nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Advancements in 3D interactive devices for virtual environments

New commercially available interactive 3D tracking devices and systems for use in virtual environments are discussed. InterSense originally introduced the IS-900 scalable-area hybrid tracking system for virtual environments in 1999. In response to customer requests, we have almost completely revamped the system over the past two years. The major changes include a drastic 3-fold reduction in the size and weight of the wearable sensor devices, introduction of wireless tracking capability, a standardized I2C interface to allow OEM system integrators to add additional custom controls, and evolution of the system software interfaces, the performance, and the price. This paper will briefly describe the underlying technology changes that have allowed these advances to occur, and will outline some of the configuration possibilities that are now supported. Specific examples of how these devices and systems are being used to improve productivity in oil & gas seismic analysis & well field planning;& well field planning; automotive design & test; and, industrial/military training applications will be used to illustrate. Customization standards and future developments are discussed.
Study of prone positioning to reduce ventilator-associated pneumonia in hypoxaemic patients.

The aim of the present study was to examine whether prone positioning (PP) affects ventilator associated-pneumonia (VAP) and mortality in patients with acute lung injury/adult respiratory distress syndrome. 2,409 prospectively included patients were admitted over 9 yrs (2000-2008) to 12 French intensive care units (ICUs) (OUTCOMEREA). The patients required invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) and had arterial oxygen tension/inspiratory oxygen fraction ratios <300 during the first 48 h. Controls were matched to PP patients on the PP propensity score (+/-10%), MV duration longer than that in PP patients before the first turn prone, and centre. VAP incidence was similar in the PP and control groups (24 versus 13 episodes.1,000 patient-days MV(-1) respectively, p = 0.14). After adjustment, PP did not decrease VAP occurrence (HR 1.64 (95% CI 0.70-3.84); p = 0.25) but significantly delayed hospital mortality (HR 0.56 (95% CI 0.39-0.79); p = 0.001), without decreasing 28-day mortality (37% in both groups). Post hoc analyses indicated that PP did not protect against VAP but, when used for >1 day, might decrease mortality and benefit the sickest patients (Simplified Acute Physiology Score >50). In ICU patients with hypoxaemic acute respiratory failure, PP had no effect on the risk of VAP. PP delayed mortality without decreasing 28-day mortality. PP >1 day might decrease mortality, particularly in the sickest patients.
A new treatment modality for fibromyalgia syndrome: hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is characterized by longstanding multifocal pain with generalized allodynia/hyperalgesia. There are several treatment methods but none has been specifically approved for this application. We conducted a randomized controlled study to evaluate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy in FMS (HBO group: n = 26; control group: n = 24). Tender points and pain threshold were assessed before, and after the first and fifteenth sessions of therapy. Pain was also scored on a visual analogue scale (VAS). There was a significant reduction in tender points and VAS scores and a significant increase in pain threshold of the HBO group after the first and fifteenth therapy sessions. There was also a significant difference between the HBO and control groups for all parameters except the VAS scores after the first session. We conclude that HBO therapy has an important role in managing FMS.
Tumor Cell Plasticity and Angiogenesis in Human Melanomas

Recent molecular studies provide evidence for a significant transcriptional plasticity of tumor cell subpopulations that facilitate an active contribution to tumor vasculature. This feature is accompanied by morphological changes both in vitro and in vivo. Herein, we investigated the morphological plasticity of tumor cells with special focus on vasculogenic mimicry and neovascularisation in human melanoma and mouse xenografts of human melanoma cell lines. In melanoma xenograft experiments, different vessel markers and green fluorescent protein expression were used to show how melanoma cells contribute to neovascularization. Additionally, we analyzed neovascularization in 49 primary melanomas and 175 melanoma metastases using immunostaining for blood (CD34) and lymphatic (D2-40) vessel-specific markers. We found significantly more lymphatic vessels in primary melanomas than in melanoma metastases (p<0.0001). In contrast to the near absence of lymphatic vessels within metastases, we found extensive blood micro-neovascularization. Blood micro-neovascularization was absent in micro metastases (less than 2 mm). A significant inverse correlation between Glut-1 expression (implying local hypoxia) and the presence of microvessels indicates their functional activity as blood vessels (p<0.0001). We suggest that the hypoxic microenvironment in metastases contributes to a phenotype switch allowing melanoma cells to physically contribute to blood vessel formation.
Management of patients with fibromyalgia using biofeedback: a randomized control trial.

