LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Renewable energy based small hybrid power system for desalination applications in remote locations

Water, energy and environment are essential inputs for sustainable development of society. It is a common phenomenon that certain packets of the country that are water stressed are also power stressed at the same time. There is a huge potential for utilizing renewable energy sources, for example solar energy, wind energy, or micro hydropower to provide a quality power supply to remote areas. The abundant energy available in nature can be harnessed and converted to electricity in a sustainable way to supply the necessary power to elevate the living standards of the people without access to the electricity grid. The advantages of using renewable energy sources for generating power in remote areas are obvious such as the cost of transported fuel are often prohibitive fossil fuel and that there is increasing concern on the issues of climate change and global warming. The disadvantage of standalone power systems using renewable energy is that the availability of renewable energy sources has daily and seasonal patterns which results in difficulties in regulating the output power to cope with the load demand. Combining more than one form of the renewable energy generation and also conventional diesel power generation will enable the power generated from a renewable energy sources to be more reliable and affordable. This kind of electric power generation system, which consists of renewable energy and fossil fuel generators together with an energy storage system and power conditioning system, is known as a hybrid power system. This paper elaborates on the analysis of small capacity hybrid power system for supplying electricity and clean water demand in rural and remote areas by using mini-grid hybrid power system consisting of renewable energy (Solar Photovoltaic cells & Windmill) and battery with a reverse osmosis desalination plant as a primary / deferrable load.
Short-term effects of highly-bioavailable curcumin for treating knee osteoarthritis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled prospective study

BACKGROUND
We previously developed a surface-controlled water-dispersible form of curcumin and named it Theracurmin(®) (Theracurmin; Theravalues, Tokyo, Japan). The area under the blood concentration-time curve of Theracurmin in humans was 27-fold higher than that of curcumin powder. We determined the clinical effects of orally administered Theracurmin in patients with knee osteoarthritis during 8 weeks of treatment.


METHODS
Fifty patients with knee osteoarthritis of Kellgren-Lawrence grade II or III and who were aged more than 40 years were enrolled in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, prospective clinical study. Placebo or Theracurmin containing 180 mg/day of curcumin was administered orally every day for 8 weeks. To monitor adverse events, blood biochemistry analyses were performed before and after 8 weeks of each intervention. The patients' knee symptoms were evaluated at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks by the Japanese Knee Osteoarthritis Measure, the knee pain visual analog scale (VAS), the knee scoring system of the Japanese Orthopedic Association, and the need for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.


RESULTS
At 8 weeks after treatment initiation, knee pain VAS scores were significantly lower in the Theracurmin group than in the placebo group, except in the patients with initial VAS scores of 0.15 or less. Theracurmin lowered the celecoxib dependence significantly more than placebo. No major side effects were observed with Theracurmin treatment.


CONCLUSION
Theracurmin shows modest potential for the treatment of human knee osteoarthritis.
The Burden of Rhinitis and Rhinoconjunctivitis in Adolescents

PURPOSE
Rhinitis and conjunctivitis are common diseases worldwide that are frequently associated. Nevertheless, the risk factors for rhinoconjunctivitis are not well-described and the impact of conjunctivitis on rhinitis and asthma in children remains unknown. This study explored the different risk factors and evaluated the burden of rhinoconjunctivitis among adolescents.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study conducted on a random sample of schoolchildren, aged 10-17 years, using skin prick tests and a self-administered questionnaire on respiratory health investigating the impact of rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis on daily activities.


RESULTS
A complete evaluation was obtained for 2,150 children. The prevalence of rhinitis alone was 18.2% and rhinitis associated with conjunctivitis was 20.5%. Rhinoconjunctivitis was more frequently associated with females, a parental history of atopy, domestic exposure to mold/dampness, passive smoke exposure, and reported truck traffic in residential streets. Moreover, rhinoconjunctivitis was associated with a higher level of allergic sensitization. The prevalence of current asthma was 1.7% in subjects without rhinitis or rhinoconjunctivitis, 5.1% in rhinitis and 10.7% in rhinoconjunctivitis. In a logistic model, rhinoconjunctivitis yielded a 2-fold risk for current asthma with respect to rhinitis. Subjects with rhinoconjunctivitis had poorer quality of life (QoL); there was an impact on daily activities in 4.6% of rhinitis and 10.7% of rhinoconjunctivitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Ocular symptoms increase the role of rhinitis as a risk factor for asthma and its impact on daily activities in children.
Developing Supply Chains in Disaster Relief Operations through Cross-sector Socially Oriented Collaborations : A Theoretical Model

