LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Effect of essential amino acid supplementation on quality of life, amino acid profile and strength in institutionalized elderly patients.

BACKGROUND & AIMS
This study assessed the efficacy of supplemented essential amino acids on depressive symptoms, nutrition, muscle function, daily physical activity, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of institutionalized elderly patients.


METHODS
Forty-one patients (58.5% women; mean age 79.8 yrs) with sequelae of coronary artery disease (73%), femoral fracture (34%), were randomly assigned to receive oral essential amino acids 4 gr 2 times a day for 8 weeks or isocaloric placebo. Before randomization and 8 weeks after the protocol started, the following variables were measured: depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale, GDS), nutritional panel (Mini Nutritional Assessment, MNA; serum albumin and prealbumin levels), muscle strength (Hand Grip, HG), Activity Daily Life (ADL), Quality of Life (SF-36, HRQoL) and amino acid profile.


RESULTS
Compared with the placebo group, EAA patients improved nutrition (MNA score 22.6 ± 1.5 post vs 21.8 ± 1.6 pre; p < 0. 04, albumin g/dl 4.04 ± 0.35 post vs 3.88 ± 0.3 pre; p < 0.01), GDS(score 10.3 ± 1.75 post vs 13.85 ± 3.37 pre; p < 0.001), HG (Kg 19.75 ± 1.7 post vs 18.68 ± 1.36 pre; p = 0.001), ADL (p < 0.04) and both physical and mental components of SF-36 (p < 0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
Oral supplementation with essential amino acids improved several determinants of quality of life in institutionalized elderly patients, including depressive symptoms, nutrition, muscle function and daily life activity.
Towards unified depth and semantic prediction from a single image

Depth estimation and semantic segmentation are two fundamental problems in image understanding. While the two tasks are strongly correlated and mutually beneficial, they are usually solved separately or sequentially. Motivated by the complementary properties of the two tasks, we propose a unified framework for joint depth and semantic prediction. Given an image, we first use a trained Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to jointly predict a global layout composed of pixel-wise depth values and semantic labels. By allowing for interactions between the depth and semantic information, the joint network provides more accurate depth prediction than a state-of-the-art CNN trained solely for depth prediction [6]. To further obtain fine-level details, the image is decomposed into local segments for region-level depth and semantic prediction under the guidance of global layout. Utilizing the pixel-wise global prediction and region-wise local prediction, we formulate the inference problem in a two-layer Hierarchical Conditional Random Field (HCRF) to produce the final depth and semantic map. As demonstrated in the experiments, our approach effectively leverages the advantages of both tasks and provides the state-of-the-art results.
Framework for Evaluating the Impact of Advanced Practice Nursing Roles.

PURPOSE
To address the gap in evidence-based information required to support the development of advanced practice nursing (APN) roles in Switzerland, stakeholders identified the need for guidance to generate strategic evaluation data. This article describes an evaluation framework developed to inform decisions about the effective utilization of APN roles across the country.


APPROACH
A participatory approach was used by an international group of stakeholders. Published literature and an evidenced-based framework for introducing APN roles were analyzed and applied to define the purpose, target audiences, and essential elements of the evaluation framework. Through subsequent meetings and review by an expert panel, the framework was developed and refined.


FINDINGS
A framework to evaluate different types of APN roles as they evolve to meet dynamic population health, practice setting, and health system needs was created. It includes a matrix of key concepts to guide evaluations across three stages of APN role development: introduction, implementation, and long-term sustainability. For each stage, evaluation objectives and questions examining APN role structures, processes, and outcomes from different perspectives (e.g., patients, providers, managers, policy-makers) were identified.


CONCLUSIONS
A practical, robust framework based on well-established evaluation concepts and current understanding of APN roles can be used to conduct systematic evaluations.


CLINICAL RELEVANCE
The evaluation framework is sufficiently generic to allow application in developed countries globally, both for evaluation as well as research purposes.
Effects of walking speed and results of timed get-up-and-go tests on quality of life and social participation in elderly individuals with a history of osteoporosis-related fractures.