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic rheumatological condition which could be characterized by generalized pain and fatigue. Cognitive and behavioral therapy has been found to be a suitable technique in the management of FMS. This study intends to evaluate the efficacy of electromyography (EMG) biofeedback to reduce pain in patients with FMS.



A randomized controlled trial involving two groups of FMS patients, one receiving EMG biofeedback and the other a sham biofeedback, was carried out. The assessment tools included in the study were fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ), visual analogue scale (VAS), six-minute walk test (SMWT) and number of tender points; and tenderness of each tender point was done for both the groups.



A Student's 't' test was used to study the test for significance.



After using biofeedback, the mean VAS scores and the mean number of tender points were found to be 3 out of 10 and 6 out of 18 respectively. Subjective analysis from both groups showed improvement in physical and psychological realms. 
Biofeedback as a treatment modality reduces pain in patients with FMS, along with improvements in FIQ, SMWT and the number of tender points.
Adaptation and validation of the Spanish self-report version of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM III)

This is a cross-sectional validation study.The objective of this study was to adapt and validate a self-report version of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM III) for the Spanish population.A cross-cultural adaptation of the self-report version of the SCIM III for the Spanish population was performed on the basis of international guidelines. A total of 100 patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) were recruited. A team of healthcare professionals administered the SCIM III by observation. In addition, the patients completed the Spanish self-report version (eSCIM-SR). Data from both questionnaires were analysed jointly.A high correlation was observed between SCIM III and eSCIM-SR. Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient for the global score was 0.998 (95% confidence interval: 0.997, 0.998), and the subscale scores were 0.988 (0.982, 0.992) for self-care, 0.992 (0.988, 0.995) for respiration and sphincter management and 0.997 (0.995, 0.998) for Mobility. Bland–Altman plots showed a small bias of −0.32 (95% limits of agreement: −3.01, 2.37). The estimated bias was low in all three domains, with values of −0.22 (−2.12, 1.68), −0.1 (−2.02, 1.82) and −0.03 (−1.69, 1.63) for the self-care, respiration and sphincter management and mobility subscales, respectively.Our study validates the eSCIM-SR as a tool for the functional assessment of patients with SCI, principally in the outpatient setting.
Co-existing periodic beaconing and hazard warnings in IEEE 802.11p-based platooning applications

A platoon of trucks driving at the same, mutually agreed speed while keeping a minimum inter-vehicle distance will reduce fuel consumption, enhance transport efficiency as well as improve the safety of other adjacent road users. The European profile of IEEE 802.11p for inter-vehicle communications uses a single 10 MHz control channel dedicated to safety-critical data, shared by periodic status updates, and event-triggered warnings. Coupled with the random access delay inherent to the 802.11p medium access method, the strict timing and reliability requirements of platoon applications are not easily met. To this end, we evaluate the effect of IEEE 802.11p-compliant send rate adaptations and message type prioritizations and the choice of warning dissemination strategy in a platooning scenario. Simulation studies of a platoon of 10-20 vehicles in a busy highway scenario show that a context-aware choice of send rate, priority class and dissemination strategy not only reduces the hazard warning dissemination delay but also has a significant effect on the throughput of periodic beacons.
Zygapophysial joint blocks in chronic low back pain: a test of Revel's model as a screening test

Only controlled blocks are capable of confirming the zygapophysial joints (ZJ) as the pain generator in LBP patients. However, previous workers have found that a cluster of clinical signs ("Revel's criteria"), may be valuable in predicting the results of an initial screening ZJ block. It was suggested that these clinical findings are unsuitable for diagnosis, but may be of value in selecting patients for diagnostic blocks of the lumbar ZJ's. To constitute evidence in favour of a clinical management strategy, these results need confirmation. This study evaluates the utility of 'Revel's criteria' as a screening tool for selection of chronic low back pain patients for controlled ZJ diagnostic blocks.



