LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Working Memory Training in Post-Secondary Students with ADHD: A Randomized Controlled Study

OBJECTIVES
To determine whether standard-length computerized training enhances working memory (WM), transfers to other cognitive domains and shows sustained effects, when controlling for motivation, engagement, and expectancy.


METHODS
97 post-secondary students (59.8% female) aged 18-35 years with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, were randomized into standard-length adaptive Cogmed WM training (CWMT; 45-min/session), a shortened-length adaptive version of CWMT (15 min/session) that controlled for motivation, engagement and expectancy of change, or into a no training group (waitlist-control group). All three groups received weekly telephone calls from trained coaches, who supervised the CWMT and were independent from the research team. All were evaluated before and 3 weeks post-training; those in the two CWMT groups were also assessed 3 months post-training. Untrained outcome measures of WM included the WAIS-IV Digit Span (auditory-verbal WM), CANTAB Spatial Span (visual-spatial WM) and WRAML Finger Windows (visual-spatial WM). Transfer-of-training effects included measures of short-term memory, cognitive speed, math and reading fluency, complex reasoning, and ADHD symptoms.


RESULTS
Performance on 5/7 criterion measures indicated that shortened-length CWMT conferred as much benefit on WM performance as did standard-length training, with both CWMT groups improving more than the waitlist-control group. Only 2 of these findings remained robust after correcting for multiple comparisons. Follow-up analyses revealed that post-training improvements on WM performance were maintained for at least three months. There was no evidence of any transfer effects but the standard-length group showed improvement in task-specific strategy use.


CONCLUSIONS
This study failed to find robust evidence of benefits of standard-length CWMT for improving WM in college students with ADHD and the overall pattern of findings raise questions about the specificity of training effects.


TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01657721.
A multi-site single-blind clinical study to compare the effects of STAIR Narrative Therapy to treatment as usual among women with PTSD in public sector mental health settings: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND
This article provides a description of the rationale, design, and methods of a multisite clinical trial which evaluates the potential benefits of an evidence-based psychosocial treatment, STAIR Narrative Therapy, among women with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to interpersonal violence who are seeking services in public sector community mental health clinics. This is the first large multisite trial of an evidence-based treatment for PTSD provided in the context of community settings that are dedicated to the treatment of poverty-level patient populations.


METHODS
The study is enrolling 352 participants in a minimum of 4 community clinics. Participants are randomized into either STAIR Narrative Therapy or Treatment As Usual (TAU). Primary outcomes are PTSD, emotion management and interpersonal problems. The study will allow a flexible application of the protocol determined by patient need and preferences. Secondary analyses will assess the relationship of outcomes to different patterns of treatment implementation for different levels of baseline symptom severity.


DISCUSSION
The article discusses the rationale and study issues related to the use of a flexible delivery of a protocol treatment and of the selection of treatment as it is actually practiced in the community as the comparator.


TRIAL REGISTRATION
Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01488539.
Ultrasonographic assessment of inflammatory activity in rheumatoid arthritis: comparison of extended versus reduced joint evaluation.

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the validity of reduced joint counts for ultrasonographic (US) assessment of joint inflammatory activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
Ninety-four patients with RA were included. C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) levels were recorded for each patient. The presence of tenderness, swelling and a subjective swelling score from 0 to 3 were assessed by two rheumatologists who reached consensus in 60 joints examined in each patient. All patients underwent an US examination by a third blinded rheumatologist, using power Doppler (PD). US joint effusion, synovitis and PD signal were graded from 0 to 3 in the 60 joints. A 60-joint count and index for effusion, synovitis and PD signal were recorded. A 6-, 10-, 16-, 18-, and two 12-joint counts and indices for US parameters that included the most frequently US involved joints were calculated for each patient.


RESULTS
A 12-joint assessment for effusion, synovitis and PD signal, including bilateral wrist, second and third MCP, second and third PIP of hands and knee joints highly correlated with corresponding 60-joint US counts and indices. This reduced-joint US evaluation showed a similar correlation with clinical and laboratory parameters of disease activity to corresponding 60-joint assessment.


CONCLUSION
We propose that a 12-joint evaluation may be a useful tool for US assessment of overall joint inflammatory activity in RA.
Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery Who Decline Transfusion and Received Erythropoietin Compared to Patients Who Did Not: A Matched Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND
Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, such as erythropoietin (EPO), can be used to treat preoperative anemia. Some studies suggest an increased risk of mortality and thrombotic events, and use in cardiovascular surgery remains off-label. This study compares outcomes in cardiac surgery patients declining blood transfusion who received EPO with a matched cohort who did not.


