LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
P02.176. Acupuncture for symptom management in hemodialysis patients: a prospective, observational pilot study

OBJECTIVES
Patients undergoing hemodialysis suffer from a variety of complications related to end-stage renal disease. This prospective, observational pilot study aims to determine the feasibility, safety, and possible benefits of acupuncture for symptom management in patients undergoing hemodialysis.


METHODS
Twenty-four (24) patients undergoing hemodialysis received acupuncture treatment for their symptoms. Manually stimulated, individualized acupuncture treatments were provided twice a week for 6 consecutive weeks on a nondialysis day or on the day of hemodialysis prior to initiating treatment. Symptoms were evaluated using the Measure Your Medical Outcome Profiles 2 questionnaire, and quality of life was measured by Kidney Disease Quality of Life-Short Form (KDQOL-SF(™)) Version 1.3 at baseline, 7 weeks and 11 weeks from baseline. Statistical analysis was conducted on the basis of the intention-to-treat principle.


RESULTS
Twenty-one (21) patients (87%) completed the whole treatment course and follow-up evaluation. Three (3) patients dropped out due to increased fatigue (n = 1), pancreatic and renal transplantation (n = 1), and infections of the arteriovenous fistula used for hemodialysis access (n = 1). Patients experienced a significant improvement of symptoms considered the most bothersome, reporting a decrease of 1.87 and 2.08 points on a 0-6 symptom scale at 7 weeks and 11 weeks, respectively (both p < 0.0001). Some subscales of KDQOL-SF(™) showed significant improvement at 7 weeks (effects of kidney disease, burden of kidney disease, role-limitations physical, emotional well-being, and energy/fatigue) and 11 weeks (physical functioning and energy/fatigue). No serious adverse events related to acupuncture occurred.


CONCLUSIONS
Acupuncture seems feasible and safe for symptom management in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Future controlled trials are needed to confirm the benefits of acupuncture.
Measuring the potential of augmented reality in civil engineering

Recently building information models have substantially improved the explicit semantic content of design information. Information models are used to integrate the initial phases of project development. On the construction site, however, the designs are still mostly represented as line-based paper drawings or projections on portable displays. A generic technology that can integrate information and situate it in time, place and context is augmented reality. The specific research issues addressed are (1) does augmented reality have a potential use in civil engineering, (2) how big – in comparison to other technologies is this potential and (3) what are the main barriers to its adoption. The generic research issue was to develop a methodology for evaluation of potentials of technology. A prototype was built. It was tested on a real construction site to evaluate the potential of its use using the action-research method. A set of structured interviews with potential users was then conducted to compare the prototype to conventional presentation methods. Using this methodology it has been found out that augmented reality is expected to be as big a step as the transition from 2D line drawings to photorealistic 3D projections. The main barrier to the adoption is immature core virtual reality technology, conservative nature of construction businesses and size of building information models. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
An official American Thoracic Society clinical policy statement: palliative care for patients with respiratory diseases and critical illnesses.

Executive Summary Introduction Methods Goals, Timing, and Settings for Palliative Care Decision-making Process Advance Directives Care Planning and Delivery Hospice Care Alternative End-of-Life Decisions Symptom Management Dyspnea Management Pain Management Management of Psychological and Spiritual Distress and Suffering Withdrawal of Mechanical Ventilation Process of Decision Making Process of Withdrawing Mechanical Ventilation Bereavement Care Barriers to Palliative Care Program Development, Education, Training, and Research in Palliative Care
Long-term cholesterol-lowering effects of psyllium as an adjunct to diet therapy in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.

BACKGROUND
Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease and nutrition management is the initial therapeutic approach.


OBJECTIVE
This multicenter study evaluated the long-term effectiveness of psyllium husk fiber as an adjunct to diet in the treatment of persons with primary hypercholesterolemia.


DESIGN
Men and women with hypercholesterolemia were recruited. After following an American Heart Association Step I diet for 8 wk (dietary adaptation phase), eligible subjects with serum LDL-cholesterol concentrations between 3.36 and 4.91 mmol/L were randomly assigned to receive either 5.1 g psyllium or a cellulose placebo twice daily for 26 wk while continuing diet therapy.


