LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Rough sets

Rough set theory, introduced by Zdzislaw Pawlak in the early 1980s [11, 12], is a new mathematical tool to deal with vagueness and uncertainty. This approach seems to be of fundamental importance to artificial intelligence (AI) and cognitive sciences, especially in the areas of machine learning, knowledge acquisition, decision analysis, knowledge discovery from databases, expert systems, decision support systems, inductive reasoning, and pattern recognition.
Dyspepsia and gastric emptying in end-stage renal disease patients on hemodialysis

BACKGROUND
Dyspepsia is common among end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and its association with delayed gastric emptying is not well established. We assessed the association of dyspepsia with gastric emptying time in ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD).


METHODS
Dyspepsia was assessed through the Porto Alegre Dyspeptic Symptoms Questionnaire (PADYQ). PADYQ's scores ≥ 6 classified participants as dyspeptic. The octanoic acid breath test using ¹³carbon was employed to assess the gastric emptying time. Based on the test, time in minutes to metabolize the first half of the ¹³carbon in the test meal (t1/2) was calculated. Association of dyspepsia with gastric emptying time was tested by the correlation between PADYQ scores and t1/2, and also by comparing t1/2 between dyspeptics and non-dyspeptics.


RESULTS
There were 34 (68.0%) dyspeptic patients. Dyspepsia score was positively correlated with t1/2 (r = 0.366; p = 0.009). Dyspeptics had longer t1/2 compared to non-dyspeptics, respectively, 238.0 ± 92.9 versus 185.5 ± 45.5 minutes (p = 0.042).


CONCLUSIONS
Delayed gastric emptying was associated with dyspepsia. Prokinetic medications could have a role in preventing or relieving dyspeptic symptoms among HD patients. Future research in larger samples is necessary to confirm this association.
Learning about learning enhances performance

In the last few decades, understandings of learning have advanced significantly. In the 1960s and 1970s it was fashionable to model learning on computing processes, and to consider learners as “intelligent systems”. Since then other features of learning have been re-discovered. Studies of social aspects of learning have re-emphasised that understanding is a shared phenomenon, that learning can be usefully viewed as joining a knowledge community, and that much learning remains very specific to the social situation in which it was originally learned.1
A Gas Turbine Model for Studies on Distributed Generation Penetration Into Distribution Networks

The paper proposes a detailed model of a gas turbine for a combined heat and power (CHP) plant. The prime mover is endowed with several controls: first of all, a speed control which can be either droop type or isochronous type according to the status of connection to the distribution grid. An acceleration limiter and an exhaust gases temperature limiter intervene to cut the fuel request, respectively, in case of an excessive rotor acceleration and of a too high temperature of the exhaust gases. A further control regulates inlet guide vanes (IGV) in order to keep the exhaust temperature almost constant. This is important in a cogeneration plant where the heat recovery from the exhaust gases is used to satisfy the demand of the thermal load. Some validation simulations on a model of cogeneration plant connected to a MV distribution grid are carried out and commented.
A visual approach for driver inattention detection

Monitoring driver fatigue, inattention, and lack of sleep is very important in preventing motor vehicles accidents. A visual system for automatic driver vigilance has to address two fundamental problems. First of all, it has to analyze the sequence of images and detect if the driver has his eyes open or closed, and then it has to evaluate the temporal occurrence of eyes open to estimate the driver’s visual attention level. In this paper we propose a visual approach that solves both problems. A neural classifier is applied to recognize the eyes in the image, selecting two candidate regions that might contain the eyes by using iris geometrical information and symmetry. The novelty of this work is that the algorithm works on complex images without constraints on the background, skin color segmentation and so on. Several experiments were carried out on images of subjects with different eye colors, some of them wearing glasses, in different light conditions. Tests show robustness with respect to situations such as eyes partially occluded, head rotation and so on. In particular, when applied to images where people have eyes closed the proposed algorithm correctly reveals the absence of eyes. Next, the analysis of the eye occurrence in image sequences is carried out with a probabilistic model to recognize anomalous behaviors such as driver inattention or sleepiness. Image sequences acquired in the laboratory and while people were driving a car were used to test the driver behavior analysis and demonstrate the effectiveness of the whole approach. 2007 Pattern Recognition Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Effectiveness of a self-administered, home-based exercise rehabilitation program for women following a modified radical mastectomy and axillary node dissection: a preliminary study

