LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Quality of life after self-management cancer rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial comparing physical and cognitive-behavioral training versus physical training.

OBJECTIVE
To conduct a randomized controlled trial and compare the effects on cancer survivors' quality of life in a 12-week group-based multidisciplinary self-management rehabilitation program, combining physical training (twice weekly) and cognitive-behavioral training (once weekly) with those of a 12-week group-based physical training (twice weekly). In addition, both interventions were compared with no intervention.


METHODS
Participants (all cancer types, medical treatment completed > or = 3 months ago) were randomly assigned to multidisciplinary rehabilitation (n = 76) or physical training (n = 71). The nonintervention comparison group consisted of 62 patients on a waiting list. Quality of life was measured using the RAND-36. The rehabilitation groups were measured at baseline, after rehabilitation, and 3-month follow-up, and the nonintervention group was measured at baseline and 12 weeks later.


RESULTS
The effects of multidisciplinary rehabilitation did not outperform those of physical training in role limitations due to emotional problem (primary outcome) or any other domains of quality of life (all p > .05). Compared with no intervention, participants in both rehabilitation groups showed significant and clinically relevant improvements in role limitations due to physical problem (primary outcome; effect size (ES) = 0.66), and in physical functioning (ES = 0.48), vitality (ES = 0.54), and health change (ES = 0.76) (all p < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
Adding a cognitive-behavioral training to group-based self-management physical training did not have additional beneficial effects on cancer survivors' quality of life. Compared with the nonintervention group, the group-based self-management rehabilitation improved cancer survivors' quality of life.
Antecedents and Dimensions of Online Service Expectations

Researchers find that customer satisfaction with both offline and online services can be modeled effectively based on expectations of future service performance, perceptions of actual performance, and a comparison of customers' initial expectations to subsequent perceptions of performance known as disconfirmation. Research has examined antecedents to offline service expectations, and is now beginning to examine online service expectations. We add to this research by predicting that two antecedents-information-seeking need and prior service satisfaction-will have positive influences on initial expectations of a relational multichannel service provider where the service provider and customer have a long term-relationship, and services are offered through offline and online channels. We test these antecedents by surveying existing patients of a large health care provider during the introduction of a new online channel, regarding their information-seeking need, prior service satisfaction, and initial expectations. Three months later, we gathered data regarding patients' satisfaction with the online service. Conceptualizing the dimensions of expectations as usefulness, ease-of-use, and enjoyment, we show that information-seeking need and prior service satisfaction are significant antecedents to expectations, and that expectations have a positive influence on satisfaction.
An assessment of farmer-pastoralist conflict in Nigeria using GIS

Pastoralism in Nigeria faces challenges and these hampers the productivity that consequentially affect the Nation’s economy. Available grazing lands are diminishing at an alarming rate and livestock pathways are blocked through land use, urbanisation and frontiers. The old grazing routes that existed for centuries are almost gone. Only 2.82% of the grazing reserves have been acquired and these are poorly managed. The increase in population, drying of waterholes, shifting in rainfall pattern leading to drought as a result of the changing climate affects both pastoralists and farmers. Hence, they compete over land leading to conflict, and embedded within these are growing form of capitalists land tenure and delay in the justice system that exacerbates the situation. This study examines the argument of land use conflict as the major cause of farmer-pastoralist conflict in Nigeria. The Nigerian Forestry Management Evaluation and Coordinating Unit (FORMECU) land use and land cover (LULC) dataset and published articles of previous farmer-pastoralist conflicts in the country are used. Results show that between 1976 and 1995, all land uses gain, attesting to the increase in population and competition over dwindling resources. However, overlap maps show intensive crop farming has expanded into grazing lands in many areas over these years. These areas of encroachment agree with most of the conflict points recorded. For a lasting solution, we propose a possible revisit of symbiotic engagements between farmers and pastoralists. The full engagement of communities, Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs), Alternative Dispute Resolutions (ADRs) and government as overseers are suggested.
Severe thoracolumbar osteoporotic burst fractures: treatment combining open kyphoplasty and short-segment fixation.

INTRODUCTION
The majority of osteoporotic, spinal cord compressive, vertebral fractures occurs at the thoracolumbar junction level. When responsible for neurological impairment, these rare lesions require a decompression procedure. We present the results of a new option to treat these lesions: an open balloon kyphoplasty associated with a short-segment posterior internal fixation.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
Twelve patients, aged a mean 72.3 years, were included in this prospective series; all of them presented osteoporotic burst fractures located between T11 and L2 associated with neurological impairment. The surgical procedure first consisted of a laminectomy, for decompression, followed by an open balloon kyphoplasty. A short-segment posterior internal fixation was subsequently put into place when the local kyphosis was considered severe. A CAT scan study evaluated local vertebral body's height restoration using two pre- and postoperative radiological indices.


