LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Early-onset cannabis use and cognitive deficits: what is the nature of the association?

BACKGROUND
Individuals who initiate cannabis use at an early age, when the brain is still developing, might be more vulnerable to lasting neuropsychological deficits than individuals who begin use later in life.


METHODS
We analyzed neuropsychological test results from 122 long-term heavy cannabis users and 87 comparison subjects with minimal cannabis exposure, all of whom had undergone a 28-day period of abstinence from cannabis, monitored by daily or every-other-day observed urine samples. We compared early-onset cannabis users with late-onset users and with controls, using linear regression controlling for age, sex, ethnicity, and attributes of family of origin.


RESULTS
The 69 early-onset users (who began smoking before age 17) differed significantly from both the 53 late-onset users (who began smoking at age 17 or later) and from the 87 controls on several measures, most notably verbal IQ (VIQ). Few differences were found between late-onset users and controls on the test battery. However, when we adjusted for VIQ, virtually all differences between early-onset users and controls on test measures ceased to be significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Early-onset cannabis users exhibit poorer cognitive performance than late-onset users or control subjects, especially in VIQ, but the cause of this difference cannot be determined from our data. The difference may reflect (1). innate differences between groups in cognitive ability, antedating first cannabis use; (2). an actual neurotoxic effect of cannabis on the developing brain; or (3). poorer learning of conventional cognitive skills by young cannabis users who have eschewed academics and diverged from the mainstream culture.
Microvascular abnormalities in Sjögren's syndrome: nailfold capillaroscopy.

OBJECTIVE
To describe microvascular abnormalities by nailfold capillaroscopy in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) with or without Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) and those with anticentromere antibodies (ACA).


METHODS
Forty patients with SS (14 without RP, 16 with RP, 10 with ACA), 20 patients with scleroderma (SSc) (10 with limited and 10 with diffuse disease) (disease control group) and 40 healthy controls (control group) were evaluated by nailfold capillaroscopy.


RESULTS
Capillaroscopic abnormalities in SS ranged from non-specific findings (crossed capillaries) to more specific findings (confluent haemorrhages and pericapillary haemorrhages) or scleroderma-type findings. SS patients with RP presented capillary abnormalities in higher frequency than patients without RP. The majority of SS patients with ACA (80%) presented scleroderma-type findings.


CONCLUSION
Nailfold capillaroscopy can be used as a simple non-invasive method to evaluate the microvascular abnormalities in SS patients, especially in those with RP and those with ACA.
Nano/Micro Dielectric Surface Flashover in Partial Vacuum

In this paper, we present experimental results of surface flashover characteristics of epoxy resin and epoxy resin cast with powdered Al2O3 (nano/micro-composite dielectric) samples in partial pressure of nitrogen. The flashover studies are conducted separately using DC and 20 kHz AC signals. The voltage, current, and light emission waveforms are obtained. The optical data is collected by a video camera and a photomultiplier tube (PMT). The nano/micro composite dielectric samples used in the experiments are produced in-house by mixing 1:10 weight ratio of AI2O3 powder with epoxy resin of known properties. Throughout this study, copper electrodes are used and are placed over the dielectric samples to initiate surface flashover events. The results of surface flashover voltages as a function of pressure are presented. Additionally, optical emission characteristics along with the voltage and current waveform data are also presented.
Effect of Number of Contributed Modes on Accuracy of Multi- Modal Pushover Seismic Analysis of Irregular Frames

One of well-established static procedures for seismic evaluation and design of building structures in the equivalent nonlinear static procedures is Modal Pushover Analysis developed by Chopra and Goel (2002). For evaluation of effect of number of contributed modes on the accuracy of MPA procedure, 22 vertically irregular 5-story steel moment resisting frames are considered that each irregular frame is designed to represent low and high values of response reduction factor (R). Many nonlinear time histories and static pushover analyses are performed and the results of nonlinear static analyses are compared with the results for nonlinear dynamic analyses to evaluate the accuracy and conservatism of MPA for predicting target displacement, base shear, and story drifts.
The Italian Diabetes and Exercise Study 2 (IDES-2): a long-term behavioral intervention for adoption and maintenance of a physically active lifestyle

BACKGROUND
Physical activity (PA)/exercise have become an integral part of the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, current guidelines are difficult to put into action in this population due to a number of barriers, especially the lack of acceptable, feasible, and validated behavioral intervention strategies. The present manuscript reports the rationale, study design and methods, and design considerations of the Italian Diabetes and Exercise Study (IDES)-2, a randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of a behavior change strategy in increasing total daily PA and reducing sedentary time (SED-time) in patients with T2DM.


