LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Energy Beamforming With One-Bit Feedback

Multi-antenna or multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) techniques are appealing to enhance the transmission efficiency and range for radio frequency (RF) signal enabled wireless energy transfer (WET). In order to reap the energy beamforming gain in MIMO WET, acquiring the channel state information (CSI) at the energy transmitter (ET) is an essential task. This task is particularly challenging, since existing channel training and feedback methods used for communication receivers may not be implementable at the energy receiver (ER) due to its hardware limitation. To tackle this problem, we consider in this paper a multiuser MIMO WET system, and propose a new channel learning method that requires only one feedback bit from each ER to the ET per feedback interval. Specifically, each feedback bit indicates the increase or decrease of the harvested energy by each ER in the present as compared to the previous intervals, which can be measured without changing the existing structure of the ER. Based on such feedback information, the ET adjusts transmit beamforming in subsequent training intervals and at the same time obtains improved estimates of the MIMO channels to different ERs by applying an optimization technique called analytic center cutting plane method (ACCPM). For the proposed ACCPM based channel learning algorithm, we analyze its worst-case convergence, from which it is revealed that the algorithm is able to estimate multiuser MIMO channels simultaneously without reducing the analytic convergence speed. Also, we provide extensive simulations to show its performances in terms of both convergence speed and energy transfer efficiency.
A randomized controlled comparison of stretching procedures for posterior shoulder tightness.

STUDY DESIGN
Randomized controlled trial,


OBJECTIVES
To compare changes in shoulder internal rotation range of motion (ROM), for 2 stretching exercises, the "cross-body stretch" and the "sleeper stretch," in individuals with posterior shoulder tightness.


BACKGROUND
Recently, some authors have expressed the belief that the sleeper stretch is better than the cross-body stretch to address glenohumeral posterior tightness because the scapula is stabilized.


METHODS
Fifty-four asymptomatic subjects (20 males, 34 females) participated in the study. The control group (n=24) consisted of subjects with a between-shoulder difference in internal rotation ROM of less than 10 degrees, whereas those subjects with more than a 10 degrees difference were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 intervention groups, the sleeper stretch group (n=15) or the cross-body stretch group (n=15). Shoulder internal rotation ROM, with the arm abducted to 90 degrees and scapula motion prevented, was measured before and after a 4-week intervention period. Subjects in the control group were asked not to engage in any new stretching activities, while subjects in the 2 stretching groups were asked to perform stretching exercises on the more limited side only, once daily for 5 repetitions, holding each stretch for 30 seconds.


RESULTS
The improvements in internal rotation ROM for the subjects in the cross-body stretch group (mean +/- SD, 20.0 degrees +/- 12.9 degrees) were significantly greater than for the subjects in the control group (5.9 degrees +/- 9.4 degrees, P = .009). The gains in the sleeper stretch group (12.4 degrees +/- 10.4 degrees) were not significant compared to those of the control group (P = .586) and those of the cross-body stretch group (P = .148).


CONCLUSIONS
The cross-body stretch in individuals with limited shoulder internal rotation ROM appears to be more effective than no stretching in controls without internal rotation asymmetry to improve shoulder internal rotation ROM. While the improvement in internal rotation from the cross-body stretch was greater than for the sleeper stretch and of a magnitude that could be clinically significant, the small sample size likely precluded statistical significance between groups.
Effectiveness of a New Exercise Program after Lower Limb Arterial Blood Flow Surgery in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a supervised exercise program (SEP) plus at home nonsupervised exercise therapy (non-SET) on functional status, quality of life (QoL) and hemodynamic response in post-lower-limb bypass surgery patients.


RESULTS
One hundred and seventeen patients were randomized to an intervention (n = 57) or a control group (n = 60). A new individual SEP was designed for patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and applied to the studied subjects of the intervention group who also continued non-SET at home, whereas those assigned to the control group received just usual SEP according to a common cardiovascular program. The participants of the study were assessed by a 6-min walking test (6 MWT), an ankle-brachial index (ABI), and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) of QoL at baseline, at 1 and 6 months after surgery. A significant improvement was observed in the walked distance in the intervention group after 6 months compared with the control group (p < 0.001). The intervention group had significantly higher QoL score in the physical and mental component of SF-36 (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
A 6-month application of the new SEP and non-SET at home has yielded significantly better results in walking distance and QoL in the intervention group than in the controls.
Diabetic foot ulcer mobile detection system using smart phone thermal camera: a feasibility study

BACKGROUND
Nowadays, the whole world is being concerned with a major health problem, which is diabetes. A very common symptom of diabetes is the diabetic foot ulcer (DFU). The early detection of such foot complications can protect diabetic patients from any dangerous stages that develop later and may require foot amputation. This work aims at building a mobile thermal imaging system that can be used as an indicator for possible developing ulcers.


