LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Impact of cardiovascular magnetic resonance on management and clinical decision-making in heart failure patients

BACKGROUND
Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) can provide important diagnostic and prognostic information in patients with heart failure. However, in the current health care environment, use of a new imaging modality like CMR requires evidence for direct additive impact on clinical management. We sought to evaluate the impact of CMR on clinical management and diagnosis in patients with heart failure.


METHODS
We prospectively studied 150 consecutive patients with heart failure and an ejection fraction ≤ 50% referred for CMR. Definitions for "significant clinical impact" of CMR were pre-defined and collected directly from medical records and/or from patients. Categories of significant clinical impact included: new diagnosis, medication change, hospital admission/discharge, as well as performance or avoidance of invasive procedures (angiography, revascularization, device therapy or biopsy).


RESULTS
Overall, CMR had a significant clinical impact in 65% of patients. This included an entirely new diagnosis in 30% of cases and a change in management in 52%. CMR results directly led to angiography in 9% and to the performance of percutaneous coronary intervention in 7%. In a multivariable model that included clinical and imaging parameters, presence of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was the only independent predictor of "significant clinical impact" (OR 6.72, 95% CI 2.56-17.60, p=0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
CMR made a significant additive clinical impact on management, decision-making and diagnosis in 65% of heart failure patients. This additive impact was seen despite universal use of prior echocardiography in this patient group. The presence of LGE was the best independent predictor of significant clinical impact following CMR.
Internet Stream Protocol Version 2 (ST2) Protocol Specification - Version ST2+

Status of this Memo This memo defines an Experimental Protocol for the Internet community. This memo does not specify an Internet standard of any kind. Discussion and suggestions for improvement are requested. Distribution of this memo is unlimited. IESG NOTE This document is a revision of RFC1190. The charter of this effort was clarifying, simplifying and removing errors from RFC1190 to ensure interoperability of implementations. NOTE WELL: Neither the version of the protocol described in this document nor the previous version is an Internet Standard or under consideration for that status. Since the publication of the original version of the protocol, there have been significant developments in the state of the art. Readers should note that standards and technology addressing alternative approaches to the resource reservation problem are currently under development within the IETF. Abstract This memo contains a revised specification of the Internet STream Protocol Version 2 (ST2). ST2 is an experimental resource reservation protocol intended to provide end-to-end real-time guarantees over an internet. It allows applications to build multi-destination simplex data streams with a desired quality of service. The revised version of ST2 specified in this memo is called ST2+.
Teaching Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Via Games ( Abstract ) ∗

The Department of Computer Science at the University of Southern California recently created two new degree programs, namely a Bachelor’s Program in Computer Science (Games) and a Master’s Program in Computer Science (Game Development). In this paper, we discuss two projects that use games as motivator. First, the Computer Games in the Classroom Project develops stand-alone projects on standard artificial intelligence topics that use video-game technology to motivate the students but do not require the students to use game engines. Second, the Pinball Project develops the necessary hardware and software to enable students to learn concepts from robotics by developing games on actual pinball machines.
Drivers and barriers in the acceptance of mobile payment in China

Integrating the prospective user's cost and perceived risk with Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), we propose a research model and collect data by survey to investigate the determinants of the mobile payment acceptance in China. By revising the hypothesized model based on the data analysis by SPSS and AMOS, it is tested empirically that in the user's acceptance of mobile payment, performance expectancy and social influence are the drivers, whereas cost and perceived risks are the barriers. The findings of this study have a number of important implications to both researchers and the mobile payment service providers.
Prediction of homoprotein and heteroprotein complexes by protein docking and template‐based modeling: A CASP‐CAPRI experiment

