LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
A narrative review on haptic devices: relating the physiology and psychophysical properties of the hand to devices for rehabilitation in central nervous system disorders.

PURPOSE
This article provides rehabilitation professionals and engineers with a theoretical and pragmatic rationale for the inclusion of haptic feedback in the rehabilitation of central nervous system disorders affecting the hand.


METHOD
A narrative review of haptic devices used in sensorimotor hand rehabilitation was undertaken. Presented papers were selected to outline and clarify the underlying somatosensory mechanisms underpinning these technologies and provide exemplars of the evidence to date.


RESULTS
Haptic devices provide kinaesthetic and/or tactile stimulation. Kinaesthetic haptics are beginning to be incorporated in central nervous system rehabilitation; however, there has been limited development of tactile haptics. Clinical research in haptic rehabilitation of the hand is embryonic but initial findings indicate potential clinical benefit.


CONCLUSIONS
Haptic rehabilitation offers the potential to advance sensorimotor hand rehabilitation but both scientific and pragmatic developments are needed to ensure that its potential is realized.
Construct dimensionality and properties of the categories in the ICF Core Set for low back pain.

OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to explore by Rasch analysis whether the Comprehensive International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Core Set might represent a future clinical tool for measuring functioning of patients with low back pain. Material and methodsThe Comprehensive ICF Core Set for low back pain was scored by health professionals for 118 patients with low back pain. Qualifier levels, invariance, construct validity and ordering of the categories in the components of Body function, Body structure, Activities and participation and Environmental factors were explored by Rasch analysis.


RESULTS
The number of qualifier levels had to be reduced. Categories within Body functions and within Environmental factors reflected a single underlying construct. The categories within the component of Activities and Participation did not meet the requirements of a single underlying construct in the present population. Few categories covered the problems reported by patients with a relatively high level of function.


CONCLUSION
Rasch analysis indicated that the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for low back pain may be used with some modification of categories as a common tool for assessing problems within the components Body functions, and Activity and Participation. However, detecting ICF categories that reflect the higher functional levels in patients with low back pain, and revision of the qualifier levels may be necessary.
Modifiable risk factors in the first 1000 days for subsequent risk of childhood overweight in an Asian cohort: significance of parental overweight status

Background/Objective:Many studies have identified early-life risk factors for subsequent childhood overweight/obesity, but few have evaluated how they combine to influence risk of childhood overweight/obesity. We examined associations, individually and in combination, of potentially modifiable risk factors in the first 1000 days after conception with childhood adiposity and risk of overweight/obesity in an Asian cohort.Methods:Six risk factors were examined: maternal pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity (body mass index (BMI) ⩾25 kg m−2), paternal overweight/obesity at 24 months post delivery, maternal excessive gestational weight gain, raised maternal fasting glucose during pregnancy (⩾5.1 mmol l−1), breastfeeding duration <4 months and early introduction of solid foods (<4 months). Associations between number of risk factors and adiposity measures (BMI, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), sum of skinfolds (SSFs), fat mass index (FMI) and overweight/obesity) at 48 months were assessed using multivariable regression models.Results:Of 858 children followed up at 48 months, 172 (19%) had none, 274 (32%) had 1, 244 (29%) had 2, 126 (15%) had 3 and 42 (5%) had ⩾4 risk factors. Adjusting for confounders, significant graded positive associations were observed between number of risk factors and adiposity outcomes at 48 months. Compared with children with no risk factors, those with four or more risk factors had s.d. unit increases of 0.78 (95% confidence interval 0.41–1.15) for BMI, 0.79 (0.41–1.16) for WHtR, 0.46 (0.06–0.83) for SSF and 0.67 (0.07–1.27) for FMI. The adjusted relative risk of overweight/obesity in children with four or more risk factors was 11.1(2.5–49.1) compared with children with no risk factors. Children exposed to maternal pre-pregnancy (11.8(9.8–13.8)%) or paternal overweight status (10.6(9.6-11.6)%) had the largest individual predicted probability of child overweight/obesity.Conclusions:Early-life risk factors added cumulatively to increase childhood adiposity and risk of overweight/obesity. Early-life and preconception intervention programmes may be more effective in preventing overweight/obesity if they concurrently address these multiple modifiable risk factors.
Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Exhibits Dominant Control of the Tumor Genome and Transcriptome in Virus-Associated Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Merkel cell polyomavirus is the primary etiological agent of the aggressive skin cancer Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). Recent studies have revealed that UV radiation is the primary mechanism for somatic mutagenesis in nonviral forms of MCC. Here, we analyze the whole transcriptomes and genomes of primary MCC tumors. Our study reveals that virus-associated tumors have minimally altered genomes compared to non-virus-associated tumors, which are dominated by UV-mediated mutations. Although virus-associated tumors contain relatively small mutation burdens, they exhibit a distinct mutation signature with observable transcriptionally biased kataegic events. In addition, viral integration sites overlap focal genome amplifications in virus-associated tumors, suggesting a potential mechanism for these events. Collectively, our studies indicate that Merkel cell polyomavirus is capable of hijacking cellular processes and driving tumorigenesis to the same severity as tens of thousands of somatic genome alterations.