RESULTS
Serum total and LDL-cholesterol concentrations were 4.7% and 6.7% lower in the psyllium group than in the placebo group after 24-26 wk (P < 0.001). Other outcome measures did not differ significantly between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with 5.1 g psyllium twice daily produces significant net reductions in serum total and LDL-cholesterol concentrations in men and women with primary hypercholesterolemia. Psyllium therapy is an effective adjunct to diet therapy and may provide an alternative to drug therapy for some patients.
Antioxidant and antibacterial activities of Nephelium lappaceum L. extracts

Ether, methanolic and aqueous extracts of lyophilized rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) peels and seeds were evaluated for phenolic contents, antioxidant and antibacterial activities. High amounts of phenolic compounds were found in the peel extracts and the highest content was in the methanolic fraction (542.2 mg/g dry extract). Several potential antioxidant activities, including reducing power, b-carotene bleaching, linoleic peroxidation and free radical scavenging activity, were evaluated. The peel extracts exhibited higher antioxidant activity than the seed extracts in all methods determined (P< 0.05). The methanolic fraction was found to be the most active antioxidant as shown by their 50% DPPH inhibition concentration, 4.94 mg/mL. The results indicated this fraction exhibited greater DPPH radical scavenging activity than BHT and ascorbic acid (0.32 g dry extract/g BHT or ascorbic acid). Antibacterial activity against eight bacterial strains was assessed by disc diffusion and broth macrodilution methods. All peel extracts exhibited antibacterial activity against five pathogenic bacteria. The most sensitive strain, Staphylococcus epidermidis, was inhibited by the methanolic extract (MIC 2.0 mg/mL). 2008 Swiss Society of Food Science and Technology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Effects of the acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase inhibitor avasimibe on human atherosclerotic lesions.

BACKGROUND
Inhibition of the acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) enzyme may prevent excess accumulation of cholesteryl esters in macrophages. The ACAT inhibitor avasimibe was shown to reduce experimental atherosclerosis. This study was designed to investigate the effects of avasimibe on human coronary atherosclerosis.


METHODS AND RESULTS
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial assessed the effects of avasimibe at dosages of 50, 250, and 750 mg QD on the progression of coronary atherosclerosis as assessed by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). All patients received background lipid-lowering therapy if necessary to reach a target baseline LDL level <125 mg/dL (3.2 mmol/L). IVUS and coronary angiography were performed at baseline and repeated after up to 24 months of treatment. Approximately equal percentages of patients across groups received concurrent statin therapy (87% to 89%). The mean total plaque volume at baseline was approximately 200 mm3, and the least squares mean change at end of treatment was 0.7 mm3 for placebo and 7.7, 4.1, and 4.8 mm3 for the avasimibe 50, 250, and 750 mg groups, respectively (adjusted P=0.17 [unadjusted P=0.057], 0.37, and 0.37, respectively). Percent atheroma volume increased by 0.4% with placebo and by 0.7%, 0.8%, and 1.0% in the respective avasimibe groups (P=NS). LDL cholesterol increased during the study by 1.7% with placebo but by 7.8%, 9.1%, and 10.9% in the respective avasimibe groups (P<0.05 in all groups).


CONCLUSIONS
Avasimibe did not favorably alter coronary atherosclerosis as assessed by IVUS. This ACAT inhibitor also caused a mild increase in LDL cholesterol.
Controlled-release methylphenidate improves attention during on-road driving by adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

BACKGROUND
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with a 3- to 4-fold increase in both driving-related accidents and associated injuries. Methylphenidate (MPH) is the most commonly prescribed psychostimulant medication for ADHD. It has been demonstrated to improve performance on a driving simulator. This study investigated whether a once-daily, long-acting, osmotic, controlled-release MPH formulation improves the driving performance of ADHD adolescents while driving their own car on an actual road segment.


