LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
A single gas barrier layer of high-density Al2O3 formed by neutral beam-assisted sputtering at room temperature

Abstract This paper reveals the formation of high-density Al 2 O 3 thin films at low temperatures for inorganic gas barriers using neutral beam-assisted sputtering (NBAS). The NBAS induces an annealing effect even at room temperature through energetic neut.al particles, leading to an enhancement in the density of Al 2 O 3 thin films. As a result, we obtained a water vapor transmission rate of 1.58 × 10 −5  g/(m 2 ·day) using a single layer of Al 2 O 3 thin film at a thickness of 100 nm. In the NBAS, the energetic neutral particle bombardment of the thin film occurs during magnetron sputtering. The high-density Al 2 O 3 gas barrier films formed by the NBAS show applicability to organic microelectronic devices, including organic light-emitting diodes.
Efficient trace monitoring

A wealth of recent research involves generating program monitors from declarative specifications. Doing this efficiently has proved challenging, and available implementations often produce infeasibly slow monitors. We demonstrate how to dramatically improve performance -- typically reducing overheads to within an order of magnitude of the program's normal runtime.
Diagnostic role of serum glypican-3 in differentiating hepatocellular carcinoma from non-malignant chronic liver disease and other liver cancers.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS
The role of glypican-3 (GPC3), a novel serum marker, in differentiating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from non-malignant chronic liver disease and other malignant space-occupying lesions in the liver is largely unknown. The aims of this study were to evaluate its diagnostic role and clinical correlations in patients with HCC.


METHODS
Six groups were studied which included 40 healthy subjects, 50 patients with chronic hepatitis (CH), 50 patients with liver cirrhosis (LC), 100 patients with HCC, 50 patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and 50 patients with metastatic carcinoma (MCA). Serum GPC3 levels were measured by using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method.


RESULTS
Fifty-three percent of HCC patients had elevated serum GPC3 levels with values ranging 35.5-7826.6 ng/mL. The serum marker was undetectable in other groups except one patient (2%) with LC and another patient (2%) with MCA. In most cases of HCC, elevated GPC3 values did not correlate with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels. Detectable GPC3 was significantly correlated with the presence of viral hepatitis markers but was not correlated with tumor size and stage of HCC. Serum GPC3 was superior to AFP in detecting small HCC (56.3% and 31.3%, respectively). A combination of serum GPC3 and AFP yielded an improved sensitivity for detecting small HCC to 75%.


CONCLUSION
Serum GPC3 is highly specific for detecting HCC. The combined use of serum GPC3 and AFP provides a potentially promising tool to better differentiate HCC from benign liver disorders, as well as from other liver cancers.
Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial of Omega-3 as Supplemental Treatment in Schizophrenia

INTRODUCTION
Recent studies found omega-3 fatty acid deficiency in brain cell membranes of schizophrenic patients. Conventional antipsychotics have many adverse reactions. Safety, availability and low price made omega-3 as a potential supplement for treatment of these patients. This study investigated the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acid as add-on treatment in schizophrenia.


MATERIALS & METHODS
A randomized, double blind, placebo controlled fixed-dose, add-on clinical trial conducted over 8 weeks. 60 patients with documented schizophrenia randomly divided into two groups: omega-3(1000 mg/day) (n=30) and placebo (n=30). Patients received omega-3 or placebo in addition to their standard antipsychotic treatment. Patient follow up was done using Positive and Negative syndrome Scale (PANSS). Data analyzed using SPSS software v.20.


RESULTS
At the end of 8 weeks treatment, PANSS score decreased significantly in both groups (p<0.05) in comparison to baseline. Efficacy of omega-3 in decreasing general psychopathologic and total scores was significant in comparison to placebo group from 4 and 6 weeks after onset of treatment, respectively (p<0.05). Totally, omega-3 supplement therapy efficacy in comparison to sole conventional antipsychotics was 0.86 which was not significant (p>0.05).


