LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Clinical evidence for cervical myelopathy due to Chiari malformation and spinal stenosis in a non-randomized group of patients with the diagnosis of fibromyalgia

While patients with fibromyalgia report symptoms consistent with cervical myelopathy, a detailed neurological evaluation is not routine. We sought to determine if patients with fibromyalgia manifest objective neurological signs of cervical myelopathy. Two hundred and seventy patients, 18 years and older, who carried the diagnosis of fibromyalgia but who had no previously recognized neurological disease underwent detailed clinical neurological and neuroradiological evaluation for the prevalence of objective evidence of cervical myelopathy and radiological evidence of cerebellar tonsillar herniation (Chiari 1 malformation) or cervical spinal canal stenosis. Patients were primarily women (87%), of mean age 44 years, who had been symptomatic for 8 years (standard deviation, 6.3 years). The predominant complaints were neck/back pain (95%), fatigue (95%), exertional fatigue (96%), cognitive impairment (92%), instability of gait (85%), grip weakness (83%), paresthesiae (80%), dizziness (71%) and numbness (69%). Eighty-eight percent of patients reported worsening symptoms with neck extension. The neurological examination was consistent with cervical myelopathy: upper thoracic spinothalamic sensory level (83%), hyperreflexia (64%), inversion of the radial periosteal reflex (57%), positive Romberg sign (28%), ankle clonus (25%), positive Hoffman sign (26%), impaired tandem walk (23%), dysmetria (15%) and dysdiadochokinesia (13%). MRI and contrast-enhanced CT imaging of the cervical spine revealed stenosis. The mean antero-posterior (AP) spinal canal diameter at C2/3, C3/4, C4/5, C5/6, C6/7 and C7/T1 was 13.5 mm, 11.8 mm, 11.5 mm, 10.4 mm, 11.3 mm and 14.5 mm respectively, (CT images). In 46% of patients, the AP spinal diameter at C5/6 measured 10 mm, or less, with the neck positioned in mild extension, i.e., clinically significant spinal canal stenosis. MRI of the brain revealed tonsillar ectopia >5 mm in 20% of patients (mean=7.1±1.8 mm), i.e., Chiari 1 malformation. Our findings indicate that some patients who carry the diagnosis of fibromyalgia have both signs and symptoms consistent with cervical myelopathy, most likely resulting from spinal cord compression. We recommend detailed neurological evaluation of patients with fibromyalgia in order to exclude cervical myelopathy, a potentially treatable condition.
Treatment with botulinum toxin improves upper-extremity function post stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE
To examine whether treatment with botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) is associated with improvements in activity capacity or performance associated with poststroke spasticity in the upper extremity.


DATA SOURCES
MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and ISI Web of Science databases were searched from 1985 to November 2011.


DATA SELECTION
Studies were included if (1) the study design was a randomized controlled trial comparing injection of BTX-A with placebo or a nonpharmacologic treatment condition; (2) at least 60% of the sample was composed of adult subjects recovering from either first or subsequent stroke; (3) subjects presented with moderate to severe upper-extremity spasticity of the wrist, finger, or shoulder; and (4) activity was assessed as an outcome. Studies were limited to those published in the English language.


DATA EXTRACTION
Data pertaining to participant characteristics, treatment contrasts, and outcomes assessing activity limitations were extracted from each trial. The World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health was used to identify outcomes that captured the domain of activity used within each of the included studies. Where possible, a treatment effect size was calculated for each study using the standardized mean difference ± standard error (95% confidence interval) and the results pooled.


DATA SYNTHESIS
Sixteen randomized controlled trials were identified, 10 of which reported sufficient data for inclusion in the pooled analysis (n=1000). Six different outcomes that assessed activity limitations had been used, including the Disability Assessment Scale, the Action Research Arm Test, and the Barthel Index. Overall, BTX-A was associated with a moderate treatment effect (standardized mean difference=.536±.094, 95% confidence interval=.352-.721, P<.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
The use of BTX-A was associated with moderate improvement in upper-extremity activity capacity or performance after stroke.
Design Process of Sonically-enhanced Air Gesture Controls in Vehicles

Touchscreen use in vehicles introduces conflict for the visual attention of drivers. This conflict increases crash risk and has been a subject of concern among driving researchers for many years. In this paper, we introduce the design process of sonically-enhanced air gesture controls to overcome drivers' visual distraction. Design applications and future research directions are discussed.
Further Characterisation of the Molecular Signature of Quiescent and Activated Mouse Muscle Satellite Cells

Satellite cells are the resident stem cells of adult skeletal muscle. To date though, there is a paucity of native markers that can be used to easily identify quiescent satellite cells, with Pax7 probably being the best that is currently available. Here we have further characterized a number of recently described satellite cell markers, and also describe novel ones. Caveolin-1, integrin alpha7 and the calcitonin receptor proved reliable markers for quiescent satellite cells, being expressed by all satellite cells identified with Pax7. These three markers remained expressed as satellite cells were activated and underwent proliferation. The nuclear envelope proteins lamin A/C and emerin, mutations in which underlie Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, were also expressed in both quiescent and proliferating satellite cells. Conversely, Jagged-1, a Notch ligand, was not expressed in quiescent satellite cells but was induced upon activation. These findings further contribute to defining the molecular signature of muscle satellite cells.
IT COMPETENCY AND FIRM PERFORMANCE : IS ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING A MISSING LINK ?