This pilot study examined the effects of a self-administered, home-based exercise (HBE) rehabilitation programme designed to help women regain shoulder mobility immediately following surgery for a modified radical mastectomy and axillary node dissection. Twenty-seven women who were scheduled for surgery were randomly assigned to either a post-surgical experimental HBE rehabilitation group (n = 16) or a usual care group (UC; n = 11). Women assigned to the HBE group followed an 11 day (days 3–14 post-surgery), home-based rehabilitation programme consisting of shoulder flexibility and stretching exercises that were described on videotape. The videotape programme was modelled after the exercises and guidelines described in a brochure produced by the Canadian Cancer Society. As a result of the exercise programme intervention, there was a time × group interaction indicating that the HBE group demonstrated a significantly greater increase in shoulder flexion range of motion (ROM) (p = 0.003) and abduction ROM (p = 0.036) when compared to the UC. There were no statistical differences in shoulder strength between groups over time. External rotation (p = 0.036) and grip strength (p = 0.001) significantly increased in both groups during the intervention period but there were no interaction effects. With respect to the forearm circumferences, there was a significant decrease over time (p < 0.001) but no interaction between groups. This HBE rehabilitation programme is an effective way to improve shoulder mobility and ROM during the immediate 2-week recovery period following surgery.
Intention to leave the workplace among nurses working with cancer patients in acute care hospitals in Sweden.

PURPOSE
To examine associations between perceived leadership and intention to leave the workplace due to job dissatisfaction among registered nurses (RNs) who care for patients with cancer. We also examine intention to leave in relation to proportion of cancer patients, length of time in practice, perceived adequacy of cancer care education, and burnout.


METHODS AND SAMPLE
The data originated from the Swedish component of RN4CAST, based on a survey of RNs working with in-patient care in all acute care hospitals in Sweden. The 7412 RNs reporting ≥10% patients with cancer on their unit were included in this analysis. Data were collected on perceptions of work environment, burnout, future employment intentions, and demographic characteristics. Additional questions related to cancer care.


KEY RESULTS
About 1/3 of all RNs intended to leave their workplace within the next year. Intention to leave was more prevalent among RNs reporting less favourable perceptions of leadership, who had worked ≤ two years as RN, who reported having inadequate cancer care education, and with higher burnout scores. Associations between leadership and intention to leave were stronger among RNs in the profession > two years, who reported having adequate cancer care education, and with lower burnout scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Perception of leadership is strongly associated with intention to leave among RNs in both specialized and general cancer care. This suggests a crucial area for improvement in order to reduce turnover rates.
Histological analysis of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy specimens--January 2001 to May 2003.

UNLABELLED
Palatine and nasopharyngeal tonsils are nonencapsulated nodular masses of lymphoid tissue of the respiratory and digestive tract epithelium.


STUDY DESIGN
Retrospective clinical study based on the revision of medical records of patients who underwent tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy at Hospital das Clínicas, Medical School, Marília in the period between January 2001 and May 2003.


AIM
Analysis of patients' profile and main pathological changes in 250 patients with palatine and nasopharyngeal tonsil hypertrophy, recurrent infections or both.


MATERIAL AND METHOD
Histological review of 250 patients who underwent tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy among adults and children.


RESULTS
Out of 250 subjects, 117 (46.8%) were female and 133 (53.2%) were male patients. Mean age was 7.3 years, ranging from 2 to 34 years. Main surgical indication was concomitant presence of recurrent infections and hypertrophy of nasopharyngeal and palatine tonsils. Among these patients, 160 (64%) were classified as grades III to IV hypertrophy. Lymphatic or follicular lymphatic hyperplasia was observed in 205 patients (82%); focal inflammation was verified in 45 (18%) subjects. Among those, 2 patients presented squamous cell cysts, 2 had Actinomyces sp colonies and 1 cat scratch disease.


