LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Effects of stress on the formation and growth of nickel silicides in Ni thin films on (0 0 1)Si

Abstract Effects of stress on the formation and growth of nickel silicides in Ni thin films on (0 0 1)Si have been investigated. Compressive stress induced by backside SiO 2 film on the silicon substrate was found to retard significantly the formation of Ni 2 Si, NiSi and NiSi 2 on (0 0 1)Si. On the other hand, tensile stress induced by backside Si 3 N 4 and CoSi 2 films was found to enhance the formation of nickel silicides on (0 0 1)Si. The thickness of growing nickel silicide thin films was found to increase and decrease with tensile and compressive stress level, respectively. The effects of stress on the formation and growth of nickel silicides are attributed to the variation in the diffusion of nickel atoms through Ni/Si and nickel silicide/Si interfaces.
Review of the applications of neural networks in chemical process control - simulation and online implementation

As a result of good modeling capabilities, neural networks have been used extensively for a number of chemical engineering applications such as sensor data analysis, fault detection and nonlinear process identi®cation. However, only in recent years, with the upsurge in the research on nonlinear control, has its use in process control been widespread. This paper intend to provide an extensive review of the various applications utilizing neural networks for chemical process control, both in simulation and online implementation. We have categorized the review under three major control schemes; predictive control, inverse-model-based control, and adaptive control methods, respectively. In each of these categories, we summarize the major applications as well as the objectives and results of the work. The review reveals the tremendous prospect of using neural networks in process control. It also shows the multilayered neural network as the most popular network for such process control applications and also shows the lack of actual successful online applications at the present time. q 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Impact of cardiac contractility modulation on left ventricular global and regional function and remodeling.

OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to evaluate the impact of cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) on left ventricular (LV) size and myocardial function.


BACKGROUND
CCM is a device-based therapy for patients with advanced heart failure. Previous studies showed that CCM improved symptoms and exercise capacity; however, comprehensive assessment of LV structure, function, and reverse remodeling is not available.


METHODS
Thirty patients (60 + or - 11 years, 80% male) with New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III heart failure, ejection fraction <35%, and QRS <120 ms were assessed at baseline and 3 months. LV reverse remodeling was measured by real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography. Using tissue Doppler imaging, the peak systolic velocity (Sm) and peak early diastolic velocity (Em) were calculated for LV function, while the standard deviation of the time to peak systolic velocity (Ts-SD) and the time to peak early diastolic velocity (Te-SD) were calculated for mechanical dyssynchrony.


RESULTS
LV reverse remodeling was evident, with a reduction in LV end-systolic volume by -11.5 + or - 10.5% and a gain in ejection fraction by 4.8 + or - 3.6% (both p < 0.001). Myocardial contraction was improved in all LV walls, including sites remote from CCM delivery (all p < 0.05); hence, the mean Sm of 12 (2.2 + or - 0.6 cm/s vs. 2.5 + or - 0.7 cm/s) or 6 basal LV segments (2.5 + or - 0.6 cm/s vs. 3.0 + or - 0.7 cm/s) were increased significantly (both p < 0.001). In contrast, CCM had no impact on regional or global Em (2.9 + or - 1.3 cm/s vs. 2.9 + or - 1.1 cm/s), whereas Ts-SD (28.2 + or - 11.2 ms vs. 27.9 + or - 12.7 ms) and Te-SD (30.0 + or - 18.3 ms vs. 30.1 + or - 20.7 ms) remained unchanged (all p = NS). Mitral regurgitation was reduced (22 + or - 14% vs. 17 + or - 15%, p = 0.02). Clinically, there was improvement of NYHA functional class (p < 0.001) and 6-min hall walk distance (p = 0.015). A 24-h Holter monitor showed that premature ventricular contractions were not increased during CCM.


