nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Key Management for Encrypted broadcast

We consider broadcast apphcations where the transmissions need to be encrypted, such as direct broadc-t digitd TV networks or Internet mtdticasts. In these apphcations the number of encrypted TV programs may be very large, but the secure memory capacity at the set-top termin~ (S~) is severely Lmited due to the need to withstand pirate attacks and hardware tampering. Despite this, we wotid fike to dow the vendor to offer different pa~ges of programs to the users. A user who buys a package shotid be able to view every program belonging to that package, but nothing eke. A flexible scheme shodd flow for packages of various sizes to be offered, from a single program up to M the programs. We suggest a novel scheme to manage the encryption keys for these app~cations. The scheme is higtiy flexible, yet requiresvery few keys to be stored in the STTS’ secure memory. The comput ation~ power required of the S~s is very low. The security of this scheme is as good or better than that offered by current technology.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the efficacy of quetiapine fumarate XR in very heavy-drinking alcohol-dependent patients.

Despite advances in developing medications to treat alcohol dependence, few such medications have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Identified molecular targets are encouraging and can lead to the development and testing of new compounds. Atypical antipsychotic medications have been explored with varying results. Prior research suggests that the antipsychotic quetiapine may be beneficial in an alcohol-dependent population of very heavy drinkers.



In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 224 alcohol-dependent patients who reported very heavy drinking were recruited across 5 clinical sites. Patients received either quetiapine or placebo and Medical Management behavioral intervention. Patients were stratified on gender, clinical site, and reduction in drinking prior to randomization.



No differences between the quetiapine and placebo groups were detected in the primary outcome, percentage heavy-drinking days, or other drinking outcomes. Quetiapine significantly reduced depressive symptoms and improved sleep but had no effect on other nondrinking outcomes. Results from a subgroup analysis suggest that patients who reduced their drinking prior to randomization had significantly better drinking outcomes during the maintenance phase (p < 0.0001). No significant interactions, however, were observed between reducer status and treatment group. Finally, quetiapine was generally well tolerated. Statistically significant adverse events that were more common with quetiapine versus placebo include dizziness (14 vs. 4%), dry mouth (32 vs. 9%), dyspepsia (13 vs. 2%), increased appetite (11 vs. 1%), sedation (15 vs. 3%), and somnolence (34 vs. 9%).



This multisite clinical trial showed no efficacy for quetiapine compared with placebo at reducing alcohol consumption in heavy-drinking alcohol-dependent patients.
Comparing extent of activation: a robust permutation approach

The number of contiguous voxels activated in a brain image can differ between groups or conditions even though the amplitude of activation does not markedly differ. Existing techniques test for differences in amplitude given that extent (number of contiguous voxels) exceeds some threshold. We present a technique that tests for differences in extent of activation given that amplitude of activation exceeds some threshold. The technique was motivated by apparent differences in extent of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) between hypertensive and normotensive participants performing cognitive tasks. These data are used to illustrate our test for extent of activation. We threshold the estimated parameter map for each subject, count the number of voxels exceeding the threshold over a defined region enclosing activated cortical area, and test the hypothesis of difference in the number of activated voxels between the two groups. Due to the large number of zeros resulting from the thresholding and the occurrence of extreme observations, we use a Robust permutation test [Lambert, D., 1985. Robust two-sample permutation tests. ], which is based on the sum of censored log-likelihood ratios. This statistic has desirable properties relative to the usual permutation test in contaminated distributions, i.e., idealized histogram with outliers, and provides an appropriate and robust test of extent of activation between conditions or groups.
Cost-utility analysis of high-dose melphalan with autologous blood stem cell support vs. melphalan plus prednisone in patients younger than 60 years with multiple myeloma.