METHODS
After institutional review board approval, we conducted a retrospective review of all patients who decline blood transfusion who underwent cardiac surgery and received EPO between January 1, 2004, and June 15, 2015, at a single institution. Control patients who did not receive EPO and were not transfused allogeneic red blood cells perioperatively were identified during the same period. Two controls were matched to each EPO patient using an optimal matching algorithm based on age, date of surgery, gender, operative procedure, and surgeon. The European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) and baseline characteristics remaining unbalanced in the matched cohorts were controlled for in assessing patient outcomes. The primary outcome was a composite of mortality and thrombotic events, and secondary outcomes included change in hemoglobin (Hb) from baseline to discharge, acute kidney injury (AKI), sternal wound infection, atrial fibrillation, time to extubation, intensive care unit, and hospital length of stay (LOS).


RESULTS
Fifty-three patients who decline transfusion and received EPO were compared to 106 optimally matched control patients who did not receive EPO or red blood cell transfusion in the perioperative period. The median additive EuroSCORE was similar between the EPO and control group [6 (4, 9) vs 5 (3, 7), respectively; P = .39]. There was no difference in the primary outcome (P = .12) and mortality was zero in both groups. The EPO group had a higher mean preoperative Hb (13.91 g/dL vs 13.31; P = .02) and a smaller change in Hb from baseline (-2.65 vs -3.60; P = .001). The incidence of AKI (47.17% vs 41.51%; P = .49) was similar and there was no significant difference in all other outcomes, including time to extubation, hospital LOS, or intensive care unit LOS.


CONCLUSIONS
In this retrospective matched cohort study of patients declining transfusion and receiving EPO matched to control patients, there were no clinically meaningful differences in the outcomes.
Mass hierarchy from many domain walls

Abstract We construct a new model with exponential mass hierarchy by starting with the Einstein–Hilbert action with the cosmological constant in five dimensions plus an action describing many domain walls in four dimensions. The model includes many hidden sectors and one visible sector, and each four-dimensional domain wall, that is, 3-brane, interacts with one another through only a gravitational interaction and realizes many universe cosmology inspired by D-brane perspective. It is shown that in the present model only even numbers of domain walls are allowed to locate in five dimensional space-time and the validity of Randall–Sundrum scenario, which explains mass hierarchy between the Planck mass and the electro-weak scale in our world, depends on a relative relation between our world and hidden worlds.
Efficient object localization using Convolutional Networks

Recent state-of-the-art performance on human-body pose estimation has been achieved with Deep Convolutional Networks (ConvNets). Traditional ConvNet architectures include pooling and sub-sampling layers which reduce computational requirements, introduce invariance and prevent over-training. These benefits of pooling come at the cost of reduced localization accuracy. We introduce a novel architecture which includes an efficient `position refinement' model that is trained to estimate the joint offset location within a small region of the image. This refinement model is jointly trained in cascade with a state-of-the-art ConvNet model [21] to achieve improved accuracy in human joint location estimation. We show that the variance of our detector approaches the variance of human annotations on the FLIC [20] dataset and outperforms all existing approaches on the MPII-human-pose dataset [1].
A randomized controlled trial of a self-guided, multimedia, stress management and resilience training program.

BACKGROUND
Stress is a common and costly behavioral health issue. Technology-based behavioral health programs (e.g., computer or web-based programs) are effective for treating anxiety or depression. These programs increase availability of evidence-based interventions to individuals who are not able or willing to receive such in-person treatments. Stress management training has empirical support, but little data exists on its efficacy with stressed but healthy individuals, and there are no prior studies employing a self-guided, multimedia intervention. We conducted a randomized controlled trial of a self-guided, multimedia stress management and resilience training program (SMART-OP) with a stressed but healthy sample.


METHODS
Participants (N = 66) were randomized to SMART-OP or an attention control (AC) group that received marketed videos and published material on stress management. Participants were evaluated on self-report measures and Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) performance. Analyses were based on study completers (N = 59).


RESULTS
SMART-OP group reported significantly less stress, more perceived control over stress, and rated SMART-OP as significantly more useful than AC. During the TSST, the data suggests the SMART-OP group showed greater within-task α-amylase recovery at post-assessment.


CONCLUSIONS
SMART-OP is highly usable and is a more effective and useful stress management training program than an educational comparison.
Acute and chronic systemic corticosteroid-related complications in patients with severe asthma.