METHODS/DESIGN
Starting 7 January 2014, the IDES_2 began enrolling 300 patients with known T2DM of at least 1-year duration in three tertiary referral outpatient Diabetes Clinics in Rome. Additional requirements are age 40 to 80 years, body mass index 27 to 40 kg/m(2), sedentary lifestyle, and physically inactive for at least 6 months, ability to walk 1.6 km without assistance, and eligibility after cardiovascular evaluation. Patients are randomized by center and within each center, by age and type of diabetes treatment to either the intervention or the control group. Patients in the intervention (INT) group (n = 150) receive theoretical and practical exercise counseling consisting of aggregated behavior change techniques (one individual theoretical counseling session plus eight twice-a-week individual theoretical and practical exercise counseling sessions) once a year for 3 years. Patients in the control (CON) group (n = 150), receive standard care, including general physician recommendations for daily PA. The primary outcomes are total daily PA and SED-time, as measured objectively by the use of an accelerometer. Secondary outcomes include physical fitness, modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, musculoskeletal disturbances, well-being/depression, and health-related quality of life.


DISCUSSION
The behavioral intervention strategy tested in the IDES_2 is based on solid theoretical grounds and uses several behavioral change techniques, two factors which were found to improve effectiveness of behavioral intervention. In addition, physicians and exercise specialists have been specifically trained for counselling/prescribing and supervising PA/exercise, respectively, in subjects suffering from metabolic disorders. Finally, the large sample size, the long study duration, and the objective measurement of PA allow statistically significant and scientifically robust conclusions to be drawn on the feasibility and efficacy of this intervention in T2DM patients.


TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT01600937 ; 10 October 2012.
Generalized Brewster effect in dielectric metasurfaces

Polarization is a key property defining the state of light. It was discovered by Brewster, while studying light reflected from materials at different angles. This led to the first polarizers, based on Brewster's effect. Now, one of the trends in photonics is the study of miniaturized devices exhibiting similar, or improved, functionalities compared with bulk optical elements. In this work, it is theoretically predicted that a properly designed all-dielectric metasurface exhibits a generalized Brewster's effect potentially for any angle, wavelength and polarization of choice. The effect is experimentally demonstrated for an array of silicon nanodisks at visible wavelengths. The underlying physics is related to the suppressed scattering at certain angles due to the interference between the electric and magnetic dipole resonances excited in the nanoparticles. These findings open doors for Brewster phenomenon to new applications in photonics, which are not bonded to a specific polarization or angle of incidence.
A companion to James Joyce's Ulysses : biographical and historical contexts, critical history, and essays from five contemporary critical perspectives

About the Series About this Volume INTRODUCTION: BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL CONTEXTS A Critical History of Ulysses DECONSTRUCTION AND ULYSSES What is Deconstruction? Deconstruction: A Selected Bibliography A Deconstruction Perspective: J.Derrida: Ulysses Gramophone: Hear say yes in Joyce READER-RESPONSE CRITICISM AND ULYSSES What is Reader-Response Criticism? Reader-Response Criticism: A Selected Bibliography A Reader-Response Perspective: W.User: Patterns of Communication in Joyce's Ulysses FEMINIST AND GENDER CRITICISM AND ULYSSES What are Feminist and Gender Criticism? Feminist and Gender Criticism: A Selected Bibliography A Gender Perspective: V.Mahaffey: Ulysses and the End of Gender PSYCHOANALYTIC CRITICISM AND ULYSSES What is Psychoanalytic Criticism? Psychoanalytic Criticism: A Selected Bibliography A Psychoanalytic Perspective: K.J.Devlin: 'I Saw that Picture Somewhere': Tracking the Symptom of the Sisters of Lazarus MARXIST CRITICISM AND ULYSSES What is Marxist Criticism? Marxist Criticism: A Selected Bibliography A Marxist Perspective: P.McGee: 'Heavenly Bodies': Ulysses and the Ethics of Marxism Glossary of Critical and Theoretical Terms About the Contributors
Virologic, immunologic and clinical response of infants to antiretroviral therapy in Kampala, Uganda

