LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Stem respiration and carbon dioxide efflux of young Populus deltoides trees in relation to temperature and xylem carbon dioxide concentration

Oxidative respiration is strongly temperature driven. However, in woody stems, efflux of CO2 to the atmosphere (E A), commonly used to estimate the rate of respiration (R S), and stem temperature (T st) have often been poorly correlated, which we hypothesized was due to transport of respired CO2 in xylem sap, especially under high rates of sap flow (f s). To test this, we measured E A, T st, f s and xylem sap CO2 concentrations ([CO2*]) in 3-year-old Populus deltoides trees under different weather conditions (sunny and rainy days) in autumn. We also calculated R S by mass balance as the sum of both outward and internal CO2 fluxes and hypothesized that R S would correlate better with T st than E A. We found that E A sometimes correlated well with T st, but not on sunny mornings and afternoons or on rainy days. When the temperature effect on E A was accounted for, a clear positive relationship between E A and xylem [CO2*] was found. [CO2*] varied diurnally and increased substantially at night and during periods of rain. Changes in [CO2*] were related to changes in f s but not T st. We conclude that changes in both respiration and internal CO2 transport altered E A. The dominant component flux of R S was E A. However, on a 24-h basis, the internal transport flux represented 9–18% and 3–7% of R S on sunny and rainy days, respectively, indicating that the contribution of stem respiration to forest C balance may be larger than previously estimated based on E A measurements. Unexpectedly, the relationship between R S and T st was sometimes weak in two of the three trees. We conclude that in addition to temperature, other factors such as water deficits or substrate availability exert control on the rate of stem respiration so that simple temperature functions are not sufficient to predict stem respiration.
Yang-Mills Theory In, Beyond, and Behind Observed Reality

The primary interactions of Yang-Mills theory [1] are visibly embodied in hard processes, most directly in jets. The character of jets also reflects the deep structure of effective charge, which is dominated by the influence of intrinsically nonabelian gauge dynamics. These proven insights into fundamental physics ramify in many directions, and are far from being exhausted. I will discuss three rewarding explorations from my own experience, whose point of departure is the hard Yang-Mills interaction, and whose end is not yet in sight. Given an insight so profound and fruitful as Yang and Mills brought us, it is in order to try to consider its broadest implications, which I attempt at the end.
Stable Levitation of a Passive Magnetic Bearing

A design for a passive magnetic bearing system that can stably levitate a rotor in all directions is described. The bearing system consists of levitation magnets coupled with a Halbach array stabilizer, which induces currents in stabilization coils, in order to overcome the inherent instability of a system composed only of permanent magnets. The levitation magnet system consists of two pairs of annular ring magnets which provide an upward magnetic levitation force to counteract the downward gravitational force of the rotor. The Halbach array stabilizer consists of two stabilization coils shifted in angular position with respect to one another and centered in the vertical direction between two rotating Halbach arrays. Magnetic fields from permanent magnets are calculated using superposition of fields due to patches of magnetization charge at surfaces where the magnetization is discontinuous. Induced currents in the stabilization coils are calculated by computing the time derivative of the magnetic flux through those coils. Magnetic forces on the rotor are computed using a superposition of forces on each patch of magnetization charge. The entire magnetic bearing system, consisting of both the levitation magnets and the Halbach array stabilizer, is stable to both vertical and lateral displacements. Results are compared with a simpler straightened approximation of the Halbach array stabilizer.
Direct Power Control of Grid Connected Voltage Source Converters

This paper proposes a new direct power control (DPC) strategy for grid connected voltage source converters (VSC). Similar to an electrical machine, source and converter flux are defined as the integration of the source and converter voltage respectively. Based on the defined flux, the proposed DPC scheme directly calculates the required converter voltage to eliminate the active and reactive power errors within each fixed time period. Thus, no extra power or current control loops are required, thereby simplifying the system design and improving transient performance. Constant converter switching frequency is achieved using space vector modulation which eases the design of the power converter and the AC harmonic filter. Simulation results for a 2 MW VSC system are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed control strategy during variations of active and reactive power and AC voltage dip.
Degree of rational mappings, and the theorems of Sturm and Tarski

Abstract.We provide an explicit algorithm of computing the mapping degree of a rational mapping from the real projective line to itself. As a corollary we prove Sturm’s theorem and a number of its generalizations. These generalizations are used to prove Tarski’s theorem about real semialgebraic sets. Similarly a version of Tarski’s theorem can be proved for an arbitrary algebraically closed field.
Sexual counselling of cardiac patients in Europe: culture matters.