RESULTS
All of the patients in the series were followed up for a mean 14 months. Local kyphosis improved a mean 10.8 (p<0.001). Vertebral body height was also substantially restored, with a mean gain of 26% according to the anterior height/adjacent height ratio and 28% according to the Beck Index (p<0.001). Two cases of cement leakage were recorded, with no adverse clinical side effect. Complete neurological recovery was observed in 10 patients; two retained a minimal neurological deficit but kept a walking capacity.


DISCUSSION
The results presented in this study confirm the data reported in the literature in terms of local kyphosis correction and vertebral body height restoration. The combination of this technique with laminectomy plus osteosynthesis allowed us to effectively treat burst fractures of the thoracolumbar junction and led to stable results 1 year after surgery. This can be advantageous in a population often carrying multiple co-morbidities. With a single operation, we can achieve neurological decompression and spinal column stability in a minimally invasive way; this avoids more substantial surgery in these fragile patients.


LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
Level IV. Therapeutic prospective study.
A Neuro-fuzzy System for Fraud Detection in Electricity Distribution

The volume of energy loss that Brazilian electrical utilities have to deal with has been ever increasing. Electricity distribution companies have suffered significant and increasing losses in the last years, due to theft, measurement errors and other irregularities. Therefore there is a great concern to identify the profile of irregular customers, in order to reduce the volume of such losses. This paper presents a combined approach of a neural networks committee and a neuro-fuzzy hierarchical system intended to increase the level of accuracy in the identification of irregularities among low voltage consumers. The data used to test the proposed system are from Light S.A., the distribution company of Rio de Janeiro. The results obtained presented a significant increase in the identification of irregular customers when compared to the current methodology employed by the company. Keywords— neural nets, hierarchical neuro-fuzzy systems, binary space partition, electricity distribution, fraud detection.
COMPETITIVE PRIORITIES: INVESTIGATING THE NEED FOR TRADE-OFFS IN OPERATIONS STRATEGY*

A heated debate continues over the need for trade-offs in operations strategy. Some researchers call for plants to focus on a single manufacturing capability and devote their limited resources accordingly, while others claim that advanced manufacturing technology (AMT) enables concurrent improvements in quality, cost, flexibility, and delivery. Yet there is little empirical evidence for or against the trade-off model. In response, this study addresses the question: “To what extent do manufacturing plants view competitive priorities as trade-offs?” We employ survey data collected from managers and operators in 110 plants that have recently implemented AMT. Our findings suggest that trade-offs remain. However, perceived differences in competitive priorities are subtle and may vary across levels of the plant hierarchy. (COMPETITIVE PRIORITIES; OPERATIONS STRATEGY; SURVEY RESEARCH/DESIGN)
Strong Statements of Analysis

Examples are discussed of natural statements about irrational numbers that are equivalent, provably in ZFC, to strong set-theoretical hypotheses, and of apparently classical statements provable in ZFC of which the only known proofs use strong set-theoretical concepts.
Lamivudine therapy for chemotherapy-induced reactivation of hepatitis B virus infection

A 54-yr-old man with lymphoma and serological evidence of prior hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, with detectable anti-HBc and anti-HBs, was treated with intensive chemotherapy. He had reactivation of HBV infection with acute hepatitis B manifest by detectable HBsAg and elevated aminotransferase levels >1000 IU/L. He was treated with lamivudine 150 mg daily and had prompt resolution of acute hepatitis B with return of elevated aminotransferases to normal, and initial loss of HBeAg with later loss of HBsAg. Lamivudine was continued during the course of further chemotherapy as prophylaxis against repeat HBV reactivation. Lamivudine is a nucleoside analogue that is a potent inhibitor of HBV reverse transcriptase and HBV replication. Lamivudine therapy should be considered for the treatment of HBV reactivation and might play a future role as preemptive therapy of HBV reactivation in patients with prior hepatitis B or chronic hepatitis B with inactive viral replication.
Investigating ICT using problem-based learning in face-to-face and online learning environments

This article reports on the design, implementation and evaluation of a module in the MEd (Business) in the Faculty of Education at the University of Hong Kong in which an explicit problem-based learning (PBL) approach was used to investigate the challenges associated with the adoption and use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in Hong Kong secondary school classrooms. PBL influenced both the way the curriculum was developed and the process by which students (n = 18) investigated topics related to the integration of ICT in business studies classrooms. The evaluation was based on five evaluative questions dealing with the implementation of PBL, the extent to which PBL facilitated academic discourse, the extent of new knowledge about ICT that had been created, the role of the tutor, and the online learning environment provided. The evaluation revealed that PBL provided a practical approach to investigating ICT in both face-to-face and online learning environments, leading to new knowledge about challenges associated with the adoption and use of new technologies in various educational settings. 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
An Introduction to Modeling and Analyzing Complex Product Development Processes Using the Design Structure Matrix (DSM) Method

