LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Pressure recording analytical method and bioreactance for stroke volume index monitoring during pediatric cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND
It is currently uncertain which hemodynamic monitoring device reliably measures stroke volume and tracks cardiac output changes in pediatric cardiac surgery patients.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the difference between stroke volume index (SVI) measured by pressure recording analytical method (PRAM) and bioreactance and their ability to track changes after a therapeutic intervention.


METHODS
A single-center prospective observational cohort study in children undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was conducted. Twenty children below 20 kg with median (interquartile range) weight of 5.3 kg (4.1-7.8) and age of 6 months (3-20) were enrolled. Data were collected after anesthesia induction, at the end of CPB, before fluid administration and after fluid administration. Overall, median-IQR PRAM SVI values (23 ml·m(-2), 19-27) were significantly higher than bioreactance SVI (15 ml·m(-2), 12-25, P = 0.0001). Correlation (r(2) ) between the two methods was 0.15 (P = 0.0003). The mean difference between the measurements (bias) was 5.7 ml·m(-2) with a standard deviation of 9.6 (95% limits of agreement ranged from -13 to 24 ml·m(-2)). Percentage error was 91.7%. Baseline SVI appeared to be similar, but PRAM SVI was systematically greater than bioreactance thereafter, with the highest gap after the fluid loading phase: 13 (12-18) ml·m(-2) vs. 23 (19-25) ml·m(-2), respectively, P = 0.0013. A multivariable regression model showed that a significant independent inverse correlation with patients' body weight predicted the CI difference between the two methods after fluid challenge (β coefficient -0.12, P = 0.013).


CONCLUSIONS
Pressure recording analytical method and bioreactance provided similar SVI estimation at stable hemodynamic conditions, while bioreactance SVI values appeared significantly lower than PRAM at the end of CPB and after fluid replacement.
Validation of HOMA-IR in a model of insulin-resistance induced by a high-fat diet in Wistar rats.

Objective The present study aimed to validate homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in relation to the insulin tolerance test (ITT) in a model of insulin-resistance in Wistar rats induced by a 19-week high-fat diet. Materials and methods A total of 30 male Wistar rats weighing 200-300 g were allocated into a high-fat diet group (HFD) (55% fat-enriched chow, ad lib, n = 15) and a standard-diet group (CD) standard chow, ad lib, n = 15), for 19 weeks. ITT was determined at baseline and in the 19th week. HOMA-IR was determined between the 18-19th week in three different days and the mean was considered for analysis. Area under the curve (AUC-ITT) of the blood glucose excursion along 120 minutes after intra-peritoneal insulin injection was determined and correlated with the corresponding fasting values for HOMA-IR. Results AUC-ITT and HOMA-IR were significantly greater after 19th week in HFD compared to CD (p < 0.001 for both). AUC-OGTT was also higher in HFD rats (p = 0.003). HOMA-IR was strongly correlated (Pearson's) with AUC-ITT r = 0.637; p < 0.0001. ROC curves of HOMA-IR and AUC-ITT showed similar sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion HOMA-IR is a valid measure to determine insulin-resistance in Wistar rats. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2016;60(2):138-42.
Microsoft Hololens Tutorial

Provides an abstract of the tutorial presentation and a brief professional biography of the presenter. The complete presentation was not made available for publication as part of the conference proceedings.
Reproducibility and Validity of the 6-Minute Walk Test Using the Gait Real-Time Analysis Interactive Lab in Patients with COPD and Healthy Elderly

BACKGROUND
The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) in a regular hallway is commonly used to assess functional exercise capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, treadmill walking might provide additional advantages over overground walking, especially if virtual reality and self-paced treadmill walking are combined. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the reproducibility and validity of the 6MWT using the Gait Real-time Analysis Interactive Lab (GRAIL) in patients with COPD and healthy elderly.


METHODOLOGY/RESULTS
Sixty-one patients with COPD and 48 healthy elderly performed two 6MWTs on the GRAIL. Patients performed two overground 6MWTs and healthy elderly performed one overground test. Differences between consecutive 6MWTs and the test conditions (GRAIL vs. overground) were analysed. Patients walked further in the second overground test (24.8 m, 95% CI 15.2-34.4 m, p<0.001) and in the second GRAIL test (26.8 m, 95% CI 13.9-39.6 m). Healthy elderly improved their second GRAIL test (49.6 m, 95% CI 37.0-62.3 m). The GRAIL 6MWT was reproducible (intra-class coefficients = 0.65-0.80). The best GRAIL 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) in patients was shorter than the best overground 6MWD (-27.3 ± 49.1 m, p<0.001). Healthy elderly walked further on the GRAIL than in the overground condition (23.6 ± 41.4 m, p<0.001). Validity of the GRAIL 6MWT was assessed and intra-class coefficient values ranging from 0.74-0.77 were found.