This study utilized a prospective blinded concurrent reference standard related validity design. Consecutive chronic LBP patients completed pain drawings, psychosocial distress and disability questionnaires, received a clinical examination and lumbar zygapophysial blocks. Two reference standards were evaluated simultaneously: 1. 75% reduction of pain on a visual analogue scale (replication of previous work), and 2. abolition of the dominant or primary pain. Using "Revel's criteria" as predictors, logistic regression analyses were used to test the model. Estimates of sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and likelihood ratios for selected variables were calculated for the two proposed clinical strategies.



Earlier results were not replicated. Sensitivity of "Revel's criteria" was low sensitivity (<17%), and specificity high (approximately 90%). Absence of pain with cough or sneeze just reached significance (p = 0.05) within one model.



"Revel's criteria" are unsuitable as a clinical screening test to select chronic LBP patients for initial ZJ blocks. However, the criteria may have use in identifying a small subset (11%) of patients likely to respond to the initial block (specificity 93%).
Phase I, pharmacokinetic and biological correlative study of OSI-7904L, a novel liposomal thymidylate synthase inhibitor, and cisplatin in patients with solid tumors.

To evaluate the safety and describe the pharmacokinetic profile of OSI-7904L, a novel liposomal thymidylate synthase inhibitor, in combination with cisplatin (CDDP) in adults with advanced solid tumors.



CDDP was administered as a 2-h intravenous infusion followed by OSI-7904L intravenously over 30 min, both given every 3 weeks. Doses of each drug were escalated in separate cohorts of patients. Five dose levels of CDDP/OSI-7904L were explored: 60/6, 60/9, 60/12, 60/7.5, and 75/7.5 mg/m2. Pharmacokinetic samples, baseline plasma homocysteine, and genotype polymorphisms were evaluated.



Twenty-seven patients were treated with 101 total courses of CDDP/OSI-7904L. Dose-limiting toxicity was observed in 2 patients in the CDDP/OSI-7904L 60/12 mg/m2 cohort. One patient experienced rash, stomatitis, dehydration, renal failure, hyperbilirubinemia, and fatal neutropenic sepsis, whereas the other patient experienced grade 3 nausea, vomiting, and ileus. Therefore, the CDDP/OSI-7904L 60/9 mg/m2 cohort was expanded, with 2 of 6 patients reporting significant fatigue. Other toxicities were mild or moderate. Intermediate dose levels of 60/7.5 and 75/7.5 mg/m2 were evaluated, and the latter was identified as the recommended dose for phase II studies. No major pharmacokinetic interactions between CDDP and OSI-7904L were observed. Three patients had partial responses (gastric adenocarcinoma and heavily pretreated breast cancer). There was no significant relationship between baseline homocysteine and toxicity.



The recommended doses for CDDP and OSI-7904L administered once every 3 weeks are 75 and 7.5 mg/m2, respectively. Pharmacokinetic interaction between the agents was not apparent. Preliminary clinical activity was observed in breast and gastric cancer.
The TGFB1 Functional Polymorphism rs1800469 and Susceptibility to Atrial Fibrillation in Two Chinese Han Populations

Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is related to the degree of atrial fibrosis and plays critical roles in the induction and perpetuation of atrial fibrillation (AF). To investigate the association of the common promoter polymorphism rs1800469 in the TGF-β1 gene (TGFB1) with the risk of AF in Chinese Han population, we carried out a case-control study of two hospital-based independent populations: Southeast Chinese population (581 patients with AF and 723 controls), and Northeast Chinese population (308 AF patients and 292 controls). Two hundred and seventy-eight cases of AF were lone AF and 334 cases of AF were diagnosed as paroxysmal AF. In both populations, AF patients had larger left atrial diameters than the controls did. The rs1800469 genotypes in the TGFB1 gene were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The genotype and allele frequencies of rs1800469 were not different between AF patients and controls of the Southeast Chinese population, Northeast Chinese population, and total Study Population. After adjustment for age, sex, hypertension and LAD, there was no association between the rs1800469 polymorphism and the risk of AF under the dominant, recessive and additive genetic models. Similar results were obtained from subanalysis of the lone and paroxymal AF subgroups. Our results do not support the role of the TGFB1 rs1800469 functional gene variant in the development of AF in the Chinese Han population.
Evidence for Altered Canonical Wnt Signaling in the Trabecular Bone of Elderly Postmenopausal Women with Fragility Femoral Fracture

Wnt signaling, a major regulator of bone formation and homeostasis, might be involved in the bone loss of osteoporotic patients and the consequent impaired response to fracture. Therefore we analyzed Wnt-related, osteogenic, and adipogenic genes in bone tissue of elderly postmenopausal women undergoing hip replacement for either femoral fracture or osteoarthritis. Bone specimens derived from the intertrochanteric region of the femurs of 25 women with fracture (F) and 29 with osteoarthritis without fracture (OA) were analyzed. Specific miRNAs were analyzed in bone and in matched blood samples. RUNX2, BGP, and OPG showed lower expression in F than in OA samples, while OSX, OPN, BSP, and RANKL were not different. Inhibitory genes of Wnt pathway were lower in F versus OA. β-Catenin protein levels were higher in F versus OA, whereas its cotranscriptional regulator (Lef1) was lower in F group. miR-204, which targets RUNX2, and miR-130a, which inhibits PPARγ, were lower and higher, respectively, in F versus OA serum samples. The present study showed an inefficient Wnt signal transduction in F group despite higher β-catenin protein levels, consistent with the expected overall postfracture systemic activation towards osteogenesis. This transcriptional inefficiency could contribute to the osteoporotic bone fragility.
Impact of use of hormone replacement therapy on false positive recall in the NHS breast screening programme: results from the Million Women Study.

From June 1996 to March 1998, 87 967 postmenopausal women aged 50-64 invited to routine breast cancer screening at 10 NHS breast screening programme centres joined the million women study, by completing a self administered questionnaire before screening, and were followed up through records from screening centres for their screening outcome. Overall, a diagnosis of breast cancer was made in 399 (0.5%) and 2629 (3.0%) had false positive recall (recall to assessment with no diagnosis of breast cancer during that screening episode). Among women with false positive recall, 398 (15.1%) had a negative biopsy (fine needle aspiration cytology, wide bore needle biopsy, or open surgical biopsy, with no diagnosis of breast cancer). We used conditional logistic regression, stratified by the factors listed in the figure, to calculate the relative risk of false positive recall. False positive recall was significantly increased in current users of hormone replacement therapy (relative risk 1.64, 95% confidence interval 1.50 to 1.80, P < 0.0001) and past users (1.21, 1.06 to 1.38, P = 0.004), compared with never users. The relative risk of false positive recall decreased significantly with increasing time since last use of hormone replacement therapy ( 2 (df = 1) for trend = 14.0, P < 0.0001), and was still significantly raised among women ceasing use within the past five years (figure). We found no significant variation in the relative risk of false positive recall between current users of oestrogen only (1.62, 1.43 to 1.83) and combined oestrogen and progestogen (1.80, 1.62 to 2.00) ( 2 (df = 1) for heterogeneity = 2.3, P = 0.1), nor were there significant differences in risk according to the dose or hormonal constituents of these types of hormone replacement therapy. Current, but not past, users of hormone replacement therapy had a significantly increased risk of having a negative biopsy compared with never users (relative risk 1.42, 1.14 to 1.78, and 0.94, 0.69 to 1.30, respectively ( 2 (df = 1) for heterogeneity = 6.5, P = 0.01)). When these relative risks and the prevalences of use of hormone replacement therapy in the million women study are applied to recall rates in the NHS breast screening programme, use of hormone replacement therapy during the study period is estimated to have been responsible for around 20% of the cases of false positive recall in the NHS breast screening programme, amounting to an excess of 14 000 cases per year.
A clinical trial of single dose rectal and oral administration of diazepam for the prevention of serial seizures in adult epileptic patients.

