LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and characterization of quaternary Ti–Si–C–N coatings prepared by a hybrid deposition technique

Abstract Quaternary Ti–Si–C–N coatings have been deposited on WC–Co substrates by a hybrid system combining the arc ion plating (AIP) and sputtering techniques using Ti and Si targets in an Ar/N 2 /CH 4 gaseous mixture. Ti–Si–C–N coatings with a Si content of 8.9 at.% had a fine composite microstructure comprising nano-sized crystallites of Ti(C,N) surrounded by amorphous phase of Si 3 N 4 /SiC mixture. The micro-hardness value of the Ti–Si–C–N coatings under a load of 25 g was ∼55 GPa, i.e., much larger than ∼30 GPa for Ti–C–N coatings. In addition, the average friction coefficient of the Ti–Si–C–N coatings largely decreased with increasing Si content. In this work, the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti–Si–C–N coatings were systematically investigated using instrumental analyses.
A 28 GHz FR-4 compatible phased array antenna for 5G mobile phone applications

The design of a 28 GHz phased array antenna for future fifth generation (5G) mobile-phone applications has been presented in this paper. The proposed antenna can be implemented using low cost FR-4 substrates, while maintaining good performance in terms of gain and efficiency. This is achieved by employing a new air-filled slot-loop structure as the radiator. A prototype array consisting of ten radiator elements has been designed for concept validation. Both the radiation and total efficiencies of the antenna array are higher than ™0.5 dB (90%) for the scanning range between 0° to 50°, while the gains are higher than 13 dB. In addition, the simulated and experimental results show that the antenna has the S11 response less than ™10 dB in the frequency range of 27 to 29 GHz.
Current Limiting Characteristics of a Novel Flux-Coupling Type Superconducting Fault Current Limiter

A novel flux-coupling type superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) is proposed in this paper. This type SFCL is composed of two superconducting coupling coils, a controlled switch and two metal oxide arresters (MOAs). The primary coil and the secondary coil, which are wound in the reverse direction and are respectively in parallel with the two MOAs, are connected in parallel through the controlled switch and a main circuit breaker. Under normal condition, due to the non-inductive coupling characteristics between the two superconducting coils, the impedance of the proposed SFCL will be too small to affect the main circuit. After the fault happens, the controlled switch will be opened from its initial closed state, and meanwhile the MOAs will prevent the two coils from being damaged by the overvoltage caused by the switching operation. Since the flux between the coils cannot cancel out each other, the non-inductive coupling will disappear, and then the limiting impedance will be triggered for current-limitation. In order to evaluate the current-limiting performance of the novel flux-coupling type SFCL, a laboratory scale prototype was made. The two superconducting coils were fabricated with Bi2223/Ag, and an anti-parallel IGBT pair was chosen as the controlled switch. According to the test results, it was found that, the fault current could be limited quickly and effectively, and there was no overvoltage during the operation process of the controlled switch.
Query Evaluation: Strategies and Optimizations

-This paper discusses the two major query evaluation strategies used in large text retrieval systems and analyzes the performance of these strategies. We then discuss several optimization techniques that can be used to reduce evaluation costs and present simulation results to compare the performance of these optimization techniques when evaluating natural language queries with a collection of full text legal materials.
Prehospital rapid sequence intubation improves functional outcome for patients with severe traumatic brain injury: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE
To determine whether paramedic rapid sequence intubation in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) improves neurologic outcomes at 6 months compared with intubation in the hospital.


BACKGROUND
Severe TBI is associated with a high rate of mortality and long-term morbidity. Comatose patients with TBI routinely undergo endo-tracheal intubation to protect the airway, prevent hypoxia, and control ventilation. In many places, paramedics perform intubation prior to hospital arrival. However, it is unknown whether this approach improves outcomes.


