LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Streams in the Urban Landscape

! Abstract The world’s population is concentrated in urban areas. This change in demography has brought landscape transformations that have a number of documented effects on stream ecosystems. The most consistent and pervasive effect is an increase in impervious surface cover within urban catchments, which alters the hydrology and geomorphology of streams. This results in predictable changes in stream habitat. In addition to imperviousness, runoff from urbanized surfaces aswell asmunicipal and industrial discharges result in increased loading of nutrients, metals, pesticides, and other contaminants to streams. These changes result in consistent declines in the richness of algal, invertebrate, and fish communities in urban streams. Although understudied in urban streams, ecosystem processes are also affected by urbanization. Urban streams represent opportunities for ecologists interested in studying disturbance and contributing to more effective landscape management.
Satisfaction with male-to-female gender reassignment surgery.

BACKGROUND
The frequency of gender identity disorder is hard to determine; the number of gender reassignment operations and of court proceedings in accordance with the German Law on Transsexuality almost certainly do not fully reflect the underlying reality. There have been only a few studies on patient satisfaction with male-to-female gender reassignment surgery.


METHODS
254 consecutive patients who had undergone male-to-female gender reassignment surgery at Essen University Hospital's Department of Urology retrospectively filled out a questionnaire about their subjective postoperative satisfaction.


RESULTS
119 (46.9% ) of the patients filled out and returned the questionnaires, at a mean of 5.05 years after surgery (standard deviation 1.61 years, range 1-7 years). 90.2% said their expectations for life as a woman were fulfilled postoperatively. 85.4% saw themselves as women. 61.2% were satisfied, and 26.2% very satisfied, with their outward appearance as a woman; 37.6% were satisfied, and 34.4% very satisfied, with the functional outcome. 65.7% said they were satisfied with their life as it is now.


CONCLUSION
The very high rates of subjective satisfaction and the surgical outcomes indicate that gender reassignment surgery is beneficial. These findings must be interpreted with caution, however, because fewer than half of the questionnaires were returned.
Rheumatoid arthritis joint progression in sustained remission is determined by disease activity levels preceding the period of radiographic assessment.

OBJECTIVE
Joint damage is related to disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but the degree of its progression and the temporal associations between disease activity and joint damage are unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether there is a latency in the effect of disease activity on radiographic progression in patients with RA.


METHODS
Data were obtained from the PREMIER trial, a 2-year randomized, controlled clinical trial of adalimumab plus methotrexate versus methotrexate alone or adalimumab alone in early RA. Radiographic progression of joint damage was calculated using the modified total Sharp score in a subset of patients whose disease was in remission (Simplified Disease Activity Index<or=3.3) in the second year of the trial. The progression of damage in the second year was compared between groups of patients whose disease was already in remission for an additional period of 3, 6, or 9 months during the first year. Analysis of variance was used to test for a linear trend.


RESULTS
Among 794 patients with early RA, 119 (15%) achieved sustained remission during the second year, with no difference in radiographic progression across the 3 treatment groups. Radiographic progression in the second year was significantly different between patients with 3, 6, or 9 additional months of remission during year 1 (mean change in the modified Sharp score 1.19 in those with 3 additional months of remission versus 0.20 in those with 6 additional months of remission and -0.32 in those with 9 additional months of remission; P<0.05). The results were supported by similar findings in a series of sensitivity analyses.


CONCLUSION
These data indicate that the level of disease activity as well as the duration of remission affect subsequent progression of radiographic damage in RA. This latency between disease activity and its effects on radiographic progression should be considered when evaluating radiographic outcomes in trials of RA.
A new index to simplify the screening of hypertension in overweight or obese youth.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Hypertension (HTH) is a frequent complication in pediatric obesity. To simplify the screening of HTH in overweight/obese (Ow/Ob) youth, we compared the performance of a new index (High Blood Pressure index, HBPi) with respect to the standard criteria of the IV Report [systolic BP (SBP) and/or diastolic BP (DBP) ≥95th percentile for age, gender and height]. We also compared the performance of HBPi with other simplified indices such as the BP/height ratio and the absolute height-specific BP thresholds. Ten pediatrics' outpatient centers participating in the "CARdiometabolic risk factors in ITALY study" provided medical records of 4225 Ow/Ob children and adolescents (age 6-16 years).