The design and development of complex engineering products require the efforts and collaboration of hundreds of participants from diverse backgrounds resulting in complex relationships among both people and tasks. Many of the traditional project management tools (PERT, Gantt and CPM methods) do not address problems stemming from this complexity. While these tools allow the modeling of sequential and parallel processes, they fail to address interdependency (feedback and iteration), which is common in complex product development (PD) projects. To address this issue, a matrix-based tool called the Design Structure Matrix (DSM) has evolved. This method differs from traditional project-management tools because it focuses on representing information flows rather than work flows. The DSM method is an information exchange model that allows the representation of complex task (or team) relationships in order to determine a sensible sequence (or grouping) for the tasks (or teams) being modeled. This article will cover how the basic method works and how you can use the DSM to improve the planning, execution, and management of complex PD projects using different algorithms (i.e., partitioning, tearing, banding, clustering, simulation, and eigenvalue analysis). Introduction: matrices and projects Consider a system (or project) that is composed of two elements /sub-systems (or activities/phases): element "A" and element "B". A graph may be developed to represent this system pictorially. The graph is constructed by allowing a vertex/node on the graph to represent a system element and an edge joining two nodes to represent the relationship between two system elements. The directionality of influence from one element to another is captured by an arrow instead of a simple link. The resultant graph is called a directed graph or simply a digraph. There are three basic building blocks for describing the relationship amongst system elements: parallel (or concurrent), sequential (or dependent) and coupled (or interdependent) (fig. 1) Fig.1 Three Configurations that Characterize a System Relationship Parallel Sequential Coupled Graph Representation A B A
Using the Contingent Valuation Method to Measure Patron Benefits of Reference Desk Service in an Academic Library

56 he concept of “just-in-case” reference (the librarian waits at the desk just in case the patron has a question) is receiving increasing scrutiny by library administrators and reference librarians.1,2 An entire symposium in the Journal of Academic Librarianship was dedicated to a discussion of the viability of reference services and the possible need for a new model.3 But this discussion is occurring without information on the value of reference desk services to patrons. The library literature is replete with cost studies, but few studies consider the benefit to patrons of library services. This is particularly true of reference services where librarians have thoroughly studied the cost of reference transactions, Using the Contingent Valuation Method to Measure Patron Benefits of Reference Desk Service in an Academic Library
Epoetin delta in the management of renal anaemia: results of a 6-month study.

BACKGROUND
Epoetin delta is an epoetin that, unlike existing agents, is produced in a human cell line. The present study investigated the efficacy and tolerability of intravenous (i.v.) epoetin delta compared with i.v. epoetin alfa.


METHODS
This was a 6-month, multicentre, randomized, double-blind trial in haemodialysis patients previously receiving epoetin alfa. Haematological parameters were assessed, and adverse events monitored. Equivalent efficacy was defined as a difference in mean haemoglobin between the two agents over weeks 12-24 of < or = 1 g/dl with a 90% confidence interval (CI) within the range -1 to 1 g/dl.


RESULTS
In total, 560 patients received epoetin delta while 192 received epoetin alfa, and 76.8% and 79.7% of patients, respectively, completed the study. Both agents showed similar efficacy in controlling anaemia: the point estimate for the difference in mean haemoglobin over weeks 12-24 was 0.01 g/dl (90% CI, -0.13, 0.15 g/dl), confirming equivalence. Adverse events were those expected in dialysis patients. Events possibly related to treatment occurred in 9.2% of patients receiving epoetin delta and 8.4% receiving epoetin alfa. Serious adverse events (SAEs) occurred in 33.0% and 26.7% of patients in the epoetin delta and epoetin alfa groups, respectively. Six patients in the epoetin delta group experienced an SAE considered possibly related to treatment (mostly access-related clotting), compared with no patient in the epoetin delta group. None of these SAEs were life threatening.


CONCLUSIONS
Epoetin delta was shown to have an equivalent efficacy and safety profile to epoetin alfa in this 6-month study.
Predictive characteristics of patients achieving glycaemic control with insulin after sulfonylurea failure.

AIM
We investigated the clinical and metabolic parameters in type 2 diabetic patients who were inadequately controlled on sulfonylurea (SU) before initiating insulin therapy to characterise patients who are likely to achieve target glycaemic control with insulin analogues.


METHODS
A total of 120 Korean patients aged ≥ 40 years with insulin-naïve, poorly controlled, SU-treated type 2 diabetes were randomised on the basis of SU dose, and obesity with 1 : 1 ratio of insulin detemir (long-acting analogue; LAA) and 70% insulin aspart protamine and 30% insulin aspart (biphasic insulin analogue; BIA). Patients who failed to reach ≤ 20% glycated albumin (GA) at 3 weeks were switched to therapy with a twice-daily BIA for 16 weeks.


