A Framework for Modeling, Computing and Presenting Time-aware Recommendations

Abstract. Lately, recommendation systems have received significant attention. Most existing approaches though, recommend items of potential interest to users by completely ignoring the temporal aspects of ratings. In this paper, we argue that time-aware recommendations need to be pushed in the foreground. We introduce an extensive model for time-aware recommendations from two perspectives. From a fresh-based perspective, we propose using different aging schemes for decreasing the effect of historical ratings and increasing the influence of fresh and novel ratings. From a context-based perspective, we focus on providing different suggestions under different temporal specifications. To facilitate user browsing, we propose an effective presentation layer for time-aware recommendations based on user preferences and summaries for the suggested items. Our experiments with real movies ratings show that time plays an important role in the recommendation process.

Consensus of the Hellenic Headache Society on the diagnosis and treatment of migraine

More than 0.6 million people suffer from disabling migraines in Greece causing a dramatic work loss, but only a small proportion of migraineurs attend headache centres, most of them being treated by non-experts. On behalf of the Hellenic Headache Society, we report here a consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of adult migraine that is based on the recent guidelines of the European Headache Federation, on the principles of Good Clinical Practice and on the Greek regulatory affairs. The purposes are three-fold: (1) to increase awareness for migraine in Greece; (2) to support Greek practitioners who are treating migraineurs; and (3) to help Greek migraineurs to get the most appropriate treatment. For mild migraine, symptomatic treatment with high dose simple analgesics is suggested, while for moderate to severe migraines triptans or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or both, should be administered following an individually tailored therapeutic strategy. A rescue acute treatment option should always be advised. For episodic migraine prevention, metoprolol (50-200 mg/d), propranolol (40-240 mg/d), flunarizine (5-10 mg/d), valproate (500-1800 mg/d), topiramate (25-100 mg/d) and candesartan (16-32 mg/d) are the drugs of first choice. For chronic migraine prevention topiramate (100-200 mg/d), valproate (500-1800 mg/d), flunarizine (5-10 mg/d) and venlafaxine (150 mg/d) may be used, but the evidence is very limited. Botulinum toxin type A and monoclonal antibodies targeting the CGRP pathway (anti-CGRP mAbs) are recommended for patients suffering from chronic migraine (with or without medication overuse) who failed or did not tolerate two previous treatments. Anti-CGRP mAbs are also suggested for patients suffering from high frequency episodic migraine (≥8 migraine days per month and less than 14) who failed or did not tolerate two previous treatments. © 2019 The Author(s)

Novel Full Hydrogenation Reaction of Methyl Esters of Palm Kernel and Sunflower Oils Into Methyl Stearate Catalyzed by Rhodium, Ruthenium and Nickel Complexes of Bidentate Hexasulfonated o-Phenylendiphosphite Ligands

High catalytic activities (TOF = 8680 h −1 ) have been achieved by novel rhodium catalysts modified with the chelating sulfonated phosphite ligand hexasulfonated o-phenylendiphosphite in the hydrogenation reaction of renewable methyl esters of sunflower oil under mild reaction conditions and a low rhodium concentration of 50 ppm in methanol. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]. © 2019, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

A population-based survey for disabling headaches in Greece: Prevalence, burden and treatment preferences

Objective: To estimate the prevalence, burden and current treatment of disabling primary headaches in a large sample of the Greek population aged 18–70 years old. Methods: This is an observational descriptive study, with cross-sectional design performed by quantitative computer-assisted telephone interviews, using a validated 37-item questionnaire for headaches. The prevalence, burden, and current treatment of primary headaches (ICHD-3) were recorded along with participants’ treatment preferences. Results: Out of 10,008 interviewed participants, 1197 (12.0%) reported headaches affecting performance. The annual prevalence of migraine was 8.1% (95% confidence interval, 7.6–8.7, corresponding to 0.6 million Greeks), of chronic migraine 1.0% (95% confidence interval, 0.8–1.2, corresponding to 0.1 million), and of tension-type headache 3.8% (95% confidence interval, 3.4–4.2, corresponding to 0.3 million). The participants with headaches reported 0.5 headache-induced lost workdays per month (corresponding to 5.8 million lost workdays annually) and reductions in performance on 2.8 workdays per month (corresponding to 30.9 million workdays annually). In all, 43.4% of headache participants felt bad/ashamed because of headaches and 21.9% sought professional treatment, most often from a private neurologist. 83.8% of headache participants had never taken pharmacological prophylaxis, and only 5.5% were currently under preventative treatment. For both prophylactic and acute treatment, headache participants prefer oral medication to injection or stimulation devices. Conclusion: More than 10% of the Greek adult population up to 70 years old experience disabling headaches, causing a dramatic work loss. More than 80% of these have never taken pharmacological prophylaxis. Thus, enriching the quality of life of people with headaches relies crucially on expanding awareness about headaches and their treatment. © International Headache Society 2021