METHODS
Twelve ADHD-diagnosed male adolescent drivers (mean age, 17.8 years) prescribed a standard dose of 1.0 mg/kg (if they were not already taking methylphenidate) of controlled-release MPH participated in this repeated-measures crossover study. On 2 separate occasions (off/on medication randomized), participants drove a standard 16-mile road course incorporating rural, highway, and urban streets. A rater, blind to medication conditions, sat in the back seat and rated impulsive (eg, "cutting off" another driver) and inattentive (eg, drove past designated turn) driving errors.


RESULTS
Impulsive driving errors were observed to occur rarely under both medication and no medication conditions. Inattentive driving errors were more common and were significantly reduced while the subject was on medication (4.6 versus 7.8; P <.01). The improvement in driving performance (change in number of errors recorded) from first to second testing was positively correlated with medication dosage (r = 0.60; P <.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Once-daily controlled-release MPH improves real-life driving performance of adolescent males diagnosed with ADHD. In particular, it significantly reduces driving errors arising from inattention.
A walking motion imitation framework of a humanoid robot by human walking recognition from IMU motion data

Teleoperation of humanoid robots, which is one of good methods of humanoid utilization, has difficulties in locomotion with self-balancing. In this paper, we propose a framework of walking imitation between human and a humanoid robot. Using inertial measurement unit (IMU), human's walking motions are recognized, and used as humanoid robot control inputs for on-line walking imitation. Appropriate IMU feature data for walking recognition are investigated, and walking recognition method based on supporting foot detection and stance estimation is suggested. A humanoid robot is modeled as an inverted pendulum for on-line walking control. For validation, experiments were conducted using Mahru-R, a humanoid robot developed in KIST.
Philosophy in an Age of Science: Physics, Mathematics, and Skepticism

Hilary Putnam's unceasing self-criticism has led to the frequent changes of mind he is famous for, but his thinking is also marked by considerable continuity. A simultaneous interest in science and ethics - unusual in the current climate of contention - has long characterized his thought. In "Philosophy in an Age of Science", Putnam collects his papers for publication - his first volume in almost two decades. Mario De Caro and David Macarthur's introduction identifies central themes to help the reader negotiate between Putnam past and Putnam present: his critique of logical positivism; his enduring aspiration to be realist about rational normativity; his anti-essentialism about a range of central philosophical notions; his reconciliation of the scientific worldview and the humanistic tradition; and his movement from reductive scientific naturalism to liberal naturalism. Putnam returns here to some of his first enthusiasms in philosophy, such as logic, mathematics, and quantum mechanics. The reader is given a glimpse, too, of ideas currently in development on the subject of perception. Putnam's work, contributing to a broad range of philosophical inquiry, has been said to represent a "history of recent philosophy in outline." Here it also delineates a possible future.
Three-dimensional 35 nF/mm/sup 2/ MIM capacitors integrated in BiCMOS technology

Decoupling applications require high capacitance values. To optimize the chip performances, it appears particularly interesting to integrate them directly in interconnect levels, especially in BiCMOS technology. In order to reach this goal and minimize the area occupied by such devices, three-dimensional MiM capacitors have been introduced with different dielectrics: Ta/sub 2/O/sub 5/ deposited by MOCVD and A1/sub 2/O/sub 3/ by ALD. Thus, high capacitance density of 35nF/mm/sup 2/ has been reached. Through comparison between planar and three dimensional (3D) MIM capacitor characterization, it has been demonstrated that 3D MIM capacitor, named high density trench capacitor (HiDTC), architecture is a very promising candidate to integrate such high capacitance values.
Limited participation, private money, and credit in a spatial model of money

The purpose of this paper is to explore the implications of private money issue for the effects of monetary policy, for optimal policy, and for the role of fiat money. A locational model is constructed which gives an explicit account of the role for money and credit, and for limited financial market participation. When private money issue is prohibited, there is a liquidity effect as the result of a money injection from the central bank, but this effect goes away when private money is permitted. Privatemoney issue changes dramatically the nature of optimal monetary policy.With private money, fiat currency is no longer used in transactions involving goods, but currency and central bank reserves play an important part in the clearing and settlement of private money returned for redemption.
MYD88 somatic mutations in MALT lymphomas.

