LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Tight glycemic control after pediatric cardiac surgery in high-risk patient populations: a secondary analysis of the safe pediatric euglycemia after cardiac surgery trial.

BACKGROUND
Our previous randomized, clinical trial showed that postoperative tight glycemic control (TGC) for children undergoing cardiac surgery did not reduce the rate of health care-associated infections compared with standard care (STD). Heterogeneity of treatment effect may exist within this population.


METHODS AND RESULTS
We performed a post hoc exploratory analysis of 980 children from birth to 36 months of age at the time of cardiac surgery who were randomized to postoperative TGC or STD in the intensive care unit. Significant interactions were observed between treatment group and both neonate (age ≤30 days; P=0.03) and intraoperative glucocorticoid exposure (P=0.03) on the risk of infection. The rate and incidence of infections in subjects ≤60 days old were significantly increased in the TGC compared with the STD group (rate: 13.5 versus 3.7 infections per 1000 cardiac intensive care unit days, P=0.01; incidence: 13% versus 4%, P=0.02), whereas infections among those >60 days of age were significantly reduced in the TGC compared with the STD group (rate: 5.0 versus 14.1 infections per 1000 cardiac intensive care unit days, P=0.02; incidence: 2% versus 5%, P=0.03); the interaction of treatment group by age subgroup was highly significant (P=0.001). Multivariable logistic regression controlling for the main effects revealed that previous cardiac surgery, chromosomal anomaly, and delayed sternal closure were independently associated with increased risk of infection.


CONCLUSIONS
This exploratory analysis demonstrated that TGC may lower the risk of infection in children >60 days of age at the time of cardiac surgery compared with children receiving STD. Meta-analyses of past and ongoing clinical trials are necessary to confirm these findings before clinical practice is altered.


CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION URL
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00443599.
Nuclear physics input for solar models

We discuss microscopic cluster model descriptions of two solar nuclear reactions, Be7(p,gamma)B8 and He3(He3,2p)He4. The low-energy reaction cross section of Be7(p,gamma)B8, which determines the high-energy solar neutrino flux, is constrained by Be7 and B8 observables. Our results show that a small value of the zero-energy cross section is rather unlikely. In He3(He3,2p)He4 we study the effects of a possible virtual state on the cross section. Although, we have found no indication for such a state so far, its existence cannot be ruled out yet. We calculate the He3(He3,2p)He4 and H3(H3,2n)He4 cross sections in a continuum-discretized coupled channel approximation, and find a good general agreement with the data.
Effects of Early Continuous Venovenous Hemofiltration on E-Selectin, Hemodynamic Stability, and Ventilatory Function in Patients with Septic-Shock-Induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Objective. To investigate the effects of 72-hour early-initiated continuous venovenous hemofiltration (ECVVH) treatment in patients with septic-shock-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (not acute kidney injury, AKI) with regard to serum E-selectin and measurements of lung function and hemodynamic stability. Methods. This prospective nonblinded single institutional randomized study involved 51 patients who were randomly assigned to receive or not receive ECVVH, an ECVVH group (n = 24) and a non-ECVVH group (n = 27). Besides standard therapies, patients in ECVVH group underwent CVVH for 72 h. Results. At 0 and 24 h after initiation of treatment, arterial partial pressure of oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2) ratio, extravascular lung water index (EVLWI), and E-selectin level were not significantly different between groups (all P > 0.05). Compared to non-ECVVH group, PaO2/FiO2 is significantly higher and EVLWI and E-selectin level are significantly lower in ECVVH group (all P < 0.05) at 48 h and 72 h after initiation of treatment. The lengths of mechanical ventilation and stay in intensive care unit (ICU) were shorter in ECVVH group (all P < 0.05), but there was no difference in 28-day mortality between two groups. Conclusions. In patients with septic-shock-induced ARDS (not AKI), treatment with ECVVH in addition to standard therapies improves endothelial function, lung function, and hemodynamic stability and reduces the lengths of mechanical ventilation and stay in ICU.
Path following control for autonomous formula racecar: Autonomous formula student competition