We present the results for CAPRI Round 30, the first joint CASP-CAPRI experiment, which brought together experts from the protein structure prediction and protein-protein docking communities. The Round comprised 25 targets from amongst those submitted for the CASP11 prediction experiment of 2014. The targets included mostly homodimers, a few homotetramers, and two heterodimers, and comprised protein chains that could readily be modeled using templates from the Protein Data Bank. On average 24 CAPRI groups and 7 CASP groups submitted docking predictions for each target, and 12 CAPRI groups per target participated in the CAPRI scoring experiment. In total more than 9500 models were assessed against the 3D structures of the corresponding target complexes. Results show that the prediction of homodimer assemblies by homology modeling techniques and docking calculations is quite successful for targets featuring large enough subunit interfaces to represent stable associations. Targets with ambiguous or inaccurate oligomeric state assignments, often featuring crystal contact-sized interfaces, represented a confounding factor. For those, a much poorer prediction performance was achieved, while nonetheless often providing helpful clues on the correct oligomeric state of the protein. The prediction performance was very poor for genuine tetrameric targets, where the inaccuracy of the homology-built subunit models and the smaller pair-wise interfaces severely limited the ability to derive the correct assembly mode. Our analysis also shows that docking procedures tend to perform better than standard homology modeling techniques and that highly accurate models of the protein components are not always required to identify their association modes with acceptable accuracy. Proteins 2016; 84(Suppl 1):323-348. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Magnetization transfer ratio in gray matter: a potential surrogate marker for progression in early primary progressive multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND
Magnetization transfer imaging has the potential to provide a surrogate marker for progression in primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS).


OBJECTIVES
To investigate whether brain magnetization transfer imaging, T2 lesion load, and atrophy changes over 3 years reflect concurrent clinical changes, and which baseline imaging measure best predicts progression over 3 years in early PPMS.


DESIGN
Prospective study.


SETTING
National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and the Institute of Neurology, London, England.


PATIENTS
Forty-seven patients with PPMS (of whom 43 completed the study) and 18 control subjects.


INTERVENTIONS
Brain magnetization transfer imaging (including T2-weighted images) and volume sequences every 6 months for 3 years.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Changes in Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score and associations with rate of change in imaging variables.


RESULTS
More rapid decline in gray matter mean and peak location magnetization transfer ratio and T2 lesion load increase were associated with greater rates of progression on the EDSS. Baseline gray matter peak height magnetization transfer ratio best predicted progression over 3 years.


CONCLUSION
Gray matter magnetization transfer ratio meets many of the criteria for a surrogate marker of progression in early PPMS.
The Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Pain Control With Multiple Treatments of Longer Durations: A Case Study

Immersive virtual reality (VR) has proved to be potentially valuable as a pain control technique for patients with severe burns undergoing wound care and physical therapy. Recent studies have shown that single, 3-min visits to a virtual world can dramatically reduce the amount of pain experienced during wound care, and the illusion of going inside the computer-generated world helps make VR analgesia unusually effective. This case study explored whether VR continues to reduce pain when the duration and frequency of VR treatments are increased to more practical levels. A patient with deep flash burns covering 42% of his body spent varying amounts of time performing physical therapy with and without virtual reality. Five subjective pain ratings INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HUMAN–COMPUTER INTERACTION, 13(1), 1–12 Copyright © 2001, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
Randomised controlled study in the primary healthcare sector to investigate the effectiveness and safety of auriculotherapy for the treatment of uncomplicated chronic rachialgia: a study protocol

BACKGROUND
Uncomplicated chronic rachialgia is a highly prevalent complaint, and one for which therapeutic results are contradictory. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of treatment with auriculopressure, in the primary healthcare sector, carried out by trained healthcare professionals via a 30-hour course.


METHODS/DESIGN
The design consists of a multi-centre randomized controlled trial, with placebo, with two parallel groups, and including an economic evaluation. Patients with chronic uncomplicated rachialgia, whose GP is considering referral for auriculopressure sensory stimulation, are eligible for inclusion. Sampling will be by consecutive selection, and randomised allocation to one of the two study arms will be determined using a centralised method, following a 1:1 plan (true auriculopressure; placebo auriculopressure). The implants (true and placebo) will be replaced once weekly, and the treatment will have a duration of 8 weeks. The primary outcome measure will be the change in pain intensity, measured on a visual analogue scale (VAS) of 100 mm, at 9 weeks after beginning the treatment. A follow up study will be performed at 6 months after beginning treatment. An assessment will also be made of the changes measured in the Spanish version of the McGill Pain Questionnaire, of the changes in the Lattinen test, and of the changes in quality of life (SF-12). Also planned is an analysis of cost-effectiveness and also, if necessary, a cost-benefit analysis.


