bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analogy Retrieval Through Textual Inference
Authors: Sanaei Roozbeh , Lu Wei , Blessing Luciënne T. M. , Otto Kevin N. , Wood Kristin L.
Published: November 2017

Analogy-making has been deemed one of the core cognitive mechanisms which play a role in human creative thinking activities such as design and art. Designers can make use of analogies in various stages of design including ideation, planning and evaluation. However, human analogy-making is limited by experience and reliance of human memory on superficial attributes rather than relational or causal structure during analogy retrieval. In this regard, different design-by-analogy tools have been developed to assist designers in analogical reasoning. Analogical reasoning tools can be viewed as either based on hand-coded structured knowledge or natural-language-based design-by-analogy tools. The former are naturally limited in extent and scope to that which was hand coded [1]. Alternatively, natural language analogical reasoning can leverage the abundantly available textual resources. Current text-based analogy research for design have relied on analogies between individual word meanings. This leaves open consideration of the relational structure of the language where the relational similarity of texts can indicate a significant analogy. In this article, we develop four computational models of analogy that capture relational structure of the text. This includes spatial representation of semantics, multi-level deep neural reasoning, graph matching based model and transformation-based model. The models are then combined together into an ensemble model to achieve acceptable level of analogical accuracy for the end-user. The underlying design-related knowledge upon which analogies were drawn includes engineering ontologies, function hierarchy and raw patent texts. Instantiating this analogical reasoning model in design concept analogy retrieval system, we show this approach can help retrieve meaningful analogies from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) patent repository. We demonstrate this for a particular design problem.
A Generalized Method for Featurization of Manufacturing Signals, With Application to Tool Condition Monitoring
Authors: Ferguson Max , Law Kincho H. , Bhinge Raunak , Lee Yung-Tsun Tina
Published: November 2017

The application of machine learning techniques in the manufacturing sector provides opportunities for increased production efficiency and product quality. In this paper, we describe how audio and vibration data from a sensor unit can be combined with machine controller data to predict the condition of a milling tool. Emphasis is placed on the generalizability of the method to a range of prediction tasks in a manufacturing setting. Time series, audio, and acceleration signals are collected from a Computer Numeric Control (CNC) milling machine and discretized into blocks. Fourier transformation is employed to create generic power spectrum feature vectors. A Gaussian Process Regression model is then trained to predict the condition of the milling tool from the feature vectors. We highlight that this multi-step procedure could be useful for a range of manufacturing applications where the frequency content of a signal is related to a value of interest.
Reliability-Based Design Optimization (RBDO) for Electric Vehicle Market Systems
Authors: Lee Ungki , Kang Namwoo , Lee Ikjin
Published: November 2017

When designing a product, both engineering uncertainty and market heterogeneity should be considered to reduce the risk of failure in the market. Reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) approach allows decision makers to achieve target confidence in product performance under engineering uncertainty. Design for market systems (DMS) approach helps decision makers to find profit-maximized product design under market heterogeneity. This paper integrates RBDO and DMS approaches for an Electric vehicle (EV) design. Consumers’ preferences on warranted battery lifetime are heterogeneous while battery life itself is affected by various uncertainties such as battery characteristics and driving patterns. We optimized and compared four scenarios depending on whether engineering systems are deterministic or probabilistic, and whether a market is homogeneous or heterogeneous. The results provide some insight on how the optimal EV design should be altered depending on engineering uncertainty and market heterogeneity.
Influence of Printing Orientation on the Dynamic Characteristics and Vibration Behavior of 3D Printed Structures
Authors: Singh Kumar Vikram , Khan Fazeel , Veta Jacob , Singh Anil Kumar
Published: November 2017

Rapid development in the field of additive manufacturing, evidenced, in part, by the proliferation of low cost 3D printing, has accelerated the prototyping and design evaluation stages of the product development cycle. 3D printed structures have shown variations in their material properties as a function of the printing orientation. Moreover, thermoplastic materials which are often used as filament materials for 3D printing are known to have dependency on temperature, frequency and strain rate. Hence, the aim of this research is to estimate the variations in the complex modulus of the printed materials as a function of printing direction. This will allow an estimation of the variation in the vibration characteristics (natural frequencies, damping) of the printed structures as a function of printing direction. To this end, PLA beams were printed in four different orientations. A dynamic mechanical analyzer was used to measure mechanical properties of the printed beams. By using a curve fit method, the frequency and temperature dependent complex modulus is estimated. These complex moduli are used for estimating the eigenvalues of a non-dimensional beam. The observed variability in the vibration behavior as a function of the printing orientation is summarized here.
A Design Methodology for a Flexible Wind Turbine Blade With an Actively Variable Twist Distribution to Increase Region 2 Efficiency
Authors: Khakpour Nejadkhaki Hamid , Hall John F.
Published: November 2017