We evaluated the costs and the cost utility of high-dose melphalan and autologous stem cell support followed by interferon maintenance relative to conventional treatment with melphalan and prednisone, in patients less than 60 yr of age with multiple myeloma. From March 1994 to July 1997, 274 patients with newly diagnosed, symptomatic multiple myeloma were enrolled in a prospective, non-randomized, population-based, multicenter study to evaluate the treatment with high-dose melphalan and autologous blood stem cell support. Health-related quality-of-life was measured prior to treatment and during follow-up, using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire. Resource consumption was also recorded prospectively. The intensive treatment yielded a significant increase in median survival time from 44 to 62 months compared to conventionally treated patients. The corresponding gain in quality-adjusted life years (QALY) was found to be 1.2. Cost per QALY gained by the treatment with high-dose melphalan and autologous blood stem cell support was estimated at NOK 249,000 (USD 27,000).
Phase I study on docetaxel and ifosfamide in patients with advanced solid tumours.

The human melanoma cell lines MM96L, A2058 and HT144 were examined for sensitivity to ionizing radiation and UVB radiation. HT144 demonstrated a significant increase in sensitivity to ionizing and UVB radiation compared with the MM96L and A2058 cells. Sensitivity to both agents was associated with susceptibility to apoptosis. Using a protein truncation assay, a mutation for the gene for ataxia telangiectasia (ATM) was identified in HT144 cells. This was confirmed to be a homozygous mutation by subsequent sequencing of the abnormal region. Protein truncation assay of the other two cell lines showed no abnormality. The results suggest that somatic mutation of the A-T gene may be important in determining tumour radiosensitivity.
Effect of teriparatide on bone mineral density and biochemical markers in Japanese women with postmenopausal osteoporosis: a 6-month dose-response study

The dose-response efficacy and safety with three doses of teriparatide and placebo was assessed, using oncedaily subcutaneous injections for 24 weeks, in Japanese postmenopausal women with osteoporosis at high risk of fracture for reasons of preexisting fracture(s), advanced age, and/or low bone mineral density (BMD). In this multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled study, 159 subjects were randomized and 154 subjects were included for analysis. Teriparatide (10-μg, 20-μg, and 40-μg doses) showed a statistically significant increase with increasing treatment dose as assessed by the percent change of lumbar spine BMD from baseline to endpoint using Williams’ test when compared with placebo (P < 0.001). The mean (±SD) percent change in lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total hip BMD with the 20-μg dose from baseline to endpoint was 6.40% ± 4.76%, 1.83% ± 7.13%, and 1.91% ± 3.60%, respectively. Rapid and sustained increases in bone formation markers [type I procollagen N-terminal propeptide (PINP), type I procollagen C-terminal propeptide (PICP), and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP)], followed by late increases in a bone resorption marker [type I collagen cross-linked C-telopeptide (CTX)], were observed for the teriparatide treatment groups (20-μg, 40-μg), suggesting a persistent, positive, balanced anabolic effect of teriparatide. Optimal adherence was achieved by this daily self-injection treatment. Regarding safety, most of the adverse events were mild to moderate in severity. No study drug-or study procedure-related serious adverse events were reported during the treatment period. These results observed in Japanese patients may support the observation that teriparatide stimulates bone formation in patients with osteoporosis at a high risk of fracture.
Diagnosis of cystic fibrosis by sweat testing: age-specific reference intervals.

To develop reference intervals (RIs) for sweat chloride and sodium in healthy children, adolescents, and adults.



Healthy, unrelated subjects aged from 5 to >50 years and subjects who were pancreatic insufficient with cystic fibrosis (CF) were recruited. Sweat collection was performed on all subjects with the Wescor Macroduct system. Sweat electrolytes were analyzed with direct ion selective electrodes. DeltaF508 mutation analysis was performed on the healthy subjects >/=15 years old.



A total of 282 healthy and 40 subjects with CF were included for analysis. There was no overlap of sweat chloride between the group with CF and the group without CF, but there was some overlap of sweat sodium. Sweat chloride increased with age, with the rate of increase slowing progressively to zero after the age of 19 years. The estimated median (95% RI) for sweat chloride were: 5 to 9 years, 13 mmol/L (1-39 mmol/L); 10 to 14 years, 18mmol/L (3-47 mmol/L); 15 to 19 years, 20 mmol/L (3-51mmol/L); and 20+ years 23 mmol/L (5-56mmol/L).



We have successfully developed the age-related RI for sweat electrolytes, which will be useful for clinicians interpreting sweat test results from children, adolescents, and adults.
Rates of in-hospital arrests, deaths and intensive care admissions: the effect of a medical emergency team.

