LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Effect of motor control exercises versus graded activity in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND
Motor control exercises to improve control and coordination of trunk muscles and graded activity under the principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy are 2 commonly used exercise therapies, yet there is little evidence to support the use of one intervention over the other.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of motor control exercises and graded activity for patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain.


DESIGN
This study was a prospectively registered randomized controlled trial with outcome assessment and statistical analyses conducted blind to group.


SETTING
The study was conducted in primary care settings.


PATIENTS
The participants were 172 patients with chronic (>12 weeks) nonspecific low back pain.


INTERVENTIONS
Patients were randomly assigned to receive either motor control exercises or graded activity. There was no attempt to subclassify patients to match them to a treatment. Patients in both groups received 14 sessions of individualized, supervised exercise therapy.


MEASUREMENTS
Primary outcomes were average pain over the previous week (numeric rating scale) and function (Patient-Specific Functional Scale); secondary outcomes were disability (24-item Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire), global impression of change (Global Perceived Effect Scale), and quality of life (36-Item Short-Form Health Survey questionnaire [SF-36]). Outcome measures were collected at baseline and at 2, 6, and 12 months after intervention.


RESULTS
A linear mixed models analysis showed that there were no significant differences between treatment groups at any of the time points for any of the outcomes studied. For example, the effect for pain at 2 months was 0.0 (-0.7 to 0.8).


LIMITATIONS
Clinicians could not be blinded to the interventions.


CONCLUSION
results of this study suggest that motor control exercises and graded activity have similar effects for patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain.
Polynômes et coefficients

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés. Polynômes et coefficients Guillaume Malod
Virtual reality-augmented rehabilitation for patients following stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Recent evidence indicates that intensive massed practice may be necessary to modify neural organization and effect recovery of motor skills in patients following stroke. Virtual reality (VR) technology has the capability of creating an interactive, motivating environment in which practice intensity and feedback can be manipulated to create individualized treatments to retrain movement.


CASE DESCRIPTION
Three patients (ML, LE, and DK), who were in the chronic phase following stroke, participated in a 2-week training program (3 1/2 hours a day) including dexterity tasks on real objects and VR exercises. The VR simulations were targeted for range of motion, movement speed, fractionation, and force production.


OUTCOMES
ML's function was the most impaired at the beginning of the intervention, but showed improvement in the thumb and fingers in range of motion and speed of movement. LE improved in fractionation and range of motion of his thumb and fingers. DK made the greatest gains, showing improvement in range of motion and strength of the thumb, velocity of the thumb and fingers, and fractionation. Two of the 3 patients improved on the Jebsen Test of Hand Function.


DISCUSSION
The outcomes suggest that VR may be useful to augment rehabilitation of the upper limb in patients in the chronic phase following stroke.
Finding large sticks and potatoes in polygons

We study a class of optimization problems in polygons that seek to compute the "largest" subset of a prescribed type, e.g., a longest line segment ("stick") or a maximum-area triangle or convex body ("potato"). Exact polynomial-time algorithms are known for some of these problems, but their time bounds are high (e.g., O(n7) for the largest convex polygon in a simple n-gon). We devise efficient approximation algorithms for these problems. In particular, we give near-linear time algorithms for a (1 - ∈)-approximation of the biggest stick, an O(1)-approximation of the maximum-area convex body, and a (1 - ∈)-approximation of the maximum-area fat triangle or rectangle. In addition, we give efficient methods for computing large ellipses inside a polygon (whose vertices are a dense sampling of a closed smooth curve). Our algorithms include both deterministic and randomized methods, one of which has been implemented (for computing large area ellipses in a well sampled closed smooth curve).
NASHA hyaluronic acid vs. methylprednisolone for knee osteoarthritis: a prospective, multi-centre, randomized, non-inferiority trial.