CONCLUSION
The GRAIL is a promising system to assess the 6MWD in patients with COPD and healthy elderly. The GRAIL 6MWD seems to be more comparable to the 6MWDs assessed overground than previous studies on treadmills have reported. Furthermore, good construct validity and reproducibility were established in assessing the 6MWD using the GRAIL in patients with COPD and healthy elderly.
Arterial blood pressure as a predictor of the response to fluid administration in euvolemic nonhypotensive or hypotensive isoflurane-anesthetized dogs.

OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of rapid small-volume fluid administration on arterial blood pressure measurements and associated hemodynamic variables in isoflurane-anesthetized euvolemic dogs with or without experimentally induced hypotension.


DESIGN
Prospective, randomized, controlled study.


ANIMALS
13 healthy dogs.


PROCEDURES
Isoflurane-anesthetized dogs were randomly assigned to conditions of nonhypotension or hypotension (mean arterial blood pressure, 45 to 50 mm Hg) and treatment with lactated Ringer's solution (LRS) or hetastarch (3 or 10 mL/kg [1.4 or 4.5 mL/lb] dose in a 5-minute period or 3 mL/kg dose in a 1-minute period [4 or 5 dogs/treatment; ≥ 10-day interval between treatments]). Hemodynamic variables were recorded before and for up to 45 minutes after fluid administration.


RESULTS
IV administration of 10 mL/kg doses of LRS or hetastarch in a 5-minute period increased right atrial and pulmonary arterial pressures and cardiac output (CO) when dogs were nonhypotensive or hypotensive, compared with findings before fluid administration; durations of these effects were greater after hetastarch administration. Intravenous administration of 3 mL of hetastarch/kg in a 5-minute period resulted in an increase in CO when dogs were nonhypotensive. Intravenous administration of 3 mL/kg doses of LRS or hetastarch in a 1-minute period increased right atrial pressure and CO when dogs were nonhypotensive or hypotensive.


CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Administration of LRS or hetastarch (3 or 10 mL/kg dose in a 5-minute period or 3 mL/kg dose in a 1-minute period) improved CO in isoflurane-anesthetized euvolemic dogs with or without hypotension. Overall, arterial blood pressure measurements were a poor predictor of the hemodynamic response to fluid administration.
PHOTOPHYSICS OF FULLERENE-DOPED MACROMOLECULES: NONLINEAR ABSORBERS, DIFFRACTIVE ELEMENTS, AND SPATIAL LIGHT MODULATORS

1, , have stimulated a search for new media, which absorb the laser irradiation efficiently over broad spectral range and in wide incident energy region. The π-conjugated organic materials are promising compounds for these purposes because they allow their physical properties to be modified by doping with various impurities, including fullerenes. In the present paper the fullerene-doping effect on spectral, nonlinear optical properties, and dynamic parameters of conjugated organic systems based on 2-cyclooctylamino-5-nitropyridine, polyimide, polyaniline, etc. has been studied. A fullerene introduction in these materials has been used due to high electron affinity of fullerenes (2.6–2.7 eV) that allows the intermolecular donor-acceptor interaction to be reinforced. 4 The new charge transfer complex developed provokes new nanostructures potentials. ae This complex is of a higher excited state absorption cross-section than the ground state one. That is why, fullerene-doped systems are reverse saturable absorption materials and may be used for a sensor and eyes protection from high laser irradiation. ae Fullerene sensitization and complex formation reveal new spectral and energy ranges. The bathochromic shift is observed and new absorption band in the IR spectral range appears in the fullerene-doped materials. ae The new field gradient is formed as the charge transfer path changes (the charge is transferred from the intramolecular donor fragment not to the intramolecular acceptor one but to fullerene). As the result, the photorefractive effect is possible in these structures. The large laserinduced change in the refractive index predicts large nonlinear refraction and third order susceptibility. ae As a new way, the fullerene-doped complex influences the rotation ability of liquid crystals dipoles. The temporal characteristics of nematic LC cells have been improved at least by one order of magnitude. Experimental Materials. 3-5 % solutions of conjugated materials in 1,1,2,2– tetrachloroethane (TClE) were used. The solutions were doped with fullerenes C60 or/and C70. The fullerene concentration was varied from 0.2 wt.% to 5 wt.%. It should be noticed that fullerenes are of relatively high solubility (about 5.3 mg mL -1 ) 5 in TClE. 2-cyclooctylamino-5-nitropyridine, polyimide, polyaniline, and dispersed nematic liquid crystal compounds based on materials mentioned above were used. 2.5–5 µm thick films were spun on the glass or quarts substrates. 10-12 µm thick liquid crystal structures were prepared under condition when the refractive index of ordinary wave was coincided with the refractive index of conjugated materials. A general view of the films obtained based on the materials treated was presented in paper. 6
Cosmo : A Life-like Animated Pedagogical Agent with Deictic Believability

