LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
CONSTRAINING INFORMATION FLOW

Adversarial learning methods have been proposed for a wide range of applications, but the training of adversarial models can be notoriously unstable. Effectively balancing the performance of the generator and discriminator is critical, since a discriminator that achieves very high accuracy will produce relatively uninformative gradients. In this work, we propose a simple and general technique to constrain information flow in the discriminator by means of an information bottleneck. By enforcing a constraint on the mutual information between the observations and the discriminator’s internal representation, we can effectively modulate the discriminator’s accuracy and maintain useful and informative gradients. We demonstrate that our proposed variational discriminator bottleneck (VDB) leads to significant improvements across three distinct application areas for adversarial learning algorithms. Our primary evaluation studies the applicability of the VDB to imitation learning of dynamic continuous control skills, such as running. We show that our method can learn such skills directly from raw video demonstrations, substantially outperforming prior adversarial imitation learning methods. The VDB can also be combined with adversarial inverse reinforcement learning to learn parsimonious reward functions that can be transferred and re-optimized in new settings. Finally, we demonstrate that VDB can train GANs more effectively for image generation, improving upon a number of prior stabilization methods. (Video1)
Applying High-Resistance Neutral Grounding in Medium-Voltage Systems

The application of high-resistance neutral grounding (HRNG) to medium-voltage (MV) distribution systems is one of the least understood and often misapplied methods of system neutral grounding. An HRNG grounded system is the only intentionally grounded neutral grounding method suitable for industrial systems that allows normal operation (no voltage dips, no power surges, no shutdowns, and minimal damage) for an indefinite time period after the inception of the most common of all faults, i.e., the single-line-to-ground fault. The complexity of applying an HRNG system is due to lesser understood factors, such as the relationship between system charging current, neutral grounding resistor let-through current, and point-of-fault ground-fault current; point-of-fault arcing voltage magnitudes; escalating arcing fault phenomena; and point-of-fault energy levels, all of which are not easily determined nor easily estimated. This paper addresses the application of HRNG neutral grounding systems on MV industrial ac power distribution systems. The seemingly perfect HRNG grounding system, with ground-fault-current magnitudes often limited to 10 A or less, has a limited window of application on MV systems, such that when misapplied may actually place the electrical system backbone components at risk, as well as trip the system offline due to escalating arcing faults resulting in phase-to-phase faults. HRNG applications in MV generator protection and MV arc flash mitigation are not within the scope of this paper.
Semi-supervised Learning via Gaussian Processes

We present a probabilistic approach to learning a Gaussian Process classifier in the presence of unlabeled data. Our approach involves a “null category noise model” (NCNM) inspired by ordered categorical noise models. The noise model reflects an assumption that the data density is lower between the class-conditional densities. We illustrate our approach on a toy problem and present comparative results for the semi-supervised classification of handwritten digits.
LGB-affirmative cognitive-behavioral therapy for young adult gay and bisexual men: A randomized controlled trial of a transdiagnostic minority stress approach.

OBJECTIVES
We tested the preliminary efficacy of a transdiagnostic cognitive-behavioral treatment adapted to improve depression, anxiety, and co-occurring health risks (i.e., alcohol use, sexual compulsivity, condomless sex) among young adult gay and bisexual men. Treatment adaptations focused on reducing minority stress processes that underlie sexual orientation-related mental health disparities.


METHOD
Young gay and bisexual men (n = 63; M age = 25.94) were randomized to immediate treatment or a 3-month waitlist. At baseline, 3-month, and 6-month assessments, participants completed self-reports of mental health and minority stress and an interview of past-90-day risk behavior.


