LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Research, Participation, and the Teaching of Politics

The director of the Political Studies Program at the University of North Carolina discusses the program's outstanding features. Both graduate and under-graduate courses in American government and politics have accompanying laboratory sessions that permit student observation and participation in politics in a research-oriented situation. Begun in 1957, the program has already had excellent results.The following article discusses another aspect of social science research at North Carolina.
Combined Thrombolysis with Abciximab Favourably Influences Platelet-Leukocyte Interactions and Platelet Activation in Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background: In patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), activated platelets and altered haemostatic/fibrinolytic systems with and without thrombolytic therapy are known. Platelets thereby interact with neutrophils, stimulated endothelial cells and with monocytes leading to adverse effects on further myocardial damage. Thrombolysis in these patients is still hampered by procoagulant effects favoring early reocclusion. The additional treatment with a GPIIb/IIIa antagonist aimed to minimize early reocclusion thus improving the present therapeutic regimen. Methods: In 38 patients with AMI, we investigated the effects of a thrombolytic regimen with half reteplase (r-PA) dose plus abciximab vs. full dose r-PA on membrane-bound adhesion molecules (CD41, CD42b, CD40, CD40L) expressed on platelets, neutrophils and monocytes as well as on soluble platelet-selectin as interaction and activation markers of these cells. Results: The combination group had significantly (p < 0.05) lower sP-selectin levels over 48 h vs. the group treated with full dose r-PA. After 3 h, the percentage of CD41 and CD42b positive monocytes and granulocytes as well as the percentage of CD40 positive granulocytes and the percentage of CD40L positive monocytes markedly (p < 0.01, p < 0.05) decreased in the combination group vs. data at admission compared with the r-PA group indicating less leukocyte-patelet adhesion. Conclusions: The thrombolytic regimen with half dose r-PA and abciximab had a benefical influence on platelet activation and induced a more marked decrease of platelet-monocyte, and in part, platelet-granulocyte aggregates compared with the r-PA regimen. This could contribute to a probably lesser monocyte activation state with favourable effects on monocyte-endothelial adhesion and a consecutively possible influence of myocardial damage, a reduction of the additionally acute local inflammatory processes and a reduction of adherence of platelet-granulocyte aggregates to subendothelium.
Constrained Hough Transforms for Curve Detection

This paper describes techniques to perform fast and accurate curve detection using constrained Hough transforms, in which localization error can be propagated efficiently into the parameter space. We first review a formal definition of Hough transform and modify it to allow the formal treatment localization error. We then analyze current Hough transform techniques with respect to this definition. It is shown that the Hough transform can be subdivided into many small subproblems without a decrease in performance, where each subproblem is constrained to consider only those curves that pass through some subset of the edge pixels up to the localization error. This property allows us to accurately and efficiently propagate localization error into the parameter space such that curves are detected robustly without finding false positives. The use of randomization techniques yields an algorithm with a worstcase complexity of O(n), where n is the number of edge pixels in the image, if we are only required to find curves that are significant with respect to the complexity of the image. Experiments are discussed that indicate that this method is superior to previous techniques for performing curve detection and results are given showing the detection of lines and circles in real images. c © 1999 Academic Press
The induction of behavioural sensitization is associated with cocaine-induced structural plasticity in the core (but not shell) of the nucleus accumbens.

Repeated exposure to cocaine increases the density of dendritic spines on medium spiny neurons in the nucleus accumbens (Acb) and pyramidal cells in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). To determine if this is associated with the development of psychomotor sensitization, rats were given daily i.p. injections of 15 mg/kg of cocaine (or saline) for 8 days, either in their home cage (which failed to induce significant psychomotor sensitization) or in a distinct and relatively novel test cage (which induced robust psychomotor sensitization). Their brains were obtained 2 weeks after the last injection and processed for Golgi-Cox staining. In the Acb core (AcbC) cocaine treatment increased spine density only in the group that developed psychomotor sensitization (i.e. in the Novel but not Home group), and there was a significant positive correlation between the degree of psychomotor sensitization and spine density. In the Acb shell (AcbS) cocaine increased spine density to the same extent in both groups; i.e. independent of psychomotor sensitization. In the mPFC cocaine increased spine density in both groups, but to a significantly greater extent in the Novel group. Furthermore, when rats were treated at Home with a higher dose of cocaine (30 mg/kg), cocaine now induced psychomotor sensitization in this context, and also increased spine density in the AcbC. Thus, the context in which cocaine is experienced influences its ability to reorganize patterns of synaptic connectivity in the Acb and mPFC, and the induction of psychomotor sensitization is associated with structural plasticity in the AcbC and mPFC, but not the AcbS.
ON POINTWISE KAN EXTENSIONS IN DOUBLE CATEGORIES