Purpose – This study provides insights into corporate achievements in supply chain management (SCM) and logistics management and details how they might help disaster agencies. The authors highlight and identify current practices, particularities, and challenges in disaster relief supply chains. Design/methodology/approach – Both SCM and logistics management literature and examples drawn from real-life cases inform the development of the theoretical model. Findings – The theoretical, dual-cycle model that focuses on the key missions of disaster relief agencies: first, prevention and planning and, second, response and recovery. Three major contributions are offered: (1) a concise representation of current practices and particularities of disaster relief supply chains compared with commercial SCM; (2) challenges and barriers to the development of more efficient SCM practices, classified into learning, strategizing, and coordinating and measurement issues; and (3) a simple, functional model for understanding how collaborations between corporations and disaster relief agencies might help relief agencies meet SCM challenges. Research limitations/implications – The study does not address culture clash–related considerations. Rather than representing the entire scope of real-life situations and practices, the analysis relies on key assumptions to help conceptualize collaborative paths.
Twelve- and 52-week safety of albuterol multidose dry powder inhaler in patients with persistent asthma.

OBJECTIVE
Evaluate the safety of albuterol multidose dry powder inhaler (MDPI), a novel, inhalation-driven device that does not require coordination of actuation with inhalation, in patients with persistent asthma.


METHODS
We report pooled safety data from two 12-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, repeat-dose, parallel-group studies and the 12-week double-blind phase of a 52-week multicenter safety study as well as safety data from the 40-week open-label phase of the 52-week safety study. In each study, eligible patients aged ≥ 12 years with persistent asthma received placebo MDPI or albuterol MDPI 180 µg (2 inhalations × 90 µg/inhalation) 4 times/day for 12 weeks. In the 40-week open-label phase of the 52-week safety study, patients received albuterol MDPI 180 μg (2 inhalations × 90 μg/inhalation) as needed (PRN).


RESULTS
During both 12-week studies and the 12-week double-blind phase of the 52-week study, adverse events were more common with placebo MDPI (50%; n = 333) than albuterol MDPI (40%; n = 321); most frequent were upper respiratory tract infection (placebo MDPI 11%, albuterol MDPI 10%), nasopharyngitis (6%, 5%), and headache (6%, 4%). Incidences of β2-agonist-related events (excluding headache) during the pooled 12-week dosing periods were low (≤ 1%) in both groups. The safety profile with albuterol MDPI PRN during the 40-week open-label phase [most frequent adverse events: nasopharyngitis (12%), sinusitis (11%), upper respiratory tract infection (9%)] was similar to that observed during the 12-week pooled analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
The safety profile of albuterol MDPI 180 μg in these studies was comparable with placebo MDPI and consistent with the well-characterized profile of albuterol in patients with asthma.
Landfill Settlement with Decomposition and Gas Generation

A one-dimensional multiphase numerical model is developed to simulate the vertical settlement involving liquid and gas flows in a deformable settling municipal solid waste MSW landfill. MSW is represented by a chemical composition, and a global stoichiometric reaction is used to estimate the maximum yield of gas generation. Following the general assumption accepted in the literature, the gas generated by waste decomposition is assumed to comprise of methane CH4 and carbon dioxide CO2 . The gas generation rate follows an exponentially decaying function of time. The gas generation model developed based on a first-order kinetic single-bioreactor approach includes the governing equations of gas migration, liquid flow, and landfill deformation. The Galerkin finite element method is used to solve the resulting equations. The model developed can be used to estimate the transient and ultimate settlements due to waste decomposition and gas generation in MSW landfills. The proposed model can estimate the waste porosity, gas pressure, liquid pressure, gas saturation, liquid saturation, and stress distributions in settling landfills. The results obtained for a deformable landfill are compared with a landfill having a rigid solid skeleton. Due to settlement, the depth of waste is 27% smaller in deformable landfills than that of the rigid ones. DOI: 10.1061/ ASCE 0733-9372 2005 131:9 1311 CE Database subject headings: Landfills; Settlement; Solid wastes; Mathematical models; Waste management; Decomposition; Gas.
Oscillatory Underpinnings of Mismatch Negativity and Their Relationship with Cognitive Function in Patients with Schizophrenia

BACKGROUND
Impairments in mismatch negativity (MMN) generation have been consistently reported in patients with schizophrenia. However, underlying oscillatory activity of MMN deficits in schizophrenia and the relationship with cognitive impairments have not been investigated in detail. Time-frequency power and phase analyses can provide more detailed measures of brain dynamics of MMN deficits in schizophrenia.


METHOD
21 patients with schizophrenia and 21 healthy controls were tested with a roving frequency paradigm to generate MMN. Time-frequency domain power and phase-locking (PL) analysis was performed on all trials using short-time Fourier transforms with Hanning window tapering. A comprehensive battery (CANTAB) was used to assess neurocognitive functioning.