CONCLUSIONS
CCM improves both global and regional LV contractility, including regions remote from the impulse delivery, and may contribute to LV reverse remodeling and gain in systolic function. Such improvement is unrelated to diastolic function or mechanical dyssynchrony.
On weighted multiway cuts in trees

A min-max theorem is developed for the multiway cut problem of edge-weighted trees. We present a polynomial time algorithm to construct an optimal dual solution, if edge weights come in unary representation. Applications to biology also require some more complex edge weights. We describe a dynarnic programming type algorithm for this more general problem from biology and show that our min-max theorem does not apply to it. AMS 1991 Subject Classißcations: 05C05, 05C70, 90C27
Voiding and sexual dysfunction after cerebrovascular accidents.

PURPOSE
We provide an up-to-date review of the urological manifestations of cerebrovascular accidents and their management, including sexual manifestations.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
We performed a comprehensive MEDLINE search for peer reviewed articles using key words and incorporated these data with our experience with the treatment of patients in an acute stroke unit, rehabilitation unit and ambulatory care center.


RESULTS
The knowledge of urological dysfunction after stroke is based largely on the evaluation of symptomatic patients. The predominant symptoms are urinary frequency, urgency and urge incontinence. Time after stroke has a significant influence on urological findings. Detrusor hyperreflexia is the most common urodynamic finding. Whereas the site and size of the stroke clearly have an influence on urological findings, to our knowledge the effect of the involved hemisphere is unclear. Urinary incontinence as an initial presentation in acute stroke is associated with a high mortality rate. Sexual dysfunction is common in men and women. Co-morbid conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, benign prostatic hyperplasia and urethral incontinence, may complicate evaluation and management.


CONCLUSIONS
A stroke has a profound effect on lower urinary tract function, sometimes resulting in significant morbidity. In well rehabilitated patients sexual dysfunction should be assessed and treatment may be considered to improve quality of life with safety. An overall conservative approach to management is recommended in the initial 3 to 6 months since improvement is common with time.
Effect of conjugated linoleic acids, vitamin E and their combination on the clinical outcome of Iranian adults with active rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND
Despite beneficial effects of conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs) in animal studies, there is little information on their effects on human inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.


AIM
To investigate the effects of CLAs as an adjuvant therapy on the clinical manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in adults with an active disease.


METHODS
In a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial, 87 patients with active RA were divided into four groups receiving one of the following daily supplements for 3 months: group C: CLAs 2.5 g equivalent to 2 g mixture of cis 9-trans 11 and trans 10-cis12 CLAs at a rate of 50/50; group E: vitamin E: 400 mg; group CE: CLAs and vitamin E at above doses; group P: placebo. Serum alpha-tocopherol was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Clinical data was determined by physician examination and filling the questionnaire by interview. Complete blood count (CBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-Reactive protein (CRP) and rheumatoid factor (RF) were measured in each patient. DAS28 (diseases activity score) was also determined.


RESULTS
A 3-month supplementation resulted significant reduction in DAS28, pain and morning stiffness in the groups C and CE compared with group P (P < 0.05). Compared with the baseline, ESR levels decreased significantly in the groups C (P < or = 0.05), E (P < or = 0.05) and CE (P < or = 0.001). Group CE had significantly lower ESR levels than group P (P v 0.05). CRP dropped non-significantly in all four groups (P > 0.1). The reduction of white blood cell count was significant in group CE compared with other groups (P < 0.05). Decrease in platelet count was non-significant in groups CE, C, and E. Changes in RF, body mass index, red blood cell count and hemoglobin were not significant in four groups, while RF decreased non-significantly in groups CE and E. In comparison with the baseline, alpha-tocopherol increased significantly in groups C (P < or = 0.05), E (P < or = 0.01) and CE (P < or = 0.001) and in groups E and CE compared with group P.


