LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Thermal history of the Earth and its petrological expression

Editor: T.M. Harrison Non-arc basalts of Archean and Proterozoic age have model primary magmas that exhibit mantle potential temperatures TP that increase from 1350 °C at the present to a maximum of ∼1500–1600 °C at 2.5–3.0 Ga. The overall trend of these temperatures converges smoothly to that of the present-day MORB source, supporting the interpretation that the non-arc basalts formed by the melting of hot ambient mantle, not mantle plumes, and that they can constrain the thermal history of the Earth. These petrological results are very similar to those predicted by thermal models characterized by a low Urey ratio and more sluggish mantle convection in the past. We infer that the mantle was warming in deep Archean–Hadean time because internal heating exceeded surface heat loss, and it has been cooling from 2.5 to 3.0 Ga to the present. Non-arc Precambrian basalts are likely to be similar to those that formed oceanic crust and erupted on continents. It is estimated that ∼25–35 km of oceanic crust formed in the ancient Earth by about 30% melting of hot ambient mantle. In contrast, komatiite parental magmas reveal TP that are higher than those of non-arc basalts, consistent with the hot plume model. However, the associated excess magmatism was minor and oceanic plateaus, if they existed, would have had subtle bathymetric variations, unlike those of Phanerozoic oceanic plateaus. Primary magmas of Precambrian ambient mantle had 18–24% MgO, and they left behind residues of harzburgite that are now found as xenoliths of cratonic mantle. We infer that primary basaltic partial melts having 10–13% MgO are a feature of Phanerozoic magmatism, not of the early Earth, which may be why modern-day analogs of oceanic crust have not been reported in Archean greenstone belts.
The relative effectiveness of private and government schools in Rural India: Evidence from ASER data

One of the many changes in India since economic liberalisation began in 1991 is the increased use of private schooling. There has been a growing body of literature to assess whether this is a positive trend and to evaluate the effects on child achievement levels. The challenge is to identify the true private school effect on achievement, isolating the effect of the schools themselves from other variables that might boost private school outcomes, such as a superior (higher ability) student intake. Using the ASER data for 2005 to 2007 a number of methodologies are used to produce a cumulative evidence base on the effectiveness of private schools relative to their government counterparts. Household fixed effects estimates yield a private school achievement advantage of 0.17 standard deviations and village level 3-year panel data analysis yields a private school learning advantage of 0.114 SD. JEL classification: I21.
Importance of Aspergillus spp. isolation in Acute exacerbations of severe COPD: prevalence, factors and follow-up: the FUNGI-COPD study

BACKGROUND
Acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) are often associated with infectious agents, some of which may be non-usual, including Aspergillus spp. However, the importance of Aspergillus spp. in the clinical management of AECOPD still remains unclear.


OBJECTIVES
The aims of the study were to analyze the prevalence and risk factors associated with Aspergillus spp. isolation in AECOPD, and to investigate the associated clinical outcomes during a 1-year follow-up period.


METHODS
Patients presenting with an AECOPD requiring hospitalization were prospectively included from four hospitals across Spain. Clinical, radiological and microbiological data were collected at admission and during the follow-up period (1, 6 and 12 months after discharge), and re-admissions and mortality data collected during the follow-up.


RESULTS
A total of 240 patients with severe AECOPD were included. Valid sputum samples were obtained in 144 (58%) patients, and in this group, the prevalence of Aspergillus spp. isolation was 16.6% on admission and 14.1% at one-year follow-up. Multivariate logistic-regression showed that AECOPD in the previous year (OR 12.35; 95% CI, 1.9-29.1; p < 0.001), concurrent isolation of pathogenic bacteria (OR 3.64; 95% CI 1.65-9.45, p = 0.001) and concomitant isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (OR 2.80; 95% IC, 1.81-11.42; p = 0.001) were the main risk factors for Aspergillus spp. isolation.


