LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Do patients' beliefs act as barriers to effective pain management behaviors and outcomes in patients with cancer-related or noncancer-related pain?

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES
To understand the role of patients' beliefs in pain management in a cancer population treated in a primary care setting.


DESIGN
Secondary analyses of data from the baseline phase of a randomized study.


SETTING
Eight of the largest primary care clinics in a managed care system.


SAMPLE
342 patients with cancer who reported pain that would not dissipate on its own or when treated by over-the-counter medication; approximately half had pain that was not cancer related.


METHODS
Telephone interviews.


MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES
Patients' demographic characteristics, self-reported history and beliefs about pain and pain treatment, willingness to report pain and take pain medication, recent pain intensity, and administrative data on opioid prescriptions.


FINDINGS
Patients' beliefs were not associated strongly with reporting pain or taking medication. Regression analyses revealed that patients' beliefs played a limited role in predicting recent pain intensity, whereas the providers' pain management practices seemed to have a far greater predictive role. Additionally, among patients with recent moderate to severe pain, the relationship between patients' beliefs and their history of pain and pain treatment further suggests that beliefs are likely to be formed, in part, as a consequence of the care they receive. Results did not depend on whether the cause of pain was related to cancer.


CONCLUSION
Patients' beliefs were important barriers to effective pain management, either as direct or indirect determinants of pain. Providers' pain management practices were more likely to determine the level of pain relief achieved and the beliefs their patients came to hold based on their personal experiences.


IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING
Nursing interventions should examine the impact of evaluating patients' beliefs in conjunction with pain assessment on pain-related behaviors and pain relief, as well as the ability of patient educational efforts to strengthen accurate beliefs and enable patients to assert themselves when interacting with less knowledgeable providers.
Advanced supervised learning in multi-layer perceptrons — From backpropagation to adaptive learning algorithms

Computer Standards and Interfaces Special Issue on Neural Networks (5), 1994 Advanced Supervised Learning in Multi-layer Perceptrons From Backpropagation to Adaptive Learning Algorithms Martin Riedmiller Institut f ur Logik, Komplexit at und Deduktionssyteme University of Karlsruhe W-76128 Karlsruhe FRG riedml@ira.uka.de Abstract| Since the presentation of the backpropagation algorithm [1] a vast variety of improvements of the technique for training the weights in a feed-forward neural network have been proposed. The following article introduces the concept of supervised learning in multi-layer perceptrons based on the technique of gradient descent. Some problems and drawbacks of the original backpropagation learning procedure are discussed, eventually leading to the development of more sophisticated techniques. This article concentrates on adaptive learning strategies. Some of the most popular learning algorithms are described and discussed according to their classi cation in terms of global and local adaptation strategies. The behavior of several learning procedures on some popular benchmark problems is reported, thereby illuminating convergence, robustness, and scaling properties of the respective algorithms.
A personalized recommender system for the cosmetic business

In order to have an effective command of the relationship between customers and products, we have constructed a personalized recommender system which incorporates content-based, collaborative filtering, and data mining techniques. We have also introduced a new scoring approach to determine customers’ interest scores on products. To demonstrate how our system works, we used it to analyze real cosmetic data and generate a recommender score table for sellers to refer to. After tracking its performance for 1 year, we have obtained quite impressive results. q 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
An experience with angioplasty and stenting of carotid artery stenosis with embolic protection devices.

BACKGROUND
Carotid artery stenting has recently been recommended as an alternative to carotid endarterectomy by some clinicians.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate success rate, as well as in-hospital and 30-day adverse events in our first experience in Iran for carotid artery stenting with protection devices.


METHODS
From December 2003 through July 2004, we performed 12 consecutive (9 males and 3 females) carotid artery stenting procedures. The patients had a mean age of 62 (range: 46 - 78) years. Indications for carotid artery stenting included primary lesions in all patients, stenosis > or =50% in symptomatic, and stenosis > or =80% in asymptomatic patients.