CONCLUSION
CLA supplementation resulted in significant improvement in clinical manifestation among RA patients and may be useful in their treatments.
On the Security of Index Coding With Side Information

Security aspects of the index coding with side information (ICSI) problem are investigated. Building on the results of Bar-Yossef (2006), the properties of linear index codes are further explored. The notion of weak security, considered by Bhattad and Narayanan (2005) in the context of network coding, is generalized to block security. It is shown that the linear index code based on a matrix <i>L</i>, whose column space code <i>C</i>(<i>L</i>) has length <i>n</i>, minimum distance <i>d</i> , and dual distance <i>d</i><sup>⊥</sup> , is (<i>d</i>-1-<i>t</i>) -block secure (and hence also weakly secure) if the adversary knows in advance <i>t</i> ≤ <i>d</i>-2 messages, and is completely insecure if the adversary knows in advance more than <i>n</i> - <i>d</i><sup>⊥</sup> messages. Strong security is examined under the conditions that the adversary: 1) possesses <i>t</i> messages in advance; 2) eavesdrops at most μ transmissions; 3) corrupts at most δ transmissions. We prove that for sufficiently large <i>q</i> , an optimal linear index code which is strongly secure against such an adversary has length κ<sub>q</sub>+μ+2δ . Here, κ<sub>q</sub> is a generalization of the min-rank over F<sub>q</sub> of the side information graph for the ICSI problem in its original formulation in the work of Bar-Yossef et al.
Codes for Digital Recorders

Constrained codes are a key component in the digital recording devices that have become ubiquitous in computer data storage and electronic entertainment applications. This paper surveys the theory and practice of constrained coding, tracing the evolution of the subject from its origins in Shannon’s classic 1948 paper to present-day applications in high-density digital recorders. Open problems and future research directions are also addressed.
Reading linear texts on paper versus computer screen : Effects on reading comprehension

Objective: To explore effects of the technological interface on reading comprehension in a Norwegian school context. Participants: 72 tenth graders from two different primary schools in Norway. Method: The students were randomized into two groups, where the first group read two texts (1400–2000 words) in print, and the other group read the same texts as PDF on a computer screen. In addition pretests in reading comprehension, word reading and vocabulary were administered. A multiple regression analysis was carried out to investigate to what extent reading modality would influence the students’ scores on the reading comprehension measure. Conclusion: Main findings show that students who read texts in print scored significantly better on the reading comprehension test than students who read the texts digitally. Implications of these findings for policymaking and test development are discussed. 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Altruism, Incomplete Markets, and Tax Reform

We compute the welfare e¤ects of di¤erent revenue-neutral tax reforms that eliminate capital income taxation in a general equilibrium model calibrated to the U.S. economy. We nd that the reform with the largest welfare gain is the one that eliminates all income taxation and increases the consumption tax to 35%. In our calibrated dynastic economy, 75% of the population alive at the time of the reform benet from it. Altruism plays an important role in this result. Individuals use intervivos transfers and bequests to redistribute the long-run benets in the form of higher after-tax wages and interest rates that will benet future generations toward the current generations. Indeed, in a pure life-cycle economy calibrated to the same U.S. observations, we nd that the same reform would benet only 9% of the population. The increase in the consumption tax at the initial period of the transition hurts all individuals except for the very young workers. Since generations are not linked by private transfers, the e¢ ciency gains of this reform are only enjoyed by generations born in the very far future. A popular tax reform in the pure life-cycle model is one that benets current generations regardless of the impact on future generations. For instance, the elimination of capital income taxation nanced with an increase in the wage tax benets 63% of the population living at the time of the reform but decreases welfare in the long-run.
Noncommutative Geometry and the Standard Model: An overview

We briefly sketch the noncommutative geometry approach to the Standard Model, with attention to what can be inferred about particle masses.
The adult human pubic symphysis: a systematic review.

