LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Practicability of segmental stabilizing exercises in the context of a group program for the secondary prevention of low back pain. An explorative pilot study.

AIM
Segmental stabilizing exercises (SSE) for specific dysfunction of local muscles (m. transversus abdominis, m. multifidus, pelvic floor muscles and diaphragm pelvis) have been advocated in patients with low back pain (LBP). The specific aims of this study were to examine: 1) whether participants of a group program learn SSE; 2) whether they respond to SSE with a reduction in present LBP and 3) to what extent people report using SSE in daily living.


METHODS
One-hundred nurses participated in this explorative pilot study. Data from a 12-week multimodal program including SSE as intervention for the prevention of LBP were analysed. The prone test was taken as an indicator for the participants' ability to perform SSE correctly. Present back pain was assessed on a numerical rating scale (0-10). A compliance questionnaire and a transfer questionnaire assessed compliance and transfer of SSE into daily living.


RESULTS
After the intervention, 72% of participants were able to perform SSE correctly as measured by the prone test. Between 48% and 78% of the participants with present LBP experienced a minimal, clinically important change (minimal clinical changes, [MCC]) while performing SSE. No strong interrelations between the ability to correctly perform SSE and the MCC of LBP could be identified. Participants reported exercising SSE for 12 min on average 4-5 days a week. At 3 months after the intervention, 76% of participants reported using SSE ''always'' in their work with patients.


CONCLUSION
First findings are that SSE can be learned by the majority of the participants of a group program for the prevention of LBP. Additionally, SSE reduces present LBP and so can help people with LBP learn to help themselves. We are unable to explain how participants benefited from SSE even when they were unable to perform SSE correctly, as measured by the prone test.
Pre-operative systemic (neo-adjuvant) therapy with trastuzumab and docetaxel for HER2-overexpressing stage II or III breast cancer: results of a multicenter phase II trial.

BACKGROUND
Trastuzumab plus chemotherapy has become the standard of care for women with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive metastatic breast cancer. Trastuzumab-based pre-operative systemic (neo-adjuvant) therapy (PST) also appears promising, warranting further investigation.


PATIENTS AND METHODS
Patients with HER2-positive, stage II/III non-inflammatory, operable breast cancer requiring a mastectomy (but who wished to conserve the breast) received weekly trastuzumab and 3-weekly docetaxel for six cycles before surgery. The primary end point was pathological complete response (pCR) rate, determined from surgical specimens.


RESULTS
Thirty-three patients were enrolled. The majority (79%) had T2 tumors, with 42% being N1/2. Twenty-nine patients completed six cycles of therapy and one patient withdrew prematurely due to progressive disease. A complete or partial objective clinical response was seen in 96% (73% and 23%, respectively) of patients. Surgery was performed in 30 patients, breast conserving in 23 (77%). In an intention-to-treat analysis, tumor and nodal pCR was seen in 14 (47%) patients. Treatment was generally well tolerated. Grade 3/4 neutropenia occurred in 85% of patients while febrile neutropenia was encountered in 18%. Only three patients withdrew prematurely due to toxicity. No symptomatic cardiac dysfunction was reported.


CONCLUSIONS
PST with trastuzumab plus docetaxel achieved promising efficacy, with a high pCR rate and good tolerability, in women with stage II or III HER2-positive breast cancer.
Three-dimensional flow analysis of a mechanical bileaflet mitral prosthesis

 The Jyros (JR) and the Advancing The Standard (ATS) valves were compared with the St. Jude Medical (SJM) valve in the mitral position to study the effects of design differences, installed valve orientation to the flow, and closing sounds using particle tracking velocimetry and particle image velocimetry methods utilizing a high-speed video flow visualization technique to map the velocity field. Sound measurements were made to confirm the claims of the manufacturers. Based on the experimental data, the following general conclusions can be made: On the vertical measuring plane which passes through the centers of the aortic and the mitral valves, the SJM valve shows a distinct circulatory flow pattern when the valve is installed in the antianatomical orientation; the SJM valve maintains the flow through the central orifice quite well; the newer curved leaflet JR valve and the ATS valve, which does not fully open during the peak flow phase, generates a higher but divergent flow close to the valve location when the valve was installed anatomically. The antianatomically installed JR valve showed diverse and less distinctive flow patterns and slower velocity on the central measuring plane than the SJM valve did, with noticeably lower valve closing noise. On the velocity field directly below the mitral valve that is normal to the previous measuring plane, the three valves show symmetrical twin circulations due to the divergent nature of the flow generated by the two inclined half discs; the SJM valve with centrally downward circulation is contrasted by the two other valves with peripherally downward circulation. These differences may have an important role in generation of the valve closing sound.
Optical spectroscopy of single Si nanocylinders with magnetic and electric resonances

