bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Conversation with Bruno Latour and Nikolaj Schultz: Reassembling the Geo-Social
Authors: Stein Pedersen Jakob Valentin , Latour Bruno , Schultz Nikolaj
Published: August 2019

Including empirical examples and theoretical clarifications on many of the analytical issues raised in his recently published Down to Earth (2018), this conversation with Bruno Latour and his collaborator, Danish sociologist Nikolaj Schultz, offers key insights into Latour’s recent and ongoing work. Revolving around questions on political ecology and social theory in our ‘New Climatic Regime’, Latour argues that in order to have politics you need a land and you need a people. This interview present reflections on such politics, such land and such people, and it ends with a call for a sociology that takes up the task of connecting the three by investigating what he and Schultz call ‘geo-social classes’. The interview was conducted by Jakob Stein in Paris in November 2018.
Exile, Use, and Form-of-Life: On the Conclusion of Agamben’s Homo Sacer series
Authors: van der Heiden Gert-Jan
Published: August 2019

The last two volumes of Giorgio Agamben’s Homo Sacer series are concerned with developing a theory of use. This article offers a critical assessment of the two concepts, use and form-of-life, that form the heart of this theory: how do these two notions offer a solution to the problem of bare life that forms the core of the Homo Sacer series? First, the author describes how the original problem of bare life is taken up in The Use of Bodies and how the notion of use offers an important additional characteristic of bare life. Second, inspired by Foucault’s analysis of ancient Cynicism, the author discusses in which sense the type of ‘solution’ Agamben offers to the problem of bare life might be seen as an heir to ancient Cynicism and how this interpretation clarifies his connection of form-of-life and exile. Third, the author critically assesses the different usages of use that we can find in Agamben, by comparing how Franciscan usus, Pauline chrēsis and Platonic chrēsis are taken up in his analysis. Fourth, following Foucault, the author deepens the Platonic sense of use and its relation to taking care of justice. The article concludes with a critical assessment of Agamben’s reading of Plato’s myth of Er, in which the motifs of use, exile, and care are gathered.
Incorporation of information ethics into the curriculum at the University of Botswana
Authors: Oladokun Olugbade , Jorosi Boemo
Published: August 2019

The rapid proliferation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) has resulted in universities becoming avid users of digital devices. However, extant research shows that paralleling this trend has been an alarming rate of unethical behavior amongst users of ICTs. The University of Botswana (UB) hosted the second international conference of the newly formed African Network on Information Ethics (ANIE) in 2010, and has been represented virtually in all four conferences held thus far. While UB has played a key part in ANIE activities, the extent to which information ethics has been incorporated into its curriculum has not been assessed. The objective of this study is to assess the extent to which information ethics have been incorporated into the curriculum. Following both the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and ANIE models, a content analysis of the University of Botswana courses was undertaken. Seven of the eight faculties had a total of 56 courses with information ethics, but only 9 (16.1%) of the 56 courses were graduate level. A large proportion of the courses were optional and they are bereft of WSIS and ANIE contents. Recommendations are made for incorporating these information ethics contents into the University of Botswana curricula.
Exclusion Criteria as Measurements II: Effects on Utility Functions
Authors: Dewitt Barry , Fischhoff Baruch , Davis Alexander L. , Broomell Stephen B. , Roberts Mark S. , Hanmer Janel
Published: August 2019

Background. Researchers often justify excluding some responses in studies eliciting valuations of health states as not representing respondents’ true preferences. Here, we examine the effects of applying 8 common exclusion criteria on societal utility estimates. Setting. An online survey of a US nationally representative sample ( N = 1164) used the standard gamble method to elicit preferences for health states defined by 7 health domains from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®). Methods. We estimate the impacts of applying 8 commonly used exclusion criteria on mean utility values for each domain, using beta regression, a form of analysis suited to double-bounded scales, such as utility. Results. Exclusion criteria have varied effects on the utility functions for the different PROMIS health domains. As a result, applying those criteria would have varied effects on the value of treatments (and side effects) that change health status on those domains. Limitations. Although our method could be applied to any health utility judgments, the present estimates reflect the features of the study that produced them. Those features include the selected health domains, standard gamble method, and an online format that excluded some groups (e.g., visually impaired and illiterate individuals). We also examined only a subset of all possible exclusion criteria, selected to represent the space of possibilities, as characterized in a companion article. Conclusions. Exclusion criteria can affect estimates of the societal utility of health states. We use those effects, in conjunction with the results of the companion article, to make suggestions for selecting exclusion criteria in future studies.
Learning task-oriented grasping for tool manipulation from simulated self-supervision
Authors: Fang Kuan , Zhu Yuke , Garg Animesh , Kurenkov Andrey , Mehta Viraj , Fei-Fei Li , Savarese Silvio
Published: August 2019