Extranodal marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) of mucosaassociated lymphoid tissue type (MALT lymphoma) is an indolent lymphoma that is found at a number of different extranodal anatomical sites and in total accounts for 7–8% of all non-Hodgkin (Bertoni et al, 2011). Recurrent chromosomal translocations and unbalanced genomic aberrations have been reported in MALT, many of which lead to activation of the nuclear factor (NF)-jB pathway (Bertoni et al, 2011). MYD88 is a central molecule in the cascade that activates NF-jB signalling after stimulation of either Toll-like, interleukin (IL) 1 and IL18 receptors (Ngo et al, 2011). The MYD88 gene is located at chromosome 3p22, a region commonly gained in MALT lymphomas (Rinaldi et al, 2011). MYD88 mutations were first described to occur almost exclusively in the activated B-cell like subtype (39%) of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (Ngo et al, 2011), which are also characterized by NF-jB activation. Recurrent mutations were also described in 9% of gastric MALT lymphomas (Ngo et al, 2011). The vast majority of mutations, and all those observed in MALT lymphomas, determined a non-synonymous change at amino acid position 265 with a change from leucine to proline (L265P) (Ngo et al, 2011). Very recently, Xu et al (2011) identified the same MYD88 L265P change in 46/51 (90%) lymphoplasmacytic lymphomas (LPL), 87% with an IgM monoclonal protein (Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia, WM), contrasting with 3/46 (6%) in MZLs, including 1/20 (5%) MALT lymphomas (Xu et al, 2011). These authors suggested that a L265P mutation could be used to differentiate LPL/WM from MZLs (Xu et al, 2011). With the aim of assessing the prevalence of MYD88 L265P mutations in MALT lymphomas, we studied 53 MALT lymphoma cases, previously characterized by genome-wide DNA profiling (Rinaldi et al, 2011). Informed consent was obtained in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki following the procedures approved by the local ethical committees and institutional review boards of each participating
Estimating Maternal Mortality Level in Rural Northern Nigeria by the Sisterhood Method

Maternal mortality is one of the major challenges to health systems in sub Saharan Africa. This paper estimates the lifetime risk of maternal death and maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in four states of Northern Nigeria. Data from a household survey conducted in 2011 were utilized by applying the “sisterhood method” for estimating maternal mortality. Female respondents (15–49 years) were interviewed thereby creating a retrospective cohort of their sisters who reached the reproductive age of 15 years. A total of 3,080 respondents reported 7,731 maternal sisters of which 593 were reported dead and 298 of those dead were maternal-related deaths. This corresponded to a lifetime risk of maternal death of 9% (referring to a period about 10.5 years prior to the survey) and an MMR of 1,271 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births; 95% CI was 1,152–1,445 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. The study calls for improvement of the health system focusing on strategies that will accelerate reduction in MMR such as availability of skilled birth attendants, access to emergency obstetrics care, promotion of facility delivery, availability of antenatal care, and family planning. An accelerated reduction in MMR in the region will contribute towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goal of maternal mortality reduction in Nigeria.
A pilot study of the effects of atomoxetine on driving performance in adults with ADHD.

OBJECTIVE
There is a high risk of vehicular crashes, traffic citations, and poorer driving performance in adults with ADHD. This pilot study examines the value of a new nonstimulant (atomoxetine) for improving the driving performance of adults with ADHD.


METHOD
Atomoxetine (1.2 mg/kg daily for 3 weeks) and a placebo are studied on 18 adults with ADHD (M age = 37 years) using ratings of ADHD symptoms, impairment, and safe driving behavior; a virtual reality driving simulator; and ratings of simulator performance.


RESULTS
Atomoxetine improves self-ratings of ADHD symptoms, impairments, safe driving behavior, and simulator driving performance. No effects of atomoxetine are evident on others' ratings of driving behavior or on the simulator. Practice effects on the simulator may have obscured those drug effects.