Resonant electromagnetic properties of nanoparticles fabricated from high-index semiconductor or dielectric materials are very promising for the realization of novel nanoantennas and metamaterials. In this paper we study optical resonances of Si nanocylinders located on a silica substrate. Multipole analysis of the experimental scattering spectra, based on the decomposed discrete dipole approximation, confirms resonant excitation of electric and magnetic dipole modes in the Si nanocylinders. Influences of light polarization and incident angle on the scattering properties of the nanocylinders are studied. It is shown that the dependence of resonant excitation of the electric and magnetic modes in the nanocylinders on incident angle and polarization of light allows controlling and manipulating the scattered light in this system. The demonstrated properties of Si nanocylinders can be used for the realization of dielectric metasurfaces with different functional optical properties.
Urban vegetable for food security in cities. A review

Global food production faces great challenges in the future. With a future world population of 9.6 billion by 2050, rising urbanization, decreasing arable land, and weather extremes due to climate change, global agriculture is under pressure. While today over 50 % of the world population live in cities, by 2030, the number will rise to 70 %. In addition, global emissions have to be kept in mind. Currently, agriculture accounts for around 20–30 % of global greenhouse gas emissions. Shifting food production to locations with high demands reduces emissions and mitigates climate change. Urban horticulture increases global food production by exploiting new locations for cultivation. However, higher land prices and urban pollution constrain urban horticulture. In this paper, we review different urban cultivation systems throughout the world. Our main findings from ecological, economical, and social aspects are: (1) Urban horticulture activities are increasing globally with at least 100 million people involved worldwide. With potential yields of up to 50 kg per m2 per year and more, vegetable production is the most significant component of urban food production which contributes to global food security. (2) Organoponic and other low-input systems will continue to play an important role for a sustainable and secure food production in the future. (3) Despite the resource efficiency of indoor farming systems, they are still very expensive. (4) Integrating urban horticulture into educational and social programs improves nutrition and food security. Overlaying these, new technologies in horticultural research need to be adopted for urban horticulture to increase future efficiency and productivity. To enhance sustainability, urban horticulture has to be integrated into the urban planning process and supported through policies. However, future food production should not be “local at any price,” but rather committed to increase sustainability.
Relationship between disease severity and quality of life and assessment of health care utilization and cost for ulcerative colitis in Australia: a cross-sectional, observational study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS
The burden of ulcerative colitis (UC) in relation to disease severity is not well documented. This study quantitatively evaluated the relationship between disease activity and quality of life (QoL), as well as health care utilization, cost, and work-related impairment associated with UC in an Australian population.


METHODS
A cross-sectional, noninterventional, observational study was performed in patients with a wide range of disease severity recruited during routine specialist consultations. Evaluations included the Assessment of Quality of Life-8-dimension (AQoL-8D), EuroQol 5-dimension, 5-level (EQ-5D-5L), the disease-specific Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ), and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) instrument. The 3-item Partial Mayo Score was used to assess disease severity. Health care resource utilization was assessed by chart review and patient questionnaires.


RESULTS
In 175 patients, mean (SD) AQoL-8D and EQ-5D-5L scores were greater for patients in remission (0.80 [0.19] and 0.81 [0.18], respectively) than for patients with active disease (0.70 [0.20] and 0.72 [0.19], respectively, both Ps<0.001). IBDQ correlated with both AQoL-8D (r=0.73; P<0.0001) and EQ-5D-5L (0.69; P<0.0001). Mean 3-month UC-related health care cost per patient was AUD $2914 (SD=$3447 [mean for patients in remission=$1970; mild disease=$3736; moderate/severe disease=$4162]). Patients in remission had the least work and activity impairment.


CONCLUSIONS
More severe UC disease was associated with poorer QoL. Substantial health care utilization, costs, and work productivity impairments were found in this sample of patients with UC. Moreover, greater disease activity was associated with greater health care costs and impairment in work productivity and daily activities.
Prognostic role of ambulatory blood pressure measurement in patients with nondialysis chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND
Ambulatory blood pressure (BP) measurement allows a better risk stratification in essential hypertension compared with office blood pressure measurement, but its prognostic role in nondialysis chronic kidney disease has been poorly investigated.


METHODS
The prognostic role of daytime and nighttime systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) in comparison with office measurements was evaluated in 436 consecutive patients with chronic kidney disease. Primary end points were time to renal death (end-stage renal disease or death) and time to fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events. Quintiles of BP were used to classify patients.