Tool manipulation is vital for facilitating robots to complete challenging task goals. It requires reasoning about the desired effect of the task and, thus, properly grasping and manipulating the tool to achieve the task. Most work in robotics has focused on task-agnostic grasping, which optimizes for only grasp robustness without considering the subsequent manipulation tasks. In this article, we propose the Task-Oriented Grasping Network (TOG-Net) to jointly optimize both task-oriented grasping of a tool and the manipulation policy for that tool. The training process of the model is based on large-scale simulated self-supervision with procedurally generated tool objects. We perform both simulated and real-world experiments on two tool-based manipulation tasks: sweeping and hammering. Our model achieves overall 71.1% task success rate for sweeping and 80.0% task success rate for hammering.
Urodynamic 4D-CT evaluation: 320-row area detector CT scanner combined with PhyZiodynamics software analysis provides an innovative system to evaluate urinary flow and outlet obstructions
Authors: Mori Shintaro , Yashiro Hideki , Inoue Masanori , Takahara Kiyoshi , Kusaka Mamoru , Shiroki Ryoichi
Published: August 2019

Background

Evaluation of the morphology of the lower urinary tract as well as the movements associated with urination are required for the symptomatic diagnosis of lower urinary tract obstruction as well as the assessment of postoperative adaptation. However, no tool currently exists for direct and easy patient evaluation.

Purpose

To evaluate lower urinary tract obstruction and postoperative adaptation using a four-dimensional (4D) virtual reality urination image (urodynamic 4D-CT image).

Material and Methods

We used a 320-row area detector CT scanner and PhyZiodynamics image analysis software to perform 197 urodynamic 4D-CT examinations on 175 first-time patients between January 2014 and March 2017.

Results

A comparison of the obtained images before and after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate revealed the morphological changes due to prostate enucleation and enabled visualization of the ideal urination conditions, showing that the anatomical structural changes during urination and the opening of the urethra play a major role in improving voiding function.

Conclusion

Using low-dosage radiation, the sharply defined moving image obtained via urodynamic 4D-CT examination can be utilized as a physiological diagnostic tool to evaluate a series of urinary movements from any angle between the prostate, urethra, and bladder in a unitary manner with the time axis added. There was negligible patient impact. This technique could provide new opportunities for the diagnosis of lower urinary tract symptoms and post-surgical adaptation assessment.
A case of extensive ductal carcinoma in situ and sclerosing adenosis with metastasis on sentinel lymph node
Authors: Narter Selin , Hasdemir Secil , Tolunay Sahsine , Gokgoz Sehsuvar
Published: August 2019

Introduction:

Sclerosing adenosis is a form of adenosis characterized by lobulocentric architecture, glandular and stromal proliferation in which the stromal component compresses and distorts the glandular structures. Atypical epithelial proliferations such as atypical lobular hyperplasia, lobular carcinoma in situ, and ductal carcinoma in situ may accompany areas of sclerosing adenosis. We present a case of ductal carcinoma in situ and sclerosing adenosis with metastatic carcinoma on sentinel lymph node.

Case description:

A 40-year-old woman presented with a palpable mass in her left breast. Radiologic studies showed a lesion suggesting malignancy in the left breast and atypical lymph node in the left axillary region. Left lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed. Histopathologic examination revealed lobulocentric lesions with glandular proliferation and hyalinizing stroma in between. Foci of high-grade cribriform and solid type ductal carcinoma in situ were observed. Sentinel lymph node biopsy showed micrometastasis in one lymph node section. Based on these findings, the patient was diagnosed with high-grade ductal carcinoma in situ with sclerosing adenosis. However, the presence of micrometastasis in the lymph node suggested occult invasion that we were not able to detect.

Conclusion:

Ductal carcinoma in situ with sclerosing adenosis can mimic invasive carcinoma both radiologically and histologically. It should be kept in mind that there may be occult invasive carcinoma in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ whether the lesion is accompanied by sclerosing adenosis or not. Multiple sections and immunohistochemical studies can be of help.
Auditory Space Perception in the Blind: Horizontal Sound Localization in Acoustically Simple and Complex Situations
Authors: Feierabend Martina , Karnath Hans-Otto , Lewald Jörg
Published: August 2019

Even though it is widely believed that cross-modal neuroplasticity in blindness results in enhanced auditory spatial abilities, a growing number of studies also indicate disadvantages of blind persons for specific, more demanding audiospatial tasks. Here, the effects of blindness on horizontal sound localization were compared for simple localization of target sounds presented in isolation and target localization in an acoustically complex ( cocktail-party) situation with multiple distractor sounds. While performances of blind and sighted subjects were similar in the cocktail-party setting, a significant disadvantage of blind subjects was found for simple localization of sound sources presented in the center of the frontal space, with the mean absolute error being more than twice that of controls for targets in the median plane. The latter result could be due to the lack of visual calibration of auditory space, which may, in sighted persons, be most effective in the region of maximum visual acuity. On the other hand, the normal performance of blind persons in cocktail-party localization could be explained by the fact that this task, in addition to genuine spatial analysis, critically involved spectrotemporal analysis of the auditory scene to separate different sources for which superior performance is known from previous research.
Quantitative methods II: How we moved on – Decades of change in philosophy, focus and methods
Authors: Johnston Ron , Harris Richard , Jones Kelvyn , Manley David , Wang Wenfei Winnie , Wolf Levi
Published: August 2019

