LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Clinical Observations with a New Specific Assay for Bone Alkaline Phosphatase: A Cross-Sectional Study in Osteoporotic and Pagetic Subjects and a Longitudinal Evaluation of the Response to Ovariectomy, Estrogens, and Bisphosphonates

The purpose of this study was to examine the serum levels of bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) measured with a new assay in normal and in osteoporotic women, and to evaluate prospectively its responsiveness to changes of bone metabolism. The following groups of subjects were studied: (1) 95 healthy women (44–75 years) (22 pre- and 73 postmenopausal) and 35 osteoporotic women [vertebral bone mineral density (BMD) more than 2.5 SD below the normal adult mean]; (2) 10 women (44–50 years) ovariectomized (OVX) for benign uterine diseases, examined before and 12 months after surgery; (3) 16 OVX women (36–54 years), examined before and after 12 months of transdermal estrogen replacement therapy (50 μg/day); (4) 12 previously untreated pagetic patients (4 women and 8 men, 50–80 years), examined before and 3 months after the I.V. administration of clodronate (600 mg) or alendronate (5 mg) for 2 consecutive days. The median BALP value was 11.6 U/liter (25–75th percentiles: 10.5–12.7; range 7.7–19.3) in healthy premenopausal (PreMP) women and significantly higher (median: 16.8 U/liter; 25–75th percentile: 13.8–21.8; P < 0.01) in postmenopausal (PostMP) women. There was a clear age-related increase in normal subjects (r = 0.43; P < 0.001). In the osteoporotic group, BALP levels, as well as other biochemical parameters of bone turnover, were not significantly different from those of normal women when adjusted for age. In OVX women, BALP levels showed a marked increase 12 months after surgery (median: 113%; 25–75th percentile: 87–139%), significantly higher than the increase of total ALP (median: 43%; 25–75th percentile: 25–66%; P < 0.001), and similar to the increases of serum osteocalcin and urinary hydroxyproline. Transdermal estrogen treatment prevented the BALP increase, even if no reduction was observed; total ALP showed a similar behavior. The basal levels of BALP were significantly elevated in pagetic patients (median: 91 U/liter; range 18–610 U/liter) and correlated to the scintigraphic extent of the disease (r = 0.76; P < 0.01). Three months after the I.V. administration of bisphosphonates, the decrease of BALP was more marked than that of total ALP (median: −54% versus −41%; P < 0.05). In conclusion, these results suggest that BALP measurement with this immunoassay may be clinically useful, and more sensitive than total ALP, in the assessment of bone turnover during changes of the estrogen status as well as in monitoring the effects of treatments that modify the metabolic activity of the skeleton.
Heartbeat Cycle Length Detection by a Ballistocardiographic Sensor in Atrial Fibrillation and Sinus Rhythm

BACKGROUND
Heart rate monitoring is especially interesting in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and is routinely performed by ECG. A ballistocardiography (BCG) foil is an unobtrusive sensor for mechanical vibrations. We tested the correlation of heartbeat cycle length detection by a novel algorithm for a BCG foil to an ECG in AF and sinus rhythm (SR).


METHODS
In 22 patients we obtained BCG and synchronized ECG recordings before and after cardioversion and examined the correlation between heartbeat characteristics.


RESULTS
We analyzed a total of 4317 heartbeats during AF and 2445 during SR with a correlation between ECG and BCG during AF of r = 0.70 (95% CI 0.68-0.71, P < 0.0001) and r = 0.75 (95% CI 0.73-0.77, P < 0.0001) during SR. By adding a quality index, artifacts could be reduced and the correlation increased for AF to 0.76 (95% CI 0.74-0.77, P < 0.0001, n = 3468) and for SR to 0.85 (95% CI 0.83-0.86, P < 0.0001, n = 2176).


