LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Breast cancer follow up: a randomised controlled trial comparing point of need access versus routine 6-monthly clinical review.

AIM
To examine a model of care for breast cancer patients based on the concept of point of need access and investigate the effectiveness of this model compared to routine 6-monthly clinical reviews.


DESIGN
A parallel randomised controlled trial was used to examine point of need access to specialist care via the nurse specialist, compared to routine hospital based 6-monthly clinical review at year two post breast cancer diagnosis. A total of 237 patients were recruited to the study.


METHODS
Outcome measures at baseline, 9 and 18 months included psychological morbidity using the GHQ12 questionnaire, quality of life using the FACT-B plus endocrine subscale, fear and isolation. An analysis of covariance was used to detect changes over time. Recurrences and methods of detection were recorded as secondary outcome measures.


RESULTS
Two hundred and fourteen patients completed the study. Overall patients were not exposed to risks of increased psychological morbidity (p=0.767) or decline of quality of life (p=0.282) when routine review was discontinued and no significant differences were detected during an 18-month period. Patients not receiving regular review did not feel isolated, and at the end of 18 months did not wish to return to 6-monthly clinical reviews. The presentation of recurrences and short symptom history demonstrate that the recurrences observed were unlikely to have been detected at a routine visit.


CONCLUSIONS
Point of need access is acceptable to the majority of patients. Although a third of patients may wish to maintain a regular review, patient choice is important. Findings suggest that after 2 years following the diagnosis of breast cancer there is no evidence to support the view that regular clinical review improves psychological morbidity or quality of life. Patients do not appear to be compromised in terms of early detection of recurrence. Point of need access can be provided by suitably trained specialist nurses and provides a fast, responsive management system at a time when patients really need it.
The use of focused ultrasound for non-invasive body contouring in Asians.

INTRODUCTION
Previous studies demonstrated that multiple treatments using focused ultrasound can be effective as an non-invasive method for reducing unwanted localized fat deposits. The objective of the study is to investigate the safety and efficacy of this focused ultrasound device in body contouring in Asians.


METHOD
Fifty-three (51 females and 2 males) patients were enrolled into the study. Subjects had up to three treatment sessions with approximately 1-month interval in between treatment. Efficacy was assessed by changes in abdominal circumference, ultrasound fat thickness, and caliper fat thickness. Weight change was monitored to distinguish weight loss induced changes in these measurements. Patient questionnaire was completed after each treatment. The level of pain or discomfort, improvement in body contour and overall satisfaction were graded with a score of 1-5 (1 being the least). Any adverse effects such as erythema, pain during treatment or blistering were recorded.


RESULT
The overall satisfaction amongst subjects was poor. Objective measurements by ultrasound, abdominal circumference, and caliper did not show significant difference after treatment. There is a negative correlation between the abdominal fat thickness and number of shots per treatment session.


CONCLUSION
Focused ultrasound is not effective for non-invasive body contouring among Southern Asians as compared with Caucasian. Such observation is likely due to smaller body figures. Design modifications can overcome this problem and in doing so, improve clinical outcome.
Novel Biomedical Applications of Crosslinked Collagen.

Collagen is one of the most useful biopolymers because of its low immunogenicity and biocompatibility. The biomedical potential of natural collagen is limited by its poor mechanical strength, thermal stability, and enzyme resistance, but exogenous chemical, physical, or biological crosslinks have been used to modify the molecular structure of collagen to minimize degradation and enhance mechanical stability. Although crosslinked collagen-based materials have been widely used in biomedicine, there is no standard crosslinking protocol that can achieve a perfect balance between stability and functional remodeling of collagen. Understanding the role of crosslinking agents in the modification of collagen performance and their potential biomedical applications are crucial for developing novel collagen-based biopolymers for therapeutic gain.
Construction project risk assessment using combined fuzzy and FMEA

Effectively managing risk is an essential element of successful project management. It is imperative that project management team consider all possible risks to establish corrective actions in the right time. So far, several techniques have been proposed for project risk analysis. Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) is recognized as one of the most useful techniques in this field. The main goal is identifying all failure modes within a system, assessing their impact, and planning for corrective actions. In traditional FMEA, the risk priorities of failure modes are determined by using Risk Priority Numbers (RPN), which can be obtained by multiplying the scores of risk factors like occurrence (O), severity (S), and detection (D). This technique has some limitations, though in this paper, Fuzzy logic and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) are used to address the limitations of traditional FMEA. Linguistic variables, expressed in fuzzy numbers, are used to assess the ratings of risk factors O, S, and D. Each factor consists of seven membership functions and on the whole there are 343 rules for fuzzy system. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is applied to determine the relative weightings of risk impacts on time, cost, quality and safety. A case study is presented to validate the concept. The feedbacks are showing the advantages of the proposed approach in project risk management.
A hybrid algorithm for the vehicle routing problem

Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) is a metaheuristic method that inspired by the behavior of real ant colonies. In this paper, we propose a hybrid ACO algorithm for solving vehicle routing problem (VRP) heuristically in combination with an exact Algorithm to improve both the performance of the algorithm and the quality of solutions. In the basic VRP, geographically scattered customers of known demand are supplied from a single depot by a fleet of identically capacitated vehicles which are subject to architecture weight limit and, in some cases, to a limit on the distance traveled. Only one vehicle is allowed to supply each customer. The objective is to design least cost routes for the vehicles to service the customers. The intuition of the proposed algorithm is that nodes which are near to each other will probably belong to the same branch of the minimum spanning tree of the problem graph and thus will probably belong to the same route in VRP. In the proposed algorithm, in each iteration, we first apply a modified implementation of Prim's algorithm to the graph of the problem to obtain a feasible minimum spanning tree (MST) solution. Given a clustering of client nodes, the solution is to find a route in these clusters by using ACO with a modified version of transition rule of the ants. At the end of each iteration, ACO tries to improve the quality of solutions by using a local search algorithm, and update the associated weights of the graph arcs.
Adverse Outcomes after Major Surgery in Patients with Pressure Ulcer: A Nationwide Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND
Postoperative adverse outcomes in patients with pressure ulcer are not completely understood. This study evaluated the association between preoperative pressure ulcer and adverse events after major surgeries.


METHODS
Using reimbursement claims from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, we conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort study of 17391 patients with preoperative pressure ulcer receiving major surgery in 2008-2010. With a propensity score matching procedure, 17391 surgical patients without pressure ulcer were selected for comparison. Eight major surgical postoperative complications and 30-day postoperative mortality were evaluated among patients with pressure ulcer of varying severity.


RESULTS
Patients with preoperative pressure ulcer had significantly higher risk than controls for postoperative adverse outcomes, including septicemia, pneumonia, stroke, urinary tract infection, and acute renal failure. Surgical patients with pressure ulcer had approximately 1.83-fold risk (95% confidence interval 1.54-2.18) of 30-day postoperative mortality compared with control group. The most significant postoperative mortality was found in those with serious pressure ulcer, such as pressure ulcer with local infection, cellulitis, wound or treatment by change dressing, hospitalized care, debridement or antibiotics. Prolonged hospital or intensive care unit stay and increased medical expenditures were also associated with preoperative pressure ulcer.


CONCLUSION
This nationwide propensity score-matched retrospective cohort study showed increased postoperative complications and mortality in patients with preoperative pressure ulcer. Our findings suggest the urgency of preventing and managing preoperative pressure ulcer by a multidisciplinary medical team for this specific population.
Automated Markerless Analysis of Human Gait Motion for Recognition and Classification

© 2011 Jang-Hee Yoo and Mark S. Nixon 259 We present a new method for an automated markerless system to describe, analyze, and classify human gait motion. The automated system consists of three stages: i) detection and extraction of the moving human body and its contour from image sequences, ii) extraction of gait figures by the joint angles and body points, and iii) analysis of motion parameters and feature extraction for classifying human gait. A sequential set of 2D stick figures is used to represent the human gait motion, and the features based on motion parameters are determined from the sequence of extracted gait figures. Then, a knearest neighbor classifier is used to classify the gait patterns. In experiments, this provides an alternative estimate of biomechanical parameters on a large population of subjects, suggesting that the estimate of variance by marker-based techniques appeared generous. This is a very effective and well-defined representation method for analyzing the gait motion. As such, the markerless approach confirms uniqueness of the gait as earlier studies and encourages further development along these lines.
An Immune Genetic Algorithm for Software Test Data Generation

This paper aims at incorporating immune operators in genetic algorithms as an advanced method for solving the problem of test data generation. The new proposed hybrid algorithm is called immune genetic algorithm (IGA). A full description of this algorithm is presented before investigating its application in the context of software test data generation using some benchmark programs. Moreover, the algorithm is compared with other evolutionary algorithms.
Case Management : A Review of Modeling Approaches Case Management : A Review of Modeling Approaches