RESULTS
Compared to waitlist, treatment significantly reduced depressive symptoms (b = -2.43, 95% CI: -4.90, 0.35, p < .001), alcohol use problems (b = -3.79, 95% CI: -5.94, -1.64, p < .001), sexual compulsivity (b = -5.09, 95% CI: -8.78, -1.40, p < .001), and past-90-day condomless sex with casual partners (b = -1.09, 95% CI: -1.80, -0.37, p < .001), and improved condom use self-efficacy (b = 10.08, 95% CI: 3.86, 16.30, p < .001). The treatment yielded moderate and marginally significant greater improvements than waitlist in anxiety symptoms (b = -2.14, 95% CI: -4.61, 0.34, p = .09) and past-90-day heavy drinking (b = -0.32, 95% CI: -0.71, 0.07, p = .09). Effects were generally maintained at follow-up. Minority stress processes showed small improvements in the expected direction.


CONCLUSION
This study demonstrated preliminary support for the first intervention adapted to address gay and bisexual men's co-occurring health problems at their source in minority stress. If found to be efficacious compared to standard evidence-based treatments, the treatment will possess substantial potential for helping clinicians translate LGB-affirmative treatment guidelines into evidence-based practice. (PsycINFO Database Record
A Stream Cipher Proposal: Grain-128

A new stream cipher, Grain-128, is proposed. The design is very small in hardware and it targets environments with very limited resources in gate count, power consumption, and chip area. Grain-128 supports key size of 128 bits and IV size of 96 bits. The design is very simple and based on two shift registers, one linear and one nonlinear, and an output function
An SDN-Based CDN/ISP Collaboration Architecture for Managing High-Volume Flows

The collaboration of Internet service providers (ISPs) and content distribution network (CDN) providers was shown to be beneficial for both parties in a number of recent works. Influencing CDN edge server (surrogate) selection allows the ISP to manage the rising amount of traffic emanating from CDNs to reduce the operational expenditures (OPEX) of his infrastructure, e.g., by preventing peered traffic. At the same time, including the ISP's hidden network knowledge in the surrogate selection process influences the quality of service a CDN provider can deliver positively. As a large amount of CDN traffic is video-on-demand traffic, this paper investigates the topic of CDN/ISP collaboration from a perspective of high-volume long-living flows. These types of flows are hardly manageable with state-of-the-art Dynamic Name Service (DNS)-based redirection, as a reassignment of flows during the session is difficult to achieve. Consequently, varying load of surrogates caused by flash crowds and congestion events in the ISP's network are hard to compensate. This paper presents a novel approach promoting ISP and CDN collaboration based on a minimal deployment of software-defined networking switches in the ISP's network. The approach complements standard DNS-based redirection by allowing for a migration of high-volume flows between surrogates in the backend even if the communication has state information, such as Hyper Text Transfer Protocol sessions. In addition to a proof-of-concept, the evaluation identifies factors influencing performance and shows large performance increases when compared to standard DNS-based redirection.
Trajectory similarity measures

Storing, querying, and analyzing trajectories is becoming increasingly important, as the availability and volumes of trajectory data increases. One important class of trajectory analysis is computing trajectory similarity. This paper introduces and compares four of the most common measures of trajectory similarity: longest common subsequence (LCSS), Fréchet distance, dynamic time warping (DTW), and edit distance. These four measures have been implemented in a new open source R package, freely available on CRAN [19]. The paper highlights some of the differences between these four similarity measures, using real trajectory data, in addition to indicating some of the important emerging applications for measurement of trajectory similarity.
Deep root of a continent–continent collision belt: Evidence from the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling (CCSD) deep borehole in the Sulu ultrahigh-pressure (HP–UHP) metamorphic terrane, China