The first of these three reports reprised human geography’s theoretical and quantitative revolutions’ origins, covering the philosophy, focus and methods that dominated their early years. Over the subsequent decades the nature of work categorised as quantitative human geography changed very considerably – in philosophy, focus and methods. This second report summarises those changes, highlighting the main features of the extensive volume of work published over the last five decades, as a prelude to the final report that will focus on the contemporary nature of quantitative human geography and its likely futures.
The Ideal Location of the Lateral Hinge in Medial Closing Wedge Osteotomy of the Distal Femur: Analysis of Soft Tissue Coverage and Bone Density
Authors: Kim Tae Woo , Lee Myung Chul , Cho Jae Ho , Kim Jong Seop , Lee Yong Seuk
Published: August 2019

Background:

Although an appropriate hinge position to prevent unstable lateral hinge fractures is well established in medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy, the position during medial closing wedge distal femoral osteotomy has not been elucidated.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

The purpose was to evaluate the ideal hinge position that would prevent an unstable lateral hinge fracture during biplanar medial closing wedge distal femoral osteotomy based on soft tissue coverage and bone density around the hinge area. The hypothesis was that the ideal hinge position could be clarified by analyzing soft tissue coverage and bone density around the lateral hinge area.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

In 20 cadaveric knees (mean age, 70.3 ± 19.2 years), the femoral attachment of the gastrocnemius lateral head was quantitatively analyzed as a soft tissue stabilizer using digital photography and fluoroscopy. Then, medial closing wedge distal femoral osteotomy was performed, locating the lateral hinge either inside (group 1) or outside (group 2) the femoral attachment of the gastrocnemius lateral head, and the incidence of unstable lateral hinge fractures was compared between the 2 groups. Cortical bone density around the lateral hinge was measured using Hounsfield units on 30 computed tomography scans and reconstructed as a 3-dimensional mapping model. The transitional zone with low bone density was regarded as the safe hinge position with an increased capacity for bone deformation.

Results:

The upper and lower margins of the femoral attachment of the gastrocnemius lateral head were 9.1 ± 0.9 mm above and 8.0 ± 1.4 mm below the upper border of the lateral femoral condyle, respectively, and the femoral attachment of the gastrocnemius lateral head was widest in the anteroposterior dimension 0.4 ± 1.7 mm above the upper border of the lateral femoral condyle. The incidence of unstable lateral hinge fractures during osteotomy was significantly decreased in group 1 compared with group 2 (group 1: 0/10; group 2: 5/10; P = .01). An isolated transitional zone with low bone density was observed in all 30 knees and located 1.3 ± 0.8 mm above the upper border of the lateral femoral condyle. Bone density of the transitional zone with low bone density was significantly lower than surrounding femoral cortices ( P < .001).

Conclusion:

Only the upper border of the lateral femoral condyle can be recommended as an ideal hinge position to prevent unstable lateral hinge fractures during biplanar medial closing wedge distal femoral osteotomy based on soft tissue coverage and bone density.

Clinical Relevance:

When the hinge is positioned at the upper border of the lateral femoral condyle during biplanar medial closing wedge distal femoral osteotomy, the risk of unstable hinge fractures can be minimized.
Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate induces DNA strand breaks and gene expression alterations in larval zebrafish Danio rerio
Authors: Boran Halis , Terzi Serap
Published: August 2019

Contamination of the aquatic environment by plastic industrial products and their by-products is remarkable. Because of their physical, chemical, and biological degradation resistance, plasticizers can enter the food chain of living organisms, accumulate in the body and generate toxic effects. Here we determined the potential toxic effects of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) plasticizer to larval (72 h post fertilization) zebrafish ( Danio rerio) by analyzing changes in expression levels of stress-related genes ( p53, rad51, and xrcc5) by the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Also, possible DNA damage by DEHP in larvae was determined. The concentration of DEHP (0–160 mg/l) that killed 50% of the larval zebrafish within 96 h was 54.02 mg/l. There was a concentration-related increase in DNA damage in cells from larvae exposed (96 h) to DEHP. DNA damage of 31.13% (mean ± standard error of the mean) was observed in larvae at the highest sublethal DEHP concentration (10 mg/l). Some significant differences in the induction of stress-related genes were also observed in larvae exposed to DEHP relative to control ( p < 0.05). The conclusion drawn from this ecotoxicological risk assessment is that, under present use and exposure patterns, DEHP presents a small hazard to zebrafish larvae.
Neonatal Eating Assessment Tool—Breastfeeding: Reference Values for Infants Less Than 7 Months old
Authors: Pados Britt Frisk , Park Jinhee , Thoyre Suzanne M.
Published: August 2019

Background

The Neonatal Eating Assessment Tool—Breastfeeding is a valid and reliable 62-item parent-report assessment of symptoms of problematic breastfeeding behavior intended for infants less than 7 months old.