Many companies have developed strategies that include investing heavily in information technology (IT) in order to enhance their performance. Yet, this investment pays off for some companies but not others. This study proposes that organization learning plays a significant role in determining the outcomes of IT. Drawing from resource theory and IT literature, the authors develop the concept of IT competency. Using structural equations modeling with data collected from managers in 271 manufacturing firms, they show that organizational learning plays a significant role in mediating the effects of IT competency on firm performance. Copyright  2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Building Member Attachment in Online Communities: Applying Theories of Group Identity and Interpersonal Bonds

Online communities are increasingly important to organizations and the general public, but there is little theoretically based research on what makes some online communities more successful than others. In this article, we apply theory from the field of social psychology to understand how online communities develop member attachment, an important dimension of community success. We implemented and empirically tested two sets of community features for building member attachment by strengthening either group identity or interpersonal bonds. To increase identity-based attachment, we gave members information about group activities and intergroup competition, and tools for group-level communication. To increase bond-based attachment, we gave members information about the activities of individual members and interpersonal similarity, and tools for interpersonal communication. Results from a six-month field experiment show that participants’ visit frequency and self-reported attachment increased in both conditions. Community features intended to foster identity-based attachment had stronger effects than features intended to foster bond-based attachment. Participants in the identity condition with access to group profiles and repeated exposure to their group’s activities visited their community twice as frequently as participants in other conditions. The new features also had stronger effects on newcomers than on old-timers. This research illustrates how theory from the social science literature can be applied to gain a more systematic understanding of online communities and how theory-inspired features can improve their success. 1
Material Handling Equipment Selection using Hybrid Monte Carlo Simulation and Analytic Hierarchy Process

The many feasible alternatives and conflicting objectives make equipment selection in materials handling a complicated task. This paper presents utilizing Monte Carlo (MC) simulation combined with the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to evaluate and select the most appropriate Material Handling Equipment (MHE). The proposed hybrid model was built on the base of material handling equation to identify main and sub criteria critical to MHE selection. The criteria illustrate the properties of the material to be moved, characteristics of the move, and the means by which the materials will be moved. The use of MC simulation beside the AHP is very powerful where it allows the decision maker to represent his/her possible preference judgments as random variables. This will reduce the uncertainty of single point judgment at conventional AHP, and provide more confidence in the decision problem results. A small business pharmaceutical company is used as an example to illustrate the development and application of the proposed model. Keywords—Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Material handling equipment selection, Monte Carlo simulation, Multi-criteria decision making
Efficient and flexible chaotic communication waveform family

Harris has developed, implemented, and characterized a highly efficient and flexible digitally generated family of chaotic waveforms for high information density, anti-jam, LPI/LPD/LPE, and “self-encrypted” application spaces. This paper introduces an efficient mechanism to generate a chaotic signal digitally, while tailoring waveform characteristics for maximum performance in various application spaces, overcoming known limitations in DSSS communications. The paper discusses the desirable characteristics of the various chaotic waveform variants as well as the advantages these operational digital chaotic communication systems provide over traditional but yet to be practically realized analog based systems. The architecture of a hardware prototype implementation is presented along with key measured performance parameters. Harris bases our family of chaotic waveforms on an efficient number theoretic digital chaotic implementation that enables extreme epoch lengths without apparent chaotic attractors in a small and power efficient hardware or software footprint. The chaotic characteristics can be customized for the target application space. For example, the chaos can be shaped into a quadrature Gaussian distribution for maximum information density and maximum LPI/LPD/LPE effectiveness, it can have a constant amplitude envelope and uniformly distributed random phase for AJ applications, it can be simply divided into code division multiplexing or orthogonal waveform division for multiple access communications, or it can be easily adapted to hybrid distributions with time-varying characteristics to provide environment aware ‘cognitive’ links. Because of the absence of apparent attractors and code epoch times measured in googol-years (10100 years), the waveforms are extremely secure. We describe chaotic spread-spectrum waveforms in this paper, although chaotic techniques can be extended to other systems. As such, chaotic state synchronization becomes carrier frequency, phase, and timing synchronization of a digital communication system that are well understood and straight forward to implement. Adapting basic techniques used in direct sequence spread spectrum communications to the chaotic waveform enables a robust synchronization between independent chaotic circuits and their resulting waveforms. The paper briefly introduces the desirable features of a chaotic communication system and contrasts the advantages of digital and analog chaos based communication systems. We present the digital chaotic sequence generator architecture, followed by a prototype coherent chaotic communication system implementation, including characteristic measurements. Finally, we correlate the specific advantages of the different chaotic waveforms to a range of potential applications.
Factors affecting accessibility and acceptability of voluntary counselling and testing among high risk group (HRG) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in NWFP Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE
To identify the factors that affect the accessibility and acceptability of Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) services among High Risk Groups for HIV in NWFP.