BACKGROUND
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is known to save lives. Among HIV-infected infants living in resource constrained settings, the short and long term benefits of ART are only partially known. This study was designed to determine the virologic, immunologic and clinical outcomes of antiretroviral therapy in a cohort of HIV-infected infants receiving care from an outpatient clinic in Kampala, Uganda.


METHODS
A prospective cohort of HIV-infected infants receiving treatment at the Baylor-Uganda clinic was analyzed. Patients were diagnosed, enrolled and followed up at the clinic. HIV viral load, CD4 cell counts and clinical progress were assessed during follow-up. Descriptive statistical analysis and logistic regression modeling to determine predictors of treatment success were conducted.


RESULTS
Of 91 HIV-infected infants enrolled into the cohort, 53 (58.2%) infants were female; 43 (47.3%) were 6 months of age or younger, and 50 (55.6%) had advanced HIV/AIDS disease (Clinical stage 3 or 4). Eighty four infants started ART and 78 (92.9%) completed 6 months of treatments. Fifty six (71.8%) infants attained virologic suppression by month-6 of ART, and at month-12 of ART, the cumulative probability of attaining viral suppression was 83.1%. None of the baseline infant factors (age, sex, WHO stage, CD4 cell percent, weight for age, or height for age z-score) predicted treatment success. There was an increase in CD4 cells from a baseline mean of 23% to 30% at month-6 of treatment (p<0.001) and by month-24 of ART, the mean CD4 percent was 36%. A total of 7 patients died while on ART and another 7 experienced adverse events that were related to treatment.


CONCLUSION
Our results show that, even among very young patients from resource constrained settings, ART dramatically suppresses HIV replication, allows immune recovery and clinical improvement, and is safe. However, baseline characteristics do not predict recovery in this age group.
A proof-of-concept study evaluating the effect of ADX10059, a metabotropic glutamate receptor-5 negative allosteric modulator, on acid exposure and symptoms in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

BACKGROUND
In preclinical models, antagonism of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) reduces transient lower oesophageal sphincter relaxations (TLOSRs) and increases LOS pressure. This study evaluated the effect of ADX10059, a potent, selective, negative allosteric modulator of mGluR5, on oesophageal pH-metry and clinical symptoms in GORD.


METHODS
Two groups of patients with GORD (n = 12 per group) underwent 24-h oesophageal pH-metry on two sequential treatment days. The patients received oral placebo three times daily (tds) 30 min before a high-fat meal on Day 1 and oral ADX10059 50 mg (Group 1) or 250 mg (Group 2) tds 30 min before a high-fat meal on Day 2. The primary variable was acid exposure (%time pH<4). Secondary variables included number and duration of reflux episodes, number and duration of symptomatic episodes and symptoms recorded in diaries. Comparisons were made for Day 2 (active) versus Day 1 (placebo) treatment and for Group 1 versus Group 2.


RESULTS
ADX10059 250 mg tds significantly decreased the percentage of time with pH<4 from 7.2% to 3.6% (p = 0.01). ADX10059 250 mg tds reduced pH-metry-measured oesophageal acid exposure, throughout the 24 h period, nocturnally and postprandially, and significantly reduced the number and duration of symptomatic reflux episodes (p = 0.03). ADX10059 50 mg tds was not significantly superior to placebo. ADX10059 was generally well tolerated.