BACKGROUND
Sexual problems are common amongst cardiac patients, and concerns may arise when resuming sexual activities after a cardiac event. Sexual counselling is therefore indispensible. Culture is an identified barrier to talking about sex, but research is lacking on whether and how culture influences nurses in providing sexual counselling.


DESIGN
This cross-sectional descriptive study assessed four areas related to sexual counselling provided by cardiovascular nurses. We investigated the impact of culture on these areas by surveying cardiovascular nurses living in Denmark, Norway and two regions of Belgium - Flanders, Dutch-speaking region and Wallonia, French-speaking region.


METHODS
Overall, 819 participants were recruited as they attended cardiovascular nursing congresses in Denmark, Norway and Belgium. Subjects completed the Undertaking Nursing Interventions Throughout Europe (UNITE) sexual counselling questionnaire, measuring practice, responsibility, confidence and perceived comfort of patients. Controlling for demographic, educational and professional covariates, we performed multiple linear regression analysis to determine the impact of culture on sexual counselling.


RESULTS
All four subscale scores were independently associated with culture. Danish nurses counselled patients significantly more often, reported feeling more responsibility and confidence and estimated more comfort in patients than Norwegian, Flemish and Walloon nurses.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that culture matters with respect to sexual counselling for cardiac patients. Interventions should be developed improving sexual counselling of cardiac patients. Educational courses and training of healthcare professionals on sexual counselling should be more sensitive to sociocultural differences. Cross-cultural perspectives may bias attitudes of professionals as they deal with concerns of cardiac patients about resuming sexual activity.
Outcomes in hand rehabilitation using occupational therapy services.

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to measure functional outcomes after outpatient occupational therapy for clients who had upper-extremity injury and surgery or both.


METHODS
A sample of 33 clients referred to occupational therapy outpatient intervention was recruited from five clinics in Ohio. The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) was used to guide the occupational therapy sessions and to measure outcomes. The Disability of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire and the Short Form 36 (SF-36) were also administered to the clients pre and post 6 to 8 weeks of hand rehabilitation services. Two to three months after discharge, the clients responded by the telephone to the Community Integration Questionnaire.


RESULTS
The clients received a mean of 13 hours of outpatient occupational therapy services and received no other rehabilitation service. Functional performance gains following 6 to 8 weeks of services were significant (COPM; t(32) = -11.5, p < .001; t(32) = -11.31, p < .001; DASH; t(32) = 9.22, p < .001; t(32) = -9.02, p < .001). Effect sizes on the COPM and DASH ranged between 1.43 and 2.52. Progress in the clients' goals was moderately correlated to progress in functional measures.


CONCLUSION
Clients with upper-extremity injury or surgery made strong, positive gains in functional measures following client-centered occupational therapy services. The COPM was the most sensitive to client change, followed by the DASH, and then the SF-36.
A 32Gb/s wireline receiver with a low-frequency equalizer, CTLE and 2-tap DFE in 28nm CMOS