To evaluate the effectiveness of a medical emergency team (MET) in reducing the rates of selected adverse events.



Cohort comparison study after casemix adjustment.



All adult (> or = 14 years) patients admitted to three Australian public hospitals from 8 July to 31 December 1996.  At Hospital 1, a medical emergency team (MET) could be called for abnormal physiological parameters or staff concern. Hospitals 2 and 3 had conventional cardiac arrest teams.



Casemix-adjusted rates of cardiac arrest, unanticipated admission to intensive care unit (ICU), death, and the subgroup of deaths where there was no pre-existing "do not resuscitate" (DNR) order documented.



There were 1510 adverse events identified among 50 942 admissions. The rate of unanticipated ICU admissions was less at the intervention hospital in total (casemix-adjusted odds ratios: Hospital 1, 1.00; Hospital 2, 1.59 [95% CI, 1.24-2.04]; Hospital 3, 1.73 [95% CI, 1.37-2.16]). There was no significant difference in the rates of cardiac arrest or total deaths between the three hospitals. However, one of the hospitals with a conventional cardiac arrest team had a higher death rate among patients without a DNR order.



The MET hospital had fewer unanticipated ICU/HDU admissions, with no increase in in-hospital arrest rate or total death rate. The non-DNR deaths were lower compared with one of the other hospitals; however, we did not adjust for DNR practices. We suggest that the MET concept is worthy of further study.
Phase I evaluation of therapy with four schedules of 5-fluorouracil by continuous infusion combined with recombinant interferon alpha.

The purpose of this study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose and dose-limiting toxicities of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) when administered concurrently with recombinant IFN-alpha using four continuous infusion (CI) dosing schedules of 5-FU. Forty-five patients with advanced or refractory cancers were treated with 5-FU by CI, plus IFN during the infusion only, by one of four schedules: schedule A: 24-h 5-FU infusion repeated weekly, 9 x 10(6) units IFN x 2 doses weekly; schedule B: 48-h 5-FU infusion repeated weekly, 9 x 10(6) units IFN x 4 doses weekly; schedule C: 5-day 5-FU infusion repeated every 3 weeks, 9 x 10(6) units IFN three times weekly; and schedule D: 21-day 5-FU infusion, repeated after 7 days off therapy, 9 x 10(6) units IFN three times weekly. At least three patients were treated at all dose levels. Doses of 5-FU were escalated to the next level if less than one half of the patients at a given level developed grades 2-4 toxicity. The maximum tolerated dose for 5-FU was 2150 mg/m2/week for schedule A (24-h CI), 2350 mg/m2/week for schedule B (48-h CI), 750 mg/m2/day for schedule C (5-day CI), and 175 mg/m2/day for schedule D (21-day CI). Median delivered dose intensities at these levels were 1788 mg/m2/week for schedule A, 2192 mg/m2/week for schedule B, 1250 mg/m2/week for schedule C, and 593 mg/m2/week for schedule D. The dose-limiting toxicities were hematological and gastrointestinal (stomatitis, diarrhea, nausea, anorexia) for schedules A and B and gastrointestinal (mostly stomatitis) for schedules C and D. Severe fatigue due to IFN was rare. Responses correlated with toxicity >/= grade 2, but not with increased dose intensity. Responses were noted in several tumor types on schedules A, B, and D. 5-FU can be combined with IFN using 24- and 48-h high-dose and long-term low-dose CI schedules, with large differences in dose intensity at maximum tolerated dose. Shorter infusions produce less mucosal and more hematological toxicity. Tumor responses were seen on both short- and long-term CI schedules. Future studies can establish the efficacies of these new schedules of 5-FU/IFN administration in specific tumor types.
Evaluation of tamoxifen plus letrozole with assessment of pharmacokinetic interaction in postmenopausal women with metastatic breast cancer.

