LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Topological Approach to Alice Electrodynamics

We analyze the unlocalized “Cheshire charge” carried by “Alice strings.” The magnetic charge on a string loop is carefully defined, and the transfer of magnetic charge from a monopole to a string loop is analyzed using global topological methods. A semiclassical theory of electric charge transfer is also described.
Negative-output KY buck-boost converter

In this paper, a novel converter, named as negative-output KY buck-boost converter, is presented herein, which has no bilinear characteristics. First of all, the basic operating principle of the proposed converter is illustrated in detail, and secondly some simulated and experimental results are provided to verify its effectiveness.
Inadequate pain relief and large functional loss among patients with knee osteoarthritis: evidence from a prospective multinational longitudinal study of osteoarthritis real-world therapies

OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of inadequate pain relief (IPR) among patients with symptomatic knee OA prescribed analgesic therapy and to characterize patients with IPR.


METHODS
Patients ≥50 years old with physician-diagnosed knee OA who had taken topical or oral pain medication for at least 14 days were recruited for this prospective non-interventional study in six European countries. Pain and function were assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) and the WOMAC; quality of life (QoL) was assessed using the 12-item short form. IPR was defined as an average pain score of >4 out of 10 on BPI question 5.


RESULTS
Of 1187 patients enrolled, 68% were female and the mean age was 68 years (s.d. 9); 639 (54%) met the definition of IPR. Patient responses for the BPI average pain question were well correlated with responses on the WOMAC pain subscale (Spearman r = 0.64, P < 0.001). In multivariate logistic regression, patients with IPR had greater odds of being female [adjusted odds ratio (adjOR) 1.90 (95% CI 1.46, 2.48)] and having OA in both knees [adjOR 1.48 (95% CI 1.15, 1.90)], higher BMI, longer OA duration, depression or diabetes. Patients with IPR (vs non-IPR) were more likely to have worse QoL, greater function loss and greater pain interference.


CONCLUSION
IPR is common among patients with knee OA requiring analgesics and is associated with large functional loss and impaired QoL. Patients at particular risk of IPR, as characterized in this study, may require greater attention towards their analgesic treatment options.


TRIAL REGISTRATION
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ (NCT01294696).
On the Future of Technological Forecasting

Technological forecasting is now poised to respond to the emerging needs of private and public sector organizations in the highly competitive global environment. The history of the subject and its variant forms, including impact assessment, national foresight studies, roadmapping, and competitive technological intelligence, shows how it has responded to changing institutional motivations. Renewed focus on innovation, attention to science-based opportunities, and broad social and political factors will bring renewed attention to technological forecasting in industry, government, and academia. Promising new tools are anticipated, borrowing variously from fields such as political science, computer science, scientometrics, innovation management, and complexity science.  2001 Elsevier Science Inc. Introduction Technological forecasting—its purpose, methods, terminology, and uses—will be shaped in the future, as in the past, by the needs of corporations and government agencies.1 These have a continual pressing need to anticipate and cope with the direction and rate of technological change. The future of technological forecasting will also depend on the views of the public and their elected representatives about technological progress, economic competition, and the government’s role in technological development. In the context of this article, “technological forecasting” (TF) includes several new forms—for example, national foresight studies, roadmapping, and competitive technological intelligence—that have evolved to meet the changing demands of user institutions. It also encompasses technology assessment (TA) or social impact analysis, which emphasizes the downstream effects of technology’s invention, innovation, and evolution. VARY COATES is associated with the Institute for Technology Assessment, Washington, DC. MAHMUD FAROQUE is with George Mason University, Fairfax, VA. RICHARD KLAVANS is with CRP, Philadelphia, PA. KOTY LAPID is with Softblock, Beer Sheba, Israel. HAROLD LINSTONE is with Portland State University. CARL PISTORIUS is with the University of Pretoria, South Africa. ALAN PORTER is with the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA. We also thank Joseph Coates and Joseph Martino for helpful critiques. 1 The term “technological forecasting” is used in this article to apply to all purposeful and systematic attempts to anticipate and understand the potential direction, rate, characteristics, and effects of technological change, especially invention, innovation, adoption, and use. No distinction is intended between “technological forecasting” “technology forecasting,” or “technology foresight,” except as specifically described in the text. Technological Forecasting and Social Change 67, 1–17 (2001)  2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved. 0040-1625/01/$–see front matter 655 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10010 PII S0040-1625(00)00122-0
A reverse logistics decisions conceptual framework

a Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Département de génie industriel, C.P. 500, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada G9A 5H7 b Departement of Mathematics and Industrial Engineering, École Polytechnique de Montréal, P.O. Box 6079, Station Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3C 3A7 c Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada N9B 3P4
Endoscopic submucosal dissection: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Guideline.

UNLABELLED
This Guideline is an official statement of the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE). The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system 1 2 was adopted to define the strength of recommendations and the quality of evidence.


MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS
1 ESGE recommends endoscopic en bloc resection for superficial esophageal squamous cell cancers (SCCs), excluding those with obvious submucosal involvement (strong recommendation, moderate quality evidence). Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) may be considered in such lesions when they are smaller than 10 mm if en bloc resection can be assured. However, ESGE recommends endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) as the first option, mainly to provide an en bloc resection with accurate pathology staging and to avoid missing important histological features (strong recommendation, moderate quality evidence). 2 ESGE recommends endoscopic resection with a curative intent for visible lesions in Barrett's esophagus (strong recommendation, moderate quality evidence). ESD has not been shown to be superior to EMR for excision of mucosal cancer, and for that reason EMR should be preferred. ESD may be considered in selected cases, such as lesions larger than 15 mm, poorly lifting tumors, and lesions at risk for submucosal invasion (strong recommendation, moderate quality evidence). 3 ESGE recommends endoscopic resection for the treatment of gastric superficial neoplastic lesions that possess a very low risk of lymph node metastasis (strong recommendation, high quality evidence). EMR is an acceptable option for lesions smaller than 10 - 15 mm with a very low probability of advanced histology (Paris 0-IIa). However, ESGE recommends ESD as treatment of choice for most gastric superficial neoplastic lesions (strong recommendation, moderate quality evidence). 4 ESGE states that the majority of colonic and rectal superficial lesions can be effectively removed in a curative way by standard polypectomy and/or by EMR (strong recommendation, moderate quality evidence). ESD can be considered for removal of colonic and rectal lesions with high suspicion of limited submucosal invasion that is based on two main criteria of depressed morphology and irregular or nongranular surface pattern, particularly if the lesions are larger than 20 mm; or ESD can be considered for colorectal lesions that otherwise cannot be optimally and radically removed by snare-based techniques (strong recommendation, moderate quality evidence).
Exergames for Older Adults with Subthreshold Depression: Does Higher Playfulness Lead to Better Improvement in Depression?

OBJECTIVE
The use of exergames is increasingly prevalent in the healthcare promotion among older adults. The current study aimed to examine whether the playfulness may influence the antidepressant effect of exergames on older adults.


METHOD
Two experimental conditions, high playfulness (Wii™ Sport games) and low playfulness (Wii Fit™ training), were implemented in a 6-week randomized controlled study. A manipulation check was conducted first to confirm the significant difference in playfulness between the two conditions. A total of 49 community-dwelling older adults diagnosed with subthreshold depression have finished the study. Their depression, positive emotions, and self-efficacy were measured at both pre- and post-test. A multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was then conducted between two conditions, with age and gender as the covariates.


RESULTS
Findings suggest that older adults in both two exergame conditions have improvements in subthreshold depression [t(48) = 9.48, P < 0.001], positive emotions [t(48) = -12.04, P < 0.001], and self-efficacy [t(48) = -9.78, P < 0.001]. Significant effect of playfulness in exergames was found on positive emotions among older adults [F(3, 47) = 20.82, P < 0.001], although not on subthreshold depression and self-efficacy.