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationships between physical performance, quality of life (QoL), and social participation among elderly men and women with a history of osteoporosis-related fractures.


METHOD
The study was a population-based cross-sectional study including 155 participants aged 60 to 93 years from the Swedish longitudinal investigation, "Good Aging in Skåne." The participants had suffered fracture of the vertebrae, hip, pelvis, or ankle. Physical performance was expressed as walking speed (WS) and timed get-up-and-go (TUG). QoL was measured as using the Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and Life Satisfaction (LS) scales. Social participation was defined as taking part in social, cultural, and leisure activities.


RESULTS
Lower WS and/or TUG were associated with lower HRQoL, lower LS, and a reduction in social participation, after adjustment for confounding factors.


DISCUSSION
Measurements of WS and TUG could be used to determine QoL and social participation in elderly people having sustained fractures.
Hybrid artificial photosynthetic systems comprising semiconductors as light harvesters and biomimetic complexes as molecular cocatalysts.

Solar fuel production through artificial photosynthesis may be a key to generating abundant and clean energy, thus addressing the high energy needs of the world's expanding population. As the crucial components of photosynthesis, the artificial photosynthetic system should be composed of a light harvester (e.g., semiconductor or molecular dye), a reduction cocatalyst (e.g., hydrogenase mimic, noble metal), and an oxidation cocatalyst (e.g., photosystem II mimic for oxygen evolution from water oxidation). Solar fuel production catalyzed by an artificial photosynthetic system starts from the absorption of sunlight by the light harvester, where charge separation takes place, followed by a charge transfer to the reduction and oxidation cocatalysts, where redox reaction processes occur. One of the most challenging problems is to develop an artificial photosynthetic solar fuel production system that is both highly efficient and stable. The assembly of cocatalysts on the semiconductor (light harvester) not only can facilitate the charge separation, but also can lower the activation energy or overpotential for the reactions. An efficient light harvester loaded with suitable reduction and oxidation cocatalysts is the key for high efficiency of artificial photosynthetic systems. In this Account, we describe our strategy of hybrid photocatalysts using semiconductors as light harvesters with biomimetic complexes as molecular cocatalysts to construct efficient and stable artificial photosynthetic systems. We chose semiconductor nanoparticles as light harvesters because of their broad spectral absorption and relatively robust properties compared with a natural photosynthesis system. Using biomimetic complexes as cocatalysts can significantly facilitate charge separation via fast charge transfer from the semiconductor to the molecular cocatalysts and also catalyze the chemical reactions of solar fuel production. The hybrid photocatalysts supply us with a platform to study the photocatalytic mechanisms of H2/O2 evolution and CO2 reduction at the molecular level and to bridge natural and artificial photosynthesis. We demonstrate the feasibility of the hybrid photocatalyst, biomimetic molecular cocatalysts, and semiconductor light harvester for artificial photosynthesis and therefore provide a promising approach for rational design and construction of highly efficient and stable artificial photosynthetic systems.
Efficacy and safety of ivabradine in patients with chronic systolic heart failure and diabetes: an analysis from the SHIFT trial.

AIMS
To evaluate clinical profiles and outcomes in patients with systolic heart failure (HF) with or without diabetes, and the efficacy and safety of ivabradine (heart rate-lowering agent) with respect to diabetic status.


METHODS AND RESULTS
This is a post hoc analysis on patients in SHIFT, a randomized controlled trial in adults in sinus rhythm with systolic HF, left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35%, and resting heart rate ≥70 b.p.m. Patients were randomized to ivabradine (titrated to 7.5 mg bid) or placebo. Diabetic status was established by medical history at baseline. The primary composite endpoint (PCE) was cardiovascular death or hospitalisation for worsening HF. Of 6505 patients, 30% had diabetes, 32% of whom used insulin. The PCE was more frequent in patients with diabetes [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07-1.31; p = 0.001], as was hospitalization for worsening HF (adjusted HR 1.28, 95% CI 1.13-1.44; P < 0.001), and was increased in patients treated with insulin (adjusted HR 1.43, 95% CI 1.23-1.66; P < 0.01 vs. non-diabetics). Ivabradine significantly reduced the PCE in patients with and without diabetes (adjusted HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.68-0.94 and HR 0.84, 95% CI, 0.75-0.95, respectively; interaction P was non-significant) vs. placebo. Adverse events were significantly more frequent in patients with diabetes (78%) than without (74%) (P < 0.001). Regardless of diabetic status, the incidence of serious adverse events was not significantly different between ivabradine and placebo.


