LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Reaction time performance in ADHD: improvement under fast-incentive condition and familial effects.

BACKGROUND
Reaction time (RT) variability is one of the strongest findings to emerge in cognitive-experimental research of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We set out to confirm the association between ADHD and slow and variable RTs and investigate the degree to which RT performance improves under fast event rate and incentives. Using a group familial correlation approach, we tested the hypothesis that there are shared familial effects on RT performance and ADHD.


METHOD
A total of 144 ADHD combined-type probands, 125 siblings of the ADHD probands and 60 control participants, ages 6-18, performed a four-choice RT task with baseline and fast-incentive conditions.


RESULTS
ADHD was associated with slow and variable RTs, and with greater improvement in speed and RT variability from baseline to fast-incentive condition. RT performance showed shared familial influences with ADHD. Under the assumption that the familial effects represent genetic influences, the proportion of the phenotypic correlation due to shared familial influences was estimated as 60-70%.


CONCLUSIONS
The data are inconsistent with models that consider RT variability as reflecting a stable cognitive deficit in ADHD, but instead emphasize the extent to which energetic or motivational factors can have a greater effect on RT performance in ADHD. The findings support the role of RT variability as an endophenotype mediating the link between genes and ADHD.
Reflections on function spaces

Abstract This paper gathers together a number of loosely connected thoughts about Bishop’s notion of “function space”. In particular, it provides constructive proofs of some natural, classically straightforward results about morphisms between metrical function spaces, and examines connections between function spaces and pre-apartness spaces.
A pair-wise offset algorithm for 2D point-sequence curve

Presented in the paper is an efficient pair-wise offset algorithm for closed 2D point-sequence curves (PS-curve). A key feature of the proposed algorithm is that all local invalid loopsare removed from the input PS-curve before constructing a raw offset-curve, by invoking a pair-wise interference-detection (PWID) test. In the PWID test, each pair of elementary offset segments is tested for interference and then interfering segments are successively removed. The proposed algorithm has been implemented and tested with various PS-curves. Empirical tests show that the proposed PS-curve offsetting method is very fast and robust with a near O(n) time-complexity, wheren is the number of points in a PS-curve. q 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Iterative reconstruction of speech from short-time Fourier transform phase and magnitude spectra

In this paper, we consider the topic of iterative, one dimensional, signal reconstruction (specifically speech signals) from the magnitude spectrum and the phase spectrum. While this topic has been extensively researched and documented, we wish to recast some well-established results for the benefit of new researchers and those who desire a short, yet comprehensive, review of the subject. The three main points of the review are: (i) a signal can be reconstructed to within a scale factor from its phase spectrum, (ii) a signal cannot be reconstructed to within a scale factor from its magnitude spectrum, and (iii) a signal can be reconstructed to within a scale factor from its magnitude spectrum when the phase-sign (i.e., one bit of phase spectrum information) is known. Through a number of illustrative examples, we first demonstrate how the algorithms work when the spectral information is determined over the entire duration of the signal. We then demonstrate that the algorithms are equally valid for reconstruction of a signal from the spectra obtained from short-time segments. In addition, we present the results of some further experimentation in which we have attempted to reconstruct a speech signal from only partial phase spectrum information (in the absence of all magnitude spectrum information). We make the following observations: (i) intelligible signal reconstruction (albeit noisy) is possible from knowledge of only the phase spectrum sign information, (ii) an intelligible signal cannot be reconstructed from knowledge of only the phase spectrum frequency-derivative or only the phase spectrum time-derivative, and (iii) an intelligible signal can be reconstructed from the combined knowledge of both the phase spectrum frequency-derivative and time-derivative. 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
A high performance 32-bit ALU for programmable logic