RESULTS
Carotid artery stenting was technically successful in all 12 patients. The mean +/- SD severity of stenosis before carotid artery stenting was 85 +/- 14% as compared with 15 +/- 10% after the procedure. No periprocedural death occurred. No in-hospital or 30-day minor or major stroke/death was observed.


CONCLUSION
Percutaneous stenting of the carotid artery stenosis, when a cerebral protection device is used, is feasible and effective but not without technical difficulties and potential complications. We, therefore, recommend carotid artery stenting for patients who are at high risk for undergoing carotid endarterectomy. Nevertheless, a long-learning curve may be needed for anyone who wishes to start this technique.
Fiber-optic chemical sensors and biosensors.

This biannual review covers the time period from January 2002 to January 2004 and is written in continuation of previous reviews (A1, A2). An electronic search in SciFinder and MedLine resulted in 532 hits. Since the number of citations in this review is limited, a stringent selection had to be made. Priority was given to fiberoptic sensors (FOS) for defined chemical, environmental, and biochemical significance and to new schemes and materials. The review does not include (a) FOS that obviously have been rediscovered; (b) FOS for nonchemical species such as temperature, current and voltage, stress, strain, and displacement, for structural integrity (e.g., of constructions), liquid level, and radiation; and (c) FOS for monitoring purely technical processes such as injection molding, extrusion, or oil drilling, even though these are important applications of optical fiber technology. Fiber optics serve analytical sciences in several ways. First, they enable optical spectroscopy to be performed on sites inaccessible to conventional spectroscopy, over large distances, or even on several spots along the fiber. Second, fiber optics, in being waveguides, enable less common methods of interrogation, in particular evanescent wave spectroscopy. Fibers are available now with transmissions over a wide spectral range. Major fields of applications are in medical and chemical analysis, molecular biotechnology, marine and environmental analysis, industrial production monitoring and bioprocess control, and the automotive industry. Note: In this article, sensing refers to a continuous process, while probing refers to single-shot testing. FOS are based on either direct or indirect (indicator-based) sensing schemes. In the first, the intrinsic optical properties of the analyte are measured, for example its refractive index, absorption, or emission. In the second, the color or fluorescence of an immobilized indicator, label, or any other optically detectable bioprobe is monitored. Active current areas of research include advanced methods of interrogation such as time-resolved or spatially resolved spectroscopy, evanescent wave and laser-assisted spectroscopy, surface plasmon resonance, and multidimensional data acquisition. In recent years, fiber bundles also have been employed for purposes of imaging, for biosensor arrays (along with encoding), or as arrays of nonspecific sensors whose individual signals may be processed via artificial neural networks. This review is divided into sections on books and reviews (A), specific sensors for gases and vapors (B), ions and salinity (C), miscellaneous inorganic and organic chemical species (D), and biosensors (E), followed by sections on application-oriented sensor types (F), new sensing schemes (G), and new sensor materials (H), respectively.
Supplementation of a Standardized Extract from Phyllanthus emblica Improves Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Platelet Aggregation in Overweight/Class-1 Obese Adults

The objective of this study (clinicaltrials.gov NCT01858376) was to determine the effect of oral supplementation of a standardized extract of Phyllanthus emblica (CAPROS(®)) on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in overweight adult human subjects from the US population. Overweight/Class-1 obese (body-mass index: 25-35) adult subjects received 500 mg of CAPROS supplement b.i.d for 12 weeks. The study design included two baseline visits followed by 12 weeks of supplementation and then 2 weeks of washout. At all visits, peripheral venous blood was collected in sodium citrate tubes. Lipid profile measurements demonstrated a significant decrease in calculated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein following 12 weeks of CAPROS supplementation when compared to averaged baseline visits. Circulatory high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were significantly decreased after 12 weeks of supplementation. In addition, both ADP- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation was significantly downregulated following 12 weeks of supplementation. Overall, the study suggests that oral CAPROS supplementation may provide beneficial effects in overweight/Class-1 obese adults by lowering multiple global CVD risk factors.
Long-term outcome and safety of transanal colonic irrigation for neurogenic bowel dysfunction