CONCLUSION
Heartbeat cycle length measurement by our novel algorithm for BCG foil is feasible during SR and AF, offering new possibilities of unobtrusive heart rate monitoring. This trial is registered with IRB registration number EK205/11. This trial is registered with clinical trials registration number NCT01779674.
Integrating independent components and linear discriminant analysis for gender classification

Computer vision and pattern recognition systems play an important role in our lives by means of automated face detection, face and gesture recognition, and estimation of gender and age. We have developed a gender classifier with performance superior to existing gender classifiers. This paper addresses the problem of gender classification using frontal facial images. The testbed consists of 500 images (250 females and 250 males) randomly withdrawn from the FERET facial database. Independent component analysis (ICA) is used to represent each image as a feature vector in a low dimensional subspace. A classifier based on linear discriminant analysis (LDA) is used in this lower dimensional subspace. Our experimental results show a significant improvement in gender classification accuracy and we obtain an accuracy of 99.3%.
Predictors of sexual risk behaviors among adolescent mothers in a human immunodeficiency virus prevention program.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to determine the following: (1) whether adolescent mothers in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention program had significantly greater perceived self-efficacy and perceived behavioral control to use condoms, and more favorable outcome expectancies and subjective norms regarding condom use than those in a health education control group, 3 months after intervention; and (2) the impact of the 3-month postintervention theoretical variables on intentions to use condoms at 3 months and sexual risk behaviors at 6 months.


METHODS
Structural equation modeling with latent variables was used to assess the influence of theoretical variables and treatment condition using data from 496 participants (78% Latinas, 18% African-Americans) who completed questionnaires at baseline and at 3- and 6-month follow-up evaluations.


RESULTS
Substantial improvements were shown by both groups, with a slight advantage for the HIV prevention group, on all theoretical variables between pretest and the follow-up evaluations. In the predictive model, the intervention group reported significantly fewer sex partners. By using intentions to use condoms as a mediator, greater self-efficacy, hedonistic beliefs, positive subjective norms, and less unprotected sex predicted intentions to use condoms, which, in turn, predicted less unprotected sex. Lower subjective norms modestly predicted multiple partners. Significant indirect paths mediated through intentions to use condoms were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
These data support a relationship among several constructs from social cognitive theory and the theory of reasoned action, and subsequent sexual risk behaviors. HIV-prevention programs for adolescent mothers should be designed to include these theoretical constructs and to address contextual factors influencing their lives.
Randomized Phase III Trial Comparing ABVD Plus Radiotherapy With the Stanford V Regimen in Patients With Stages I or II Locally Extensive, Bulky Mediastinal Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Subset Analysis of the North American Intergroup E2496 Trial.

PURPOSE
The phase III North American Intergroup E2496 Trial (Combination Chemotherapy With or Without Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Hodgkin's Lymphoma) compared doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) with mechlorethamine, doxorubicin, vincristine, bleomycin, vinblastine, etoposide, and prednisone (Stanford V). We report results of a planned subgroup analysis in patients with stage I or II bulky mediastinal Hodgkin lymphoma (HL).


PATIENTS AND METHODS
Patients were randomly assigned to six to eight cycles of ABVD every 28 days or Stanford V once per week for 12 weeks. Two to 3 weeks after completion of chemotherapy, all patients received 36 Gy of modified involved field radiotherapy (IFRT) to the mediastinum, hila, and supraclavicular regions. Patients on the Stanford V arm received IFRT to additional sites ≥ 5 cm at diagnosis. Primary end points were failure-free survival (FFS) and overall survival (OS).


RESULTS
Of 794 eligible patients, 264 had stage I or II bulky disease, 135 received ABVD, and 129 received Stanford V. Patient characteristics were matched. The overall response rate was 83% with ABVD and 88% with Stanford V. At a median follow-up of 6.5 years, the study excluded a difference of more than 21% in 5-year FFS and more than 16% in 5-year OS between ABVD and Stanford V (5-year FFS: 85% v 79%; HR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.37 to 1.25; P = .22; 5-year OS: 96% v 92%; HR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.16 to 1.47; P = .19). In-field relapses occurred in < 10% of the patients in each arm.