In 2008 the Object Management Group (OMG) released an RFI on “dynamic business activity modeling”. The need to model case management processes was the primary motivation towards this RFI. Several vendors of business process management systems (BPMS) have expressed interest in standardization of case management modeling. Cordys, a vendor of a BPMS platform, based on service oriented architecture (SOA) technology, is one of them. Cordys is increasingly focusing on and providing support for management and improvement of business operations. This year Cordys will release the next release of its business operations platform, called BOP-4. BOP-4 includes a model-driven case management solution, smoothly integrated with BPMN. Within the OMG, the Government Domain Task Force works on standardization of records management and case files. It is expected that case management standardization will be a joint effort of the Business Modeling and Integration and Government Domain task forces. It is too early to conclude whether, eventually, a new specification will be adopted, next to BPMN, or whether case management modeling capabilities will be incorporated into the next release of BPMN. In a series of two articles the discussion around “case management modeling versus BPMN” will be taken to the broader business process management community.
School pupils and university students surveyed for drinking beverages containing caffeine.

BACKGROUND
Caffeine is a commonly found ingredient in many beverages. Its main dietary source is coffee, cola drinks and in recent years, energy drinks.


OBJECTIVES
To compare the consumption of drinks containing caffeine (coffee, colas and energy drinks) and the reasons and circumstances under which they were drunk by middle school (junior high school) pupils and university students.


MATERIAL AND METHODS
Surveyed subjects were 90 middle school pupils from Warsaw and Kutno together with 100 students attending the Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW). A questionnaire, designed by the authors, was used to determine the amounts, frequency and the reasons or circumstances in which coffee, colas and energy drinks were consumed. Statistics used, consisted of the Mann-Whitney U and Chi-square (chi2) tests, with significance taken as alpha < or = 0.05.


RESULTS
Cola drinks were found to be the most popularly consumed beverages containing caffeine; 97% pupils and 93% students. Coffee was however drunk twice less by pupils compared to students, whilst similar amounts of energy drinks were consumed by both groups; respectively 48% and 53%. Gender differences were observed for the energy drinks with young men drinking the most. Coffee and energy drink consumption also rose with age by respectively 39% and 57%. The mean caffeine intake in pupils and students were respectively estimated to be 141 and 163 mg/day(d). The reasons why these beverages were drunk varied, from drinking coffee to keeping awake and drinking cola because of its good taste. Pupils also drank energy drinks due to its taste but students because of improved mental performance and in staying awake.


CONCLUSIONS
Drinking caffeine containing drinks by adolescents can be very variable and comes from many different sources. Thus, its intakes may be very high and so require monitoring, particularly for the youngest. Further observational studies are needed to assess the consumption of energy drinks in relation to physical activity.
Nonparametric statistical testing of coherence differences

Many important questions in neuroscience are about interactions between neurons or neuronal groups. These interactions are often quantified by coherence, which is a frequency-indexed measure that quantifies the extent to which two signals exhibit a consistent phase relation. In this paper, we consider the statistical testing of the difference between coherence values observed in two experimental conditions. We pay special attention to problems induced by (1) unequal sample sizes and (2) the fact that coherence is typically evaluated at a large number of frequency bins and between large numbers of pairs of neurons or neuronal groups (the multiple comparisons problem). We show that nonparametric statistical tests provide convincing and elegant solutions for both problems. We also show that these tests allow to incorporate biophysically motivated constraints in the test statistic, which may drastically increase the sensitivity of the test. Finally, we explain why the nonparametric test is formally correct. This means that we formulate a null hypothesis (identical probability distribution in the different experimental conditions) and show that the nonparametric test controls the false alarm rate under this null hypothesis. The proposed methodology is illustrated by analyses of data collected in a study on cortico-spinal coherence [Schoffelen JM, Oostenveld R, Fries P. Neuronal coherence as a mechanism of effective corticospinal interaction. Science 2005;308(5718):111-3].
Activist‐impelled divestitures and shareholder value

Research Summary: This study analyzes how the divestitures that are impelled by activist investors in their campaigns against public corporations affect shareholder value. Using hand‐collected data on the activist campaigns that were launched against and the divestitures that were undertaken by Fortune 500 companies between 2007 and 2015, we find that activist‐impelled divestitures are more positively associated with immediate and longer‐term measures of shareholder value than comparable manager‐led divestitures. These performance differences persist for nearly two years after the completion of these deals. Our results empirically test the idea that firms with agency problems unlock shareholder value when they divest, and support the notion that activist investors fulfill an important external governance function. Our work also opens new research opportunities and offers practical implications as well. Managerial Summary: This study investigates how divestitures that are undertaken at the behest of activist investors affect shareholder value. We find that divestitures that were undertaken under pressure from activist investors are associated with more positive shareholder returns than comparable divestitures that were undertaken voluntarily by managers. These performance differences persist for nearly two years after the completion of these deals, alleviating concerns about the purported short‐termism of activist investors. Our findings suggest that activist investors may fulfill an important governance function by inducing managers to undertake strategies that they might not otherwise pursue, thereby unlocking shareholder value.
Design of a Compact X-Band Substrate Integrated Waveguide Directional Coupler