This paper summarizes our work of an envelope path following controller for a four-wheel independently actuated (FWIA) autonomous racecar. The controller consists of three modules through the integrated control of active front-wheel steer (AFS) and direct yaw-moment control (DYC). An electric autonomous Formula Student racecar is used as testbed to test the controller Moreover, the Formula Student competition is introduced. With the cooperation with SAE China, the authors are trying to establish the autonomous Formula Student racecar competition in China. In this paper, the basic concept and rules of autonomous Formula Student racecar competition is described.
Fifteen years of wood radiation densitometry

Wood radiation densitometry started with the β-ray method but was largely developed with the X-ray method. The density components obtained have been successfully used directly for anatomical, physiological and technological studies. But they also serve as dependent variables to determine the effects of heridity, fertilization, growth rate, entomological defoliation, irrigation, industrial smokes, green pruning, phenology or climatic factors on wood structure or quality and as explanatory variables to elucidate mechanical strength, windbreaks on living trees or sawteeth performances.
Ulnar shortening after TFCC suture repair of Palmer type 1B lesions

The objective of this study was to determine functional and subjective outcomes of an ulnar shortening procedure elected by patients who experienced persistent ulno-carpal symptoms following arthroscopic suture repair of a Palmer type 1B lesion. All patients had a dynamic ulna positive variance. Five patients (3 males and 2 females) with arthroscopic repair of Palmer type 1B tears who subsequently underwent ulnar shortening were reviewed. At the time of the arthroscopic repair the patients’ average age was 37 ± 13 years (range 16–52 years). Average time to follow-up was 14 ± 6 months (range 10–23 months). The average age was 38 ± 14 years (range 17–53 years) when the ulnar shortening was performed. The second follow-up took place 7 ± 2 months (range 5–9 months) after ulnar shortening. During the follow-ups, range of motion, grip strength, pain, Modified Mayo Wrist Score, DASH Score, and ulnar length were evaluated. Citing persistent ulno-carpal symptoms, the patients elected ulnar shortening an average of 17 ± 7months (range 13–29 months) following the arthroscopic repair. Prior to ulnar shortening the average static ulnar variance was 0.2 ± 1.3 mm (range −1 to 2 mm), the average dynamic ulnar variance was 1.4 ± 0.5 mm (range 1 to 2 mm). Ulnar shortening brought about further reduction in pain after the arthroscopic repair of the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) had already reduced it. As measured by a visual analogue scale, the average value after ulnar shortening was 2.2 ± 2.1 (range 0.7−5.0). The average static ulnar variance was −3.4 ± 2 mm (range −5 to −1 mm). Patients were very satisfied with the results of the ulnar shortening and four out of five indicated that it had significantly improved their symptoms and they would elect ulnar shortening again. Postoperative range of motion as a percentage of the contralateral side averaged 90% for the extension/flexion arc, 80% for the radial/ulnar deviation arc, and 100% for the pronation/supination arc of motion. In addition, there was an improvement in grip strength. The Modified Mayo Wrist Score was rated excellent in three patients, and fair in two patients. The average DASH score was 22 ± 22 (range 0–53). Patients who have a dynamic ulna positive variance and experience persistent ulno-carpal symptoms following arthroscopic suture repair of a Palmer type 1B lesion, benefit from an ulnar shortening procedure. Shortening the ulna can improve these patients’ symptoms of pain, range of motion, and grip strength.
Exploring the pathophysiology of hypogonadism in men with type 2 diabetes: kisspeptin-10 stimulates serum testosterone and LH secretion in men with type 2 diabetes and mild biochemical hypogonadism.

RATIONALE
Low serum testosterone is commonly observed in men with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), but the neuroendocrine pathophysiology remains to be elucidated.


