bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vagal body tumors
Authors: Arts H. Alexander , Fagan Paul A.
Published: July 2017

Six cases of vagal body tumor are reviewed. All first presented as painless neck masses with normal cranial nerve function. Otologic symptoms were infrequent, occurring only with temporal bone involvement. In true vagal paragangliomas, cranial nerve and auditory function is usually preserved until there is extensive disease of the skull base. Tumor progression after radiotherapy was documented in four patients, three of whom were treated with 4500 cGy or more. One patient was found to have regional lymph node metastases. The six patients had a total of 10 head and neck paragangliomas, illustrating the high incidence of synchronous and metachronous lesions. Because of the high incidence of multiple lesions, these tumors threaten lower cranial nerves bilaterally in many instances. Because cranial nerve function is preserved until late, and because vagal and accessory nerve paralysis is usually unavoidable with resection, we advocate conservative treatment in selected cases. It may be reasonable to postpone surgery until cranial nerve impairment becomes evident or other vital structures are threatened.
Oncocytic metaplasia of the pharynx
Authors: Morin Garrison V. , Shank Eve C. , Burgess Lawrence P. A. , Heffner Dennis K.
Published: July 2017

Oncocytic metaplasia of the pharynx has been infrequently described, with only two previous cases in the literature. With the advent of panendoscopy during the last decade, however, a better understanding of this histopathologic diagnosis is desirable. Thirty‐three cases are reviewed, with thirty occurring in the nasopharynx. This was most commonly discovered as an unrelated finding during endoscopic evaluation of a head and neck mass or malignancy in twenty‐two patients, either histologically after random biopsy or after biopsy of small but visible lesions. An additional eight cases manifested otitis media or eustachian tube dysfunction. The histology, terminology, and benign clinical nature of these lesions are discussed.
Selective chemical vestibulectomy: Preliminary results with human application
Authors: Amedee Ronald G. , Norris Charles H. , Risey John A.
Published: July 2017

The involved membranous labyrinth of patients with medically intractable Meniere's disease is being accessed by means of a fenestration of the bony horizontal semicircular canal in preparation for the application of a 125 or 250 mcg flake of solid streptomycin. Sensory information originating in the affected vestibular end organ is selectively blocked from reaching the central nervous system. This uniformly results in the rapid elimination of vertiginous symptoms, and at these calculated doses yields preservation of (or in some cases improvement in) preoperative cochlear thresholds. The rationale for this procedure, as detailed in earlier investigations of animals, will be briefly reviewed before highlighting our preliminary results in adult clinical trials.
Comprehending literally-true versus literally-false proverbs
Authors: Power Rachael , Taylor Catherine L , Nippold Marilyn A
Published: July 2017

A proverb comprehension task was administered to typically-achieving children and adolescents who were aged 9, 11 and 14 years (n = 31 per group). Two types of unfamiliar concrete proverbs were presented in a multiple-choice format - expressions whose literal meanings could be true in the real world (e.g. The baby has no teeth) and expressions whose literal meanings could not be true (e.g. Every dog is a lion at home). No differences were found in ease of understanding between the two types of proverbs for any age groups. The results are explained in terms of children’s early-emerging ability to think metaphorically and are consistent with the view that figurative language ‘is a direct, automatic and natural reflection of the way people think, reason and imagine’. Implications of the study for designing instructional programmes in proverb comprehension for children and adolescents are discussed.
Impact Behavior of Thick Laminated Composite Beams
Authors: Maiti Dipak Kr. , Sinha P. K.
Published: July 2017

In the present investigation a higher-order shear deformation theory (HST) and the conventional first-order theory (FST) are used to develop a finite element method to analyze the impact behavior of laminated composite beams. The higher-order theory assumes all the displacement components u, v, w that contain variation up to cubic power of z. The effects of various parameters, such as span to thickness ratios, support conditions and stacking sequence on the impact behavior of laminated composite beams are studied. Both eight-noded and nine-noded isoparametric elements are employed to compare the computational efficiency. However, to save computational time, numerical results are generated using only eight-noded isoparametric elements. The present results compare well with those of W. Goldsmith. It is observed that stresses computed using HST and FST exhibit wide variations.
Thermoelastic and Creep Analysis of a Reinforced Plastic Interrupter Shell Assembly
Authors: Mukherjee Nilanjan , Dharia M. , Rajan R.
Published: July 2017

In the present paper an interrupter shell assembly that forms an essential part of electrical switch gears is considered for creep analysis and subjected to thermal loads in addition to static leads actuated by circuit breakers. This exercise forms a part of the design evaluation of a new product. The shell is made out of a high strength fiberglass reinforced thermoset polyester sheet molding compound. A conventional finite element formulation based on the classical theory of semicoupled thermoelasticity is employed. The creep phenomenon is considered as an initial strain problem and a time hardening law is followed for creep analysis in the secondary zone. The structure is discretized by bilinear thick and thin flat shell isoparametric elements. Results show the contrasting deformation patterns, creep and thermomechanical stresses with the strains for two temperature cases. Creep characteristics of the shell are depicted for the entire service life of the component.
Characterization of a Knitted Fabric Reinforced Elastomer Composite
Authors: Huang Zheng Ming , Ramakrishna S. , Dinner H. P. , Tay A. A. O.
Published: July 2017