DISCUSSION
The results presented in this study suggested a possible correlation between recurrent tonsillitis and palatine tonsil hypertrophy.


CONCLUSION
Routine histological study of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy specimens has a low cost-benefit rate, although, due to legal and ethical issues, physicians may request this type of examination.
Predisposing and enabling factors associated with mammography use among Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women living in a rural area.

CONTEXT
Women who do not receive regular mammograms are more likely than others to have breast cancer diagnosed at an advanced stage.


PURPOSE
To examine predisposing and enabling factors associated with mammography use among Hispanic and non-Hispanic White women.


METHODS
Baseline data were used from a larger study on cancer prevention in rural Washington state. In a sample of 20 communities, 537 women formed the sample for this study. The main outcomes were ever having had a mammogram and having had a mammogram within the past 2 years.


FINDINGS
Reporting ever having had a mammogram was inversely associated with lack of health insurance (OR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.16-0.84), ages under 50 years (OR = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.12-0.45), high cost of exams (OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.27-0.87), and lack of mammography knowledge (OR = 0.16, 95% CI: 0.07-0.37), while increasing education levels were positively associated (OR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.09-2.70). Reporting mammography use within the past 2 years was inversely associated with ages under 50 years (OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.27-0.88) and over 70 years (OR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.24-0.94), lack of health insurance (OR = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.10-0.50), and high cost of exams (OR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.35-0.87).


CONCLUSIONS
Continued resources and programs for cancer screening are needed to improve mammography participation among women without health insurance or low levels of education.
Are the Pathological Characteristics of Prostate Cancer More Aggressive or More Indolent Depending upon the Patient Age?

Purpose. To identify pathological characteristics of prostate cancer according to patient age at diagnosis. Methods. A retrospective review of 2,929 men diagnosed with prostate cancer was performed. Pathological characteristics were compared across age groups: ≤55, 56-75, and >75 years. Results. The study cohort included 133 patients (4.5%), 2,033 patients (69.5%), and 763 patients (26.0%) in the three age groups, respectively. The median pathological Gleason sums in the three age groups were 8, 7, and 8, respectively. The Gleason sum, primary Gleason score, and second primary Gleason score were significantly different among the three age groups (Z = 12.975, p = 0.002; Z = 9.264, p = 0.010; Z = 6.692, p = 0.035, resp.). The percentages of Gleason pattern 5 tumors for the three age groups were 44.4%, 32.3%, and 36.8%, respectively; they were significantly different (χ2 = 11.641, p = 0.003). The percentages of tumors with Gleason score grade groups 3-5 for the three age groups were 66.9%, 60.5%, and 66.3%, respectively; they were significantly different (χ2 = 9.401, p = 0.009). Conclusions. The present study indicated that men aged ≤55 years or >75 years show higher levels of clinically significant prostate cancer compared to patients between the ages of 55 and 75 years. Younger and more elderly male patients are more likely to have a more aggressive disease.
Wavelets for computer graphics - theory and applications

For a complete copy of the book, please visit the MorganKaufmann website or Amazon.com.
Providers' perspectives on treating psychogenic nonepileptic seizures: Frustration and hope

Recent diagnostic and treatment advances in psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) have the potential to improve care for patients, but little is known about the current state of PNES care delivery in the Veterans Health Administration (VA). We conducted semistructured interviews with 74 health-care clinicians and workers in the VA, eliciting provider perceptions of PNES care. Data were analyzed according to principles of Grounded Theory. The results revealed variation in care and two emergent domain themes of frustration and hope. Frustration was manifest in subthemes including Complexity, Patient Acceptance, Uncertainty About Treatment, Need for Evidence-based Treatment, and Failure of Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration between neurologists and mental health providers. Hope encompassed subthemes of Positive Attitudes, Developing Cross-Disciplinary Treatment, and Specific PNES Care. Increased resources for diagnosing, treating, and researching PNES have improved awareness of the disorder. More research is needed to understand patients' and caregivers' perceptions of PNES care.
The association of serum potassium level with left ventricular mass in patients with primary aldosteronism.