The goals of this clinical trial involving postmenopausal women with metastatic breast cancer were to: (a) examine the effects of letrozole on tamoxifen (TAM) pharmacokinetics; (b) examine estrogen suppression in patients receiving TAM plus letrozole; and (c) evaluate tolerability, toxicity, objective response, and time to progression for the combination. Postmenopausal women with measurable or evaluable metastatic breast cancer received TAM (20 mg daily) for 6 weeks, and then letrozole (2.5 mg daily) was added. To examine for any effect of letrozole on the levels of TAM and two metabolites [N-desmethyl-TAM and 4-hydroxy-TAM], serum samples were obtained at 6, 12, 18, and 24 weeks. To examine for aromatase inhibition, serum samples were obtained before treatment and at 6, 12, 18, and 24 weeks for estradiol, estrone (E1) E1 sulfate, and sex hormone-binding globulin. A total of 34 patients were entered on this trial, and 23 patients were still on study at week 24, 18 of whom had blood samples available at both week 6 and week 24. The 95% confidence interval for the mean difference between levels at week 24 and levels at week 6 was -34 to 15 ng/ml for TAM, -35 to 45 ng/ml for N-desmethyl-TAM, and -1 to 2 for 4-hydroxy-TAM. For estradiol, a significant decrease (median, 88.5%; range, 73.7-95.2%) was identified after 6 weeks of letrozole, which was maintained for an additional 12 weeks. Similar significant reductions were identified for E1. E1 sulfate levels increased after 6 weeks of TAM alone but then decreased significantly after the addition of letrozole. Sex hormone-binding globulin levels were significantly elevated after 6 weeks of TAM alone and remained elevated after the addition of letrozole. Six of the 34 patients (17.6%) achieved an objective response (95% confidence interval, 6.8-34.5%), with a median time to disease progression of 7.6 months. There was no indication of a systematic decrease in TAM, N-desmethyl-TAM, or 4-hydroxy-TAM after the additional of letrozole. Estrogen suppression induced by letrozole was substantial despite the concomitant administration of TAM. The antitumor effect of TAM plus letrozole was less than expected.
Validation of the KDQOL-SFTM: A dialysis-targeted health measure

In evaluations of dialysis therapy, an assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is often important. The aim of this study was to determine the basic psychometric properties, reliability and validity of the short form of the KDQOLTM i.e. the KDQOL-SFTM, a dialysis-targeted instrument, and to assess its ability to detect changes over time.  In a prospective cohort study (Netherlands Cooperative Study on the Adequacy of Dialysis, NECOSAD), all new adult ESRD patients in 32 different Dutch centers were consecutively enrolled. Demographic, clinical and HRQOL data were obtained 3 and 12 months after the start of chronic dialysis therapy.  The reliability of the KDQOL-SFTM was supported by test results that were above the recommended minimal values. Validity of KDQOL-SFTM was confirmed by the hypothesized positive correlations of the overall health rating and renal function, and by the negative correlations between the number of comorbidities and dialysis dose. Moreover, dialysis-targeted dimensions were more sensitive in detecting relevant differences pertaining to kidney diseases than generic dimensions. The KDQOL-SFTM was able to detect clinical changes over time.  The psychometric properties of the KDQOL-SFTM were good, and the different dialysis-targeted dimensions were informative with a high reliability and validity. These results support the application of the KDQOL-SFTM in studies evaluating dialysis therapy.
Vitamin D insufficiency in a multiethnic cohort of breast cancer survivors 1 – 3

Little is known about vitamin D status in breast cancer survivors. This issue is important because vitamin D influences pathways related to carcinogenesis.  The objective of this report was to describe and understand vitamin D status in a breast cancer survivor cohort.  Data are from the Health, Eating, Activity, and Lifestyle study. With the use of a cross-sectional design, we examined serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in 790 breast cancer survivors from western Washington state, New Mexico, and Los Angeles County. Cancer treatment data were obtained from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registries and medical records. Fasting blood, anthropometry, and lifestyle habits were collected after diagnosis and treatment. We examined distributions of 25(OH)D by race-ethnicity, season, geography, and clinical characteristics. Multivariate regression tested associations between 25(OH)D and stage of disease.  Five hundred ninety-seven (75.6%) of the women had low serum 25(OH)D, suggesting vitamin D insufficiency or frank deficiency. The overall mean ( SD) was 24.8 10.4 ng/mL, but it was lower for African Americans (18.1 8.7 ng/mL) and Hispanics (22.1 9.2 ng/mL). Women with localized (n 424) or regional (n 182) breast cancer had lower serum 25(OH)D than did women with in situ disease (n 184) (P 0.05 and P 0.03, respectively). Multivariate regression models controlled for age, body mass index (in kg/m), race-ethnicity, geography, season, physical activity, diet, and cancer treatments showed that stage of disease independently predicted serum 25(OH)D (P 0.02).  In these breast cancer survivors, the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency was high. Clinicians might consider monitoring vitamin D status in breast cancer patients, together with appropriate treatments, if necessary.
Predictors of severe and febrile neutropenia during primary chemotherapy for ovarian cancer.