In this paper we consider a notion of pointwise Kan extension in double categories that naturally generalises Dubuc’s notion of pointwise Kan extension along enriched functors. We show that, when considered in equipments that admit opcartesian tabulations, it generalises Street’s notion of pointwise Kan extension in 2-categories. Introduction A useful construction in classical category theory is that of right Kan extension along functors and, dually, that of left Kan extension along functors. Many important notions, including that of limit and right adjoint functor, can be regarded as right Kan extensions. On the other hand right Kan extensions can often be constructed out of limits; such Kan extensions are called pointwise. It is this notion of Kan extension that was extended to more general settings, firstly by Dubuc in [Dub70], to a notion of pointwise Kan extension along V-functors, between categories enriched in some suitable category V , and later by Street in [Str74], to a notion of pointwise Kan extension along morphisms in any 2-category. It is unfortunate that Street’s notion, when considered in the 2-category V-Cat of V-enriched categories, does not agree with Dubuc’s notion of pointwise Kan extension, but is stronger in general. In this paper we show that by moving from 2-categories to double categories it is possible to unify Dubuc’s and Street’s notion of pointwise Kan extension. In §1 we recall the notion of double category, which generalises that of 2-category by considering, instead of a single type, two types of morphism. For example one can consider both ring homomorphisms and bimodules between rings. One type of morphism is drawn vertically and the other horizontally so that cells in a double category, which have both a horizontal and vertical morphism as source and as target, are shaped like squares. Every double category K contains a 2-category V (K) consisting of the objects and vertical morphisms of K, as well as cells whose horizontal source and target are identities. Many of the results in this paper first appeared as part of my PhD thesis “Algebraic weighted colimits” that was written under the guidance of Simon Willerton. I would like to thank Simon for his advice and encouragement. Also I thank the anonymous referee for helpful suggestions, and the University of Sheffield for its financial support of my PhD studies. Received by the editors 2014-02-05 and, in revised form, 2014-11-03. Transmitted by R. Paré. Published on 2014-11-06. 2010 Mathematics Subject Classification: 18D05, 18A40, 18D20.
The challenge of ubiquitous computing in health care: technology, concepts and solutions. Findings from the IMIA Yearbook of Medical Informatics 2005.

OBJECTIVES
To review recent research efforts in the field of ubiquitous computing in health care. To identify current research trends and further challenges for medical informatics.


METHODS
Analysis of the contents of the Yearbook on Medical Informatics 2005 of the International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA).


RESULTS
The Yearbook of Medical Informatics 2005 includes 34 original papers selected from 22 peer-reviewed scientific journals related to several distinct research areas: health and clinical management, patient records, health information systems, medical signal processing and biomedical imaging, decision support, knowledge representation and management, education and consumer informatics as well as bioinformatics. A special section on ubiquitous health care systems is devoted to recent developments in the application of ubiquitous computing in health care. Besides additional synoptical reviews of each of the sections the Yearbook includes invited reviews concerning E-Health strategies, primary care informatics and wearable healthcare.


