LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
A phase II trial of chemoradiation therapy with weekly oxaliplatin and protracted infusion of 5-fluorouracil for esophageal cancer

Background Chemoradiation therapy using regimens containing cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil are most commonly used for inoperable cancer of the esophagus. Cisplatin is relatively toxic and is not suitable for many patients. Little data exists using platinum analogues together with protracted infusion 5-fluorouracil and radiation therapy in the curative setting. Methods Fourteen patients with localised oesophageal cancer suitable for curative chemoradiation therapy registered on the study. Chemotherapy consisted of 5-fluorouracil 225 mg/m2 daily throughout radiation therapy, with oxaliplatin 60 mg/m2 weekly. The radiation dose was 56 to 60 Gy in 28 to 30 fractions. Results The median age of the patients was 70.5 years. Therapy was associated with excessive grade 3 and 4 non-hematologic toxicity. There was one treatment related death. The median progression-free survival was 31.5 months and median overall survival 32.6 months. Six patients achieved a prolonged complete endoscopic and radiological response. Conclusions Although weekly oxaliplatin in combination with infusional 5 fluorouracil produces durable remissions in esophageal cancer, the regimen used in this trial was not acceptable for routine use. Future protocols should incorporate lower chemotherapy doses.
Complementarity, Cognition and Capabilities: Towards an Evolutionary Theory of Production

This book is based on the premise that mainstream economics has become excessively specialized and formalized, entering a state of de facto withdrawal from the study of the economy in favour of exercises in applied mathematics. The editors believe that there is much scope for synergies by engaging in an encounter with economics and the other social sciences. The chapters in this book offer important new contributions to such a development.
A Students Attendance System Using QR Code

Smartphones are becoming more preferred companions to users than desktops or notebooks. Knowing that smartphones are most popular with users at the age around 26, using smartphones to speed up the process of taking attendance by university instructors would save lecturing time and hence enhance the educational process. This paper proposes a system that is based on a QR code, which is being displayed for students during or at the beginning of each lecture. The students will need to scan the code in order to confirm their attendance. The paper explains the high level implementation details of the proposed system. It also discusses how the system verifies student identity to eliminate false registrations. Keywords—Mobile Computing; Attendance System; Educational System; GPS
Five-Factor Model personality profiles of drug users

BACKGROUND
Personality traits are considered risk factors for drug use, and, in turn, the psychoactive substances impact individuals' traits. Furthermore, there is increasing interest in developing treatment approaches that match an individual's personality profile. To advance our knowledge of the role of individual differences in drug use, the present study compares the personality profile of tobacco, marijuana, cocaine, and heroin users and non-users using the wide spectrum Five-Factor Model (FFM) of personality in a diverse community sample.


METHOD
Participants (N = 1,102; mean age = 57) were part of the Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) program in Baltimore, MD, USA. The sample was drawn from a community with a wide range of socio-economic conditions. Personality traits were assessed with the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R), and psychoactive substance use was assessed with systematic interview.


RESULTS
Compared to never smokers, current cigarette smokers score lower on Conscientiousness and higher on Neuroticism. Similar, but more extreme, is the profile of cocaine/heroin users, which score very high on Neuroticism, especially Vulnerability, and very low on Conscientiousness, particularly Competence, Achievement-Striving, and Deliberation. By contrast, marijuana users score high on Openness to Experience, average on Neuroticism, but low on Agreeableness and Conscientiousness.