OBJECTIVES
The hypothalamic neuropeptide kisspeptin integrates metabolic signals with the reproductive axis in animal models. We hypothesized that administration of exogenous kisspeptin-10 will restore luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone secretion in hypotestosteronaemic men with T2DM.


PARTICIPANTS
Five hypotestosteronaemic men with T2DM (age 33·6 ± 3 years, BMI 40·6 ± 6·3, total testosterone 8·5 ± 1·0 nmol/l, LH 4·7 ± 0·7 IU/l, HbA1c 7·4±2%, duration of diabetes <5 years) and seven age-matched healthy men. EXPERIMENT 1: Mean LH increased in response to intravenous administration of kisspeptin-10 (0·3 mcg/kg bolus) both in healthy men (5·5 ± 0·8 to 13·9 ± 1·7 IU/l P < 0·001) and in men with T2DM (4·7 ± 0·7 to 10·7 ± 1·2 IU/l P = 0·02) with comparable ΔLH (P = 0·18). EXPERIMENT 2: Baseline 10-min serum sampling for LH and hourly testosterone measurements were performed in four T2DM men over 12 h. An intravenous infusion of kisspeptin-10 (4 mcg/kg/h) was administered for 11 h, 5 days later. There were increases in LH (3·9 ± 0·1 IU/l to 20·7 ± 1·1 IU/l P = 0·03) and testosterone (8·5 ± 1·0 to 11·4 ± 0·9 nmol/l, P = 0·002). LH pulse frequency increased from 0·6 ± 0·1 to 0·9 ± 0 pulses/h (P = 0·05) and pulsatile component of LH secretion from 32·1 ± 8·0 IU/l to 140·2 ± 23·0 IU/l (P = 0·007).


CONCLUSIONS
Kisspeptin-10 administration increased LH pulse frequency and LH secretion in hypotestosteronaemic men with T2DM in this proof-of-concept study, with associated increases in serum testosterone. These data suggest a potential novel therapeutic role for kisspeptin agonists in enhancing endogenous testosterone secretion in men with T2DM and central hypogonadism.
Economic geology: Copper conundrums

The metal content of magmas erupted at subduction zone arcs is thought to be derived from the mantle. A correlation between crustal thickness and copper content in arc magmas worldwide, however, reveals an important role for the crust in the upper plate.
A Tale of Two Sieves

I t is the best of times for the game of factoring large numbers into their prime factors. In 1970 it was barely possible to factor “hard” 20-digit numbers. In 1980, in the heyday of the Brillhart-Morrison continued fraction factoring algorithm, factoring of 50-digit numbers was becoming commonplace. In 1990 my own quadratic sieve factoring algorithm had doubled the length of the numbers that could be factored, the record having 116 digits. By 1994 the quadratic sieve had factored the famous 129-digit RSA challenge number that had been estimated in Martin Gardner’s 1976 Scientific American column to be safe for 40 quadrillion years (though other estimates around then were more modest). But the quadratic sieve is no longer the champion. It was replaced by Pollard’s number field sieve in the spring of 1996, when that method successfully split a 130-digit RSA challenge number in about 15% of the time the quadratic sieve would have taken. In this article we shall briefly meet these factorization algorithms—these two sieves—and some of the many people who helped to develop them. In the middle part of this century, computational issues seemed to be out of fashion. In most books the problem of factoring big numbers was largely ignored, since it was considered trivial. After all, it was doable in principle, so what else was there to discuss? A few researchers ignored the fashions of the time and continued to try to find fast ways to factor. To these few it was a basic and fundamental problem, one that should not be shunted to the side. But times change. In the last few decades we have seen the advent of accessible and fast computing power, and we have seen the rise of cryptographic systems that base their security on our supposed inability to factor quickly (and on other number theoretic problems). Today there are many people interested in factoring, recognizing it not only as a benchmark for the security of cryptographic systems, but for computing itself. In 1984 the Association for Computing Machinery presented a plaque to the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) on the occasion of the IEEE centennial. It was inscribed with the prime factorization of the number 2251 − 1 that was completed that year with the quadratic sieve. The president of the ACM made the following remarks:
New-onset heart failure due to heart muscle disease in childhood: a prospective study in the United kingdom and Ireland.

