LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Measuring the impacts of Malawi’s farm input subsidy programme

We measure the impacts of Malawi’s 2009 Farm Input Subsidy Program (FISP) on fertilizer use and maize yields in central and southern Malawi. Using three rounds of panel data and instrumental variables regression strategies to control for endogenous selection into the subsidy program we find positive and statistically significant correlations between participation in the FISP and fertilizer use intensity. Fertilizer use is found to be higher among households that plant improved maize varieties than among those that plant traditional varieties. Results are broadly robust to the inclusion of previous fertilizer intensity to control for household-specific differences in fertilizer use. We combine these results with those from a maize production function to calculate programgenerated changes in average maize availability, accounting for estimated subsidy-induced changes in crop area. Our findings have implications for the way input subsidy programs are designed and implemented.
Decision counseling for men considering prostate cancer screening

One in six men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetimes; and the risk of dying from the disease is elevated by a factor of at least two among African-American men. Many asymptomatic men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer have their disease detected through a prostate cancer screening examination. The examination often includes both a digital rectal examination and prostate-speci5c antigen testing. Although annual screening is recommended by several organizations, others urge caution since no randomized trials have demonstrated that screening can reduce mortality from prostate cancer. Concern about prostate cancer screening is also based on the fact that diagnosis and treatment of early-stage prostate cancer can cause substantial adverse outcomes. To facilitate shared decision making between the patient and medical practitioner, it is important to provide information that is needed to make an informed decision. In this paper, we discuss the development and implementation of a decision-counseling protocol for prostate cancer screening. This protocol, which incorporates the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), is designed as a decision aid for use in facilitating decision making about whether or not to have a screening examination. We discuss several modi5cations to the standard AHP that were required to 5t the needs of the target population. The counseling protocol has been applied in randomized trials involving diverse populations. While health educators required some training to administer the decision-counseling protocol, none was needed for the patients. The results have demonstrated ∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +1-610-519-4390; fax: +1-610-519-5015. E-mail address: matthew.liberatore@villanova.edu (M.J. Liberatore). 0305-0548/03/$ see front matter ? 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/S0305-0548(02)00186-7 1422 M.J. Liberatore et al. / Computers & Operations Research 30 (2003) 1421–1434 that a well-designed decision-counseling protocol administered by a trained facilitator can be successfully implemented in a primary care patient population.
Feasibility of endovascular recanalization for symptomatic cervical internal carotid artery occlusion.

OBJECTIVES
This study sought to report technical details and clinical results of the first series of endovascular recanalization for cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion.


BACKGROUND
Cervical ICA occlusion is associated with impaired cerebral perfusion, which may lead to ischemic cerebral symptoms and hemodynamic infarcts. Neither surgical nor endovascular revascularization has been shown to benefit this population.


METHODS
Endovascular recanalization was attempted in 30 patients with ICA occlusions (27 men; age 72.1 +/- 8.0 years, range 48 to 85 years). Recurrent neurologic deficit or cerebral ischemia by perfusion study, after known ICA occlusion, was noted in all patients. Strategies and devices for coronary occlusion intervention were applied, including microcatheter-supported tapered-tip stiff coronary guidewires. Contralateral ICA stenosis was found in 9 patients (30%). All patients underwent independent neurologic and duplex ultrasound follow-up.


RESULTS
The overall technical success rate was 73% (22 of 30). No neck hematoma, intracranial hemorrhage, or hyperperfusion was noted. One (3.3%) fatal brainstem infarction occurred 1 day after a successful ICA procedure, with angiographically proven acute basilar artery occlusion and patent ICA stent. Baseline ophthalmic artery flow was reversed in 15 of the 22 successfully recanalized patients, and was normalized in 12 after the procedure. There was no new cerebral ischemic event or neurologic death for a mean follow-up of 16.1 +/- 18.5 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Endovascular recanalization for cervical ICA occlusion is feasible with acceptable midterm clinical results.
Effect of high-frequency, low-magnitude vibration on bone and muscle in children with cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND
Children with cerebral palsy (CP) have decreased strength, low bone mass, and an increased propensity to fracture. High-frequency, low-magnitude vibration might provide a noninvasive, nonpharmacologic, home-based treatment for these musculoskeletal deficits. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of this intervention on bone and muscle in children with CP.


METHODS
Thirty-one children with CP ages 6 to 12 years (mean 9.4, SD 1.4) stood on a vibrating platform (30 Hz, 0.3 g peak acceleration) at home for 10 min/d for 6 months and on the floor without the platform for another 6 months. The order of vibration and standing was randomized, and outcomes were measured at 0, 6, and 12 months. The outcome measures included computed tomography measurements of vertebral cancellous bone density (CBD) and cross-sectional area, CBD of the proximal tibia, geometric properties of the tibial diaphysis, and dynamometer measurements of plantarflexor strength. They were assessed using mixed model linear regression and Pearson correlation.