CONCLUSIONS
Several publications demonstrate the potential of ubiquitous computing to enhance effectiveness of health services delivery and organization. But ubiquitous computing is also a societal challenge, caused by the surrounding but unobtrusive character of this technology. Contributions from nearly all of the established sub-disciplines of medical informatics are demanded to turn the visions of this promising new research field into reality.
Computer-aided maintenance management systems selection based on a fuzzy AHP approach

Computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) are common in today’s industries. CMMS can bring a large number of benefits, which include increased productivity, reduced costs, and effective utilization of the assets in any manufacturing and service producer. The list of CMMS that are available in the market has grown very rapidly during the last years. When purchasing a system, one that suits the specific needs and objectives of the company’s maintenance operations should be preferred. Several selection methods were proposed in literature. Up to now, no article has considered ambiguity and uncertainty factors when selecting effective CMMS. In addition, CMMS selection decisions involve the simultaneous consideration of multiple criteria, including tangible and intangible factors; prioritizing these factors can be a great challenge and a complex task. Therefore, no attempt has been made to incorporate fuzziness into multicriteria decision-making in the area of CMMS selection. This work proposes a fuzzy–based methodology for comparative evaluation of a number of CMMS alternatives. The proposal is based on the well-known multicriteria decision method called Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) with triangular numbers. An example is given to illustrate the proposed methodology. Finally, a software prototype for implementing this method was implemented. To illustrate and validate the proposed approach and the software prototype developed some details are presented and discussed. 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Intrahepatic portal-hepatic venous anastomosis: a portal-systemic shunt with neurological repercussions

Intrahepatic shunts are rarely diagnosed as a cause of neurocognitive abnormality. A complaint of fatigue led to the diagnosis of a right portal vein–hepatic vein aneurysmal communication in a 23-yr-old, otherwise healthy woman. Neuropsychological testing, imaging, and MR spectroscopy revealed changes similar to those described in patients with cirrhosis and subclinical hepatic encephalopathy. T1-weighted MRI showed a hyperintense globus pallidus, a feature seen in subjects with and without portal-encephalopathy. Portal-systemic shunting in the absence of parenchymal liver disease reproduces neurological features described in cirrhosis.
Combining HPLC-GCXGC, GCXGC/ToF-MS, and selected ecotoxicity assays for detailed monitoring of petroleum hydrocarbon degradation in soil and leaching water.

HPLC-GCXGC/FID (high-performance liquid chromatography followed by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with flame-ionization detection) and GCXGC/ToF-MS (comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry) were used to study the biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in soil microcosms during 20 weeks. Two soils were studied: one spiked with fresh diesel and one field sample containing weathered diesel-like oil. Nutrient amended and unamended samples were included. Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) levels in spiked soil decreased from 15,000 to 7,500 mg/kg d.m. and from 12,0O0 to 4,000 mg/kg d.m. in the field soil. Linear alkanes and aromatic hydrocarbons were better biodegradable (>60% degraded) than iso-alkanes; cycloalkanes were least degradable (<40%). Aromatic hydrocarbons up to three rings showed better degradability than n-alkanes. GCXGC/ToF-MS analysis of leaching water showed that initially various oxygenated hydrocarbons were produced. Compound peaks seemed to move up and rightward in the GCXGC chromatograms, indicating that more polar and heavier compounds were formed as biodegradation proceeded. Nutrient amendment can increase TPH removal rates, but had adverse effects on ecotoxicity and leaching potential in our experiment This was explained by observed shifts in the soil microbial community. Ecotoxicity assays showed that residual TPH still inhibited cress (Lepidium sativum) seed germination, but the leaching water was no longer toxic toward luminescent bacteria (Vibrio fischeri).
Results of induction chemotherapy in children older than 18 months with stage-4 neuroblastoma treated with an adaptive-to-response modified N7 protocol (mN7).

PURPOSE
We report the response rate in children older than 18 months with stage 4 Neuroblastoma, using a modified dose-intensive, response-adaptive, induction mN7 protocol.


METHODS
From 2005 to 2012, 24 patients were treated with the mN7 protocol. Phase 1 included five MSKCC N7 cycles and surgery and two high-dose cyclophosphamide-topotecan (HD-CT) cycles for those who did not achieve complete remission (CR) and negative bone marrow (BM) minimal residual disease (MRD) status (CR+MRD-). Phase 2 consisted of myeloablative doses of topotecan, thiotepa and carboplatin plus hyperfractionated RT. Phase 3 included isotretinoin and 3F8 immunotherapy plus GM-CSF. BM MRD was monitored using GD2 synthase, PHOX2B and cyclin D1 mRNAs.


