LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Experimental Study of a Soft-Switched Isolated Bidirectional AC–DC Converter Without Auxiliary Circuit

An isolated ac-dc converter topology includes a capacitively snubbered voltage source converter (VSC) and a cycloconverter, coupled by a medium frequency transformer. The topology offers the possibility of bilateral power flow as well as three-level pulse width modulation on the ac side. It is shown that by alternately commutating the VSC and the cycloconverter it is possible to achieve either zero-voltage or zero-current switching conditions for all semiconductor devices in all points of operation. This is the case without any need for auxiliary semiconductor devices. At low load the transformer current may be insufficient for recharging the VSC snubber capacitors. In this case, however, it is possible to utilize the cycloconverter for providing a current path by which a quasi-resonant commutation can be made. The design and operation of a 40-kVA prototype converter system is described. It is shown how the rather complex switching logic required for implementing the chosen algorithm for commutation and modulation can be realized by using modern programmable logic devices [field programmable gate array (FPGA)]. Measurement results from the prototype converter are presented and analyzed. The measurements indicate that the studied commutation algorithm works well in practice
Identification of orthodontic patients at risk of severe apical root resorption.

INTRODUCTION
Current information suggests that the major variation in orthodontic root resorption can be explained by differences in individual predisposition. Our aim was therefore to test the predictive value of the amount of maxillary incisor resorption about 6 and 12 months after bracket placement for the resorption at appliance removal.


METHODS
We measured tooth length of the maxillary incisors on digitally converted periapical radiographs, adjusted for projection errors, made before treatment (T1), about 6 months (T2) and 12 months (T3) after bracket placement, and at the end of active treatment (T4) of 267 prospectively enrolled orthodontic patients, and interpreted reduced tooth length as apical root resorption. Anatomic and occlusal parameters were scored on the T1 radiographs and study models. Anamnestic and treatment parameters were collected from standardized recordings in the charts.


RESULTS
The Spearman R for resorption of each incisor ranged from 0.61 to 0.76 at T2 vs T4, and from 0.77 to 0.88 at T3 vs T4 (P <0.001). Only 0.6% of the patients with no incisors with >1.0 mm of resorption at T2 and 0.5% of those with no incisors with >2.0 mm of resorption at T3 had at least 1 incisor with >5.0 mm of resorption at T4. Amount of resorption at T3 and maxillary tooth extraction were included in the final prediction model for resorption of the most severely affected central and lateral incisors at T4, with explained variances of 0.71 and 0.67, respectively. Treatment duration and time with square wires was not related to resorption (P >0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients at risk of severe apical root resorption can be identified according to the amount of resorption during the initial treatment stages.
The Human Factor in

We discuss the importance of understanding psychological aspects of phishing, and review some recent findings. Given these findings, we critique some commonly used security practices and suggest and review alternatives, including educational approaches. We suggest a few techniques that can be used to assess and remedy threats remotely, without requiring any user involvement. We conclude by discussing some approaches to anticipate the next wave of threats, based both on psychological and technical insights. 1 What Will Consumers Believe? There are several reasons why it is important to understand what consumers will find believable. First of all, it is crucial for service providers to know their vulnerabilities (and those of their clients) in order to assess their exposure to risks and the associated liabilities. Second, recognizing what the vulnerabilities are translates into knowing from where the attacks are likely to come; this allows for suitable technical security measures to be deployed to detect and protect against attacks of concern. It also allows for a proactive approach in which the expected vulnerabilities are minimized by the selection and deployment of appropriate email and web templates, and the use of appropriate manners of interaction. Finally, there are reasons for why understanding users is important that are not directly related to security: Knowing what consumers will believe—and will not believe—means a better ability to reach the consumers with information they do not expect, whether for reasons of advertising products or communicating alerts. Namely, given the mimicry techniques used by phishers, there is a risk that consumers incorrectly classify legitimate messages as attempts to attack them. Being aware of potential pitfalls may guide decisions that facilitate communication. While technically knowledgeable, specialists often make the mistake of believing that security measures that succeed in protecting them are sufficient to protect average consumers. For example, it was for a long time commonly held among security practitioners that the widespread deployment of SSL would eliminate phishing once consumers become aware of the risks and nature of phishing attacks. This, very clearly, has not been the case, as supported both by reallife observations and by experiments [48]. This can be ascribed to a lack of attention to security among typical users [47, 35], but also to inconsistent or inappropriate security education [12]— whether implicit or not. An example of a common procedure that indirectly educates user is the case of lock symbols. Many financial institutions place a lock symbol in the content portion of the login page to indicate that a secure connection will be established as the user submits his credentials. This is to benefit from the fact that users have been educated to equate an SSL lock with a higher level of security. However, attackers may also place lock icons in the content of the page, whether they intend to establish an SSL connection or not. Therefore, the use of the lock
Mitigating effects of captopril and losartan on lung histopathology in a rat model of fat embolism.