RESULTS
The main difference between vibration and standing was that there was a greater increase in the cortical bone properties (cortical bone area and moments of inertia) during the vibration period (all P's ≤ 0.03). There was no difference in cancellous bone or muscle between vibration and standing (all P's > 0.10) and no correlation between compliance and outcome (all r's < 0.27; all P's > 0.15). The results did not depend on the order of treatment (P > 0.43) and were similar for children in gross motor function classification system (GMFCS) 1 to 2 and GMFCS 3 to 4.


CONCLUSIONS
The primary benefit of the vibration intervention in children with CP was to the cortical bone in the appendicular skeleton. Increased cortical bone area and the structural (strength) properties could translate into a decreased risk of long bone fractures in some patients. More research is needed to corroborate these findings, to elucidate the mechanisms of the intervention, and to determine the most effective age and duration of the treatment.


LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
Level II, prospective randomized cross-over study.
Fabric defect detection using morphological filters

In this paper, a novel defect detection scheme based on morphological filters is proposed to tackle the problem of automated defect detection for woven fabrics. In the proposed scheme, important texture features of the textile fabric are extracted using a pre-trained Gabor wavelet network. These texture features are then used to facilitate the construction of structuring elements in subsequent morphological processing to remove the fabric background and isolate the defects. Since the proposed defect detection scheme requires a few morphological filters only, the amount of computational load involved is not significant. The performance of the proposed scheme is evaluated by using a wide variety of homogeneous textile images with different types of common fabric defects. The test results obtained exhibit accurate defect detection with low false alarms, thus showing the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed detection scheme. In addition, the proposed detection scheme is further evaluated in real time by using a prototyped automated inspection system. 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Protein metal binding residue prediction based on neural networks

Metal ions are crucial for protein function. They participate in enzyme catalysis, play regulatory roles, and help maintain protein structure. Current tools for predicting metal-protein interactions are based on proteins crystallized with their metal ions present (holo forms). However, a majority of resolved structures are free of metal ions (apo forms). Moreover, metal binding is a dynamic process, often involving conformational rearrangement of the binding pocket. Thus, effective predictions need to be based on the structure of the apo state. Here, we report an approach that identifies transition metal-binding sites in apo forms with a resulting selectivity >95%. Applying the approach to apo forms in the Protein Data Bank and structural genomics initiative identifies a large number of previously unknown, putative metal-binding sites, and their amino acid residues, in some cases providing a first clue to the function of the protein.
Feasibility intervention trial of two types of improved cookstoves in three resource-limited settings: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND
Exposure to biomass fuel smoke is one of the leading risk factors for disease burden worldwide. International campaigns are currently promoting the widespread adoption of improved cookstoves in resource-limited settings, yet little is known about the cultural and social barriers to successful improved cookstove adoption and how these barriers affect environmental exposures and health outcomes.


DESIGN
We plan to conduct a one-year crossover, feasibility intervention trial in three resource-limited settings (Kenya, Nepal and Peru). We will enroll 40 to 46 female primary cooks aged 20 to 49 years in each site (total 120 to 138).


METHODS
At baseline, we will collect information on sociodemographic characteristics and cooking practices, and measure respiratory health and blood pressure for all participating women. An initial observational period of four months while households use their traditional, open-fire design cookstoves will take place prior to randomization. All participants will then be randomized to receive one of two types of improved, ventilated cookstoves with a chimney: a commercially-constructed cookstove (Envirofit G3300/G3355) or a locally-constructed cookstove. After four months of observation, participants will crossover and receive the other improved cookstove design and be followed for another four months. During each of the three four-month study periods, we will collect monthly information on self-reported respiratory symptoms, cooking practices, compliance with cookstove use (intervention periods only), and measure peak expiratory flow, forced expiratory volume at 1 second, exhaled carbon monoxide and blood pressure. We will also measure pulmonary function testing in the women participants and 24-hour kitchen particulate matter and carbon monoxide levels at least once per period.


DISCUSSION
Findings from this study will help us better understand the behavioral, biological, and environmental changes that occur with a cookstove intervention. If this trial indicates that reducing indoor air pollution is feasible and effective in resource-limited settings like Peru, Kenya and Nepal, trials and programs to modify the open burning of biomass fuels by installation of low-cost ventilated cookstoves could significantly reduce the burden of illness and death worldwide.


TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01686867.
Notice of RetractionHow to improve the degree of farmers' organization in China

China's current low level of organization of farmers is not adapted to the economic development of rural markets which will make it difficult to improve peasant incomes. So it's important for China to improve the degree of farmers' organizations. The patterns mainly include cooperative organizations, contract model and intermediary model. These organizations also need government support and protection in addition to internal dynamics.
Modeling the Underlying Predicting Factors of Tobacco Smoking among Adolescents

BACKGROUND
With regard to the willing and starting tobacco smoking among young people in Iran. The aim of the study was to model the underlying factors in predicting the behavior of tobacco smoking among employed youth and students in Iran.


METHODS
In this analytical cross-sectional study, based on a random cluster sampling were recruited 850 high school students, employed and unemployed youth age ranged between 14 and 19 yr from Iran. The data of demographic and tobacco smoking related variables were acquired via a self-administered questionnaire. A series of univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed respectively for computing un-adjusted and adjusted Odds Ratios utilizing SPSS 17 software.


RESULTS
A number of 189 persons (25.6%) were smoker in the study and the mean smoking initiation age was 13.93 (SD= 2.21). In addition, smoker friend, peer persistence, leaving home, and smoking in one and six month ago were obtained as independent predictors of tobacco smoking.


CONCLUSIONS
The education programs on resistance skills against the persistence of the peers, improvement in health programs by governmental interference and policy should be implemented.
The use of guided tissue regeneration techniques among endodontists: a web-based survey.

INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this study was to determine factors and clinical situations that influence an endodontist's decision to use guided tissue regeneration (GTR) techniques during endodontic root-end surgery.


METHODS
An invitation to participate in a web-based survey was e-mailed to 3,750 members of the American Association of Endodontists. Data were collected from 1,129 participants, representing a 30.1% completion rate. The number of questions varied from 3 to 11 depending on individual responses.


RESULTS
40.7% of respondents who perform root-end surgeries also use GTR techniques. The clinical situation in which GTR techniques are used most often is for transosseous lesions. Barrier membranes and bone replacement grafts are each used by more than 85% of respondents using GTR techniques. Insufficient training and insufficient evidence in support of its use were selected as the predominant reasons for not using GTR techniques at 42.4% and 32%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Although over 40% of respondents are currently using GTR techniques in conjunction with their root-end surgeries, a majority of those who do not use GTR indicated they would consider using these techniques with better evidence and available training.
Detecting cyber threats through social network analysis: short survey

This article considers a short survey of basic methods of social networks analysis, which are used for detecting cyber threats. The main types of social network threats are presented. Basic methods of graph theory and data mining, that deals with social networks analysis are described. Typical security tasks of social network analysis, such as community detection in network, detection of leaders in communities, detection experts in networks, clustering text information and others are considered.
Participatory Design and Development of a Patient-centered Toolkit to Engage Hospitalized Patients and Care Partners in their Plan of Care

Patient engagement has been identified as a key strategy for improving patient outcomes. In this paper, we describe the development and pilot testing of a web-based patient centered toolkit (PCTK) prototype to improve access to health information and to engage hospitalized patients and caregivers in the plan of care. Individual and group interviews were used to identify plan of care functional and workflow requirements and user interface design enhancements. Qualitative methods within a participatory design approach supported the development of a PCTK prototype that will be implemented on intensive care and oncology units to engage patients and professional care team members developing their plan of care during an acute hospitalization.
Papillary Thyroglossal Duct Cyst Carcinoma with Synchronous Occult Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma

This is a case report on papillary thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC) carcinoma along with synchronous occult papillary thyroid microcarcinoma. A 46-year-old woman visited our hospital because she had an anterior midline neck mass below her hyoid bone. Preoperative ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology revealed signs of papillary TGDC carcinoma. We performed a Sistrunk operation and a total thyroidectomy. Histopathological examination of the specimen revealed papillary carcinoma arising in the TGDC and papillary microcarcinoma of the thyroid gland without extrathyroidal extension. Surgeons should be aware of TGDC carcinoma during surgical planning and postoperative treatment and should differentiate this carcinoma from an anterior midline neck mass.
Assessing the viability of an open access policy in an outpatient clinic: a discrete-event and continuous simulation modeling approach