Study design:Long-term follow-up study.Objectives:Short-term results find transanal colonic irrigation (TAI) favourable in the treatment of neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD). Therefore, long-term results need to be described.Setting:Department of Surgery P, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.Methods:Between 1994 and 2007, 211 (115 female) patients with NBD (age: 7–81 years (median 49)) were introduced to TAI. One hundred and seventy-three patients had spinal cord injury and 38 had other neurological disorders. Data were obtained from hospital records and a mailed questionnaire. Treatment was considered successful in patients still using TAI, patients who had used TAI until they died and patients whose symptoms had resolved while using TAI.Results:Successful outcome was achieved in 98 (46%) patients after a mean follow-up of 19 months (range 1–114 months). A Kaplan–Meier plot showed a dropout of 20% in the first 3 months. After 3 years, the rate of success was 35% and remained almost unchanged afterwards. A regression analysis showed male gender (odds ratio (OR) 2.1), mixed symptoms (OR 2.9) and prolonged colorectal transit time (OR 2.4) to be significantly associated with successful outcome. One non-lethal bowel perforation occurred in approximately 50 000 irrigations (0.002%), whereas minor side effects were observed in 48%.Conclusion:After a mean follow-up of 19 months, 46% was successfully treated. The rate of success was 35% after 3 years and remained almost unchanged afterwards. TAI is safe and can be introduced to most patients suffering from NBD.
Tolerability and pharmacokinetics of the nitrone NXY-059 in patients with acute stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Increased free radical formation contributes to the damage caused to the brain by acute ischemia. NXY-059 is a nitrone-based free radical trapping agent in development for acute stroke. NXY-059 has neuroprotective efficacy when given 5 hours after onset of transient focal ischemia in the rat.


METHODS
This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group, multicenter study that evaluated the safety and tolerability of 2 NXY-059 dosing regimens compared with placebo within 24 hours of acute stroke. NXY-059 was administered as either 250 mg over 1 hour followed by 85 mg/h for 71 hours or 500 mg over 1 hour followed by 170 mg/h for 71 hours; plasma concentrations were monitored. Neurological and functional outcomes were recorded up to 30 days.


RESULTS
One hundred fifty patients were recruited, of whom 147 received study treatments and completed assessments (50 placebo, 48 lower-dose NXY-059, 49 higher-dose NXY-059). Mean (+/-SD) age was 68 (+/-10) years, and baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 7.9 (+/-6.2). Serious adverse events occurred in 16%, 23%, and 16% of patients, respectively, with deaths in 0%, 10%, and 4%, largely following the proportions with primary intracerebral hemorrhage (6%, 16%, and 8%). Hyperglycemia, headache, and fever were common but not related to treatment. The mean unbound steady state NXY-059 plasma concentrations were 25 and 45 micromol/L, respectively. Population pharmacokinetic analysis estimated clearance to be 4.6 L/h.


CONCLUSIONS
NXY-059 was well tolerated in patients with an acute stroke. The testing of higher doses in future trials may be justified.
Enhancing K-Means Algorithm with Initial Cluster Centers Derived from Data Partitioning along the Data Axis with the Highest Variance

In this paper, we propose an algorithm to compute initial cluster centers for K-means clustering. Data in a cell is partitioned using a cutting plane that divides cell in two smaller cells. The plane is perpendicular to the data axis with the highest variance and is designed to reduce the sum squared errors of the two cells as much as possible, while at the same time keep the two cells far apart as possible. Cells are partitioned one at a time until the number of cells equals to the predefined number of clusters, K. The centers of the K cells become the initial cluster centers for K-means. The experimental results suggest that the proposed algorithm is effective, converge to better clustering results than those of the random initialization method. The research also indicated the proposed algorithm would greatly improve the likelihood of every cluster containing some data in it. Keywords—Clustering algorithm, K-means algorithm, Data partitioning, Initial cluster centers.
The Conflicting Evidence of Three-dimensional Displays in Laparoscopy: A Review of Systems Old and New.