DISCUSSION
This study will contribute to developing evidence on the use of auriculotherapy using Semen vaccariae [wang bu liu xing] for the treatment of uncomplicated chronic rachialgia.


TRIAL REGISTRATION
Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN01897462.
Contrasting Effects of Increased and Decreased Dopamine Transmission on Latent Inhibition in Ovariectomized Rats and Their Modulation by 17β-Estradiol: An Animal Model of Menopausal Psychosis?

Women with schizophrenia have later onset and better response to antipsychotic drugs (APDs) than men during reproductive years, but the menopausal period is associated with increased symptom severity and reduced treatment response. Estrogen replacement therapy has been suggested as beneficial but clinical data are inconsistent. Latent inhibition (LI), the capacity to ignore irrelevant stimuli, is a measure of selective attention that is disrupted in acute schizophrenia patients and in rats and humans treated with the psychosis-inducing drug amphetamine and can be reversed by typical and atypical APDs. Here we used amphetamine (1 mg/kg)-induced disrupted LI in ovariectomized rats to model low levels of estrogen along with hyperfunction of the dopaminergic system that may be occurring in menopausal psychosis, and tested the efficacy of APDs and estrogen in reversing disrupted LI. 17β-Estradiol (50, 150 μg/kg), clozapine (atypical APD; 5, 10 mg/kg), and haloperidol (typical APD; 0.1, 0.3 mg/kg) effectively reversed amphetamine-induced LI disruption in sham rats, but were much less effective in ovariectomized rats; 17β-estradiol and clozapine were effective only at high doses (150 μg/kg and 10 mg/kg, respectively), whereas haloperidol failed at both doses. Haloperidol and clozapine regained efficacy if coadministered with 17β-estradiol (50 μg/kg, an ineffective dose). Reduced sensitivity to dopamine (DA) blockade coupled with spared/potentiated sensitivity to DA stimulation after ovariectomy may provide a novel model recapitulating the combination of increased vulnerability to psychosis with reduced response to APD treatment in female patients during menopause. In addition, our data show that 17β-estradiol exerts antipsychotic activity.
Correlations Among Endoscopic, Histologic and Serologic Diagnoses for the Assessment of Atrophic Gastritis

BACKGROUND
Atrophic gastritis is a precancerous condition, which can be diagnosed by several methods. However, there is no consensus for the standard method. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlations among endoscopic, histologic, and serologic findings for the diagnosis of atrophic gastritis.


METHODS
From March 2003 to August 2013, a total of 2,558 subjects were enrolled. Endoscopic atrophic gastritis was graded by Kimura-Takemoto classification and histological atrophic gastritis was assessed by updated Sydney system. Serological assessment of atrophic gastritis was based on serum pepsinogen test.


RESULTS
The serum pepsinogen I/II ratio showed a significant decreasing nature when the extent of atrophy increased (R(2)=0.837, P<0.001) and the cut-off value for distinguishing between presence and absence of endoscopic atrophic gastritis was 3.2. The serum pepsinogen I and pepsinogen I/II ratio were significantly lower when the histological atrophic gastritis progressed and the cut-off value was 3.0 for a diagnosis of histological atrophic gastritis. A significant correlation between endoscopic and histological atrophic gastritis was noted and the sensitivity and specificity of endoscopic diagnosis were 65.9% and 58.0% for antrum, 71.3% and 53.7% for corpus, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The endoscopic, histological, and serological atrophic gastritis showed relatively good correlations. However, as these three methods have a limitation, a multifactorial assessment might be needed to ameliorate the diagnostic accuracy of atrophic gastritis.
Relationships of Lower Lung Fibrosis, Pleural Disease, and Lung Mass with Occupational, Household, Neighborhood, and Slate Roof-Dense Area Residential Asbestos Exposure