IMPORTANCE
A variety of mutagenic processes that shape the evolution of tumors are critical determinants of disease outcome. Here, we sequenced the entire genome of virus-positive and virus-negative primary Merkel cell carcinomas (MCCs), revealing distinct mutation spectra and corresponding expression profiles. Our studies highlight the strong effect that Merkel cell polyomavirus has on the divergent development of viral MCC compared to the somatic alterations that typically drive nonviral tumorigenesis. A more comprehensive understanding of the distinct mutagenic processes operative in viral and nonviral MCCs has implications for the effective treatment of these tumors.
Asymptotic error of cubic B-spline interpolation using prefiltering

A popular class of reconstruction filters that are used in signal and image processing is based on cubic B-splines. One reason for their popularity is the fact that they can be efficiently implemented. This is specifically true with modern GPUs where cubic B-spline filtering can be implemented by means of linearly interpolating texture fetches so that the actual number of memory accesses can be significantly reduced. The curve obtained from filtering with the cubic B-spline does in general not interpolate the original data set. The latter can however be achieved by applying a prefiltering step that transforms the original data set. We study the asymptotic behavior of the reconstruction error of the cubic B-spline interpolation filter using a state of the art method that is based on a Taylor series expansion and that was carefully adjusted to accommodate the infinite support of this reconstruction filter.
Sedentary behavior, health-related quality of life, and fatigue among breast cancer survivors.

BACKGROUND
Many cancer survivors experience declines in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and increases in fatigue as a result of cancer and its treatment. Exercise is linked to improvements in these outcomes, but little is known about the role of sedentary behavior. In a large, ethnically-diverse cohort of breast cancer survivors, we examined the relationship between sedentary time, HRQOL, and fatigue, and examined if that relationship differed by recreational moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) level.


METHODS
Participants were 710 women diagnosed with stage 0-IIIA breast cancer in the Health, Eating, Activity, and Lifestyle Study. Women completed questionnaires at approximately 30-months postdiagnosis (sedentary time; recreational MVPA) and 41-months postdiagnosis (HRQOL; fatigue). In multivariate models, we regressed these outcomes linearly on quartiles of daily sedentary time, and a variable jointly reflecting sedentary time quartiles and MVPA categories (0; >0 to <9; ≥9 MET-hrs/wk).


RESULTS
Sedentary time was not independently related to subscales or summary scores of HRQOL or fatigue. In addition, comparisons of women with high vs. low (Q4:Q1) sedentary time by MVPA level did not result in significant differences in HRQOL or fatigue.


CONCLUSION
In this breast cancer survivor cohort, self-reported sedentary time was not associated with HRQOL or fatigue, 3.5 years postdiagnosis.
Making sense of focus groups.