This paper presents a methodology for designing key features of a flexible wind turbine blade with an actively variable twist distribution. Simulation results suggest this capability can increase the aerodynamic efficiency during Region 2 operation. The concept for the flexible blade consists of a rigid spar with flexible modular segments that form the surrounding shells. The segments are additively manufactured. The associated compliances of the each individual segment and actuator placement determine the Twist Angle Distribution (TAD). It is assumed that the degree of flexibility for each segment will be established through the design and additive manufacturing (AM) processes. Moreover, the variations in compliance make it possible for the blade to conform to the desired set of TAD geometries. The design process first determines the TAD that maximizes the aerodynamic efficiency for discrete points of wind speed in Region 2. The results are obtained using the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Aerodyn software and a genetic algorithm. The TAD geometry is then passed to a mechanical design algorithm that locates a series of actuators and defines the stiffness ratio between the blade segments. The process employs a computer cluster to create the TAD for a set of design scenarios. The design selections are found through an objective function. It minimizes the amount of deviation between the actual TAD and that found in the aerodynamic analysis. The free-shape TAD is determined in the final step. The geometry is chosen to minimize the amount of deflection needed to shape the TAD, which changes with Region 2 wind speed. A case study suggests that a blade with only five actuators can achieve the full range of TAD geometry. Moreover, the design solution can increase the efficiency at cut-in and rated speeds up to 3.8% and 3.3%, respectively.
Development of CAD-Integrated Cost Estimator to Support Design for Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Armstrong Andrew P. , Barclift Michael , Simpson Timothy W.
Published: November 2017

Design for Additive Manufacturing is an evolving field that allows alternative design approaches to facilitate improvements in parts and builds by taking advantage of the capability of additive manufacturing (AM). Currently, available CAD software does not provide sufficient tools for AM designers, which results in a complex iterative process requiring multiple file types and programs. The complicated process of generating build time and cost estimates prevents designers from being able to efficiently optimize their parts for the AM process. Through the Solidworks Application Programming Interface a user-controlled macro was developed to generate build time and cost estimates by automatically creating support structures from multiple planes of comparative Ray Trace vector grids. The macro provides the user with visual and qualitative part information at the first stage in the design/file workflow, curtailing the current complex workflow to reduce overall design time. The macro is focused on the material extrusion process due to the diversity in available machines and build control, favoring user knowledge of specific parameters to calculate the build time and cost. Limitations of the approach along with extensions to other AM processes are also discussed.
Deep Learning for Design in Concept Clustering
Authors: Zhang Chengwei , Kwon Youngwook Paul , Kramer Julia , Kim Euiyoung , Agogino Alice M.
Published: November 2017

Concept clustering is an important element of the product development process. The process of reviewing multiple concepts provides a means of communicating concepts developed by individual team members and by the team as a whole. Clustering, however, can also require arduous iterations and the resulting clusters may not always be useful to the team. In this paper, we present a machine learning approach on natural language descriptions of concepts that enables an automatic means of clustering. Using data from over 1,000 concepts generated by student teams in a graduate new product development class, we provide a comparison between the concept clustering performed manually by the student teams and the work automated by a machine learning algorithm. The goal of our machine learning tool is to support design teams in identifying possible areas of “over-clustering” and/or “under-clustering” in order to enhance divergent concept generation processes.
A Collaborative Data Management System for Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Lu Yan , Witherell Paul , Donmez Alkan
Published: November 2017