BACKGROUND
Fat embolization (FE) is an often overlooked and poorly understood complication of skeletal trauma and some orthopedic procedures. Fat embolism can lead to major pulmonary damage associated with fat embolism syndrome (FES).


METHODS
A model of FE in unanesthetized rats, using intravenous injection of the neutral fat triolein, was used to study the potential therapeutic effect on lung histopathology of altering the production of, or response to, endogenous angiotensin (Ang) II. Either captopril, an Ang I converting enzyme inhibitor, or losartan, an Ang II type 1 receptor blocker, was injected 1 hour after FE by triolein injection. After euthanasia at 48 hours, histopathologic evaluation was used to compare the drug-treated animals with control animals that received only triolein.


RESULTS
Histology of the lungs of rats treated only with triolein revealed severe, diffuse pathology. Alveolar septa showed severe, diffuse inflammation. Bronchial lumina showed severe mucosal epithelial loss. The media of the pulmonary small arteries and arterioles was thicker, and the lumen patency was reduced 60% to 70%. Trichrome staining confirmed the abundant presence of collagen in the media and adventitia, as well as collagen infiltrating the bronchial musculature. Both captopril and losartan treatments reduced the inflammatory, vasoconstrictor, and profibrotic effects present at 48 hours (p<0.001). With treatment, the vascular lumen remained patent, and the fat droplets were reduced in size and number. There was a reduction in the number of infiltrating leukocytes, macrophages, myofibroblasts, and eosinophils, along with a significant decrease in hemorrhage and collagen deposition (p<0.001). Pathologic changes in bronchial epithelium were also diminished.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that the use of drugs that act on the renin-Ang system might provide an effective and targeted therapy for fat embolism syndrome.
Spatial Multicriteria Decision Analysis of Flood Risks in Aging-Dam Management in China: A Framework and Case Study

Approximately 30,000 dams in China are aging and are considered to be high-level risks. Developing a framework for analyzing spatial multicriteria flood risk is crucial to ranking management scenarios for these dams, especially in densely populated areas. Based on the theories of spatial multicriteria decision analysis, this report generalizes a framework consisting of scenario definition, problem structuring, criteria construction, spatial quantification of criteria, criteria weighting, decision rules, sensitivity analyses, and scenario appraisal. The framework is presented in detail by using a case study to rank dam rehabilitation, decommissioning and existing-condition scenarios. The results show that there was a serious inundation, and that a dam rehabilitation scenario could reduce the multicriteria flood risk by 0.25 in the most affected areas; this indicates a mean risk decrease of less than 23%. Although increased risk (<0.20) was found for some residential and commercial buildings, if the dam were to be decommissioned, the mean risk would not be greater than the current existing risk, indicating that the dam rehabilitation scenario had a higher rank for decreasing the flood risk than the decommissioning scenario, but that dam rehabilitation alone might be of little help in abating flood risk. With adjustments and improvement to the specific methods (according to the circumstances and available data) this framework may be applied to other sites.
Power and energy management for server systems

This survey shows that heterogeneous server clusters can be made more efficient by conserving power and energy while exploiting information from the service level, such as request priorities established by service-level agreements.
Psychosocial variables in patients with (sub)acute low back pain: an inception cohort in primary care physical therapy in The Netherlands.

STUDY DESIGN
A prospective cohort study of patients with episodes of acute or subacute low back pain, seeking physical therapy in primary care, with follow-up at weeks 2, 4, 8, and 12.


OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the association between psychosocial factors and the transition from acute or subacute low back pain to chronicity.


SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA
Psychosocial factors have long been thought to be associated with chronic pain only. Recent prospective studies, however, suggest that these factors may also be important in acute or subacute low back pain.


METHODS
Demographic, psychosocial, and psychological baseline data were collected and analyzed from a sample of 66 acute or subacute patients with low back pain in order to predict the 3-month outcome.


RESULTS
After 3 months, response rate was 85% (56 patients). Forty-five percent rated their current status as "not recovered." Twelve percent reported work absenteeism. Using multiple regression analyses, baseline scores on the Acute Low Back Pain Screening Questionnaire, Pain Coping Inventory, Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire, and Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia were not significantly associated with non-recovery at 3 months. The only significant predictor at baseline was the subscale pain of the ALBPSQ, correctly classifying 80% of the patients. The relative risk for not being recovered was 3.72 (95% confidence interval, 1.63-8.52) for the subjects with high scores on the subscale for pain. Pain scores and scores on psychosocial variables at 12 weeks were not associated.