CONCLUSION
In addition to confirming high levels of negative affect and impulsive traits, this study highlights the links between drug use and low Conscientiousness. These links provide insight into the etiology of drug use and have implications for public health interventions.
Bad Vibrations: The History of the Idea of Music as a Cause of Disease

Contents: Introduction: musical orders and disorders From sensibility to pathology: nervous music, 1700-1850 Modern music and nervous modernity: Wagnerism as a disease of civilization, 1850-1914 Pathological music, politics and race: Germany and the United States, 1900-45 Music as mind control, music as weapon: pathological music since 1945 Bibliography Index.
Occipito-atlanto-axial Hypermobility : Clinical Features and Dynamic Analysis of Cranial Settling and Posterior Gliding of Occipital Condyle : Part 1 : Findings in Patients with Hereditary Disorders of Connective Tissue and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

Object:To investigate hereditary disorders of connective tissue(HDCT)and Ehlers-Danlos syndromes(EDS)that can present with lower brain stem symptoms attributable to occipito-atlanto-axial hypermobility and cranial settling, and relationship to Chiari malformation typeI(CMI). Methods:The diagnostic criteria for EDS and related HDCT were prospectively met by 155 patients. Osseous structures comprising the craniocervical junction were investigated morphometrically using reconstructed 2D-CT and plain x-ray images in 135 patients with HDCT・EDS and the results were compared to those in patients with normal controls(n=55). Results:There were 124 cases(80%) in HDCT・EDS of CMI. The diagnostic features of HDCT・EDS with CMI had a greater incidence of lower brain stem symptoms and signs. The measured distances of the basion-dens interval(BDI), basion-atlas interval(BAI), atlas-dens interval (ADI), dens-atlas interval(DAI), clivus-atlas angle(CAA), clivus-axis angle(CXA), and atlas-axis angle(AXA)were the same in the supine and upright positions in normal controls. There was reduction of the BDI(3.3 mm), enlargement of the BAI(2.8 mm), and reduction of the CXA(10.8°), CAA (5.8°, p<0.001), and AXA(12.3°)upon assumption of the upright position. These changes were reducible by cervical traction. Conclusions:Morphometric evidence of cranial settling, posterior gliding of the occipital condyles in the HDCT・EDS cohort suggests hypermobility of the atlanto-occipital and atlanto-axial joints. This hypermobility induces more prominent brain stem symptoms in patients associated with CMI. The patients with CMI have greater hypermobility of occipito-atlanto-axial joints. (Received:December 29, 2008;accepted:January 26, 2009)
An Adaptive OFDMA Platform for IEEE 802.22 Based on Cognitive Radio

CR is the key technology that will enable flexible, efficient and reliable spectrum use by adapting the radio's characteristics to the real-time conditions of the environment. In this paper, an adaptive OFDMA platform is presented to satisfy the requirements of IEEE 802.22, the first standard based on the CR. In the system, two channel types are supported to apply different AMC methods according to user channel environments. Simulation results are also provided to find a better way in constructing diversity subchannels when AMC is performed with average SNR over the whole subcarriers
Development and initial validation of a 15-item informant version of the Geriatric Depression Scale.

OBJECTIVE
To develop a brief informant version of the Geriatric Depression Scale for use in screening for depression in older adults.


DESIGN
A scale development and validation study.


SETTING
Internal medicine and geriatric outpatient clinics located at the James A. Haley Veterans' Medical Center and the University of South Florida Medical Center, Tampa, Florida.


PARTICIPANTS
A total of 147 patients (81 females and 66 males) and their adult informants.


MEASUREMENTS
Self and informant versions of the 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale, NEO-FFI, and a health behaviors questionnaire.


RESULTS
The 15-item informant version of the GDS was found to have sufficient internal consistency reliability (alpha = 0.86) and retest reliability (r = 0.81) to support its use as a clinical instrument. Construct validity was demonstrated by a pattern of correlations with external demographic and personality variables consistent with those of other versions of the GDS, as well as substantive correlations with these other versions. Efficacy of the GDSI-15 was found to be as good as that for the full 30-item informant version of the GDS.


