LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of a brief intervention for managing hazardous drinking problems of inpatients in Taiwan.

AIMS
This paper is a report of a randomized control trial undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of the Brief Intervention for Alcohol Use in Taiwanese inpatients with hazardous drinking patterns.


BACKGROUND
The Brief Intervention for Alcohol Use has been found to be as effective as medical and psychological treatments for individuals with alcohol use disorders in western countries. However, few studies have examined brief alcohol interventions for a Chinese population.


METHODS
Patients from the medical and surgical wards of a medical centre in northern Taiwan were enrolled if they had an Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test score >8. Participants were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 47), which received the Brief Intervention, and the control group (n = 48), which received no special psychosocial intervention except routine nursing care. Data were collected from February 2005 to March 2006 on hospitalized participants' demographic characteristics and alcohol use. Scores on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test were re-assessed over the telephone 6 months later by a trained assistant blinded to the treatment group.


RESULTS
The experimental group had a significantly higher mean improved Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test score and better outcomes in all three dimensions of the test than the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
The Brief Intervention for Alcohol Use is recommended for use in clinical settings to help Taiwanese inpatients with hazardous drinking patterns to improve their drinking problems.
Explicit equations of motion for constrained mechanical systems with singular mass matrices and applications to multi-body dynamics

We present the new, general, explicit form of the equations of motion for constrained mechanical systems applicable to systems with singular mass matrices. The systems may have holonomic and/or non-holonomic constraints, which may or may not satisfy D’Alembert’s principle at each instant of time. The equation provides new insights into the behaviour of constrained motion and opens up new ways of modelling complex multibody systems. Examples are provided and applications of the equation to such systems are illustrated.
The hydration number of Na+ in liquid water

An ‘ab initio’ molecular dynamics simulation of a Na+ ion in aqueous solution is presented and discussed. The calculation treats a Na+ ion and 32 water molecules with periodic boundary conditions on a cubic volume determined by an estimate of zero partial molar volume for this solute in water at normal density and at a temperature of 344 ± 24 K. Analysis of the last half of the 12 ps trajectory shows 4.6 water molecules occupying the inner hydration shell of the Na+ ion on average, with 5 being the most probable occupancy. The self-diffusion coefficient observed for the Na+ is 1.0×10−5 cm2/s. The quasichemical theory of solutions provides the framework for two more calculations. First a complementary calculation, based on electronic structure results for ion-water clusters hydrated by a dielectric continuum model of the solution, predicts an average hydration shell occupancy of 4.0. This underestimate can be attributed to the harmonic approximation of interactions within the clusters and to the approximate treatment with the dielectric continuum model of extra-cluster contributions to the free energy of solvation. Finally, an information theory fit of the simulation data leads to an an absolute hydration free energy estimate of -80 kcal/mol. keywords: ab initio molecular dynamics, dielectric continuum, electronic structure, hydration, information theory, quasi-chemical theory, sodium ion
Design Thinking implemented in Software Engineering Tools Proposing and Applying the Design Thinking Transformation Framework

Design Thinking has collected theories and best-practices to foster creativity and innovation in group processes. This is in particular valuable for sketchy and complex problems. Other disciplines can learn from this body-of-behaviors and values to tackle their complex problems. In this paper, using four Design Thinking qualities, we propose a framework to identify the level of Design Thinkingness in existing analytical software engineering tools: Q1) Iterative Creation Cycles, Q2) Human Integration in Design, Q3) Suitability for Heterogeneity, and Q4) Media Accessibility. We believe that our framework can also be used to transform tools in various engineering areas to support abductive and divergent thinking processes. We argue, based on insights gained from the successful transformation of classical business process modeling into tangible business process modeling. This was achieved by incorporating rapid prototyping, human integration, knowledge base heterogeneity and the media-models theory. The latter is given special attention as it allows us to break free from the limiting factors of the exiting analytic tools.
Repair of full-thickness alar defects.

BACKGROUND
A basal cell carcinoma can invade the cartilage in the nasal ala and can reach the nasal vestibule skin. A full-thickness reconstruction of the nasal ala is required to repair the tissue damage after tumor removal. We combined an auricular composite graft with a nasolabial flap to repair the defects in the nasal ala.


METHODS
Eleven patients with full-thickness infiltration of the nasal ala by basal cell carcinoma were included in the study. The outer defect area after tumor removal ranged from 1.5 × 2.0 to 2.0 × 2.5 cm(2). Skin-cartilage composite grafts 1.5 × 1.5 to 1.5 × 2.0 cm(2) in size were harvested from the helix at the top of the ear. The composite graft was used as a support scaffold to reconstruct the defects. A nasolabial flap was used to cover the cartilage.