CONCLUSIONS
The study strongly revealed pain-related items to be essential factors in the development of chronicity and long-term disability in primary care physical therapy. Health status at 8 weeks seems crucial in developing chronicity.
Air-gap data transmission using screen brightness modulation

Air-gap data is important for the security of computer systems. The injection of the computer virus is limited but possible, however data communication channel is necessary for the transmission of stolen data. This paper considers BFSK digital modulation applied to brightness changes of screen for unidirectional transmission of valuable data. Experimental validation and limitations of the proposed technique are provided.
Inelastic Behavior of Multistory Partially Restrained Steel Frames. Part II

This paper outlines the development of a finite element for use in the inelastic second-order analysis of partially (PR) and fully (FR) restrained planar steel frames. The finite element considers spread of plastification within the cross section and along the member length; centroidal shift of the elastic core; a variety of residual stress distributions; and P-D effects. Nonlinear spring elements are used in modeling beam-end connections. An arc-length technique (with iteration) is used in the analysis of individual beam-columns, while constant-work simple Euler stepping (no iteration) is used in the nonlinear analysis of frameworks. Full nonlinear load-deformation response of planar beam-columns and frames is computed. Accuracy is demonstrated through comparison with previously published analytical results. It is shown that concentrated plasticity models may lead to an overestimation of connection rotation in PR frameworks. A companion paper discusses the inelastic ultimate load analysis of large steel PR frameworks and evaluation of connection classification systems.
Empowering hypertensive patients on chronic medicines at primary health care facilities in South Africa with knowledge to improve disease management

Objectives: Uncontrolled hypertension negatively impacts on mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a pharmacist-driven patient counselling and education model to empower hypertensive patients on chronic medication. Methods: An operational research project with a quasi-experimental design including an intervention group (55 patients) and a control group (31 patients) of chronic hypertensive patients. Data were collected with interview-administered questionnaires and analysed using SAS® version 9.4. Pharmacist interventions included an educational diary on hypertension management and patient counselling. Findings: There was a 34.7% improvement in patients’ understanding of what normal blood pressure (BP) is in the intervention group compared to the control group (p 90%). Conclusions: A pharmacist driven patient counselling and education model can help improve patients’ hypertension knowledge and BP control. These should increasingly become routine, aiming to improve chronic disease management.
Workplace bullying and relationships with health and performance among a sample of New Zealand veterinarians.

AIM
To examine the relationships between workplace bullying, destructive leadership and team conflict, and physical health, strain, self-reported performance and intentions to quit among veterinarians in New Zealand, and how these relationships could be moderated by psychological capital and perceived organisational support.


METHODS
Data were collected by means of an online survey, distributed to members of the New Zealand Veterinary Association. Participation was voluntary and all responses were anonymous and confidential. Scores for the variables measured were based on responses to questions or statements with responses categorised on a linear scale. A series of regression analyses were used to assess mediation or moderation by intermediate variables on the relationships between predictor variables and dependent variables.


RESULTS
Completed surveys were provided by 197 veterinarians, of which 32 (16.2%) had been bullied at work, i.e. they had experienced two or more negative acts at least weekly over the previous 6 months, and nine (4.6%) had experienced cyber-bullying. Mean scores for workplace bullying were higher for female than male respondents, and for non-managers than managers (p<0.01). Scores for workplace bullying were positively associated with scores for destructive leadership and team conflict, physical health, strain, and intentions to quit (p<0.001). Workplace bullying and team conflict mediated the relationship between destructive leadership and strain, physical health and intentions to quit. Perceived organisational support moderated the effects of workplace bullying on strain and self-reported job performance (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Relatively high rates of negative behaviour were reported by veterinarians in this study, with 16% of participants meeting an established criterion for having been bullied. The negative effects of destructive leadership on strain, physical health and intentions to quit were mediated by team conflict and workplace bullying. It should be noted that the findings of this study were based on a survey of self-selected participants and the findings may not represent the wider population of New Zealand veterinarians.
The Effects of Child Mortality Changes on Fertility Choice and Parental Welfare

Empirical studies have overwhelmingly shown that a lower child mortality rate leads to lower fertility. Yet it has not been possible to satisfactorily analyze this relationship in even the simplest theoretical models. This paper attempts to bridge this gap between theory and the empirical literature. The paper also presents results on the effects of child mortality changes on parental welfare. The analysis captures the dynamic stochastic feature of fertility choice, subsumes other endogenous choices (e.g., the quality of the children), and treats the number of children as a discrete variable (this added realism is important for the analysis). Previous working versions include: “The effects of mortality changes on fertility choice and individual welfare: Some theoretical predictions.” Yale University, Department of Economics. Economic Growth Center, Center discussion paper number 599. December 1989. The Effects of Child Mortality Changes on Fertility Choice and Parental Welfare
Assessment of Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Equation to Predict Reference Serum Creatinine Value in Severe Trauma Patients: Lessons From an Observational Study of 775 Cases.

