LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Renal and cardiac effects of antihypertensive treatment with ramipril versus metoprolol in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) affects ∼12.5 million people worldwide. Forty percent of patients are diagnosed by 45 years of age. ADPKD is the fourth most common cause for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) worldwide and this disease accounts for 5–10% of renal transplant recipients [1,2]. Therefore, any therapeutic modality that can slow down the natural course history of this disease would have a significant impact on patients’ well-being and would be financially cost-effective. The manuscript by Zeltner et al. in this issue attempts to determine if there is a difference between an angiotensinconverting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor (ramipril) and a beta blocker (metoprolol) when employing first-line therapy in ADPKD patients with hypertension. The study has a number of limitations; some of them recognized by the authors that could influence the conclusion are noted as follows:
Web metrics for managing quality and auditing Croatian hotel web sites – cluster analysis

Intensive use of e-business can provide number of opportunities and actual benefits to companies of all activities and sizes. In general, through the use of web sites companies can create global presence and widen business boundaries. Many organizations now have websites to complement their other activities, but it is likely that a smaller proportion really know how successful their sites are and in what extent they comply with business objectives. A key enabler of web sites measurement is web site analytics and metrics. Web sites analytics especially refers to the use of data collected from a web site to determine which aspects of the web site work towards the business objectives. Advanced web analytics must play an important role in overall company strategy and should converge to web intelligence – a specific part of business intelligence which collect and analyze information collected from web sites and apply them in relevant ‘business’ context. This paper examines the importance of measuring the web site quality of the Croatian hotels. Wide range of web site metrics are discussed and finally a set of 8 dimensions and 44 attributes chosen for the evaluation of Croatian hotel’s web site quality. The objective of the survey conducted on the 30 hotels was to identify different groups of hotel web sites in relation to their quality measured with specific web metrics. Key research question was: can hotel web sites be placed into meaningful groups by consideration of variation in web metrics and number of hotel stars? To confirm the reliability of chosen metrics a Cronbach's alpha test was conducted. Apart from descriptive statistics tools, to answer the posed research question, clustering analysis was conducted and the characteristics of the three clusters were considered. Experiences and best practices of the hotel web sites clusters are taken as the prime source of recommendation for improving web sites quality level. Key-Words: web metrics, hotel web sites, web analytics, web site audit, web site quality, cluster analysis
Machine learning in bioinformatics

This article reviews machine learning methods for bioinformatics. It presents modelling methods, such as supervised classification, clustering and probabilistic graphical models for knowledge discovery, as well as deterministic and stochastic heuristics for optimization. Applications in genomics, proteomics, systems biology, evolution and text mining are also shown.
Anterior dental aesthetics: Dentofacial perspective

The purpose of this series is to convey the principles governing our aesthetic senses. Usually meaning visual perception, aesthetics is not merely limited to the ocular apparatus. The concept of aesthetics encompasses both the time-arts such as music, theatre, literature and film, as well as space-arts such as paintings, sculpture and architecture.
Myofascial Release Therapy in the Treatment of Occupational Mechanical Neck Pain: A Randomized Parallel Group Study.

OBJECTIVE
As myofascial release therapy is currently under development, the objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of myofascial release therapy with manual therapy for treating occupational mechanical neck pain.


DESIGN
A randomized, single-blind parallel group study was developed. The sample (n = 59) was divided into GI, treated with manual therapy, and GII, treated with myofascial release therapy. Variables studied were intensity of neck pain, cervical disability, quality of life, craniovertebral angle, and ranges of cervical motion.


RESULTS
At five sessions, clinical significance was observed in both groups for all the variables studied, except for flexion in GI. At this time point, an intergroup statistical difference was observed, which showed that GII had better craniovertebral angle (P = 0.014), flexion (P = 0.021), extension (P = 0.003), right side bending (P = 0.001), and right rotation (P = 0.031). A comparative analysis between therapies after intervention showed statistical differences indicating that GII had better craniovertebral angle (P = 0.000), right (P = 0.000) and left (P = 0.009) side bending, right (P = 0.024) and left (P = 0.046) rotations, and quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
The treatment of occupational mechanical neck pain by myofascial release therapy seems to be more effective than manual therapy for correcting the advanced position of the head, recovering range of motion in side bending and rotation, and improving quality of life.
Adtranz: A Mobile Computing System for Maintenance and Collaboration

The paper describes the mobile information and communication aspects of a next generation train maintenance and diagnosis system, discusses the working prototype features, and research results. Wearable/ Mobile computers combined with the wireless technology improve efficiency and accuracy of the maintenance work. This technology enables maintenance personnel at the site to communicate with a remote helpdesk / expertise center through digital data, audio, and image.
Immune effector mechanisms implicated in atherosclerosis: from mice to humans.