CONCLUSIONS
Comorbid diabetes in chronic HF worsens the prognosis of systolic HF patients. Irrespective of diabetic status, ivabradine is effective and safe in these patients.
O conhecimento sobre os recursos vegetais alimentares em bairros rurais no Vale do Paraíba-SP

No território brasileiro, há comunidades tradicionais e de pequenos agricultores que ocupam áreas de vegetação nativa, onde cultivam uma ampla diversidade de espécies e de variedades vegetais, numa agricultura de pequena escala, caracterizada pelo policultivo. A economia destas comunidades baseia-se nos produtos oferecidos no pequeno comércio e do que é produzido para a subsistência, o que permite que permaneçam em seu local de origem. Por esse motivo, a manutenção da diversidade de plantas é de fundamental importância para estes agricultores e também para a sociedade em geral. A utilização dos recursos naturais circundantes por estas comunidades, no entanto, tem sido infl uenciada por transformações socioeconômicas e de uso da terra, que em muitos casos têm colocado limites à continuidade destes modos de vida. Na Mata Atlântica, considerada como um dos ecossistemas que detém a maior diversidade biológica, pois apresenta uma elevada riqueza de espécies e cerca de 2% do total de espécies endêmicas em todo o mundo (Myers et al., 2000; Myers, 1988), existem comunidades humanas que, até algumas décadas atrás, baseavam sua sobrevivência na utilização de recursos naturais locais e na prática da agricultura em pequena escala. Como uma parte dos remanescentes deste ecossistema tornou-se área de preservação permanente (Secretaria do Meio Ambiente SMA, 1998), as atividades desenvolvidas nas áreas ocupadas por estas comunidades tornaram-se restritas, isto é, as práticas de coleta e de cultivo são atualmente cerceadas e fi scalizadas pelos órgãos responsáveis pelas Unidades de Conservação. Tal fato pode levar a uma redução do conhecimento botânico das populações locais, assim como do cultivo das espécies e variedades locais de plantas cultivadas. Tanto esse conhecimento, quanto as espécies e variedades locais, devem ser preservados, pois são importantes para a manutenção da resiliência dos sistemas agrícolas de pequena escala, ajudando a estabilizar a produção e, minimizar os riscos, bem como a aproveitar os microambientes disponíveis com as variedades de culturas mais adequadas. A diversidade genética representa também um recurso que poderá ser utilizado futuramente em programas de melhoramento (Wood & Lenné, 1997). Brush (1991) e Salick (1997, 1995) enfatizaram a importância de conservar a diversidade local e manter as práticas agrícolas tradicionais paralelas com as modernas como uma forma de contribuição para o aumento e manutenção da variabilidade, evitando dessa forma a erosão genética.
The Triple Aim : Care , Health , And Cost The remaining barriers to integrated care are not technical ; they are political

Improving the U.S. health care system requires simultaneous pursuit of three aims: improving the experience of care, improving the health of populations, and reducing per capita costs of health care. Preconditions for this include the enrollment of an identified population, a commitment to universality for its members, and the existence of an organization (an “integrator”) that accepts responsibility for all three aims for that population. The integrator’s role includes at least five components: partnership with individuals and families, redesign of primary care, population health management, financial management, and macro system integration. [Health Affairs 27, no. 3 (2008): 759–769; 10.1377/hlthaff
A survey and comparison of digital logic simulators

In this paper, we present a comprehensive survey of digital logic simulators from the past twenty years to present. First, we summarize the digital logic simulation characteristics. Next, we analyze a comprehensive set of simulators for their timing model, simulation mode, logic values, and fault simulation capabilities
Autopoiesis and cognition maturana pdf Autopoiesis and cognition maturana pdf