Research aim

The aim of this study was to describe the Neonatal Eating Assessment Tool—Breastfeeding total score and subscale scores within a sample of full-term, healthy, typically-developing infants under 7 months old.

Methods

Parents of healthy, full-term breastfeeding infants ( N = 475) less than 7 months old completed the Neonatal Eating Assessment Tool – Breastfeeding through an online survey. Descriptive statistics were calculated for the total score and seven subscale scores within each age group: 0–2, 2–4, 4–6, and 6–7 months.

Results

Neonatal Eating Assessment Tool—Breastfeeding total scores were highest (i.e., more problematic symptoms) at 0–2 months and decreased in older infant age groups. All subscale scores also had a downward trajectory in symptoms of problematic breastfeeding except the subscale Compelling Symptoms of Problematic Feeding, which was very low across age groups.

Conclusion

The Neonatal Eating Assessment Tool—Breastfeeding now has reference values to facilitate interpretation of scores and guide decision-making, personalization of interventions, and assessment of response to interventions. For research, the Neonatal Eating Assessment Tool—Breastfeeding can be used to follow longitudinal development of breastfeeding as well as to test efficacy of breastfeeding interventions.
Growth and Change in the Journal of Human Lactation: A Content Analysis 1985–2018
Authors: Bamberger Ethan T. , Eden Aimee R. , Marinelli Kathleen A. , Gonzalez Paola A. , Tinsley Sara , Dodgson Joan E.
Published: August 2019

Background:

A professional association journal should reflect the needs of its organization, its readers, and the field it represents. Evaluating the needs that the Journal of Human Lactation has met, and those it has not, is essential if it is to remain relevant to its readers.

Aims:

(1) Describe the characteristics of articles published from 1985 through 2018. (2) Describe content intended to educate lactation support providers and clinicians. (3) Explore the ways the content has illustrated the growth and development of lactation knowledge, and (4) identify the reoccurring content threads consistent throughout the 34 years.

Methods:

A prospective mixed methods approach incorporating a quantitative content analysis and a qualitative thematic analysis was used. Frequency distributions were done on all the variables extracted from published articles ( N = 1586). The second level of analysis identified themes using an iterative and consensus approach.

Results:

Mirroring the growth in the lactation field, the volume of research articles published each year has increased along with the percent of research articles per issue. Research methods have become more diverse. The international scope and relevance, while always present, has been steadily increasing. Threads identified were; striving for international scope, advancing lactation education, developing a body of knowledge that informs clinical practice in lactation, and creating a centralized place for multidisciplinary research about lactation.

Conclusion:

The body of work published in the Journal of Human Lactation parallels the development of the lactation specialty. We have highlighted areas for improvement and possible further study.
Discontinuation of Exclusive Breastfeeding in Ghana: A Longitudinal, One-Group Observational Study of Postnatal Mothers With Children 0–6 Months old
Authors: Ganle John Kuumuori , Bedwei-Majdoub Vanessa-Marie
Published: August 2019

Background

Although exclusive breastfeeding of infants has several benefits, in Ghana only 52% of children under 6 months old are breastfed exclusively. However, researchers have not conducted longitudinal observational studies to examine exclusive breastfeeding discontinuation and determine risk factors.

Research aims

(1) To determine exclusive breastfeeding discontinuation, and (2) to examine those factors linked to discontinued exclusive breastfeeding.

Methods

A longitudinal, one-group observational study was conducted. A total of 322 mothers who had normal and full-term delivery at a district level referral hospital from January to December 2017 were recruited, followed-up every month, and subsequently interviewed after 6 months postpartum. Data were collected using validated questionnaires. Binary and multivariable Poisson regression analyses were the statistical analytical methods used.

Results

Respondents’ mean age was 29.78 years ( SD = 5.20). Among the 322 mothers who initiated breastfeeding with human milk at birth, 108 (34%) discontinued exclusive breastfeeding before 6 months postpartum. After controlling for possible covariates, attending antenatal care 4 or less times during pregnancy ( aRR = 6.54; 95% CI [1.77–24.22]; p = .005); lack of support from family to breastfeed exclusively ( aRR = 2.41; 95% CI [1.23–4.71]; p = .010), outside pressure to provide other food to the baby < 6 months postpartum ( aRR = 1.87; 95% CI [1.01–3.46]; p = .045), and living in an urban area ( aRR = 2.10; 95% CI [1.17-3.75]; p = .013) significantly increased the risks of discontinuing exclusive breastfeeding.