Standards such as OIF CEI-25G, CEI-28G and 32G-FC require transceivers operating at high data rates over imperfect channels. Equalizers are used to cancel the inter-symbol interference (ISI) caused by frequency-dependent channel losses such as skin effect and dielectric loss. The primary objective of an equalizer is to compensate for high-frequency loss, which often exceeds 30dB at fs/2. However, due to the skin effect in a PCB stripline, which starts at 10MHz or lower, we also need to compensate for a small amount of loss at low frequency (e.g., 500MHz). Figure 2.1.1 shows simulated responses of a backplane channel (42.6dB loss at fs/2 for 32Gb/s) with conventional high-frequency equalizers only (4-tap feed-forward equalizer (FFE), 1st-order continuous-time linear equalizer (CTLE) with a dominant pole at fs/4, and 1-tap DFE) and with additional low-frequency equalization. Conventional equalizers cannot compensate for the small amount of low-frequency loss because the slope of the low-frequency loss is too gentle (<;3dB/dec). The FFE and CTLE do not have a pole in the low frequency region and hence have only a steep slope of 20dB/dec above their zero. The DFE cancels only short-term ISI. Effects of such low-frequency loss have often been overlooked or neglected, because 1) the loss is small (2 to 3dB), 2) when plotted using the linear frequency axis which is commonly used to show frequency dependence of skin effect and dielectric loss, the low-frequency loss is degenerated at DC and hardly visible (Fig. 2.1.1a), and 3) the long ISI tail of the channel pulse response seems well cancelled at first glance by conventional equalizers only (Fig. 2.1.1b). However, the uncompensated low-frequency loss causes non-negligible long-term residual ISI, because the integral of the residual ISI magnitude keeps going up for several hundred UI. As shown by the eye diagrams in the inset of Fig. 2.1.1(b), the residual long-term ISI results in 0.42UI data-dependent Jitter (DDJ) that is difficult to reduce further by enhancing FFE/CTLE/DFE, but can be reduced to 0.21UI by adding a low-frequency equalizer (LFEQ). Savoj et al. also recently reported long-tail cancellation [2].
Quantifying the treatment efficacy of reverse transcriptase inhibitors: new analyses of clinical data based on within-host modeling

BACKGROUND
Current measures of the clinical efficacy of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the treatment of HIV include the change in HIV RNA in the plasma and the gain in CD4 cells.


METHODS
We propose new measures for evaluating the efficacy of treatment that is based upon combinations of non-nucleoside and nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. Our efficacy measures are: the CD4 gain per virion eliminated, the potential of CD4 count restoration and the viral reproduction number (R0). These efficacy measures are based upon a theoretical understanding of the impact of treatment on both viral dynamics and the immune reconstitution. Patient data were obtained from longitudinal HIV clinical cohorts.


RESULTS
We found that the CD4 cell gain per virion eliminated ranged from 10(-2) to 600 CD4 cells/virion, the potential of CD4 count restoration ranged from 60 to 1520 CD4 cells/microl, and the basic reproduction number was reduced from an average of 5.1 before therapy to an average of 1.2 after one year of therapy. There was substantial heterogeneity in these efficacy measures among patients with detectable viral replication. We found that many patients who achieved viral suppression did not have high CD4 cell recovery profiles. Our efficacy measures also enabled us to identify a subgroup of patients who were not virally suppressed but had the potential to reach a high CD4 count and/or achieve viral suppression if they had been switched to a more potent regimen.


CONCLUSION
We show that our new efficacy measures are useful for analyzing the long-term treatment efficacy of combination reverse transcriptase inhibitors and argue that achieving a low R0 does not imply achieving viral suppression.
Reliability and validity of the Four Square Step Test in children with cerebral palsy and Down syndrome.

Little is known about the measurement properties of clinical tests of stepping in different directions for children with cerebral palsy (CP) and Down syndrome (DS). The ability to step in various directions is an important balance skill for daily life. Standardized testing of this skill can yield important information for therapy planning. This observational methodological study was aimed at defining the relative and absolute reliability, minimal detectable difference, and concurrent validity with the Timed Up-&-Go (TUG) of the Four Square Step Test (FSST) for children with CP and DS. Thirty children, 16 with CP and 14 with DS, underwent repeat testing 2 weeks apart on the FSST by 3 raters. TUG was administered on the second test occasion. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC [1,1] and [3,1]) with 95% confidence intervals, standard error of measurement (SEM), minimal detectable difference (MDD) and the Spearman rank correlation coefficient were computed. The FSST demonstrated excellent interrater reliability (ICC=.79; 95% CI: .66, .89) and high positive correlation with the TUG (r=.74). Test-retest reliability estimates varied from moderate to excellent among the 3 raters (.54, .78 and .89 for raters 1, 2 and 3, respectively). SEM and MDD were calculated at 1.91s and 5.29s, respectively. Scores on the FSST of children with CP and DS between 5 and 12 years of age are reliable and valid.
All-Printed and Roll-to-Roll-Printable 13.56-MHz-Operated 1-bit RF Tag on Plastic Foils