METHODS
The proposed system consists of a thermal camera connected to a Samsung smart phone, which is used to acquire thermal images. This thermal imaging system has a simulated temperature gradient of more than 2.2 °C, which represents the temperature difference (in the literature) than can indicate a possible development of ulcers. The acquired images are processed and segmented using basic image processing techniques. The analysis and interpretation is conducted using two techniques: Otsu thresholding technique and Point-to-Point mean difference technique.


RESULTS
The proposed system was implemented under MATLAB Mobile platform and thermal images were analyzed and interpreted. Four testing images (feet images) were used to test this procedure; one image with any temperature variation to the feet, and three images with skin temperature increased to more than 2.2 °C introduced at different locations. With the two techniques applied during the analysis and interpretation stage, the system was successful in identifying the location of the temperature increase.


CONCLUSION
This work successfully implemented a mobile thermal imaging system that includes an automated method to identify possible ulcers in diabetic patients. This may give diabetic patients the ability for a frequent self-check of possible ulcers. Although this work was implemented in simulated conditions, it provides the necessary feasibility to be further developed and tested in a clinical environment.
Multilevel High-Voltage Pulse Generation Based on a New Modular Solid-State Switch

This paper describes a modular solid-state switching cell derived from the Marx generator concept to be used in topologies for generating multilevel unipolar and bipolar high-voltage (HV) pulses into resistive loads. The switching modular cell comprises two ON/OFF semiconductors, a diode, and a capacitor. This cell can be stacked, being the capacitors charged in series and their voltages balanced in parallel. To balance each capacitor voltage without needing any parameter measurement, a vector decision diode algorithm is used in each cell to drive the two switches. Simulation and experimental results, for generating multilevel unipolar and bipolar HV pulses into resistive loads are presented.
Demand Characteristics of a Questionnaire Used to Assess Motion Sickness in a Virtual Environment

The experience of motion sickness in a virtual environment may be measured through pre- and post-experiment self-reported questionnaires such as the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ). Although research provides converging evidence that users of virtual environments can experience motion sickness, there have been no controlled studies to determine to what extent the user’s subjective response is a demand characteristic resulting from pre- and post-test measures. In this study, subjects were given either SSQ’s both pre and post virtual environment immersion, or only post immersion. This technique was used to test for contrast effects due to demand characteristics in which administration of the questionnaire itself suggests to the participant that the virtual environment may produce motion sickness. Results indicate that reports of motion sickness after immersion in a virtual environment are much greater when both pre and post questionnaires are given than when only a post test questionnaire is used. The implications for assessments of motion sickness in virtual environments are discussed.
Short-term prospective study of hooking up among college students.

Hook ups are casual sexual encounters (ranging from kissing to intercourse) between two people with no clear mutual expectation of further interactions or a committed relationship. This study utilized a short-term prospective design to examine predictors of hooking up in a sample of young adults (N = 394). Hooking up over the past year, positive reactions to prior hook ups, alcohol use, and loneliness were associated with hooking up over a 4-month period. Alcohol use was a stronger predictor for women than men. Thoughtfulness about relationship transitions and religiosity were significant predictors of hooking up in univariate analyses, but were not significant in multivariate analyses. Young adults who reported more depressive symptoms and feelings of loneliness at Time 1 and subsequently engaged in penetrative hook ups reported fewer depressive symptoms and lower feelings of loneliness at Time 2 as compared to young adults who did not hook up. However, young adults who reported fewer depressive symptoms and were less lonely at Time 1 and engaged in penetrative hook ups over the 4 month period reported more depressive symptoms and greater feelings of loneliness at Time 2 as compared to young adults who did not hook up. Implications for relationship education programs are offered.
MOC-PS(SM) CME article: late cleft lip nasal deformity.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After reading this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Understand the components of unilateral and bilateral secondary or delayed cleft lip nasal deformity. 2. Design and execute the surgical correction more logically. 3. Minimize the risks and better manage complications and suboptimal outcomes.


SUMMARY
Rhinoplasty remains one of the most challenging plastic surgery procedures, and patients with a cleft lip nose deformity pose an even greater challenge. The biggest enigmas are achievement of caudal nose congruity and creation of symmetric nostrils. This article reviews the factors to consider when assessing a patient for correction of secondary cleft lip nasal abnormalities and the surgical techniques available to correct the deformities. Some of the components of the unilateral cleft lip nose deformity include asymmetric tip, short columella, long lateral crus, flat nostril, wide alar base, caudal positioning of the nostril floor on the cleft side, and a short and deviated columella. The common features of bilateral cleft lip nose deformity include short columella, underprojected tip, flat alae, and wide and often asymmetric and horizontal nostrils. While an endonasal approach can improve these noses, the most success is attained through an open technique. Systematic reorientation of distorted nasal architecture, especially the lower lateral cartilages, and creation of a balanced platform for the lower lateral cartilages constitute some of the cardinal principles for correcting the cleft lip nose deformities. Potential complications and ways to minimize them are discussed.
Learning Setting-Generalized Activity Models for Smart Spaces