Seasonal adherence to, and effectiveness of, subcutaneous interferon β-1a administered by RebiSmart® in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis: Results of the 1-year, observational GEPAT-SMART study

Background: Little is known about whether tolerability and adherence to treatment can be influenced by weather and temperature conditions. The objective of this study was to assess monthly and seasonal adherence to and safety of sc IFN-β1a (Rebif®, Merck) in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients using the RebiSmart® electronic autoinjector. Methods: A multicentre, prospective observational study in Greece in adult RRMS patients with EDSS < 6, under Rebif®/RebiSmart® treatment for ≤6 weeks before enrollment. The primary endpoint was monthly, seasonal and annual adherence over 12 months (defined in text). Secondary endpoints included number of relapses, disability, adverse events. Results: Sixty four patients enrolled and 47 completed all study visits (Per Protocol Set - PPS). Mean annual adherence was 97.93% ± 5.704 with no significant monthly or seasonal variations. Mean relapses in the pre- and post- treatment 12-months were 1.1 ± 0.47 and 0.2 ± 0.54 (p < 0.0001, PPS). 10 patients (22%) showed 3-month disability progression, 19 (40%) stabilization and 18 (38%) improvement. EDSS was not correlated to pre- (r = 0.024, p = 0.87) or post-treatment relapses (r = 0.022, p = 0.88). Conclusion: High adherence with no significant seasonal or weather variation was observed over 12 months. While the efficacy on relapses was consistent with published studies, we could not identify a relationship between relapses and disability. Trial registration: Greek registry of non-interventional clinical trials ID: 200136, date of registration: February 18th, 2013. © 2018 The Author(s)

Seasonal adherence to, and effectiveness of, subcutaneous interferon β-1a administered by RebiSmart® in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis: Results of the 1-year, observational GEPAT-SMART study

Background: Little is known about whether tolerability and adherence to treatment can be influenced by weather and temperature conditions. The objective of this study was to assess monthly and seasonal adherence to and safety of sc IFN-β1a (Rebif®, Merck) in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients using the RebiSmart® electronic autoinjector. Methods: A multicentre, prospective observational study in Greece in adult RRMS patients with EDSS < 6, under Rebif®/RebiSmart® treatment for ≤6 weeks before enrollment. The primary endpoint was monthly, seasonal and annual adherence over 12 months (defined in text). Secondary endpoints included number of relapses, disability, adverse events. Results: Sixty four patients enrolled and 47 completed all study visits (Per Protocol Set - PPS). Mean annual adherence was 97.93% ± 5.704 with no significant monthly or seasonal variations. Mean relapses in the pre- and post- treatment 12-months were 1.1 ± 0.47 and 0.2 ± 0.54 (p < 0.0001, PPS). 10 patients (22%) showed 3-month disability progression, 19 (40%) stabilization and 18 (38%) improvement. EDSS was not correlated to pre- (r = 0.024, p = 0.87) or post-treatment relapses (r = 0.022, p = 0.88). Conclusion: High adherence with no significant seasonal or weather variation was observed over 12 months. While the efficacy on relapses was consistent with published studies, we could not identify a relationship between relapses and disability. Trial registration: Greek registry of non-interventional clinical trials ID: 200136, date of registration: February 18th, 2013. © 2018 The Author(s)