The pubic symphysis is a unique joint consisting of a fibrocartilaginous disc sandwiched between the articular surfaces of the pubic bones. It resists tensile, shearing and compressive forces and is capable of a small amount of movement under physiological conditions in most adults (up to 2 mm shift and 1° rotation). During pregnancy, circulating hormones such as relaxin induce resorption of the symphyseal margins and structural changes in the fibrocartilaginous disc, increasing symphyseal width and mobility. This systematic review of the English, German and French literature focuses on the normal anatomy of the adult human pubic symphysis. Although scientific studies of the joint have yielded useful descriptive data, comparison of results is hampered by imprecise methodology and/or poorly controlled studies. Several aspects of the anatomy of the pubic symphysis remain unknown or unclear: the precise attachments of surrounding ligaments and muscles; the arrangement of connective tissue fibres within the interpubic disc and the origin, structure and function of its associated interpubic cleft; the biomechanical consequences of sexual dimorphism; potential ethnic variations in morphology; and its precise innervation and blood supply. These deficiencies hinder our understanding of the normal form and function of the joint, which is particularly relevant when attempting to understand the mechanisms underlying pregnancy-related pubic symphyseal pain, a neglected and relatively common cause of pubic pain. A better understanding of the normal anatomy of the human pubic symphysis should improve our understanding of such problems and contribute to better treatments for patients suffering from symphyseal pain and dysfunction.
Large text searching allowing errors

We present a full inverted index for exact and approximate string matching in large texts. The index is composed of a table containing the vocabulary of words of the text and a list of positions in the text corresponding to each word. The size of the table of words is usually much less than 1% of the text size and hence can be kept in main memory, where most query processing takes place. The text, on the other hand, is not accessed at all. The algorithm permits a large number of variations of the exact and approximate string search problem, such as phrases, string matching with sets of characters (range and arbitrary set of characters, complements, wild cards), approximate search with nonuniform costs and arbitrary regular expressions. The whole index can be built in linear time, in a single sequential pass over the text, takes near 1=3 the space of the text, and retrieval times are near O(p n) for typical cases. Experimental results show that the algorithm works well in practice: for a one-gigabyte text collection, all matchings of a phrase of 3 words allowing up to 1 error can be found in approximately 6 seconds and allowing no errors can be found in under half a second. This index has been implemented in a software package called Igrep, which is publicly available. Experiments show that Igrep is much faster than Glimpse in typical queries.
Daily blood glucose profiles of glibenclamide and gliclazide taken once or twice daily in elderly type 2 diabetic patients.

AIM
The aim of this study was to evaluate the difference in daily blood glucose profiles between once- and twice-daily regimens of a moderate daily dose of glibenclamide or gliclazide in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
Daily blood glucose profile data were evaluated in 18 elderly type 2 diabetic patients treated with 80 mg/day gliclazide or 5 mg/day glibenclamide as monotherapy. The first daily blood glucose profile of the twice-daily regimen was performed approximately 1 week before hospital discharge, and the second was performed after taking a once-daily regimen for 4-7 days. Plasma glucose and plasma immunoreactive insulin (IRI) concentrations were measured daily at 12 time points: 08.00 (before breakfast); 10.00; 12.00 (before lunch); 14.00; 18.00 (before dinner); 20.00; 0.00; 02.00; 03.00; 04.00; 06.00; and 08.00 hours the next morning.


RESULTS
Daily blood glucose profiles and plasma IRI profiles did not differ between the once- and twice-daily regimen groups in either the gliclazide group or the glibenclamide group. Plasma glucose values between midnight and early morning tended to be lower than the 08.00 hours plasma glucose value in the glibenclamide group, but not in the gliclazide group.


CONCLUSION
These results suggest that the blood glucose-lowering effects of a once- and twice-daily moderate daily dose of glibenclamide or gliclazide do not differ in elderly type 2 diabetic patients. However, glibenclamide, regardless of the dosage schedule, tends to lower the plasma glucose values between midnight and early morning.
Acute stroke patterns in patients with internal carotid artery disease: a diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Diffusion-weighted (DW) MRI is a sensitive method that facilitates early stroke pattern identification. There are limited data about the influence of stenosis grade on the development of particular stroke patterns in internal carotid artery (ICA) disease. We therefore investigated the lesion patterns on DW MRI in acute stroke patients with ICA disease.


