LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Potential unintended financial consequences of pay-for-performance on the quality of care for minority patients.

OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to determine whether pay-for-performance (PFP) increases existing racial care disparities.


BACKGROUND
Medicare's PFP program provides financial rewards to hospitals whose care performance ranks in the highest quintile relative to peers and reduces funding to hospitals that rank in the lowest quintile. Pay-for-performance is designed to improve care but may disproportionately penalize hospitals caring for large minority populations.


METHODS
Using Medicare data, 3449 US hospitals were ranked by performance on PFP process measures for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), and heart failure (HF). These rankings were compared with the percentage of African American (AA) patients in a center. We determined the eligibility for financial bonus (highest quintile ranking) or penalty (lowest quintile) among centers treating large AA populations (> or = 20%) versus not after adjusting for hospital facility (catheterization, percutaneous coronary intervention, surgery), academic status, number of hospital beds, location, patient volume, and region.


RESULTS
The percentage of AA patients treated by a center was inversely associated with performance for AMI and CAP (P < .01) but not HF (P = .06). Relative to hospitals with < 20% AA, those with > or = 20% AA were less likely eligible for financial bonuses and more likely to face penalties: for AMI, adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.7 (95% CI 0.5-1.0) and 1.8 (1.4-2.4), respectively; for CAP, OR 0.5 (95% CI 0.3-0.6) and 2.3 (1.8-2.9), respectively; for HF, OR 1.0 (95% CI 0.7-1.2) and 1.2 (0.9-1.5), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Hospitals with large minority populations may be at financial risk under PFP. Thus, PFP may worsen existing racial care disparities.
Descartes: An Intellectual Biography.

Preface Chronological Table Introduction 1. 'A Learned and Eloquent Piety' 2. An Education in Propriety, 1606-1618 3. The Apprenticeship with Beeckman, 1618-1619 4. The Search for Method, 1619-1625 5. The Paris Years, 1625-1628 6. A New Beginning, 1629-1630 7. A New System of the World, 1630-1633 8. The Years of Consolidation, 1634-1640 9. Natural Philosophy and Orthodoxy, 1640-1644 Biographical Sketches Select Bibliography Index
Comparison of fuzzy numbers using a fuzzy distance measure

A new approach for ranking fuzzy numbers based on a distance measure is introduced. A new class of distance measures for interval numbers that takes into account all the points in both intervals is developed -rst, and then it is used to formulate the distance measure for fuzzy numbers. The approach is illustrated by numerical examples, showing that it overcomes several shortcomings such as the indiscriminative and counterintuitive behavior of several existing fuzzy ranking approaches. c © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
The relationship between accessibility and usability of websites

Accessibility and usability are well established concepts for user interfaces and websites. Usability is precisely defined, but there are different approaches to accessibility. In addition, different possible relationships could exist between problems encountered by disabled and non-disabled users, yet little empirical data have been gathered on this question. Guidelines for accessibility and usability of websites provide ratings of the importance of problems for users, yet little empirical data have been gathered to validate these ratings. A study investigated the accessibility of two websites with 6 disabled (blind) and 6 non-disabled (sighted) people. Problems encountered by the two groups comprised two intersecting sets, with approximately 15% overlap. For one of the two websites, blind people rated problems significantly more severely than sighted people. There was high agreement between participants as to the severity of problems, and agreement between participants and researchers. However, there was no significant agreement between either participants or researchers and the importance/priority ratings provided by accessibility and usability guidelines. Practical and theoretical implications of these results are discussed.
Comparison of signal decomposition methods in classification of EEG signals for motor-imagery BCI system

In this study, three popular signal processing techniques (Empirical Mode Decomposition, Discrete Wavelet Transform, and Wavelet Packet Decomposition) were investigated for the decomposition of Electroencephalography (EEG) Signals in Brain Computer Interface (BCI) system for a classification task. Publicly available BCI competition III dataset IVa, a multichannel 2-class motor-imagery dataset, was used for this purpose. Multiscale Principal Component Analysis method was applied for the purpose of noise removal. In addition, different sets of features were formed to examine the effect of a particular group of features. The parameter selection process for signal decomposition methods was thoroughly explained as well. Our results show that the combination of Multiscale Principal Component Analysis de-noising and higher order statistics features extracted from wavelet packet decomposition sub-bands resulted in highest average classification accuracy of 92.8%. Our study is one among very few that provides a comprehensive comparison between signal decomposition methods in combination with higher order statistics in classification of BCI signals. In addition, we stressed the importance of higher frequency ranges in improving the classification task for EEG signals in Brain Computer Interface Systems. Obtained results indicate that the proposed model has the potential to obtain a reliable classification of motor imagery EEG signals, and can thus be used as a practical system for controlling a wheelchair. It can also further enhance the current rehabilitation therapies where appropriate feedback is delivered once the individual executes the correct movement. In that way, motor rehabilitation outcomes may improve over time. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Level of optimism and health behavior in athletes

BACKGROUND
Persons with an optimistic attitude do not give up despite obstacles and failures. Optimistic athletes compete more out of hope for success than out of fear of defeat. The purpose of my research was to determine if optimism also promotes good health behavior in athletes.