CONTEXT
This paper provides an overview of the contribution of medical education research which has employed focus group methodology to evaluate both undergraduate education and continuing professional development.


PRACTICALITIES AND PROBLEMS
It also examines current debates about the ethics and practicalities involved in conducting focus group research. It gives guidance as to how to go about designing and planning focus group studies, highlighting common misconceptions and pitfalls, emphasising that most problems stem from researchers ignoring the central assumptions which underpin the qualitative research endeavour.


PRESENTING AND DEVELOPING FOCUS GROUP RESEARCH
Particular attention is paid to analysis and presentation of focus group work and the uses to which such information is put. Finally, it speculates about the future of focus group research in general and research in medical education in particular.
Knee flexion after total knee arthroplasty reduces blood loss

Extensive blood loss after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) may be a potential problem since it leads to anaemia, increased need for transfusion and prolonged hospitalization. Aim of this study was to investigate the effects of postoperative knee flexion after TKA on blood loss and the need for transfusion. One hundred consecutive patients undergoing primary TKA from 2012 to 2013 were randomizely divided into two groups. In one group, the knee was extended for the first 6 h after surgery, whereas in the other was flexed at 90° for the same time. Two doses of endovenous tranexamic acid were administered in all subjects. Patients were homogeneous for all the possible confounding factors. Calculated blood loss was 846 ± 197 (ml) in the flexion group and 1,242 ± 228 (ml) in the extension group (p < 0.05). Drop of haemoglobin levels at 24 h in the study group and the control group was 1.9 ± 0.8 (g/dl) and 3.0 ± 0.5 (g/dl), respectively (p < 0.01). Drop of haematocrit at 24 h was 4.5 ± 0.2 (%) in the flexion group and 6.7 ± 0.3 (%) in the extension group (p < 0.05). Blood transfusion was necessary in 5 patients in the control group and was not necessary in any patient of the study group. Average knee flexion at day 7 was 105° ± 4° in the flexion group and 98° ± 7° in the extension group. Knee flexion at 90° after TKA, associated with the intraoperative use of tranexamic, acid is an effective method to reduce blood loss and the need for blood transfusion. The routine use of the present protocol is effective in reducing social costs and length of hospitalization of TKA procedures. Prospective comparative study, Level I.
Design Patterns for Smart Contracts in the Ethereum Ecosystem

The idea to digitally facilitate contract law and business practices through computer programs has led to the notion of smart contracts. Today’s most prominent smart contract ecosystem is Ethereum, a blockchain based distributed computing platform. Due to the inherent nature of blockchain based contract execution, missing low level programming abstractions, and the constant evolution of platform features and security considerations, writing correct and secure smart contracts for Ethereum is a difficult task. Based on a Multivocal Literature Research and an analysis of the gathered data based on qualitative research methods, we mined a number of design patterns providing design guidelines. We describe those patterns in detail and provide exemplary code for better illustration. Our research shows that the patterns are widely used to address application requirements and common problems. We expect generalizability of some or all of the patterns for other smart contract ecosystems, but this is outside of the scope of this study, which studied only smart contract patterns in Ethereum.
The Nature of Attachment Relationships and Grief Responses in Older Adults: An Attachment Path Model of Grief

BACKGROUND
Various researchers have theorized that bereaved adults who report non-secure attachment are at higher risk of pathological grief. Yet past findings on avoidant attachment representations and grief have yielded limited and contradictory outcomes. Little research has been conducted with older adults to identify the psychological processes that mediate between self-reported attachment representations and the patterns of grief.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the impacts of avoidant attachment and anxious attachment dimensions on emotion and non-acceptance, in response to the loss of a conjugal partner, and the mediating effect of yearning thoughts.


DESIGN
Men (N = 21) and women (N = 68) aged 60 years and above who had lost a partner within the last 12 to 72 months were invited to participate. Participants rated their levels of yearning thoughts about the deceased, emotions and non-acceptance on the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief (TRIG-Present), and their type and level of general romantic attachment on the Experiences In Close Relationship questionnaire (ECR).