METHODS AND RESULTS
Centers were divided into two groups: training set (TS) (n = 2204 participants) and validation set (VS) (n = 2021 participants). The simplified HBPi (mmHg) was: (SBP/2 + DBP/10) - age + (1 × female gender). In the TS, a HBPi value ≥57 mmHg in both children and adolescents had high sensitivity (0.89), specificity (0.97), positive (0.89) and negative (0.97) predictive values in classifying youth at high risk of HTN compared with the IV Report. In the VS, the HBPi showed a better performance than high levels of BP/height ratio and height-specific BP thresholds in classifying individuals at risk of HTN: area under curves 0.95 (0.93-0.96), 0.80 (0.78-0.82), 0.76 (0.74-0.79), respectively; specificities 0.95 (0.94-0.96), 0.69 (0.67-0.72), 0.60 (0.57-0.62), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
HBPi, combining SBP and DBP, gender and age, may help pediatricians to implement HTN screening in Ow/Ob youth.
Dry Sliding Friction and Wear Studies of Fly Ash Reinforced AA-6351 Metal Matrix Composites

Fly ash particles are potentially used inmetal matrix composites due to their low cost, low density, and availability in large quantities as waste by-products in thermal power plants.is study describesmultifactor-based experiments that were applied to research and investigation on dry sliding wear system of stir-cast aluminum alloy 6351 with 5, 10, and 15wt.% �y ash reinforced metal matrix composites (MMCs). e effects of parameters such as load, sliding speed, and percentage of �y ash on the sliding wear, speci�c wear rate, and friction coefficient were analyzed using Grey relational analysis on a pin-on-disc machine. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was also employed to investigate which design parameters signi�cantly affect the wear behavior of the composite. e results showed that the applied load exerted the greatest effect on the dry sliding wear followed by the sliding velocity.
Collegial mentoring for effective whole school professional development in the use of IWB technologies

The focus of this chapter is the provision of teacher professional development as needed – just in time. The specific context is the application of peer mentoring in teaching and learning with interactive whiteboards. Data was gathered from two research projects that investigated aspects of teachers mentoring colleagues in Australia. In both projects lessons were video recorded and the teachers interviewed about their perceptions of ICT use in the lessons. In one project two teachers were appointed as half-time mentors to assist colleagues in classroom use of IWBs. This appeared to result in improved levels of success for all the stakeholders. The aim in the other project was to explore how to prepare primary classroom teachers to become mentors within their school. One recommendation arising from the research is that education systems should fund ICT mentor positions to help overcome immediate teacher needs as quickly as possible.
Fast pouch emptying, delayed small intestinal transit, and exaggerated gut hormone responses after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

BACKGROUND
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) causes extensive changes in gastrointestinal anatomy and leads to reduced appetite and large weight loss, which partly is due to an exaggerated release of anorexigenic gut hormones.


METHODS
To examine whether the altered passage of foods through the gastrointestinal tract after RYGB could be responsible for the changes in gut hormone release, we studied gastrointestinal motility with a scintigraphic technique as well as the secretion of the gut hormones glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 and peptide YY3-36 (PYY3-36 ) in 17 patients>1 year after RYGB and in nine healthy control subjects.


KEY RESULTS
At meal completion, a smaller fraction of liquid and solid radiolabeled marker was retained in the pouch of RYGB patients than in the stomach of control subjects (P = 0.002 and P < 0.001, respectively). Accordingly, pouch emptying in patients was faster than gastric emptying in control subjects (P < 0.001 and P = 0.004, respectively liquid and solid markers). For the solid marker, small intestinal transit was slower in patients than control subjects (P = 0.034). Colonic transit rate did not differ between the groups. GLP-1 and PYY3-36 secretion was increased in patients compared to control subjects and fast pouch emptying of the liquid marker was associated with high gut hormone secretion.


CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES
After RYGB, the bulk of foods pass without hindrance into the small intestine, while the small intestinal transit is prolonged. The rapid exposure of the gut epithelium contributes to the exaggerated release of GLP-1 and PYY3-36 after RYGB.
Effects of pioglitazone on visceral fat metabolic activity in impaired glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes mellitus.

CONTEXT
Excess visceral fat is associated with chronic systemic inflammation and cardiovascular complications. Pioglitazone has been reported to variably influence visceral fat volume; however, its effect on metabolic activity of the visceral fat remains uncharacterized.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the effects of pioglitazone on glucose metabolism of fat tissue by using (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography imaging.


DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
FDG-PET and computed tomography imaging were performed in 56 patients with impaired glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes mellitus; lipid and glycemic profiles and inflammatory biomarkers were obtained in all patients. These patients were randomized to treatment with either pioglitazone or glimepiride for 16 weeks.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
The metabolic activity of the visceral fat tissues as assessed by FDG uptake was expressed as a target-to-background ratio (TBR) of blood-normalized standardized uptake value.