METHODS
DW MRI was analyzed in 102 consecutive acute stroke patients with different degrees of ipsilateral ICA disease. Patients were assigned to 1 of 5 observed lesion patterns: (1) territorial ischemia, (2) subcortical ischemia without or (3) with embolus fragmentation, (4) disseminated lesions in distal cortical regions, and (5) multiple lesions in hemodynamic risk zones. In addition, perfusion-weighted (PW) MRI and MR angiography information was included in the assessment.


RESULTS
All patterns were observed in the different stages of ICA disease. Half of the patients with high-grade or subtotal stenosis had lesions in hemodynamic risk zones. Territorial stroke occurred in 47.6% of patients with ICA occlusion. Statistical analysis showed a significant relationship between the degree of stenosis and the observed stroke pattern (P=0.001). In 77.8% of patients exhibiting high-grade ICA stenosis, subtotal stenosis, or occlusion, the perfusion lesion was larger than the diffusion lesion (PW/DW mismatch).


CONCLUSIONS
Although in the individual patient any of the infarct patterns may occur, in statistical terms the incidence of a particular stroke pattern is clearly dependent on the degree of stenosis.
Neural conditional random fields

We propose a non-linear graphical model for structured prediction. It combines the power of deep neural networks to extract high level features with the graphical framework of Markov networks, yielding a powerful and scalable probabilistic model that we apply to signal labeling tasks.
Personal Therapy in Psychotherapeutic Training: Current Research and Future Directions

Recent research literature in the field of personal therapy for psychotherapists shows that therapists claim overwhelmingly positive outcomes with few negative effects (Orlinsky et al., The Psychotherapist’s own psychotherapy: Patient and clinician perspectives. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2005). However, there has been little interest to date in the extent to which the personal characteristics of therapists might have a bearing on the way in which personal therapy is experienced in psychotherapeutic training. This paper reviews some of the current research in the field and then discusses a subset of results from a small-scale qualitatively-driven study (Rizq and Target, Counselling Psychology Quarterly 23(4):1–27, 2010b) suggesting that early attachment experience may be a relevant factor in understanding how a mandatory training therapy is perceived and experienced within psychotherapeutic training. Implications for psychotherapeutic education are briefly discussed and some directions for future research proposed.
Self-face recognition activates a frontoparietal “mirror” network in the right hemisphere: an event-related fMRI study

Self-recognition has been demonstrated by a select number of primate species and is often used as an index of self-awareness. Whether a specialized neural mechanism for self-face recognition in humans exists remains unclear. We used event-related fMRI to investigate brain regions selectively activated by images of one's own face. Ten right-handed normal subjects viewed digital morphs between their own face and a gender-matched familiar other presented in a random sequence. Subjects were instructed to press a button with the right hand if the image looked like their own face, and another button if it looked like a familiar or scrambled face. Contrasting the trials in which images contain more "self" with those containing more familiar "other" revealed signal changes in the right hemisphere (RH) including the inferior parietal lobule, inferior frontal gyrus, and inferior occipital gyrus. The opposite contrast revealed voxels with higher signal intensity for images of "other" than for "self" in the medial prefrontal cortex and precuneus. Additional contrasts against baseline revealed that activity in the "self" minus "other" contrasts represent signal increases compared to baseline (null events) in "self" trials, while activity in the "other" minus "self" contrasts represent deactivations relative to baseline during "self" trials. Thus, a unique network involving frontoparietal structures described as part of the "mirror neuron system" in the RH underlies self-face recognition, while regions comprising the "default/resting state" network deactivate less for familiar others. We provide a model that reconciles these findings and previously published work to account for the modulations in these two networks previously implicated in social cognition.
How Much to Trust Artificial Intelligence?

Considerable buzz surrounds artificial intelligence, and, indeed, AI is all around us. As with any software-based technology, it is also prone to vulnerabilities. Here, the author examines how we determine whether AI is sufficiently reliable to do its job and how much we should trust its outcomes.