Abstract The Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling (CCSD) deep borehole, which reached a depth of 5158 m in the Sulu ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic terrane, provides a new window into the deep root of a continent–continent collision belt, and the tectonic processes by which supracrustal material is recycled into the mantle by subduction and then uplifted to the surface. Major research themes of the CCSD project were to: (1) determine the three-dimensional composition, structure and geophysical character of the deep root of this orogenic belt; (2) investigate the nature and timing of the UHP metamorphism; (3) investigate the processes of crust–mantle interaction involved in the formation and exhumation of the UHP rocks; (4) study the process of fluid circulation and mineralization during subduction and exhumation; (5) study the rheological properties of the various rocks during subduction and exhumation; (6) develop and refine dynamic models for deep subduction and exhumation of crustal rocks, and (7) establish a long-term, natural laboratory for the study of present-day crustal dynamics (e.g., stress, strain, fluid activity). The CCSD has developed precise oriented profiles of the main borehole in terms of lithology, geochemistry, oxygen isotopes, zircon SHRIMP U–Pb ages, 40 Ar– 39 Ar ages, deformation, rheology, mineralization, physical properties of the rocks, petrophysical logs, seismic reflections and underground fluids. The present paper summarizes the integrated research results of this project, especially the new findings concerning the deep root of a continent–continent collision.
Attitudes toward antipsychotic medication, insight and psychopathology in outpatients with schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE
Attitude toward antipsychotic medication is considered as one of the main predictors for medication adherence in schizophrenia. The present non-interventional cross-sectional study aims to explore the associations between attitudes toward antipsychotic medication, insight and other clinical variables in outpatients with schizophrenia.


METHOD
Attitudes toward antipsychotic medication, clinical and social variables, sociodemographic and illness-related characteristics were assessed via a set of semi-structured clinical interviews and self-rating scales in a total of 226 patients with schizophrenia on a long-term antipsychotic treatment in community based settings. The associations between attitudes toward medication and severity of psychopathology, insight and medication side effects were examined.


RESULTS
The greater hospitalization rate in the previous year was associated with more severe psychopathology at the time of the study, more pronounced side effects of the therapy and lack of insight. The lack of insight, the presence of more severe negative and depressive symptoms and disease duration less than 5 years correlated significantly with negative attitudes toward antipsychotic medication. The severity of medication side effects was not associated with the drug attitudes.


CONCLUSION
Psychoeducational and psychotherapeutical interventions, along with pharmacotherapy, can be beneficial in forming positive attitudes toward medication and improving medication adherence in schizophrenia, especially in patients with a short duration of the disease.
Self-management support using an Internet-linked tablet computer (the EDGE platform)-based intervention in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: protocol for the EDGE-COPD randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION
The potential for telehealth-based interventions to provide remote support, education and improve self-management for long-term conditions is increasingly recognised. This trial aims to determine whether an intervention delivered through an easy-to-use tablet computer can improve the quality of life of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by providing personalised self-management information and education.


METHODS AND ANALYSIS
The EDGE (sElf management anD support proGrammE) for COPD is a multicentre, randomised controlled trial designed to assess the efficacy of an Internet-linked tablet computer-based intervention (the EDGE platform) in improving quality of life in patients with moderate to very severe COPD compared with usual care. Eligible patients are randomly allocated to receive the tablet computer-based intervention or usual care in a 2:1 ratio using a web-based randomisation system. Participants are recruited from respiratory outpatient clinics and pulmonary rehabilitation courses as well as from those recently discharged from hospital with a COPD-related admission and from primary care clinics. Participants allocated to the tablet computer-based intervention complete a daily symptom diary and record clinical symptoms using a Bluetooth-linked pulse oximeter. Participants allocated to receive usual care are provided with all the information given to those allocated to the intervention but without the use of the tablet computer or the facility to monitor their symptoms or physiological variables. The primary outcome of quality of life is measured using the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire for COPD patients (SGRQ-C) baseline, 6 and 12 months. Secondary outcome measures are recorded at these intervals in addition to 3 months.


ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION
The Research Ethics Committee for Berkshire-South Central has provided ethical approval for the conduct of the study in the recruiting regions. The results of the study will be disseminated through peer review publications and conference presentations.


TRIAL REGISTRATION
Current controlled trials ISRCTN40367841.
Initial combination therapy with metformin, pioglitazone and exenatide is more effective than sequential add-on therapy in subjects with new-onset diabetes. Results from the Efficacy and Durability of Initial Combination Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes (EDICT): a randomized trial.

AIM
To test our hypothesis that initiating therapy with a combination of agents known to improve insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity in subjects with new-onset diabetes would produce greater, more durable reduction in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, while avoiding hypoglycaemia and weight gain, compared with sequential addition of agents that lower plasma glucose but do not correct established pathophysiological abnormalities.