Conclusion

Universal exclusive breastfeeding may not be achieved without tackling the key determinants of discontinuation of exclusive breastfeeding. Health facility and community-based exclusive breastfeeding promotion interventions are therefore needed.
The 85% bed occupancy fallacy: The use, misuse and insights of queuing theory
Authors: Proudlove Nathan C
Published: August 2019

Queuing theory can and has been used to inform bed pool capacity decision making, though rarely by managers themselves. The insights it brings are also not widely and properly understood by healthcare managers. These two shortcomings lead to the persistent fallacy of there being a globally applicable optimum average occupancy target, for example 85%, which can in turn lead to over- or under-provision of resources. Through this paper, we aim both to make queuing models more accessible and to provide visual demonstrations of the general insights managers should absorb from queuing theory. Occupancy is a consequence of the patient arrival rate and ‘treatment’ rate (the number of beds and length of stay). There is a trade-off between the average occupancy and access to beds (measured by, for example, the risk of access block due to all beds being full or the average waiting time for a bed). Managerially, the decision-making input should be the level of access to beds required, and so bed occupancy should be an output. Queuing models are useful to quickly draw the shape of these access-occupancy trade-off curves. Moreover, they can explicitly show the effect that variation (lack of regularity) in the times between arrivals and in the lengths of stay of individual patients has on the shape of the trade-off curves. In particular, with the same level of access, bed pools subject to lower variation can operate at higher average occupancy. Further, to improve access to a bed pool, reducing variation should be considered.
The role of public service bargains in cutback management: Insights in reforms in the Dutch penitentiary sector
Authors: Schmidt Eduard
Published: August 2019

Public managers need to interact with their political principals when managing cutbacks. However, research on cutback management did not put much emphasis on this interaction. We analyse how the interaction between public managers and political principals develops during cutbacks, and how this affects cutback management. We analyse these interactions between political principals and public managers as a public service bargain. This study employs an in-depth qualitative case study on recent cutbacks in the Dutch penitentiary system. The results show that cutbacks put the interaction between public managers and political principals under pressure. As political principals feel that public managers’ loyalty towards them is violated, they centralise decision making. Consequently, public managers are withheld responsibility for cutback management. Strong resistance to cutbacks from public managers and subsequent political uproar leads to both actors having to find a new balance in the bargain. Furthermore, it leads to changes in both the content (what is cut back back) and the process (how are cutbacks decided upon and implemented) of cutback management. The first conclusion of this study and our contribution to the cutback management literature is that if we want to understand the work and behaviour of public managers during cutbacks, we cannot neglect the political context public managers work in. Second, we contribute to the literature on PSBs, as we conclude that cutbacks, even if they do not impact the institutional, formal part of the bargain, have the potential to affect public service bargains and thus, the interactions between public managers and political principals.
Study of the epoxy/amine equivalent ratio on thermal properties, cryogenic mechanical properties, and liquid oxygen compatibility of the bisphenol A epoxy resin containing phosphorus
Authors: Wang Hongyu , Li Shichao , Yuan Yuhuan , Liu Xin , Sun Tao , Wu Zhanjun
Published: August 2019

A liquid oxygen-compatible epoxy resin is successfully prepared by changing the epoxy/amine equivalent ratio (SR) of a phosphorus-containing epoxy resin. The liquid oxygen impact test results showed that the modified resin was compatible with liquid oxygen only when the SR was 0.8. The mechanical properties at 90 K showed that the strain energy and impact toughness reached the maximum when the SR was 0.8, which suggested that the reduced rigidity might be beneficial to improve the liquid oxygen compatibility of the polymer. The thermomechanical and thermal results showed that the cross-linking density and thermal stability was proportional to SR. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis showed that the P=O group in the resin decomposed into phosphoric oxidative solids and P–N intermediates to inhibit the resin from decomposing and contacting with liquid oxygen during impact. Overall, this study provides a new idea for the design of liquid oxygen-compatible epoxy resin.
Rotor optimization for the improvement of ultrasonic motor performance
Authors: Xu Zhangfan , Di Sisi , Pan Song , Chen Lei , Huang Weiqing
Published: August 2019

The rotor deformation of an ultrasonic motor is an important factor affecting its performance. However, little research focuses on the relationship between the rotor deformation and motor performance. This paper provides an approach to improve the ultrasonic motor's output properties by changing the rotor's size from the view of proper rotor deformation and better stress distribution on the interface. First, a thin shell structure is introduced to study the deformation of the rotor. A finite element model of the motor is built in COMSOL Multiphysics software for the contact analysis of the stress distribution. Then, the optimized ranges of parameters are determined by simulation. Frictional experiments are conducted to verify the feasibility of the rotor under the optimized size. Finally, the performance experiments of a stator corresponding to different sizes of rotor are carried out. The experimental results show that the speed, the power and the efficiency of the optimized rotor are all increase. These results prove the effectivity of the new approach to improving the performance of the ultrasonic motor.
Design methodology of a novel variable stiffness actuator based on antagonistic-driven mechanism
Authors: Ning Yinghao , Xu Wenfu , Huang Hailin , Li Bing , Liu Fei
Published: August 2019