BACKGROUND
We undertook the first prospective, national, multicenter study to describe the incidence and outcome of heart muscle disease-induced heart failure in children.


METHODS AND RESULTS
Data were collected on patients admitted to a hospital through 2003 with a first episode of heart failure in the absence of congenital heart disease. All 17 pediatric cardiac centers in the United Kingdom and Ireland participated. Follow-up data were obtained to a minimum of 1 year. The incidence was 0.87/100,000 population <16 years (n=104; 53 girls; 95% confidence interval 0.71 to 1.05 per 100,000). Median age at presentation was 1 year, with 82% in New York Heart Association class III to IV. Causes of heart failure included dilated cardiomyopathy (50 idiopathic, 8 familial), probable myocarditis (23), occult arrhythmia (7), anthracycline toxicity (5), metabolic disease (4), left ventricular noncompaction (3), and other (4). Overall 1-year survival was 82%, and event (death or transplantation)-free survival was 66%. Regression analysis showed older age and reduced systolic function on admission echocardiogram increased the event risk. Only 8% of event-free survivors (n=69) remained in New York Heart Association class III to IV, but 35 required readmission during the study period, and all but 8 remained on medication.


CONCLUSIONS
This first national prospective study of new-onset heart failure in children has shown an incidence of 0.87/100,000. Multivariable analysis of survival data indicates a better outcome for younger children and for those with better systolic function at presentation, but overall, one third of children die or require transplantation within 1 year of presentation.
Changes and predictors of unmet supportive care needs in Taiwanese women with newly diagnosed breast cancer.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES
To investigate changes in unmet supportive care needs and factors affecting those needs in Taiwanese women with newly diagnosed breast cancer.


DESIGN
Prospective longitudinal survey.


SETTING
Two general surgery outpatient departments at a large medical center in northern Taiwan.


SAMPLE
124 women with newly diagnosed breast cancer.


METHODS
Needs were assessed with the Supportive Care Needs Survey-Short Form at diagnosis (T1) and one month (T2), two months (T3), and three months (T4) after diagnosis.


MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES
Supportive care needs.


FINDINGS
Women had moderate-to-high levels of unmet needs, with the highest being in the health system and information domain at each time point. Levels in the domains of psychological, health system and information, and sexuality needs were higher (p < 0.001) at T1 than at T2, T3, and T4. However, levels of unmet physical and daily living needs increased significantly over time (p < 0.001). Unmet supportive care needs were significantly predicted by younger age and higher levels of education, symptom distress, trait anxiety, state anxiety, and time since diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Supportive care needs changed significantly over time and were predicted by personal characteristics, as well as physical and emotional factors.


IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING
Oncology nurses should assess the needs of patients with breast cancer and provide them with individualized, culturally sensitive informational, social, and emotional support from breast cancer diagnosis through the first four months of treatment.
Inclusion of SCADA Cyber Vulnerability in Power System Reliability Assessment Considering Optimal Resources Allocation

With sufficient resources, attackers might be able to intrude into multiple substation-level networks of the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system and send fabricated commands to the local field devices. In this paper, cyberattacks against the SCADA system in the substations of the power system are modeled by a modified semi-Markov process (SMP). The optimal allocation of offensive and defensive resources is modeled as a Colonel Blotto game, and the probabilities of successful cyberattacks on 24 substations are calculated. With the optimal allocated resources, the mean time-to-compromise (MTTCs) of cyberattacks on each substation are calculated, and the loss of load probabilities (LOLP) and expected energy not supplied (EENS) are estimated with the IEEE reliability test system 79 (RTS79). When more offensive or less defensive resources are allocated to the targets, the probabilities of breaker trips resulted by the cyber attacks are increased, less MTTCs are needed on each substation and the power system becomes less reliable.
A randomized controlled trial of interventions to promote cervical cancer screening among Chinese women in North America.