As additive manufacturing (AM) continues to mature as a production technology, the limiting factors that have hindered its adoption in the past still exist, for example, process repeatability and material availability issues. Overcoming many of these production hurdles requires a further understanding of geometry-process-structure-property relationships for additively manufactured parts. In smaller sample sizes, empirical approaches that seek to harness data have proven to be effective in identifying material process-structure-property relationships. This paper presents a collaborative AM data management system developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This data management system is built with NoSQL (Not Only Structured Query Language) database technology and provides a Representational State Transfer (REST) interface for application integration. In addition, a web interface is provided for data curating, exploring, and downloading. An AM data schema is provided by NIST for an alpha release, as well as a set of data generated from an interlaboratory study of additively manufactured nickel alloy (IN625) parts. For data exploration, the data management system provides a mechanism for customized web graphic user interfaces configurable through a visualization ontology. As a collaboration platform, the data management system is set to evolve through sharing of both the AM schema and AM development data among the stakeholders in the AM community. As data sets continue to accumulate, it becomes possible to establish new correlations between processes, materials, and parts. The functionality of the data management system is demonstrated through the curation and querying of the curated AM datasets.
Thermal adsorption-enhanced atomic layer etching of Si3N4
Authors: Kim Woo-Hee , Sung Dougyong , Oh Sejin , Woo Jehun , Lim Seungkyu , Lee Hyunju , Bent Stacey F.
Published: November 2017

Atomic layer etching (ALE) is an alternative method for nanopatterning in which atomic layers of material are removed by sequential self-limiting surface reactions. In this study, the authors report a new cyclic process for atomic layer etching of Si3N4 films achieved by alternating exposure steps of CH3F gas adsorption and Ar+ bombardment. Self-limiting etching characteristics of the ALE process are demonstrated as a function of both CH3F etchant flow rate and CH3F exposure time. From comparative studies on the amount of Si3N4 etched using the ALE mode versus pure Ar+ ion sputtering, it is found that the ALE process operates with an ALE synergy factor of ∼67% and also removes Si3N4 with better uniformity due to cooperative interactions between the self-limited CH3F chemisorption and the Ar+ ion sputtering. Based on both the chemical bonding changes following the CH3F etchant exposure and reaction product analyses during the Ar+ plasma step, possible etch reaction steps for the ALE Si3N4 process are proposed.
Ultrafast magnetization reversal by picosecond electrical pulses
Authors: Yang Yang , Wilson Richard B. , Gorchon Jon , Lambert Charles-Henri , Salahuddin Sayeef , Bokor Jeffrey
Published: November 2017

Magnetic switching is induced in 10 ps by electrical current pulses.
K-Λ crossover transition in the conduction band of monolayer MoS
2
under hydrostatic pressure
Authors: Fu Lei , Wan Yi , Tang Ning , Ding Yi-min , Gao Jing , Yu Jiachen , Guan Hongming , Zhang Kun , Wang Weiying , Zhang Caifeng , Shi Jun-jie , Wu Xiang , Shi Su-Fei , Ge Weikun , Dai Lun , Shen Bo
Published: November 2017

We experimentally demonstrate the direct-to-indirect bandgap transition of monolayer MoS
2
under hydrostatic pressure.
Oral epithelial cells orchestrate innate type 17 responses to
Candida albicans
through the virulence factor candidalysin
Authors: Verma Akash H. , Richardson Jonathan P. , Zhou Chunsheng , Coleman Bianca M. , Moyes David L. , Ho Jemima , Huppler Anna R. , Ramani Kritika , McGeachy Mandy J. , Mufazalov Ilgiz A. , Waisman Ari , Kane Lawrence P. , Biswas Partha S. , Hube Bernhard , Naglik Julian R. , Gaffen Sarah L.
Published: November 2017

Candidalysin, a hypha-associated fungal peptide, drives interleukin-17 responses to
Candida albicans
.
The yin and yang of cytokine priming on the macrophage epigenome
Authors: Davis Laurie S.
Published: November 2017

TNF and type I interferons alter TLR4 responses by reprogramming the macrophage genome.
Risk Factors and Outcomes for Ineffective Empiric Treatment of Sepsis Caused by Gram-Negative Pathogens: Stratification by Onset of Infection
Authors: Micek Scott T. , Hampton Nicholas , Kollef Marin
Published: November 2017

