MPS were treated and randomly assigned to 3 groups: group 1 received MSN release in conjunction with self neck-stretching exercises; group 2 received acupuncture needling treatment and performed self neck-stretching exercises; and group 3, the control group, was assigned self neck-stretching exercises only. The therapeutic effectiveness was evaluated using subjective pain intensity (PI) with a visual analog scale, pressure pain threshold (PPT), and contralateral bending range of motion (ROM) of cervical spine at pretreatment, 2 weeks, and 3 months after treatment.


RESULTS
The improvement of PI, PPT, and contralateral bending ROM of cervical spine was significantly greater in group 1 and 2 than that in control group at 2 weeks and 3 months follow-up. Compared with group 2, patients in group 1 had a statistically significant reduction in PI, an increase in PPT, contralateral bending ROM of cervical spine at 3 months follow-up.


DISCUSSION
The effectiveness of MSN release for MPS is superior to that of acupuncture needling treatment or self neck-stretching exercises alone. The MSN release is also safe, without severe side effects in treatment of MPS.
Surface EMG analysis and changes in gait following electrical stimulation of quadriceps femoris and tibialis anterior in children with spastic cerebral palsy

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical feasibility and effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) therapy of quadriceps femoris (QF) and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles on improving gait and functional outcomes in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). Method: Ten children with spastic diplegic/hemiplegic CP who were in the age group of 7 to 14 years recruited from a rehabilitation institute were randomly assigned either to a control group or a NMES group. Both groups obtained conventional physiotherapy and muscle strengthening exercises. The NMES group in addition received surface electrical stimulation to QF and TA muscles for four weeks duration. Results: The NMES group showed significant improvements as compared to the control group in walking speed (mean difference: 7.83 meters per min, 95% confidence interval: 3.13 to 12.53, p<;60;0.01) and cadence (mean difference: 23.33 steps per min, 95% confidence interval: 5.90 to 40.77, p<;60;0.01). The NMES group also showed significant reduction in physiological cost index of walking or PCI (mean difference: -1.32 beats per meter, 95% confidence interval: -1.83 to -0.80, p<;60;0.001) indicating greater energy-efficiency of walking. No significant changes were seen in EMG parameters. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggests that NMES therapy together with conventional physiotherapy more efficiently improves walking ability and functional outcomes as compared to conventional physiotherapy alone in children with spastic CP.
Efficacy of Yamamoto new scalp acupuncture versus Traditional Chinese acupuncture for migraine treatment.

BACKGROUND
Traditional Chinese acupuncture (TCA) is an effective alternative treatment in migraine headache. The aim of this study was to compare the therapeutic effect of Yamamoto new scalp acupuncture (YNSA), a recently developed microcupuncture system, with TCA for the prophylaxis and treatment of migraine headache.


METHODS
In a randomized clinical trial, 80 patients with migraine headache were assigned to receive YNSA or TCA. A pain visual analogue scale (VAS) and migraine therapy assessment questionnaire (MTAQ) were completed before treatment, after 6 and 18 sections of treatment, and 1 month after completion of therapy.


RESULTS
All the recruited patients completed the study. Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups. Frequency and severity of migraine attacks, nausea, the need for rescue treatment, and work absence rate decreased similarly in both groups. Recovery from headache and ability to continue daily activities 2 hours after medical treatment showed similar improvement in both groups (p>0.05).


CONCLUSION
Classic acupuncture and YNSA are similarly effective in the prophylaxis and treatment of migraine headache and may be considered as alternatives to pharmacotherapy.
Growth performance and carcass characteristics of Arsi-Bale goats castrated at different ages

The study was conducted on thirty six male Arsi-Bale kids of 10.56±0.39kg initial body weight for 15 months to investigate the effects of age at castration on growth performance and carcass characteristics. The treatments were entire/intact (T1), castration at three month of age (T2), castration at six month of age (T3) and castration at nine month of age (T4). All castrated and entire goats were browsed during day time and supplemented with concentrate at 2.5% of body weight in DM per day which adjusted with changes in their body weight. Five goats from each treatment were randomly selected and slaughtered for carcass evaluation. Age at castration had no significant effect on body weight, total weight gain (TG), overall average daily gain (ADG) and linear body measurements. T1 and T4 had significantly (P<0.05) higher ADG (g/day) (113.73±3.53 and 108.50±5.23, respectively) than T2 (92.16±6.20) and T3 (92.16±5.72) at 9-12 months of age. There were no significant differences among treatments on most carcass or non-carcass measurements except for fat deposition, which were significantly (P<0.05) lower and heavier for entire as compared to castrated groups, respectively. Therefore, castration is important for better fat deposition in carcass than for body weight gain improvement as time of castration did not result in better weight gain in this study. If castration desired, early castration is recommendable as goats castrated at three months of age had better rib eye area and fat thickness than other castrated groups and intact goats.
Four-Year Durability of Initial Combination Therapy with Sitagliptin and Metformin in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in Clinical Practice; COSMIC Study

OBJECTIVES
We investigated the efficacy of initial combination therapy with sitagliptin and metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes for 4 years in clinical practice.


METHODS
Between 2009 and 2010, we reviewed 1,178 patients with type 2 diabetes (HbA1c ≥7.5% or 58 mmol/mol) prescribed initial combination therapy with sitagliptin and metformin. After excluding 288 patients without a second follow-up, 890 individuals (age, 58.0 ± 12.5 years; BMI, 25.4 ± 3.5 kg/m2; HbA1c, 8.6 ± 1.1%) were followed up with every 3-6 months for 4 years. Homeostasis model assessments for insulin resistance and β-cell function (HOMA-β) were recorded at baseline. The response criterion was HbA1c reduction by ≥0.8% from baseline or attainment of the target HbA1c (≤7.0% or 53 mmol/mol). At the end of every year of treatment, changes in HbA1c from the baseline were assessed.