BACKGROUND
North American Chinese women have lower levels of Papanicolaou (Pap) testing than other population subgroups. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of two alternative cervical cancer screening interventions for Chinese women living in North America.


METHODS
Four hundred and eighty-two Pap testing underutilizers were identified from community-based surveys of Chinese women conducted in Seattle, Washington, and Vancouver, British Columbia. These women were randomly assigned to one of two experimental arms or control status. Several Chinese-language materials were used in both experimental arms: an education-entertainment video, a motivational pamphlet, an educational brochure, and a fact sheet. Women in the first experimental group (outreach worker intervention) received the materials, as well as tailored counseling and logistic assistance, during home visits by trilingual, bicultural outreach workers. Those in the second experimental group (direct mail intervention) received the materials by mail. The control group received usual care. Follow-up surveys were completed 6 months after randomization to ascertain participants' Pap testing behavior. All statistical tests were two-sided.


RESULTS
A total of 402 women responded to the follow-up survey (83% response rate). Of these women, 50 (39%) of the 129 women in the outreach group, 35 (25%) of the 139 women in the direct mail group, and 20 (15%) of the 134 women in the control group reported Pap testing in the interval between randomization and follow-up data collection (P<.001 for outreach worker versus control, P =.03 for direct mail versus control, and P =.02 for outreach worker versus direct mail). Intervention effects were greater in Vancouver than in Seattle.


CONCLUSION
Culturally and linguistically appropriate interventions may improve Pap testing levels among Chinese women in North America.
Automated Identification of Exudates and Optic Disc Based on Inverse Surface Thresholding

This paper presents a new approach to detect exudates and optic disc from color fundus images based on inverse surface thresholding. The strategy involves the applications of fuzzy c-means clustering, edge detection, otsu thresholding and inverse surface thresholding. The main advantage of the proposed approach is that it does not depend on manually selected parameters that are normally chosen to suit the tested databases. When applied to two sets of databases the proposed method outperforms a method based on watershed segmentation.
Temperature dependence of the charge carrier mobility in disordered organic semiconductors at large carrier concentrations

I. I. Fishchuk,1 A. K. Kadashchuk,2,3 J. Genoe,2 Mujeeb Ullah,4 H. Sitter,4 Th. B. Singh,5 N. S. Sariciftci,6 and H. Bässler7 1Institute for Nuclear Research, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Prospect Nauky 47, 03680 Kyiv, Ukraine 2IMEC, Kapeldreef 75, Heverlee, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium 3Institute of Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Prospect Nauky 46, 03028 Kyiv, Ukraine 4Institute of Semiconductor & Solid State Physics, Johannes Kepler University of Linz, A-4040 Linz, Austria 5Molecular and Health Technologies, CSIRO, Bayview Avenue Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia 6Linz Institute for Organic Solar Cells (LIOS), Johannes Kepler University of Linz, A-4040 Linz, Austria 7Chemistry Department, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Strasse, D-35032 Marburg, Germany Received 18 May 2009; revised manuscript received 31 August 2009; published 8 January 2010
Use of nano-silica in silicone rubber for ceramic insulators coatings in coastal areas

Nano-silica and micro-silica particles were mixed with silicone rubber. The resulting materials were compared with respect to erosion damage in inclined plane, and surface roughness and contact angle of virgin samples. Results have shown that nano-silica filled room temperature vulcanized (RTV) silicone rubber (SR) has higher erosion resistance than micro-silica filled RTV SR. The measurement of the contact angle of virgin samples has shown slightly lower hydrophobicity for the nano-silica filled samples than micro-silica filled samples. Surface roughness in nano-silica filled samples is lower than micro-silica filled samples, and one could expect less contamination accumulation of such nano-silica filled RTV SR materials. These preliminary laboratorial results indicate that the nano-silica filled RTV SR is better suited for contaminated environments than micro-silica filled RTV SR