CONCLUSION
we found that supplemental omega-3 might increase efficacy of conventional antipsychotics in decreasing symptoms of schizophrenia. Low price, rare adverse reactions and availability of omega-3 made this substance a potential supplement in improved treatment of schizophrenia
K-Means Clustering Versus Validation Measures: A Data-Distribution Perspective

K-means is a widely used partitional clustering method. While there are considerable research efforts to characterize the key features of K-means clustering, further investigation is needed to reveal whether and how the data distributions can have the impact on the performance of K-means clustering. Indeed, in this paper, we revisit the K-means clustering problem by answering three questions. First, how the "true" cluster sizes can make impact on the performance of K-means clustering? Second, is the entropy an algorithm-independent validation measure for K-means clustering? Finally, what is the distribution of the clustering results by K-means? To that end, we first illustrate that K-means tends to generate the clusters with the relatively uniform distribution on the cluster sizes. In addition, we show that the entropy measure, an external clustering validation measure, has the favorite on the clustering algorithms which tend to reduce high variation on the cluster sizes. Finally, our experimental results indicate that K-means tends to produce the clusters in which the variation of the cluster sizes, as measured by the Coefficient of Variation(CV), is in a specific range, approximately from 0.3 to 1.0.
A Low Serum Bicarbonate Concentration as a Risk Factor for Mortality in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

BACKGROUND AND AIM
Metabolic acidosis is common in patients with chronic kidney disease and is associated with increased mortality in hemodialysis patients. However, this relationship has not yet been determined in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.


METHODS
This prospective observational study included a total of 441 incident patients who started PD between January 2000 and December 2005. Using time-averaged serum bicarbonate (TA-Bic) levels, we aimed to investigate whether a low serum bicarbonate concentration can predict mortality in these patients.


RESULTS
Among the baseline parameters, serum bicarbonate level was positively associated with hemoglobin level and residual glomerular filtration rate (GFR), while it was negatively associated with albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, peritoneal Kt/V urea, and normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR) in a multivariable linear regression analysis. During a median follow-up of 34.8 months, 149 deaths were recorded. After adjustment for age, diabetes, coronary artery disease, serum albumin, ferritin, CRP, residual GFR, peritoneal Kt/V urea, nPCR, and percentage of lean body mass, TA-Bic level was associated with a significantly decreased risk of mortality (HR per 1 mEq/L increase, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.76-0.91; p < 0.001). In addition, compared to patients with a TA-Bic level of 24-26 mEq/L, those with a TA-Bic level < 22 and between 22-24 mEq/L conferred a 13.10- and 2.13-fold increased risk of death, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that a low serum bicarbonate concentration is an independent risk factor for mortality in PD patients. This relationship between low bicarbonate levels and adverse outcome could be related to enhanced inflammation and a more rapid loss of RRF associated with metabolic acidosis. Large randomized clinical trials to correct acidosis are warranted to confirm our findings.
Low Cost EVM Testing of Wireless RF SoC Front-Ends Using Multitones

Error-vector-magnitude (EVM) is a system level specification that determines the overall modulation quality and exhibits strong correlation to the inherent nonidealities of a radio frequency (RF) system. In production testing, EVM tests incur significant cost due to the large number of symbols required to ensure test quality. In our approach, EVM is decomposed into its deterministic (due to static impairments: IQ mismatch, gain, AM-AM and AM-PM) and random (due to dynamic impairments: VCO phase noise, thermal noise) components. The static impairments are computed from the device under test (DUT) response to an optimized multitone test input. The dynamic impairments are computed using signal processing algorithms from the DUT test response to the same test input. The EVM of the RF system is then derived from the computed static and dynamic impairments, respectively. Experimental results show that significant reduction in test time is possible without compromising EVM test quality.
The Sisters' Arts: The Writing and Painting of Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell

This is a study of the close relationship between Virginia Woolf and her sister, Vanessa Bell. It uncovers a remarkable creative relationship, sustained by tensions caused by both proximity and distance, supporting Woolf's confession that she wrote more for her sister than for anyone.
Extended Boolean Information Retrieval