METHODS
In a prospective, randomized, controlled trial, we assigned adults with severe TBI in an urban setting to either prehospital rapid sequence intubation by paramedics or transport to a hospital emergency department for intubation by physicians. The primary outcome measure was the median extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOSe) score at 6 months. Secondary end-points were favorable versus unfavorable outcome at 6 months, length of intensive care and hospital stay, and survival to hospital discharge.


RESULTS
A total of 312 patients with severe TBI were randomly assigned to paramedic rapid sequence intubation or hospital intubation. The success rate for paramedic intubation was 97%. At 6 months, the median GOSe score was 5 (interquartile range, 1-6) in patients intubated by paramedics compared with 3 (interquartile range, 1-6) in the patients intubated at hospital (P = 0.28).The proportion of patients with favorable outcome (GOSe, 5-8) was 80 of 157 patients (51%) in the paramedic intubation group compared with 56 of 142 patients (39%) in the hospital intubation group (risk ratio, 1.28; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-1.64; P = 0.046). There were no differences in intensive care or hospital length of stay, or in survival to hospital discharge.


CONCLUSIONS
In adults with severe TBI, prehospital rapid sequence intubation by paramedics increases the rate of favorable neurologic outcome at 6 months compared with intubation in the hospital.
The formation of autoantibodies and antibodies to TNF-α blocking agents in relation to clinical response in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVES
To investigate the influence of antibody formation to TNF-α blocking agents on the clinical response in AS patients treated with infliximab (IFX), etanercept (ETA), or adalimumab (ADA), and to investigate the development of ANA, ANCA, and anti-dsDNA antibodies in association with the formation of antibodies to TNF-α blocking agents.


METHODS
Consecutive AS outpatients with active disease who started treatment with IFX (n=20), ETA (n=20), or ADA (n=20) were included in this longitudinal observational study. Clinical data were collected prospectively at baseline and after 3, 6, and 12 months of anti-TNF-α treatment. At the same time points, serum samples were collected. In these samples, antibodies to TNF-α blocking agents, serum TNF-α blocker levels, and ANA, ANCA, and anti-dsDNA antibodies were measured retrospectively.


RESULTS
Anti-IFX, anti-ETA, and anti-ADA antibodies were induced in 20%, 0%, and 30% of patients, respectively. Although ANA, ANCA, and anti-dsDNA antibodies were detected during anti-TNF-α treatment, no significant association was found between the presence of these autoantibodies and the formation of antibodies to TNF-α blocking agents. Patients with anti-IFX or anti-ADA antibodies had significantly lower serum TNF-α blocker levels compared to patients without these antibodies. Furthermore, significant negative correlations were found between serum TNF-α blocker levels and assessments of disease activity.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that antibody formation to IFX or ADA is related to a decrease in efficacy and early discontinuation of anti-TNF-α treatment in AS patients. Furthermore, autoantibody formation does not seem to be associated with antibody formation to TNF-α blocking agents.
Randomized controlled trial of an early discharge rehabilitation service: the Belfast Community Stroke Trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
To compare a community-based multidisciplinary stroke team (CST) approach with hospital-based rehabilitation in terms of hospital stay, functioning, quality of life, and service use and costs.


METHODS
Stroke patients who met pre-agreed criteria were allocated randomly to the CST service (n=59) or to usual inpatient rehabilitation and follow-up care (n=54). Assessments were completed at randomization and 12 months later. Caregiver strain and satisfaction (n=55) were also assessed. Cost data were collected for a subsample of 38 patients.


RESULTS
Almost 80% of surviving patients (n=691) were discharged home and a small number (n=55) were readmitted. Approximately 17% (113/649) were randomized. There were no statistically significant differences in hospital duration, costs, or outcome measures at baseline and 12 months except for higher satisfaction reported by CST patients. Overall, both groups recorded improvement in most domains over time. Carers reported a high level of satisfaction although the level of strain among carers is cause for concern. The community group (n=18) cost less than the hospital group (n=20).