BACKGROUND
Many patients with severe asthma require maintenance treatment with systemic corticosteroids (SCSs) to control daily symptoms and prevent serious acute exacerbations, but chronic SCS use is associated with complications.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to evaluate the risk of SCS-related complications by SCS exposure and quantify the associated health care costs and resource use in patients with severe asthma.


METHODS
We performed a longitudinal, open-cohort, observational study using health insurance claims data (1997-2013: Medicaid) from Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Mississippi, and New Jersey. Eligible patients were 12 years old or older with 2 or more asthma diagnoses and had more than 6 months of continuous SCS use. An open-cohort approach was used to classify patients' follow-up into low, medium, and high SCS exposure (≤ 6, >6-12, and >12 mg/d, respectively). Multivariate generalized estimating equation models were used to estimate the adjusted risk of SCS-related complications for patients with medium and high exposure compared with patients with low exposure and quantify the resulting health care resource use and costs.


RESULTS
The study included 3628 patients (mean age, 57.6 years; 68% female). Patients with medium and high SCS exposure had significantly higher risks of SCS-related complications, including infections and cardiovascular, metabolic, psychiatric, ocular, gastrointestinal, and bone-related complications (odds ratio, 1.23-2.12 by complication; P < .05 for all but one) versus those with low (reference group) SCS exposure. Medium and high SCS exposure were also associated with significantly more emergency department visits (incidence rate ratios, 1.31 [P = .0004] and 1.78 [P < .0001]) and inpatient visits (incidence rate ratios, 1.25 [P < .0001] and 1.59 [P < .0001]) versus low SCS exposure.


CONCLUSIONS
A significant dose-response relationship was demonstrated between chronic SCS use and risk of SCS-related complications in patients with severe asthma. Effective SCS-sparing strategies might reduce the burden associated with SCS-related complications in patients with severe asthma.
Repeated Surgical or Endoscopic Myotomy for Recurrent Dysphagia in Patients After Previous Myotomy for Achalasia

Surgical myotomy of the lower esophageal sphincter has a 5-year success rate of approximately 91 %. Peroral endoscopic myotomy can provide similar results for controlling dysphagia. Some patients experience either persistent or recurrent dysphagia after myotomy. We present here a retrospective analysis of our experience with redo myotomy for recurrent dysphagia in patients with achalasia. From March 1996 to February 2015, 234 myotomies for primary or recurrent achalasia were performed in our center. Fifteen patients (6.4 %) had had a previous myotomy and were undergoing surgical redo myotomy (n = 9) or endoscopic redo myotomy (n = 6) for recurrent symptoms. Patients presented at a median of 10.4 months after previous myotomy. Median preoperative Eckardt score was 6. Among the nine patients undergoing surgical myotomy, three esophageal perforations occurred intraoperatively (all repaired immediately). Surgery lasted 111 and 62 min on average (median) in the surgical and peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) groups, respectively. No postoperative complications occurred in either group. Median postoperative stay was 3 and 2.5 days in the surgical and POEM groups, respectively. In the surgical group, Eckardt score was <3 for seven out of nine patients after a mean follow-up of 19 months; it was <3 for all six patients in the POEM group after a mean follow-up of 5 months. A redo myotomy should be considered in patients who underwent myotomy for achalasia and presenting with recurrent dysphagia. Preliminary results using POEM indicate that the technique can be safely used in patients who have undergone previous surgical myotomy.
An Analysis of the Manufacturing Messaging Specification Protocol

The Manufacturing Messaging Specification (MMS) protocol is widely used in industrial process control applications, but it is poorly documented. In this paper we present an analysis of the MMS protocol in order to improve understanding of MMS in the context of information security. Our findings show that MMS has insufficient security mechanisms, and the meagre security mechanisms that are available are not implemented in commercially available industrial devices.
Wearable Multichannel Photoplethysmography Framework for Heart Rate Monitoring During Intensive Exercise