The clinical anticonvulsant efficacy of single dose rectal and oral administration of diazepam 20 mg was examined in two double-blind placebo-controlled trials in adult epileptic patients. All subjects suffered from drug resistant epilepsy and frequently experienced serial seizures. Diazepam was administered rectally as a new experimental suppository formulation immediately after a seizure and was highly effective in preventing recurrent fits within a 24 h observation period (p less than 0.001). Pharmacokinetic studies revealed a wide range of serum diazepam concentrations 60 min after administration of the suppository (mean serum diazepam level 190 +/- 73 (SD ng/ml). In a similar study oral administration of diazepam 20 mg significantly reduced the incidence of serial seizures compared with a placebo (p less than 0.01) and the mean 60 min serum diazepam level was 273 +/- 190 (SD) ng/ml.
The Effects of Single Long and Accumulated Short Bouts of Exercise on
Cardiovascular Risks in Male Japanese Workers: A Randomized Controlled
Study

The aim of this study was to determine whether accumulated short bouts of exercise can achieve the same cardiovascular benefits as a single long bout of exercise in sedentary male Japanese workers and to compare the programs' relative effects on oxidative stress. Twenty-three sedentary male workers were randomly assigned into 2 different exercise programs: a Long-bout group, which performed a single period of continuous exercise (Long-bout group: 30 min × 1) 3 d per week, and a Short-bouts group, which performed 3 short bouts of exercise (Short-bouts group: 10 min × 3) 3 d per week. Cardiovascular risk factors, including the plasma thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) level, were examined at baseline and after both 10 and 20 wk. In the Long-bout group, waist circumference and maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) significantly improved after 20 wk. The Short-bouts group demonstrated significant increases in VO2max after 10 weeks and in HDL-C after 20 wk. Plasma TBARS significantly decreased after 20 weeks in the Long-bout group and tended to decrease (but not significantly) in the Short-bouts group. These results indicate that accumulated short bouts of exercise are an effective option, especially for busy workers, for incorporating exercise into one's lifestyle.
Efficacy of combination therapy of interferon-α with ursodeoxycholic acid in chronic hepatitis C: A randomized controlled clinical trial

The efficacy of interferon-α therapy in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C is still limited. A combination therapy of interferon-α with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) was tested for its efficacy in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C by a randomized controlled study. Eighty consecutive Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C were randomly divided into two groups: one group was treated with interferon-α (group A,n=40) and the other with a combination of interferon-α and UDCA (group B,n=40). In both groups, human interferon-α (6 million units per day) was intramuscularly injected daily for 2 weeks and then three times a week for 22 weeks: this 24-week period was followed by 24 weeks of observation. In group B, UDCA was also administered, daily at a dose of 600mg orally, from the beginning of the interferon therapy and administration was continued for 48 weeks. The rates for ALT normalization and clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) viremia at the end of the 24-week interferon therapy were similar for groups A and B (58% vs 60% and 55% vs 48%, respectively). At the end of the 24-week follow-up, the sustained normalization rates for ALT levels for the two groups were not different (35% vs 43%), while the rate of clearance was higher in group B (40%) than in group A (23%), but the difference was not significant (P=0.14). The sustained complete response, i.e., HCV RNA negativity at the end of the follow-up, as well as the maintenance of ALT normalization during the follow-up period, was more frequent in group B (38%) than in group A (18%) although the difference was not significantP=0.08). The rate of HCV reactivation after interferon was discontinued was significantly lower in group B (16%) than in group A (59%) (P<0.01). Although this combination therapy did not lead to a sufficiently sustained complete response, it could serve as adjuvant antiviral therapy when a suitable dosage and administration period are determined.