BACKGROUND
Primary aldosteronism (PA) is associated a worse cardiovascular outcome than essential hypertension. Hypokalemia, which is one major characteristic of PA, can affect both cardiac structure and function. The goal of this study is to evaluate the influence of serum potassium level on left ventricular (LV) mass and function in PA patients.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
We prospectively analysed 85 PA patients from October 2006 to September 2008 and 27 essential hypertension patients as the control group (group 1). Thirty-two patients with serum potassium < 3·5 mmol L(-1) were defined as hypokalemia (group 2), and 53 patients with serum potassium ≥ 3·5 mmol L(-1) were defined as normokalemia (group 3). Echocardiography including tissue Doppler image (TDI) recordings was performed in all patients.


RESULTS
Group 2 patients had significant higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), log-transformed plasma aldosterone concentration, log-transformed aldosterone-to-renin ratio and lower serum potassium level than groups 1 and 3. In echocardiographic measurement, group 2 patients had higher LV mass index (LVMI) than groups 1 and 3. In multivariate analysis for factors affecting LVMI in PA patients, only serum potassium level (P = 0·001), use of spironolactone (P = 0·004) and DBP (P = 0·005) were independent factors. In the TDI study, both groups 2 and 3 had lower e' and E/e' values than group 1.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum potassium level is significantly associated with LVMI in PA patients. Compared with essential hypertensive patients, PA patients had a greater impairment of cardiac diastolic function.
Power comparison of 2D, 3D and 2.5D interconnect solutions and power optimization of interposer interconnects

This paper compares the power efficiency of multiple 2D, 2.5D and 3D interconnect scenarios, specifically DDR3 with PCB, DDR3 with interposers, LPDDR2(3) with POP, wide I/Os with through-silicon vias (TSVs) and interposers and 32 nm technology CMOS drivers with TSVs and on-chip wires. It was found that DDR3 with PCB is the lowest power efficiency (15.65 mW/Gbps) and custom designed CMOS drivers optimized for the 2.5D and 3D give the highest power efficiency (0.23mW/Gbps). Optimization of a Back End of the Line (BEOL) 65 nm interposer interface is also presented for Wide IO interface to find maximize power efficiency. Power efficiency for different interposer trace lengths (5mm-40mm) and pitches (4.6μm-11.05μm) was analyzed. It was found that power efficiency decreases linearly with the increase of pitch and length of the interposer traces both in one stack and 4 stack die of Wide IO.
Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement: Insights From Early Clinical Experience and Future Challenges.

Transcatheter mitral valve repair, particularly edge-to-edge leaflet repair, is a well-established alternative for patients with severe primary mitral regurgitation (MR) considered at high or prohibitive surgical risk. More recently, transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) has emerged as a potential therapeutic option for the treatment of severe MR. TMVR may offer some advantages over transcatheter repair by providing a more complete and reproducible MR reduction. Several devices are under preclinical and clinical evaluation, and the early experience with more than 100 patients has demonstrated the feasibility of TMVR. In this review, we describe the TMVR systems currently in development and the results obtained from early clinical experiences. We also discuss the main challenges in and future perspectives on this emerging field. Future studies with a much larger number of patients are needed to provide consistent safety and efficacy data on each of the TMVR systems.
Obscene Language and Evaluative Response: An Empirical Study

126 Ss' responses to obscene language from the evaluative dimension of meaning were investigated. Results indicated that Ss respond most favorably to religious profanities and that sexual words generally received the most negative evaluative response of those words surveyed.
Transplantation is a risk factor for acute kidney injury in patients undergoing total hip replacement arthroplasty for avascular necrosis: an observational study.

BACKGROUND
The increased number of patients undergoing transplantation has increased the number of transplant recipients undergoing total hip replacement arthroplasty (THRA). We have evaluated the association between transplantation and acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing THRA.