CONCLUSION
Results gained from the study will assist in the future implementation and development of exergames that aim to improve mental health among older adults.
An Evaluation of Public Sector Sponsored Continuous Vocational Training Programs in East Germany

An Evaluation of Public-Sector-Sponsored Continuous Vocational Training Programs in East Germany This study analyses the effects of public-sector-sponsored continuous vocational training and retraining in East Germany after unification with West Germany in 1990. It presents econometric estimates of the average gains from training participation in terms of employment probabilities, earnings, and career prospects after the completion of training using a matching approach. The data is from the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP, 1990-1996). The GSOEP allows the researcher to observe individual behavior on a monthly or on a yearly basis. The results suggest that despite large public expenditures there are no positive effects in the first years after training. JEL Classification: J24, J31, J60, C33
Fighting cybercrime: a review and the Taiwan experience

Cybercrime is becoming ever more serious. Findings from the 2002 Computer Crime and Security Survey show an upward trend that demonstrates a need for a timely review of existing approaches to fighting this new phenomenon in the information age. In this paper, we define different types of cybercrime and review previous research and current status of fighting cybercrime in different countries that rely on legal, organizational, and technological approaches. We focus on a case study of fighting cybercrime in Taiwan and discuss problems faced. Finally, we propose several recommendations to advance the work of fighting cybercrime. D 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Hepatitis C in haemorrhagic obstetrical emergencies.

OBJECTIVE
To determine the maternal health and fetal outcome in hepatitis C with obstetrical haemorrhagic emergencies.


STUDY DESIGN
An observational study.


PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit-I, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Hospital, Hyderabad, Sindh, from January 2009 to December 2010.


METHODOLOGY
All the women admitted during the study period with different obstetrical haemorrhagic emergencies were included. On virology screening, hepatitis C screening was done on all. The women with non-haemorrhagic obstetrical emergencies were excluded. Studied variables included demographic characteristics, the nature of obstetrical emergency, haemorrhagic conditions and maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. The data was analyzed on SPSS version 20.


RESULTS
More frequent obstetrical haemorrhagic emergencies were observed with hepatitis C positive in comparison with hepatitis C negative cases including post-partum haemorrhage in 292 (80.88%) and ante-partum haemorrhage in 69 (19.11%) cases. Associated morbidities seen were disseminated intravascular coagulation in 43 (11.91%) and shock in 29 (8.03%) cases with hepatitis C positive. Fetal still birth rate was 37 (10.24%) in hepatitis C positive cases.


CONCLUSION
Frequency of maternal morbidity and mortality and perinatal mortality was high in obstetrical haemorrhagic emergencies with hepatitis C positive cases.
Acute effects of salmeterol and fluticasone propionate alone and in combination on airway blood flow in patients with asthma.

BACKGROUND
The airway contains airway smooth muscle and airway vascular smooth muscle. The acute effects of inhaled long-acting β(2)-adrenergic agonists (LABAs) alone, or in combination with an inhaled glucocorticoid (ICS), on airway smooth muscle tone in asthma are known; however, to the best of our knowledge, their effect on airway vascular smooth muscle tone has not been investigated previously. The objective of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of a LABA and an ICS alone and in combination on airway blood flow (Qaw) as an index of airway vascular smooth muscle tone in patients with stable asthma.


METHODS
Fourteen subjects with moderate asthma inhaled single doses of salmeterol (50 μg), fluticasone propionate (250 μg), salmeterol/fluticasone propionate (50/250 μg), or placebo; Qaw was measured before and serially for 240 min after drug administration.