RESULTS
The study was completed in 32 pioglitazone-treated and 21 glimepiride-treated patients (40 men and 13 women; mean age, 67.7 ± 8.1 y; body mass index, 25.0 ± 3.6 kg/m(2); glycated hemoglobin, 6.78 ± 0.70%). Both treatments were well-tolerated and comparably improved glycemic control. At baseline, visceral fat exhibited a higher TBR value than subcutaneous fat (0.55 ± 0.14 vs 0.30 ± 0.07, P < .001). Pioglitazone, but not glimepiride, significantly decreased the visceral fat volume (130.5 ± 53.0 to 122.1 ± 51.0 cm(2), P = .013) and TBR values (0.57 ± 0.16 to 0.50 ± 0.11, P = .007). Neither pioglitazone nor glimepiride treatment showed any effect on the volume or TBR values of subcutaneous fat. After 16 weeks of treatment with pioglitazone, reduction in visceral fat TBR was correlated to the increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study indicated that pioglitazone decreased the visceral fat volume and its metabolic activity in patients with impaired glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes mellitus. The beneficial effects of pioglitazone on visceral fat may be independent of its glucose-lowering effect.
Reading the book of nature : the other side of the scientific revolution

In this title, fifteen essays in the history of science teach us that we must judge the work of earlier authors in its entirety and relate these views to the medical, religious, and even the political maelstrom of the period.
Transient responses of a Vivaldi antenna and a logarithmic periodic dipole array for ultra wideband communication

Antennas are mandatory system components for UWB communication systems. The paper presents a comprehensive approach for the characterization of UWB antenna concepts. Measurements of the transient responses of a LPDA and a Vivaldi antenna prove the effectivity of the presented model.
Data Scientists Aren't Domain Experts

It will take a lot of conversation to make data science work. Data scientists can't do it on their own. Success in data science requires a multiskilled project team with data scientists and domain experts working closely together.
The optimal ordering policy of the EOQ model under trade credit depending on the ordering quantity from the DCF approach

This paper discusses the optimum order quantity of the EOQ model that is not only dependent on the inventory policy but also on firm’ credit policy. Here, the conditions of using a discounted cash-flows (DCF) approach and trade credit depending on the quantity ordered are discussed. We consider that if the order quantity is less than at which the delay in payments is permitted, the payment for the item must be made immediately. Otherwise, the fixed trade credit period is permitted. This paper incorporates all concepts of a discounted cash-flows (DCF) approach, trade credit and the quantity ordered and develops a new inventory model to generalize Chung [Chung, K.H., 1989. Inventory control and trade credit revisited, Journal of the Operational Research Society 40, 495–498]. 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Security-Aware Mapping and Scheduling with Hardware Co-Processors for FlexRay-Based Distributed Embedded Systems

Automotive in-vehicle systems are distributed systems consisting of multiple ECUs (Electronic Control Units) interconnected with a broadcast network such as FlexRay. Message authentication is an effective mechanism to prevent attackers from injecting malicious messages into the network. In order to reduce timing interference of message authentication operations on application tasks, hardware coprocessors in the form of either FPGA or ASIC are adopted to offload computation-intensive cryptographic algorithms from the ECU. However, it may not be feasible or desirable to equip every ECU with a hardware coprocessor, as modern vehicles can contain more than one hundred ECUs, and the automotive industry is cost-sensitive. In this paper, we consider the problem of mapping an application task graph onto a FlexRay-based distributed hardware platform, to meet security and deadline requirements while minimizing the number of hardware coprocessors needed in the system. We present a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) formulation, a divide-and-conquer heuristic algorithm, and a Simulated Annealing algorithm. We evaluate the algorithms with industrial case studies.
Genetic investigation of the porphobilinogen deaminase gene in Swedish acute intermittent porphyria families

A total of 12 mutations associated with acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) have been detected in the porphobilinogen deaminase gene in Swedish AIP families. Three of them are newly discovered and unique to the Swedish population: a splice mutation in intron 6 (int6+1), a missense mutation in exon 11 (Gly216Asp) and a TG deletion in exon 14.
Telmisartan improves endothelial function in patients with essential hypertension.

BACKGROUND
: Hypertension is a cardiovascular risk factor commonly associated with endothelial dysfunction and increased renal vascular resistance. Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) may beneficially affect these parameters via antagonism of angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptor-mediated vasoconstriction and vascular superoxide production. We therefore investigated whether the new ARB telmisartan improves endothelial function and renal vascular resistance in patients with essential hypertension.


METHODS
: Thirty-seven patients with essential hypertension were randomized to receive telmisartan, the calcium channel blocker nisoldipine, or their combination for 6 weeks in a prospective, parallel group study. Brachial artery flow-mediated (endothelium-dependent) dilation (FMD) and renal vascular resistance index (RVRI) were evaluated using high-resolution ultrasound before, at 3 weeks (low dose), and at 6 weeks (high dose) after initiation of treatment.