CONCLUSIONS
The GDSI-15 may be a useful adjunct or alternative to standard screening methods in assessing patients in outpatient settings.
Evaluating business intelligence platforms: a case study

The paper examines some common platforms supporting Business Intelligence activities in order to state evaluation criteria for the system choice. The evaluation considers a software measurement method based on the analysis of the functional complexity of the platforms. The study has been performed on an academic warehouse that uses historical data available in legacy databases. Experimental results are reported which show the advantages and the drawbacks of each considered system. Key-Words: Data warehouse, Data mart, OLAP system, Functional size measurement.
The Affordance Template ROS package for robot task programming

This paper introduces the Affordance Template ROS package for quickly programming, adjusting, and executing robot applications in the ROS RViz environment. This package extends the capabilities of RViz interactive markers [1] by allowing an operator to specify multiple end-effector waypoint locations and grasp poses in object-centric coordinate frames and to adjust these waypoints in order to meet the run-time demands of the task (specifically, object scale and location). The Affordance Template package stores task specifications in a robot-agnostic JSON description format such that it is trivial to apply a template to a new robot. As such, the Affordance Template package provides a robot-generic ROS tool appropriate for building semi-autonomous, manipulation-based applications. Affordance Templates were developed by the NASA-JSC DARPA Robotics Challenge (DRC) team and have since successfully been deployed on multiple platforms including the NASA Valkyrie and Robonaut 2 humanoids, the University of Texas Dreamer robot and the Willow Garage PR2. In this paper, the specification and implementation of the affordance template package is introduced and demonstrated through examples for wheel (valve) turning, pick-and-place, and drill grasping, evincing its utility and flexibility for a wide variety of robot applications.
Potential protective effect of honey against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity.

BACKGROUND
Paracetamol overdose causes severe hepatotoxicity that leads to liver failure in both humans and experimental animals. The present study investigates the protective effect of honey against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar albino rats. We have used silymarin as a standard reference hepatoprotective drug.


METHODS
Hepatoprotective activity was assessed by measuring biochemical parameters such as the liver function enzymes, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Equally, comparative effects of honey on oxidative stress biomarkers such as malondialdyhyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were also evaluated in the rat liver homogenates.  We estimated the effect of honey on serum levels and hepatic content of interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) because the initial event in paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity has been shown to be a toxic-metabolic injury that leads to hepatocyte death, activation of the innate immune response and upregulation of inflammatory cytokines.


RESULTS
Paracetamol caused marked liver damage as noted by significant increased activities of serum AST and ALT as well as the level of Il-1β. Paracetamol also resulted in a significant decrease in liver GSH content and GPx activity which paralleled an increase in Il-1β and MDA levels. Pretreatment with honey and silymarin prior to the administration of paracetamol significantly prevented the increase in the serum levels of hepatic enzyme markers, and reduced both oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines. Histopathological evaluation of the livers also revealed that honey reduced the incidence of paracetamol-induced liver lesions.


CONCLUSION
Honey can be used as an effective hepatoprotective agent against paracetamol-induced liver damage.
Austrian Economics and Public Choice

In this introduction, we will first discuss the methodological affinities between the market process and public choice approaches to political economy, and then suggest that because of these affinities market process scholars should feel at home using public choice analysis to study politics, and public choice scholars should feel at home using market process analysis to study the economy. In a fundamental sense, public choice theory refers to the application of the economic way of thinking to study the political process.1 The economic way of thinking deals with individual decision-making, and exchange relationships in a variety of social settings. Mises is arguably the first scholar to champion a unification of the social sciences by way of a common rational choice model.2 And, Hayek should be recognized as one of the forerunners of the economics of politics with his The Road to Serfdom (1945) and constitutional political economy with his The Constitution of Liberty (1960).3 Furthermore, Buchanan and Tullock’s contribution to modern political economy touch on these themes: rational choice, catallactics or exchange, and constitutional construction. The papers in this special issue of The Review of Austrian Economics by Buchanan and Vanberg, Levy, Foldvary, and Naka point to the strong methodological and theoretical affinities between public choice and market process economists. The papers by Holcombe, Sutter, Benson, and López move from the methodological and theoretical level to the realm of applied theory and empirical work.
Evaluation of the influence of ayurvedic formulation (Ayushman-15) on psychopathology, heart rate variability and stress hormonal level in major depression (Vishada).