RESULTS
After 3 cycles, all patients showed BM complete histological clearance and 6 (25 %) were MRD-. Twenty of 21 s-look surgeries achieved macroscopic complete resection. After 5 cycles and surgery, (123)I-MIBG scan was negative in 15 (62.5 %) cases, BM disease by histology was negative in 23 (96 %) and 10 (42 %) patients were MRD-. Twelve (50 %) pts were in CR, 2 in very good partial response (VGPR), 9 partial response (PR) and one had progressive disease. With 2 HD-CT extra cycles, 17 (71 %) pts achieved CR+MRD- status moving to phase 2. Overall and event-free survival at 3 years for the 17 patients who achieved CR+MRD- is 65 and 53 %, respectively, median follow-up 47 months. Seven (29 %) patients never achieved CR+MRD-. Univariate Cox regression analysis shows CR+MRD- status after mN7 induction as the only statistically significant prognostic factor to predict overall survival.


CONCLUSIONS
mN7 induction regimen produced a CR+MRD- rate of 71 %. CR+MRD- status following induction was the only predictive marker of long-term survival.
The economic cost of physical inactivity in China.

OBJECTIVE
To estimate the total economic burden of physical inactivity in China.


METHOD
The costs of physical inactivity combine the medical and non-medical costs of five major Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) associated with inactivity. The national data from the Chinese Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance Surveys (2007) and the National Health Service Survey (2003) are used to compute population attributable risks (PARs) of inactivity for each major NCD. Costs specific to inactivity are obtained by multiplying each disease costs by the PAR for each NCD, by incorporating the inactivity effects through overweight and obesity.


RESULTS
Physical inactivity contributes between 12% and 19% to the risks associated with the five major NCDs in China, namely coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, cancer, and type 2 diabetes. Physical inactivity is imposing a substantial economic burden on the country, as it is responsible alone for more than 15% of the medical and non-medical yearly costs of the main NCDs in the country.


CONCLUSIONS
The high economic burden of physical inactivity implies the need to develop more programs and interventions that address this modifiable behavioral risk, in order to curb the rising NCDs epidemic in China.
The Epi.q-1 Hybrid Mobile Robot

In this paper we propose an innovative solution for a small size hybrid mobile robot called Epi.q-1. Overall dimensions are about 160 mm 360 mm 280 mm (height length width). The Epi.q-1 robot moves on flat, steep or uneven ground. It can climb over obstacles or steps, even if they are non-uniform in size. Its operating mode adapts to ground conditions and changes accordingly: from rolling (on wheels) to stepping (on legs) thanks to its great mobility it can follow complex routes. It is easy to control with just a few actuators. Robot locomotion drive-generating units employ an original driving mechanism, where degrees of freedom (DOFs) can be limited to some extent according to the operating conditions or thanks to a switching device. Locomotion units consist of a motor linked to a gear (double epicyclical chain) and an axial device (mini-motor and lead screw system) able to lock or unlock some DOFs of the kinematic chain. Moreover, the robot locomotion unit can change its size, from small to large and vice versa, in order to be able to reach restricted spaces and to overcome even quite tall obstacles. It was experimentally tested on flat ground and slopes. It can overcome 90 mm obstacles, that are 72% of the height of the locomotion unit, and climb stairs. KEY WORDS—mobile robot, hybrid robot, wheel-legged locomotion, stair climbing, triple wheels The International Journal of Robotics Research Vol. 29, No. 1, January 2010, pp. 81–91 DOI: 10.1177/0278364909336806 c The Author(s), 2010. Reprints and permissions: http://www.sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav Figures 1–3, 6–12 appear in color online: http://ijr.sagepub.com
Acute outcome of stent therapy for coarctation of the aorta: results of the coarctation of the aorta stent trial.

OBJECTIVES
The coarctation of the aorta stent trial (COAST) is a pivotal trial of the NuMED Cheatham Platinum Stent(®) for treatment of coarctation of the aorta (CoA).


BACKGROUND
CoA is a congenital obstruction to flow through the aorta. Stents have been used since the 1990s to treat CoA; none have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for this indication.