The majority of knitted fabric composites reported in the literature are based on rigid matrix materials, either thermoset or thermoplastic polymers. This paper describes the fabrication and characterization of a knitted fabric reinforced elastomer composite. The composite was made from a combination of weft knitted polyester fiber interlock fabric and polyurethane matrix. The research work reported in this paper includes two parts, i.e., experimental part and theoretical part. The experimental characterization comprises tensile testing of polyester fiber and polyurethane matrix, tensile testing of composite in wale and course directions, and determination of the fiber volume fraction in the composite. The theoretical investigation includes development of a suitable geometrical model to specify the fiber orientation and prediction of the initial elastic constants of the composite material. The predicted elastic properties were validated by comparing with the experimental data.
Newspapers Connect with Readers through Multiple Digital Tools
Authors: Greer Jennifer D. , Yan Yan
Published: July 2017

A content analysis of 357 newspaper websites and their associated social media pages reveals that older tools, including RSS and e-mail alerts, remain popular but are giving way to mobile delivery and social networking.
Newspaper Use and Community Ties in a Model Retirement Community
Authors: Bramlett-Solomon Sharon , Merrill Bruce
Published: July 2017

Newspapers play a role in maintaining community identity and cohesiveness. This study, conducted in the nation's largest retirement community, found that as readership of the paper increased, people were more involved yet less satisfied living in the community.
Media Use, Attention to Media and Agenda Richness
Authors: Culbertson Hugh M. , Evarts Dru , Richard Patricia Bayer , Sandell Karin , Stempel Guido H.
Published: July 2017

A panel study of media use and attention during the 1988 primary election campaign revealed stronger cognitive involvement in reading newspaper campaign coverage than in viewing television coverage. Also, to a greater degree than with television, those who relied on newspapers attended to them regularly.
Fairness, Balance of Newspaper Coverage of U.S. in Gulf War
Authors: Fico Frederick , Ku Linlin , Soffin Stan
Published: July 2017

The authors found significant imbalance favoring anti-war advocates, with more than 6 in 10 stories overall dominated by their assertions. Stories run on front pages tended to be more balanced overall, but still favored anti-war advocates. Larger circulation newspapers were more likely to favor anti-war advocates than smaller ones.
Fewer words and more action
Authors: Handscombe Robert D.
Published: July 2017

Great benefits for university/interaction can be gained from calling upon the experience of existing organizations and building on their strengths. One such organization is the University Directors of Industrial Liaison (UDIL). This article discusses the ways in which UDIL can promote collaboration and prompts universities, industry, agencies and government alike to act, not just talk.
Transcontinental Differences in Continuing Education
Authors: Stern Barry
Published: July 2017

To provide an overview of the US perspective on university–industry cooperation, the author focuses on four areas: (a) the roles of governments, the higher education sector, and industry in continuing technological education; (b) cooperation between higher education and industry in developing technological education; (c) areas in which Europe, Japan, and the USA can fruitfully cooperate in continuing technological education; and (d) major challenges for the short-term future.
Student Placement Activities of UETP DANUBE
Authors: Sickinger Ingeborg
Published: July 2017

Strand B(i) of the COMETT programme covers student placements in industry in another participating state. Placements are organized by UETPs. In this article, a representative from a regional Austrian UETP describes a UETP's experience with this particular area of COMETT activity.
The Business Leadership Program at Puget Sound, USA
Authors: Wiek James L.
Published: July 2017

The Business Leadership Program at the University of Puget Sound aims for excellence both in the technical areas of business and in the analytical skills gained through broad exposure to the liberal arts. Designed to provide high-quality business managers for the future workforce, the Program ensures that students learn about and experience the world of business in a number of ways. Guest speakers appear on campus to discuss topics related to leadership and business management. Each student is involved with a business executive who acts as a corporate mentor. The student also completes an internship which is designed to round out the classroom education through experience of the daily workings of an organization. James Wiek describes the establishment and development of the Business Leadership Program and details the ways in which the university is able to interact with business organizations in achieving the Program's objectives.
European Mobility and the UK Graduate Labour Market
Authors: Pearson Richard
Published: July 2017

Richard Pearson examines the extent to which the UK labour market for graduates is being affected by mobility to and from the continental European labour market and considers the likelihood of further changes as the completion of the Single European Market becomes a reality. He begins by providing the context of the main trends in the supply and demand for graduates in the UK, and then examines available evidence on the scale of flows into and out of the UK in areas of graduate employment. He follows this with an account of the latest evidence on how UK employers are becoming involved in recruitment from continental Europe before drawing conclusions about the circumstances in which the labour flows are likely to change in the 1990s.
The Role for Distance Education in India
Authors: Ansari M.M.
Published: July 2017