OBJECTIVE
To compare NASHA hyaluronic acid gel as single-injection intra-articular (IA) treatment for knee osteoarthritis (OA) against methylprednisolone acetate (MPA).


DESIGN
This was a prospective, multi-centre, randomized, active-controlled, double-blind, non-inferiority clinical trial. A unique, open-label extension phase (OLE) was undertaken to answer further important clinical questions. Subjects with painful unilateral knee OA were treated and followed for 26 weeks (blinded phase). All patients attending the clinic at 26 weeks were offered NASHA treatment, with a subsequent 26-week follow-up period (extension phase). The primary objective was to show non-inferiority of NASHA vs MPA in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain responder rate (percentage of patients with ≥40% improvement from baseline in WOMAC pain score and an absolute improvement of ≥5 points) at 12 weeks.


RESULTS
In total, 442 participants were enrolled. The primary objective was met, with NASHA producing a non-inferior response rate vs MPA at 12 weeks (NASHA: 44.6%; MPA: 46.2%; difference [95% CI]: 1.6% [-11.2%; +7.9%]). Effect size for WOMAC pain, physical function and stiffness scores favoured NASHA over MPA from 12 to 26 weeks. In response to NASHA treatment at 26 weeks, sustained improvements were seen in WOMAC outcomes irrespective of initial treatment. No serious device-related adverse events (AEs) were reported.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that single-injection NASHA was well tolerated and non-inferior to MPA at 12 weeks. The benefit of NASHA was maintained to 26 weeks while that of MPA declined. An injection of NASHA at 26 weeks conferred long-term improvements without increased sensitivity or risk of complications. STUDY IDENTIFIER: NCT01209364 (www.clinicaltrials.gov).
A comparative study of the cutting forces in high speed machining of Ti-6Al-4V and Inconel 718 with a round cutting edge tool

Titanium alloy Ti–6Al–4V and nickel-based superalloy Inconel 718 have been widely employed in modern manufacturing. The published literature on high speed machining (HSM) of the two materials often involves different machining set-up, which makes it difficult to directly apply the research findings from one material to the other to select the most appropriate tool geometry and cutting conditions. A comparative experimental study of HSM of Ti–6Al–4V and Inconel 718 is conducted in this paper using the same machining set-up. The scope of this study is limited in high speed finish machining, where the tool edge utting forces ound cutting edge tool geometry plays a significant role. The experimental set-up and the methods of measuring the cutting forces and the tool edge radius are introduced. A total of 40 orthogonal high speed tube-cutting tests were performed, involving five levels of cutting speeds and four levels of feed rates. Based on extensive experimental data, the similarities and differences between HSM of Ti–6Al–4V and Inconel 718 are quantitatively compared and qualitatively explained in terms of four quantities: (1) the cutting force Fc, (2) the thrust force Ft, (3) the resultant force R, and (4) the force ratio Fc/Ft. A total of 12 empirical regression relationships are obtained.
Discrete Fourier Analysis and Wavelets: Applications to Signal and Image Processing, Second Edition

Description: A thorough guide to the classical and contemporary mathematical methods of modern signal and image processing Discrete Fourier Analysis and Wavelets presents a thorough introduction to the mathematical foundations of signal and image processing. Key concepts and applications are addressed in a thought-provoking manner and are implemented using vector, matrix, and linear algebra methods. With a balanced focus on mathematical theory and computational techniques, this self-contained book equips readers with the essential knowledge needed to transition smoothly from mathematical models to practical digital data applications. The book first establishes a complete vector space and matrix framework for analyzing signals and images. Classical methods such as the discrete Fourier transform, the discrete cosine transform, and their application to JPEG compression are outlined followed by coverage of the Fourier series and the general theory of inner product spaces and orthogonal bases. The book then addresses convolution, filtering, and windowing techniques for signals and images. Finally, modern approaches are introduced, including wavelets and the theory of filter banks as a means of understanding the multiscale localized analysis underlying the JPEG 2000 compression standard. Throughout the book, examples using image compression demonstrate how mathematical theory translates into application. Additional applications such as progressive transmission of images, image denoising, spectrographic analysis, and edge detection are discussed. Each chapter provides a series of exercises as well as a MATLAB project that allows readers to apply mathematical concepts to solving real problems. Additional MATLAB routines are available via the book's related Web site. With its insightful treatment of the underlying mathematics in image compression and signal processing, Discrete Fourier Analysis and Wavelets is an ideal book for mathematics, engineering, and computer science courses at the upper-undergraduate and beginning graduate levels. It is also a valuable resource for mathematicians, engineers, and other practitioners who would like to learn more about the relevance of mathematics in digital data processing.
Tools for Integrated Sustainability Assessment: A two-track approach