RESULTS
The mean (SD) age of the patients was 65.1 (13.6) years, and the glomerular filtration rate was 42.9 (19.7) mL/min/1.73 m(2); 41.7% of the participants were women, 36.5% had diabetes, and 30.5% had cardiovascular disease. Office-measured SBP/DBP values were 146 (19)/82 (12) mm Hg; daytime SBP/DBP was 131 (17)/75 (11) mm Hg, and nighttime SBP/DBP was 122 (20)/66 (10) mm Hg. During follow-up (median, 4.2 years), 155 and 103 patients reached the renal and cardiovascular end points, respectively. Compared with a daytime SBP of 126 to 135 mm Hg, patients with an SBP of 136 to 146 mm Hg and those with an SBP higher than 146 mm Hg had an increased adjusted risk of the cardiovascular end point (hazard ratio [HR], 2.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13-4.41 and 3.07; 1.54-6.09) and renal death (1.72; 1.02-2.89 and 1.85; 1.11-3.08). Nighttime SBPs of 125 to 137 mm Hg and higher than 137 mm Hg also increased the risk of the cardiovascular end point (HR, 2.52; 95% CI, 1.11-5.71 and 4.00; 1.77-9.02) and renal end point (1.87; 1.03-3.43 and 2.54; 1.41-4.57) with respect to the reference SBP value of 106-114 mm Hg. Office measurement of BP did not predict the risk of the renal or cardiovascular end point. Patients who were nondippers and those who were reverse dippers had a greater risk of both end points.


CONCLUSION
In chronic kidney disease, ambulatory BP measurement and, in particular, nighttime BP measurement, allows more accurate prediction of renal and cardiovascular risk; office measurement of BP does not predict any outcome.
The SVFT-Based Control

In this paper, a controller based on the space vector Fourier transform (SVFT) is proposed. The vector controller is implemented in the stationary αβ reference frame and can be designed to track unbalanced and distorted three-phase reference signals containing specific positive-sequence, negative-sequence, and harmonic components. In order to evaluate the proposed controller closed-loop response, three-phase unbalanced and distorted reference currents are imposed in a grid-connected voltage source converter. The ability of the controller to follow the references with zero steady-state error is proved through frequency response plots and stability analysis. Experimental results are obtained to confirm the properties of the proposed scheme.
An Ontological Representation of Time Series Observations on the Semantic Sensor Web

Time series observations are a common method of co llecting sensor data. The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Sensor Web Ena lement (SWE) provides a standard representation for time series ob ervations within the Observations and Measurements language, and therefo re is in heavy use on the Sensor Web. By providing a common model, Observation s and Measurements (O&M) facilitates syntax-level integration, but lac ks the ability to facilitate semantic-level integration. This inability can caus e problems with interoperability between disparate sensor networks that may have subtle variations in their sensing methods. An ontological representation of time series observations could provide a more expressive model and resolve problems of semantic-level interoperability of sensor networks on the Semantic Sensor Web. In this paper, such an ontology model is proposed, as well as a real-world usecase from sensor networks currently measuring rainf all in the South Esk river catchment in the North East of Tasmania, Australia.
Modification of the physical environment by an Ecklonia radiata (Laminariales) canopy and implications for associated foliose algae

Macroalgal canopies modify their surrounding environment and thereby influence the structure of associated algal assemblages. Canopies can modify many factors that can be hard to separate and, consequently, the importance of individual factors often remains unknown. Experiments were carried out to test the hypotheses that Ecklonia radiata canopies modify light, sediment cover and water motion, and that each of these physical factors separately influence the assemblage of associated foliose algae. We measured light, sediment cover and water motion across six naturally occurring E. radiata densities and found a reduction in light and sediment cover as kelp density increased. The outcome for water motion was inconclusive. We also manipulated each of these three factors, while controlling for the two others, to determine the separate effects of light, sediment cover and water motion on the assemblage of foliose algae. Reduction in light had a strong effect on the foliose assemblage, reducing species richness and biomass. Reduction in sediment cover and water motion did not cause separate effects at the level of the assemblage, but the biomass of individual species of foliose algae indicated both positive and negative effects. We conclude that E. radiata canopies at Marmion, Western Australia, modify at least two factors of their physical environment, light and sediment cover. However, only light is modified to an extent where it has effects at the assemblage-level because, in contrast to the effects of sediment cover and water motion, the direction of responses are consistent among individual species of algae.
Implementation of a 3 D pose estimation algorithm

Escola Tècnica Superior d’Enginyeria Industrial de Barcelona (ETSEIB) Systems Engineering, Automation and Industrial Informatics (ESAII) Master’s Degree in Automatic Control and Robotics Implementation of a 3D pose estimation algorithm by Edgar Riba Pi In this project, I present the implementation of a 3D pose estimation algorithm for rigid objects considering a single monocular camera. The algorithm based on the matching between natural feature points and a textured 3D model, recovers in an efficient way the 3D pose of a given object using a PnP method. Furthermore, during this project a C++ implementation of the UPnP [1] approach published by the supervisors of this project has been done. Both the algorithm and the UPnP source codes have been included in the OpenCV library. The first as a tutorial explaining how developers could implement this kind of algorithms, and the second as an extension of the Camera Calibration and 3D Reconstruction module. In order to ensure the quality of the code, both passed the accuracy and performance tests imposed by the organization before merging the code in the new released version.
The diesel exhaust in miners study: I. Overview of the exposure assessment process.