This paper concerns the construction of a novel variable stiffness actuator with antagonistic-driven mechanism (ADM-VSA). The ADM-VSA consists of two cam mechanisms and two constant stiffness spring mechanisms establishing the antagonistic structure to eliminate the empty return journey. The former with symmetrical cam profiles are designed for the movement of actuator, while the latter are explored substituting traditional springs of generating compliance for compact structure. To obtain desired performance of the actuator, the design methodology is developed for constructing the ADM-VSA, integrating the constant stiffness spring mechanism design method from four-bar mechanism to multi-bar mechanism, the comprehensive optimization of cam profiles and sensitivity analysis of structural parameters. The comprehensive optimization is conducted with different-order Bezier splines considering the torque, stiffness, and energy by friction simultaneously. The sensitivity analysis is performed to investigate the influence of structural errors on the performance of actuator, with new indexes decreasing the workload of calculation, and several guidelines for the design and manufacturing are achieved. Finally, a prototype is developed to verify the reliability of ADM-VSA and, further, proves the validity of proposed design methods.
Investigation of the scattering of Lamb waves from a generalized circular cavity by using Poisson/Mindlin plate theories and numerical simulation
Authors: Sedaghati Adel , Honarvar Farhang , Tabatabaeipour Morteza , Sinclair Anthony N
Published: August 2019

A mathematical model for the scattering of a symmetric [Formula: see text] Lamb wave mode from a circular cavity in an isotropic plate is developed that can handle both symmetric and asymmetric single- and double-sided blind holes. The theoretical formulation is based on Mindlin and Poisson plate theories. A finite element model is also utilized to extract the scattering patterns of Lamb waves from various cases of a generalized circular cavity. Two-dimensional FFT analysis is used to determine the transmitted and reflected Lamb wave modes when the incident wave interacts with either symmetric (through-hole and double-sided blind hole) or asymmetric (blind hole and double-sided blind hole) cavities. Results indicate that the remaining thickness of a cavity zone and the type of a cavity are two key parameters in the scattering pattern. For asymmetric cavities, the shape of the scattering pattern of the mode-converted [Formula: see text] mode does not vary significantly. However, the amplitude of the scattering pattern shows noticeable changes in the out-of-plane component of the displacement. Results obtained from the proposed theory and finite element model are in good agreement with previously published data.
Effect of fiber orientation on the milling performance of quartz fiber composites in cryogenic cooling
Authors: Wang Fengbiao , Wang Yongqing
Published: August 2019

Quartz-reinforced polyimide composite is a kind of material with anisotropic and nonuniform properties. The machinability has high dependence on fiber orientation θ. This paper presents the first comprehensive investigation on the cutting model of composites based on fiber orientation. A series of cryogenic cooling milling experiments were carried out to study the influence of fiber orientation on surface morphology, roughness, milling force, and tool wear. The results show that fiber orientation with acute angle has more advantages than obtuse angle. At the same time, it can provide effective chip breaking for latitude and longitude fibers at θ = 45° acute angle. Besides, when the tool is swept 96°, the milling force will reach the maximum, and the shearing effect of the latitude fiber is achieved maximum near θ = 60°. Similarly, the best surface quality is obtained where pits, crack, and burr defects are effectively restrained. Meanwhile, when the chosen cutting speeds are 50, 100, and 150 m/min, the roughness of 0.86 µm, 0.61 µm, 0.5 µm can be attained with θ = 48°, 55°, and 57°, respectively. Although the tool wear is relatively obvious when θ = 60°, the tool is still in a stable wear stage with better machining effect. Hence, it can be concluded that cryogenic cooling machining has better machinability and cutting effect at fiber orientation θ = 60° with larger milling parameters.
Thermal analysis on optimizing the capillary tube length of a milk chiller using DC compressor operated with HFC-134a and environment-friendly HC-600a refrigerants
Authors: Sidney Shaji , Prabakaran Rajendran , Dhasan Mohan Lal
Published: August 2019

In this work, the thermal analysis on optimizing the capillary tube lengths of a dual circuit refrigeration system was carried out experimentally. Two refrigeration circuits were individually operated using two DC powered compressors (HFC-134a and HC-600a) instead of conventional AC powered compressors. The capillary tube optimization was done to maximize the coefficient of performance and exergy efficiency. From the results, it was found that the power consumption and the refrigerant mass flow rate decreases with the increase of capillary tube length for both the HFC-134a and HC-600a circuits, while the refrigeration capacity and coefficient of performance increased up to the capillary tube length of 4.57 m and then decreased. The maximum refrigeration capacity, ice formed, power consumption, and coefficient of performance experienced in the HC-600a circuit were 9.65%, 19.03%, 3.53%, and 7.34% lower than those of the HFC-134a circuit at the optimum capillary tube length. It was also found that at the optimum capillary length, the COP was maximum for the HFC-134a circuit while the exergy efficiency was maximum for the HC-600a circuit. The exergy efficiency of the HC-600a circuit was 11.13% higher than that of the HFC-134a circuit. At the optimum capillary tube length, the total equivalent warming impact values of the HFC-134a and HC-600a circuits were 961.13 kg CO2-eq and 785.77 kg CO2-eq, respectively.
Investing in subsidized childcare to reduce poverty
Authors: Hufkens Tine , Figari Francesco , Vandelannoote Dieter , Verbist Gerlinde
Published: August 2019