CONCLUSIONS
The main risk factors for Aspergillus spp. isolation were AECOPD in the previous year and concomitant isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. However, although Aspergillus spp. is often isolated in sputum samples from patients with AECOPD, the pathogenic and clinical significance remains unclear.
An asthma management system in a pediatric emergency department

INTRODUCTION
Pediatric asthma exacerbations account for >1.8 million emergency department (ED) visits annually. Asthma guidelines are intended to guide time-dependent treatment decisions that improve clinical outcomes; however, guideline adherence is inadequate. We examined whether an automatic disease detection system increases clinicians' use of paper-based guidelines and decreases time to a disposition decision.


METHODS
We evaluated a computerized asthma detection system that triggered NHLBI-adopted, evidence-based practice to improve care in an urban, tertiary care pediatric ED in a 3-month (7/09-9/09) prospective, randomized controlled trial. A probabilistic system screened all ED patients for acute asthma. For intervention patients, the system generated the asthma protocol at triage for intervention patients to guide early treatment initiation, while clinicians followed standard processes for control patients. The primary outcome measures included time to patient disposition.


RESULTS
The system identified 1100 patients with asthma exacerbations, of which 704 had a final asthma diagnosis determined by a physician-established reference standard. The positive predictive value for the probabilistic system was 65%. The median time to disposition decision did not differ among the intervention (289 min; IQR = (184, 375)) and control group (288 min; IQR = (185, 375)) (p=0.21). The hospital admission rate was unchanged between intervention (37%) and control groups (35%) (p = 0.545). ED length of stay did not differ among the intervention (331 min; IQR = (226, 581)) and control group (331 min; IQR = (222, 516)) (p = 0.568).


CONCLUSION
Despite a high level of support from the ED leadership and staff, a focused education effort, and implementation of an automated disease detection, the use of the paper-based asthma protocol remained low and time to patient disposition did not change.
Protreptic aspects of aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics

© Ronald Polansky 2014. In order to reach the fullest understanding of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, we would do well not only to study the details of his argumentation but also to appreciate the various purposes that these details serve. Aristotle tries to inform his audience about his own ethical and social standpoint and how it is founded on arguments consistent with his wider philosophical commitments; but he also tries to motivate members of his audience to engage in their own philosophical inquiries, as applied not only to concrete moral and political questions but also to the most abstract and inapplicable forms of philosophy. We hope to show that the overall protreptic plan of Aristotle’s ethical writings is based on the plan he used in his published work Protrepticus (Exhortation to Philosophy), by highlighting those passages in his ethical writings that primarily offer hortatory or protreptic motivation rather than dialectical argumentation and analysis, and illustrating several ways that Aristotle’s ethical works adapt certain arguments and examples from his Protrepticus. We confine our attention in this contribution to the Nicomachean Ethics. The most explicit references to Aristotle's audience and his purpose in writing any of his ethical discourses are found in NE x. Early in the book, he writes this: “True arguments, then, seem to be the most useful, not only in the acquisition of knowledge, but in how we live. For since they are in harmony with the facts, they are believed, and for that reason they exhort (protrepontai) those who understand them to live in accordance with them” (1.1172b3-7). Toward the end of the book, however, he focuses on the qualification “those who understand them” rather more: “As things are, though they [sc. philosophical arguments] appear to have the power to influence and exhort (protrepsasthai) those young people who possess generosity of spirit, and perhaps to make susceptible to virtue character that is well bred and truly loves what is noble, they seem unable to exhort (protrepsasthai) the masses in the direction of what is noble and good” (9.1179b7-10, modified). For the majority of people, then, politics and laws are called for, not Ethics and philosophy.
The perception of speed based on L-M and S-(L+M) cone opponent processing