The development of higher education is of crucial significance to economic growth and social progress. Conventional education systems in India are constrained, in the face of rapidly increasing demand for education and qualifications, economically and geographically. Distance learning offers a low-cost, equitable, and efficient alternative. In this article, M.M. Ansari provides a financial comparison of conventional and distance education and considers the relative ‘quality’ of each. He then highlights a number of policy issues, including the importance of ploughing back revenue generated by distance learning programmes into distance learning schemes, rather than diverting it to subsidize conventional education; the matching of tuition to actual costs; and the need for a greater degree of networking and cooperation between educational institutions to effect economies of scale.
Educational Qualifications and the Labour Market
Authors: Kivinen Osmo , Rinne Risto
Published: July 2017

During the 1970s and 1980s a great deal of effort was invested in empirical research into the relationship between educational and occupational attainment. The concepts of ‘overeducation’, ‘underemployment’, and ‘diploma disease’ have been with us for some twenty years. In recent years, attention has been paid to the matching of educational qualifications to the qualification demands of work and the labour market, and the effects of this match or mismatch. In this article, Osmo Kivinen and Risto Rinne analyse the relationships between rising levels of education and demands for job qualifications. They deal with the potential of ‘over- and under-qualification’ and then examine the potential for increased flexibility in the modern labour market, in particular from a Scandinavian perspective. Finally, they discuss the implications of the new ‘flexible society’ for the future of higher education and educational qualifications in general.
The Technopolis in Japan
Authors: Higashi Haruhiko
Published: July 2017

The Technopolis Plan was initiated in Japan in the 1980s as a means of stimulating regional economies through cooperation between local industries and universities. In this article, the author analyses the objectives of the Plan and assesses the extent to which they have been achieved. His analysis shows that the anticipated degree of progress in establishing plants and laboratories of high-tech industries in Technopolis regions and in promoting technology transfer has not been made. He argues that the development of the Plan is now at a critical stage, and that the means which have been employed to advance its implementation need modification. He also suggests that innovative measures should be developed to establish a new relationship between universities and local enterprises — it is not enough simply to build new facilities, and this has been the emphasis of policies to date.
R&D at the Autonomous National University of Mexico
Authors: Cházaro Laura
Published: July 2017

This article traces the evolution of research and development activities at the Autonomous National University of Mexico (UNAM), one of the largest universities in the country. The author discusses the tensions between the teaching and research functions of the University, and the way in which the organization of these activities has changed over the years; the positive and negative impacts of the research incentives and evaluation systems that have aimed to encourage and promote R&D; and the efforts of the Center for Technological Innovation at the University to facilitate and encourage linkages between academic researchers and industry in the face of a low participation in R&D on the part of the private sector and a considerable cultural divide between the two sectors. A key problem is posed by a system of research evaluation which favours the more traditionally academic disciplines doing basic science research and tends to discourage technological and applied research.
Designing and conducting case study research in nursing
Authors: Woods Leslie Peter
Published: July 2017

Deciding upon the most appropriate methodological approach to adopt when designing a research study is an important consideration for a researcher. When reviewing published research it may appear that methodological selection is arbitrarily determined, rather than being based upon a sound set of principles. However, it is argued that methodological choices should be guided by a set of principles and beliefs about the purpose of the inquiry. As an example, the principles that guided the methodological choice of a multiple case study design to investigate the phenomenon of advanced nursing practice are presented. In addition, the key characteristics of designing and conducting multiple case studies are discussed and explained in the context of an on-going study. The use of this approach is encouraged as an additional and complementary method of scientific inquiry within the realm of nursing.
Magnetic spectroscopy of nanoparticulate greigite, Fe3S4
Authors: Pattrick Richard A. D. , Coker Victoria S. , Akhtar Masood , Malik M. Azad , Lewis Edward , Haigh Sarah , O'Brien Paul , Shafer Padraic C. , van der Laan Gerrit
Published: July 2017

Synthesis of Ni and Zn substituted nano-greigite, Fe3S4, is achieved from single source diethyldithiocarbamato precursor compounds, producing particles typically 50–100 nm in diameter with plate-like pseudohexagonal morphologies. Up to 12 wt.% Ni is incorporated into the greigite structure, and there is evidence that Zn is also incorporated but Co is not substituted into the lattice. The FeL3X-ray absorption spectra for these materials have a narrow single peak at 707.7 eV and the resulting main X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) has the same sign at 708.75 eV. All XMCD spectra also have a broad positive feature at 711 eV, a characteristic of covalent mixing. The greigite XMCD spectra contrast with the three clearly defined XMCD site specific peaks found in the ferrite spinel, magnetite. The FeL2,3X-ray absorption spectra and XMCD spectra of the greigite reflect and reveal the high conductivity of greigite and the very strong covalency of the Fe–S bonding. The electron hopping between Fe3+and Fe2+on octahedral sites results in an intermediate oxidation state of the Fe in the Ohsite of Fe2.5+producing an effective formula of [Fe3+↑]A-site[2Fe2.5+↓]B-siteS42–]. The NiL2,3X-ray absorption spectra and XMCD reveal substitution on the Ohsite with a strongly covalent character and an oxidation state <Ni1.5+in a representative formula [Fe3+↑]A[[(2 – x)Fe2.5+↓][Nix1.5+]]BS42–.
Neurocognitive Functioning of Children Treated for High-Risk B-Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Randomly Assigned to Different Methotrexate and Corticosteroid Treatment Strategies: A Report From the Children’s Oncology Group
Authors: Hardy Kristina K. , Embry Leanne , Kairalla John A. , Helian Shanjun , Devidas Meenakshi , Armstrong Daniel , Hunger Stephen , Carroll William L. , Larsen Eric , Raetz Elizabeth A. , Loh Mignon L. , Yang Wenjian , Relling Mary V. , Noll Robert B. , Winick Naomi
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are at risk for neurocognitive deficits that are associated with treatment, individual, and environmental factors. This study examined the impact of different methotrexate (MTX) and corticosteroid treatment strategies on neurocognitive functioning in children with high-risk B-lineage ALL.

