LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Isothermal Fatigue Properties of SnAgCu Alloy Evaluated by Micro Size Specimen

Micro-bulk fatigue testing developed to investigate the fatigue lives and damage mechanisms of Sn–3.0Ag–0.5Cu and Sn–37Pb solder alloys. The fatigue life of micro-bulk solder obeyed Manson–Coffin’s empirical law, and the fatigue ductility exponents were about 0.5 for both Sn–Ag–Cu and Sn–Pb alloys. The fatigue life of Sn–3.0Ag–0.5Cu alloy was 10 times longer than that of Sn–37Pb alloy under symmetrical cycling at 298K, although fatigue resistance of Sn–3.0Ag–0.5Cu alloy was not very superior under asymmetrical wave and elevated temperature condition. The fatigue crack was developed from extrusion and intrusion of slip band in Sn–3.0Ag–0.5Cu alloy, while the crack was observed at colony boundary and grain boundary in Sn–37Pb alloy. The difference in damage mechanism may affect the susceptibility to fatigue life test condition of reversibility.
TBI-QOL: Development and Calibration of Item Banks to Measure Patient Reported Outcomes Following Traumatic Brain Injury

OBJECTIVE
To use a patient-centered approach or participatory action research design combined with advanced psychometrics to develop a comprehensive patient-reported outcomes (PRO) measurement system specifically for individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI). This TBI Quality-of-Life (TBI-QOL) measurement system expands the work of other large PRO measurement initiatives, that is, the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System and the Neurology Quality-of-Life measurement initiative.


SETTING
Five TBI Model Systems centers across the United States.


PARTICIPANTS
Adults with TBI.


DESIGN
Classical and modern test development methodologies were used. Qualitative input was obtained from individuals with TBI, TBI clinicians, and caregivers of individuals with TBI through multiple methods, including focus groups, individual interviews, patient consultation, and cognitive debriefing interviews. Item pools were field tested in a large multisite sample (n = 675) and calibrated using item response theory methods.


MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES
Twenty-two TBI-QOL item banks/scales.


RESULTS
The TBI-QOL consists of 20 independent calibrated item banks and 2 uncalibrated scales that measure physical, emotional, cognitive, and social aspects of health-related quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
The TBI-QOL measurement system has potential as a common data element in TBI research and to enhance collection of health-related quality-of-life and PRO data in rehabilitation research and clinical settings.
A Description Logic Primer

This paper provides a self-contained first introduction to d escription logics (DLs). The main concepts and features are explained with examples before syntax and semantics of the DL SROIQ are defined in detail. Additional sections review lightweight DL languages, discuss the relationship to the OWL Web Ontology Language and give pointers to further reading.
Tensile and Fatigue Properties of Fiber-Bragg-Grating ( FBG ) Sensors

As an innovative measurement technique, the so-called Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors are used to measure local and global strains in a growing number of application scenarios. FBGs facilitate a reliable method to sense strain over large distances and in explosive atmospheres. Currently, there is only little knowledge available concerning mechanical properties of FGBs, e.g. under quasi-static, cyclic and thermal loads. To address this issue, this work quantifies typical loads on FGB sensors in operating state and moreover aims to determine their mechanical response resulting from certain load cases. Copyright © 2013 IFSA.
Improving problem solving with subgoal labels in expository text and worked examples

In highly procedural problem solving, procedures are typically taught with context-independent expository text that conceptually describes a procedure and context-dependent worked examples that concretely demonstrate a procedure. Subgoal labels have been used in worked examples to improve problem solving performance. The effect of subgoal labels in expository text, however, has not been explored. The present study examined the efficacy of subgoal labeled expository text and worked examples for programming education. The results show that learners who received subgoal labels in both the text and example are able to solve novel problems better than those who did not. In addition, subgoal labels in the text appear to have a different, rather than an additive, effect on learners compared to subgoal labels in the example. Specifically, subgoal labels in the text appear to help the learner articulate the procedure, and subgoal labels in the example appear to help the learner apply the procedure.
Estimation, planning, and mapping for autonomous flight using an RGB-D camera in GPS-denied environments