METHODS
In a prospective, multicenter study 105 patients received stents for treatment of CoA. Data was collected in the catheterization laboratory, on discharge and at 1-month postprocedure.


RESULTS
Of 105 patients, 69% were male; 57% had native CoA. Noninvasive, baseline systolic blood pressure (SBP) showed upper extremity (UE) SBP to be 140 ± 16 mm Hg and UE to lower extremity (LE) SBP difference 29 ± 17 mm Hg. At catheterization, baseline ratio of minimum CoA diameter to diameter of descending aorta (CoA:DAo) was 0.46 ± 0.16. Implants (104/105) were successful with one stent migration. There were no deaths or serious complications. Paradoxical hypertension occurred in 6%. Four percent of patients experienced somewhat serious adverse events related to the procedure. All patients achieved relief of ascending aorta to Dao pressure gradient: mean = 2.0 ± 4.0 mm Hg (P < 0.001). The CoA:DAo increased to 0.84 ± 0.18. At 1-month, UE SBP was 120 ± 12 mm Hg, UE to LE SBP difference = -1 ± 12 mm Hg. Ninety-nine percent of patients had UE to LE SBP difference <20 mm Hg.


CONCLUSIONS
Stenting of CoA, using the NuMED Cheatham Platinum Stent, is acutely safe and effective for treatment of CoA.
Secure Length-Saving ElGamal Encryption under the Computational Diffie-Hellman Assumption

A design of secure and efficient public key encryption schemes under weaker computational assumptions has been regarded as an important and challenging task. As far as the ElGamal-type encryption is concerned, some variants of the original ElGamal encryption scheme whose security depends on weaker computational assumption have been proposed: Though the security of the original ElGamal encryption is based on the decisional Diffie-Hellman assumption (DDH-A), the security of recent schemes such as Pointcheval’s ElGamal encryption variant is based on the weaker assumption, the computational Diffie-Hellman assumption (CDH-A). In this paper, we propose a length-saving ElGamal encryption variant whose security is based on CDH-A and analyze its security in the random oracle model. Our scheme is length-efficient and provably secure which provides a shorter ciphertext than that of the Pointcheval’s scheme and a formal proof of security against the chosenciphertext attack.
Couple-focused human immunodeficiency virus prevention for young Latino parents: randomized clinical trial of efficacy and sustainability.

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and sustainability of a couple-focused human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention intervention in reducing unprotected sex and increasing intent to use condoms and knowledge about AIDS.


DESIGN
Randomized controlled trial.


SETTING
Urban community settings in Southern California.


PARTICIPANTS
Primarily Latino couples (168 couples; 336 individuals) who were aged 14 to 25 years, English or Spanish speaking, and coparenting a child at least 3 months of age.


INTERVENTION
A 12-hour theory-based, couple-focused HIV prevention program culturally tailored for young Latino parents, with emphasis on family protection, skill building, and issues related to gender and power. The 1½-hour control condition provided basic HIV-AIDS information.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Primary outcome measures included self-report of condom use during the past 3 months; secondary, intent to use condoms and knowledge about AIDS.


RESULTS
The HIV prevention intervention reduced the proportion of unprotected sex episodes (odds ratio, 0.87 per month from baseline to 6 months; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.82-0.93) and increased intent to use condoms (slope increase, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.04-0.37) at the 6-month follow-up; however, these effects were not sustained at 12 months. Knowledge about AIDS was increased in both groups from baseline to 6 months (slope estimate, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.47-0.67) and was maintained in the intervention group only through 12 months. Female participants in both groups had higher intent to use condoms and knowledge about AIDS than male participants (P ≤ .01).


CONCLUSIONS
The couple-focused HIV prevention intervention reduced risky sexual behaviors and improved intent to use condoms among young Latino parents at the 6-month evaluation. A maintenance program is needed to improve the sustainability of effects over time.
On the implementation of input-feedforward delta-sigma modulators

This brief addresses some practical issues on the implementation of the input-feedforward delta-sigma modulators. First, the timing constraint imposed by the input-feedforward path is identified and a possible method to relax the constraint is proposed. Second, the drawbacks of the analog adder needed before the quantizer are explained and a method to eliminate the adder is proposed