Expanding childcare is often considered as a suitable way to enhance employment opportunities for mothers with young children as well as to reduce child poverty. In this study, the authors critically investigate this assertion by simulating a set of scenarios of increasing subsidized childcare slots and mothers’ employment. For a variety of European welfare states, the impact on poverty and on the government’s budget is estimated using the European microsimulation model EUROMOD. The findings suggest that to achieve significant poverty reductions among young children, both additional childcare slots and increased mothers’ employment should be well targeted. The expenditures for additional childcare slots can to a large extent be recovered by the government receipts generated by the additional employment; however, there appears to be a trade-off between the extra revenue that can be generated and the extent of poverty reduction.
Caring for older people with dementia reliving past trauma
Authors: Craftman Åsa Gransjön , Swall Anna , Båkman Kajsa , Grundberg Åke , Hagelin Carina Lundh
Published: August 2019

Background:

The occurrence of behavioural changes and problems, and degree of paranoid thoughts, are significantly higher among people who have experienced extreme trauma such as during the Holocaust. People with dementia and traumatic past experiences may have flashbacks reminding them of these experiences, which is of relevance in caring situations. In nursing homes for people with dementia, nursing assistants are often the group of staff who provide help with personal needs. They have firsthand experience of care and managing the devastating outcomes of inadequate understanding of a person’s past experiences.

Aim:

The aim was to describe nursing assistants’ experiences of caring for older people with dementia who have experienced Holocaust trauma.

Research design:

A qualitative descriptive and inductive approach was used, including qualitative interviews and content analysis.

Participants and research context:

Nine nursing assistants from a Jewish nursing home were interviewed.

Ethical considerations:

The study was approved by the Regional Ethical Review Board, Stockholm.

Findings:

The theme ‘Adapting and following the survivors’ expression of their situation’ was built on two categories: Knowing the life story enables adjustments in the care and Need for flexibility in managing emotional expressions.

Discussion and conclusion:

The world still witnesses genocidal violence and such traumatic experiences will therefore be reflected in different ways when caring for survivors with dementia in the future. Person-centred care and an awareness of the meaning of being a survivor of severe trauma make it possible to avoid negative triggers, and confirm emotions and comfort people during negative flashbacks in caring situations and environments. Nursing assistants’ patience and empathy were supported by a wider understanding of the behaviour of people with dementia who have survived trauma.
Spirituality, Religion, and Medicine Education for Internal Medicine Residents
Authors: Piscitello Gina M. , Martin Shannon
Published: August 2019

Purpose:

Spirituality and religion affect patient health. This topic is often not included in medical resident education. We aimed to evaluate resident knowledge, attitudes, and skill regarding spirituality, religion, and medicine and to develop, implement, and evaluate a curriculum to improve these measures.

Methods:

Internal medicine residents at a large, urban academic center were surveyed to determine their baseline knowledge, attitudes, and skill regarding spirituality and religion (37.4% response rate, n = 46/123). A lecture and discussion-based curriculum was implemented over 1 year, followed by another survey (41.4% response rate, n = 51/123); χ2 statistic was used to compare pre- and postsurveys to evaluate the curriculum.

Results:

Baseline resident attitudes toward spirituality, religion, and medicine were high with most agreeing chaplains are valuable in patient care (93.5%) and that patient spiritual and religious beliefs can affect health (93.5%). Resident self-reported knowledge and skill were low with few knowing the training chaplains receive (4.3%) or reporting competence taking a spiritual history (15.2%). After the curriculum, resident self-reported knowledge increased regarding the role of chaplains (56.5%-80.4%, P = .011) and the training chaplains receive (4.3%-27.5%, P = .002). No significant postcurriculum change was seen in attitudes or skill.

Conclusions:

Most internal medicine residents have positive attitudes toward spirituality, religion, and medicine. They do not have adequate knowledge or skill to care for patients in this area, however. Implementation of a curriculum in spirituality, religion, and medicine improved resident self-reported knowledge. Future work should focus on revising the curriculum to better improve resident knowledge and skill.
Non-Tenure Track Faculty Satisfaction: A Self-Determination Model
Authors: Crick Kent A. , Larson Lisa M. , Seipel Matthew T.
Published: August 2019