Gerard Salton has worked on a number of non-numeric computer applications including automatic information retrieval. He has published a large number of articles and several books on information retrieval, most recently, "Introduction to Modern Information Retrieval," 1983. Edward Fox is currently assistant professor of computer science at VPI. Harry Wu is currently involved in the comparative study of relational database systems. His main interest is in information storage and retrieval. Authors' Present Addresses: G. Salton, Dept. of Computer Science, Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY 14853; E. A. Fox, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Univ., Blacksburg, VA 24061; H. Wu, ITT--Programming Technology Center, lO00 Oronogue Lane, Stratford, CT 06497. This study was supported in part by the National Science Foundation under Grant IST-8108696. Permission to copy without fee all or part of this material is granted provided that the copies are not made or distributed for direct commercial advantage, the ACM copyright notice and the title of the publication and its date appear, and notice is given that copying is by permission of the Association for Computing Machinery. To copy otherwise, or to republish, requires a fee and/or specific permission. © 1983 ACM 0001-0782/83/1100-1022 75¢ 1. CONVENTIONAL RETRIEVAL STRATEGIES In conventional information retrieval, the stored records are normally identified by sets of key words or
Oligo-Antigenic Diet in the Treatment of Chronic Anal Fissures. Evidence for a Relationship Between Food Hypersensitivity and Anal Fissures

OBJECTIVES:Patients with chronic constipation due to food hypersensitivity (FH) had an elevated anal sphincter resting pressure. No studies have investigated a possible role of FH in anal fissures (AFs). We aimed to evaluate (1) the effectiveness of diet in curing AFs and to evaluate (2) the clinical effects of a double-blind placebo-controlled (DBPC) challenge, using cow's milk protein or wheat.METHODS:One hundred and sixty-one patients with AFs were randomized to receive a “true-elimination diet” or a “sham-elimination diet” for 8 weeks; both groups also received topical nifedipine and lidocaine. Sixty patients who were cured with the “true-elimination diet” underwent DBPC challenge in which cow's milk and wheat were used.RESULTS:At the end of the study, 69% of the “true-diet group” and 45% of the “sham-diet group” showed complete healing of AFs (P<0.0002). Thirteen of the 60 patients had AF recurrence during the 2-week cow's milk DBPC challenge and 7 patients had AF recurrence on wheat challenge. At the end of the challenge, anal sphincter resting pressure significantly increased in the patients who showed AF reappearance (P<0.0001), compared with the baseline values. The patients who reacted to the challenges had a significantly higher number of eosinophils in the lamina propria and intraepithelial lymphocytes than those who did not react to the challenges.CONCLUSIONS:An oligo-antigenic diet combined with medical treatment improved the rate of chronic AF healing. In more than 20% of the patients receiving medical and dietary treatment, AFs recurred on DBPC food challenge.
Interactive charging strategy of electric vehicles connected in Smart Grids

Electric vehicles (EV's) represent an important future load on the electric utility system which, if implemented in a large scale without control, may lead to grid problems such as power losses and voltage deviations. However, if properly managed, it could increase power plant utilization and reduce the average cost of generating electricity. This paper proposes and analyzes two novel interactive charging strategies for scales of electric vehicles connected in Smart Grid. The first decentralized approach is controlled directly by the electric vehicle charging controller. Six charging modes included in this strategy adjust schedule of electric vehicles charging operation automatically and ensure the charging orderly. The other is centralized charging strategy. With the aim of minimizing power losses and voltage deviations, the optimal algorithm in charging management system also takes into consideration not only the information like current SOC, the battery capacity and connecting time but also the electricity grid constraints. Both of them optimize EV's charging schedules and charging rates. In addition, a two-way communication network based on Zigbee and other communication technology is established to ensure the implement of the interactive charging control. The success of this charging strategy can be an important theoretical meaning and promotional value for EV.
Effect of testosterone replacement therapy on prostate tissue in men with late-onset hypogonadism: a randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT
Prostate safety is a primary concern when aging men receive testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), but little information is available regarding the effects of TRT on prostate tissue in men.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of TRT on prostate tissue of aging men with low serum testosterone levels.


DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 44 men, aged 44 to 78 years, with screening serum testosterone levels lower than 300 ng/dL (<10.4 nmol/L) and related symptoms, conducted at a US community-based research center between February 2003 and November 2004.


INTERVENTION
Participants were randomly assigned to receive 150 mg of testosterone enanthate or matching placebo intramuscularly every 2 weeks for 6 months.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
The primary outcome measure was the 6-month change in prostate tissue androgen levels (testosterone and dihydrotestosterone). Secondary outcome measures included 6-month changes in prostate-related clinical features, histology, biomarkers, and epithelial cell gene expression.


RESULTS
Of the 44 men randomized, 40 had prostate biopsies performed both at baseline and at 6 months and qualified for per-protocol analysis (TRT, n = 21; placebo, n = 19). Testosterone replacement therapy increased serum testosterone levels to the mid-normal range (median at baseline, 282 ng/dL [9.8 nmol/L]; median at 6 months, 640 ng/dL [22.2 nmol/L]) with no significant change in serum testosterone levels in matched, placebo-treated men. However, median prostate tissue levels of testosterone (0.91 ng/g) and dihydrotestosterone (6.79 ng/g) did not change significantly in the TRT group. No treatment-related change was observed in prostate histology, tissue biomarkers (androgen receptor, Ki-67, CD34), gene expression (including AR, PSA, PAP2A, VEGF, NXK3, CLU [Clusterin]), or cancer incidence or severity. Treatment-related changes in prostate volume, serum prostate-specific antigen, voiding symptoms, and urinary flow were minor.


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary data suggest that in aging men with late-onset hypogonadism, 6 months of TRT normalizes serum androgen levels but appears to have little effect on prostate tissue androgen levels and cellular functions. Establishment of prostate safety for large populations of older men undergoing longer duration of TRT requires further study. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00161304.
Tidal decay of close planetary orbits

The 4.2-day orbit of the newly discovered planet around 51 Pegasi is formally unstable to tidal dissipation. However, the orbital decay time in this system is longer than the main-sequence lifetime of the central star. Given our best current understanding of tidal interactions, a planet of Jupiter’s mass around a solar-like star could have dynamically survived in an orbit with a period as short as ∼ 10 hr. Since radial velocities increase with decreasing period, we would expect to find those planets close to the tidal limit first and, unless this is a very unusual system, we would expect to find many more. We also consider the tidal stability of planets around more evolved stars and we re-examine in particular the question of whether the Earth can dynamically survive the red-giant phase in the evolution of the Sun. Subject headings: Planets and Satellites: General — Solar System: General — Stars: Planetary Systems — Sun: Solar-terrestrial Relations
Construction of the Lindström valuation of an algebraic extension

Abstract Recently, Bollen, Draisma, and Pendavingh have introduced the Lindstrom valuation on the algebraic matroid of a field extension of characteristic p . Their construction passes through what they call a matroid flock and builds on some of the associated theory of matroid flocks which they develop. In this paper, we give a direct construction of the Lindstrom valuated matroid using the theory of inseparable field extensions. In particular, we give a description of the valuation, the valuated circuits, and the valuated cocircuits.
Comparison of recurrence with lightweight composite polypropylene mesh and heavyweight mesh in laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair: an audit of 1,232 repairs