Sustainable development has become an overarching policy target for the global policy arena. However, the international policy-making process and that of the individual countries remains largely sectoral in nature: a wide spectrum of international policies pursue narrow sectoral concerns and do not contribute fully enough to the achievement of broader sustainability targets. New policy tools such as Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA) have therefore been adopted by the European Union to ensure that sectoral policies can be evaluated in relation to their wider sustainability impacts. However, what is really needed is a cross-sectoral approach to assessing sustainable development at an even higher, much more strategic level: Integrated Sustainability Assessment (ISA). ISA involves a longterm, comprehensive assessment of international and national policy programmes against sustainability targets and criteria. In order to perform ISA at the international level, new assessment tools and methods are needed which are rooted in a new paradigm. Sustainable development is a complex, multi-dimensional phenomenon, with a breadth and depth that cannot be fully covered by the current portfolio of ISA tools. We therefore need a new generation of ISA tools, in particular modelling tools that can (semi-)quantitatively assess the multiple dimensions of sustainable development, in terms of multiple scales, multiple domains and multiple generations. Although a new paradigm is on the horizon and its contours are gradually becoming clearer, it will take a while before it can be used to develop practical ISA tools. Within the context of the European MATISSE project we therefore propose a two-track strategy: find new ways to use the current portfolio of ISA tools as efficiently and effectively as possible, while at the same time developing building blocks to support the next generation of ISA tools.
A Neural Conversational Model for Chatbots

One of the fundamental objectives of Computer Science is to reduce the menial, repetitive and mundane tasks. It might be arithmetic calculations or maintaining huge amount of data. With the advent of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, we are a step ahead. We not only make the machine perform these tasks but also those which would require the intelligence and the reasoning of a human brain. This involves decision making, interpretation and prediction. The project makes an attempt to minimize human intervention in a wide range of domains. The tool that is built is capable of having human-like conversations with a person. Currently, the conversational model built is capable of having casual conversations in a variety of topics which involve no domain specific knowledge. The same can be replicated in a domain specific environment by including the previous conversations or data of that specific domain. The concepts of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence i.e., Recurrent Neural Networks along with LSTMs (Long Short Term Memory) are used to train the neural network. Keywords—Recurrent Neural Networks, Chatbot, Machine Consciousness.
Tunable magnetic properties of transition metal doped MoS 2

We report a detailed investigation of the electronic and magnetic properties of the transitionmetal (TM) doped two-dimensional (2D) MoS2 using ab initio calculations. The doping is achieved by substituting two or more Mo-atoms by TM-atoms of the 3d-series. Additionally, the effect of codoping on the 2D-MoS2 by cation-cation and cation-anion pairs is also investigated. Our results demonstrate that the TM-doping of 2D-MoS2 leads to a significant reduction of the energy gap and the appearance of magnetic features whose major characteristic is the ferromagnetic coupling of the TM-dopants. The latter is found to be significantly enhanced by codoping as demonstrated by codoping with (Co,Cu), (Ni,Cu), (Mn,Cu) and (Mn,Sb) codopant-pairs. PACS numbers: 71.10.-w,71.15.Mb,71.20.Nr,75.50.Pp Electronic address: andriot@iesl.forth.gr Electronic address: madhu@ccs.uky.edu
Effect of dried Gliricidia sepium leaf supplement on feed intake, digestibility and nitrogen retention in sheep fed dried KW4 elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) ad libitum