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data EB. Boston studies in the philosophy of science.The concept of autopoiesis is due to Maturana and Varela 8, 9. The aim of this article is to revisit the concepts of autopoiesis and cognition in the hope of.Amazon.com: Autopoiesis and Cognition: The Realization of the Living Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science, Vol. 42 9789027710161: H.R. Maturana.Autopoiesis, The Santiago School of Cognition, and. In their early work together Maturana and Varela developed the idea of autopoiesis.Autopoiesis and Cognition: The Realization of the Living Dordecht.
Microbial decolorization of azo dyes by Proteus mirabilis

A bacterium identified as Proteus mirabilis was isolated from acclimated sludge from a dyeing wastewater treatment plant. This strain rapidly decolorized a deep red azo dye solution (RED RBN). Features of the decolorizing process related to biodegradation and biosorption were also studied. Although P. mirabilis displayed good growth in shake culture, color removal was best in anoxic static cultures. For color removal, the optimal pH and temperature were 6.5–7.5 and 30–35°C, respectively. The organism exhibited a remarkable color removal capability, even at a high concentration of azo dye. More than 95% of azo dye was reduced within 20 h at a dye concentration of 1.0 g L−1. Decolorization appears to proceed primarily by enzymatic reduction associated with a minor portion, 13–17%, of biosorption to inactivated microbial cells.
Clinical implications of internal carotid artery flow impairment caused by filter occlusion during carotid artery stenting.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Membrane filters are EPDs, which preserve ICA flow during CAS. However, ICA flow arrest may occur with filter use. This report describes the angiographic, clinical, and histopathologic features of the filter occlusion.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
Sixty-one consecutive patients with cervical carotid stenosis treated by CAS by using a single type of filter device were evaluated. All patients were on dual antiplatelet treatment and fully heparinized. Prestent dilation was performed in all patients. Poststent dilation was performed in 15 patients. Control angiograms were obtained and evaluated after each step of the CAS procedure. All filters were inspected for debris, and if present, histology was obtained.


RESULTS
CAS was successfully performed in all cases with <20% residual stenosis. Filter occlusion occurred in 6 patients (9.8%). It developed immediately after stent deployment in 4, and after a second prestent dilation in 2. Five of the 6 had severe carotid stenosis. In all patients, filter withdrawal led to immediate and complete restoration of ICA flow. In 1 patient, acute embolic M1 occlusion occurred immediately after filter withdrawal but was successfully treated with thrombolysis. None of filter-occlusion group had permanent neurologic deficits. Gross and microscopic examinations demonstrated that the pores of the filters were occluded mainly by fibrin. Postoperative diffusion MR imaging revealed no difference between filter-occlusion and non-filter-occlusion groups.


CONCLUSIONS
ICA flow arrest due to filter occlusion during CAS is relatively common and occurs more frequently in severe stenosis. It resolves rapidly after filter removal and does not appear to worsen outcome.
Chemical product engineering: An emerging paradigm within chemical engineering

New product development is a crucial task for modern corporations. Facing an increasingly competitive and dynamic market, the ability to continuously identify customer needs and create products that meet such needs is essential to business success. As a result, researchers from fields such as management, marketing, industrial design and engineering have devoted their attention to new product development issues, and many references can be found in the literature covering this topic.1-5 New product development combines strategic and organizational actions with technical effort; the former dealing with the management of the development process, strategic placement and launch of the new product; the latter being chiefly concerned with the design of the product and its manufacturing process. While in some industrial and engineering sectors, such as mechanical and electronic, the technical side of the development process has always been appreciated as a major issue, in the chemical process industries the systematic and efficient design of new products is a relatively recent concern. However, these industries, with chemical engineering as their technical support, seem to be making up for lost time, and chemical product engineering is a fast developing concept among both industrial and scientific communities. The aim of this article is to provide a review of the scope of chemical product engineering by discussing its emergence within chemical engineering. Chemical Engineering: Present and Future
Impact of chronic pain on health care seeking, self care, and medication. Results from a population-based Swedish study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE
To explore individual and social factors that could predict health care utilisation and medication among people with chronic pain in an unselected population.