OBJECTIVE
To describe studies evaluating 3 generations of three-dimensional (3D) displays over the course of 20 years.


SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA
Most previous studies have analyzed performance differences during 3D and two-dimensional (2D) laparoscopy without using appropriate controls that equated conditions in all respects except for 3D or 2D viewing.


METHODS
Databases search consisted of MEDLINE and PubMed. The reference lists for all relevant articles were also reviewed for additional articles. The search strategy employed the use of keywords "3D," "Laparoscopic," "Laparoscopy," "Performance," "Education," "Learning," and "Surgery" in appropriate combinations.


RESULTS
Our current understanding of the performance metrics between 3D and 2D laparoscopy is mostly from the research with flawed study designs. This review has been written in a qualitative style to explain in detail how prior research has underestimated the potential benefit of 3D displays and the improvements that must be made in future experiments comparing 3D and 2D displays to better determine any advantage of using one display or the other.


CONCLUSIONS
Individual laparoscopic performance in 3D may be affected by a multitude of factors. It is crucial for studies to measure participant stereoscopic ability, control for system crosstalk, and use validated measures of performance.
Three Perspectives for Evaluating Human-Robot Interaction

The experience of interacting with a robot has been shown to be very different in comparison to people’s interaction experience with other technologies and artifacts, and often has a strong social or emotional component – a fact that raises concerns related to evaluation. In this paper we outline how this difference is due in part to the general complexity of robots’ overall context of interaction, related to their dynamic presence in the real world and their tendency to invoke a sense of agency. A growing body of work in Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) focuses on exploring this overall context and tries to unpack what exactly is unique about interaction with robots, often through leveraging evaluation methods and frameworks designed for more-traditional HCI. We raise the concern that, due to these differences, HCI evaluation methods should be applied to HRI with care, and we present a survey of HCI evaluation techJames E. Young University of Calgary, Canada, The University of Tokyo, Japan E-mail: jim.young@ucalgary.ca JaYoung Sung Georgia Institute of Technology, GA, U.S.A. E-mail: jsung@cc.gatech.edu Amy Voida University of Calgary, Canada E-mail: avoida@ucalgary.ca Ehud Sharlin University of Calgary, Canada E-mail: ehud@cpsc.ucalgary.ca Takeo Igarashi The University of Tokyo, Japan, JST ERATO, Japan E-mail: takeo@acm.org Henrik I. Christensen Georgia Institute of Technology, GA, U.S.A. E-mail: hic@cc.gatech.edu Rebecca E. Grinter Georgia Institute of Technology, GA, U.S.A. E-mail: beki@cc.gatech.edu niques from the perspective of the unique challenges of robots. Further, we have developed a new set of tools to aid evaluators in targeting and unpacking the holistic human-robot interaction experience. Our technique surrounds the development of a map of interaction experience possibilities and, as part of this, we present a set of three perspectives for targeting specific components of interaction experience, and demonstrate how these tools can be practically used in evaluation. CR Subject Classification H.1.2 [Models and principles]: user/machine systems–software psychology
Appearance of the fetal posterior fossa at 11 + 3 to 13 + 6 gestational weeks on transabdominal ultrasound examination.

OBJECTIVES
To describe the sonographic appearance of the structures of the posterior cranial fossa in fetuses at 11 + 3 to 13 + 6 weeks of pregnancy and to determine whether abnormal findings of the brain and spine can be detected by sonography at this time.


METHODS
This was a prospective study including 692 fetuses whose mothers attended Innsbruck Medical University Hospital for first-trimester sonography. In 3% (n = 21) of cases, measurement was prevented by fetal position. Of the remaining 671 cases, in 604 there was either a normal anomaly scan at 20 weeks or delivery of a healthy child and in these cases the transcerebellar diameter (TCD) and the anteroposterior diameter of the cisterna magna (CM), measured at 11 + 3 to 13 + 6 weeks, were analyzed. In 502 fetuses, the anteroposterior diameter of the fourth ventricle (4V) was also measured. In 25 fetuses, intra- and interobserver repeatability was calculated.