RESULTS
Structural equation modelling (SEM) indicated that individuals who reported higher levels of avoidant attachment reported less emotional responses and less non-acceptance. SEM also showed that individuals who reported higher levels of anxious attachment reported greater emotional responses and greater non-acceptance. SEM further indicated that these relationships were mediated by yearning thoughts.


CONCLUSION
People adopt different grief coping patterns according to their self-reported attachment representations, with the nature of their yearning thoughts influencing the process. Grief therapy may be organized according to individual differences in attachment representations.
Numerical Correpondences between the physical Constants

We present here a note which synthesizes our previous ideas concerning some problems in cosmology, and the numerical correspondences between the physical constants that we could deduce.
Incentives for Tax Planning and Avoidance : Evidence from the Field Citation

ABSTRACT: We analyze survey responses from nearly 600 corporate tax executives to investigate firms’ incentives and disincentives for tax planning. While many researchers hypothesize that reputational concerns affect the degree to which managers engage in tax planning, this hypothesis is difficult to test with archival data. Our survey allows us to investigate reputational influences and indeed we find that reputational concerns are important – 69% of executives rate reputation as important and the factor ranks second in order of importance among all factors explaining why firms do not adopt a potential tax planning strategy. We also find that financial accounting incentives play a role. For example, 84% of publicly traded firms respond that top management at their company cares at least as much about the GAAP ETR as they do about cash taxes paid and 57% of public firms say that increasing earnings per share is an important outcome from a tax planning strategy.
Nonlinear Identification of a Magneto-Rheological Damper Based on Dynamic Neural Networks

Semi-active control of dynamic response of civil structures with magneto-rheological (MR) fluid dampers has emerged as a novel revolutionary technology in recent years for designing “smart structures.” A small-scale MR damper model with the valve mode mechanism has been examined in this research using dynamic recurrent neural network modeling approach to reproduce its hysteretic nonlinear behavior. Modified Bouc–Wen model based on nonlinear differential equations has not only been employed as the reference model to provide a comprehensive training data for the neural network but also for comparison purposes. A novel frequency and amplitude varying displacement input signal (modulated chirp signal) associated with a random supply voltage has been introduced for persistent excitation of the damper in such a way to cover almost all of its operating conditions. Finally a series of validation tests were conducted on the proposed model which proved the appropriate performance of the model in terms of accuracy and capability for
Emergency department-initiated palliative care for advanced cancer patients: protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND
For patients with advanced cancer, visits to the emergency department (ED) are common. Such patients present to the ED with a specific profile of palliative care needs, including burdensome symptoms such as pain, dyspnea, or vomiting that cannot be controlled in other settings and a lack of well-defined goals of care. The goals of this study are: i) to test the feasibility of recruiting, enrolling, and randomizing patients with serious illness in the ED; and ii) to evaluate the impact of ED-initiated palliative care on health care utilization, quality of life, and survival.


METHODS/DESIGN
This is a protocol for a single center parallel, two-arm randomized controlled trial in ED patients with metastatic solid tumors comparing ED-initiated palliative care referral to a control group receiving usual care. We plan to enroll 125 to 150 ED-advanced cancer patients at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, USA, who meet the following criteria: i) pass a brief cognitive screen; ii) speak fluent English or Spanish; and iii) have never been seen by palliative care. We will use balanced block randomization in groups of 50 to assign patients to the intervention or control group after completion of a baseline questionnaire. All research staff performing assessment or analysis will be blinded to patient assignment. We will measure the impact of the palliative care intervention on the following outcomes: i) timing and rate of palliative care consultation; ii) quality of life and depression at 12 weeks, measured using the FACT-G and PHQ-9; iii) health care utilization; and iv) length of survival. The primary analysis will be based on intention-to-treat.


DISCUSSION
This pilot randomized controlled trial will test the feasibility of recruiting, enrolling, and randomizing patients with advanced cancer in the ED, and provide a preliminary estimate of the impact of palliative care referral on health care utilization, quality of life, and survival.