An all-printed rectifier that can provide at least 10 V dc from a 13.56-MHz radio frequency identification (RFID) reader and an all-printed ring oscillator that can generate at least 100 Hz of clock signal to read a 96-bit RFID tag in a second under the dc power provided by the rectifier should first be printable on plastic foils for the realization of roll-to-roll (R2R) printed ultralow cost RFID tags. Here, we describe a practical way to provide all-printed and R2R-printable antenna, rectifiers, and ring oscillators on plastic foils and demonstrate 13.56-MHz-operated 1-bit RF tags. The all-printed and R2R-printable 13.56-MHz 1-bit tags can generate 102.8 Hz of clock signal as the tag approaches the 13.56-MHz RFID reader.
Interleukin-6 is associated with steroid resistance and reflects disease activity in severe pediatric ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM
Approximately one third of patients with acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASC) will fail intravenous corticosteroids (IVCS). Predicting response to IVCS to initiate early salvage therapy remains challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of serum inflammatory cytokines in ASC and determine their predictive utility with IVCS treatment failure.


METHODS
This preplanned ancillary study, part of the prospective multicenter OSCI study, evaluated pediatric ASC in North America. Serum samples were obtained from 79 children admitted for ASC on the third day of IVCS treatment. Twenty-three (29%) patients required second-line therapy. ELISA-based cytokine arrays were used [TNF-α, IFN-γ, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, and IL-17], selected based on a systematic literature search.


RESULTS
In univariate analysis, only IL-6 was significantly different between responders and non-responders (P=0.003). The risk for IVCS failure increased by 40% per each pg/mL increase in IL-6 level. Factor analysis found IL-6 to be associated with IL-17, suggesting involvement of the T-helper (TH)17 pathway. In a multivariate analysis, disease activity [judged by the Pediatric UC Activity Index (PUCAI)] assumed all the association with the treatment outcome while IL-6 was no longer significant (P=0.32; PUCAI score P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
While IL-6 strongly predicted IVCS failure, it likely reflects disease activity and not direct interference with corticosteroid pathway. Nonetheless, IL-6 levels may have a role in predicting IVCS response in severe pediatric UC for treatment decision-making or potentially in medical intervention by virtue of anti-IL-6 antibodies in severe UC.
Petri Nets as Token Objects: An Introduction to Elementary Object Nets

The model of Elementary Object System is introduced and motivated by several examples and applications. Object systems support a modeling of systems by Petri nets following the paradigm of ObjectOriented Modeling. They are composed of a System Net and one or more Object Nets which can be seen as token objects of the system net. By this approach an interesting and challenging two-level system modeling technique is introduced. Similar to the object-oriented approach, complex systems are modeled close to their real appearance in a natural way to promote clear and reliable concepts. Applications in fields like workflow, flexible manufacturing or agent-oriented approaches (mobile agents and/or intelligent agents as in AI research) are feasible. This paper gives an introduction with several examples, but onny few definitions and no theorems, which can be found, however, in a more elaborated paper [19].
A pitch determination algorithm based on subharmonic-to-harmonic ratio

In the present paper, a pitch determination algorithm (PDA) based on Subharmonic-to-Harmonic Ratio (SHR) is proposed. The algorithm is motivated by the results of a recent study on the perceived pitch of alternate pulse cycles in speech [1]. The algorithm employs a logarithmic frequency scale and a spectrum shifting technique to obtain the amplitude summation of harmonics and subharmonics, respectively. Through comparing the amplitude ratio of subharmonics and harmonics with the pitch perception results, the pitch of normal speech as well as speech with alternate pulse cycles (APC) can be determined. . Evaluation of the algorithm is performed on CSTR’s database and on synthesized speech with APC. The results show that this algorithm is one of the most reliable PDAs. Furthermore, superior to most other algorithms, it handles subharmonics reasonably well.
Predictors of functional shoulder recovery at 1 and 12 months after breast cancer surgery