OBJECTIVE
We assessed the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) performance to predict serum creatinine (SCr) in severe trauma population and determined the best theoretical glomerular filtration rate (GFR) to use in this estimation.


BACKGROUND
Baseline SCr may be misestimated in severe trauma patients because of their specific demographic characteristics including renal hyperfiltration. However, the back-calculated MDRD equation is supposed to estimate SCr using a predetermined GFR of 75 mL/min/1.73 m.


METHODS
All severe trauma patients with a normal SCr were retrospectively included between January 2005 and January 2011. For each patient, the lowest SCr (oSCr) observed during the first week was used to estimate the GFR. The median GFR in period 1 (2005-2006) was determined. The back-calculated MDRD performance was assessed in period 2 (2007-2011) to predict oSCr by agreement, precision, and accuracy using a GFR of 75 mL/min/1.73 m (eSCr75-MDRD) or the median GFR observed in period 1 (eSCrTRAUMA-MDRD).


RESULTS
A total of 775 patients were studied: mean age, 37.7 ± 17 years; mean Injury Severity Score, 19 ± 11; 75% of male. In period 1 (n = 243), median GFR was 121 mL/min/1.73 m. In period 2 (n = 532), eSCrTRAUMA-MDRD demonstrated better agreement in predicting oSCr than eSCr75-MDRD (mean bias 2 vs 35 μmol/L; P < 0.001). Both precision (14 vs 39 μmol/L, respectively) and accuracy were significantly improved with eSCrTRAUMA-MDRD. Proportion of estimated SCr values that deviated less than 15%, 30%, or 50% was also higher with eSCrTRAUMA-MDRD (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The eSCr75-MDRD equation systematically overestimates oSCr of severe trauma patients. The eSCrTRAUMA-MDRD equation determined was statistically superior allowing more accurate qualification of acute kidney injury.
Locomotion for difficult terrain

Most of the earth’s land surface is inaccessible to regular vehicles so there is a need for mobile robots that can handle difficult terrain. Today’s robots are mostly designed for traveling over relatively smooth, level or inclined, surfaces. This survey will however discuss different locomotion systems for mobile robots used in difficult terrain. Only robots that use ground contact for propulsion are considered which means that robots travelling through air or water are not included.
High-field MRS study of GABA, glutamate and glutamine in social anxiety disorder: Response to treatment with levetiracetam

OBJECTIVE
Abnormalities in brain gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate may be relevant to the underlying pathophysiology of anxiety disorders including social anxiety disorder (SAD).


METHODS
We used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (pMRS) to examine whole brain and regional GABA, glutamate and glutamine in patients (N=10) with SAD at baseline compared to a matched group of healthy controls (HC), and changes following 8 weeks of pharmacotherapy with levetiracetam.


RESULTS
For SAD subjects, there were significantly higher whole brain levels of glutamate and glutamine, though no significant differences in GABA. In the thalamus, glutamine was higher and GABA lower for SAD subjects. There was a significant reduction in thalamic glutamine with levetiracetam treatment.


CONCLUSION
Our findings provide preliminary support for impaired GABAergic and overactive glutamatergic function in social anxiety disorder and the potential relevance of changes in these systems for the anxiolytic response to levetiracetam.
Guillain-Barré syndrome following influenza vaccination.

CONTEXT
An unexplained increase in the risk of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) occurred among recipients of the swine influenza vaccine in 1976-1977. Guillain-Barre syndrome remains the most frequent neurological condition reported after influenza vaccination to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) since its inception in 1990.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate trends of reports to VAERS of GBS following influenza vaccination in adults.


DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
VAERS is the US national spontaneous reporting system for adverse events following vaccination. Reports of GBS in persons 18 years or older following influenza vaccination were evaluated for each influenza season from July 1, 1990, through June 30, 2003. The number of people vaccinated was estimated from the National Health Interview Survey and US census data. Beginning in 1994, active follow-up was conducted to verify GBS diagnosis and obtain other clinical details.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE
Reporting rates of GBS following influenza vaccination over time.


RESULTS
From July 1990 through June 2003, VAERS received 501 reports of GBS following influenza vaccination in adults. The median onset interval (13 days) was longer than that of non-GBS reports of adverse events after influenza vaccine (1 day) (P<.001). The annual reporting rate decreased 4-fold from a high of 0.17 per 100,000 vaccinees in 1993-1994 to 0.04 in 2002-2003 (P<.001). A GBS diagnosis was confirmed in 82% of reports. Preceding illness within 4 weeks of vaccination was identified in 24% of reported cases.


CONCLUSIONS
From 1990 to 2003, VAERS reporting rates of GBS after influenza vaccination decreased. The long onset interval and low prevalence of other preexisting illnesses are consistent with a possible causal association between GBS and influenza vaccine. These findings require additional research, which can lead to a fuller understanding of the causes of GBS and its possible relationship with influenza vaccine.