A feeding experiment was conducted to study the effects of supplementation with dried Gliricidia sepium leaves on dry matter (DM) intake, digestibility and nitrogen retention in sheep fed KW4 elephant grass. Four mature rams were fed elephant grass ad libitum supplemented with four levels of gliricidia leaves (0, 4, 8 and 12 g DM kg−1 lwt day−1) in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Supplementation with gliricidia leaves decreased elephant grass DM intake (g DM day−1 or g DM kg−1 BW0.75 day−1). However, the effect of supplementation on total DM intake of the rations was not significant (P >; 0.05). Total crude protein intake significantly (P < 0.001) increased with increasing levels of gliricidia supplementation. Total DM digestibility and body weight changes were significantly (P < 0.05) improved by gliricidia supplementation; with the highest digestibility coefficient (60.5%) and body weight gain (89.3 g/day) obtained at 8 g DM kg−1 lwt day−1. Gliricidia supplementation significantly (P < 0.001) improved nitrogen intake, absorbed nitrogen and retained nitrogen but with no significant difference at 8 and 12 g DM kg−1 lwt day−1 level of supplementation. The highest efficiency of N retention by sheep (44.9%) was obtained at 8 g DM kg−1 lwt day−1 level of gliricidia supplementation. The results indicated that supplemention of KW4 elephant grass with small quantities of gliricidia leaves up to 8 g DM kg−1 lwt day−1 enhance utilisation efficiency of the total ration. Further increases in the level of gliricidia supplementation, under the conditions of this experiment, reduced the intake of elephant grass leading to substitution effects of the basal.
Cultural tailoring for the promotion of Hepatitis B screening in Turkish Dutch: a protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND
Chronic hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) is an important health problem in the Turkish community in the Netherlands, and promotion of screening for HBV in this risk group is necessary. An individually tailored intervention and a culturally tailored intervention have been developed to promote screening in first generation 16-40 year old Turkish immigrants. This paper describes the design of the randomized controlled trial, which will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the two tailored internet interventions as compared to generic online information on HBV, and to assess the added value of tailoring on socio-cultural factors.


METHODS/DESIGN
A cluster randomized controlled trial design, in which we invite all Rotterdam registered inhabitants born in Turkey, aged 16-40 (n = 10,000), to visit the intervention website is used. A cluster includes all persons living at one house address. The clusters are randomly assigned to either group A, B or C. On the website, persons eligible for testing will be selected through a series of exclusion questions and will then continue in the randomly assigned intervention group. Group A will receive generic information on HBV. Group B will receive individually tailored information related to social-cognitive determinants of screening. Group C will receive culturally tailored information which, next to social-cognitive factors, addresses cultural factors related to screening. Subsequently, participants may obtain a laboratory form, with which they can be tested free of charge at local health centres. The main outcome of the study is the percentage of eligible persons tested for HBV through to participation in one of the three groups. Measurements of the outcome behaviour and its determinants will be at baseline and five weeks post-intervention.


DISCUSSION
This trial will provide information on the effectiveness of a culturally tailored internet intervention promoting HBV-screening in first generation Turkish immigrants in the Netherlands, aged 16-40. The results will contribute to the evidence base for culturally tailored (internet) interventions in ethnic minority populations. An effective intervention will lead to a reduction of the morbidity and mortality due to HBV in this population. This may not only benefit patients, but also help reduce health inequalities in western countries.