RESULTS
After 1 year, 72.2% of patients with initial combination therapy had responded, defined as HbA1c reduction ≥0.8% or attainment of the target HbA1c ≤7.0%. After 4 years, 35.4% of the patients still showed a response, with an HbA1c level of 7.0 ± 0.9%. A high HbA1c level at baseline was the most significant independent predictor of the long-term response (P<0.001). In addition, low HOMA-β was a significant predictor of a greater reduction in HbA1c. This treatment was generally well tolerated over the 4-year follow-up period, without any serious adverse events.


CONCLUSIONS
This real-world follow-up study shows a persistent glucose-reducing effect of initial combination therapy with sitagliptin and metformin for up to 4 years.
Dose-Response Effects of Insulin Glargine in Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE
To determine the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic dose-response effects of insulin glargine administered subcutaneously in individuals with type 2 diabetes.


RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
Twenty obese type 2 diabetic individuals (10 male and 10 female, aged 50 +/- 3 years, with BMI 36 +/- 2 kg/m(2) and A1C 8.3 +/- 0.6%) were studied in this single-center, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind study. Five subcutaneous doses of insulin glargine (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 units/kg) were investigated on separate occasions using the 24-h euglycemic clamp technique. RESULTS Glargine duration of action to reduce glucose, nonessential fatty acid (NEFA), and beta-hydroxybutyrate levels was close to or >24 h for all four doses. Increases in glucose flux revealed no discernible peak and were modest with maximal glucose infusion rates of 9.4, 6.6, 5.5, and 2.8 mumol/kg/min for the 2.0, 1.5, 1.0, and 0.5 units/kg doses, respectively. Glargine exhibited a relatively hepatospecific action with greater suppression (P < 0.05) of endogenous glucose production (EGP) compared with little or no increases in glucose disposal.


CONCLUSION
A single subcutaneous injection of glargine at a dose of >or=0.5 units/kg can acutely reduce glucose, NEFA, and ketone body levels for 24 h in obese insulin-resistant type 2 diabetic individuals. Glargine lowers blood glucose by mainly inhibiting EGP with limited effects on stimulating glucose disposal. Large doses of glargine have minimal effects on glucose flux and retain a relatively hepatospecific action in type 2 diabetes.
Acute renal failure following massive attack by Africanized bee stings

Bee venom is a complex substance, which acts in several tissues. Although severe allergic reactions have occurred after one or more stings, several deaths have been reported without allergic manifestations, emphasizing the toxic effects of massive poisoning. A number of about 500 stings have been considered necessary to cause death by direct toxicity, but as few as 30–50 stings have proved fatal in children. Among the major toxic effects are hemolytic anemia, acute renal failure (ARF), and shock. ARF may be due to a common toxic-ischemic mechanism with hypovolemic or anaphylactic shock, pigment tubulopathy (myoglobinuria and hemoglobinuria), or acute tubular necrosis (ATN) from a direct kidney toxicity of the venom. We present a case of rhabdomyolysis and hemolysis with consequent ARF which developed after about 800 bee stings. The patient recovered completely after peritoneal dialysis.
Using Phishing for User Email Security Awareness

User security education and training is one of the most important aspects of an organizations security posture. Using security exercises to reinforce this aspect is frequently done by education and industry alike; however these exercises usually enlist willing participants. We have taken the concept of using an exercise and modified it somewhat to evaluate a users propensity to respond to email phishing attacks.
Recovering Compressively Sampled Signals Using Partial Support Information

We study recovery conditions of weighted l1 minimization for signal reconstruction from compressed sensing measurements when partial support information is available. We show that if at least 50% of the (partial) support information is accurate, then weighted l1 minimization is stable and robust under weaker sufficient conditions than the analogous conditions for standard l1 minimization. Moreover, weighted l1 minimization provides better upper bounds on the reconstruction error in terms of the measurement noise and the compressibility of the signal to be recovered. We illustrate our results with extensive numerical experiments on synthetic data and real audio and video signals.
A comparison of 2 thrombus aspiration devices with histopathological analysis of retrieved material in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES
The objective of this study was to compare 2 manual thrombus aspiration catheters in unselected patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.


BACKGROUND
Distal embolization is common during percutaneous coronary intervention in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and can induce impaired myocardial perfusion. Several aspiration thrombectomy devices have been introduced to prevent distal embolization, however, with conflicting clinical results. Currently, it is unclear to what extent this variance in outcome can be explained by device-related factors, such as internal lumen size.


METHODS
We performed a prospective cohort study in which patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention were treated with a large-internal-lumen catheter (Diver, Invatec, Roncadelle, Italy). Outcomes were compared with a matched population of the Thrombus Aspiration during Percutaneous coronary intervention in Acute myocardial infarction Study (TAPAS) trial, in which patients were treated with a medium-sized catheter (Export, Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota). A histopathological analysis was performed of retrieved material.


RESULTS
A total of 160 patients, treated with the Diver (n = 80) or Export (n = 80) aspiration catheter, were enrolled. Effective thrombus aspiration was seen in 70.3% of the patients treated with the Diver catheter versus 81.8% with the Export catheter (p = 0.10) No significant difference was found in myocardial blush grade or electrocardiographic outcome between the 2 devices. Size distribution of retrieved thrombotic particles was similar per device. Erythrocyte-rich thrombi were found in 34.8% of the cases and were predominately seen in patients with low initial Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction flow grade (p = 0.008).


CONCLUSIONS
A larger internal lumen diameter does not result in retrieval of larger thrombotic particles, nor in improved angiographic or electrocardiographic outcomes.