DESIGN
A mailed survey with questions about pain and mental symptoms, disability, self care action, visits to health care providers, and medication.


SETTING
General populations in two Swedish primary health care (PHC) districts. Medical care was given in a state health system.


PARTICIPANTS
A random sample (from the population register) of 15% of the population aged 25-74 (n = 1806).


MAIN RESULTS
Among people reporting chronic pain 45.7% (compared with 29.8 of non-chronic pain persons, p < 0.05) consulted a physician and 7.2% (compared with 1.2%, p < 0.05) a physiotherapist during three months. Primary health care was the most frequent care provider. High pain intensity, aging, depression, ethnicity, and socioeconomic level had the greatest impact on physician consultations. Alternative care, used by 5.9%, was associated with high pain intensity and self care. Use of self care was influenced by high pain intensity, regular physical activity, and ethnicity. Alternative care and self care did not imply lower use of conventional health care. Women reporting chronic pain consumed more analgesics and sedatives than corresponding men. Besides female gender, high pain intensity, insomnia, physician consultation, social network, and self care action helped to explain medication with analgesics. Use of herbal remedies and ointments correlated to self care action, visit to an alternative therapist, high pain intensity, and socioeconomic level.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of chronic pain has an impressive impact on primary health care and medication. Various therapeutic actions are common and are partly overlapping. The use of health care among people with chronic pain depends above all on pain perception and intensity of pain but is also affected by ethnicity, age, socioeconomic level, and depressive symptoms. Among people with chronic pain use of analgesics is common in contrast with other types of pain relief (acupuncture, physiotherapy) suitable for treating chronic pain symptoms.
DC Voltage Control of the DC Micro-grid for Super High Quality Distribution

DC micro-grid is a novel super high quality electric power system. The power is transmitted through dc distribution line and converted to required ac or dc voltages by converters placed near loads. Those load side converters do not need transformers by choosing proper dc distribution voltage (plusmn170 V). The dc power line is composed of 3 wires: +170 V line, neutral line and -170 V line. The distribution voltages have to be balanced to keep high quality power supplying. In this paper, a voltage balancer for dc distribution are proposed and studied. Computer simulation results demonstrated that dc micro-grid was able to supply both ac and dc power to loads simultaneously and stably by 3-wire dc distribution line and load side converters. In addition, another voltage balancer (dc/dc converter type) is also proposed and studied in the last section.
Hypofractionated radiation therapy for prostate cancer: The McGill University Health Center experience.

PURPOSE
In 2002, at the McGill University Health Centre, we began a program of hypofractionated radiotherapy for patients with low risk prostate cancer as an alternative to conventionally fractionated radiotherapy.


MATERIAL AND METHODS
Our initial hypofractionation regimen was 66 Gy given in 22 fractions, prescribed to the isocenter, delivered with 3D-conformal radiotherapy plan. The clinical target volume was the prostate gland and the planning target volume consisted of the clinical target volume plus a 7-mm margin in all directions. Hormonal therapy was not given to any patient.


RESULTS
The long-term results for this group of patients confirmed the feasibility, good tolerance and excellent disease control of the regimen with the extra-benefit of being convenient to both patients and the health system by shortening treatment duration. The outcomes of this approach stimulated us to use hypofractionation in patients with intermediate-risk. Analysis of 100 intermediate-risk patients receiving our hypofractionated radiotherapy regimen (no hormones) shows, at median follow-up of 75 months, 8-year biochemical recurrence free and cancer specific survival rates of 90% and 95%, respectively, with acceptable toxicity.


DISCUSSION
Our technique changed from 3D to intensity modulated radiotherapy with the dose adjusted to 60 Gy in 20 fractions. Lastly, we have expanded the program to high-risk patients where IMRT treatments are given to the pelvic nodes (44 Gy in 20 fractions) with a simultaneous integrated boost delivery to the prostate (60 Gy in the same 20 fractions). Our long-term results have shown that moderate hypofractionated radiotherapy for prostate cancer is safe and provides good tumor control comparable to high-dose conventionally fractionated radiotherapy. This hypofractionated regimen has been routinely used in our institution.