TRIAL REGISTRATION
The Netherlands National Trial Register NTR 2394.
Reproducing Color Images Using Custom Inks

We investigate the general problem of reproducing color images on an offset press using custom inks in any combination and number. While this problem has been explored previously for the case of two inks, there are a number of new mathematical and algorithmic challenges that arise as the number of inks increases. These challenges include more complex gamut mapping strategies,more efficient ink selection strategies, and fast and numerically accurate methods for computing ink separations in situations that may be either overor under-constrained. In addition, the demands of high-quality color printing require an accurate physical model of the colors that result from overprinting multiple inks using halftoning, including the effects of trapping, dot gain, and the interreflect ion of light between ink layers. In this paper, we explore these issues related to printing with multiple custom inks, and address them with new algorithms and physical models. Finally, we present some printed examples demonstrating the promise of our methods. CR Categories: I.3.4 [Computer Graphics]: Graphics Utilities; G.1.6 [Numerical Analysis]: Optimization Additional
Neighborhood design and vehicle type choice: Evidence from Northern California

Previous studies have found that suburban development is associated with the unbalanced choice of light duty trucks (LDTs). However, the specific aspects of the built environment that influence vehicle choice have not been well-established. Further, these studies have not shed much light on the underlying direction of causality: whether neighborhood designs themselves, as opposed to preferences for neighborhood characteristics or attitudes towards travel, more strongly influence individuals’ decisions regarding vehicle type. Using a sample from Northern California, this study investigated the relationship between neighborhood design and vehicle type choice, controlling for residential self-selection. Correlational analyses showed that neighborhood design has a strong association with vehicle type choice. Specifically, traditional neighborhood designs are correlated with the choice of passenger cars, while suburban designs are associated with the choice of LDTs. The nested logit model suggests that sociodemographic and attitudinal factors play an important role, and that an outdoor spaciousness measure (based on perceptions of yard sizes and off-street parking availability) and commute distance also impact vehicle type choice after controlling for those other influences. Therefore, this study supports the premise that land use policies have at least some potential to reduce the choice of LDTs, thereby reducing emissions.
Circadian activity rhythms and mortality: the study of osteoporotic fractures.

OBJECTIVES
To determine whether circadian activity rhythms are associated with mortality in community-dwelling older women.


DESIGN
Prospective study of mortality.


SETTING
A cohort study of health and aging.


PARTICIPANTS
Three thousand twenty-seven community-dwelling women from the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures cohort (mean age 84).


MEASUREMENTS
Activity data were collected using wrist actigraphy for a minimum of three 24-hour periods, and circadian activity rhythms were computed. Parameters of interest included height of activity peak (amplitude), midline estimating statistic of rhythm (mesor), strength of activity rhythm (robustness), and time of peak activity (acrophase). Vital status, with cause of death adjudicated through death certificates, was prospectively ascertained.


RESULTS
Over an average of 4.1 years of follow-up, there were 444 (14.7%) deaths. There was an inverse association between peak activity height and all-cause mortality rates, with higher mortality rates observed in the lowest activity quartile (hazard ratio (HR)=2.18, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.63-2.92) than in the highest quartile after adjusting for age, clinic site, race, body mass index, cognitive function, exercise, instrumental activity of daily living impairments, depression, medications, alcohol, smoking, self-reported health status, married status, and comorbidities. A greater risk of mortality from all causes was observed for those in the lowest quartiles of mesor (HR=1.71, 95% CI=1.29-2.27) and rhythm robustness (HR=1.97, 95% CI=1.50-2.60) than for those in the highest quartiles. Greater mortality from cancer (HR=2.09, 95% CI=1.04-4.22) and stroke (HR=2.64, 95% CI=1.11-6.30) was observed for later peak activity (after 4:33 p.m.; >1.5 SD from mean) than for the mean peak range (2:50-4:33 p.m.).


CONCLUSION
Older women with weak circadian activity rhythms have higher mortality risk. If confirmed in other cohorts, studies will be needed to test whether interventions (e.g., physical activity, bright light exposure) that regulate circadian activity rhythms will improve health outcomes in older adults.