According to the traditional view, atherosclerosis results from a passive buildup of cholesterol in the artery wall. Yet, burgeoning evidence implicates inflammation and immune effector mechanisms in the pathogenesis of this disease. Both innate and adaptive immunity operate during atherogenesis and link many traditional risk factors to altered arterial functions. Inflammatory pathways have become targets in the quest for novel preventive and therapeutic strategies against cardiovascular disease, a growing contributor to morbidity and mortality worldwide. Here we review current experimental and clinical knowledge of the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis through an immunological lens and how host defense mechanisms essential for survival of the species actually contribute to this chronic disease but also present new opportunities for its mitigation.
Lattice-Based WOM Codes for Multilevel Flash Memories

We consider t-write codes for write-once memories with n cells that can store multiple levels. Assuming an underlying lattice-based construction and using the continuous approximation, we derive upper bounds on the worst-case sum-rate optimal and fixed-rate optimal n-cell t-write write-regions for the asymptotic case of continuous levels. These are achieved using hyperbolic shaping regions that have a gain of 1 bit/cell over cubic shaping regions. Motivated by these hyperbolic write-regions, we discuss construction and encoding of codebooks for cells with discrete support. We present a polynomial-time algorithm to assign messages to the codebooks and show that it achieves the optimal sum-rate for any given codebook when n = 2. Using this approach, we construct codes that achieve high sum-rate. We describe an alternative formulation of the message assignment problem for n≥ 3, a problem which remains open.
Assessment of the appearance, location and morphology of mandibular lingual foramina using cone beam computed tomography.

OBJECTIVES
To investigate the appearance, location and morphology of mandibular lingual foramina (MLF) in the Chinese Han population using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).


METHODS
CBCT images of the mandibular body in 200 patients (103 female patients and 97 male patients, age range 10-70 years) were retrospectively analysed to identify MLF. The canal number, location and direction were assessed. Additionally, the diameter of the lingual foramen, the distance between the alveolar crest and the lingual foramen, the distance between the tooth apex and the lingual foramen and the distance from the mandibular border to the lingual foramen were examined to describe the MLF characteristics. Gender and age differences with respect to foramina were also studied.


RESULTS
CBCT can be utilized to visualise lingual foramina. In this study, 683 lingual foramina were detected in 200 CBCT scans, with 538 (78.77%) being ≤1 mm in diameter and 145 (21.23%) being >1 mm. In total, 85.07% of MLF are median lingual canals (MLC) and 14.93% are lateral lingual canals (LLC). Two typical types of lingual foramina were identified according to their relationship with the tooth apex. Most lingual foramina (74.08%) were found below the tooth apex, and those above the tooth apex were much smaller in diameter. Male patients had statistically larger lingual foramina. The distance between the lingual foramen and the tooth apex changed with increasing age.


CONCLUSIONS
Determination of the presence, position and size of lingual foramina is important before performing a surgical procedure. Careful implant-prosthetic treatment planning is particularly important in male and/or elderly patients because of the structural characteristics of their lingual foramina.
Adductor canal block versus femoral nerve block for analgesia after total knee arthroplasty: a randomized, double-blind study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Femoral nerve block (FNB), a commonly used postoperative pain treatment after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), reduces quadriceps muscle strength essential for mobilization. In contrast, adductor canal block (ACB) is predominately a sensory nerve block. We hypothesized that ACB preserves quadriceps muscle strength as compared with FNB (primary end point) in patients after TKA. Secondary end points were effects on morphine consumption, pain, adductor muscle strength, morphine-related complications, and mobilization ability.


METHODS
We performed a double-blind, randomized, controlled study of patients scheduled for TKA with spinal anesthesia. The patients were randomized to receive either a continuous ACB or an FNB via a catheter (30-mL 0.5% ropivacaine given initially, followed by a continuous infusion of 0.2% ropivacaine, 8 mL/h for 24 hours). Muscle strength was assessed with a handheld dynamometer, and we used the percentile change from baseline for comparisons. The trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (Identifier: NCT01470391).


RESULTS
We enrolled 54 patients, of which 48 were analyzed. Quadriceps strength as a percentage of baseline was significantly higher in the ACB group compared with the FNB group: (median [range]) 52% [31-71] versus 18% [4-48], (95% confidence interval, 8-41; P = 0.004). There was no difference between the groups regarding morphine consumption (P = 0.94), pain at rest (P = 0.21), pain during flexion of the knee (P = 0.16), or adductor muscle strength (P = 0.39); neither was there a difference in morphine-related adverse effects or mobilization ability (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Adductor canal block preserved quadriceps muscle strength better than FNB, without a significant difference in postoperative pain.
Non-monopolizable caches: Low-complexity mitigation of cache side channel attacks