The Arithmetic-Logic-Unit (ALU) is at the heart of a modern microprocessor, and its size and speed are often significant contributors to the overall processor's cost and performance. This paper presents the design of the ALU used in Altera's NIOS 2.0 soft processor implemented on Altera's Apex 20KE FPGA architecture. This ALU enabled the 32-bit NIOS 2.0 to consume only 1200 LEs and run at 85MHz. This is a 50% size reduction and 70% speed improvement over its predecessor, NIOS 1.1.The Logic-element (LE) is the basic building block within the Apex architecture. Making full use of the advanced features of the LE has resulted in this novel ALU design. A functional representation of the logic is used to describe how the ALU performs the core set of NIOS instructions, and an LE representation shows the amount of logic-resources needed for the implementation. The cost of additional features such as a barrel-shifter and custom instructions is also described.Likely worst-case delays for different routing and logic elements are used to estimate the ALU's speed. Further speed and size optimizations are also presented from which it is possible to create ALU ranging in speed from 87 MHz to over 100 MHz.
Policymakers ’ Horizon and Economic Reforms ∗

This paper investigates the relation between policymakers’ term length and their willingness to support economic reforms. We describe a model in which office-motivated legislators have mandates of different length and consider the introduction of a trade liberalization reform, which gives rise to distributional effects that only become known over time. We show that legislators’ voting behavior depends on their political horizon and on the trade policy interests of their constituencies. In particular, legislators with shorter mandates are less likely to support the reform, if they represent import-competing constituencies. To assess the validity of these results, we examine the determinants of all votes on major U.S. trade liberalization bills cast between 1973 and 2005. We exploit the particular features of the U.S. Congress, in which House and Senate representatives have respectively two-year and six-year mandates, with one-third of the Senate being up for election every two years. We find that members of the House are generally more protectionist than members of the Senate. However, this difference in voting behavior disappears for senators in the last two years of their mandate and for representatives of export constituencies. JEL classifications: D72, F10
Paradoxical embolism as a cause of silent brain infarctions in healthy subjects: the ICONS study (Identification of the Cause of Silent Cerebral Infarction in Healthy Subjects).

BACKGROUND
In healthy elderly people, silent brain infarctions (SBIs) have been recognized as common lesions. In this study, we evaluated the association between SBI located outside the perforating artery territory (PAT) and paradoxical embolism detected by agitated saline transcranial Doppler (TCD) monitoring in healthy subjects.


METHODS
This was a prospective observational study undertaken by a university health promotion center for healthy subjects and by a university stroke center for acute stroke patients. We defined SBI as evidence on fluid-attenuation inversion recovery (FLAIR) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of one or more infarcts, without history of corresponding stroke or transient ischaemic attack. We also evaluated in all subjects the neuroimaging indicator of microangiopathy leukoaraiosis (LA). This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01429948.


RESULTS
Amongst 1103 consecutive healthy adults who underwent MRI, 347 (31%) had one or more SBIs located outside the PAT, suggesting embolism. Amongst them, 253 subjects underwent agitated saline TCD monitoring and 128 (51%) had right-to-left shunts (RLS). The prevalence of RLS was similar to cryptogenic embolic stroke (62.0%, P = 0.056), but higher than in patients with other stroke subtypes (36.2%, P = 0.021). Amongst subjects with SBI, absence of LA was the only factor associated with RLS (OR 1.78; 95% CI 1.01-3.14; P = 0.046).


CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that paradoxical embolism may play an important role in the development of SBI outside the PAT in apparently healthy adults.
The Effect of Internet Addiction on Depression , Anxiety , Social Isolation and Sleep Pattern Among Youth

Internet addiction (IA) has become a widespread and problematic phenomenon. Little is known about the effect of internet addiction (IA). The present study focus on the Meta analysis of internet addiction and its relation to mental health among youth. Effect size estimated the difference between the gender with respect to the severity of internet addiction and the depression, anxiety, social isolation and sleep pattern positive.
Fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis: the role of self-efficacy and problematic social support.

OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship of fatigue in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with self-efficacy, positive and problematic aspects of social support, and demographic and disease-related variables.


METHOD
Out-patients with at least 5 yr RA were studied. Fatigue was measured with a visual analogue scale. Other variables included were: positive social support [Social Support List-Interactions (SSL12-I)] and problematic social support; self-efficacy towards coping with RA and towards mobilizing support; health status (Dutch-AIMS2); and laboratory tests: erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), haemoglobin (Hb) and rheumatoid factor (RF); and disease duration.