RESULTS
We observed a linear correlation between crown-rump length (CRL) and CM (CM = 0.0536 × CRL - 1.4701; R2 = 0.688), TCD (TCD = 0.1482 × CRL - 1.2083; R2 = 0.701) and 4V (4V = 0.0181 × CRL + 0.9186; R2 = 0.118). In three patients with posterior fossa cysts, measurements significantly exceeded the reference values. One fetus with spina bifida had an obliterated CM and the posterior border of the 4V could not be visualized.


CONCLUSIONS
Transabdominal sonographic assessment of the posterior fossa is feasible in the first trimester. Measurements of the 4V, the CM and the TCD performed at this time are reliable. The established reference values assist in detecting fetal anomalies. However, findings must be interpreted carefully, as some supposed malformations might be merely delayed development of brain structures.
Overexpression of OsEXPA8, a Root-Specific Gene, Improves Rice Growth and Root System Architecture by Facilitating Cell Extension

Expansins are unique plant cell wall proteins that are involved in cell wall modifications underlying many plant developmental processes. In this work, we investigated the possible biological role of the root-specific α-expansin gene OsEXPA8 in rice growth and development by generating transgenic plants. Overexpression of OsEXPA8 in rice plants yielded pleiotropic phenotypes of improved root system architecture (longer primary roots, more lateral roots and root hairs), increased plant height, enhanced leaf number and enlarged leaf size. Further study indicated that the average cell length in both leaf and root vascular bundles was enhanced, and the cell growth in suspension cultures was increased, which revealed the cellular basis for OsEXPA8-mediated rice plant growth acceleration. Expansins are thought to be a key factor required for cell enlargement and wall loosening. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) technology revealed that average wall stiffness values for 35S::OsEXPA8 transgenic suspension-cultured cells decreased over six-fold compared to wild-type counterparts during different growth phases. Moreover, a prominent change in the wall polymer composition of suspension cells was observed, and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra revealed a relative increase in the ratios of the polysaccharide/lignin content in cell wall compositions of OsEXPA8 overexpressors. These results support a role for expansins in cell expansion and plant growth.
Cannabinoids for treatment of spasticity and other symptoms related to multiple sclerosis (CAMS study): multicentre randomised placebo-controlled trial

BACKGROUND
Multiple sclerosis is associated with muscle stiffness, spasms, pain, and tremor. Much anecdotal evidence suggests that cannabinoids could help these symptoms. Our aim was to test the notion that cannabinoids have a beneficial effect on spasticity and other symptoms related to multiple sclerosis.


METHODS
We did a randomised, placebo-controlled trial, to which we enrolled 667 patients with stable multiple sclerosis and muscle spasticity. 630 participants were treated at 33 UK centres with oral cannabis extract (n=211), Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta9-THC; n=206), or placebo (n=213). Trial duration was 15 weeks. Our primary outcome measure was change in overall spasticity scores, using the Ashworth scale. Analysis was by intention to treat.


FINDINGS
611 of 630 patients were followed up for the primary endpoint. We noted no treatment effect of cannabinoids on the primary outcome (p=0.40). The estimated difference in mean reduction in total Ashworth score for participants taking cannabis extract compared with placebo was 0.32 (95% CI -1.04 to 1.67), and for those taking Delta9-THC versus placebo it was 0.94 (-0.44 to 2.31). There was evidence of a treatment effect on patient-reported spasticity and pain (p=0.003), with improvement in spasticity reported in 61% (n=121, 95% CI 54.6-68.2), 60% (n=108, 52.5-66.8), and 46% (n=91, 39.0-52.9) of participants on cannabis extract, Delta9-THC, and placebo, respectively.


INTERPRETATION
Treatment with cannabinoids did not have a beneficial effect on spasticity when assessed with the Ashworth scale. However, though there was a degree of unmasking among the patients in the active treatment groups, objective improvement in mobility and patients' opinion of an improvement in pain suggest cannabinoids might be clinically useful.