This paper presents the preliminary results of an ongoing research project investigating the patient appointment scheduling for an outpatient clinic. The outpatient clinic was experiencing three problems of long patient throughput times, a large backlog of appointments, and a high no-show rate. We believe a new scheduling approach called Open Access could address all three problems. To analyze and make recommendations for improvement to patient cycle time we developed a discrete event simulation. To understand the factors leading to a high no-show rate we developed a systems dynamic simulation model. The study identified feasible strategies the clinic management could implement to greatly improve patient throughput time by 50%. Our preliminary results indicate that Open Access is a viable strategy for the clinic. Ongoing work is being conducted to refine the models and determine the best configuration of an Open Access scheduling policy for the outpatient clinic.
The volume-mortality relation for radical cystectomy in England: retrospective analysis of hospital episode statistics

OBJECTIVES
To investigate the relation between volume and mortality after adjustment for case mix for radical cystectomy in the English healthcare setting using improved statistical methodology, taking into account the institutional and surgeon volume effects and institutional structural and process of care factors.


DESIGN
Retrospective analysis of hospital episode statistics using multilevel modelling.


SETTING
English hospitals carrying out radical cystectomy in the seven financial years 2000/1 to 2006/7.


PARTICIPANTS
Patients with a primary diagnosis of cancer undergoing an inpatient elective cystectomy.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE
Mortality within 30 days of cystectomy.


RESULTS
Compared with low volume institutions, medium volume ones had a significantly higher odds of in-hospital and total mortality: odds ratio 1.72 (95% confidence interval 1.00 to 2.98, P=0.05) and 1.82 (1.08 to 3.06, P=0.02). This was only seen in the final model, which included adjustment for structural and processes of care factors. The surgeon volume-mortality relation showed weak evidence of reduced odds of in-hospital mortality (by 35%) for the high volume surgeons, although this did not reach statistical significance at the 5% level.


CONCLUSIONS
The relation between case volume and mortality after radical cystectomy for bladder cancer became evident only after adjustment for structural and process of care factors, including staffing levels of nurses and junior doctors, in addition to case mix. At least for this relatively uncommon procedure, adjusting for these confounders when examining the volume-outcome relation is critical before considering centralisation of care to a few specialist institutions. Outcomes other than mortality, such as functional morbidity and disease recurrence may ultimately influence towards centralising care.
Professional development of the engineer in industry

Fourth to be published of a group of papers presented at a winter meeting symposium on education,1–3 this article carries the young engineer into industry. Pointing out management's increasing appreciation of the value of continuing education, the authors discuss industry's responsibility toward the engineer's professional development, a responsibility that is embodied in two words — encouragement and recognition.
Nurses discuss bedside handover and using written handover sheets.

BACKGROUND
  The analysis of nursing errors in clinical management highlighted that clinical handover plays a pivotal role in patient safety. Changes to handover including conducting handover at the bedside and the use of written handover summary sheets were subsequently implemented.


AIM
  The aim of the study was to explore nurses' perspectives on the introduction of bedside handover and the use of written handover sheets.


METHOD
  Using a qualitative approach, data were obtained from six focus groups containing 30 registered and enrolled (licensed practical) nurses. Thematic analysis revealed several major themes.


FINDINGS
  Themes identified included: bedside handover and the strengths and weaknesses; patient involvement in handover, and good communication is about good communicators. Finally, three sources of patient information and other issues were also identified as key aspects.


CONCLUSIONS
  How bedside handover is delivered should be considered in relation to specific patient caseloads (patients with cognitive impairments), the shift (day, evening or night shift) and the model of service delivery (team versus patient allocation).


IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT
  Flexible handover methods are implicit within clinical setting issues especially in consideration to nursing teamwork. Good communication processes continue to be fundamental for successful handover processes.
A computational model for solving problems from the Raven’s Progressive Matrices intelligence test using iconic visual representations

We describe a computational model for solving problems from Raven’s Progressive Matrices (RPM), a family of standardized intelligence tests. Existing computational models for solving RPM problems generally reason over amodal propositional representations of test inputs. However, there is considerable evidence that humans can also apply imagery-based reasoning strategies to RPM problems, in which processes rooted in perception operate over modal representations of test inputs. In this paper, we present the “affine model,” a computational model that simulates modal reasoning by using iconic visual representations together with affine and set transformations over these representations to solve a given RPM problem. Various configurations of the affine model successfully solve between 33 and 38 of the 60 problems on the Standard Progressive Matrices, which matches levels of performance for typically developing 9to 11-year-old children. This suggests that, for at least a sizeable subset of RPM problems, it is not always necessary to extract amodal symbols in order to arrive at the correct answer, and iconic visual representations constitute a sufficient form of representation to successfully solve these problems. We intend for the affine model to serve as a complementary computational account to existing propositional models, which together may provide an integrated, dual-process account of human problem solving on the RPM. 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.