CONCLUSION
For patients with stage I or II bulky mediastinal HL, no substantial statistically significant differences were detected between the two regimens, although power was limited. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first prospective trial reporting outcomes specific to this subgroup, and it sets a benchmark for comparison of ongoing and future studies.
Understanding the Nature of the Risks and the Source of the Rewards to Momentum Investing

Buying recent winners and shorting recent losers guarantees time varying factor exposures in accordance with the performance of common risk factors during the ranking period. Adjusted for this dynamic risk exposure, momentum profits are remarkably stable across subperiods of the entire post 1926 era. Factor models can explain ninety-five percent of winner or loser return variability, but cannot explain their mean returns. Momentum strategies which base winner or loser status on stock-specific return components are more profitable than those based on total returns. Neither industry effects nor cross-sectional differences in expected returns are the primary cause of the momentum phenomenon.
Effects of a weight management program on body composition and metabolic parameters in overweight children: a randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT
Pediatric obesity has escalated to epidemic proportions, leading to an array of comorbidities, including type 2 diabetes in youth. Since most overweight children become overweight adults, this chronic condition results in serious metabolic complications by early adulthood. To curtail this major health issue, effective pediatric interventions are essential.


OBJECTIVE
To compare effects of a weight management program, Bright Bodies, on adiposity and metabolic complications of overweight children with a control group.


DESIGN
One-year randomized controlled trial conducted May 2002-September 2005.


SETTING
Recruitment and follow-up conducted at Yale Pediatric Obesity Clinic in New Haven, Conn, and intervention at nearby school.


PARTICIPANTS
Random sample of 209 overweight children (body mass index [BMI] >95th percentile for age and sex), ages 8 to 16 years of mixed ethnic groups were recruited. A total of 135 participants (60%) completed 6 months of study, 119 (53%) completed 12 months.


INTERVENTION
Participants were randomly assigned to either a control or weight management group. The control group (n = 69) received traditional clinical weight management counseling every 6 months, and the weight management group (n = 105) received an intensive family-based program including exercise, nutrition, and behavior modification. Intervention occurred biweekly the first 6 months, bimonthly thereafter. The second randomization within the weight management group assigned participants (n = 35) to a structured meal plan approach (dieting), but this arm of the study was discontinued while enrollment was ongoing due to a high dropout rate.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Change in weight, BMI, body fat, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) at 6 and 12 months.


RESULTS
Six-month improvements were sustained at 12 months in weight management vs control, including changes in the following (mean [95% confidence interval]): weight (+0.3 kg [-1.4 to 2.0] vs +7.7 kg [5.3 to 10.0]); BMI (-1.7 [-2.3 to -1.1] vs +1.6 [0.8 to 2.3]); body fat (-3.7 kg [-5.4 to -2.1] vs +5.5 kg [3.2 to 7.8]); and HOMA-IR (-1.52 [-1.93 to -1.01] vs +0.90 [-0.07 to 2.05]).


CONCLUSION
The Bright Bodies weight management program had beneficial effects on body composition and insulin resistance in overweight children that were sustained up to 12 months.


TRIAL REGISTRATION
clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00409422.
Reverse-Flow Lateral Tarsal Island Flap for Covering the Great Toe Donor Site of Wraparound Flap.

BACKGROUND
Coverage of the great toe donor site of wraparound flap remains a challenge. This report presents the results of using an innervated pedicled reverse-flow lateral tarsal island flap for covering the great toe donor site of wraparound flap.


PATIENTS AND METHODS
Between 2005 and 2010, 11 reverse-flow lateral tarsal island flaps were used to cover the great toe donor site of wraparound flap in 11 patients. This pedicled flap designed on the lateral tarsal area of foot was based distally on the dorsalis pedis artery; the lateral dorsal pedal cutaneous nerve was incorporated into the reverse-flow lateral tarsal island flap and coapted with the first plantar digital nerve. The donor sites of reverse-flow lateral tarsal island flap were covered with inguinal full-thickness skin grafts.