Smart home activity recognition systems can learn generalized models for common activities that span multiple environment settings and resident types.
Comparison of two strategies for initiating renal replacement therapy in the intensive care unit: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial (AKIKI)

BACKGROUND
There is currently no validated strategy for the timing of renal replacement therapy (RRT) for acute kidney injury (AKI) in the intensive care unit (ICU) when short-term life-threatening metabolic abnormalities are absent. No adequately powered prospective randomized study has addressed this issue to date. As a result, significant practice heterogeneity exists and may expose patients to either unnecessary hazardous procedures or undue delay in RRT.


METHODS/DESIGN
This is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label parallel-group clinical trial that compares the effect of two RRT initiation strategies on overall survival of critically ill patients receiving intravenous catecholamines or invasive mechanical ventilation and presenting with AKI classification stage 3 (KDIGO 2012). In the 'early' strategy, RRT is initiated immediately. In the 'delayed' strategy, clinical and metabolic conditions are closely monitored and RRT is initiated only when one or more events (severity criteria) occur, including: oliguria or anuria for more than 72 hours after randomization, serum urea concentration >40 mmol/l, serum potassium concentration >6 mmol/l, serum potassium concentration >5.5 mmol/l persisting despite medical treatment, arterial blood pH <7.15 in a context of pure metabolic acidosis (PaCO2 < 35 mmHg) or in a context of mixed acidosis with a PaCO2 ≥ 50 mmHg without possibility of increasing alveolar ventilation, acute pulmonary edema due to fluid overload despite diuretic therapy leading to severe hypoxemia requiring oxygen flow rate >5 l/min to maintain SpO2 > 95% or FiO2 > 50% under invasive or noninvasive mechanical ventilation. The primary outcome measure is overall survival, measured from randomization (D0) until death, regardless of the cause. The minimum follow-up duration for each patient will be 60 days. Two interim analyses are planned, blinded to group allocation. It is expected that there will be 620 subjects in all.


DISCUSSION
The AKIKI study will be one of the very few large randomized controlled trials evaluating mortality according to the timing of RRT in critically ill patients with AKI classification stage 3 (KDIGO 2012). Results should help clinicians decide when to initiate RRT.


TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01932190.
Inhibition of clinical benefits of aspirin on first myocardial infarction by nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs.

BACKGROUND
There is clear evidence from numerous randomized trials and their meta-analyses that aspirin reduces risks of first myocardial infarction (MI). Recent data also suggest that other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may interfere with this benefit of aspirin.


METHODS AND RESULTS
We performed subgroup analysis from a 5-year randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 325 mg aspirin on alternate days among 22 071 apparently healthy US male physicians with prospective observational data on use of NSAIDs. A total of 378 MIs were confirmed, 139 in the aspirin group and 239 in the placebo group. Aspirin conferred a statistical extreme (P<0.00001) 44% reduction in risk of first MI. Among participants randomized to aspirin, use of NSAIDs on 1 to 59 d/y was not associated with MI (multivariable adjusted relative risk [RR], 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.78 to 1.87), whereas the use of NSAIDs on > or =60 d/y was associated with MI (RR, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.25 to 6.56) compared with no use of NSAIDs. In the placebo group, the RRs for MI across the same categories of NSAID use were 1.14 (95% CI, 0.81 to 1.60) and 0.21 (95% CI, 0.03 to 1.48).


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that regular but not intermittent use of NSAIDs inhibits the clinical benefits of aspirin. Chance, bias, and confounding remain plausible alternative explanations, despite the prospective design and adjustment for covariates. Nonetheless, we believe the most plausible interpretation of the data to be that regular but not intermittent use of NSAIDs inhibits the clinical benefit of aspirin on first MI.
Suicide Ideation and Attempts among First Nations Peoples Living On-Reserve in Canada: The Intergenerational and Cumulative Effects of Indian Residential Schools.

OBJECTIVE
Suicide rates among Indigenous peoples in Canada are at least twice that of their non-Indigenous counterparts. Although contemporary stressors contribute to this increased risk, historical experiences such as the Indian Residential School (IRS) system may also have continuing links with the risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The current investigation examined the intergenerational and cumulative links between familial IRS attendance in relation to lifetime suicide ideation and attempts among First Nations adults living on-reserve.


METHOD
Data from the 2008-2010 First Nations Regional Health Survey were analyzed, and participants comprised a representative sample of First Nations adults older than 18 years (weighted N = 127,338; IRS attendees were excluded). Of those who knew their familial IRS history, 38.0% had no history of attendance, 19.3% had a grandparent who attended, 16.2% had a parent who attended, and 26.5% had a parent and grandparent who attended.