MATERIAL/METHODS
In order to measure the role of optimism in shaping the health behavior of athletes, I examined a group of women (N=147) and men (N=385) who were currently in training for athletic competition. The control group consisted of women (N=262) and men (N=435) who were not and had never been competitive athletes. The "O-P" Attitude Questionnaire was used to measure optimism, while health behavior was measured with the Juczynski Health Behavior Inventory, which measures proper nutrition habits, preventive behavior, positive attitude, and healthy practices.


RESULTS
The level of pessimism in these athletes was average. The female athletes were less pessimistic than the female controls. A similar, highly significant difference occurred between the male athletes and non-athletes. Gender did not differentiate the level of optimism in either group. Among the women, optimism correlated with healthy practices, such as daily sleep and recreation habits, or physical activity. The greater the pessimism increased, positive attitudes declined in the female controls, the female athletes, and the male controls.


CONCLUSIONS
The athletes displayed greater optimism than the controls. Among the women, optimism correlated with good health practices.
Adapting Open Information Extraction to Domain-Specific Relations

dent processes and domain-specific knowledge. Until recently, information extraction has leaned heavily on domain knowledge, which requires either manual engineering or manual tagging of examples (Miller et al. 1998; Soderland 1999; Culotta, McCallum, and Betz 2006). Semisupervised approaches (Riloff and Jones 1999, Agichtein and Gravano 2000, Rosenfeld and Feldman 2007) require only a small amount of hand-annotated training, but require this for every relation of interest. This still presents a knowledge engineering bottleneck, when one considers the unbounded number of relations in a diverse corpus such as the web. Shinyama and Sekine (2006) explored unsupervised relation discovery using a clustering algorithm with good precision, but limited scalability. The KnowItAll research group is a pioneer of a new paradigm, Open IE (Banko et al. 2007, Banko and Etzioni 2008), that operates in a totally domain-independent manner and at web scale. An Open IE system makes a single pass over its corpus and extracts a diverse set of relational tuples without requiring any relation-specific human input. Open IE is ideally suited to corpora such as the web, where the target relations are not known in advance and their number is massive. Articles
UIUC: A Knowledge-rich Approach to Identifying Semantic Relations between Nominals

This paper describes a state-of-the-art supervised, knowledge-intensive approach to the automatic identification of semantic relations between nominals in English sentences. The system employs a combination of rich and varied sets of new and previously used lexical, syntactic, and semantic features extracted from various knowledge sources such as WordNet and additional annotated corpora. The system ranked first at the third most popular SemEval 2007 Task – Classification of Semantic Relations between Nominals and achieved an F-measure of 72.4% and an accuracy of 76.3%. We also show that some semantic relations are better suited for WordNet-based models than other relations. Additionally, we make a distinction between out-of-context (regular) examples and those that require sentence context for relation identification and show that contextual data are important for the performance of a noun–noun semantic parser. Finally, learning curves show that the task difficulty varies across relations and that our learned WordNet-based representation is highly accurate so the performance results suggest the upper bound on what this representation can do. 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Intelligent obstacle avoidance control strategy for wheeled mobile robot

This paper presents intelligent strategies for a wheeled mobile robot to avoid obstacle and move to target location. The obstacle detection for the wheeled mobile robot is carried out by ultrasonic sensors. There are two models in this study, short-distance obstacle avoidance model and target-driven obstacle avoidance model. In short-distance obstacle avoidance model, the wheeled mobile robot utilizes signals of the ultrasonic sensors to avoid obstacle. In target-driven obstacle avoidance model, fuzzy theory with sensor signals is used to control the speed of the wheeled mobile robot and make it move to target location. In this study, software simulations are made on the MATLAB platform. Both obstacle avoidance models are successfully performed.
Interactive 3D reconstruction from multiple images: A primitive-based approach

This paper proposes a fast and stable image-based modeling method which generates 3D models with high-quality face textures in a semi-automatic way. The modeler guides untrained users to quickly obtain 3D model data via several steps of simple user interface operations using predefined 3D primitives. The proposed method contains an iterative non-linear error minimization technique in the model estimation step with an error function based on finite line segments instead of infinite lines. The error corresponds to the difference between the observed structure and the predicted structure from current model parameters. Experimental results on real images validate the robustness and the accuracy of the algorithm. 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
A Data Mining methodology for cross-sales