RESULTS
All cases were treated successfully. No flap necrosis, skin color changes, or blistering occurred. The shape of the flap was stable, and the skin color was consistent with that of the surrounding tissue. The reconstructed nasal ala was symmetrical.


CONCLUSIONS
Combining an auricular composite graft with a nasolabial flap can repair defects up to 2.0 × 2.5 cm(2) in size. The reconstructed nasal ala matches the original skin color and maintains the appropriate shape.
Regulation of adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion: lessons from mice deficient in corticotropin-releasing hormone.

words of Hans Selye from the 1940s still ring true today. Selye recognized that physical, emotional, and environmental challenges (stressors) elicit a variety of physiological responses and that our ability to respond and adapt to these stressors is critical to our survival. In the 50 years since these initial observations, we have learned a great deal about the complex system that allows us to maintain homeostasis in the resting state and to respond appropriately to stressors, yet much remains to be learned about the regulation of this system. A key component of this stress system is the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis (Figure 1). In response to a stressful stimulus, neural inputs from the central and peripheral nervous system converge on a small nucleus in the hypothalamus (the paraventricular nucleus, or PVN) and signal for increased synthesis and release of corticotropinreleasing hormone (CRH, also known as CRF). This 41–amino acid peptide is released into the hypophyseal portal blood and carried to the anterior pituitary, where it binds to CRH receptors on the corticotropes. As with other Gs protein–coupled membrane receptors, CRH receptors stimulate production of the intracellular second messenger cAMP. Activation of this pathway results in increased production of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and increased release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and β-endorphin, bioactive proteolytic products of POMC. While CRH is widely regarded as the major hypothalamic releasing factor for ACTH, other hypothalamic compounds such as vasopressin, oxytocin, and norepinephrine can also stimulate ACTH release (at much lower potencies) or potentiate CRH-induced ACTH secretion (reviewed in ref. 1). ACTH is carried via the blood to its target organ, the adrenal cortex, where it stimulates secretion of glucocorticoids (corticosterone in rodents or cortisol in humans). Glucocorticoids then mediate a variety of metabolic effects that help the body to respond to the stressor; for example, they stimulate protein catabolism and gluconeogenesis while inhibiting peripheral glucose uptake. Glucocorticoids also play a critical role in turning off the stress signal to maintain homeostasis in the HPA axis. Elevated glucocorticoid levels reduce the synthesis and release of CRH from the hypothalamus and suppress POMC production and ACTH release in the anterior pituitary. Glucocorticoids also feed back at higher brain centers to modulate the neural inputs to the hypothalamus. Thus, this finely tuned stress system allows us to respond quickly to stressors by increasing CRH,
Sorafenib Plus Ixabepilone as First-Line Treatment of Metastatic HER2-Negative Breast Cancer: A Sarah Cannon Research Institute Phase I/II Trial.

BACKGROUND
The purposes of the present phase I/II trial were (1) to define tolerable doses of ixabepilone and sorafenib when used in combination and (2) to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of this combination in the treatment of patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor-negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC).


PATIENTS AND METHODS
The eligible patients had human epidermal growth factor receptor-negative MBC and had not received previous chemotherapy in the metastatic setting. All patients received ixabepilone intravenously on day 1 of each 21-day treatment cycle; sorafenib was administered orally twice daily. Patients in phase II received the maximum doses identified in phase I. The patients were reevaluated after the completion of 3 treatment cycles; treatment continued until disease progression or intolerable toxicity. A total of 67 patients were required in phase II to demonstrate increased median progression-free survival from 4.2 to 6.2 months (90% power, α = 0.05).


RESULTS
Ten patients entered the phase I portion; the maximum tolerated doses were ixabepilone 32 mg/m(2) and sorafenib 400 mg orally twice daily. A total of 76 patients were treated at the phase II dose. The median progression-free survival was 4.8 months (95% confidence interval, 3.5-6.3 months). The overall response rate was 37%. The regimen was difficult to tolerate for many patients; 20 patients discontinued because of toxicity, and dose reductions were frequent. The common toxicities included neutropenia, fatigue, rash, and neuropathy.


CONCLUSION
The combination of ixabepilone and sorafenib was poorly tolerated as first-line treatment of patients with MBC. The activity of the combination was similar to the activity previously reported with single-agent ixabepilone or taxanes. Further development of this combination is not recommended.
Topical permethrin and oral ivermectin in the management of scabies: a prospective, randomized, double blind, controlled study.

BACKGROUND
Scabies is a highly contagious and intensely pruritic parasitic infestation. It is a re-emerging infection in the new millennium especially with HIV pandemic and a significant health problem in developing countries. Various treatment modalities have been used since time immemorial but the search for an ideal scabicide is ongoing.