Methods

Participants were randomly assigned to receive high-dose MTX with leucovorin rescue or escalating dose MTX with PEG asparaginase without leucovorin rescue. Patients were also randomly assigned to corticosteroid therapy that included either dexamethasone or prednisone. A neurocognitive evaluation of intellectual functioning (IQ), working memory, and processing speed (PS) was conducted 8 to 24 months after treatment completion (n = 192).

Results

The method of MTX delivery and corticosteroid assignment were unrelated to differences in neurocognitive outcomes after controlling for ethnicity, race, age, gender, insurance status, and time off treatment; however, survivors who were age < 10 years at diagnosis (n = 89) had significantly lower estimated IQ ( P < .001) and PS scores ( P = .02) compared with participants age ≥ 10 years. In addition, participants who were covered by US public health insurance had estimated IQs that were significantly lower ( P < .001) than those with US private or military insurance.

Conclusion

Children with high-risk B-lineage ALL who were age < 10 years at diagnosis are at risk for deficits in IQ and PS in the absence of cranial radiation, regardless of MTX delivery or corticosteroid type. These data may serve as a basis for developing screening protocols to identify children who are at high risk for deficits so that early intervention can be initiated to mitigate the impact of therapy on neurocognitive outcomes.
Randomized Trial Comparing Two Algorithms for Levothyroxine Dose Adjustment in Pregnant Women With Primary Hypothyroidism
Authors: Sullivan Shannon D , Downs Erin , Popoveniuc Geanina , Zeymo Alexander , Jonklaas Jacqueline , Burman Kenneth D
Published: July 2017

Context

Regulation of maternal thyroid hormones during pregnancy is crucial for optimal maternal and fetal outcomes. There are no specific guidelines addressing maternal levothyroxine (LT4) dose adjustments throughout pregnancy.

Objective

To compare two LT4 dose-adjustment algorithms in hypothyroid pregnant women.

Design

Thirty-three women on stable LT4 doses were recruited at <10 weeks gestation during 38 pregnancies and randomized to one of two dose-adjustment groups. Group 1 (G1) used an empiric two-pill/week dose increase followed by subsequent pill-per-week dose adjustments. In group 2 (G2), LT4 dose was adjusted in an ongoing approach in micrograms per day based on current thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level and LT4 dose. TSH was monitored every 2 weeks in trimesters 1 and 2 and every 4 weeks in trimester 3.

Setting

Academic endocrinology clinics in Washington, DC.

Main Outcome Measure

Proportion of TSH values within trimester-specific goal ranges.

Results

Mean gestational age at study entry was 6.4 ± 2.1 weeks. Seventy-five percent of TSH values were within trimester-specific goal ranges in G1 compared with 81% in G2 (P = 0.09). Similar numbers of LT4 dose adjustments per pregnancy were required in both groups (G1, 3.1 ± 2.0 vs G2, 4.1 ± 3.2; P = 0.27). Women in G1 were more likely to have suppressed TSH <0.1 mIU/L in trimester 1 (P = 0.01). Etiology of hypothyroidism, but not thyroid antibody status, was associated with proportion of goal TSH values.

Conclusions

We compared two options for LT4 dose adjustment and showed that an ongoing adjustment approach is as effective as empiric dose increase for maintaining goal TSH in hypothyroid women during pregnancy.
Emily Dickinson: Length and the Liberal Imagination
Authors: Arac Jonathan
Published: July 2017

To understand and evaluate Emily Dickinson's poetry forces criticism to reflect on issues of length, for which Aristotle and Edgar Allan Poe are two of the major theoretical resources, with further citation from Victor Hugo and Gustave Flaubert. Giuseppe Ungaretti's extraordinarily brief “Mattina” leads to consideration of Dickinson, through the critical encounters with her work by R. P. Blackmur and Lionel Trilling.
A Potential Intelligence: The Case of the Disappearing Poets
Authors: Rasula Jed
Published: July 2017