RESULTS
: At baseline, FMD and RVRI did not significantly differ between treatment groups. After 3 weeks of treatment neither treatment significantly changed FMD or RVRI. After 6 weeks of treatment, patients randomized to receive telmisartan alone or the combination, but not those treated with nisoldipine alone, displayed a significantly improved FMD, whereas RVRI values again were not significantly different as compared to those at baseline.


CONCLUSION
: In our study cohort of patients with essential hypertension, treatment with telmisartan improved FMD but did not change RVRI. Future studies will demonstrate whether this telmisartan-induced effect may contribute to a blood pressure-independent reduction in cardiovascular morbidity.
CLUBAS: An Algorithm and Java Based Tool for Software Bug Classification Using Bug Attributes Similarities

In this paper, a software bug classification algorithm, CLUBAS (Classification of Software Bugs Using Bug Attribute Similarity) is presented. CLUBAS is a hybrid algorithm, and is designed by using text clustering, frequent term calculations and taxonomic terms mapping techniques. The algorithm CLUBAS is an example of classification using clustering technique. The proposed algorithm works in three major steps, in the first step text clusters are created using software bug textual attributes data and followed by the second step in which cluster labels are generated using label induction for each cluster, and in the third step, the cluster labels are mapped against the bug taxonomic terms to identify the appropriate categories of the bug clusters. The cluster labels are generated using frequent and meaningful terms present in the bug attributes, for the bugs belonging to the bug clusters. The designed algorithm is evaluated using the performance parameters F-measures and accuracy. These parameters are compared with the standard classification techniques like Naïve Bayes, Naïve Bayes Multinomial, J48, Support Vector Machine and Weka’s classification using clustering algorithms. A GUI (Graphical User Interface) based tool is also developed in java for the implementation of CLUBAS algorithm.
Geochemical origin of organic sulfur compounds: Reaction of phenylalanine with elemental sulfur

Abstract Organic sulfur compounds were produced when the aromatic amino acid phenylalanine, as a model protein hydrolysate, was reacted with elemental sulfur under conditions that, although severe, might be considered geochemically plausible. Reactions were carried out in sealed tubes at 135°C and at 212°C for times varying between 17.5 and 571 hours both in the presence and absence of aqueous sodium hydroxide. Reactions occurred under all conditions, yielding complex multicomponent mixtures which included hydrocarbons, compounds containing the three elements C, H and S and compounds containing the four elements C, H, S and N. Initiation of the reaction did not require aqueous sodium hydroxide but in its presence the reaction was essentially complete in about 135 hours at the higher temperature. Long-term products tended toward enrichment in components of higher molecular weight yielding ionic masses up to 355 m/e, about twice that of the parent amino acid. Although unable to provide unequivocal molecular structures, mass spectra showed ionic masses that are consistent with representatives of nine of the 13 classes of sulfur compounds known to exist in crude oils. The exploratory experiments suggest that thermal reaction between the two abundant primary-source materials proteins and elemental sulfur may well be of geochemical significance in the genesis of many of the sulfur compounds found in contemporary crude petroleum.
LiFi: Conceptions, misconceptions and opportunities

In this talk we will first explain what Light-Fidelity (LiFi) is and highlight the key differences to visible light communication (VLC). We will discuss misconceptions and illustrate the potential impact this technology can have across a number of existing and emerging industries.
A pre-seasonal birch/hazel sublingual immunotherapy can improve the outcome of grass pollen injective treatment in bisensitized individuals. A case-referent, two-year controlled study.

BACKGROUND
The study tests the hypothesis of a reduction of priming due to tree allergy in patients sensitised to both birch/hazel and grass pollen undergoing an associated preseasonal Sublingual/Injective immunotherapy.


METHODS
36 out of 49 bisensitized candidates were pair-matched into 18 case-referent couples. During two years all patients were administered preseasonal grass-SIT and one patient in each couple received also birch/hazel-SLIT. Diary cards were fulfilled for three consecutive grass pollen seasons. Specific Nasal Provocation Test (NPT) for grass and aspecific bronchial challenge were done; sera were analyzed for specific IgE and IgG.


RESULTS
During the peak of the grass pollen season both groups showed a significant improvement in total symptom-score. Conjunctivitis and cough improved significantly more in patients with associated therapies. While antihistamine score decreased significantly in both groups, antiasthmatics did only in the SLIT-SIT group. The follow-up documented a significant increase in grass- and birch-specific IgG and a decrease in grass-specific IgE. Grass-NPT threshold was clearly higher in SLIT-SIT-group (p = 0.01) and only in this group PD20 methacholine improved significantly (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Combined birch/hazel-SLIT and grass-SIT are safe and improve clinical outcomes of SIT alone in young bisensitized patients. Priming reduction is supported by specific NPT and bronchial hyperresponsiveness.