To identify factors that increase the risk of neutropenic events in women with advanced ovarian carcinoma receiving initial chemotherapy.



Multi-center retrospective study of women with FIGO stage III-IV epithelial ovarian cancer treated postoperatively with multi-agent intravenous chemotherapy from 1995 to 2008. Outcomes were severe (SN; absolute neutrophil count [ANC]<500/mm(3)) and febrile neutropenia (FN; ANC<1000/mm(3) and temperature>38.1°C). Cumulative risk of neutropenic events was estimated by Kaplan Meier method. Multivariate analysis was by Cox proportional hazard regression.



Three hundred twenty-six patients met inclusion criteria. There were 251 SN events among 140 (43%) patients and 24 FN events among 22 (7%) patients. Univariate predictors of SN were body surface area<2.0m(2) (p=0.03), body mass index (BMI)<30 kg/m(2) (p<0.01), Caucasian race (p<0.01), treatment on research protocols (p<0.01), non-carboplatin-containing regimens (p<0.01), and planned relative dose intensity (RDI)>85% of standard (p=0.02). Women over age 60 were more likely to develop FN (p=0.05). Multivariate predictors of SN were treatment on research protocols (hazard ratio [HR] 1.93; p<0.01), Caucasian race (HR 2.13; p=0.01), and planned RDI>85% (HR 1.69; p=0.05); predictors of FN were age>60 (HR 2.84; p=0.05) and non-carboplatin containing regimens (HR 4.06; p<0.01).



While SN is fairly common, FN occurs infrequently in women with EOC undergoing taxane and platin-based chemotherapy and primary prophylactic growth factor support is not indicated. However, women older than 60 years of age receiving non-carboplatin containing regimens are at higher risk for FN and warrant closer surveillance.
[Using a laser based program in patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia].

In this study, the benefits of a program of treatment by laser were evaluated on the improvement of symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. A total of 31 participants took part in the study, all of them women, randomized into two groups: intervention with laser and placebo. The intervention with girlase E11010 consisted of the individual application of six frequencies on seven anatomical zones of the body. The results were statistically significant differences for "weariness" and "difficulty sleeping" variables. In the rest of the variables, we did not find any statistical significance. One of the conclusions from the present study is the need for development of new research to verify the influence of girlase E1.1010 in the improvement of symptoms associated with fibromyalgia.
Efficacy of percutaneous transluminal coronary recannalization for preservation of the post-infarct left ventricular regional wall motion: a trial of the evaluation by weighting coronary artery segments.

Efficacy of the percutaneous transluminal coronary recannalization (PTCR) therapy was evaluated by weighting infarct-related coronary artery segments in 28 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction. The study focused on the influences of the time interval from the onset of chest pain to PTCR (PTCR-Time) and on the post-infarct left ventricular regional wall motion in conjunction with the serum levels of GOT, LDH and CPK and with PTCR-Time. PTCR success rate was 84.0%, and re-occlusion rate was 4.0%. The thrombolysis in myocardial infarction grade 2, however, was observed in 7 (33.3%) of 21 cases with successful PTCR. There was no significant difference in PTCR-Time between the PTCR success and nonsuccess groups. Significant correlations were observed between the PTCR-Time and each peak value of standardized serum levels of LDH and CPK, and between the PTCR-Time and the post-infarct regional wall motion abnormality. There were also significant correlations between the standardized serum level of each of these three enzymes and the post-infarct regional wall motion abnormality. It was clearly demonstrated that the earlier the recannalization of the infarcted artery was achieved, the less extensive the myocardial damage in quantitative and qualitative aspects.