CONCLUSION
The authors find a mixed pattern of results such that atomoxetine warrants further study for its effects on driving in this high-risk population.
EEG utilization in Canadian intensive care units: A multicentre prospective observational study

PURPOSE
We have previously shown that electroencephalography (EEG) may be an underutilized monitoring modality in a single general medical-surgical ICU, that does not have a specific neurocritical care consultation service or neurocritical care unit. The present study was designed to describe the pattern of EEG utilization across 3 academic ICUs in Ontario, Canada that use different models of neurocritical care.


METHOD
In this prospective multicentre observational study, ICU patients were screened weekly for 6 non-consecutive weeks to determine if they met the ESICM's recommendations or suggestions for EEG monitoring. If EEGs were performed, the results were recorded. Three models of neurocritical care provision were examined in 3 academic tertiary ICUs. Site 1 is an intensivist-led, medical-surgical ICU with no specific neurocritical care consultation service. The second site is also an intensivist led medical-surgical ICU, but with a formal neurocritical care consultation service. The third site is a virtual neurological and neurotrauma ICU within a medical-surgical ICU, staffed by rotating neurointensivists and general intensivists.


RESULTS
Of the 375 patients who were screened, 127 patients (34%) met at least one ESICM indication for EEG monitoring. Among the 127 patients, 46 patients (37%) had an EEG performed. Site 1 had the highest proportion of EEGs performed. The most common indication for EEG monitoring was for patients with unexplained altered level of consciousness, in the absence of primary brain injury. For the EEGs performed per ESICM indication, the majority of epileptiform abnormalities were found in patients admitted with status epilepticus.


CONCLUSIONS
EEG may be underutilized in Canadian ICUs. The impact on patient management and outcomes are unknown.
Thomas aquinas on the justification of revolution

The question of rebellion against civil authority was one to which Thomas Aquinas turned his attention repeatedly in his writings
Adjoint higher order sensitivities for fast full-wave optimization of microwave filters

For the first time, full-wave optimization exploiting adjoint Hessian matrices is applied to the design of microwave filters and transitions. The first- and second-order sensitivities of the scattering parameters are computed analytically using the adjoint network method (ANM). The mode-matching-based ANM is applied to the generalized scattering matrices of the different filter/transition components. Analytical gradient and Hessian matrices of differentiable objective functions are expressed in terms of the first- and second-order response adjoint sensitivities. Optimization techniques exploiting second-order information such as the Levenberg-Marquardt method are applied using the adjoint first- and second-order information. Significant acceleration is achieved using these techniques over gradient-based optimization techniques such as the Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno method. The adjoint-based sensitivities are also exploited in efficient tolerance analysis of microwave filters
Cultural influences on knowledge sharing through online communities of practice

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to explore cultural factors influencing knowledge sharing strategies in virtual communities of practice. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative research design was employed. Data collection was based on in-depth interviews. The authors assumed that such factors as degree of collectivism, competitiveness, the importance of saving face, in-group orientation, attention paid to power and hierarchy, and culture-specific preferences for communication modes, would explain differences in knowledge seeking and sharing patterns. Findings – The results showed that these factors had different levels of importance among employees in the three participating countries. The issue of saving face was less important than expected in China. Modesty requirements as well as a high degree of competitiveness among employees were found to be serious barriers to information sharing in China, but not in Russia and Brazil. Perceived differences in power and hierarchy seemed to be less critical in all three countries than initially assumed. Research limitations/implications – Since this study was conducted among the online community members of Caterpillar Inc., the results could be affected by factors unique to this specific case. Thus, future research should investigate the influence of other factors such as the organizational culture, or occupational groups on knowledge sharing strategies. Practical implications – Before any introduction of country-specific knowledge sharing systems, a cultural needs assessment should be conducted. Originality/value – The impact of national culture factors on knowledge sharing has been largely neglected in the literature, and the findings will assist knowledge managers charged with the design of flexible knowledge management systems.
Research Guides: Southeast Asia: Selected Publications: Politics & Law

Includes print books acquired from the Library of Congress' Cooperative Acquisitions Program for Southeast Asia