In Edinburgh a group of surgeons agreed to convert to a lightweight, composite mesh (Ultrapro—Ethicon) for totally extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia surgery. The aim of this study was to compare the outcome following the use of a new lightweight vs a standard heavyweight mesh during TEP hernia repair. Patients undergoing TEP using lightweight (LWM) or heavyweight meshes (HWM) between March 2004 and March 2006 were identified from the Lothian Surgical Audit database. The patients who re-presented with recurrence of hernia were studied in greater detail. Date of re-attendance at a clinic with recurrence was used as a surrogate for date of recurrence. Two hundred and fifty one patients had 371 hernia repairs with LWM. A total of 16 (4.3%) recurred with a median follow-up of 14.5 months. A concurrent group of 326 patients had 425 repairs with standard mesh and have had 12 (2.82%) recurrences with a median follow-up of 22.4 months. A group of patients operated immediately prior to the introduction of LWM consisted of 328 patients who had 436 repairs using HWM, of whom 13 (2.98%) have recurred with a median follow-up of 43 months. Whilst there are no statistically significant differences in recurrence rates between these groups, we are concerned that the LWM group has the highest recurrence rate despite the shortest follow-up. In view of increased patient comfort, we continue to recommend LWM for laparoscopic inguinal hernia surgery but would recommend that, in larger hernias and possibly for all, the surgeon should improve mesh adhesion.
Medicine-taking experiences and associated factors: comparison between Arabic-speaking and Caucasian English-speaking patients with Type 2 diabetes.

AIM
The aim of this study was to explore and compare medication-taking experiences and associated issues in Arabic-speaking and Caucasian English-speaking patients with Type 2 diabetes in Australia.


METHODS
Various healthcare settings in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia, were purposefully selected to obtain a diverse group of participants with Type 2 diabetes. Recruitment occurred at diabetes outpatient clinics in two tertiary referral hospitals, six primary care practices and ten community centres. Face-to-face semi-structured individual interviews and group interviews were employed. All interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and coded thematically. Data collection continued until saturation was reached.


RESULTS
In total, 100 participants were recruited into two groups: 60 were Arabic-speaking and 40 were Caucasian English-speaking. Both groups had similar demographic and clinical characteristics. Only 5% of the Arabic-speaking participants had well-controlled diabetes compared with 17.5% of the participants in the English-speaking group. Arabic-speaking participants actively changed medication regimens on their own without informing their healthcare professionals. Arabic-speaking patients had more knowledge gaps about their prescribed treatments, compared with the English-speaking group. Their use of diabetes medicines was heavily influenced by peers with diabetes and family members; conversely, they feared revealing their diagnosis within the wider Arabic community due to stigma and collective negative social labelling of diabetes. Confidence in non-Arabic-speaking healthcare providers was lacking.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings yielded new insights into medication-taking practices and associated factors in Arabic-speaking patients with diabetes. It is vital that healthcare professionals working with Arabic-speaking patients adapt their treatment approaches to accommodate different beliefs and views about medicines.
Research Guides: GEO 210: People & the Land: Intro to Cultural Geography (Crain-LO): Mergent Online

This guide has been created to help you find geographic, economic, social/cultural information and more from country reports, articles, and other types of resources related to this program of study. Direct comments to jcombs@nvcc.edu
Indigenous Australian medical students' perceptions of their medical school training.

CONTEXT
The Australian Medical Council requires all accredited Australian medical schools to have specific admission and recruitment policies for Indigenous Australian students. However, there is no clear evidence about how these students can be retained through to graduation.


OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to explore the training experiences of Indigenous undergraduate medical students and their perceptions of the factors influencing their progression through training. Methods We used a qualitative methodology involving focus groups. All participants had successfully completed at least 1 year of the Bachelor of Medicine programme at the University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.


RESULTS
Sixteen of 18 eligible students participated in the study. The factors that influence an Indigenous student's progress through medical training are multi-faceted and inter-related and are associated with student support, course content and styles of learning, personal qualities (such as confidence and coping skills), discrimination and distinctive cultural issues pertinent to Indigenous students.


CONCLUSIONS
Both academic and non-academic factors affect the progression through training of Indigenous medical students. A number of individual and systemic interventions which actively encourage a range of support networks, increase confidence and coping skills, and reduce cultural clash by assertively addressing discrimination and stereotyping need to be introduced. The outcomes of this work may provide some guidance to medical schools engaged in implementing strategies to enroll and support Indigenous students.