The objective of this study are (1) to determine if upper extremity function, as represented by shoulder ROM, self-reported symptoms and upper extremity functional limitations in activities of daily living could be predictively related to demographic and cancer characteristics post-surgery for breast cancer. And (2) to examine if variables related to early onset impairment contribute to late onset impairments in women after breast cancer surgery. Subjects were assessed preoperatively and 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12+ months post breast cancer surgery for impairments and symptoms and at 12+ months for shoulder functional limitations using a physical therapy surveillance model. Body weight, shoulder ROM, manual muscle testing, and upper limb volume were recorded. At 12+ months, the Harvard Alumni Health Study Physical Activity Questionnaire, and an Upper Limb Disability Questionnaire were administered. Symptoms and ROM impairments were compared by functional limitations. Characteristics significantly associated with early ROM impairment (but not later impairment) were axillary lymph node dissection, removal of ≥15 nodes, mastectomy surgery and stage II breast cancer. Positive nodes, older age, and BMI ≥ 25 were significantly associated with reduced shoulder ROM at 12+ months. At 12+ months, only 10 % of the patients experienced ROM impairments while rates of self-reported symptoms in the affected upper extremity at 12+ months were as follows: pain—49 %, weakness—47.1 %, numbness—55.9 %, feeling tired—42.5 %. The majority of patients used the affected upper extremity for reaching without limitation, but ≥35 % reported limitation with household chores, carrying and lifting. Difficulty carrying and lifting could be predicted by BMI ≥ 25 and use of the dominant affected upper limb. Different factors are associated with early versus later ROM loss. Symptoms reported by breast cancer survivors are frequently associated with functional limitations in upper extremity tasks and warrant intervention. Physical therapy using a prospective surveillance model of care may reduce severity of ROM loss, symptoms and functional upper extremity limitations 1 year after breast cancer surgery.
Effect of Ezetimibe on Hepatic Fat, Inflammatory Markers, and Apolipoprotein B-100 Kinetics in Insulin-Resistant Obese Subjects on a Weight Loss Diet

OBJECTIVE
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is highly prevalent in obese and type 2 diabetic individuals and is strongly associated with dyslipidemia and inflammation. Weight loss and/or pharmacotherapy are commonly used to correct these abnormalities.


RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
We performed a 16-week intervention trial of a hypocaloric, low-fat diet plus 10 mg/day ezetimibe (n = 15) versus a hypocaloric, low-fat diet alone (n = 10) on intrahepatic triglyceride (IHTG) content, plasma high sensitivity-C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), adipocytokines, and fetuin-A concentrations and apolipoprotein (apo)B-100 kinetics in obese subjects. ApoB-100 metabolism was assessed using stable isotope tracer kinetics and compartmental modeling; liver and abdominal fat contents were determined by magnetic resonance techniques.


RESULTS
Both weight loss and ezetimibe plus weight loss significantly (all P < 0.05) reduced body weight, visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues, insulin resistance and plasma triglycerides, VLDL-apoB-100, apoC-III, fetuin-A, and retinol-binding protein-4 and increased plasma adiponectin concentrations. Compared with weight loss alone, ezetimibe plus weight loss significantly (all P < 0.05) decreased IHTG content (-18%), plasma hs-CRP (-53%), interleukin-6 (-24%), LDL cholesterol (-18%), campesterol (-59%), and apoB-100 (-14%) levels, with a significant increase in plasma lathosterol concentrations (+43%). The LDL-apoB-100 concentration also significantly fell with ezetimibe plus weight loss (-12%), chiefly owing to an increase in the corresponding fractional catabolic rate (+29%). The VLDL-apoB-100 secretion rate fell with both interventions, with no significant independent effect of ezetimibe.


CONCLUSIONS
Addition of ezetimibe to a moderate weight loss diet in obese subjects can significantly improve hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and LDL-apoB-100 metabolism.