CONCLUSIONS
A mixed model of hospital-based and community-based rehabilitation services is likely to lead to increased patient choice and satisfaction and a potential reduction in bed pressures for less severe stroke patients.
A clustering fuzzy approach for image segmentation

Segmentation is a fundamental step in image description or classi1cation. In recent years, several computational models have been used to implement segmentation methods but without establishing a single analytic solution. However, the intrinsic properties of neural networks make them an interesting approach, despite some measure of ine5ciency. This paper presents a clustering approach for image segmentation based on a modi1ed fuzzy approach for image segmentation (ART) model. The goal of the proposed approach is to 1nd a simple model able to instance a prototype for each cluster avoiding complex post-processing phases. Results and comparisons with other similar models presented in the literature (like self-organizing maps and original fuzzy ART) are also discussed. Qualitative and quantitative evaluations con1rm the validity of the approach proposed. ? 2004 Pattern Recognition Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
A ubiquitous English vocabulary learning system: Evidence of active/passive attitudes vs. usefulness/ease-of-use

English vocabulary learning and ubiquitous learning have separately received considerable attention in recent years. However, research on English vocabulary learning in ubiquitous learning contexts has been less studied. In this study, we develop a ubiquitous English vocabulary learning (UEVL) system to assist students in experiencing a systematic vocabulary learning process in which ubiquitous technology is used to develop the system, and video clips are used as the material. Afterward, the technology acceptance model and partial least squares approach are used to explore students’ perspectives on the UEVL system. The results indicate that (1) both the system characteristics and the material characteristics of the UEVL system positively and significantly influence the perspectives of all students on the system; (2) the active students are interested in perceived usefulness; (3) the passive students are interested in perceived ease of use. 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Mapping CMMI-DEV maturity levels to ISO/IEC 15504 capability profiles

CMMI and ISO/IEC 15504 are two main models for software process assessment and improvement. CMMI staged representation provides the standard way to process improvement and the attractive simple measure for organization’s software process maturity. ISO/IEC 15504 ensures the possibility to assess the capability of each process, to get the detailed organization’s processes capability profile and to define an individual improvement path. This paper investigates relationship between CMMI-DEV maturity levels and ISO/IEC 15504 processes capability. The mapping approach and ISO/IEC 15504 processes capability profiles ensured by all CMMI maturity levels are presented. Key-Words: Software process assessment and improvement, organization’s maturity, processes capability profile, CMMI, ISO/IEC 15504.
Region-based shape control for a swarm of robots

This paper presents a region-based shape controller for a swarm of robots. In this control method, the robotsmove as a group inside a desired regionwhilemaintaining aminimumdistance among themselves. Various shapes of the desired region can be formed by choosing the appropriate objective functions. The robots in the group only need to communicate with their neighbors and not the entire community. The robots do not have specific identities or roles within the group. Therefore, the proposed method does not require specific orders or positions of the robots inside the region and yet different formations can be formed for a swarm of robots. A Lyapunov-like function is presented for convergence analysis of the multi-robot systems. Simulation results illustrate the performance of the proposed controller. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Liftability of Probabilistic Inference: Upper and Lower Bounds

We introduce a general framework for defining classes of probabilistic-logic models and associated classes of inference problems. Within this framework we investigate the complexity of inference in terms of the size of logical variable domains, query and evidence, corresponding to different notions of liftability. Surveying existing and introducing new results, we present an initial complexity map for lifted inference. Main results are that lifted inference is infeasible for general quantifier-free first-order probabilistic knowledge bases, but becomes tractable when formulas are restricted to the 2-variable fragment of quantifier-free first-order logic.
The American mind : an interpretation of American thought and character since the 1880's / Henry Steele Commager

In a book written out of a passionate belief in the staying powers of the democratic principles, a noted historian has written a major work that may be described as an interpretation of American thought and character since the 1880s. "Impressive in its inclusive sweep."-Joseph Wood Krutch, New York Times
#Healthy Selfies: Exploration of Health Topics on Instagram

BACKGROUND
Social media provides a complementary source of information for public health surveillance. The dominate data source for this type of monitoring is the microblogging platform Twitter, which is convenient due to the free availability of public data. Less is known about the utility of other social media platforms, despite their popularity.


