LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Increased risk of restenosis after placement of gold-coated stents: results of a randomized trial comparing gold-coated with uncoated steel stents in patients with coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND
Gold is a highly biocompatible material. Experimental evidence suggests that coating the stent with a gold layer may have a beneficial influence. In this randomized trial, we assessed whether gold-coated stents were associated with a better clinical and angiographic outcome after coronary placement.


METHODS AND RESULTS
Patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease were randomly assigned to receive either a gold-coated Inflow stent (n = 367) or an uncoated Inflow stainless steel stent (n = 364) of identical design. Follow-up angiography was routinely performed at 6 months. The primary end point of the study was the occurrence of any adverse clinical event (death, myocardial infarction, or target-vessel revascularization) during the first year after stenting. At 30 days, there was no significant difference in the combined incidence of adverse events, with 7.9% in the gold-stent group versus 5.8% in the steel-stent group (P = 0.25). The incidence of angiographic restenosis (> or =50% diameter stenosis) was 49.7% in the gold-stent group and 38.1% in the steel-stent group (P = 0.003). One-year survival free of myocardial infarction was 88.6% in the gold-stent group and 91.8% in the steel-stent group (P = 0.14). One-year event-free survival was significantly less favorable in the gold-stent group (62.9% versus 73.9% in the steel-stent group; P = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Coating steel stents with gold had no significant influence on the thrombotic events observed during the first 30 days after the intervention. However, gold-coated stents were associated with a considerable increase in the risk of restenosis over the first year after stenting.
Rapid quantitative mapping of multi-walled carbon nanotube concentration in nanocomposites

Abstract Inhomogeneous distributions of nanoparticles in polymer nanocomposites have a strong influence on final material properties. Quantitative methods to characterise particle dispersion are rarely applied but are critical for advancing understanding of material behaviour, developing accurate computer models, and optimizing processing. Two complementary quantitative methods were developed to map local concentration, based on Raman spectroscopy and simple optical absorbance, respectively. The approaches are demonstrated for a model multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) epoxy nanocomposite, but should be widely applicable. Maps of absolute concentration can be produced with submicron resolution, allowing analysis of the uniformity of MWNT concentration distribution via the coefficient of variation. The two approaches correlate closely, providing validation of both methods. However, the optical absorbance approach is likely to be more practical, in most cases, as it uses a standard laboratory microscope to analyse large areas rapidly.
Applying Complex Network Theory to Software Structure Analysis

Complex networks have been intensively studied across many fields, especially in Internet technology, biological engineering, and nonlinear science. Software is built up out of many interacting components at various levels of granularity, such as functions, classes, and packages, representing another important class of complex networks. It can also be studied using complex network theory. Over the last decade, many papers on the interdisciplinary research between software engineering and complex networks have been published. It provides a different dimension to our understanding of software and also is very useful for the design and development of software systems. This paper will explore how to use the complex network theory to analyze software structure, and briefly review the main advances in corresponding aspects. Keywords—Metrics, measurement, complex networks, software.
Henry George and the Institution of Private Property in Land: A Property Rights Approach

Abstract. Conflicting statements concerning whether the implementation of Henry George's single tax proposal would destroy the institution of private property in land have appeared in the literatures of economics and other disciplines. A number of writers have implied that the taxation of Ricardian rent is equivalent to land nationalization. In the main, followers of George have denied that the single tax would abolish private property in land. Their claim is based on the fact that land titles would remain in private hands under the single tax. Since the whole question of private property is beset with ideological difficulties, a property rights approach is applied to this issue in an attempt to resolve the controversy. The conclusions are that the actual implementation of George's system would not destroy private property in land and that it is incorrect to equate the single tax with land nationalization.
Panacea: Automating Attack Classification for Anomaly-Based Network Intrusion Detection Systems

Anomaly-based intrusion detection systems are usually criticized because they lack a classification of attacks, thus security teams have to manually inspect any raised alert to classify it. We present a new approach, Panacea, to automatically and systematically classify attacks detected by an anomaly-based network intrusion detection system.
Design and implementation of an autonomous flight control law for a UAV helicopter

In this paper, we present the design and implementation of an autonomous flight control law for a smallscale unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) helicopter. The approach is decentralized in nature by incorporating a newly developed nonlinear control technique, namely the composite nonlinear feedback control, together with dynamic inversion. The overall control law consists of three hierarchical layers, namely, the kernel control, command generator and flight scheduling, and is implemented and verified in flight tests on the actual UAV helicopter. The flight test results demonstrate that the UAV helicopter is capable of carrying out complicated flight missions autonomously. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Remotely Reprogrammable Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring

Wireless sensors can improve our ability to monitor critical civil infrastructure, including highways & bridges. We have previously reported on highly miniaturized, wireless strain, acceleration, and inclination sensing systems capable of providing low & high speed data update rates. Signal conditioning, multiplexing, A/D conversion, processing, amplifying, data logging, and bi-directional wireless communications are fully integrated. Each node includes a unique address (RFID), allowing a single base station to orchestrate data collection from thousands of distinct sensing nodes. In order to enhance these capabilities, we have produced a new base station with remote cellular telephone interface. This allows access to the sensing network from anywhere where cellular communications are available. Key operating parameters such as triggering, data sampling rates, data sampling duration, continuous streaming duration, and number of active channels may all be programmed remotely. The base station can issue broadcast commands, such as “wake up, begin data logging, or “go back to sleep”. Node specific commands include “download data from node, remove offsets from a node’s channel, increase gain on a node’s channel”. These capabilities allow a remote sensing network to be deployed in the field and remotely adapted over time to meet the customer’s unique SHM requirements.
Efficient targeted mutagenesis in potato by the CRISPR/Cas9 system

Technologies to achieve the specific and precise knockout of genes are critical for understanding gene functions and fundamental biological processes. Targeted genome editing as a new and efficient method to mutate genes has been rapidly used in many organisms. Compared with the earlier systems, such as zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs) and transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), the bacterial clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/associated protein 9 nuclease (Cas9) is an easier and more efficient system, and it has been widely used in recent years (Gaj et al. 2013). The Cas9 endonuclease is dictated by a 20-base pair (bp) sequence at the 50 end of the single-guide RNA (sgRNA), which then acts as a guide to the specific site of the genome, where Cas9 is able to cleave double-stranded DNA, leading to deletion, insertion, or substitution at the target sites (Sander and Joung 2014). Since 2013, CRISPR/Cas9 has been successfully applied by transient expression and/or stable transgenic lines in several plant species, such as Arabidopsis, Nicotiana benthamiana, rice, wheat, maize, and tomato (Brooks et al. 2014; Jiang et al. 2013; Li et al. 2013; Miao et al. 2013; Nekrasov et al. 2013; Shan et al. 2013). Moreover, the mutations generated in the primary transgenic plants by the CRISPR/Cas9 system can be stably transmitted to the next generation (Brooks et al. 2014; Feng et al. 2014). Thus, the CRISPR/Cas9 system is becoming a powerful tool for genome editing in plants, whereas the reports of the usage and efficiency of the CRISPR/Cas9 system-mediated plant genome engineering are still limited. Potato is a very important crop for world food security. Environmental changes and extended cultivation regions are challenges for potato cultivars. Understanding the functions of genes will help us to improve agronomic traits using molecular engineering technologies. Since cultivated potatoes are tetraploid, the functional approach of genes by molecular genetics is very difficult. Similar to other plant species in which the CRISPR/Cas9 has been successfully used, gene transformation in potato is efficient, and the genome sequence of double-haploid DM and diploid RH is available, which made potato an ideal candidate for this genome editing system (The Potato Genome Sequencing Consortium 2011). Here, we used the CRISPR/Cas9 system to produce knockouts of genes in potato successfully, which will provide an excellent foundation for future gene function studies. In order to construct a CRISPR/Cas9 plasmid which would function efficiently in potato, we first cloned a native promoter for potato U6 RNAs (StU6P) from DM Communicated by N. Stewart.
Modeling Strategy Use in an Intelligent Tutoring System: Implications for Strategic Flexibility

Education research has identified strategic flexibility as an important aspect of math proficiency and learning. This aspect of student learning has been largely ignored by Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITSs). In the current study, we demonstrate how Hidden Markov Modeling can be used to identify groups of students who use similar strategies during tutoring and relate these findings to a measure of strategic flexibility. We use these results to explore how strategy use is expressed in an ITS and consider how tutoring systems could integrate a measure of strategy use to improve learning.
Critical pertussis illness in children: a multicenter prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE
Pertussis persists in the United States despite high immunization rates. This report characterizes the presentation and acute course of critical pertussis by quantifying demographic data, laboratory findings, clinical complications, and critical care therapies among children requiring admission to the PICU.


DESIGN
Prospective cohort study.


SETTING
Eight PICUs comprising the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development Collaborative Pediatric Critical Care Research Network and 17 additional PICUs across the United States.