TRIAL REGISTRATION
Clinical Trials.gov identifier: NCT01358110 (Entered 5/19/2011).
Stochastic Language Generation For Spoken Dialogue Systems

The two current approaches to language generation, Template-based and rule-based (linguistic) NLG, have limitations when applied to spoken dialogue systems, in part because they were developed for text generation. In this paper, we propose a new corpus-based approach to natural language generation, specifically designed for spoken dialogue systems.
AI-Based Software Defect Predictors: Applications and Benefits in a Case Study

the later stages of the development life cycle versus during production (Brooks 1995). Therefore, testing is one of the most critical and time-consuming phases of the software development life cycle, which accounts for 50 percent of the total cost of development (Brooks 1995). The testing phase should be planned carefully in order to save time and effort while detecting as many defects as possible. Different verification, validation, and testing strategies have been proposed so far to optimize the time and effort utilized during the testing phase: code reviews (Adrian, Branstad, and Cherniavsky 1982; Shull et al. 2002), inspections (Fagan 1976), and automated tools (Menzies, Greenwald, and Frank 2007; Nagappan, Ball, and Murphy 2006; Ostrand, Weyuker, and Bell 2005). Defect predictors improve the efficiency of the testing phase in addition to helping developers assess the quality and defectproneness of their software product (Fenton and Neil 1999). They also help managers in allocating resources. Most defect prediction models combine well-known methodologies and algorithms such as statistical techniques (Nagappan, Ball, and Murphy 2006; Ostrand, Weyuker, and Bell 2005; Zimmermann et al. 2004) and machine learning (Munson and Khoshgoftaar 1992; Fenton and Neil 1999; Lessmann et al. 2008; Moser, Pedrycz, and Succi 2008). They require historical data in terms of software metrics and actual defect rates, and combine these metrics and defect information as training data to learn which modules seem to be defect prone. Based on the knowledge from training data and software metrics acquired from a recently completed project, such tools can estimate defect-prone modules of that project. IAAI Articles
Apolipoprotein E polymorphisms influence effect of pravastatin on survival after myocardial infarction in a Mediterranean population: the GISSI-Prevenzione study.

AIMS
Controversy exists with regard to the influence of APOE polymorphisms on coronary heart disease development and on the efficacy of statin treatment. we investigated the relationship between apoe, mortality and the response to treatment in Mediterranean myocardial infarction (mi) survivors.


METHODS AND RESULTS
We analysed 3304 Italian patients with MI randomized to pravastatin or no treatment in the GISSI-Prevenzione study, with a mean follow-up time of 23.0 +/- 6.7 months (median 24.3 months). Mortality curves were calculated using Kaplan-Meier method, and differences in survival were tested using the log-rank test. There were 109 deaths during follow-up. Patients treated with pravastatin showed a significant decrease in mortality compared with non-treated patients (HR 0.67, 95% confidence interval 0.45-0.97, P = 0.038). Among the 3304 patients, 554 (16.8%) were epsilon4 carriers and 2750 (83.2%) were non-epsilon4 carriers. No significant difference in terms of mortality was observed between the epsilon4 and the non-epsilon4 carriers (3.61% vs. 3.24%, P = 0.67). However, although in non-epsilon4 carriers no significant difference in mortality was observed between patients treated with pravastatin and non-treated (2.81% vs. 3.67%, P = 0.21), among the epsilon4 carriers a significant reduction in mortality was observed in patients treated compared with non-treated (1.85% vs. 5.28%, P = 0.023).


CONCLUSION
We found that epsilon4 allele is a determinant of pravastatin response in terms of survival. Though in the entire population investigated,we found a beneficial effect of pravastatin in terms of survival, only the epsilon4 carriers seemed to have gained a significant benefit from this treatment. We suggest that the effect of statins is of particular interest in this fraction of the population. Genetic markers can help in identifying patients that benefit more from statin treatment.