This essay considers the disappearance from the historical record of hundreds of American poets who published regularly in the first half of the twentieth century. Since a pedagogically oriented canon emerged in 1950, scholars have assumed that a small number of established figures were sufficient to assess the state of American poetry, but historical research reveals an unsuspected and uncharted world. It would behoove those who take historicism seriously to reinvestigate the lost terrain of book-length poems, regional authors, so-called light verse, as well as mainstream figures whose standing seemed secure in their day yet have disappeared from view.
Where are aphasia theory and management “headed”?
Authors: Tippett Donna C. , Hillis Argye E.
Published: July 2017

The sequelae of post-stroke aphasia are considerable, necessitating an understanding of the functional neuroanatomy of language, cognitive processes underlying various language tasks, and the mechanisms of recovery after stroke. This knowledge is vital in providing optimal care of individuals with aphasia and counseling to their families and caregivers. The standard of care in the rehabilitation of aphasia dictates that treatment be evidence-based and person-centered. Promising techniques, such as cortical stimulation as an adjunct to behavioral therapy, are just beginning to be explored. These topics are discussed in this review.
Validation of commercial ERK antibodies against the ERK orthologue of the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata
Authors: Courtial Lucile , Picco Vincent , Pagès Gilles , Ferrier-Pagès Christine
Published: July 2017

The extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) signalling pathway controls key cellular processes, such as cell cycle regulation, cell fate determination and the response to external stressors. Although ERK functions are well studied in a variety of living organisms ranging from yeast to mammals, its functions in corals are still poorly known. The present work aims to give practical tools to study the expression level of ERK protein and the activity of the ERK signalling pathway in corals. The antibody characterisation experiment was performed five times and identical results were obtained. The present study validated the immune-reactivity of commercially available antibodies directed against ERK and its phosphorylated/activated forms on protein extracts of the reef-building coral Stylophora pistillata.
GAC: Gene Associations with Clinical, a web based application
Authors: Zhang Xinyan , Rupji Manali , Kowalski Jeanne
Published: July 2017

We present GAC, a shiny R based tool for interactive visualization of clinical associations based on high-dimensional data. The tool provides a web-based suite to perform supervised principal component analysis (SuperPC), an approach that uses both high-dimensional data, such as gene expression, combined with clinical data to infer clinical associations. We extended the approach to address binary outcomes, in addition to continuous and time-to-event data in our package, thereby increasing the use and flexibility of SuperPC.  Additionally, the tool provides an interactive visualization for summarizing results based on a forest plot for both binary and time-to-event data.  In summary, the GAC suite of tools provide a one stop shop for conducting statistical analysis to identify and visualize the association between a clinical outcome of interest and high-dimensional data types, such as genomic data. Our GAC package has been implemented in R and is available via http://shinygispa.winship.emory.edu/GAC/. The developmental repository is available at https://github.com/manalirupji/GAC.
RNA substrate length as an indicator of exosome interactions in vivo
Authors: Delan-Forino Clémentine , Schneider Claudia , Tollervey David
Published: July 2017

Background: The exosome complex plays key roles in RNA processing and degradation in Eukaryotes and Archaea. Outstanding structural studies identified multiple pathways for RNA substrates into the exosome in vitro, but identifying the pathway followed by individual RNA species in vivo remains challenging.

Methods: We attempted to address this question using RNase protection. In vivo RNA-protein crosslinking (CRAC) was applied to the exosome component Rrp44/Dis3, which has both endonuclease and exonuclease activity. During CRAC, the exosome was purified under native conditions and subjected to RNase digestion, prior to protein denaturation and cDNA cloning. The resulting high-throughput sequence reads were stratified by length of the cDNA sequence. This should reflect RNA fragment lengths, and therefore the RNA region that was protected by exosome binding. We anticipated major read lengths of ~30nt and ~10nt, reflecting the “central channel” and “direct access” routes to the Rrp44 exonuclease active site observed in vitro.

Results: Unexpectedly, no clear peak was observed at 30nt, whereas a broad peak was seen around 20nt. The expected ~10nt peak was seen, and showed strong elevation in strains lacking exonuclease activity. Unexpectedly, this peak was suppressed by point mutations in the Rrp44 endonuclease active site. This indicates that the short fragments are degraded by the exonuclease activity of Rrp44, but also suggests that at least some may be generated by endonuclease activity.

Conclusions: The absence of 30nt protected fragments may reflect obligatory binding of cofactors at the entrance to the exosome central channel in vivo. The presence of ~20nt fragments apparently indicates an access route not yet reported from in vitro studies. Confident mapping of 10nt reads is challenging, but they are clearly derived from a subset of exosome targets. In particular, pre-rRNA species, which are major exosome targets, are strongly disfavored for the generation of short reads.
Tests based on characterizations, and their efficiencies: a survey
Authors: Nikitin Ya.
Published: July 2017

A survey of goodness-of-fit and symmetry tests based on the characterization properties of distributions is presented. This approach became popular in recent years. In most cases the test statistics are functionals of U-empirical processes. The limiting distributions and large deviations of new statistics under the null hypothesis are described. Their local Bahadur efficiency for various parametric alternatives is calculated and compared with each other as well as with diverse previously known tests. We also describe new directions of possible research in this domain.
Pattern recognition using hidden Markov models in financial time series
Authors: Rebagliati Sara , Sasso Emanuela
Published: July 2017