RESULTS
Mean MMN amplitude was significantly lower in patients with schizophrenia (95% CI 0.18 - 0.77). Patients showed significantly lower EEG power (95% CI -1.02 - -0.014) in the ~4-7 Hz frequency range (theta band) between 170 and 210 ms. Patients with schizophrenia showed cognitive impairment in multiple domains of CANTAB. However, MMN impairments in amplitude and power were not correlated with clinical measures, medication dose, social functioning or neurocognitive performance.


CONCLUSION
The findings from this study suggested that while MMN may be a useful marker to probe NMDA receptor mediated mechanisms and associated impairments in gain control and perceptual changes, it may not be a useful marker in association with clinical or cognitive changes. Trial-by-trial EEG power analysis can be used as a measure of brain dynamics underlying MMN deficits which also can have implications for the use of MMN as a biomarker for drug discovery.
An Effective Surveillance System Using Thermal Camera

Thermography, or thermal visualization is a type of infrared visualization. Thermographic cameras are used in many heavy factories like metal recycling factories, wafer production factories and etc for monitoring the temperature conditions of the machines. Besides, thermographic camera can be used to detect trespassers in environment with poor lighting condition, whereby, the conventional digital cameras are less applicable in. In this paper, we proposed two simple and fast detection algorithms into a cost effective thermal imaging surveillance system. This surveillance system not only used in monitoring the functioning of different machinery and electrical equipments in a factory site, it can also used for detecting the trespassers in poor lighting condition. Experimental results show that the proposed surveillance system achieves high accuracy in monitoring machines conditions and detecting trespassers.
Free flap reconstruction of the knee: an outcome study of 34 cases.

BACKGROUND
Open wounds around the knee joint can often be managed with local flaps; however, free tissue transfer may be required when local tissue options are unavailable or inadequate. Free tissue transfer around the knee can be challenging due to unique anatomic features of the joint. The outcomes of such procedures remain largely unreported.


METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed 33 patients who underwent 34 free tissue transfer reconstructions to the knee from 1993 to 2010. Twenty-four flaps were composed of soft tissue only and 10 flaps included a bony component. Patient demographics, details of the defect, operative characteristics, and clinical outcomes were reviewed. Outcomes included rates of flap failure, flap reexploration, and limb salvage.


RESULTS
Thirty-three (97%) of 34 flaps survived. One flap failed secondary to arterial thrombosis. In total, 6/34 flaps (18%) required reexploration (2 arterial thromboses and 4 venous thromboses). A wide variety of donor and recipient vessels were used. Vessel selection did not affect vascular reexploration. Overall, 88% of lower extremities were salvaged. Four of 10 (40%) patients receiving bone free flap reconstruction experienced delayed union and 2 (20%) of these required amputation for eventual nonunion.


CONCLUSIONS
Free flap reconstruction of the knee has a high flap survival and limb preservation rate in threatened extremities. Flap survival rates in the knee are similar to reported rates elsewhere in the lower extremity. Despite flap survival, infected nonunions that occur after bone free flap reconstruction result in a high limb amputation rate.
Simple SMS spam filtering on independent mobile phone

The amount of Short Message Service (SMS) spam is increasing. Various solutions to filter SMS spam on mobile phones have been proposed. Most of these use Text Classification techniques that consist of training, filtering, and updating processes. However, they require a computer or a large amount of SMS data in advance to filter SMS spam, especially for the training. This increases hardware maintenance and communication costs. Thus, we propose to filter SMS spamon independentmobile phones using Text Classification techniques. The training, filtering, and updating processes are performed on an independent mobile phone. The mobile phone has storage, memory and CPU limitations compared with a computer. As such, we apply a probabilistic Naïve Bayes classifier using word occurrences for screening because of its simplicity and fast performance. Our experiment on an Android mobile phone shows that it can filter SMS spamwith reasonable accuracy, minimum storage consumption, and acceptable processing time without support from a computer or using a large amount of SMS data for training. Thus, we conclude that filtering SMS spam can be performed on independent mobile phones. We can reduce the number of word attributes by almost 50% without reducing accuracy significantly, using our usability-based approach. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Functional electrical stimulation improves motor recovery of the lower extremity and walking ability of subjects with first acute stroke: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The effectiveness of functional electrical stimulation (FES) has been investigated in chronic hemiplegia. The present study examines whether FES, given during acute stroke, was more effective in promoting motor recovery of the lower extremity and walking ability than standard rehabilitation alone.


METHODS
Forty-six subjects, 70.9+/-8.0 years old and 9.2+/-4.1 days after stroke, were assigned randomly to 1 of 3 groups receiving standard rehabilitation with FES or placebo stimulation or alone (control). FES was applied 30 minutes and placebo stimulation 60 minutes, 5 days per week for 3 weeks. Outcome measurements included composite spasticity score, maximum isometric voluntary contraction of ankle dorsi-flexors and planter-flexors, and walking ability. They were recorded before treatment, weekly during the 3-week treatment, and at week 8 after stroke.