Full-time non-tenure track faculty, commonly referred to as NTT faculty, are increasingly utilized in higher education and shoulder much of the teaching load within academic institutions. Self-determination theory (SDT) has shown promise as a conceptual frame for characterizing the relationship between environmental support factors and NTT faculty satisfaction. Full-time NTT faculty were sampled nationwide ( N = 3,527) to investigate an SDT-based model positing basic psychological needs (i.e., volitional autonomy and relatedness) as mediators between six environmental support indices and NTT faculty satisfaction (i.e., teaching/service and global satisfaction). Structural equation model results showed volitional autonomy and relatedness fully mediated the relationships between the six environmental supports and both indices of faculty satisfaction. Results highlight the utility of basic psychological needs in understanding the relationships between the environment and NTT faculty satisfaction. Implications, future directions, and limitations are also presented.
Proximal and Distal Failure Site Analysis in Percutaneous Achilles Tendon Rupture Repair
Authors: Wagner Pablo , Wagner Emilio , López Mario , Etchevers Gastón , Valencia Oscar , Guzmán-Venegas Rodrigo
Published: August 2019

Background:

Different techniques have been described for percutaneous Achilles tendon rupture repair, but no biomechanical evaluation has been performed separately for proximal and distal suturing techniques. The purpose of this study was to biomechanically analyze proximal versus distal percutaneous Achilles suture configurations during cyclic loading and load to failure.

Methods:

A simulated, midsubstance rupture was created 6 cm proximal to the calcaneal insertion in fresh-frozen cadaveric Achilles tendons. Fifteen proximal specimens were divided into 3 groups: (A1) triple locking technique, (A2) Bunnell-type technique, and (A3) double Bunnell-type technique. Twelve distal specimens were divided into 2 groups: (B1) triple nonlocking technique and (B2) oblique technique. Repairs were subjected to cyclic testing and load to failure. Load to failure, cause of failure, and tendon elongation were evaluated.

Results:

None of the proximal specimens and 7/12 of the distal ones failed in cyclic testing. The proximal fixation groups demonstrated significantly more strength than the distal groups ( P = .001), achieving up to 710 N of failure load in Group A3. Groups B1and B2 failed on average at 380 N with no difference between them ( P > .05). The majority of all repairs failed in the suture-tendon interface. Distal groups had more elongation during cyclic testing (13.7 mm) than proximal groups (9.4 mm) ( P = .02).

Conclusion:

The distal fixation site in this Achilles tendon repair was significantly weaker than the proximal fixation site. A proximal modified suture configuration increased resistance to cyclic loading and load to failure significantly.

Clinical Relevance:

A modification can be suggested to improve strength of the Achilles repair.
Experimental and analytical study on the superharmonic resonance of size-dependent cantilever microbeams
Authors: Li Zhenkun , He Yuming , Lei Jian , Guo Song , Liu Dabiao
Published: August 2019

The superharmonic resonance (SR) of size-dependent cantilever microbeams is investigated experimentally and analytically. Nickel cantilever microbeams are employed with concentrated harmonic force on the tip. The SR of order two, three, four, five, and six are observed. The frequency–response curves (FRCs) near the SR frequencies as well as the time histories are obtained. The FRCs indicate that the superharmonic resonant frequencies are different from the classical situation. Furthermore, a nonlinear model within the framework of modified couple stress theory is derived to interpret the observations by aid of Hamilton's variation principle. The resulting partial differential equation of motion is discretized into a series of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) by a two-mode Galerkin scheme. The ODEs are then solved analytically with the multi-dimensional Lindstedt–Poincaré method. Analytical results are in good agreement with experimental results in SR of order three. The effects of different nonlinear terms, length scale parameter, and damping coefficients on the nonlinear system are then discussed.
Active vibration control using piezoelectric actuators employing practical components
Authors: Williams D , Haddad Khodaparast H , Jiffri S , Yang C
Published: August 2019

Unwanted vibrations are a common occurrence within structures and systems, and often pose a threat to their integrity or functionality. This research aims to seek a solution to attenuate the vibrations experienced within a link of a system using active vibration control with piezoelectric patches as actuators, whilst avoiding the use of large and expensive equipment which would contravene with the common objective of maintaining the smallest mass possible of the system. Previous research has employed large and expensive equipment as the controller, with sensors often only being able to measure the vibrations of the structure along one axis; this research aims to address these issues. The choice of utilizing the small, lightweight, and low-cost Raspberry Pi 3 combined with petite, mountable sensors and actuators was made based upon the greater practicality that the controller, sensors, and actuators exhibit, allowing for their use in a wide variety of applications. An analytical model of the structure was created based on Euler–Bernoulli beam theory and validated through the modal parameters and the frequency response obtained from a finite element model and experimental data. A controller was then designed and applied to the analytical model to attenuate the vibrations along the link, and then the same design was implemented within the Raspberry Pi 3, and experimental studies were carried out. The introduction and effectiveness of a purposeful time delay within the controller was explored within the experimental and analytical studies, with the intention of counteracting unfavorable results produced by the control system. The results of the experiment proved the control design to be effective for a range of frequencies that included the first natural frequency of the link, and validated the analytical model including the control design.