In this paper we discuss the use of Data Mining to provide a solution to the problem of cross-sales. We define and analyse the cross-sales problem and develop a hybrid methodology to solve it, using characteristic rule discovery and deviation detection. Deviation detection is used as a measure of interest to filter out the less interesting characteristic roles and only retain the best characteristic rules discovered. The effect of domain knowledge on the interestingness value of the discovered rules is discussed and techniques for relining the knowledge to increase this interestingness measure are studied. We also investigate the use of externally procured lifestyle and other survey data for data enrichment and discuss its use as additional domain knowledge. The developed methodology has been applied to a real world cross-sales problem within the financial sector, and the results are also presented in this paper. Although the application described is in the financial sector, the methodology is generic in nature and can be applied to other sectors. © 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. Kevwords: Cross-sales: Data Mining; Characteristic rule discovery: Deviation detection
Hierarchical fixed priority pre-emptive scheduling

This paper focuses on the hierarchical scheduling of systems where a number of separate applications reside on a single processor. It addresses the particular case where fixed priority pre-emptive scheduling is used at both global and local levels, with a server associated with each application. Using response time analysis, an exact schedulability test is derived for application tasks. This test improves on previously published work. The analysis is extended to the case of harmonic tasks that can be bound to the release of their server. These tasks exhibit improved schedulability indicating that it is advantageous to choose server periods that enable some tasks to be bound to the release of their server. The use of periodic, sporadic and deferrable servers is considered with the conclusion that the simple periodic server dominates both sporadic and deferrable servers when the metric is application task schedulability
Dermoscopy of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: a study of 15 cases.

BACKGROUND
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare malignant cutaneous tumour of which diagnosis is often delayed because of the lack of early clinical clues.


OBJECTIVES
To describe the main dermoscopic features of DFSP.


METHODS
We performed dermoscopic examination in 15 unselected, consecutive cases of biopsy-proven DFSP. Firstly, six dermoscopic features were identified collegially, then all cases were reviewed separately by six experienced dermoscopists. In a given lesion, features recognized only by all dermoscopists were taken into account.


RESULTS
The median number of dermoscopic features was four per lesion. The following dermoscopic features were found: delicate pigmented network (87%), vessels (80%), structureless light brown areas (73%), shiny white streaks (67%), pink background coloration (67%) and structureless hypo- or depigmented areas (60%). When detected, vessels were of arborizing type in 11 of 12 cases, and presented as either unfocused only, or both unfocused and focused.


CONCLUSIONS
This first study of the dermoscopic spectrum of DFSP identifies six dermoscopic features (often associated in a multicomponent pattern) and a peculiar vascular pattern. Whether dermoscopy can help to identify suspected DFSP remains to be established by further studies.
The effect of obstructive sleep apnea and treatment with continuous positive airway pressure on stroke rehabilitation: rationale, design and methods of the TOROS study

BACKGROUND
Obstructive sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder in stroke patients. Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with stroke severity and poor functional outcome. Continuous positive airway pressure seems to improve functional recovery in stroke rehabilitation. To date, the effect of continuous positive airway pressure on cognitive functioning in stroke patients is not well established. The current study will investigate the effectiveness of continuous positive airway pressure on both cognitive and functional outcomes in stroke patients with obstructive sleep apnea.


METHODS/DESIGN
A randomized controlled trial will be conducted on the neurorehabilitation unit of Heliomare, a rehabilitation center in the Netherlands. Seventy stroke patients with obstructive sleep apnea will be randomly allocated to an intervention or control group (n = 2×35). The intervention will consist of four weeks of continuous positive airway pressure treatment. Patients allocated to the control group will receive four weeks of treatment as usual. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, immediately after the intervention and at two-month follow-up.In a supplementary study, these 70 patients with obstructive sleep apnea will be compared to 70 stroke patients without obstructive sleep apnea with respect to cognitive and functional status at rehabilitation admission. Additionally, the societal participation of both groups will be assessed at six months and one year after inclusion.


DISCUSSION
This study will provide novel information on the effects of obstructive sleep apnea and its treatment with continuous positive airway pressure on rehabilitation outcomes after stroke.


TRIAL REGISTRATION



TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
Dutch Trial Register NTR3412.
Thomas Paine's American Ideology.

This book analyzes the entire spectrum of Paine's intellectual career between 1775 and 1787, not merely his attitude toward American independence. The author summarizes Paine's writings as an apprentice magazine editor, sketches the publishing history of Common Sense, explains its major philosophical doctrines and contemporary issues, and indicates the relations of these ideas to earlier manifestation.
Strength and Step Activity After Eccentric Resistance Training in Those With Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries.