RESULTS
No significant differences were found in the baseline measurements. After 3 weeks of treatment, there was a significant reduction in the percentage of composite spasticity score, and a significant improvement in the ankle dorsiflexion torque, accompanied by an increase in agonist electromyogram and a reduction in electromyogram cocontraction ratio in the FES group, when compared with the other 2 groups (P<0.05). All subjects in the FES group were able to walk after treatment, and 84.6% of them returned home, in comparison with the placebo (53.3%) and control (46.2%, P<0.05) groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Fifteen sessions of FES, applied to subjects with acute stroke plus standard rehabilitation, improved their motor and walking ability to the degree that more subjects were able to return to home.
The power of social media analytics

How to use, and influence, consumer social communications to improve business performance, reputation, and profit.
Thyroxine transfer from cerebrospinal fluid into choroid plexus and brain is affected by brefeldin A, low sodium, BCH, and phloretin, in ventriculo-cisternal perfused rabbits

BACKGROUND
Thyroxine (T4) hormone is synthesized by the thyroid gland and then released into the systemic circulation where it binds to a number of proteins. Dysfunction in T4 transport mechanisms has been demonstrated in multiple central nervous system (CNS) diseases including Alzheimer's disease. In the presence of different compounds that inhibit potential T4 transport mechanisms, this study investigated the transfer of T4 from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) into Choroid Plexus (CP) and other brain tissues. The compounds used were brefeldin A, low sodium artificial CSF (aCSF), BCH, phloretin, and taurocholate (TA).


METHODS
Radiolabeled T4 ((125)I-T4) was perfused continuously into the CSF and was assessed in several brain compartments with reference molecule (14)C-mannitol and blue dextran, using the in vivo ventriculo-cisternal perfusion (V-C) technique in the rabbit. The aCSF containing the drug of interest was infused after 1 h of perfusion. Drugs were applied independently to the aCSF after 1 h of control perfusion.


RESULTS
Of interest, in presence of low sodium or BCH, the percentage recovery of (125)I-T4, was increased compared to controls, with concomitant increase in T4 clearance. Conversely, brefeldin A, phloretin, and TA did not exert any significant effect on the recovery and clearance of (125)I-T4 assessed in aCSF. On the other hand, the uptake of (125)I-T4 into CP was raised by 18 fold compared to controls in the presence of brefeldin A. In addition, low sodium, BCH, or phloretin alone, enhanced the uptake of (125)I-T4 by almost 3-fold, whereas TA did not show any significant effect. Finally, the uptake and distribution of (125)I-T4 into other brain regions including ependymal region (ER) and caudate putamen (CAP) were significantly higher than in controls.


CONCLUSION
Our study suggests the involvement of different mechanisms for the transfer of (125)I-T4 from CSF into CP and other brain regions. This transfer may implicate sodium-dependent mechanisms, amino acid "L" system, or organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP).
Diagnostic value of abdominal radiography in constipated children: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND
Constipation is a common problem in children. Diagnosis is based on clinical features. In case of doubt about the presence of constipation, the existence of fecal retention can be evaluated on plain abdominal radiography.


OBJECTIVES
To describe and to assess the evidence from observational, controlled studies concerning the association between abdominal radiography and symptoms and signs related to constipation in children.


METHODS
MEDLINE was searched from inception to April 2004 using a specified search strategy. Studies that fulfilled predefined criteria were assessed for methodological quality. Study characteristics and associations were extracted and the results were summarized according to a best-evidence synthesis.


RESULTS
Of the 392 publications identified, 6 studies met the inclusion criteria. Only 2 studies were of high methodological quality. The best-evidence synthesis yielded conflicting evidence for an association between a clinical and a radiological diagnosis of constipation. The likelihood ratio (LR) in 2 high-quality studies was close to 1 (LR, 1.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0-1.4; and LR, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.5-1.6). Conflicting evidence was found for an association between digital rectal examination and fecal impaction on radiography. Limited evidence was found for an association between a history of hard stool and a finding of rebound tenderness and radiography (LR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.0-1.4; and LR, 1.1; 95% CI, 1.0-1.2, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The limited amount of data available shows conflicting evidence for an association between clinical symptoms of constipation and fecal loading on abdominal radiographs in children. The recommendation to perform a plain abdominal radiograph in case of doubt of the presence of constipation in a child cannot be supported. Further research of good methodological quality is needed.
Role of Engineering Schools in Promoting Design Safety

The nature of the responsibility that engineers bear for producing safe designs is outlined. and some ideas about evaluating safety levels are discussed. It is suggested that engineering schools introduce these ideas through courses on engineering ethics or technology and society. presentations made at apropriate points in regular technical courses, occasional colloquia, and brief statements made to their classes by faculty members. The importance of inculating habits of carrying out routine work carefully is also pointed out.