RGB-D cameras provide both color images and per-pixel depth stimates. The richness of this data and the recent development of low-c ost sensors have combined to present an attractive opportunity for mobile robot ics research. In this paper, we describe a system for visual odometry and mapping using an RGB-D camera, and its application to autonomous flight. By leveraging resu lts from recent stateof-the-art algorithms and hardware, our system enables 3D fl ight in cluttered environments using only onboard sensor data. All computation an d se sing required for local position control are performed onboard the vehicle, r educing the dependence on unreliable wireless links. However, even with accurate 3 D sensing and position estimation, some parts of the environment have more percept ual structure than others, leading to state estimates that vary in accuracy across the environment. If the vehicle plans a path without regard to how well it can localiz e itself along that path, it runs the risk of becoming lost or worse. We show how the Belief Roadmap (BRM) algorithm (Prentice and Roy, 2009), a belief space extensio n of the Probabilistic Roadmap algorithm, can be used to plan vehicle trajectories that incorporate the sensing model of the RGB-D camera. We evaluate the effective ness of our system for controlling a quadrotor micro air vehicle, demonstrate its use for constructing detailed 3D maps of an indoor environment, and discuss its li mitations. Abraham Bachrach and Samuel Prentice contributed equally to this work. Abraham Bachrach, Samuel Prentice, Ruijie He, Albert Huang a nd Nicholas Roy Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Ma ss chusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139. e-mail: abachrac, ruijie, albert, prentice, nickroy@mit.ed u Peter Henry, Michael Krainin and Dieter Fox University of Washington, Department of Computer Science & Engi neering, Seattle, WA. e-mail: peter, mkrainin, fox@cs.washington.edu. Daniel Maturana The Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsbur gh, PA. e-mail: dimatura@cmu.edu
Real-Time Planner in the Operational Space for the Automatic Handling of Kinematic Constraints

Planning problems in the operational space are characterized by implementation issues that do not occur in the joint space. For example, depending on the manipulator pose, relatively slow trajectories in the operational space could require unfeasible joint speeds, thus causing the degeneration of the system performances: Path tracking errors certainly increase but, in the worst situations, the manipulator must be stopped in order to prevent the system instability. This paper proposes a real-time planner in the operational space that is able to generate trajectories subject to dynamic constraints and devised according to the path-velocity decomposition approach. The feasibility is achieved by means of an automatic scaling system that, starting from a possibly unfeasible trajectory, modifies its longitudinal velocity in order to fulfill a given set of kinematic constraints, thus preserving an accurate path tracking. The scaling system promptly reacts to critical configurations through minimum-time transients. The proposed approach has been tested on an actual anthropomorphic manipulator by executing 6D trajectories. Note to Practitioners - The accurate path tracking must be guaranteed especially when trajectories are planned in the operational space. Unfortunately, path tracking worsens every time system limits are exceeded. The trajectory generator proposed in this paper is specifically designed for non-redundant manipulators and it is equipped with a scaling system that automatically modifies the speed of the end effector in order to guarantee an accurate path tracking. Several kinematic constraints are handled at the same time. Joint velocities are kept below the manufacturer's limits, while joint accelerations are bounded in order to achieve smooth movements. The system is also able to constrain the kinematics of the end effector. For example, in order to reduce the mechanical stress on the payload and to avoid the excitation of elastic modes, additional bounds on the velocities and accelerations of the end effector are considered and managed. The planner can also be used to generate minimum-time constrained trajectories in real-time. To this purpose, further constraints on the longitudinal velocities and accelerations have been introduced. Differently from alternative approaches, the proposed planning scheme does not require any interaction with the controller. This is an advantage, since controllers of industrial manipulators are typically not accessible or modifiable, while, in turn, proprietary trajectory planners can normally be replaced with ad-hoc implementations. The scaling system can be easily expanded in order to handle additional constraints. The trajectory smoothness, for example, can be improved by managing the jerk bounds, so that the ongoing research activity is currently focused on that target. In the same way, it could also be possible to handle some dynamic constraints, but this would impose the introduction of mutual interactions between the scaling system and the central control unit.
Gestational diabetes and the incidence of type 2 diabetes: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE
To examine factors associated with variation in the risk for type 2 diabetes in women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).


RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
We conducted a systematic literature review of articles published between January 1965 and August 2001, in which subjects underwent testing for GDM and then testing for type 2 diabetes after delivery. We abstracted diagnostic criteria for GDM and type 2 diabetes, cumulative incidence of type 2 diabetes, and factors that predicted incidence of type 2 diabetes.


RESULTS
A total of 28 studies were examined. After the index pregnancy, the cumulative incidence of diabetes ranged from 2.6% to over 70% in studies that examined women 6 weeks postpartum to 28 years postpartum. Differences in rates of progression between ethnic groups was reduced by adjustment for various lengths of follow-up and testing rates, so that women appeared to progress to type 2 diabetes at similar rates after a diagnosis of GDM. Cumulative incidence of type 2 diabetes increased markedly in the first 5 years after delivery and appeared to plateau after 10 years. An elevated fasting glucose level during pregnancy was the risk factor most commonly associated with future risk of type 2 diabetes.


CONCLUSIONS
Conversion of GDM to type 2 diabetes varies with the length of follow-up and cohort retention. Adjustment for these differences reveals rapid increases in the cumulative incidence occurring in the first 5 years after delivery for different racial groups. Targeting women with elevated fasting glucose levels during pregnancy may prove to have the greatest effect for the effort required.
ETSI standards and guides for efficient powering of telecommunication and datacom

Telecommunications networks worldwide are evolving rapidly into systems carrying broadband services with Internet, cable TV and other data traffic in addition to traditional voice telephony, and operators are seeing a large increase in Internet equipment installed in their networks. This development has influenced the actual existing standards for power supply interfaces. European Telecommunication Standardization Institute (ETSI) is the regional organization that is recognized by the EC and EFTA as one of the three official standards-making bodies in Europe, and is responsible for standardization in the whole field of telecommunications, including radio, broadcasting and private telecommunications. The requirements for the power distribution to the interface "A" for -48V/-60V are standardized in ETSI EN 300 132-2. The mixing of traditional telecommunication equipment with new broadband and IT equipment in the Central Office (CO) and access network need a solution for powering and safe installation (earthing, grounding, batteries) with higher efficiency and reliability. In the year 2003 ETSI published ETSI EN 300 132-3 for direct powering the transmission equipment with 400 V. In several workshops at INTELEC 2003, 2004, 2005 and worldwide initiatives, the different experiences and solutions in connection to several pilot projects were discussed. A wide use of DC in electrical installations offers high energy efficiency, and improves power quality in the AC distribution network. This presentation will give a small overview of the standardization in the last 5 years with the actual results, problems and trends in the worldwide realization of higher efficient powering of the new internet equipment.
Residual Beta Cell Function in Newly Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes after
                    Treatment with Atorvastatin: The Randomized DIATOR Trial

BACKGROUND
Recent evidence suggests that the lipid-lowering agent atorvastatin is also a potent immunomodulator. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effect of atorvastatin on the decline of residual beta cell function in recent-onset type 1 diabetes.