PATIENTS
Eligible patients had laboratory confirmation of pertussis infection, were younger than 18 years old, and died in the PICU or were admitted to the PICU for at least 24 hours between June 2008 and August 2011.


INTERVENTIONS
None.


MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS
A total of 127 patients were identified. Median age was 49 days, and 105 (83%) patients were less than 3 months old. Fifty-five (43%) patients required mechanical ventilation and 12 patients (9.4%) died during initial hospitalization. Pulmonary hypertension was found in 16 patients (12.5%) and was present in 75% of patients who died, compared with 6% of survivors (p < 0.001). Median WBC was significantly higher in those requiring mechanical ventilation (p < 0.001), those with pulmonary hypertension (p < 0.001), and nonsurvivors (p < 0.001). Age, sex, and immunization status did not differ between survivors and nonsurvivors. Fourteen patients received leukoreduction therapy (exchange transfusion [12], leukopheresis [1], or both [1]). Survival benefit was not apparent.


CONCLUSIONS
Pulmonary hypertension may be associated with mortality in pertussis critical illness. Elevated WBC is associated with the need for mechanical ventilation, pulmonary hypertension, and mortality risk. Research is indicated to elucidate how pulmonary hypertension, immune responsiveness, and elevated WBC contribute to morbidity and mortality and whether leukoreduction might be efficacious.
A novel flux weakening algorithm for surface mounted permanent magnet synchronous machines with infinite constant power speed ratio

While the design method has been reported for surface mounted permanent magnet synchronous machines which have an infinite constant power speed ratio, the control method about this type of machine is not widely discussed yet. This paper proposes a novel flux weakening algorithm for the synchronous machines with an infinite constant power speed ratio. The proposed algorithm does not use the voltage magnitude as a feedback signal, but utilizes the voltage differences between the input and the output of the over-modulation block, and to detect the maximum torque per voltage line, the q-axis voltage, which is the output of the q-axis current regulator, is used. The available maximum output torque by the proposed algorithm in the flux weakening region is closed to that by the six step operation, while the ability of the current control is still maintained. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by the experiments.
Repairing alliance ruptures.

In this article, we review the existing empirical research on the topic of therapeutic alliance ruptures in psychotherapy. Ruptures in the therapeutic alliance are defined as episodes of tension or breakdown in the collaborative relationship between patient and therapist. Two meta-analyses were conducted. The first reviewed studies examining the relation between rupture-repair episodes and treatment outcome (r = .24, z = 3.06, 95% CI [.09, .39], p = .002, k = 3, N = 148). The second meta-analysis reviewed the research examining the impact on treatment outcome of training therapists in the use of alliance rupture intervention principles (prepost r = .65, z = 5.56, 95% CI [.46, .78], p < .001, k = 8, N = 376). Both meta-analyses provided promising evidence regarding the relevance of alliance rupture-repair processes to therapeutic outcome. The limitations of the research reviewed are discussed as well as practice implications for repairing the inevitable alliance ruptures in psychotherapy.
A Circuit-Based Learning Architecture for Multilayer Neural Networks With Memristor Bridge Synapses

Memristor-based circuit architecture for multilayer neural networks is proposed. It is a first of its kind demonstrating successful circuit-based learning for multilayer neural network built with memristors. Though back-propagation algorithm is a powerful learning scheme for multilayer neural networks, its hardware implementation is very difficult due to complexities of the neural synapses and the operations involved in the learning algorithm. In this paper, the circuit of a multilayer neural network is designed with memristor bridge synapses and the learning is realized with a simple learning algorithm called Random Weight Change (RWC). Though RWC algorithm requires more iterations than back-propagation algorithm, we show that a circuit-based learning using RWC is two orders faster than its software counterpart. The method to build a multilayer neural network using memristor bridge synapses and a circuit-based learning architecture of RWC algorithm is proposed. Comparison between software-based and memristor circuit-based learning are presented via simulations.
Optimizing two-pass connected-component labeling algorithms