AIMS
In this study, we compared the therapeutic efficacy of single application of topical 5% permethrin with oral ivermectin (200 μg/kg/dose) in a single-dose and a two-dose regimen in patients with scabies.


METHODS
120 clinically diagnosed cases of scabies (>5 years of age and/or >15 kg) were randomized into three treatment groups A, B, C of 40 patients each; receiving either topical 5% permethrin (group A) or oral ivermectin (200 μg/kg/dose) in a single dose (group B) or double dose regimen (group C) repeated at 2 weeks interval. Patients were followed up at 1, 2, and 4 weeks interval. At each visit, cure rate (>50% improvement in lesion count and pruritus and negative microscopy) was assessed and compared.


RESULTS
Cure rate in three treatment groups at the end of 4 weeks was 94.7% (A), 90% (B), 89.7% (C), and thus all three treatment modalities were equally efficacious. However, at 1 week follow up, group A patients reported better improvement in both lesion count and pruritus.


CONCLUSIONS
Both permethrin and ivermectin in both single and two dose regimen are equally efficacious and well tolerated in scabies. However, permethrin has a rapid onset of action.
Torque Ripple Reduction in Three-Phase Switched Reluctance Motors

The influence of two control methods on torque ripple in a three-phase switched reluctance (SR) motor is investigated using a ripple index based on peak speed fluctuations. Torque ripple is reduced by a current-tracking control method in which the desired stator currents are computed using a linearizing and decoupling transformation (LDT). At low speeds, even with an inexpensive switching amplifier, LDT control can reduce speed fluctuations by a factor of two. This may offer an advantage in direct-drive applications.
A Delay Model and Speculative Architecture for Pipelined Routers

This paper introduces a router delay model that accurately models key aspects of modern routers. The model accounts for the pipelined nature of contemporary routers, the specific flow control method employed, the delay of the flowcontrol credit path, and the sharing of crossbar ports across virtual channels. Motivated by this model, we introduce a microarchitecture for a speculative virtual-channel router that significantly reduces its router latency to that of a wormhole router. Simulations using our pipelined model give results that differ considerably from the commonlyassumed ‘unit-latency’ model which is unreasonably optimistic. Using realistic pipeline models, we compare wormhole [6] and virtual-channel flow control [4]. Our results show that a speculative virtual-channel router has the same per-hop router latency as a wormhole router, while improving throughput by up to 40%.
Method validation for simultaneous determination of chromium, molybdenum and selenium in infant formulas by ICP-OES and ICP-MS.

This study aimed to validate the analytical method for simultaneous determination of chromium (Cr), molybdenum (Mo), and selenium (Se) in infant formulas available in South Korea. Various digestion methods of dry-ashing, wet-digestion and microwave were evaluated for samples preparation and both inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) were compared for analysis. The analytical techniques were validated by detection limits, precision, accuracy and recovery experiments. Results showed that wet-digestion and microwave methods were giving satisfactory results for sample preparation, while ICP-MS was found more sensitive and effective technique than ICP-OES. The recovery (%) of Se, Mo and Cr by ICP-OES were 40.9, 109.4 and 0, compared to 99.1, 98.7 and 98.4, respectively by ICP-MS. The contents of Cr, Mo and Se in infant formulas by ICP-MS were found in good nutritional values in accordance to nutrient standards for infant formulas CODEX values.
Inpatient care for elderly cancer patients: the role for Geriatric Evaluation and Management Units in fulfilling goals for care.

PURPOSE
To describe patterns of functional status, symptoms, therapeutic goals and outcomes among older adults with cancer diagnoses hospitalized on a Geriatric Evaluation and Management Unit (GEMU).


DESIGN AND METHODS
Retrospective chart review of veterans with a cancer diagnosis consecutively admitted to a Department of Veterans Affairs GEMU between 1996 and 1999.


RESULTS
Thirty-six veterans with cancer diagnoses, average age of 80+/-5.0 years, 100% men, 50% white, 39% married were admitted during the target period. Comorbid illness was common (mean +/- S.D. = 4.6+/-2.0) as were associated symptoms (mean = 2.5+/-1.9). Average Karnofsky performance status was 55+/-7. Goals were accomplished 78% of the time for diagnosis, 73% for symptom management, 79% for functional improvement, and 100% for disposition/caregiver support.