We propose a flexibly-partitioned cache design that either drastically weakens or completely eliminates cache-based side channel attacks. The proposed Non-Monopolizable (NoMo) cache dynamically reserves cache lines for active threads and prevents other co-executing threads from evicting reserved lines. Unreserved lines remain available for dynamic sharing among threads. NoMo requires only simple modifications to the cache replacement logic, making it straightforward to adopt. It requires no software support enabling it to automatically protect pre-existing binaries. NoMo results in performance degradation of about 1% on average. We demonstrate that NoMo can provide strong security guarantees for the AES and Blowfish encryption algorithms.
Transforming Constructivist Learning into Action: Design Thinking in education

an ever changing society of the 21st century, there is a demand to equip students with meta competences going beyond cognitive knowledge. Education, therefore, needs a transition from transferring knowledge to developing individual potentials with the help of constructivist learning. Advantages of constructivist learning, and criteria for its realisation have been well-determined through theoretical findings in pedagogy (Reich 2008, de Corte, OECD 2010). However, the practical implementation leaves a lot to be desired (Gardner 2010, Wagner 2011). Knowledge acquisition is still fragmented into isolated subjects. Lesson layouts are not efficiently designed to help teachers execute a holistic and interdisciplinary learning. As is shown in this paper, teachers are having negative classroom experience with project work or interdisciplinary teaching, due to a constant feeling of uncertainty and chaos, as well as lack of a process to follow. We therefore conclude: there is a missing link between theoretical findings and demands by pedagogy science and its practical implementation. We claim that, Design Thinking as a team-based learning process offers teachers support towards practice-oriented and holistic modes of constructivist learning in projects. Our case study confirms an improvement of classroom experience for teacher and student alike when using Design Thinking. This leads to a positive attitude towards constructivist learning and an increase of its implementation in education. The ultimate goal of this paper is to prove that Design Thinking gets teachers empowered to facilitate constructivist learning in order to foster 21st century skills. Introduction The mandate of schools is to unfold the personality of every student and to build a strong character with a sense of responsibility for democracy and community. This implies developing skills of reflection, interpretation of different information and other complex meta-competences. Science, business and social organisations alike describe a strong need for a set of skills and competences, often referred to as 21st century skills
Readmission after robot-assisted radical cystectomy: outcomes and predictors at 90-day follow-up.

OBJECTIVE
To characterize the outcomes and predictors of readmission after robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) during early (30-day) and late (31-90-day) postoperative periods.


METHODS
We retrospectively evaluated our prospectively maintained RARC quality assurance database of 272 consecutive patients operated between 2005 and 2012. We evaluated the relationship of readmission with perioperative outcomes and examined possible predictors during the postoperative period.


RESULTS
Overall 30- and 90-day mortality was 0.7% and 4.8%, respectively, with 25.5% patients readmitted within 90 days after RARC (61% of them were readmitted within 30 days and 39% were readmitted between 31-90 days postoperatively). Infection-related problems were the most common cause of readmission during early and late periods. Overall operative time and obesity were significantly associated with readmission (P = .034 and .033, respectively). Body mass index and female gender were independent predictors of 90-day readmission (P = .004 and .014, respectively). Having any type of complication correlated with 90-day readmission (P = .0045); meanwhile, when complications were graded on the basis of Clavien grading system, only grade 1-2 complications statistically correlated with readmission (P = .046). Four patients needed reoperation (2 patients in early "for appendicitis and adhesive small bowel obstruction" and 2 in late "for ureteroenteric stricture" readmission); meanwhile, 6 patients needed percutaneous procedures (4 patients in early "1 for anastomotic leak and 3 for pelvic collections" and 2 "for pelvic collections and ureterocutaneous fistula" in late readmission).


CONCLUSION
The rate of readmission within 90 days after RARC is significant. Female gender and body mass index are independent predictors of readmission. Outcomes at 90 days provide more thorough results, essential to proper patient counseling.
FPGA modeling of diverse superscalar processors

There is increasing interest in using Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) as platforms for computer architecture simulation. This paper is concerned with modeling superscalar processors with FPGAs. To be transformative, the FPGA modeling framework should meet three criteria. (1) Configurable: The framework should be able to model diverse superscalar processors, like a software model. In particular, it should be possible to vary superscalar parameters such as fetch, issue, and retire widths, depths of pipeline stages, queue sizes, etc. (2) Automatic: The framework should be able to automatically and efficiently map any one of its superscalar processor configurations to the FPGA. (3) Realistic: The framework should model a modern superscalar microarchitecture in detail, ideally with prototype quality, to enable a new era and depth of microarchitecture research. A framework that meets these three criteria will enjoy the convenience of a software model, the speed of an FPGA model, and the experience of a prototype. This paper describes FPGA-Sim, a configurable, automatically FPGA-synthesizable, and register-transfer-level (RTL) model of an out-of-order superscalar processor. FPGA-Sim enables FPGA modeling of diverse superscalar processors out-of-the-box. Moreover, its direct RTL implementation yields the fidelity of a hardware prototype.
Pelvic fractures: epidemiology and predictors of associated abdominal injuries and outcomes.