OBJECTIVE
This work aims to characterize the health topics that are prominently discussed in the image-sharing platform Instagram, as a step toward understanding how this data might be used for public health research.


METHODS
The study uses a topic modeling approach to discover topics in a dataset of 96,426 Instagram posts containing hashtags related to health. We use a polylingual topic model, initially developed for datasets in different natural languages, to model different modalities of data: hashtags, caption words, and image tags automatically extracted using a computer vision tool.


RESULTS
We identified 47 health-related topics in the data (kappa=.77), covering ten broad categories: acute illness, alternative medicine, chronic illness and pain, diet, exercise, health care & medicine, mental health, musculoskeletal health and dermatology, sleep, and substance use. The most prevalent topics were related to diet (8,293/96,426; 8.6% of posts) and exercise (7,328/96,426; 7.6% of posts).


CONCLUSIONS
A large and diverse set of health topics are discussed in Instagram. The extracted image tags were generally too coarse and noisy to be used for identifying posts but were in some cases accurate for identifying images relevant to studying diet and substance use. Instagram shows potential as a source of public health information, though limitations in data collection and metadata availability may limit its use in comparison to platforms like Twitter.
Cancer stem cells: targeting the roots of cancer, seeds of metastasis, and sources of therapy resistance.

With the goal to remove the roots of cancer, eliminate metastatic seeds, and overcome therapy resistance, the 2014 inaugural International Cancer Stem Cell (CSC) Conference at Cleveland, OH, convened together over 320 investigators, including 55 invited world-class speakers, 25 short oral presenters, and 100 poster presenters, to gain an in-depth understanding of CSCs and explore therapeutic opportunities targeting CSCs. The meeting enabled intriguing discussions on several topics including: genetics and epigenetics; cancer origin and evolution; microenvironment and exosomes; metabolism and inflammation; metastasis and therapy resistance; single cell and heterogeneity; plasticity and reprogramming; as well as other new concepts. Reports of clinical trials targeting CSCs emphasized the urgent need for strategically designing combinational CSC-targeting therapies against cancer.
A randomized comparative trial of generalized vs targeted physiotherapy in the management of childhood hypermobility.

OBJECTIVE
Joint hypermobility, common in childhood, can be associated with severe pain and significant morbidity. Physiotherapy, the mainstay of treatment, lacks a robust evidence base. This study is aimed at determining the best physiotherapy intervention in managing childhood hypermobility.


METHODS
A prospective randomized comparative trial (RCT) compared a 6-week generalized programme, improving muscular strength and fitness, with a targeted programme aimed at correcting motion control of symptomatic joints. Patients were assessed on symptom scores (pain/global-impact), function, muscle strength and fitness.


RESULTS
Fifty-seven children, aged 7-16 years with symptomatic hypermobility, were randomly assign to receive a targeted (T; n = 30) or generalized (G; n = 27) programme. Statistically significant improvements were demonstrated in both the children's and parental pain scores across both the randomized groups between baseline and follow-up assessments (P < 0.05). However, the difference in improvement between the groups was not statistically significant. Child's assessment of change in pain score: mean difference (95% CI) T - G, 3.97 (-15.59, 20.85) at the end of treatment and 9.41 at 3-month follow-up (-17.42, 36.24). At the end of treatment, parental assessment of change in pain score, T - G was: -0.27 (-15.05, 14.50) and at 3-month follow-up it was: -9.48 (-26.40, 7.43). Change in parental global assessment was statistically significant, in favour of targeted physiotherapy at final assessment: -21.29 (-40.03, -2.55).


CONCLUSION
This is the first physiotherapy RCT for treating hypermobility. It demonstrated significant and sustained reduction in pain when both groups were combined, but did not detect any difference between the groups. This study provides normative and methodological data for future studies of hypermobility.