RESULTS
A total of 229 out-patients were included. Fatigue correlated with all scales of the Dutch-AIMS2: with pain, physical function and affect (P < 0.001). There was no significant correlation with social support, but there was a highly significant correlation of fatigue with problematic social support (P < 0.001). Both forms of self-efficacy correlated strongly with fatigue: patients with high self-efficacy expectations towards coping with RA, and towards mobilizing the social network (P < 0.001), had less fatigue. In the regression analysis to explain the variation in fatigue, only pain, self-efficacy expectations towards coping with RA, and towards asking for help and problematic social support remained significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Fatigue can to a large extent (37%) be explained by pain, self-efficacy towards coping with RA, and towards asking for help and problematic social support. It is known that self-efficacy can be enhanced by self-management courses and it may thus be possible to improve fatigue.
The economics of Bitcoin transaction fees

We study the economics of Bitcoin transaction fees in a simple static partial equilibrium model with the specificity that the system security is directly linked to the total computational power of miners. We show that any situation with a fixed fee is equivalent to another situation with a limited block size. In both cases, we give the optimal value of the transaction fee or of the block size. We also show that making the block size a non binding constraint and, in the same time, letting the fee be fixed as the outcome of a decentralized competitive market cannot guarantee the very existence of Bitcoin in the long-term. JEL Classification: D23, E42.
Electrophysiological effects of fluoxetine in mammalian cardiac tissues

Fluoxetine is a widely used antidepressant compound having selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor properties. In this study, the actions of fluoxetine were analyzed in guinea pig, rat, rabbit and canine ventricular myocardiac preparations using conventional microelectrode and whole cell voltage clamp techniques. Low concentrations of fluoxetine (1–10 µmol/l) caused significant shortening of action potential duration (APD) and depression of the plateau potential in guinea pig and rabbit papillary muscles and single canine ventricular myocytes. In rat papillary muscle, APD was not affected by fluoxetine (up to 100 µmol/l), however, the drug decreased the force of contraction with EC50 of 10 µmol/l. Fluoxetine (10 µmol/l) also decreased the maximum velocity of depolarization and action potential overshoot in each species studied. At this concentration no effect was observed on the resting membrane potential; high concentration (100 µmol/l), however, caused depolarization. In voltage clamped canine ventricular myocytes, fluoxetine caused concentration-dependent block of the peak Ca2+ current at 0 mV with EC50 of 5.4±0.94 µmol/l and Hill coefficient of 1.1±0.14 (n=6). In addition, 10 µmol/l fluoxetine shifted the midpoint of the steady-state inactivation curve of the Ca2+ current from –20.7±0.65 to –26.7±1 mV (P<0.001, n=8) without changing its slope factor. These effects of fluoxetine developed rapidly and were fully reversible. Fluoxetine did not alter voltage-dependence of activation or time constant for inactivation of ICa. Fluoxetine had no effect on the amplitude of K+ currents (IK1 and Ito). The inhibition of cardiac Ca2+ and Na+ channels by fluoxetine may explain most cardiac side effects observed occasionally with the drug. Our results suggest that fluoxetine may have antiarrhythmic (class I + IV type), as well as proarrhythmic properties (due to impairment of atrioventricular or intraventricular conduction and shortening of repolarization). Therefore, in depressed patients with cardiac disorders, ECG control may be suggested during fluoxetine therapy.
Diaphragmatic perforation with colonic herniation due to hepatic radiofrequency ablation: A case report and review of the literature

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been widely accepted as an alternative treatment for unresectable primary and metastatic hepatic tumors, with satisfactory rates of local response and significant improvements in rates of overall survival. Numerous large series studies have shown that RFA is safe and effective, with a low mortality rate and a low major complication rate. Major complications, including diaphragmatic perforation and hernia, have rarely been previously reported. The current case report presents a case of diaphragmatic hernia with perforation of the incarcerated colon in the thoracic cavity 12 months following hepatic RFA, and reviews nine previously reported cases of diaphragmatic hernia. Comprehensive analysis of the nine cases demonstrated possibilities leading to diaphragmatic hernia following diaphragmatic thermal injury as a consequence of hepatic RFA. Clinicians and radiologists must consider diaphragmatic thermal damage following hepatic RFA for liver tumors adjacent to the diaphragm, particularly for patients with symptoms of ileus, dyspnea, chest pain, pleural effusion and right shoulder pain.
Evidence-based management of traumatic thoracolumbar burst fractures: a systematic review of nonoperative management.