We have measured perceived speed and speed discrimination thresholds for stimuli that selectively activate the L-M, S-(L+M) cone opponent and L+M (luminance) post-receptoral pathways. For low speeds and low contrasts speed discrimination thresholds for L-M and S-(L+M) are similar but are higher and have a greater dependency upon contrast than those for luminance motion. These differences between chromatic and luminance speed perception can be eliminated when stimuli are equated with respect to their individual motion detection thresholds (MDTs). For fast moving gratings speed perception based upon L-M, S-(L+M) and L+M signals is similar in terms of threshold performance and contrast dependency. These results are consistent with the view that there are separate mechanisms for the analysis of chromatic and luminance motion, the relative contributions of which may change as a function of stimulus contrast and speed. The similarity in performance for S-(L+M) and L+M chromatic stimuli across a range of stimulus parameters suggests that signals derived from the two cone opponent pathways can be used equally well. Our results argue against the idea that speed perception is compromised when it is based upon information derived from the S-(L+M) cone opponent pathway.
A cloud based health insurance plan recommendation system: A user centered approach

The recent concept of ‘‘Health Insurance Marketplace’’ introduced to facilitate the purchase of health insurance by comparing different insurance plans in terms of price, coverage benefits, and quality designates a key role to the health insurance providers. Currently, the web based tools available to search for health insurance plans are deficient in offering personalized recommendations based on the coverage benefits and cost. Therefore, anticipating the users’ needs we propose a cloud based framework that offers personalized recommendations about the health insurance plans.We use theMulti-attribute Utility Theory (MAUT) to help users compare different health insurance plans based on coverage and cost criteria, such as: (a) premium, (b) co-pay, (c) deductibles, (d) co-insurance, and (e) maximum benefit offered by a plan. To overcome the issues arising possibly due to the heterogeneous data formats and different plan representations across the providers, we present a standardized representation for the health insurance plans. The plan information of each of the providers is retrieved using the Data as a Service (DaaS). The framework is implemented as Software as a Service (SaaS) to offer customized recommendations by applying a ranking technique for the identified plans according to the user specified criteria. © 2014 Published by Elsevier B.V.
Long-Term Channel Information-Based CoMP Beamforming in LTE-Advanced Systems

Coordinated multi-point (CoMP) transmission and reception is a network multiple-input multiple- output (MIMO) technology considered in 3GPP LTE- Advanced systems. In order to improve reliability and capacity of the services for the user equipments (UEs) at the cell edges, CoMP utilizes cooperation among neighboring enhanced node Bs (eNBs). Accordingly, backhaul delay for sharing control signals among eNBs should be carefully handled as UE mobility increases in a fading channel environment; otherwise, CoMP operations derived from inaccurate channel state information (CSI) of neighboring eNBs can severely degrade the system performance. We propose CoMP beamforming schemes using long-term CSI such as spatial correlation matrices instead of instantaneous CSI of neighboring cells. Since long- term CSI varies relatively slowly, the proposed scheme is inherently robust even when a UE moves at a high speed and/or the backhaul delay is large. Using a multi-cell simulator which reflects realistic CoMP system environments, the performance gain of the proposed schemes is evaluated and discussed.
Fault-Tolerant Tracking Control for a Biological Process: Multiple Lyapunov Functions Approach

This paper addresses trajectory tracking and active Fault Tolerant Control (FTC) of a nonlinear biological process affected by actuators faults. The nonlinear biological process transformed to a fuzzy Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) model, then a nominal control based on the optimal Linear Quadratic Integral (LQI) is synthesized for ensuring the trajectory tracking. To build the active fault tolerant control, a Proportional Integral Observer (PIO) is proposed to estimate simultaneously the actuators faults and states, the estimated faults used to reconfigure the nominal control. the new conditions of convergence to increase the fault compensation speed are proposed, which based on multiple Lyapunov functions. The proposed method is applied to the bacterial growth process and their efficiency is demonstrated via simulations.
Therapeutic compliance of first line disease-modifying therapies in patients with multiple sclerosis. COMPLIANCE Study.