RESULTS
Mean HbA(1c) , GA, fasting and stimulated plasma glucose levels were significantly reduced after 16 weeks compared with the baseline in all groups, and 40% of patients reached the target HbA(1c) ( ≤ 7%). Compared with responders, non-responders had significantly longer duration of diabetes and higher dose of glimepiride. However, there was no significant difference in insulin secretory profiles between responders and non-responders. Clinical factors such as diabetes duration, SU dose and BMI were independently associated with inadequate response to insulin analogues in patients with secondary failure.


CONCLUSIONS
In type 2 diabetics with secondary SU failure, clinical parameters such as duration of diabetes (< 10 years), SU dose ( ≤ 4 mg) and BMI should be taken into consideration as important factors than laboratory indices related to β-cell function when predicting the response to insulin analogues.
Otto refrigerator based on a superconducting qubit: Classical and quantum performance

We analyse a quantum Otto refrigerator based on a superconducting qubit coupled to two LCresonators each including a resistor acting as a reservoir. We find various operation regimes: nearly adiabatic (low driving frequency), ideal Otto cycle (intermediate frequency), and non-adiabatic coherent regime (high frequency). In the nearly adiabatic regime, the cooling power is quadratic in frequency, and we find substantially enhanced coefficient of performance , as compared to that of an ideal Otto cycle. Quantum coherent effects lead invariably to decrease in both cooling power and as compared to purely classical dynamics. In the non-adiabatic regime we observe strong coherent oscillations of the cooling power as a function of frequency. We investigate various driving waveforms: compared to the standard sinusoidal drive, truncated trapezoidal drive with optimized rise and dwell times yields higher cooling power and efficiency.
Face and hands localization and tracking for sign language recognition

We develop the face and hand detection and tracking for sign language recognition system. We first perform a preliminary evaluation on several color spaces to find the most suitable one using a nonparametric model approach. Then, we propose to use the elliptical model in the CbCr color space to lower the complexity of the detection algorithm and to better model the skin color. After the skin regions from the input video have been segmented, the interesting facial features and hands are detected using luminance differences and skeleton features respectively. In the tracking stage, each blob determines the search region and finds the MMSE (minimum mean square error) to match its own blob. The block matching method between previous and current frame is used. Experimental results show that our proposed system is able to detect and track the face and hands in sign language video sequences.
Shear Wave Splitting and Mantle Anisotropy: Measurements, Interpretations, and New Directions

Measurements of the splitting or birefringence of seismic shear waves that have passed through the Earth’s mantle yield constraints on the strength and geometry of elastic anisotropy in various regions, including the upper mantle, the transition zone, and the D00 layer. In turn, information about the occurrence and character of seismic anisotropy allows us to make inferences about the style and geometry of mantle flow because anisotropy is a direct consequence of deformational processes. While shear wave splitting is an unambiguous indicator of anisotropy, the fact that it is typically a near-vertical path-integrated measurement means that splitting measurements generally lack depth resolution. Because shear wave splitting yields some of the most direct constraints we have on mantle flow, however, understanding how to make and interpret splitting measurements correctly and how to relate them properly to mantle flow is of paramount importance to the study of mantle dynamics. In this paper, we review the state of the art and recent developments in the measurement and interpretation of shear wave splitting—including new measurement methodologies and forward and inverse modeling techniques,—provide an overview of data sets from different tectonic settings, show how they help us relate mantle flow to surface tectonics, and discuss new directions that should help to advance the shear wave splitting field.
On Test Sets for Checking Morphism Equivalence on Languages with Fair Distribution of Letters

Abstract A test set for a language L is a finite subset T of L with the property that each pair of morphisms that agrees on T also agrees on L . Some results concerning test sets for languages with fair distribution of letters are presented. The first result is that every D0L language with fair distribution of letters has a test set. The second result shows that every language L with fair distribution has a test set relative to morphisms g , h which have bounded balance on L . These results are generalizations of results of Culik II and Karhumaki (1983).
Automatic modeling of personality states in small group interactions

In this paper, we target the automatic recognition of personality states in a meeting scenario employing visual and acoustic features. The social psychology literature has coined the name personality state to refer to a specific behavioral episode wherein a person behaves as more or less introvert/extrovert, neurotic or open to experience, etc. Personality traits can then be reconstructed as density distributions over personality states. Different machine learning approaches were used to test the effectiveness of the selected features in modeling the dynamics of personality states.
Standardizing Power Monitoring and Control at Exascale

Power API-the result of collaboration among national laboratories, universities, and major vendors-provides a range of standardized power management functions, from application-level control and measurement to facility-level accounting, including real-time and historical statistics gathering. Support is already available for Intel and AMD CPUs and standalone measurement devices.