TRIAL REGISTRATION
Current Controlled Trials, www.controlled-trials.com, ISRCTN58523390.
Thrombotic Reactant Markers in Non-ST Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes Treated with Either Enoxaparin (Low Molecular Weight Heparin) or Unfractionated Heparin

Background: This study was designed to analyze the impact of treatment with either unfractionated heparin or enoxaparin (low molecular weight heparin) on plasma markers of thrombotic and endogenous thrombolytic activity in patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes. Methods: A subset of 174 patients derived from the 3,171 patients of the ESSENCE study was evaluated. Eighty-seven patients were assigned to intravenous unfractionated heparin (target aPTT: 55–85 sec) (group UH), and 87 assigned to subcutaneous enoxaparin (1 mg/kg/q12hr) (group ENOX) for a minimum of 48 hours of treatment (average duration of treatment 88±45 hours). The thrombin time, and plasma levels of anti-factor Xa activity, prothrombin fragment F 1+2, thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), and D-dimer, were assayed at baseline, and at or close to peak activity 24–36 hrs, and at 72–90 hrs for those remaining on treatment with antithrombotic therapy. Major ischemic and hemorrhagic events were assessed throughout hospitalization. The levels of the thrombotic markers measured at or close to peak activity at 36 hours are presented below, and compared to clinical outcome at 30 days. Results: In UH patients, the thrombin time increased 7 fold while the mean value for anti-Xa activity was 0.27 IU/ml; in ENOX patients the thrombin time increased 2.3 fold, and the mean value for anti-Xa activity was 0.83 IU/ml. In UH pts, basal levels of F 1+2, TAT, and D-dimer declined by (δpaired) −0.8, −3.3, and −66, respectively. In ENOX pts, basal levels of F 1+2, TAT, and D-dimer declined by (δpaired) −0.3, −4.7, and −23, respectively. No significant differences were observed between the paired differences in thrombotic markers (UH vs ENOX), nor in the rate of recurrent ischemic events or major hemorrhage. Conclusions: In this subset of patients enrolled in the ESSENCE study, enoxaparin 1 mg/kg ql2hr significantly increased anti-Xa activity above that seen with unfractionated heparin, and reduced thrombin production without prolonging the thrombin time. The high anti-Xa activity achieved with enoxaparin was not associated with a loss of safety.
Predicting Eye Fixations on Complex Visual Stimuli Using Local Symmetry

Most bottom-up models that predict human eye fixations are based on contrast features. The saliency model of Itti, Koch and Niebur is an example of such contrast-saliency models. Although the model has been successfully compared to human eye fixations, we show that it lacks preciseness in the prediction of fixations on mirror-symmetrical forms. The contrast model gives high response at the borders, whereas human observers consistently look at the symmetrical center of these forms. We propose a saliency model that predicts eye fixations using local mirror symmetry. To test the model, we performed an eye-tracking experiment with participants viewing complex photographic images and compared the data with our symmetry model and the contrast model. The results show that our symmetry model predicts human eye fixations significantly better on a wide variety of images including many that are not selected for their symmetrical content. Moreover, our results show that especially early fixations are on highly symmetrical areas of the images. We conclude that symmetry is a strong predictor of human eye fixations and that it can be used as a predictor of the order of fixation.
An ergonomic, instrumented ultrasound probe for 6-axis force/torque measurement

An ergonomic, instrumented ultrasound probe has been developed for medical imaging applications. The device, which fits compactly in the hand of sonographers and permits rapid attachment & removal of the ultrasound probe, measures ultrasound probe-to-patient contact forces and torques in all six axes. The device was used to measure contact forces and torques applied by ten professional sonographers on five patients during thirty-six abdominal exams. Of the three contact forces, those applied along the probe axis were found to be largest, averaging 7.0N. Measurement noise was quantified for each axis, and found to be small compared with the axial force. Understanding the range of forces applied during ultrasound imaging enables the design of more accurate robotic imaging systems and could also improve understanding of the correlation between contact force and sonographer fatigue and injury.