Background: Individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) often experience general weakness in the lower extremities that undermines daily step activity. Objective: To investigate the efficacy of eccentrically biased resistance training on lower extremity strength and physical activity of individuals with spinal injuries. Methods: Individuals with long-standing incomplete SCIs (N = 11) capable of completing a 10-meter walk assessment were included. All participants who completed the familiarization period finished the training. Individuals trained two times per week for 12 weeks on a lower body eccentric resistance training machine. It was hypothesized that the outcome variables (eccentric strength, isometric strength, and daily step physical activity) would improve as a result of the training intervention. Results: Eccentric strength [F(1.27, 12.71) = 8.42, MSE = 1738.35, H-F p = .009] and isometric strength [F(1.97, 19.77) = 7.10, MSE = 11.29, H-F p = .005] improved as a result of the training while daily step activity remained unchanged [F(2.00, 18.00) = 2.73, MSE = 216,836.78, H-F p = .092]. Conclusions: Eccentric resistance training improves eccentric and isometric strength. These physiological adaptations may translate to improved gait mechanics, but further study is required to identify this potential crossover effect.
Will present day glacier retreat increase volcanic activity? Stress induced by recent glacier retreat and its effect on magmatism at the Vatnajokull ice cap, Iceland

Global warming causes retreat of ice caps and ice sheets. Can melting glaciers trigger increased volcanic activity? Since 1890 the largest ice cap of Iceland, Vatnajökull, with an area of ~8000 km, has been continuously retreating losing about 10% of its mass during last century. Present-day uplift around the ice cap is as high as 25 mm/yr. We evaluate interactions between ongoing glacio-isostasy and current changes to mantle melting and crustal stresses at volcanoes underneath Vatnajökull. The modeling indicates that a substantial volume of new magma, ∼0.014 km/yr, is produced under Vatnajökull in response to current ice thinning. Ice retreat also induces significant stress changes in the elastic crust that may contribute to high seismicity, unusual focal mechanisms, and unusual magma movements in NW-Vatnajökull.
Displacement of the Predominant Dengue Virus from Type 2 to Type 1 with a Subsequent Genotype Shift from IV to I in Surabaya, Indonesia 2008–2010

Indonesia has annually experienced approximately 100,000 reported cases of dengue fever (DF) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) in recent years. However, epidemiological surveys of dengue viruses (DENVs) have been limited in this country. In Surabaya, the second largest city, a single report indicated that dengue virus type 2 (DENV2) was the predominant circulating virus in 2003-2005. We conducted three surveys in Surabaya during: (i) April 2007, (ii) June 2008 to April 2009, and (iii) September 2009 to December 2010. A total of 231 isolates were obtained from dengue patients and examined by PCR typing. We found that the predominant DENV shifted from type 2 to type 1 between October and November 2008. Another survey using wild-caught mosquitoes in April 2009 confirmed that dengue type 1 virus (DENV1) was the predominant type in Surabaya. Phylogenetic analyses of the nucleotide sequences of the complete envelope gene of DENV1 indicated that all 22 selected isolates in the second survey belonged to genotype IV and all 17 selected isolates in the third survey belonged to genotype I, indicating a genotype shift between April and September 2009. Furthermore, in December 2010, isolates were grouped into a new clade of DENV1 genotype I, suggesting clade shift between September and December 2010. According to statistics reported by the Surabaya Health Office, the proportion of DHF cases among the total number of dengue cases increased about three times after the type shift in 2008. In addition, the subsequent genotype shift in 2009 was associated with the increased number of total dengue cases. This indicates the need for continuous surveillance of circulating viruses to predict the risk of DHF and DF.
Human monoclonal antibody MBL-HCV1 delays HCV viral rebound following liver transplantation: a randomized controlled study.

Rapid allograft infection complicates liver transplantation (LT) in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin therapy after LT has significant toxicity and limited efficacy. The effect of a human monoclonal antibody targeting the HCV E2 glycoprotein (MBL-HCV1) on viral clearance was examined in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study in patients infected with HCV genotype 1a undergoing LT. Subjects received 11 infusions of 50 mg/kg MBL-HCV1 (n=6) or placebo (n=5) intravenously with three infusions on day of transplant, a single infusion on days 1 through 7 and one infusion on day 14 after LT. MBL-HCV1 was well-tolerated and reduced viral load for a period ranging from 7 to 28 days. Median change in viral load (log10 IU/mL) from baseline was significantly greater (p=0.02) for the antibody-treated group (range -3.07 to -3.34) compared to placebo group (range -0.331 to -1.01) on days 3 through 6 posttransplant. MBL-HCV1 treatment significantly delayed median time to viral rebound compared to placebo treatment (18.7 days vs. 2.4 days, p<0.001). As with other HCV monotherapies, antibody-treated subjects had resistance-associated variants at the time of viral rebound. A combination study of MBL-HCV1 with a direct-acting antiviral is underway.