INTRODUCTION
Non-adherence to disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in multiple sclerosis may be associated with reduced efficacy. We assessed compliance, the reasons for non-compliance, treatment satisfaction, and quality of life (QoL) of patients treated with first-line therapies.


METHODS
A cross-sectional, multicenter study was conducted that included relapsing multiple sclerosis patients. Compliance in the past month was assessed using Morisky-Green test. Seasonal compliance and reasons for non-compliance were assessed by an ad-hoc questionnaire. Treatment satisfaction and QoL were evaluated by means of TSQM and PRIMUS questionnaires.


RESULTS
A total of 220 patients were evaluated (91% relapsing-remitting); the mean age was 39.1 years, 70% were female, and the average time under treatment was 5.4 years. Subcutaneous interferon (IFN) β-1b was used in 23% of the patients, intramuscular IFN β-1a in 21%, subcutaneous IFN β-1a in 37%, and with glatiramer acetate in 19%. The overall compliance was 75%, with no significant differences related to the therapy, and 81% did not report any seasonal variation. Compliant patients had significantly lower disability scores and time of diagnosis, and greater satisfaction with treatment and its effectiveness. Discomfort and flu-like symptoms were the most frequent reasons for non-compliance. The satisfaction and QoL were associated with less disability and number of therapeutic switches.


CONCLUSIONS
The rate of compliance, satisfaction and QoL in multiple sclerosis patients under DMTs is high, especially for those newly diagnosed, less disabled, and with fewer therapeutic switches. Discomfort and flu-like symptoms associated with injected therapies significantly affect adherence.
Effects of valproate, carbamazepine, and levetiracetam on the antioxidant and oxidant systems in epileptic patients and their clinical importance.

PURPOSE
This study was carried out to determine the effects of valproate (VPA), carbamazepine, and levetiracetam (LEV) on antioxidant and oxidant enzyme activities and the clinical importance of these effects.


METHODS
We enrolled 32 patients receiving VPA, 17 receiving carbamazepine, 8 receiving LEV, 11 on multidrug therapy, and 30 sex- and age-matched healthy volunteers. We measured the serum activities of paraoxonase and arylesterase and the levels of 8-hydroxyguanine (8-OHG) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein in all the subjects. We also determined the clinical features of the patients.


RESULTS
The serum paraoxonase and arylesterase activities were significantly lower (P = 0.003 and P = 0.0001, respectively), and the oxidized low-density lipoprotein and 8-OHG levels were higher (P = 0.029 and P = 0.0001, respectively) in the patients than in the controls. The serum antioxidant activity was low, and the oxidant activity was high in the monotherapy patients (P < 0.05). Comparing the monotherapy with the polytherapy, only the combination of VPA-LEV was associated with a high 8-OHG level (P = 0.04). The serum 8-OHG level was higher in the patients taking antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) for the first 2 months than in the controls (P = 0.0001) and positively correlated with the duration of epilepsy (r = 0.387, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Oxidative stress is seen in each of the AEDs after the first 2 months. There was no dominance of the monotherapy over the polytherapy, except for the VPA-LEV combination. None of the patients' characteristic features were related to oxidative damage, except for the duration of the epilepsy and the AED therapy.
One-Shot Learning of Object Categories Using Dependent Gaussian Processes

Knowledge transfer from related object categories is a key concept to allow learning with few training examples. We present how to use dependent Gaussian processes for transferring knowledge from a related category in a non-parametric Bayesian way. Our method is able to select this category automatically using efficient model selection techniques. We show how to optionally incorporate semantic similarities obtained from the hierarchical lexical database WordNet [1] into the selection process. The framework is applied to image categorization tasks using state-of-the-art image-based kernel functions. A large scale evaluation shows the benefits of our approach compared to independent learning and a SVM based approach.
Scylla: a smart virtual machine for mobile embedded systems