OBJECT
The overall evidence for nonoperative management of patients with traumatic thoracolumbar burst fractures is unknown. There is no agreement on the optimal method of conservative treatment. Recent randomized controlled trials that have compared nonoperative to operative treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures without neurological deficits yielded conflicting results. By assessing the level of evidence on conservative management through validated methodologies, clinicians can assess the availability of critically appraised literature. The purpose of this study was to examine the level of evidence for the use of conservative management in traumatic thoracolumbar burst fractures.


METHODS
A comprehensive search of the English literature over the past 20 years was conducted using PubMed (MEDLINE). The inclusion criteria consisted of burst fractures resulting from a traumatic mechanism, and fractures of the thoracic or lumbar spine. The exclusion criteria consisted of osteoporotic burst fractures, pathological burst fractures, and fractures located in the cervical spine. Of the studies meeting the inclusion/exclusion criteria, any study in which nonoperative treatment was used was included in this review.


RESULTS
One thousand ninety-eight abstracts were reviewed and 447 papers met inclusion/exclusion criteria, of which 45 were included in this review. In total, there were 2 Level-I, 7 Level-II, 9 Level-III, 25 Level-IV, and 2 Level-V studies. Of the 45 studies, 16 investigated conservative management techniques, 20 studies compared operative to nonoperative treatments, and 9 papers investigated the prognosis of conservative management.


CONCLUSIONS
There are 9 high-level studies (Levels I-II) that have investigated the conservative management of traumatic thoracolumbar burst fractures. In neurologically intact patients, there is no superior conservative management technique over another as supported by a high level of evidence. The conservative technique can be based on patient and surgeon preference, comfort, and access to resources. A high level of evidence demonstrated similar functional outcomes with conservative management when compared with open surgical operative management in patients who were neurologically intact. The presence of a neurological deficit is not an absolute contraindication for conservative treatment as supported by a high level of evidence. However, the majority of the literature excluded patients with neurological deficits. More evidence is needed to further classify the appropriate burst fractures for conservative management to decrease variables that may impact the prognosis.
Biomarkers of Dairy Fatty Acids and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in the Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND
Evidence regarding the role of dairy fat intake in cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been mixed and inconclusive. Most earlier studies have used self-reported measures of dietary intake and focused on relatively racially homogeneous populations. Circulating biomarkers of dairy fat in a multiethnic cohort provide objective measures of dairy fat intake and facilitate conclusions relevant to populations with different diets and susceptibility to CVD.


METHODS AND RESULTS
In a multiethnic cohort of 2837 US adults aged 45 to 84 years at baseline (2000-2002), phospholipid fatty acids including 15:0, 14:0, and trans-16:1n7 were measured using standardized methods, and the incidence of CVD prospectively adjudicated. Self-reported whole-fat dairy and butter intakes had strongest associations with 15:0, rather than 14:0 or trans-16:1n7. In multivariate models including demographics and lifestyle and dietary habits, each SD-unit of 15:0 was associated with 19% lower CVD risk (hazard ratio [95% CI] 0.81 [0.68 to 0.98]) and 26% lower coronary heart disease (CHD) risk (0.74 [0.60 to 0.92]). Associations were strengthened after mutual adjustment for 14:0 and trans-16:1n-7 and were similar after adjustment for potential mediators. Plasma phospholipid 14:0 and trans-16:1n-7 were not significantly associated with incident CVD or CHD. All findings were similar in white, black, Hispanic, and Chinese American participants.


CONCLUSION
Plasma phospholipid 15:0, a biomarker of dairy fat, was inversely associated with incident CVD and CHD, while no association was found with phospholipid 14:0 and trans-16:1n-7. These findings support the need for further investigation of CVD effects of dairy fat, dairy-specific fatty acids, and dairy products in general.
Association between vitamin D and risk of colorectal cancer: a systematic review of prospective studies.

PURPOSE
To conduct a systematic review of prospective studies assessing the association of vitamin D intake or blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] with the risk of colorectal cancer using meta-analysis.