CONCLUSION
The mGluR5 negative allosteric modulator ADX10059 reduced acid reflux which was associated with improvement in clinical symptoms in patients with GORD. ADX10059 appears to have a potential role in the clinical management of GORD.
Addendum to ‘Electrical impedance tomography’

We present some additional references and clarifying statements to the topical review ‘Electrical impedance tomography’ (Borcea L 2002 Inverse Problems 18 R99–136). In this addendum to ‘Electrical impedance tomography’, the author would like to make some clarifying statements regarding section 7.1.2 and to direct the reader to additional references relating to sections 4.3 and 6.1. • The idea of identifying the support of an inclusion by means of the range of an operator has been introduced by Colton and Kirsch [4] and it has been justified rigorously by Kirsch [9], in the context of shape characterization of obstacles in inverse scattering. The application of these ideas to EIT is given in [3] and it is implemented by Brühl and Hanke in [2]. Independently, Ikehata [6, 8] (see also [7]) has developed noniterative approaches for finding the support of inclusions and the convex hull of inclusions from boundary measurements. The numerical implementation of the ideas in [8] is given by Ikehata and Siltanen in [10]. The reconstruction methods in [3] and [8] are compared by Brühl and Hanke in [2]. It is shown there that the two methods are somewhat related and that they can be implemented with almost the same numerical techniques. On page R119, ‘[85]’ is a typographical error and should be disregarded. • In connection with the complex exponential solutions of the Schrödinger equation (see section 4), we would like to point out Fadeev’s study [5]. Moreover, in relation to sections 4.3.2 and 4.3.3, we would like to point out the results obtained independently, by Novikov, in [13, 14]. • In relation to section 6.1, we direct the reader to the interior logarithmic stability estimates obtained in two dimensions by Liu [11] and Barceló et al [1], as well as to the proof, due to Mandache [12], of optimality of such logarithmic estimates, in two or more dimensions, for the EIT problem, rewritten in Schrödinger’s equation form. 0266-5611/03/040997+02$30.00 © 2003 IOP Publishing Ltd Printed in the UK 997
A technique for counting ones in a binary computer

Standard methods of counting binary ones on a computer with a 704 type instruction code require an inner loop which is carried out once for each bit in the machine word. Program 1 (written in SAP language for purposes of illustration) is an example of such a standard program.
Committee-Based Sampling For Training Probabilistic Classifiers

In many real-world learning tasks, it is expensive to acquire a suucient number of labeled examples for training. This paper proposes a general method for eeciently training probabilistic classiiers, by selecting for training only the more informative examples in a stream of unlabeled examples. The method, committee-based sampling, evaluates the in-formativeness of an example by measuring the degree of disagreement between several model variants. These variants (the committee) are drawn randomly from a probability distribution conditioned by the training set selected so far (Monte-Carlo sampling). The method is particularly attractive because it evaluates the expected information gain from a training example implicitly, making the model both easy to implement and generally applicable. We further show how to apply committee-based sampling for training Hidden Markov Model classiiers, which are commonly used for complex classiication tasks. The method was implemented and tested for the task of tagging words in natural language sentences with parts-of-speech. Experimental evaluation of committee-based sampling versus standard sequential sampling showed a substantial improvement in training eeciency.
Localisation and functional significance of ryanodine receptors during beta-adrenoceptor stimulation in the guinea-pig sino-atrial node.

OBJECTIVE
Recent evidence shows that calcium released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) plays an important role in the regulation of heart rate. The aim of this study was to investigate the subcellular distribution of ryanodine receptors in the guinea-pig sino-atrial (SA) node and to determine their functional role in the regulation of pacemaker frequency in response to beta-adrenoceptor stimulation.


METHODS
Monoclonal antibodies raised against the cardiac ryanodine receptor were used with confocal microscopy to investigate ryanodine receptor distribution in single guinea-pig SA node cells. The functional role of ryanodine receptors was investigated in both multicellular SA node/atrial preparations and in single SA node cells.


RESULTS
Ryanodine receptor labelling was observed in all SA node cells studied and showed both subsarcolemmal and intracellular staining. In the latter, labelling appeared as transverse bands with a regular periodicity of approximately 2 microm. This interval resembled that of the expected sarcomere spacing but did not, however, depend on the presence of transverse tubules. The bands of ryanodine receptors appeared to be located in the region of the Z lines, based on co-distribution studies with antibodies to alpha-actinin, myomesin and binding sites for phalloidin. Functional studies on single SA node cells showed that application of ryanodine (2 micromol/l) reduced the rate of firing of spontaneous action potentials (measured using the perforated patch clamp technique) and this was associated with changes in action potential characteristics. Ryanodine also significantly decreased the positive chronotropic actions of isoprenaline in both multicellular and single cell preparations. In single cells exposed to 100 nmol/l isoprenaline, ryanodine caused a decrease in the rate of firing and this was associated with a decrease in the amplitude of the measured calcium transients.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings are the first to show immunocytochemical evidence for the presence and organisation of ryanodine receptor calcium release channels in mammalian SA node cells. This study also provides evidence of a role for ryanodine sensitive sites in the beta-adrenergic modulation of heart rate in this species.
Shanghai: the place to be