With the proliferation of wireless devices with embedded processors, there is an increasing desire to deploy applica tions that run transparently over the varied architectures of these devices. Virtual machines are one solution for code mobility, providing a virtualized processor architecture that is implemented over the individual node architectures. Pro posed virtual machines for embedded systems are generally slow and consume significant energy, making them unsuitable for devices with limited processing power and energy
Degarelix: a novel gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor blocker--results from a 1-yr, multicentre, randomised, phase 2 dosage-finding study in the treatment of prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND
Degarelix is a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist (GnRH receptor blocker) with immediate onset of action, suppressing gonadotropins, testosterone, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in prostate cancer.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the efficacy and safety of initial doses of 200 mg or 240 mg of degarelix and thereafter monthly subcutaneous maintenance doses of 80 mg, 120 mg, or 160 mg of degarelix for the treatment of prostate cancer.


DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
The 1-yr study was of open-label, randomised design and involved 187 patients (range: 52-93 yr, median: 72 yr) with histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate and a baseline PSA >2 ng/ml.


RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS
At baseline, median serum testosterone was 4.13 ng/ml (range: P25-P75, 3.37-5.19 ng/ml) and PSA was 27.6 ng/ml (range: P25-P75, 11.9-55.0 ng/ml). On day 3, 88% and 92% of patients in the groups to whom 200-mg and 240-mg initial doses of degarelix were administered, respectively, had testosterone levels < or =0.5 ng/ml. For patients with testosterone levels < or =0.5 ng/ml at 1 mo, the testosterone levels remained < or =0.5 ng/ml until the end of the study in 100% of the patients treated with a monthly maintenance dosage of 160 mg of degarelix. No evidence of testosterone surge was detected. PSA decreased by 97-98% after 1 yr and the median time to 90% reduction in PSA was 8 wk in all but one patient (from the 80-mg dosage treatment group at the initial 200-mg dose of degarelix). Thirteen patients (6%) withdrew from the study due to adverse events, largely related to androgen deprivation.


CONCLUSIONS
Degarelix treatment for 1 yr resulted in a fast, profound, and sustained suppression of testosterone and PSA, with no evidence of testosterone surge. Degarelix was well tolerated.
Development of micro manipulation system with two-finger micro hand

A dexterous micro manipulation system is developed for the qplication in assembling micro machine, manipulating cell, and micm surgely. We have proposed a concept of a two-finger micro hand and designed and built two types of hand mohles bmed on pmallel mechanisms. In this pqel; we mainly discuss the structure of a twofinger micro hand The stmcture of the two-finger micro hand is strongly related to the effective work space, or the common work spme of two fingers well m its coopemtion control algorithms. We design a stmcture to be suitable for a two-finger micro hand and male a prototype. Development of ustful master device to opeme the two-finger micro hand is important issue for the dexterous micro manipulation system. We developed a mmter device which is operated by one hami! The forefinger and thumb is generally used to manipulate objects by one hand However, motion of each finger cannot be directly used to move the micro manipulator operational signal. We observed difference between the manipulation by two-finger hand like chopsticks and the manipulation by forefinger and thumb in human hand and discuss opemtional algorithm for easy manipulation. By using this system for the micm manipulation, we evaluated effectiveness of the two-finger micro h a d In the d u a l micro manipulation, we succeeded to pick up, place and rotate a micro glass ball having size of 2 microns. The positioning accuracy is less than 0.1 micron.
Free monoid completeness of the Lambek calculus allowing empty premises

We prove that the Lambek syntactic calculus allowing empty premises is complete with respect to the class of all free monoid models (i. e., the class of all string models, allowing the empty string).
Recommendations without user preferences: a natural language processing approach

We examine the problems with automated recommendation systems when information about user preferences is limited. We equate the problem to one of content similarity measurement and apply techniques from Natural Language Processing to the domain of movie recommendation. We describe two algorithms, a naïve word-space approach and a more sophisticated approach using topic signatures, and evaluate their performance compared to baseline, gold standard, and commercial systems.