We present two optimization strategies to improve connected-component labeling algorithms. Taking together, they form an efficient two-pass labeling algorithm that is fast and theoretically optimal. The first optimization strategy reduces the number of neighboring pixels accessed through the use of a decision tree, and the second one streamlines the union-find algorithms used to track equivalent labels. We show that the first strategy reduces the average number of neighbors accessed by a factor of about 2. We prove our streamlined union-find algorithms have the same theoretical optimality as the more sophisticated ones in literature. This result generalizes an earlier one on using union-find in labeling algorithms by Fiorio and Gustedt (Theor Comput Sci 154(2):165–181, 1996). In tests, the new union-find algorithms improve a labeling algorithm by a factor of 4 or more. Through analyses and experiments, we demonstrate that our new two-pass labeling algorithm scales linearly with the number of pixels in the image, which is optimal in computational complexity theory. Furthermore, the new labeling algorithm outperforms the published labeling algorithms irrespective of test platforms. In comparing with the fastest known labeling algorithm for two-dimensional (2D) binary images called contour tracing algorithm, our new labeling algorithm is up to ten times faster than the contour tracing program distributed by the original authors.
Early detection and intervention using neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) may improve renal outcome of acute contrast media induced nephropathy: A randomized controlled trial in patients undergoing intra-arterial angiography (ANTI-CIN Study)

BACKGROUND
Patients with pre-existing impaired renal function are prone to develop acute contrast media induced nephropathy (CIN). Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), a new biomarker predictive for acute kidney injury (AKI), has been shown to be useful for earlier diagnosis of CIN; however, urinary NGAL values may be markedly increased in chronic renal failure at baseline. Results from those studies suggested that urinary NGAL values may not be helpful for the clinician. An intravenous volume load is a widely accepted prophylactic measure and possibly a reasonable intervention to prevent deterioration of renal function. The aim of our study is to evaluate NGAL as an early predictor of CIN and to investigate the clinical benefit of early post-procedural i.v. hydration.


METHODS/DESIGN
The study will follow a prospective, open-label, randomized controlled design. Patients requiring intra-arterial contrast media (CM) application will be included and receive standardized, weight-based, intravenous hydration before investigation. Subjects with markedly increased urinary NGAL values after CM application will be randomized into one of two study groups. Group A will receive 3-4 ml/kg BW/h 0.9% saline intravenously for 6 hours. Group B will undergo only standard treatment consisting of unrestricted oral fluid intake. The primary outcome measure will be CIN defined by an increase greater than 25% of baseline serum creatinine. Secondary outcomes will include urinary NGAL values, cystatin C values, contrast media associated changes in cardiac parameters such as NT-pro-BNP/troponin T, changes in urinary cytology, need for renal replacement treatment, length of stay in hospital and death.We assume that 20% of the included patients will show a definite rise in urinary NGAL. Prospective statistical power calculations indicate that the study will have 80% statistical power to detect a clinically significant decrease of CIN of 40% in the treatment arm if 1200 patients are recruited into the study.


DISCUSSION
A volume expansion strategy showing a benefit from earlier intervention for patients with markedly elevated urinary NGAL values, indicating a CIN, might arise from data from this study.


TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01292317.
Performance analysis of adaptive fuzzy logic controller for switched reluctance motor drive system

This paper presents the application of an adaptive fuzzy algorithm for the speed control of a switched reluctance motor (SRM). The SRM is a highly nonlinear control plant and operates in saturation to maximize the torque output. A systematic approach to the modeling of highly nonlinear SRM drive systems which includes the motor, power converter and its electronic controller is presented. A hysteresis current controlled mid-point power converter is used to feed a 4 kW, four phase, 8/6 pole SRM. Nonlinearity caused by magnetic saturation is accounted for accurate and real-time simulation of drive performance by considering experimental data of magnetization and static torque characteristics. Performance analysis of SRM drives is reported for a with range of operating conditions viz. starting, reversal and load perturbation dynamics. The performance indices of SRM drive system operating with fuzzy logic controller are compared with the conventional controller to highlight the merits and limitations of the adaptive fuzzy logic controller.
Test methods for on-site corrosion rate measurement of steel reinforcement in concrete by means of the polarization resistance method

This Recommendation covers the description of nondestructive electrochemical test methods for the estimation in large size concrete structures of the instantaneous corrosion current density, icorr, expressed in A/cm, by means of the so-called Polarization Resistance technique, Rp, in order to assess the condition of embedded steel reinforcement related to its corrosion. The values of icorr, can be used to assess the rate of degradation of concrete structures affected by reinforcement corrosion. However, they cannot give information on the actual loss in steel cross section which, at present, only can be assessed by means of direct visual observation. Values of the free corrosion potential or half-cell potential, Ecorr [V], of the embedded reinforcing steel and of the electrical concrete resistance, Re [ ], are obtained as preliminary steps of the Rp measurements. Values of the concrete resistivity, [ m], can be calculated from Re values providing the geometrical arrangement of the electrodes enables this calculation. Both parameters, Ecorr and Re (or ) may be used to complement the reliability of the icorr measurements. 2. SIGNIFICANCE AND USE