O n 1–4 September 2005 we will hold our 27th Annual International Conference (EMBC 2005) in Shanghai, China’s largest and arguably its most dynamic city. With a total area of 6,341 square meters and a population of more than 15 million, Shanghai is a flourishing urban area that attracts travelers with its charming beauty, commercial vitality, and harmonious mix of the East and West. Reaching Shanghai is convenient due to its welldeveloped international air links and the recent opening of a high speed Maglev train bridging Pudong International Airport with the city. Our first conference on China’s mainland will offer opportunities for researchers, educators, and developers from academia and biomedical industries to share their research and exchange ideas. Aside from the comprehensive technical program, student activities, local tours, and social programs will be available for attendees and their guests. For up to date conference information, please visit http://www. ee.cuhk.edu.hk/EMBC05shanghai/.
Composites of polypropylene melt blended with synthesized silica nanoparticles

Abstract Spherical and layered silica nanoparticles synthesized by the sol–gel method were melt blended with a polypropylene matrix in order to quantify their effect on thermal and mechanical behaviours of the resulting polymer composites. Transmission electron microscopy images showed that spherical nanoparticles were dispersed in the polymer matrix whereas layered particles display tactoid and agglomerated structures. By thermogravimetric analysis, it was observed that independent of the particle aspect ratio, the nanofillers render larger thermal degradation stabilization to the polymer matrix under oxidative conditions than under inert atmosphere. Noteworthy, the largest improvements were found by using spherical nanoparticles in presence of a compatibilizer. These results allow the conclusion that the physical/chemical adsorption of the volatile products on the particle surface during the oxidative degradation is the plausible mechanism behind the thermal stabilization. Tensile stress–strain tests otherwise showed that composites with spherical nanoparticles can display similar or even larger elastic modulus than composites with layered particles showing that the polymer/particle entanglement could be the mechanism for the load transfer in these nanocomposites.
Relationship between use of labor pain medications and delayed onset of lactation.

BACKGROUND
Despite estimates that 83% of mothers in the United States receive labor pain medications, little research has been done on how use of these medications affect onset of lactation.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether use of labor pain medications is associated with delayed onset of lactation (DOL).


METHODS
We analyzed data from the 2005-2007 Infant Feeding Practices Study II, a longitudinal study of women from late pregnancy through the entire first year after birth (n = 2366). In multivariable logistic regression analyses, we assessed the relationship between mothers' use of labor pain medication/method and DOL (milk coming in > 3 days after delivery).


RESULTS
Overall, 23.4% of women in our sample experienced DOL. Compared with women who delivered vaginally and received no labor pain medication, women who received labor pain medications had a higher odds of experiencing DOL: vaginal with spinal/epidural only (aOR 2.05; 95% CI, 1.43-2.95), vaginal with spinal/epidural plus another medication (aOR 1.79; 95% CI, 1.16-2.76), vaginal with other labor pain medications only ([not spinal/epidural]; aOR 1.84; 95% CI, 1.14-2.98), planned cesarean section with spinal/epidural only (aOR 2.13; 95% CI, 1.39-3.27), planned cesarean with spinal/epidural plus another medication (aOR 2.67; 95% CI, 1.35-5.29), emergency cesarean with spinal/epidural only (aOR 2.17; 95% CI, 1.34-3.51), and emergency cesarean with spinal/epidural plus another medication (aOR 3.03; 95% CI, 1.77-5.18).


CONCLUSION
Mothers who received labor pain medications were more likely to report DOL, regardless of delivery method. This information could help inform clinical decisions regarding labor/delivery.