We propose a multichannel-PPG sensor that uses truncated singular value decomposition (SVD) for accurate estimation of heart rate (HR) during high-intensity exercise. We implemented a sensor to acquire nine channel signals simultaneously, and to enable real-time monitoring of PPG signals and HR. For denoising, we used SVD programmed in the microcontroller unit and showed that the pure pulse is concentrated mostly within the first largest singular value with the related two eigenvectors by extracting the significant feature components of the pulse signals. Our proposed sensor was tested in 32 subjects during exercise of various intensities: walking and medium- and high-intensity jogging. We compared our proposed method with the single-channel method, the multichannel weighting method, and the multichannel best signal selection. Furthermore, we incorporated acceleration signals and a HR tracking algorithm, into our proposed multichannel framework and evaluated its performance using the 12 data sets from the 2015 IEEE Signal Processing Cup Database. Our method showed the lowest absolute errors in HR estimation when compared to the single-channel, multichannel weighting, and multichannel best signal selection methods, irrespective of exercise intensity. We also found that our proposed multichannel framework incorporating acceleration signals and a HR tracking algorithm provided the lowest average absolute error of 0.94 beats/m. The results show that our proposed multichannel framework can be used for accurate HR estimation during high-intensity exercise.
Deep Learning for Real-Time Crime Forecasting and its Ternarization

Real-time crime forecasting is important. However, accurate prediction of when and where the next crime will happen is difficult. No known physical model provides a reasonable approximation to such a complex system. Historical crime data are sparse in both space and time and the signal of interests is weak. In this work, we first present a proper representation of crime data. We then adapt the spatial temporal residual network on the well represented data to predict the distribution of crime in Los Angeles at the scale of hours in neighborhood-sized parcels. These experiments as well as comparisons with several existing approaches to prediction demonstrate the superiority of the proposed model in terms of accuracy. Finally, we present a ternarization technique to address the resource consumption issue for its deployment in real world. This work is an extension of our short conference proceeding paper [Wang et al, Arxiv 1707.03340].
Regression testing minimization, selection and prioritization: a survey

Regression testing is a testing activity that is performed to provide confidence that changes do not harm the existing behaviour of the software. Test suites tend to grow in size as software evolves, often making it too costly to execute entire test suites. A number of different approaches have been studied to maximize the value of the accrued test suite: minimization, selection and prioritization. Test suite minimization seeks to eliminate redundant test cases in order to reduce the number of tests to run. Test case selection seeks to identify the test cases that are relevant to some set of recent changes. Test case prioritization seeks to order test cases in such a way that early fault detection is maximized. This paper surveys each area of minimization, selection and prioritization technique and discusses open problems and potential directions for future research. Copyright q 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The structure of perceived qualities of situations

Situations can be seen as having attributes or qualities in much the same way as people have traits. The structure of people's perceptions of these situation qualities was explored. A comprehensive list of adjectives that might describe situations was generated, and people rated situations using samples of the words. Across several samples of words and participants and several analytic methods, four factors show up regularly (positivity, negativity, productivity, and ease of negotiation). In a second study, it was shown that these factors predict the way in which people freely sort situations. The conceptual nature of these factors and of situation qualities is discussed, with particular emphasis on how people's goals and perceived outcomes influence their perceptions of situations. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adaptive Servo-Ventilation for Central Sleep Apnea in Systolic Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND
Central sleep apnea is associated with poor prognosis and death in patients with heart failure. Adaptive servo-ventilation is a therapy that uses a noninvasive ventilator to treat central sleep apnea by delivering servo-controlled inspiratory pressure support on top of expiratory positive airway pressure. We investigated the effects of adaptive servo-ventilation in patients who had heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and predominantly central sleep apnea.


METHODS
We randomly assigned 1325 patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 45% or less, an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of 15 or more events (occurrences of apnea or hypopnea) per hour, and a predominance of central events to receive guideline-based medical treatment with adaptive servo-ventilation or guideline-based medical treatment alone (control). The primary end point in the time-to-event analysis was the first event of death from any cause, lifesaving cardiovascular intervention (cardiac transplantation, implantation of a ventricular assist device, resuscitation after sudden cardiac arrest, or appropriate lifesaving shock), or unplanned hospitalization for worsening heart failure.


RESULTS
In the adaptive servo-ventilation group, the mean AHI at 12 months was 6.6 events per hour. The incidence of the primary end point did not differ significantly between the adaptive servo-ventilation group and the control group (54.1% and 50.8%, respectively; hazard ratio, 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.97 to 1.31; P=0.10). All-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality were significantly higher in the adaptive servo-ventilation group than in the control group (hazard ratio for death from any cause, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.55; P=0.01; and hazard ratio for cardiovascular death, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.09 to 1.65; P=0.006).


CONCLUSIONS
Adaptive servo-ventilation had no significant effect on the primary end point in patients who had heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and predominantly central sleep apnea, but all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were both increased with this therapy. (Funded by ResMed and others; SERVE-HF ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00733343.).