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between various asbestos exposure routes and asbestos-related disorders (ARDs). The study population comprised 11,186 residents of a metropolitan city who lived near asbestos factories, shipyards, or in slate roof-dense areas. ARDs were determined from chest X-rays indicating lower lung fibrosis (LFF), pleural disease (PD), and lung masses (LMs). Of the subjects, 11.2%, 10.4%, 67.2% and 8.3% were exposed to asbestos via occupational, household, neighborhood, and slate roof routes, respectively. The odds ratio (OR) of PD from household exposure (i.e., living with asbestos-producing workers) was 1.9 (95% confidence interval: 0.9⁻4.2), and those of LLF and PD from neighborhood exposure, or residing near asbestos factories) for <19 or >20 years, or near a mine, were 4.1 (2.8⁻5.8) and 4.8 (3.4⁻6.7), 8.3 (5.5⁻12.3) and 8.0 (5.5⁻11.6), and 4.8 (2.7⁻8.5) and 9.0 (5.6⁻14.4), respectively. The ORs of LLF, PD, and LM among those residing in slate-dense areas were 5.5 (3.3⁻9.0), 8.8 (5.6⁻13.8), and 20.5 (10.4⁻40.4), respectively. Substantial proportions of citizens residing in industrialized cities have potentially been exposed to asbestos, and various exposure routes are associated with the development of ARDs. Given the limitations of this study, including potential confounders such as socioeconomic status, further research is needed.
Can response-adaptive randomization increase participation in acute stroke trials?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
A response-adaptive randomization (RAR) trial design actively adjusts the ratio of participants assigned to each trial arm, favoring the better performing treatment by using outcome data from participants already in the trial. Compared with a standard clinical trial, an RAR study design has the potential to improve patient participation in acute stroke trials.


METHODS
This cross-sectional randomized survey included adult emergency department patients, age≥18, without symptoms of stroke or other critical illness. A standardized protocol was used, and subjects were randomized to either an RAR or standard hypothetical acute stroke trial. After viewing the video describing the hypothetical trial (http://youtu.be/cKIWduCaPZc), reviewing the consent form, and having questions answered, subjects indicated whether they would consent to the trial. A multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to estimate the impact of RAR while controlling for demographic factors and patient understanding of the design.


RESULTS
A total of 418 subjects (210 standard and 208 RAR) were enrolled. All baseline characteristics were balanced between groups. There was significantly higher participation in the RAR trial (67.3%) versus the standard trial (54.5%), absolute increase: 12.8% (95% confidence interval, 3.7-22.2). The RAR group had a higher odds ratio of agreeing to research (odds ratio, 1.89; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-2.9) while adjusting for patient level factors. Trial designs were generally well understood by the participants.


CONCLUSIONS
The hypothetical RAR trial attracted more research participation than standard randomization. RAR has the potential to increase recruitment and offer benefit to future trial participants.
Complex dynamics of hepatitis B virus resistance to adefovir.

UNLABELLED
In patients with hepatitis B e antigen-negative chronic hepatitis B, adefovir dipivoxil administration selects variants bearing reverse transcriptase rtN236T and/or rtA181V/T substitutions in 29% of cases after 5 years. The aim of this study was to characterize the dynamics of adefovir-resistant variant populations during adefovir monotherapy in order to better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying hepatitis B virus resistance to this class of nucleotide analogues. Patients included in a 240-week clinical trial of adefovir monotherapy who developed adefovir resistance-associated substitutions were studied. The dynamics of hepatitis B virus populations were analyzed over time, after generating nearly 4,000 full-length reverse transcriptase sequences, and compared with the replication kinetics of the virus during therapy. Whatever the viral kinetics pattern, adefovir resistance was characterized by exclusive detection of a dominant wild-type, adefovir-sensitive variant population at baseline and late and gradual selection by adefovir of several coexisting resistant viral populations, defined by the presence of amino acid substitutions at position rt236, position rt181, or both. The gain in fitness of one or the other of these resistant populations during adefovir administration was never associated with the selection of additional amino acid substitutions in the reverse transcriptase.


CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that adefovir administration selects poorly fit preexisting or emerging viral populations with low-level adefovir resistance, which subsequently compete to fill the replication space. Viral kinetics depends on the initial virological response to adefovir. Lamivudine add-on restores some antiviral efficacy, but adefovir-resistant variants remain predominant. Whether these adefovir resistance-associated substitutions may confer cross-resistance to tenofovir in vivo will need to be determined.
Comparison of haemodynamic changes in patients undergoing unilateral and bilateral spinal anaesthesia.

OBJECTIVE
To assess the haemodynamic changes in patients receiving unilateral and bilateral spinal anaesthesia with their pre-anaesthesia recordings.


STUDY DESIGN
Quasi-experimental study.


PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY
Main Operation Theater, Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi, from May 2006 to February 2007.


METHODOLOGY
Sixty patients meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated in two groups of 30 patients each. One and a half ml of 0.75% hyperbaric bupivacaine was injected with free flow of cerebrospinal fluid using a 23 gauge quincke needle. Lumbar puncture was performed in the sitting position at 3 - 4 or 4 - 5 lumbar interspace. Patients were then assigned to the supine or lateral decubitus position for 10 minutes. Heart rate, systolic, mean and diastolic blood pressures of patients were recorded with their pre-anaesthesia readings in the 1st, 5th, 15th, 30th and then at every 15th minute till the end of procedure. Recovery room readings were also taken.


RESULTS
The systolic, mean and diastolic blood pressure changes were significant in both groups. But from 1st minute to recovery room, statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) was found at each time interval, the unilateral groups (group A) being more stable with respect to pre-anaesthesia readings. The decrease in heart rate was comparable in both groups.


CONCLUSION
Unilateral spinal anaesthesia was associated with a more stable cardiovascular profile, therefore, it is a valuable technique for high risk patients.
Effects of TCDD on the expression of nuclear encoded mitochondrial genes.

Generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) can be perturbed following exposure to environmental chemicals such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Reports indicate that the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) mediates TCDD-induced sustained hepatic oxidative stress by decreasing hepatic ATP levels and through hyperpolarization of the inner mitochondrial membrane. To further elucidate the effects of TCDD on the mitochondria, high-throughput quantitative real-time PCR (HTP-QRTPCR) was used to evaluate the expression of 90 nuclear genes encoding mitochondrial proteins involved in electron transport, oxidative phosphorylation, uncoupling, and associated chaperones. HTP-QRTPCR analysis of time course (30 microg/kg TCDD at 2, 4, 8, 12, 18, 24, 72, and 168 h) liver samples obtained from orally gavaged immature, ovariectomized C57BL/6 mice identified 54 differentially expressed genes (/fold change/ > 1.5 and P-value < 0.1). Of these, 8 exhibited a sigmoidal or exponential dose-response profile (0.03 to 300 microg/kg TCDD) at 4, 24 or 72 h. Dose-responsive genes encoded proteins associated with electron transport chain (ETC) complexes I (NADH dehydrogenase), III (cytochrome c reductase), IV (cytochrome c oxidase), and V (ATP synthase) and could be generally categorized as having proton gradient, ATP synthesis, and chaperone activities. In contrast, transcript levels of ETC complex II, succinate dehydrogenase, remained unchanged. Putative dioxin response elements were computationally found in the promoter regions of all 8 dose-responsive genes. This high-throughput approach suggests that TCDD alters the expression of genes associated with mitochondrial function which may contribute to TCDD-elicited mitochondrial toxicity.
Design on elliptical lens monopulse antenna

Monopulse antennas can be used for accurate and rapid angle estimation in radar systems [1]. This paper presents a new kind of monopulse antenna base on two-dimensional elliptical lens. As an example, a patch-fed elliptical lens antenna is designed at 35 GHz. Simulations show the designed lens antenna exhibits clean and symmetrical patterns on both sum and difference ports. A very deep null is achieved in the difference pattern because of the circuit symmetry.