INTRODUCTION
Ayurveda (Indian-complimentary and alternative medicine) is still most sought after in India and has promising potential in management of Vishada [major depressive disorder (MDD)]. But, systematic research is lacking. In this study we evaluated of influence of ayurvedic treatment (Panchakarma and Ayushman-15) on psychopathology, heart rate variability (HRV) and endocrinal parameters in patients with major depression.


METHODS
81 drug naive patients diagnosed as Vishada by ayurvedic physician and MDD according to DSM IV-TR were given ayurvedic Virechana module (therapeutic purgation) and were randomized into two groups. Patients in group A (n=41) received Ayushman-15A while group B (n=40) received Ayushman-15B for two months and Shirodhara (forehead-oil pouring therapy). Patients were assessed with Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Heart Rate Variability (HRV). Cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) were estimated at baseline and after ayurvedic therapy. HRV and endocrinal parameters were compared with age and gender matched healthy volunteers.


RESULTS
HRV parameters showed significant sympathetic dominance in patients compared to healthy volunteers. Two months of ayurvedic treatment significantly decreased psychopathology, showed increase in vagal tone, decrease in sympathetic tone and reduced cortisol levels. However, there was no significant difference between groups receiving Ayushman A and B.


CONCLUSION
This study provides evidence for antidepressant, cardiac (HRV) and beneficial neuroendocrine modulatory influence of Ayurveda therapy in patients of Vishada (MDD). Further studies are needed to confirm these findings. Greater insight into the neurobiology behind this therapy might provide valuable information about newer drug target.
Usability of Commercially Available Mobile Applications for Diverse Patients

Mobile applications or ‘apps’ intended to help people manage their health and chronic conditions are widespread and gaining in popularity. However, little is known about their acceptability and usability for low-income, racially/ethnically diverse populations who experience a disproportionate burden of chronic disease and its complications. The objective of this study was to investigate the usability of existing mobile health applications (“apps”) for diabetes, depression, and caregiving, in order to facilitate development and tailoring of patient-facing apps for diverse populations. Usability testing, a mixed-methods approach that includes interviewing and direct observation of participant technology use, was conducted with participants (n = 9 caregivers; n = 10 patients with depression; and n = 10 patients with diabetes) on a total of 11 of the most popular health apps (four diabetes apps, four depression apps, and three caregiver apps) on both iPad and Android tablets. The participants were diverse: 15 (58 %) African Americans, seven (27 %) Whites, two (8 %) Asians, two (8 %) Latinos with either diabetes, depression, or who were caregivers. Participants were given condition-specific tasks, such as entering a blood glucose value into a diabetes app. Participant interviews were video recorded and were coded using standard methods to evaluate attempts and completions of tasks. We performed inductive coding of participant comments to identify emergent themes. Participants completed 79 of 185 (43 %) tasks across 11 apps without assistance. Three themes emerged from participant comments: lack of confidence with technology, frustration with design features and navigation, and interest in having technology to support their self-management. App developers should employ participatory design strategies in order to have an impact on chronic conditions such as diabetes and depression that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. While patients express interest in using technologies for self-management, current tools are not consistently usable for diverse patients.
Managerial Stock Ownership and the Maturity Structure of Corporate Debt