RESULTS
Mean Qaw increased after salmeterol and salmeterol/fluticasone propionate, with peaks at 60 min of 34% and 40%, respectively, and returned to baseline by 240 min after inhalation. Fluticasone propionate alone caused a transient decrease in mean Qaw. The maximal changes in Qaw, which occurred at different times, were 60% for salmeterol, 67% for salmeterol/fluticasone propionate, and -19% for fluticasone propionate (P < .05 vs placebo for all).


CONCLUSIONS
The LABA salmeterol has an acute vasodilator action on the airway of subjects with stable asthma. The addition of fluticasone propionate, which by itself causes vasoconstriction, does not attenuate the salmeterol-induced vasodilation, suggesting that fluticasone propionate potentiates the vasodilator effect of salmeterol. The vasodilation could be of clinical benefit by promoting the vascular clearance of inflammatory mediators including spasmogens from the airway.


TRIAL REGISTRY
ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT01231230; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov.
Automatic Deobfuscation and Reverse Engineering of Obfuscated Code

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 CHAPTER
Dominant Color Embedded Markov Chain Model for Object Image Retrieval

By focusing on the decoding process to improve coding efficiency, we propose an effective video coding method by employing parameter estimation in the decoding process. A bitrate reduction can be achieved when the proposed method is applied to the DC transform coefficient and the motion vector of H.264. 0.25%-0.84%.
Electrochemical Sensors Based on Organic Conjugated Polymers

Organic conjugated polymers (conducting polymers) have emerged as potentialcandidates for electrochemical sensors. Due to their straightforward preparation methods,unique properties, and stability in air, conducting polymers have been applied to energystorage, electrochemical devices, memory devices, chemical sensors, and electrocatalysts.Conducting polymers are also known to be compatible with biological molecules in aneutral aqueous solution. Thus, these are extensively used in the fabrication of accurate,fast, and inexpensive devices, such as biosensors and chemical sensors in the medicaldiagnostic laboratories. Conducting polymer-based electrochemical sensors and biosensorsplay an important role in the improvement of public health and environment because rapiddetection, high sensitivity, small size, and specificity are achievable for environmentalmonitoring and clinical diagnostics. In this review, we summarized the recent advances inconducting polymer-based electrochemical sensors, which covers chemical sensors(potentiometric, voltammetric, amperometric) and biosensors (enzyme based biosensors,immunosensors, DNA sensors).
Differential effect of prolonged food restriction and fasting on hypothalamic malonyl-CoA concentration and expression of orexigenic and anorexigenic neuropeptides genes in rats

Several lines of evidence suggest that malonyl-CoA in the hypothalamus plays an important role in monitoring and modulating body energy balance. In fasted state the level of malonyl-CoA concentration significantly decreases. Simultaneously, orexigenic neuropeptides (NPY - neuropeptide Y, AgRP - agouti-related peptide) genes are expressed at high level, whereas anorexigenic neuropeptides (CART - cocaine-and amphetamine-regulated transcript, POMC - proopiomelanocortin) genes are expressed at low level. When food intake resumes, opposite effect is observed. This study examined the effect of prolonged food restriction, common in humans trying to lose body weight on expression of orexigenic and anorexigenic neuropeptides genes and on malonyl-CoA content in rat whole hypothalamus. We observed an increase of NPY and AgRP mRNA levels in hypothalamus of rats kept on 30 days-long food restriction (50% of the amount of food consumed by controls). Simultaneously, a decrease of CART and POMC mRNA levels occurred. Refeeding caused a decrease in NPY and POMC mRNA levels without effect on AgRP and CART mRNA. Surprisingly, both prolonged food restriction and food restriction/refeeding caused the increase of malonyl-CoA level in whole hypothalamus. In contrast, fasting for 24h caused the decrease of malonyl-CoA level, which was associated with the up-regulation of NPY and AgRP genes expression and down-regulation of CART and POMC genes expression. After refeeding opposite effect was observed. These results indicate that prolonged food restriction and acute fasting, conditions in which energy expenditure exceeds intake, differentially affect malonyl-CoA concentration and similarly affect orexigenic and anorexigenic neuropeptide genes expression in whole rat hypothalamus.
Perspectives on Live Streaming: Apps, Users, and Research

The emergence of mobile live streaming as a popular app over the past couple years provides a new platform for socio-technical interaction in the world. This panel brings together several different perspectives on live streaming: companies who are producing commercial apps, researchers studying how people are using live streaming, and users. We hope the discussion identifies design and research implications for the future.
Isosorbide Mononitrate in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction.