Our aim consists in developing a software which can recognize M trading patterns in real time using Hidden Markov Models (HMMs). A trading pattern is a predefined figure indicating a specific behavior of prices. We trained M + 1 HMMs using Baum-Welch Algorithm combined with Genetic Algorithm. In particular, with HMMs we describe M trading patterns while the other one, called threshold model, can recognize all the not predefined patterns. The classification algorithm correctly recognizes 93% of the provided patterns. Thanks to the analysis of the false positive examples, we finally designed some more filters to reduce them.
Statistical analysis of high-order Markov dependencies
Authors: Kharin Yu S.. , Maltsew M. V.
Published: July 2017

The paper deals with parsimonious models of integer valued time series. Such models are special cases of high-order Markov chain with a small number of parameters. Two new parsimonious models are presented. The first is Markov chain of order s with r partial connections, and the second model is called Markov chain of conditional order. Theoretical results on probabilistic properties and statistical inferences for these models are given.
Downward calibration property of estimated response propensities
Authors: Lepik Natalja , Traat Imbi
Published: July 2017

We consider four methods for estimating response propensities: three traditional ones (linear, logistic, probit) and one more recent, a decision tree method. We show that some but not all the methods produce estimates that calibrate sample totals of auxiliary variables down to the response set totals. The downward calibration property reveals interesting relationships between estimated propensities, auxiliary variables, and true response probabilities. However, the property itself does not guarantee more accurate propensity estimation. Our simulation study shows that the accuracy of the estimation method depends primarily on the relationship nature between true response probabilities and auxiliary variables.
On expected score of cellwise alignments
Authors: Klement Riho , Lember Jüri
Published: July 2017

We consider certain suboptimal alignments of two independent i.i.d. random sequences from a finite alphabet A = {1;...,K}, both sequences having length n. In particular, we focus on so-called cellwise alignments, where in the first step so many 1-s as possible are aligned. These aligned 1-s define cells and the rest of the alignment is defined so that the already existing alignment of 1-s remains unchanged. We show that as n grows, for any cellwise alignment, the average score of a cell tends to the expected score of a random cell, a.s. Moreover, we show that a large deviation inequality holds. The second part of the paper is devoted to calculating the expected score of certain cellwise alignment referred to as priority letter alignment. In this alignment, inside every cell first all 2-s are aligned. Then all 3-s are aligned, but in such way that the already existing alignment of 2-s remains unchanged. Then we continue with 4-s and so on. Although easy to describe, for K bigger than 3 the exact formula for expected score is not that straightforward to find. We present a recursive formula for calculating the expected score.
A ‘pocket version of me’
Authors: Middleton Anna
Published: July 2017

London hygienist Anna Middleton believes dental care should be accessible to all. Here, she explains why a power toothbrush is more than just a lifestyle brand
Going the distance
Authors: Bones Marie
Published: July 2017

What's it like to be a dental nurse to Dentist of the Year – and for 22 years? Marie Bones talks about her knockout career
Just the beginning
Authors: Ellwood Fiona
Published: July 2017

Fiona Ellwood reviews the Society of British Dental Nurses' Annual Dental Symposium
How clean is your phone?
Authors: Clark Clare
Published: July 2017

Setting standards in surface cleaning, with Clare Clark
Radiation in the beginning
Authors: Cash Charlotte
Published: July 2017

A history lesson and a modern-day learning resource
Nobody is perfect
Authors: Willatt Susan
Published: July 2017

Dental Protection's Susan Willatt, argues that everyone can make mistakes but the important thing is to learn from them
Deoxycholic acid: establishing the clinical need for an additional injectable procedure
Authors: Fletcher Leslie
Published: July 2017

The demand for treatment with non-surgical fat-reduction modalities is increasing. According to statistics reported by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (2015) , 67% of consumers have concerns about their submental fullness. In response to this, the aesthetic industry has introduced a new category of injectables to achieve the complete opposite of existing products: where indications for administering cosmetic injectables typically relate to the need to add volume to reduce the signs of ageing, deoxycholic acid is used to remove volume in order to reduce signs of ageing. After just 2 years, deoxycholic acid has pushed its way into fifth place of the top five injectable treatments available in the US, with a 90% growth rate in the year 2015. Since its launch, it has grown faster than botulinum toxin type A (Botox) did in its infancy. This article explores the techniques and advantages of incorporating deoxycholic acid into aesthetic practice.
Automated microneedling is going up on the aesthetics agenda
Authors: Barker Sarah
Published: July 2017

Microneedling is becoming increasingly popular in the field of aesthetic dermatology and more and more practitioners are adding treatments with automated devices to their clinic offering. Sarah Barker provides an overview of how the treatment works, advises practitioners on how to ensure patients are comfortable during the procedure and compares different types of needle-based collagen induction
How do you ensure your treatment promotions are ethical?
Authors: Ray Emily , Hool Claire
Published: July 2017

Every sector caters to people with different needs, requiring business owners to know as much as possible about their target audience, and make a concerted effort to not only meet, but also exceed their expectations. Two clinic managers from different parts of the world discuss the importance of advertising cosmetic procedures in a way that protects clinics and patients alike
Do research papers provide enough information on design and material used in ankle foot orthoses for children with cerebral palsy? A systematic review
Authors: Eddison N. , Mulholland M. , Chockalingam N.
Published: July 2017

Objectives

The purpose of this article is to determine how many of the current peer-reviewed studies of ankle foot or-thoses (AFOs) on children with cerebral palsy (CP) have included adequate details of the design and material of the AFO, to enable the study to be reproduced and outcomes clearly understood.