This study documents that managerial stock ownership plays an important role in determining corporate debt maturity. Controlling for previously identified determinants of debt maturity and modeling leverage and debt maturity as jointly endogenous, we document a significant and robust inverse relation between managerial stock ownership and corporate debt maturity. We also show that managerial stock ownership influences the relation between credit quality and debt maturity and between growth opportunities and debt maturity. THE IMPORTANCE OF LEVERAGE AND DEBT MATURITY STRUCTURE CHOICE in alleviating manager–shareholder agency conflicts is well recognized in the finance literature. These vital decisions are at the discretion of top managers who are expected to make optimal (value-maximizing) financing choices on behalf of the shareholders. However, given the separation of ownership and control, managers cannot be expected to voluntarily choose the optimal debt maturity structure or leverage and self-impose monitoring unless there is an incentive mechanism to align managerial and shareholder interests. It is clear, therefore, that these decisions themselves are subject to an agency problem of managerial discretion. Managerial stock ownership can be effective in aligning the interests of managers and shareholders to mitigate such agency problems (see, e.g., Jensen and Meckling (1976)). We argue that the conflict between managers and shareholders over the maturity structure of debt arises from the inherent preference of self-interested managers for less monitoring. Our study adds a new dimension to the recently growing body of literature on capital structure choice in the presence of agency conflicts. By examining how managerial stock ownership determines corporate debt maturity structure, we provide evidence on an important, yet unaddressed, issue that is at the confluence of the capital structure and corporate governance literatures. Earlier capital structure studies emphasize the role of debt in reducing agency problems between managers and shareholders (see, e.g., Jensen and ∗Datta and Iskandar-Datta are in the Department of Finance at the School of Business Administration, Wayne State University; Raman is in the Department of Finance at Bentley College. Datta acknowledges support from the T. Norris Hitchman Endowed Chair. We thank Husayn Shahrur, the seminar participants at the University of Alabama and Wayne State University, and especially the referee and Rob Stambaugh (the editor) for valuable comments. The usual disclaimer applies.
A note on a theorem of Erdös & Gallai

We show that the [email protected]?s-Gallai condition characterizing graphical degree sequences of length p needs to be checked only for as many n as there are distinct terms in the sequence, not all n, 1=
Integrated physiologic assessment of ischemic heart disease in real-world practice using index of microcirculatory resistance and fractional flow reserve: insights from the International Index of Microcirculatory Resistance Registry.

BACKGROUND
The index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) is a quantitative and specific index for coronary microcirculation. However, the distribution and determinants of IMR have not been fully investigated in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD).


METHODS AND RESULTS
Consecutive patients who underwent elective measurement of both fractional flow reserve (FFR) and IMR were enrolled from 8 centers in 5 countries. Patients with acute myocardial infarction were excluded. To adjust for the influence of collateral flow, IMR values were corrected with Yong's formula (IMRcorr). High IMR was defined as greater than the 75th percentile in each of the major coronary arteries. FFR≤0.80 was defined as an ischemic value. 1096 patients with 1452 coronary arteries were analyzed (mean age 61.1, male 71.2%). Mean FFR was 0.84 and median IMRcorr was 16.6 U (Q1, Q3 12.4 U, 23.0 U). There was no correlation between IMRcorr and FFR values (r=0.01, P=0.62), and the categorical agreement of FFR and IMRcorr was low (kappa value=-0.04, P=0.10). There was no correlation between IMRcorr and angiographic % diameter stenosis (r=-0.03, P=0.25). Determinants of high IMR were previous myocardial infarction (odds ratio [OR] 2.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.24-3.74, P=0.01), right coronary artery (OR 2.09, 95% CI 1.54-2.84, P<0.01), female (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.18-2.38, P<0.01), and obesity (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.31-2.49, P<0.01). Determinants of FFR ≤0.80 were left anterior descending coronary artery (OR 4.31, 95% CI 2.92-6.36, P<0.01), angiographic diameter stenosis ≥50% (OR 5.16, 95% CI 3.66-7.28, P<0.01), male (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.38-3.35, P<0.01), and age (per 10 years, OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.01-1.46, P=0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
IMR showed no correlation with FFR and angiographic lesion severity, and the predictors of high IMR value were different from those for ischemic FFR value. Therefore, integration of IMR into FFR measurement may provide additional insights regarding the relative contribution of macro- and microvascular disease in patients with ischemic heart disease.


CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION
URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02186093.