BACKGROUND
Nitrates are commonly prescribed to enhance activity tolerance in patients with heart failure and a preserved ejection fraction. We compared the effect of isosorbide mononitrate or placebo on daily activity in such patients.


METHODS
In this multicenter, double-blind, crossover study, 110 patients with heart failure and a preserved ejection fraction were randomly assigned to a 6-week dose-escalation regimen of isosorbide mononitrate (from 30 mg to 60 mg to 120 mg once daily) or placebo, with subsequent crossover to the other group for 6 weeks. The primary end point was the daily activity level, quantified as the average daily accelerometer units during the 120-mg phase, as assessed by patient-worn accelerometers. Secondary end points included hours of activity per day during the 120-mg phase, daily accelerometer units during all three dose regimens, quality-of-life scores, 6-minute walk distance, and levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP).


RESULTS
In the group receiving the 120-mg dose of isosorbide mononitrate, as compared with the placebo group, there was a nonsignificant trend toward lower daily activity (-381 accelerometer units; 95% confidence interval [CI], -780 to 17; P=0.06) and a significant decrease in hours of activity per day (-0.30 hours; 95% CI, -0.55 to -0.05; P=0.02). During all dose regimens, activity in the isosorbide mononitrate group was lower than that in the placebo group (-439 accelerometer units; 95% CI, -792 to -86; P=0.02). Activity levels decreased progressively and significantly with increased doses of isosorbide mononitrate (but not placebo). There were no significant between-group differences in the 6-minute walk distance, quality-of-life scores, or NT-proBNP levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with heart failure and a preserved ejection fraction who received isosorbide mononitrate were less active and did not have better quality of life or submaximal exercise capacity than did patients who received placebo. (Funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02053493.).
Mechanical, in vitro antimicrobial, and biological properties of plasma-sprayed silver-doped hydroxyapatite coating.

Implant-related infection is one of the key concerns in total joint hip arthroplasties. To reduce bacterial adhesion, we used silver (Ag)/silver oxide (Ag(2)O) doping in plasma sprayed hydroxyapatite (HA) coating on titanium substrate. HA powder was doped with 2.0, 4.0, and 6.0 wt % Ag, heat-treated at 800 °C and used for plasma spray coating using a 30 kW plasma spray system, equipped with supersonic nozzle. Application of supersonic plasma nozzle significantly reduced phase decomposition and amorphous phase formation in the HA coatings as evident by X-ray diffraction (XRD) study and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopic (FTIR) analysis. Adhesive bond strength of more than 15 MPa ensured the mechanical integrity of the coatings. Resistance against bacterial adhesion of the coatings was determined by challenging them against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAO1). Live/dead staining of the adherent bacteria on the coating surfaces indicated a significant reduction in bacterial adhesion due to the presence of Ag. In vitro cell-material interactions and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) protein expressions were evaluated by culturing human fetal osteoblast cells (hFOB). Our results suggest that the plasma-sprayed HA coatings doped with an optimum amount of Ag can have excellent antimicrobial property without altering mechanical property of the Ag-doped HA coatings.
Feature tracking for visual servoing purposes

Object tracking is an important issue for research and application related to visual servoing and more generally for robot vision. In this paper, we address the problem of realizing visual servoing tasks on complex objects in real environments. We briefly present a set of tracking algorithms (2D features-based or motion-based tracking, 3D model-based tracking, . . . ) that have been used for ten years to achieve this goal.