Methods

A thorough search of studies published in English was conducted in March 2015, with no restriction on dates, within all major databases using relevant phrases. These searches were then supplemented by tracking all key references from the appropriate articles identified.

Study selection

The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) population - children with CP; (2) intervention - AFOs; and (3) outcome measure. One reviewer extracted data regarding the characteristics of the included studies, with the extracted data checked for accuracy and completeness by a second reviewer. None of the studies reviewed gave adequate details of the AFOs. Only 3.6% (n = 2) of papers tested the stiffness. Many studies (54.5%) did not describe the material used nor the material thickness (72.7 %). None of them gave any clinical justification for the chosen design of AFO.

Conclusions

There is a clear paucity of detail regarding the design and material used in AFOs on studies involving children with CP. Such a lack of detail has the potential to affect the validity of the reported outcomes, the ability to reproduce the studies and may misinform clinical practice.
Inter- and intra-rater reliability of the head-shaft angle in children with cerebral palsy
Authors: Hermanson M. , Hägglund G. , Riad J. , Rodby-Bousquet E.
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Children with cerebral palsy (CP) are at increased risk for hip dislocation. This can be prevented in most cases using surveillance programmes that include radiographic examinations. Known risk factors for hip dislocation include young age, high Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level and high migration percentage (MP). The head-shaft angle (HSA) has recently been described as an additional risk factor. The study aim was to determine inter- and intra-rater reliability of the HSA in a surveillance programme for children with CP.

Methods

We included hip radiographs from the CP surveillance programme CPUP in southern Sweden during the first half of 2016. Fifty radiographs were included from children at GMFCS levels II-V, with a mean age of 6.6 (SD 3.2) years. Three raters measured the HSA of one hip (left or right) at baseline and four weeks later; intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to estimate inter- and intra-rater reliability.

Results

Inter- and intra-rater reliability were excellent for the HSA, with ICC 0.92 (95% CI 0.87-0.96) and ICC 0.99 (95% CI 0.98-0.99), respectively.

Conclusion

The HSA showed excellent inter- and intra-rater reliability for children with CP, providing further evidence for use of the HSA as an additional factor for identifying risk for further hip displacement or dislocation.
Development of a Graphical Tool to integrate the Prometheus AEOlus methodology and Jason Platform
Authors: Cunha Rafhael , Billa Cleo , Adamatti Diana
Published: July 2017

Software Engineering (SE) is an area that intends to build high-quality software in a systematic way. However, traditional software engineering techniques and methods do not support the demand for developing Multiagent Systems (MAS). Therefore a new subarea has been studied, called Agent Oriented Software Engineering (AOSE). The AOSE area proposes solutions to issues related to the development of agent oriented systems. There is still no standardization in this subarea, resulting in several methodologies. Another issue of this subarea is that there are very few tools that are able to automatically generate code. In this work we propose a tool to support the Prometheus AEOlus Methodology because it provides modelling artifacts to all MAS dimensions: agents, environment, interaction, and organization. The tool supports all Prometheus AEOlus artifacts and can automatically generated code to the agent and interaction dimensions in the AgentSpeak Language, which is the language used in the Jason Platform. We have done some validations with the proposed tool and a case study is presented.
Predicting Plan Failure by Monitoring Action Sequences and Duration
Authors: Farias Giovani Parente , Pereira Ramon Fraga , Hilgert Lucas W. , Meneguzzi Felipe , Vieira Renata , Bordini Rafael H.
Published: July 2017

An agent can attempt to achieve multiple goals and each goal can be achieved by applying various different plans. Anticipating failures in agent plan execution is important to enable an agent to develop strategies to avoid or circumvent such failures, allowing the agent to achieve its goal. Plan recognition can be used to infer which plans are being executed from observations of sequences of activities being performed by an agent. Symbolic Plan Recognition is an algorithm that represents knowledge about the agents under observation in the form of a plan library. In this work, we use this symbolic algorithm to find out which plan the agent is performing and we develop a failure prediction system, based on information available in the plan library and in a simplified calendar which manages the goals the agent has to achieve. This failure predictor is able to monitor the sequence of agent actions and detects if an action is taking too long or does not match the plan that the agent was expected to be performing. We have successfully employed this approach in a health-care prototype system.
APPROACHES TO THE GAS CONTROL IN UCG
Authors: Kačur Ján , Kostúr Karol
Published: July 2017