METHODS
Drug-naïve, recently diagnosed subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were randomized in an open-fashion design in a single-centre study to metformin/pioglitazone/exenatide (triple therapy; n = 106) or an escalating dose of metformin followed by sequential addition of sulfonylurea and glargine insulin (conventional therapy; n = 115) to maintain HbA1c levels at <6.5% for 2 years.


RESULTS
Participants receiving triple therapy experienced a significantly greater reduction in HbA1c level than those receiving conventional therapy (5.95 vs. 6.50%; p < 0.001). Despite lower HbA1c values, participants receiving triple therapy experienced a 7.5-fold lower rate of hypoglycaemia compared with participants receiving conventional therapy. Participants receiving triple therapy experienced a mean weight loss of 1.2 kg versus a mean weight gain of 4.1 kg (p < 0.01) in those receiving conventional therapy.


CONCLUSION
The results of this exploratory study show that combination therapy with metformin/pioglitazone/exenatide in patients with newly diagnosed T2DM is more effective and results in fewer hypoglycaemic events than sequential add-on therapy with metformin, sulfonylurea and then basal insulin.
Cutting stock problems and solution procedures

This paper discusses some of the basic formulation issues and solution procedures for solving oneand twodimensional cutting stock problems. Linear programming, sequential heuristic and hybrid solution procedures are described. For two-dimensional cutting stock problems with rectangular shapes, we also propose an approach for solving large problems with limits on the number of times an ordered size may appear in a pattern.
Will public health's response to terrorism be fair? Racial/ethnic variations in perceived fairness during a bioterrorist event.

OBJECTIVES
Public health departments' effectiveness during catastrophic bioterrorism will require trust on the part of diverse communities. This study describes variations in perceptions that the public health system will respond fairly to one's needs in a bioterrorist event, regardless of race/ethnicity, income, or other characteristics.


METHODS
Using the Los Angeles County Health Survey, a random-digit, population-based, telephone survey, we conducted multivariate logistic regression of race/ethnicity on perceived fairness, adjusting for demographic factors and perceived neighborhood safety. We performed similar analyses stratified by race/ethnicity subgroup.


RESULTS
Overall, 72.7% of respondents perceived that the public health system will respond fairly in a bioterrorist event. African Americans (AA) and Asian/Pacific Islanders (API) reported the lowest perceived fairness (AA 63.0%, API 68.2%, Latino 73.1%, White 76.6%, p = 0.005 for group differences). Adjusting for demographic factors and neighborhood safety, African Americans had lower perceived fairness compared to whites (adjusted odds ratio, aOR 0.45; 95% confidence intervals, CI 0.26-0.79; p < 0.005). Other factors associated with lower perceived fairness included Asian-language compared to English-language interview (aOR 0.29; 95% CI 0.11-0.76; p < 0.05) and lower compared to higher neighborhood safety (aOR 0.48; 95% CI 0.31-0.74; p < 0.005). Among African Americans, participants aged 18-29 years were less likely to report perceived fairness (aOR 0.06; 95% CI 0.01-0.59) compared to participants older than 60 years of age. Among Asian/Pacific Islanders, Asian-language interview (aOR 0.07; 95% CI 0.01-0.48) and lower perceived neighborhood safety (aOR 0.01; 95% CI <0.01-0.13) were associated with perceived fairness.