IMPLICATIONS
Elderly oncology patients admitted to a GEMU display diverse needs and goals that are realistic and attainable in this context. In-patient GEMU services represent a promising approach to care for older cancer patients, and deserve further evaluation of benefits and risks.
Amyloid by default

using transgenic mice that were engineered to develop amyloid plaques consisting of humansequence Aβ. Using in vivo microdialysis, they found that the amount of soluble Aβ in the interstitial fluid varies markedly among brain areas and that higher regional levels of soluble Aβ in young mice predict greater Aβ plaque burden in older mice. Hypothesizing that interstitial Aβ levels are governed by local synaptic activity, they then found that the level of lactate, a metabolic byproduct of neuronal metabolism and marker of cerebral aerobic glycolysis, increases with increasing neuronal activity and is correlated with soluble Aβ concentrations. Finally, Bero and colleagues1 demonstrated that changes in neuronal activity affect both the amount of Aβ in the interstitial fluid and the development of amyloid plaques. When neuronal
Mathematical modeling of photovoltaic cell / module / arrays with tags in Matlab / Simulink

Background: Photovoltaic (PV) array which is composed of modules is considered as the fundamental power conversion unit of a PV generator system. The PV array has nonlinear characteristics and it is quite expensive and takes much time to get the operating curves of PV array under varying operating conditions. In order to overcome these obstacles, common and simple models of solar panel have been developed and integrated to many engineering software including Matlab/Simulink. However, these models are not adequate for application involving hybrid energy system since they need a flexible tuning of some parameters in the system and not easily understandable for readers to use by themselves. Therefore, this paper presents a step-by-step procedure for the simulation of PV cells/modules/ arrays with Tag tools in Matlab/Simulink. A DS-100M solar panel is used as reference model. The operation characteristics of PV array are also investigated at a wide range of operating conditions and physical parameters. Result: The output characteristics curves of the model match the characteristics of DS-100M solar panel. The output power, current and voltage decreases when the solar irradiation reduces from 1000 to 100 W/m. When the temperature decreases, the output power and voltage increases marginally whereas the output current almost keeps constant. Shunt resistance has significant effect on the operating curves of solar PV array as low power output is recorded if the value of shunt resistance varies from 1000 ohms to 0.1 ohms. Conclusion: The proposed procedure provides an accurate, reliable and easy-to-tune model of photovoltaic array. Furthermore, it also robust advantageous in investigating the solar PV array operation from different physical parameters (series, shunt resistance, ideality factor, etc.) and working condition ( varying temperature, irradiation and especially partial shadow effect) aspects.
Do psychological factors and general health influence the short-term efficacy of resilient appliance therapy in patients with temporomandibular disorder pain?

OBJECTIVES
To study how sense of coherence (SOC), grade of depression and non-specific physical symptoms and general health influence the efficacy of intraoral appliance therapy in patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain. A second objective was to study the association between SOC, grade of depression, grade of non-specific physical symptoms and general health.


MATERIAL AND METHODS
A total of 73 TMD pain patients participated; 36 were treated with a resilient appliance and 37 with a non-occluding control appliance in a randomized controlled trial for a period of 10 weeks. All patients had at least one pain diagnosis according to the research diagnostic criteria for TMD, including both the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (Axis II) measuring grade of depression and non-specific physical symptoms, and general health (physical characteristics). Patients also filled in the 29-item SOC questionnaire.


RESULTS
A low grade of SOC was found in eight of the patients in the treatment group and in 17 of the control group at baseline, with a statistically significant difference between the groups. Logistic regression analyses revealed that, after correcting for the background variables, the resilient appliance did not differ from the non-occluding control appliance in terms of treatment outcome. No statistically significant differences were found when correlating mean SOC with grade of depression, grade of non-specific physical symptoms and general health.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that none of the studied background variables (age, gender, SOC, depression, non-specific physical symptoms or general health) seemed to influence the short-term efficacy of intraoral appliances. No association was found between SOC and depression, non-specific physical symptoms or general health in TMD pain patients.
PatchMatch Stereo - Stereo Matching with Slanted Support Windows

Common local stereo methods match support windows at integer-valued disparities. The implicit assumption that pixels within the support region have constant disparity does not hold for slanted surfaces and leads to a bias towards reconstructing frontoparallel surfaces. This work overcomes this bias by estimating an individual 3D plane at each pixel onto which the support region is projected. The major challenge of this approach is to find a pixel’s optimal 3D plane among all possible planes whose number is infinite. We show that an ideal algorithm to solve this problem is PatchMatch [1] that we extend to find an approximate nearest neighbor according to a plane. In addition to PatchMatch’s spatial propagation scheme, we propose (1) view propagation where planes are propagated among left and right views of the stereo pair and (2) temporal propagation where planes are propagated from preceding and consecutive frames of a video when doing temporal stereo. Adaptive support weights are used in matching cost aggregation to improve results at disparity borders. We also show that our slanted support windows can be used to compute a cost volume for global stereo methods, which allows for explicit treatment of occlusions and can handle large untextured regions. In the results we demonstrate that our method reconstructs highly slanted surfaces and achieves impressive disparity details with sub-pixel precision. In the Middlebury table, our method is currently top-performer among local methods and takes rank 2 among approximately 110 competitors if sub-pixel precision is considered.