RESULTS
All flaps achieved primary healing except for two that suffered from mild venous insufficiency which was managed by conservative intervention. All skin grafts covering the donor site of reverse-flow lateral tarsal island flap healed uneventfully. The mean follow-up was 24 months (range, 18-48 months). The mean hallux metatarsophalangeal-interphalangeal scale score was 92 points (range, 85-97 points) at 6 months postoperatively. The static 2-point discrimination of the reverse-flow lateral tarsal island flap ranged from 6 to 14 mm (mean 10 mm). None of the patients were restricted in standing or walking during follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
The reverse-flow lateral tarsal island flap based distally on the dorsalis pedis artery has a constant pedicle that is sufficiently long. This innervated pedicle flap is a reliable option to cover the great toe donor site of wraparound flap with satisfactory functional and cosmetic results and acceptable donor site morbidity.
Parental Perception of Neonates, Parental Stress and Education for NICU Parents.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis between the perception of parents with premature infants in the NICU and parents with full-term newborns, and in the process to evaluate the effects of NICU educational support on parents with regard to their perception of neonate and parental stress.


METHODS
A mixed quantitative design was employed to compare parental perception of neonates using the Neonatal Perception Index (NPI) between the parents of 26 full-term infants (full-term group) and the parents of 22 premature infants in the NICU (NICU group), and also to evaluate the effect of NICU educational support on NPI and parental stress using the Parental Stress Scale (PSS) between the mothers and fathers in the NICU group.


RESULTS
NICU mothers showed the lowest NPI score among full-term and NICU parents. However, no difference in direction of NPI scores was observed between parents in either the full-term or NICU group. NICU education improved NPI and decreased PSS in fathers but not in mothers.


CONCLUSION
Environmental modifications of the nursery setting, particularly its remote location to the NICU, could improve mothers' perception of full-term neonates. NICU mothers, as the principal care- givers, may suffer from culturally-grounded, psychoemotional disturbances after giving birth to a sick infant, which may not be applicable to fathers. The quality of family-centered care in the NICU environment, parental role alteration, and the condition of infants need to be improved to decrease parental stress in the NICU. Fathers may have significant potential in caring for mothers and sick infants during the transition to parenthood. Education for NICU parents should be done for both mothers and fathers in the acute postpartum period.
Medical diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases using an interval-valued fuzzy rule-based classification system

Objective To develop a classifier that tackles the problem of determining the risk of a patient of suffering from a cardiovascular disease within the next ten years. The system has to provide both a diagnosis and an interpretable model explaining the decision. In this way, doctors are able to analyse the usefulness of the information given by the system. Methods Linguistic fuzzy rule-based classification systems are used, since they provide a good classification rate and a highly interpretable model. More specifically, a new methodology to combine fuzzy rule-based classification systems with interval-valued fuzzy sets is proposed, which is composed of three steps: 1) the modelling of the linguistic labels of the classifier using interval-valued fuzzy sets; 2) the use of theKα operator in the inference process and 3) the application of a genetic tuning to find the best ignorance degree that each interval-valued fuzzy set represents as well as the best value for the parameter α of theKα operator in each rule. Results Correspondingauthor. Tel:+34-948166048. Fax:+34-948168924 Email addresses: joseantonio.sanz@unavarra.es (Jośe Antonio Sanz ), mikel.galar@unavarra.es (Mikel Galar),aranzazu.jurio@unavarra.es (Aranzazu Jurio), antonio.brugos@unavarra.es (Antonio Brugos), miguel.pagola@unavarra.es (Miguel Pagola),bustince@unavarra.es (Humberto Bustince) Preprint submitted to Elsevier November 13, 2013 © 2013. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Burden among family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease in nursing homes.

PURPOSE
This article examines family caregiver burden after placement of a relative with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia in a nursing home.


DESIGN AND METHODS
A systems-oriented contextual approach was used to study burden in 276 family caregivers.


RESULTS
SAS PROC MIXED analysis showed burden to be associated with caregiver age, length of time involved in caregiving, custodial units, involvement in hands-on care, and expectations for care.


IMPLICATIONS
The findings suggest that more services aimed at relieving caregiver burden after nursing home placement may be warranted, particularly so for caregivers who are older and for those who had a shorter length of involvement in direct caregiving before institutionalization.
Can Self-Determination Theory Explain What Underlies the Productive, Satisfying Learning Experiences of Collectivistically Oriented Korean Students?