Underground Coal Gasification represents an alternative for conventional coal mining. This technology is also less expensive than traditional mining. It is expected that coal will be an important energy source in the coming decades. In requirement to improve the gasification process we must ensure that the combustion reactions generated enough energy to heat the reactants. This can be achieved by controlling the flow of oxidizing agents and the underpressure control at the exit of the reactor UCG. This paper aims to propose the stabilization of air flow as a main gasification agent injected to the gasifier, underground temperature and concentration of O2 in syngas. Also there is proposed the mechanism that could cope with uncertainties in the process of UCG and its control on stabilization level. Paper presents utilization of discrete controller with adaptation in order to stabilization of UCG process variables. The controllers were verified on experimental ex-situ reactor (generator).
HEIGHT AND WIDTH PARAMETERS FOR ENSURING PASSAGE OF EXCESSIVE LOADS ON ROADS
Authors: Petrů Jan , Křivda Vladislav
Published: July 2017

The article deals with the problem of passage of excessive transports on the roads and ensuring the necessary height and width parameters for this transport in the Czech Republic. Currently is lack of regulations for the design of communications for transit of excessive and oversized cargo in the Czech Republic. On the basis of these aspects the research in this area was carried out and the parameters were set to ensure the passage of excessive loads on the road. The article describes the issue of transportation in the Czech Republic, created database of transports with its resulting statistical analysis. It also describes the procedure for determining the resulting parameters, which should serve as a basis for the legislation and technical conditions.
ELECTRICAL AND THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES OF A COLLAGEN SOLUTION
Authors: Štancl Jaromír , Skočilas Jan , Landfeld Aleš , Žitný Rudolf , Houška Milan
Published: July 2017

This paper focuses on measurements of the electrical properties, the specific heat capacity and the thermal conductivity of a collagen solution (7.19% mass fraction of native bovine collagen in water). The results of our experiments show that specific electrical conductivity of collagen solution is strongly dependent on temperature. The transition region of collagen to gelatin has been observed from the measured temperature dependence of specific electrical conductivity, and has been confirmed by specific heat capacity measurements by a differential scanning calorimetry.
Genealogy, Culture and Technomyth
Authors: Braybrooke Kat , Jordan Tim
Published: July 2017

Western-derived maker movements and their associated fab labs and hackerspaces are being lauded by some as a global industrial revolution, responsible for groundbreaking digital “entanglements” that transform identities, practices and cultures at an unprecedented rate (Anderson 2014; Hills 2016). Assertions proliferate regarding the societal and entrepreneurial benefits of these “new” innovations, with positive impacts ascribed to everything, from poverty to connectivity. However, contradictory evidence has started to emerge, suggesting that a heterogeneous set of global cultural practices have been homogenized. This paper employs a materialist genealogical framework to deconstruct three dominant narratives about information technologies, which we call “technomyths” in the tradition of McGregor et al. After outlining the maker movement, its assumptions are examined through three lesser-cited examples: One Laptop per Child in Peru, jugaad in India and shanzhai copyleft in China. We then explore two preceding technomyths: Open Source and Web 2.0. In conclusion, we identify three key aspects as constitutive to all three technomyths: technological determinism of information technologies, neoliberal capitalism and its “ideal future” subjectivities and the absence and/or invisibility of the non-Western.
Detección molecular y análisis filogenético de Hepatozoon canis (Eucoccidiorida: Haemogregarinidae) en perros clínicamente sanos de Bahía Blanca (Buenos Aires)
Authors: CICUTTIN Gabriel , DE SALVO María N.
Published: July 2017

Las enfermedades caninas causadas por protozoarios y transmitidas por garrapatas representan un importante problema en medicina veterinaria. El objetivo del estudio fue detectar molecularmente Hepatozoon spp., Babesia spp. y Theileria spp. en perros clínicamente sanos de distintas regiones de Argentina y analizar la diversidad genética de los hallazgos obtenidos. Se analizaron 163 muestras de ADN de sangre de perros (40 de Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; 33 de Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires; 15 de Castelli, Chaco; 27 de Salsipuedes, Córdoba; 40 de Merlo, San Luis; y 8 de San Miguel, Corrientes). Mediante una PCR que amplifica un fragmento variable (460-540 pb) del gen ARNr 18S incluyendo la región V4 de los géneros Hepatozoon, Babesia y Theileria, el 12,1 % (4/33) de los perros de Bahía Blanca (Buenos Aires) resultaron positivos. Las secuencias obtenidas se identificaron como Hepatozoon canis y resultaron filogenéticamente similares a hallazgos en Sudamérica y en el resto del mundo. El estudio de H. canis en Argentina mediante técnicas moleculares de diagnóstico junto con el análisis filogenético resulta de suma importancia para conocer la situación de este patógeno en el país.
Revolution and Counterrevolution, 1917–2017
Authors: Foster John Bellamy
Published: July 2017

If counterrevolution ultimately triumphed over the revolutionary waves of the twentieth century, how are we to understand this, and what does it mean for the future of world revolution? The answer requires a survey of the whole history of imperialist geopolitics over the last century.Click here to purchase a PDF version of this article at the Monthly Review website.