RESULTS
Exposure of one previous familial generation to the IRS experience was associated with increased risk for lifetime suicide ideation (odds ratio [OR], 1.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16 to 1.84; P = 0.001) and attempts (OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.94; P < 0.016) compared with those with no IRS history. Having 2 generations of IRS familial history was associated with greater odds of reporting a suicide attempt compared with having one generation (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.75; P = 0.022), which was reduced when current levels of distress and ideation were accounted for.


CONCLUSION
Findings support the existence of linkages between intergenerational exposure to IRS and risk for suicidal ideation and attempts and for a potential cumulative risk in relation to suicide attempts across generations.
Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion preserves axonal function in type 1 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a common and debilitating complication of diabetes mellitus. Although strict glycaemic control may reduce the risk of developing diabetic peripheral neuropathy, the neurological benefits of different insulin regimens remain relatively unknown.


METHODS
In the present study, 55 consecutive patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus underwent clinical neurological assessment. Subsequently, 41 non-neuropathic patients, 24 of whom were receiving multiple daily insulin injections (MDII) and 17 receiving continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII), underwent nerve excitability testing, a technique that assesses axonal ion channel function and membrane potential in human nerves. Treatment groups were matched for glycaemic control, body mass index, disease duration and gender. Neurophysiological parameters were compared between treatment groups and those taken from age and sex-matched normal controls.


RESULTS
Prominent differences in axonal function were noted between MDII-treated and CSII-treated patients. Specifically, MDII patients manifested prominent abnormalities when compared with normal controls in threshold electrotonus (TE) parameters including depolarizing TE(10-20ms), undershoot and hyperpolarizing TE (90-100 ms) (P < 0.05). Additionally, recovery cycle parameters superexcitability and subexcitability were also abnormal (P < 0.05). In contrast, axonal function in CSII-treated patients was within normal limits when compared with age-matched controls. The differences between the groups were noted in cross-sectional analysis and remained at longitudinal follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Axonal function in type 1 diabetes is maintained within normal limits in patients treated with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion and not with multiple daily insulin injections. This raises the possibility that CSII therapy may have neuroprotective potential in patients with type 1 diabetes.
Assessing heavy metal pollution in the surface soils of a region that had undergone three decades of intense industrialization and urbanization.

Heavy metals in the surface soils from lands of six different use types in one of the world's most densely populated regions, which is also a major global manufacturing base, were analyzed to assess the impact of urbanization and industrialization on soil pollution. A total of 227 surface soil samples were collected and analyzed for major heavy metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) by using microwave-assisted acid digestion and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Multivariate analysis combined with enrichment factors showed that surface soils from the region (>7.2 × 10(4) km(2)) had mean Cd, Cu, Zn, and As concentrations that were over two times higher than the background values, with Cd, Cu, and Zn clearly contributed by anthropogenic sources. Soil pollution by Pb was more widespread than the other heavy metals, which was contributed mostly by anthropogenic sources. The results also indicate that Mn, Co, Fe, Cr, and Ni in the surface soils were primarily derived from lithogenic sources, while Hg and As contents in the surface soils were controlled by both natural and anthropogenic sources. The pollution level and potential ecological risk of the surface soils both decreased in the order of: urban areas > waste disposal/treatment sites ∼ industrial areas > agricultural lands ∼ forest lands > water source protection areas. These results indicate the significant need for the development of pollution prevention and reduction strategies to reduce heavy metal pollution for regions undergoing fast industrialization and urbanization.
MHD Stagnation Point Flow towards a Shrinking Sheet with Suction in an Upper-Convected Maxwell (UCM) Fluid

The present analysis considers the steady stagnation point flow and heat transfer towards a permeable shrinking sheet in an upper-convected Maxwell (UCM) electrically conducting fluid, with a constant magnetic field applied in the transverse direction to flow and a local heat generation within the boundary layer, with a heat generation rate proportional to ( ) . p T T∞ − Using a similarity transformation, the governing system of partial differential equations is first transformed into a system of ordinary differential equations, which is then solved numerically using a finite-difference scheme known as the Keller-box method. Numerical results are obtained for the flow and thermal fields for various values of the stretching/shrinking parameter , λ the magnetic parameter , M the elastic parameter , K the Prandtl number Pr, the suction parameter , s the heat generation parameter , Q and the exponent . p The results indicate the existence of dual solutions for the shrinking sheet up to a critical value c λ whose value depends on the value of , , M K and . s In the presence of internal heat absorption ( ) 0 , Q < the surface heat transfer rate decreases with increasing p but increases with parameters Q and , s when the sheet is either stretched or shrunk. Keywords—Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD), boundary layer flow, UCM fluid, stagnation point, shrinking sheet.