METHODS AND FINDINGS
The randomised placebo-controlled Diabetes and Atorvastatin (DIATOR) Trial included 89 patients with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes and islet autoantibodies (mean age 30 years, 40% females), in 12 centres in Germany. Patients received placebo or 80 mg/d atorvastatin for 18 months. As primary outcome stimulated serum C-peptide levels were determined 90 min after a standardized liquid mixed meal. An intent-to-treat analysis was performed. Fasting and stimulated C-peptide levels were not significantly different between groups at 18 months. However, median fasting serum C-peptide levels dropped from baseline to 12 and 18 months in the placebo group (from 0. 34 to 0.23 and 0.20 nmol/l, p<0.001) versus a nonsignificant decline in the atorvastatin group (from 0.34 to 0.27 and 0.30 nmol/l, ns). Median stimulated C-peptide concentrations declined between baseline and 12 months (placebo from 0.89 to 0.71 nmol/l, atorvastatin from 0.88 to 0.73 nmol/l, p<0.01 each) followed by a major loss by month 18 in the placebo group (to 0.48 nmol/l, p = 0.047) but not in the atorvastatin group (to 0.71 nmol/l, ns). Median levels of total cholesterol and C-reactive protein decreased in the atorvastatin group only (p<0.001 and p = 0.04). Metabolic control was similar between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Atorvastatin treatment did not significantly preserve beta cell function although there may have been a slower decline of beta-cell function which merits further study.


TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00974740.
Spectral domain optical coherence tomography as an effective screening test for hydroxychloroquine retinopathy (the “flying saucer” sign)

PURPOSE
While the long-term incidence of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) retinopathy is low, there remains no definitive clinical screening test to recognize HCQ toxicity before ophthalmoscopic fundus changes or visual symptoms. Patients receiving HCQ were evaluated with spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD OCT) to assess the feasibility of identifying HCQ retinopathy at an early stage.


METHODS
Twenty-five patients referred for the evaluation of hydroxychloroquine toxicity underwent a comprehensive ocular examination, Humphrey visual field (HVF) perimetry, time domain OCT, and SD OCT. Some patients with screening abnormalities also underwent further diagnostic testing at the discretion of the treating providers.


RESULTS
Five patients were found to have SD OCT findings corresponding to HCQ toxicity and retinal damage as seen by clinical exam and/or HVF perimetry. Two patients with advanced toxicity were found to have significant outer retina disruption in the macula on SD OCT. Three patients with early HCQ toxicity and HVF 10-2 perifoveal defects were found to have loss of the perifoveal photoreceptor inner segment/outer segment (IS/OS) junction with intact outer retina directly under the fovea, creating the "flying saucer" sign. While two of these three patients had early ophthalmoscopic fundus changes, one had none.


CONCLUSION
Outer retinal abnormalities including perifoveal photoreceptor IS/OS junction disruption can be identified by SD OCT in early HCQ toxicity, sometimes even before ophthalmoscopic fundus changes are apparent. SD OCT may have a potential complementary role in screening for HCQ retinopathy due to its quick acquisition and because it is more objective than automated perimetry.
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation versus surgical aortic valve replacement for severe aortic stenosis: results from an intermediate risk propensity-matched population of the Italian OBSERVANT study.

BACKGROUND
Few studies have yielded information on comparative effectiveness of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) versus surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) procedures in a real-world setting. The aim of this analysis is to describe procedural and post-procedural outcomes in a TAVI/SAVR intermediate risk propensity-matched population.


METHODS
OBSERVANT is an observational prospective multicenter cohort study, enrolling AS patients undergoing SAVR or TAVI. Propensity score method was applied to analyze procedural and post-procedural outcomes. Pairs of patients with the same probability score were matched (caliper matching).