METHODS
A cross sectional study was conducted in two districts of N.W.F.P. namely Peshawar and Abbotabad from August 2007 up till January 2008. A total of 153 participants were interviewed from high risk group by convenient sampling. The high risk group included commercial sex workers and injection drug users. Information was also gathered from in-charges of VCT centers. The data were collected in two phases, in the first phase data were collected in Peshawar while in the second phase data were collected in Abbotabad. Out of 153 respondents 102 (67%) were interviewed in Peshawar while 51 (33%) respondents were interviewed in Abbotabad.


RESULTS
A total of 153 respondents were interviewed, that included commercial sex workers (123) and injection drug users (30). Mostly the participants were young with a mean age of 24 +/- 8.8 years. As far as transmission of HIV was concerned 57% reported that HIV was transmitted through sexual contact, 09% said it was transmitted by contaminated instruments and syringes and around 11% reported its transmission by eating with persons having HIV/AIDS while 04% said it was transmitted by hugging/kissing. The level of knowledge about VCT was very low and about 27% of the participants had heard about VCT center. Only a small number i.e., 16 out of 153 partipants visited VCT centres.


CONCLUSIONS
The study concluded that there is lackof awareness among high risk group regarding VCT and those who have heard about VCT (27%) only a few had visited the VCT center. The awareness campaign about VCT should target communities in general and high risk group in particular.
Medical waste management in Korea.

The management of medical waste is of great importance due to its potential environmental hazards and public health risks. In the past medical waste was often mixed with municipal solid waste and disposed of in residential waste landfills or improper treatment facilities (e.g. inadequately controlled incinerators) in Korea. In recent years, many efforts have been made by environmental regulatory agencies and waste generators to better manage the waste from healthcare facilities. This paper presents an overview of the current management practices of medical waste in Korea. Information regarding generation, composition, segregation, transportation, and disposal of medical wastes is provided and discussed. Medical waste incineration is identified as the most preferred disposal method and will be the only available treatment option in late 2005. Faced with increased regulations over toxic air emissions (e.g. dioxins and furans), all existing small incineration facilities that do not have air pollution control devices will cease operation in the next few years. Large-scale medical waste incinerators would be responsible for the treatment of medical waste generated by most healthcare facilities in Korea. It is important to point out that there is a great potential to emit air toxic pollutants from such incinerators if improperly operated and managed, because medical waste typically contains a variety of plastic materials such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Waste minimization and recycling, control of toxic air emissions at medical waste incinerators, and alternative treatment methods to incineration are regarded to be the major challenges in the future.
Safety and efficacy of dose-intensive oral vitamin A in subjects with sun-damaged skin.

PURPOSE
Previously, we reported the results of a Phase III, placebo-controlled trial in 2297 randomized participants with moderately severe actinic keratoses wherein 25000 IU/day vitamin A caused a 32% risk reduction in squamous cell skin cancers. We hypothesized that dose escalation of vitamin A to 50000 or 75000 IU/day would be both safe and more efficacious in skin cancer chemoprevention.


EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
One hundred and twenty-nine participants with severely sun-damaged skin on their lateral forearms were randomized to receive placebo or 25000, 50000, or 75000 IU/day vitamin A for 12 months. The primary study end points were the clinical and laboratory safety of vitamin A, and the secondary end points included quantitative, karyometric image analysis and assessment of retinoid and rexinoid receptors in sun-damaged skin.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in expected clinical and laboratory toxicities between the groups of participants randomized to placebo, 25000 IU/day, 50000 IU/day, and 75000 IU/day. Karyometric features were computed from the basal cell layer of skin biopsies, and a total of 22600 nuclei from 113 participants were examined, showing statistically significant, dose-response effects for vitamin A at the 25000 and 50000 IU/day doses. These karyometric changes correlated with increases in retinoic acid receptor alpha, retinoic acid receptor beta, and retinoid X receptor alpha at the 50000 IU/day vitamin A dose.