METHODS
Relevant studies were identified by a search of MEDLINE and EMBASE databases before October 2010 with no restrictions. We included prospective studies that reported relative risk (RR) estimates with 95% CIs for the association between vitamin D intake or blood 25(OH)D levels and the risk of colorectal, colon, or rectal cancer. Approximately 1,000,000 participants from several countries were included in this analysis.


RESULTS
Nine studies on vitamin D intake and nine studies on blood 25(OH)D levels were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled RRs of colorectal cancer for the highest versus lowest categories of vitamin D intake and blood 25(OH)D levels were 0.88 (95% CI, 0.80 to 0.96) and 0.67 (95% CI, 0.54 to 0.80), respectively. There was no heterogeneity among studies of vitamin D intake (P = .19) or among studies of blood 25(OH)D levels (P = .96). A 10 ng/mL increment in blood 25(OH)D level conferred an RR of 0.74 (95% CI, 0.63 to 0.89).


CONCLUSION
Vitamin D intake and blood 25(OH)D levels were inversely associated with the risk of colorectal cancer in this meta-analysis.
Dental Age Estimation in Children Using Orthopantomograms

Adresa za dopisivanje Prof.dr.sc. Ivana Čuković Bagić Sveučilište u Zagrebu Stomatološki fakultet Zavod za dječju stomatologiju Gundulićeva 5, HR-10 000 Zagreb Tel. 4802 216 bagic@sfzg.hr Sažetak Razvojne faze zubi koriste se za određivanje zrelosti i procjenu dobi u brojnim disciplinama; poput dječje i preventivne stomatologije, ortodoncije, forenzične stomatologije, i dr. Cilj: Točnost različitih metoda nije dosad sistematično proučena u hrvatskoj populaciji pa je cilj ovog istraživanja bio odrediti točnost dvije metode; prema Demirjian-u i Haavikko. Materijal i metode: Razvojne faze zuba promatrale su se na ortopantomogramima (OPG) zdrave djece, pacijenata Stomatološkog fakulteta, Sveučilišta u Zagrebu. Uzorak se sastojao od 324 ortopantomograma djece u dobi od 6-16 godina (149 dječaka i 175 djevojčica). Na OPG-ovima je promatrano sedam mandibularnih zuba i određen im je stadij po skalama zrelosti zuba prema Demirjian-u i Haavikko. U obradi podataka primijenjena je deskriptivna statistika, korelacijska analiza (Spearmanov test korelacije rangova) te testovi (Lilliefors test za testiranje normalnosti distribucije, t-test za testiranje značajnosti Spearmanovog koeficijenta korelacije rangova te Mann-Whitneyev test za testiranje razlika između dječaka i djevojčica). Rezultati: Dentalna dob i srednja vrijednost (±S.D. u godinama) između dentalne i realne dobi izračunata je za obje metode. Rezultati su pokazali da Demirjian-ova metoda precjenjuje dob dok Haavikko podcjenjuje dob. Svi podaci bili su obrađeni korelacijskom i regresijskom analizom koja je pokazala da su obje aplicirane metode pokazale signifikantnu korelaciju s realnom dobi (Demirjian-ova metoda imala je koeficijent korelacije 0.93, a metoda po Haavikko 0.89, p< 0.05). Zaključak: Ovo istraživanje na populaciji hrvatske djece pokazalo je visoki koeficijent korelacije za obje metode i ukazalo na njihovu mogućnost primjene u kliničkoj, znanstvenoj i forenzičnoj primjeni. Ključne riječi dentalna dob; forenzička stomatologija; rendgenogram, panoramski 1 Zavod za dječju stomatologiju Stomatološkog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu Department of Pedodontics, University of Zagreb School of Dental Medicine 2 Dom zdravlja Zapad Zagreb Healt Care Clinic West, Zagreb Department of Pedodontics, University of Zagreb School of Dental Medicine Zavod za dentalnu antropologiju Stomatološkog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu Department of Dental Anthropology, University of Zagreb School of Dental Medicine 4 Zavod za medicinsku statistiku, epidemiologiju i medicinsku informatiku Medicinskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu Department of Medical Statistics, Epidemiology and Medical Informatics University of Zagreb Medical School