METHODS
Patients who underwent THRA from May 2004 to February 2012 were retrospectively assessed. Their demographic and clinical characteristics, the results of perioperative laboratory tests, the amounts of fluids transfused during surgery, and anesthesia time were evaluated. Patients were divided into 2 groups: transplant (n = 222) and nontransplant (n = 2,044) patients. With use of the maximal Acute Kidney Injury Network criteria, AKI was evaluated by changes in creatinine concentration within 48 hours of THRA. Propensity analyses and logistic regression were performed to evaluate the association between transplantation and postoperative AKI.


RESULTS
Postoperative AKI was significantly associated with transplantation (P < .0001), and transplantation was an independent factor predictive of postoperative AKI (P < .0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Transplant recipients are at risk for AKI following THRA. The mechanism by which organ transplantation enhances postoperative AKI warrants further evaluation.
Adjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of colon cancer: randomized multicenter trial of the Italian National Intergroup of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Colon Cancer (INTACC).

BACKGROUND
To determine whether the addition of leucovorin to the combination 5-fluorouracil plus levamisole prolongs disease-free survival and overall survival in patients with radically resected colon cancer (Dukes' B(2-3) and C).


PATIENTS AND METHODS
Patients (1703) were accrued between March 1992 and February 1995 in a large-scale clinical trial within five Italian cooperative groups. After stratification for center, patients were randomized as follows: arm A, 5-fluorouracil [450 mg/m(2) intravenous (i.v.) bolus on days 1-5] and levamisole (150 mg orally for 3 days, every 14 days for 6 months) versus arm B, 6-S-leucovorin (100 mg/m(2) i.v. bolus on days 1-5) followed by 5-fluorouracil (370 mg/m(2) i.v. bolus on days 1-5), plus levamisole (as arm A), every 4 weeks for six cycles.


RESULTS
After a median follow-up of 6.4 years no significant difference was seen for either disease-free survival (58% versus 60%, not significant) or 5-year overall survival (68% versus 71%, not significant), respectively. Gastrointestinal toxicity (World Health Organization grade 3/4) was more frequent in arm B (8% versus 18%, not significant).


CONCLUSIONS
In this trial the schedules used showed no statistically significant differences in terms of disease-free survival or overall survival in the treatment of colorectal cancer.
Five-year outcome of catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation using termination of atrial fibrillation as a procedural endpoint.

BACKGROUND
This study aimed to determine 5-year efficacy of catheter ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) using AF termination as a procedural end point.


METHODS AND RESULTS
One hundred fifty patients (57±10 years) underwent persistent AF ablation using a stepwise ablation approach (pulmonary vein isolation, electrogram-guided, and linear ablation) with the desired procedural end point being AF termination. Repeat ablation was performed for recurrent AF or atrial tachycardia. AF was terminated by ablation in 120 patients (80%). Arrhythmia-free survival rates after a single procedure were 35.3%±3.9%, 28.0%±3.7%, and 16.8%±3.2% at 1, 2, and 5 years, respectively. Arrhythmia-free survival rates after the last procedure (mean 2.1±1.0 procedures) were 89.7%±2.5%, 79.8%±3.4%, and 62.9%±4.5%, at 1, 2, and 5 years, respectively. During a median follow-up of 58 (interquartile range, 43-73) months after the last ablation procedure, 97 of 150 (64.7%) patients remained in sinus rhythm without antiarrhythmic drugs. Another 14 (9.3%) patients maintained sinus rhythm after reinitiation of antiarrhythmic drugs, and an additional 15 (10.0%) patients regressed to paroxysmal recurrences only. Failure to terminate AF during the index procedure (hazard ratio 3.831; 95% confidence interval, 2.070-7.143; P<0.001), left atrial diameter≥50 mm (hazard ratio 2.083; 95% confidence interval, 1.078-4.016; P=0.03), continuous AF duration≥18 months (hazard ratio 1.984; 95% confidence interval, 1.024-3.846; P<0.04), and structural heart disease (hazard ratio 1.874; 95% confidence interval, 1.037-3.388; P=0.04) predicted arrhythmia recurrence.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with persistent AF, an ablation strategy aiming at AF termination is associated with freedom from arrhythmia recurrence in the majority of patients over a 5-year follow-up period. Procedural AF nontermination and specific baseline factors predict long-term outcome after ablation.