BACKGROUND
Pelvic fractures are often associated with major intraabdominal injuries or severe bleeding from the fracture site.


OBJECTIVE
To study the epidemiology of pelvic fractures and identify important risk factors for associated abdominal injuries, bleeding, need for angiographic embolization, and death.


METHODS
Trauma registry study on pelvic fractures from blunt trauma. Stepwise logistic regression was used to identify risk factors of severe pelvic fractures, associated abdominal injuries, need for major blood transfusion, therapeutic embolization, and death from pelvic fracture. Adjusted relative risks and 95% confidence intervals were derived.


RESULTS
There were 16,630 trauma registry patients with blunt trauma, of whom 1,545 (9.3%) had a pelvic fracture. The incidence of abdominal injuries was 16.5%, and the most common injured organs were the liver (6.1%) and the bladder and urethra (5.8%). In severe pelvic fractures (Abbreviated Injury Scale [AIS] > or =4), the incidence of associated intraabdominal injuries was 30.7%, and the most commonly injured organs were the bladder and urethra (14.6%). Among the risk factors studied, motor vehicle crash is the only notable risk factor negatively associated with severe pelvic fracture. Major risk factors for associated liver injury were motor vehicle crash and pelvis AIS > or = 4. Risk factors of major blood loss were age > 16 years, pelvic AIS > or =4, angiographic embolization, and Injury Severity Score (ISS) > 25. Age> 55 years was the only predictor for associated aortic injury. Factors associated with therapeutic angiographic embolization were pelvic AIS > or =4 and ISS > 25. The overall mortality was 13.5%, but only 0.8% died as a direct result of pelvic fracture. The only pronounced risk factor associated with mortality was ISS>25.


CONCLUSIONS
Some epidemiological variables are important risk factors of severity of pelvic fractures, presence of associated abdominal injuries, blood loss, and need of angiography. These risk factors can help in selecting the most appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
QR Code Image Correction based on Corner Detection and Convex Hull Algorithm

Since the angular deviation produced when shooting a QR code image by a camera would cause geometric distortion of the QR code image, the traditional algorithm of QR code image correction would produce distortion. Therefore this paper puts forward the algorithm which combines corner detection with convex hull algorithm. Firstly, binaryzation of the collected QR code image with uneven light is obtained by the methods of local threshold and mathematical morphology. Next, the outline of the QR code and the dots on it are found and the distorted image is recovered by perspective collineation, according to the algorithm raised by this paper. Finally, experimental verification is made that the algorithm raised by this paper can correctly find the four apexes of QR code and achieves good effects of geometric correction. It will also significantly increase the recognition rate of seriously distorted QR code images.
Predictors for length of hospital stay in patients with community-acquired Pneumonia: Results from a Swiss Multicenter study

BACKGROUND
Length of hospital stay (LOS) in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is variable and directly related to medical costs. Accurate estimation of LOS on admission and during follow-up may result in earlier and more efficient discharge strategies.


METHODS
This is a prospective multicenter study including patients in emergency departments of 6 tertiary care hospitals in Switzerland between October 2006 and March 2008. Medical history, clinical data at presentation and health care insurance class were collected. We calculated univariate and multivariate cox regression models to assess the association of different characteristics with LOS. In a split sample analysis, we created two LOS prediction rules, first including only admission data, and second including also additional inpatient information.


RESULTS
The mean LOS in the 875 included CAP patients was 9.8 days (95%CI 9.3-10.4). Older age, respiratory rate >20 pm, nursing home residence, chronic pulmonary disease, diabetes, multilobar CAP and the pneumonia severity index class were independently associated with longer LOS in the admission prediction model. When also considering follow-up information, low albumin levels, ICU transfer and development of CAP-associated complications were additional independent risk factors for prolonged LOS. Both weighted clinical prediction rules based on these factors showed a high separation of patients in Kaplan Meier Curves (p logrank <0.001 and <0.001) and a good calibration when comparing predicted and observed results.


CONCLUSIONS
Within this study we identified different baseline and follow-up characteristics to be strong and independent predictors for LOS. If validated in future studies, these factors may help to optimize discharge strategies and thus shorten LOS in CAP patients.
The Singer of Tales in Performance

Preface I. Common Ground: Oral-Formulaic Theory and the Ethnography of Speaking II. Ways of Speaking, Ways of Meaning III. The Rhetorical Persistence of Traditional Forms IV. Spellbound: The Serbian Tradition of Magical Charms V. Continuities of Reception: The Homeric Hymn to Demeter VI. Indexed Translation: The PoetOs Self-Interruption in the Old English Andreas Conclusion Bibliography Index