Recognizing recent criticisms concerning the cross-cultural generalizability of self-determination theory (SDT), the authors tested the SDT view that high school students in collectivistically oriented South Korea benefit from classroom experiences of autonomy support and psychological need satisfaction. In Study 1, experiences of autonomy, competence, and relatedness underlaid Korean students’ most satisfying learning experiences, and experiences of low autonomy and low competence underlaid their least satisfying learning experiences. In Study 2, psychological need satisfaction experiences were associated with productive (achievement and engagement) and satisfying (intrinsic motivation and proneness to negative affect) student outcomes. Study 3 replicated and extended Study 2’s structural equation modeling findings by showing that the hypothesized model explained students’ positive outcomes even after controlling for cultural and parental influences, including the collectivistic value orientation. Study 4 replicated the earlier cross-sectional findings with a semester-long prospective 3-wave design. The authors discuss how the findings support the motivation theory’s cross-cultural generalizability.
Modeling and simulation of a grid connected PV system based on the evaluation of main PV module parameters

In this work we present a new method for the modeling and simulation study of a photovoltaic grid connected system and its experimental validation. This method has been applied in the simulation of a grid connected PV system with a rated power of 3.2 Kwp, composed by a photovoltaic generator and a single phase grid connected inverter. First, a PV module, forming part of the whole PV array is modeled by a single diode lumped circuit and main parameters of the PV module are evaluated. Results obtained for the PV module characteristics have been validated experimentally by carrying out outdoor I–V characteristic measurements. To take into account the power conversion efficiency, the measured AC output power against DC input power is fitted to a second order efficiency model to derive its specific parameters. The simulation results have been performed through Matlab/Simulink environment. Results has shown good agreement with experimental data, whether for the I–V characteristics or for the whole operating system. The significant error indicators are reported in order to show the effectiveness of the simulation model to predict energy generation for such PV system. 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
'EM: A general program for the analysis of categorical data 1

1 When you report results obtained with EM, you should refer to this manual as " Vermunt, J.K.
A genetic algorithm tutorial

This tutorial covers the canonical genetic algorithm as well as more experimental forms of genetic algorithms including parallel island models and parallel cellular genetic algorithms The tutorial also illustrates genetic search by hyperplane sampling The theoretical foundations of genetic algorithms are reviewed include the schema theorem as well as recently developed exact models of the canonical genetic algorithm
Preoperative localization of hand motor cortex by adaptive spatial filtering of magnetoencephalography data.

OBJECT
The goal of this study was to examine the sensitivity and specificity in preoperative localization of hand motor cortex by imaging regional event-related desynchronization (ERD) of brainwaves in the beta frequency band (15-25 Hz) involved in self-paced movement.


METHODS
Using magnetoencephalography (MEG), the authors measured ERD that occurred before self-paced unilateral index finger flexion in 66 patients with brain tumors, epilepsy, and arteriovenous malformations.


RESULTS
The authors applied an adaptive spatial filtering algorithm to MEG data and found that peaks of the tomographic distribution of beta-band ERD sources reliably localized hand motor cortex compared with electrical cortical stimulation. They also observed high specificity in estimating contralateral hand motor cortical representations relative to somatosensory cortex. Neither presence nor location of tumor changed the qualitative or quantitative location of motor cortex relative to somatosensory cortex.


CONCLUSIONS
An imaging protocol using ERD obtained by adaptive spatial filtering of MEG data can be used for extremely reliable preoperative localization of hand motor cortex.
ZigBee Wireless Sensor Network in Environmental Monitoring Applications

Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) is one of the most significant technologies in the information era. WSN is composed of hundreds of nodes which have ability of sensing, actuation and communicating, has caused extensively studied all over the word. This article presents the advantage of WSN and analyses the application of WSN in Environment Monitoring. In addition, we explain why we choose ZigBee technology as the wireless communication approach. Finally, in the greenhouse of vegetable, we design a WSN project based on ZigBee technology using CC2430 board and verify the correctness and feasibility of the plan. Keywords-enviornment monitoring; wireless sensor network; zigbee;cc2430;greenhouse