RESULTS
The unadjusted enrolled population (N=2108) comprises 1383 SAVR patients, 602 transarterial-TAVI patients and 123 transapical-TAVI patients. Matched population comprised a total of 266 patients (133 patients for each group). A relatively low risk population was selected (mean logistic EuroSCORE 9.4 ± 10.4% vs 8.9 ± 9.5%, SAVR vs TAVI; p=0.650). Thirty-day mortality was 3.8% for both SAVR and TAVI (p=1.000). The incidence of stroke (1.5% SAVR and 0.0% TAVI; p=0.156) and myocardial infarction (0.8% SAVR and 0.8% TAVI; p=1.000) was not statistically different between groups, whereas a higher requirement for blood transfusion was reported across the surgical cohort (49.6% vs 36.1%; p=0.026). A higher incidence of major vascular damage (5.3% vs. 0.0%; p=0.007) and pacemaker implantation(0.8% vs 12.0%; p=0.001) were reported in the TAVI group.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients undergoing transcatheter and surgical treatment of severe aortic stenosis are still extremely distinct populations. In the relatively low-risk propensity-matched population analyzed, despite similar procedural and 30-day mortality, SAVR was associated with a higher risk for blood transfusion, whereas TAVI showed a significantly increased rate of vascular damage, permanent AV block and residual aortic valve regurgitation.
A Delphi-AHP-TOPSIS based benchmarking framework for performance improvement of a cold chain

This paper aims to develop a benchmarking framework that evaluates the cold chain performance of a company, reveals its strengths and weaknesses and finally identifies and prioritizes potential alternatives for continuous improvement. A Delphi-AHP-TOPSIS based methodology has divided the whole benchmarking into three stages. The first stage is Delphi method, where identification, synthesis and prioritization of key performance factors and sub-factors are done and a novel consistent measurement scale is developed. The second stage is Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) based cold chain performance evaluation of a selected company against its competitors, so as to observe cold chain performance of individual factors and sub-factors, as well as overall performance index. And, the third stage is Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) based assessment of possible alternatives for the continuous improvement of the company’s cold chain performance. Finally a demonstration of proposed methodology in a retail industry is presented for better understanding. The proposed framework can assist managers to comprehend the present strengths and weaknesses of their cold. They can identify good practices from the market leader and can benchmark them for improving weaknesses keeping in view the current operational conditions and strategies of the company. This framework also facilitates the decision makers to better understand the complex relationships of the relevant cold chain performance factors in decision-making. 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Case-finding of dementia in general practice and effects of subsequent collaborative care; design of a cluster RCT

BACKGROUND
In the primary care setting, dementia is often diagnosed relatively late in the disease process. Case finding and proactive collaborative care may have beneficial effects on both patient and informal caregiver by clarifying the cause of cognitive decline and changed behaviour and by enabling support, care planning and access to services.We aim to improve the recognition and diagnosis of individuals with dementia in general practice. In addition to this diagnostic aim, the effects of case finding and subsequent care on the mental health of individuals with dementia and the mental health of their informal carers are explored.


METHODS AND DESIGN



DESIGN
cluster randomised controlled trial with process evaluation.


PARTICIPANTS
162 individuals ≥ 65 years, in 15 primary care practices, in whom GPs suspect cognitive impairment, but without a dementia diagnosis.Intervention; case finding and collaborative care: 2 trained practice nurses (PNs) invite all patients with suspected cognitive impairment for a brief functional and cognitive screening. If the cognitive tests are supportive of cognitive impairment, individuals are referred to their GP for further evaluation. If dementia is diagnosed, a comprehensive geriatric assessment takes place to identify other relevant geriatric problems that need to be addressed. Furthermore, the team of GP and PN provide information and support.


CONTROL
GPs provide care and diagnosis as usual.Main study parameters: after 12 months both groups are compared on: 1) incident dementia (and MCI) diagnoses and 2) patient and caregiver quality of life (QoL-AD; EQ5D) and mental health (MH5; GHQ 12) and caregiver competence to care (SSCQ). The process evaluation concerns facilitating and impeding factors to the implementation of this intervention. These factors are assessed on the care provider level, the care recipient level and on the organisational level.


DISCUSSION
This study will provide insight into the diagnostic yield and the clinical effects of case finding and collaborative care for individuals with suspected cognitive impairment, compared to usual care. A process evaluation will give insight into the feasibility of this intervention.The first results are expected in the course of 2013.


TRIAL REGISTRATION
NTR3389.