Abstract— This paper presented the design of four-port network directional coupler at X-band frequency (8.2-12.4 GHz) by using substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) technique. SIW appears few years back which provides an excellent platform in order to design millimeter-wave circuits such as filter, antenna, resonator, coupler and power divider. It offers great compensation for smaller size and can be easily integrated with other planar circuits. The fabrication process can simply be done by using standard Printed Circuit Board (PCB) process where the cost of the manufacturing process will be reduced compared to the conventional waveguide. The directional coupler basically implemented at radar, satellite and point-to-point radio. The simulations for this SIW directional coupler design shows good performances with low insertion loss, low return loss, broad operational bandwidth and have high isolation. Keyword-Bandwidth, Coupling, Directional coupler, Four-port network, Isolation
Electromagnetic models of the lightning return stroke

[1] Lightning return-stroke models are needed for specifying the source in studying the production of transient optical emission (elves) in the lower ionosphere, the energetic radiation from lightning, and characterization of the Earth’s electromagnetic environment, as well as studying lightning interaction with various objects and systems. Reviewed here are models based on Maxwell’s equations and referred to as electromagnetic models. These models are relatively new and most rigorous of all models suitable for computing lightning electromagnetic fields. Maxwell’s equations are numerically solved to yield the distribution of current along the lightning channel. Different numerical techniques, including the method of moments (MoM) and the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method, are employed. In order to achieve a desirable current-wave propagation speed (lower than the speed of light in air), the channel-representing wire is embedded in a dielectric (other than air) or loaded by additional distributed series inductance. Capacitive loading has been also suggested. The artificial dielectric medium is used only for finding the distribution of current along the lightning channel, after which the channel is allowed to radiate in air. Resistive loading is used to control current attenuation with height. In contrast with distributed circuit and so-called engineering models, electromagnetic return-stroke models allow a self-consistent full-wave solution for both lightning-current distribution and resultant electromagnetic fields. In this review, we discuss advantages and disadvantages of four return-stroke channel representations: a perfectly conducting/resistive wire in air, a wire embedded in a dielectric (other than air), a wire in air loaded by additional distributed series inductance, and a wire in air having additional distributed shunt capacitance. Further, we describe and compare different methods of excitation used in electromagnetic return-stroke models: closing a charged vertical wire at its bottom with a specified grounded circuit, a delta-gap electric field source, and a lumped current source. Finally, we review and compare representative numerical techniques used in electromagnetic modeling of the lightning return stroke: MoMs in the time and frequency domains and the FDTD method. We additionally consider the so-called hybrid model of the lightning return stroke that employs a combination of electromagnetic and circuit theories and compare this model to electromagnetic models.
Leadership curriculum in undergraduate medical education: a study of student and faculty perspectives.

BACKGROUND
Leaders in medicine have called for transformative changes in healthcare to address systems challenges and improve the health of the public. The purpose of this study was to elicit the perspectives of students, faculty physicians and administrators regarding the knowledge and competencies necessary in an undergraduate leadership curriculum.


METHODS
A mixed-methods study was conducted using focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews with faculty physicians and administrative leaders, as well as a written survey of medical student leaders.


RESULTS
Twenty-two faculties participated in focus groups and interviews; 21 medical students responded to the written survey. Participants identified emotional intelligence, confidence, humility and creativity as necessary qualities of leaders; and teamwork, communication, management and quality improvement as necessary knowledge and skills. Students perceived themselves as somewhat or fully competent in communication (90%), conflict resolution (70%) and time management (65%), but reported minimal or no knowledge or competence in coding and billing (100%), writing proposals (90%), managed care (85%) and investment principles (85%). Both faculty and students believed that experiential training was the most effective for teaching leadership skills.


CONCLUSIONS
Study participants identified the necessary qualities, knowledge and skills to serve as goals for an undergraduate leadership curriculum. Future studies should address optimal methods of teaching and assessing leadership skills among medical students.