This report provides an overview of the exposure assessment process for an epidemiologic study that investigated mortality, with a special focus on lung cancer, associated with diesel exhaust (DE) exposure among miners. Details of several components are provided in four other reports. A major challenge for this study was the development of quantitative estimates of historical exposures to DE. There is no single standard method for assessing the totality of DE, so respirable elemental carbon (REC), a component of DE, was selected as the primary surrogate in this study. Air monitoring surveys at seven of the eight study mining facilities were conducted between 1998 and 2001 and provided reference personal REC exposure levels and measurements for other agents and DE components in the mining environment. (The eighth facility had closed permanently prior to the surveys.) Exposure estimates were developed for mining facility/department/job/year combinations. A hierarchical grouping strategy was developed for assigning exposure levels to underground jobs [based on job titles, on the amount of time spent in various areas of the underground mine, and on similar carbon monoxide (CO, another DE component) concentrations] and to surface jobs (based on the use of, or proximity to, diesel-powered equipment). Time trends in air concentrations for underground jobs were estimated from mining facility-specific prediction models using diesel equipment horsepower, total air flow rates exhausted from the underground mines, and, because there were no historical REC measurements, historical measurements of CO. Exposures to potentially confounding agents, i.e. respirable dust, silica, radon, asbestos, and non-diesel sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, also were assessed. Accuracy and reliability of the estimated REC exposures levels were evaluated by comparison with several smaller datasets and by development of alternative time trend models. During 1998-2001, the average measured REC exposure level by facility ranged from 40 to 384 μg m⁻³ for the underground workers and from 2 to 6 μg m⁻³ for the surface workers. For one prevalent underground job, 'miner operator', the maximum annual REC exposure estimate by facility ranged up to 685% greater than the corresponding 1998-2001 value. A comparison of the historical CO estimates from the time trend models with 1976-1977 CO measurements not used in the modeling found an overall median relative difference of 29%. Other comparisons showed similar levels of agreement. The assessment process indicated large differences in REC exposure levels over time and across the underground operations. Method evaluations indicated that the final estimates were consistent with those from alternative time trend models and demonstrated moderate to high agreement with external data.
Effect of post-fire resprouting on leaf fluctuating asymmetry, extrafloral nectar quality, and ant–plant–herbivore interactions

Fires in the Cerrado savanna are a severe form of disturbance, but some species are capable of resprouting afterwards. It is unknown, however, how and whether post-fire resprouting represents a stressful condition to plants and how their rapid re-growth influences both the production of biochemical compounds, and interactions with mutualistic ants. In this study, we examined the influence of post-fire resprouting on biotic interactions (ant–plant–herbivore relationships) and on plant stress. The study was performed on two groups of the extrafloral nectaried shrub Banisteriopsis campestris (Malpighiaceae); one group was recovering from fire while the other acted as control. With respect to biotic interactions, we examined whether resprouting influenced extrafloral nectar concentration (milligrams per microliter), the abundance of the ant Camponotus crassus and leaf herbivory rates. Plant stress was assessed via fluctuating asymmetry (FA) analysis, which refers to deviations from perfect symmetry in bilaterally symmetrical traits (e.g., leaves) and indicates whether species are under stress. Results revealed that FA, sugar concentration, and ant abundance were 51.7 %, 35.7 % and 21.7 % higher in resprouting plants. Furthermore, C. crassus was significantly associated with low herbivory rates, but only in resprouting plants. This study showed that post-fire resprouting induced high levels of plant stress and influenced extrafloral nectar quality and ant-herbivore relationships in B. campestris. Therefore, despite being a stressful condition to the plant, post-fire resprouting individuals had concentrated extrafloral nectar and sustained more ants, thus strengthening the outcomes of ant–plant mutualism.
The discourses of Algernon Sidney

This book focuses on the theory of political society found in Sidney's Discourses Concerning Government, published in 1698. The book demonstrates that Sidney's insurrectionist agenda is supported by a consistent view of the "social contract, " providing a link in the evolution of contract theory.