Life-like animated interface agents for knowledgebased learning environments can provide timely, customized advice to support students' problem solving. Because of their strong visual presence, they hold signi cant promise for substantially increasing students' enjoyment of their learning experiences. A key problem posed by life-like agents that inhabit arti cial worlds is deictic believability. In the same manner that humans refer to objects in their environment through judicious combinations of speech, locomotion, and gesture, animated agents should be able to move through their environment, and point to and refer to objects appropriately as they provide problemsolving advice. In this paper we describe a framework for achieving deictic believability in animated agents. A deictic behavior planner exploits a world model and the evolving explanation plan as it selects and coordinates locomotive, gestural, and speech behaviors. The resulting behaviors and utterances are believable, and the references are unambiguous. This approach to spatial deixis has been implemented in a life-like animated agent, Cosmo, who inhabits a learning environment for the domain of Internet packet routing. The product of a large multidisciplinary team of computer scientists, 3D modelers, graphic artists, and animators, Cosmo provides realtime advice to students that is \deictically believable" as they escort packets through a virtual world of interconnected routers.
Assessment of maturity models for smart cities supported by maturity model design principles

The concept of smart cities has gained relevance over the years. City leaders plan investments with the aim of evolving the city towards a smart city. Several models and frameworks, of which maturity models, provide directions or support such investment decisions. Nevertheless, it is not always clear whether the maturity models developed so far are able to fulfil their proposed objectives. This paper identifies smart city maturity models and assesses them, taking into account an approach based on the design principles framework proposed by Pöppelbuß & Röglinger [1]. The main objective of this paper is to infer on the relevance of current maturity models for smart cities, taking into account their purpose. Furthermore, it aims at creating awareness towards the need for completeness when developing a maturity model.
Bit-pragmatic deep neural network computing

Deep Neural Networks expose a high degree of parallelism, making them amenable to highly data parallel architectures. However, data-parallel architectures often accept inefficiency in individual computations for the sake of overall efficiency. We show that on average, activation values of convolutional layers during inference in modern Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) contain 92% zero bits. Processing these zero bits entails ineffectual computations that could be skipped. We propose Pragmatic (PRA), a massively data-parallel architecture that eliminates most of the ineffectual computations on-the-fly, improving performance and energy efficiency compared to state-of-the-art high-performance accelerators [5]. The idea behind PRA is deceptively simple: use serial-parallel shift-and-add multiplication while skipping the zero bits of the serial input. However, a straightforward implementation based on shift-and-add multiplication yields unacceptable area, power and memory access overheads compared to a conventional bit-parallel design. PRA incorporates a set of design decisions to yield a practical, area and energy efficient design.
 Measurements demonstrate that for convolutional layers, PRA is 4.31X faster than DaDianNao [5] (DaDN) using a 16-bit fixed-point representation. While PRA requires 1.68X more area than DaDN, the performance gains yield a 1.70X increase in energy efficiency in a 65nm technology. With 8-bit quantized activations, PRA is 2.25X faster and 1.31X more energy efficient than an 8-bit version of DaDN.
“One Teabag Is Better than Four”: Participants Response to the Discontinuation of 2% PRO2000/5 Microbicide Gel in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

INTRODUCTION
The Microbicides Development Programme evaluated the safety and effectiveness of 0.5% and 2% PRO2000/5 microbicide gels in reducing the risk of vaginally acquired HIV. In February 2008 the Independent Data Monitoring Committee recommended that evaluation of 2% PRO2000/5 gel be discontinued due to futility. The Africa Centre site systematically collected participant responses to this discontinuation.


METHODS
Clinic and field staff completed field reports using ethnographic participant observation techniques. In-depth-interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with participants discontinued from 2% gel. A total of 72 field reports, 12 in-depth-interviews and 3 focus groups with 250 women were completed for this analysis. Retention of discontinued participants was also analysed. Qualitative data was analysed using NVivo 2 and quantitative data using STATA 10.0.


RESULTS
Participants responded initially with fear that discontinuation was due to harm, followed by acceptance after effective messaging, and finally with disappointment. Participants reported that their initial fear was exacerbated by being contacted and advised to visit the clinic for information about the closure. Operational changes were subsequently made to the contact procedures. By incorporating feedback from participants, messages were continuously revised to ensure that information was comprehensible and misconceptions were addressed quickly thereby enabling participants to accept the discontinuation. Participants were disappointed that 2% PRO2000/5 was being excluded as a HIV prevention option, but also that they would no longer have access to gel that improved their sexual relationships with their partners and assisted condom negotiations. In total 238 women were discontinued from gel and 185 (78%) went on to complete their scheduled follow-up period.