CONCLUSIONS
To strengthen bioterrorism preparedness, public health officials must continue to improve perceived fairness among African American and Asian/Pacific Islander communities.
Evaluation of Hepatoprotective Effect of Omega 3-Fatty Acid against Paracetamol Induced Liver Injury in Albino Rats

In the present studies hepatoprotective activity of Omega-3-fatty acids against paracetamol induced hepatic damage in albino rats was evaluated. Hepatic injury was induced by administering 2g/Kg body wt. p.o of paracetamol. Omega-3-fatty acid at dose levels of 100 and 300 mg/Kg/day were administered for albino rats which reduced serum liver enzymes like Aspartate Transferase (AST), Alanine Transferase (ALT), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) and serum albumin. The result obtained were compared with silymarin (25 mg/Kg body wt.p.o), the standard drug. In conclusion omega-3-Fatty acids at (300 mg/Kg/day) showed significant p<0.001 hepatoprotective activity similar to that standard drug, silymarin.
SELF-REPORTED MEDICATION ADHERENCE IN PATIENTS WITH END-STAGE KIDNEY DISEASE UNDERGOING ONLINE-HAEMODIAFILTRATION.

INTRODUCTION
Non-adherence to therapeutic regimens is a recognised problem in the dialysis population that compromises the opportunity to achieve maximum treatment effect and, therefore, might lead to increased morbidity and mortality. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of self-reported medication non-adherence in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) undergoing online-haemodiafiltration (OL-HDF), as well as to evaluate the factors that could affect medication adherence.


PATIENTS AND METHODS
We evaluated 122 patients with ESKD undergoing OL-HDF. Patients' reported medication adherence was measured by the Measure Treatment Adherence (MTS) scale. Social support was evaluated by the abbreviated Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS); depression status by the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Socio-demographic, co-morbidity and clinical data were also evaluated.


RESULTS
Our results showed that 10.7% of patients with ESKD perceived themselves as non-adherent to medication. When two groups of patients (adherent and non-adherents) were compared, significantly higher levels of triglycerides, and higher diastolic and systolic blood pressure were found in the non-adherent group. Significant correlations were found between the MTS score, and diastolic blood pressure, age and GDS score. Multiple regression analysis identified age and the GDS score as independent variables significantly associated with the MTS score.


CONCLUSIONS
Non-adherence to therapeutic regimens in patients with ESKD is associated with higher levels of triglycerides and higher blood pressure and are, therefore, at a higher cardiovascular risk. Moreover, we found that age and depression status are important variables in non-adherence to therapeutic regimens.
Improving treatment adherence for blood pressure lowering via mobile phone SMS-messages in South Africa: a qualitative evaluation of the SMS-text Adherence SuppoRt (StAR) trial

BACKGROUND
Effective use of proven treatments for high blood pressure, a preventable health risk, is challenging for many patients. Prompts via mobile phone SMS-text messaging may improve adherence to clinic visits and treatment, though more research is needed on impact and patient perceptions of such support interventions, especially in low-resource settings.


METHOD
An individually-randomised controlled trial in a primary care clinic in Cape Town (2012-14), tested the effect of an adherence support intervention delivered via SMS-texts, on blood pressure control and adherence to medication, for hypertensive patients. (


TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02019823). We report on a qualitative evaluation that explored the trial participants' experiences and responses to the SMS-text messages, and identified barriers and facilitators to delivering adherence support via patients' own mobile phones. Two focus groups and fifteen individual interviews were conducted. We used comparative and thematic analysis approaches to identify themes and triangulated our analysis amongst three researchers.


RESULTS
Most participants were comfortable with the technology of using SMS-text messages. Messages were experienced as acceptable, relevant and useful to a broad range of participants. The SMS-content, the respectful tone and the delivery (timing of reminders and frequency) and the relational aspect of trial participation (feeling cared for) were all highly valued. A subgroup who benefitted the most, were those who had been struggling with adherence due to high levels of personal stress. The intervention appeared to coincide with their readiness for change, and provided practical and emotional support for improving adherence behaviour. Change may have been facilitated through increased acknowledgement of their health status and attitudinal change towards greater self-responsibility. Complex interaction of psycho-social stressors and health service problems were reported as broader challenges to adherence behaviours.


CONCLUSION
Adherence support for treatment of raised blood pressure, delivered via SMS-text message on the patient's own phone, was found to be acceptable, relevant and helpful, even for those who already had their own reminder systems in place. Our findings begin to identify for whom and what core elements of the SMS-text message intervention appear to work best in a low-resource operational setting, issues that future research should explore in greater depth.