CONCLUSIONS
The vitamin A doses of 50000 and 75000 IU/day for 1 year proved safe and equally more efficacious than the 25000 IU/day dose and can be recommended for future skin cancer chemoprevention studies.
Heat flow from eastern Panama and northwestern Colombia

Abstract Heat flows were determined at 12 sites in four distinct areas between longitude 77° and 80°W in eastern Panama and northwestern Colombia. Evidently, most of the region is underlain by mafic oceanic crust so that the crustal radiogenic component of heat flow is very small (∼ 0.1 μcal cm −2 sec −1 ). Low heat-flow values (∼ 0.7 μcal cm −2 sec −1 ) in northwestern Colombia may reflect thermal transients associated with shallow subduction. The normal values (∼ 1) at about 78°W are consistent with the mean heat flow from the western Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. At 80°W, a fairly high value of 1.8 may define the easterly limit of thermal transients due to Cenozoic volcanic activity in Central America.
Fault tolerant control allocation via continuous integral sliding-modes: A HOSM-Observer approach

In this paper a continuous fault tolerant control allocation is proposed. This approach is based on a uniform High-Order Sliding-Mode Observer where only measurable outputs are used. The fault tolerant control scheme is developed using, for the first time, a continuous integral sliding-mode and a fixed control allocation technique which provides an approximate estimation of matched faults. The conditions for stability are found by ensuring the stability of the closed loop system in the presence possible faults in the components, and actuator faults or failures. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is verified through simulation of a linear version of the benchmark B747− 100/200 civil aircraft model.
Firm Entry and Wages: Impact of Wal-Mart Growth on Earnings Throughout the Retail Sector

This paper estimates the effect of Wal-Mart expansion on wages, benefits, and skill-composition of retail workers during the 1990s. We exploit the spatial pattern of Wal-Mart diffusion, radiating outward from the original store in Benton county, Arkansas, to control for potential endogeneity in store openings using both instrumental variable and control function approaches. Estimates from state and county level data suggest that store openings reduced both the average earnings and health benefits of retail workers. At the county level, a new Wal-Mart is found to reduce retail earnings, on average, by .5 to .9 percent. Moreover, we find that changes in skill-composition explain only a small part of compensation reduction, indicating that the decline in retail wages reflect a reduction in labor market rents. Arindrajit Dube Research Economist Institute for Research on Labor and Employment University of California, Berkeley T. William Lester Doctoral Candidate, City and Regional Planning, University of California, Berkeley Barry Eidlin Doctoral Candidate, Department of Sociology University of California, Berkeley JEL Classifications: J31, J38, L81
Lipoblastoma in a 23-year-old male: distinction from atypical lipomatous tumor using cytogenetic and fluorescence in-situ hybridization analysis

 Lipoblastoma is a rare benign tumor that occurs primarily in infancy and early childhood. We present the rare presentation of a 12 cm sized intramuscular lipoblastoma of the thigh in a 23-year-old patient. On histology, the tumor strongly resembled an atypical lipomatous tumor due to the presence of lipoblasts and atypical stromal nuclei. The very focal lobulation and myxoid change presented the only histological hint towards a lipoblastoma. Cytogenetic and subsequent FISH evaluation of the tumor cells showed a 46,XY, t(8;15) (q12;q25) as chromosomal change with rearrangement of the PLAG1 gene. The present case indicates that lipoblastoma should enter the differential diagnosis of an 'atypical' deep seated fatty tumor in adults. The diagnostic value of cytogenetic/molecular analysis in the differential diagnosis of lipomatous tumors is underscored as well.
Screening for Hypoglycemia in Exclusively Breastfed High-risk Neonates.

OBJECTIVE
To determine incidence of hypoglycemia in exclusively breastfed, high-risk but healthy newborns, and risk factors for its development.


METHODS
This observational study enrolled 407 exclusively breastfed high-risk (low birth weight newborns (1800-2499 g), late preterms, small-for-gestation, large-for-gestation and infant of diabetic mother), who did not require admission to neonatal intensive care unit and were kept in postnatal wards with mother. Hypoglycemia was defined as blood glucose £46 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L). Blood glucose was monitored till 48 hours of life.


RESULTS
27% of the screened newborns developed hypoglycemia in first 48 hours. 31 (7.6%) developed recurrent (>2) episodes, 28 (6.8%) had moderate (<37mg/dL) while 8 (1.9%) developed symptomatic hypoglycemia. With increase in birthweight, risk of hypoglycemia reduced significantly (P=0.003). Hypoglycemia was observed more frequently in first 2 hours as compared to next 48 hours (P=0.0001). Low birth- weight, preterm gestation and male gender was significantly associated with increased risk of hypoglycemia.


CONCLUSION
Healthy, high-risk exclusively breastfed newborns in postnatal wards need close monitoring for hypoglycemia in first 24 hrs of life.