DISCUSSION
The use of qualitative social science techniques allowed the site team to amend operational procedures and messaging throughout the discontinuation period. This proved instrumental in ensuring that the discontinuation was successfully completed in a manner that was both understandable and acceptable to participants.


TRIAL REGISTRATION
Current Controlled Trials. ISRCTN64716212.
Dietary total antioxidant capacity and mortality in the PREDIMED study.

PURPOSE
The aim of the present study was to assess the association between the dietary total antioxidant capacity, the dietary intake of different antioxidants and mortality in a Mediterranean population at high cardiovascular disease risk.


METHODS
A total of 7,447 subjects from the PREDIMED study (multicenter, parallel group, randomized controlled clinical trial), were analyzed treating data as an observational cohort. Different antioxidant vitamin intake and total dietary antioxidant capacity were calculated from a validated 137-item food frequency questionnaire at baseline and updated yearly. Deaths were ascertained through contact with families and general practitioners, review of medical records and consultation of the National Death Index. Cox regression models were fitted to assess the relationship between dietary total antioxidant capacity and mortality. Dietary total antioxidant capacity was estimated using ferric-reducing antioxidant power assays.


RESULTS
A total of 319 deaths were recorded after a median follow-up of 4.3 years. Subjects belonging to the upper quintile of antioxidant capacity were younger, ex-smokers, with high educational level, and more active and had higher alcohol intake. Multivariable-adjusted models revealed no statistically significant difference between total dietary antioxidant capacity and mortality (Q5 vs. Q1 ref HR 0.85; 95% CI 0.60-1.20) neither for the intake of all the vitamins studied.


CONCLUSIONS
No statistically significant association was found between antioxidant capacity and total mortality in elderly subjects at high cardiovascular risk.
A Three-Layer Architecture for E-Contract Enforcement in an E-Service Environment

In an e-service environment, contracts are important for attaining business process interoperability and enforcing their proper enactment. An e-contract is the computerized facilitation or automation of a contract in a crossorganizational business process. We find that e-contract enforcement can be divided into multiple layers and perspectives, which has not been adequately addressed in the literature. This problem is challenging as it involves monitoring the enactment of business processes in counter parties outside an organization’s boundary. This paper presents an architecture for e-contract enforcement with three layers, viz., document layer, business layer, and implementation layer. In the document layer, contracts are composed of different types of clauses. In the business layer, e-contract enforcement activities are defined through the realization of contract clauses as business rules in event-condition-action (ECA) form. In the implementation layer, cross-organizational e-contract enforcement interfaces are implemented with contemporary Enterprise Java Bean and Web services. We present a methodology for the engineering of econtracts enforcement from a high-level document-view down to the implementation layer based on this architecture, using a supply-chain example. As a result, econtracts can be seamlessly defined and enforced. Conceptual models of various layers are given in the Unified Modeling Language (UML).
Effectiveness of a cognitive behavioural therapy-based rehabilitation programme (Progressive Goal Attainment Program) for patients who are work-disabled due to back pain: study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND
Psychologically informed rehabilitation programmes such as the Progressive Goal Attainment Program (PGAP) have the potential to address pain-related disability by targeting known psychological factors that inhibit rehabilitation progress. However, no randomised controlled trials of this intervention exist and it has not been evaluated in the Irish health service context. Our objective was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the PGAP in a multicentre randomised controlled trial with patients who are work-disabled due to back pain.


METHODS AND DESIGN
Adult patients (ages 18 years and older) with nonmalignant back pain who are work-disabled because of chronic pain and not involved in litigation in relation to their pain were invited to take part. Patients were those who show at least one elevated psychosocial risk factor (above the 50th percentile) on pain disability, fear-based activity avoidance, fatigue, depression or pain catastrophizing. Following screening, patients are randomised equally to the intervention or control condition within each of the seven trial locations. Patients allocated to the control condition receive usual medical care only. Patients allocated to the PGAP intervention condition attend a maximum of 10 weekly individual sessions of structured active rehabilitation in addition to usual care. Sessions are delivered by a clinical psychologist and focus on graded activity, goal-setting, pacing activity and cognitive-behavioural therapy techniques to address possible barriers to rehabilitation.The primary analysis will be based on the amount of change on the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire posttreatment. We will also measure changes in work status, pain intensity, catastrophizing, depression, fear avoidance and fatigue. Outcome measures are collected at baseline, posttreatment and 12-month follow-up. Health-related resource use is also collected pre- and posttreatment and at 12-month follow-up to evaluate cost-effectiveness.


DISCUSSION
This study will be the first randomized controlled trial of the PGAP in chronic pain patients and will provide important information about the clinical and cost effectiveness of the programme as well as its feasibility in the context of the Irish health service.


TRIAL REGISTRATION
Current Controlled Trials: ISRCTN61650533.