Sepsis and septic shock remain serious consequences of infections, with reported mortality rates in excess of 40 percent. Timely antibiotic therapy in cases of sepsis and septic shock is recognized as an important determinant of outcome. However, the administration of ineffective empirical treatment (IET) (an initial antibiotic regimen that is not active against the identified pathogen[s] based on
in vitro
susceptibility testing results) is associated with excess mortality compared to effective empirical treatment (EET). We examined all hospitalized patients at Barnes-Jewish Hospital with a sterile site (blood or pleural, abdominal, cerebrospinal, synovial, and pericardial fluid) culture positive for Gram-negative (GN) bacteria combined with a primary or secondary ICD-9-CM code for severe sepsis (995.92) or septic shock (785.52) between January 2010 and October 2015. Variables significantly associated with early-onset (<48 h of hospitalization) IET of GN sterile site sepsis and septic shock included age, recent hospitalization, and prior intravenous antibiotics. Late-onset IET was associated with increasing numbers of hospitalization days before infection onset and prior intravenous antibiotic administration. For patients with early-onset infection, we found no difference in rates of survival between patients receiving IET and EET. However, patients in the late-onset infection group receiving IET had a statistically lower rate of survival than those receiving EET. These data suggest that risk factors and outcomes for IET can vary based on the time of onset of infection. Our results also highlight the importance of prior intravenous antibiotic exposure as a risk factor for IET in infections by GN bacteria regardless of the time of onset of infection.
Missed opportunity to diagnose subungual melanoma: potential pitfalls!
Authors: Dunphy Louise , Morhij Rossell , Verma Yash , Pay Andrew
Published: November 2017

Subungual melanoma, an uncommon form of acral melanoma that arises within the nail matrix, accounts for 1%–3% of all cutaneous melanoma in Caucasians. As subungual melanoma presents in a more disguised manner than cutaneous lesions, increased vigilance is required. It most commonly presents as a discolouration of the nail, nail splitting or nail-bed bleeding. Black pigmentation of the adjacent nail fold, termed Hutchinson’s sign, may be a diagnostic clue. Treatment of subungual melanoma remains surgical with wide local excision and amputation primary modalities. We present the case of a 61-year-old man with an 18-month history of a left thumb nail-bed abnormality and a 6-week history of left axillary lymphadenopathy. One year earlier, he presented to the emergency department with a purulent discharge from his left thumb but declined nail-bed ablation. He was referred to the ‘Hand and Plastic Injuries Clinic’ by his general practitioner and diagnosed with a chronic traumatic-induced nail-bed injury. As his symptoms did not improve, he was referred to the 2-week wait Skin Cancer Clinic. The left thumb nail-bed was excised as a nail unit down to bone, and the diagnosis of melanoma was rendered. Left axillary lymphadenopathy was confirmed as metastatic melanoma. He underwent amputation of his left thumb at the interproximal phalangeal joint, and a left axillary node dissection was performed. No residual melanoma was identified in his thumb. Microscopically, his left axillary dissection confirmed 9 out of 36 positive nodes for metastatic melanoma with extracapsular spread. He was staged at IIIC disease. This case report demonstrates missed opportunities to diagnose subungual melanoma and acts as a cautionary tale in considering this pathology in the differential diagnosis of nail-bed lesions with prompt referral for further investigation.
The effects of microduplication 1q21.1 and in-utero isotretinoin exposure
Authors: Taylor Sarah Kirsten , Toko Remy
Published: November 2017

The impact of in-utero isotretinoin exposure has been widely reported, with many affected pregnancies failing to reach term.1 2Due to the low numbers of in-utero isotretinoin exposed pregnancies, the interactions between this drug and rare genetic defects such as microduplication 1q21.1 are unclear, particularly how they might manifest phenotypically. We present this case of in-utero isotretinoin exposure occurring in a child with microduplication 1q21.1. The child was born with congenital abnormalities which did not fit into a single syndrome. Regrettably in-utero exposure to isotretinoin continues to occur. We hope this case will trigger further discussion on the dangers of dispensing Isotretinoin without ensuring stringent pregnancy testing and its potential interaction with genetic abnormalities, in particular with microduplication 1q21.1.
Hepatic epithelioid haemangioendothelioma (HEHE): a diagnostic dilemma between haemangioma and angiosarcoma
Authors: van Rosmalen Belle Vivica , Verheij Joanne , Phoa Saffire S K S , van Gulik Thomas Matthijs
Published: November 2017

We present a case of a 77-year-old male patient with a liver tumour diagnosed as hepatic epithelioid haemangioendothelioma (HEHE), a potentially malignant tumour treated with liver resection. The patient is disease-free 3 years after resection. Imaging features using fludeoxyglucose F 18 positron emission tomography CT and MRI with gadoxic acid as well as histopathological findings are discussed.
Anti-LGI1 encephalitis causing faciobrachial dystonic seizures
Authors: Zouras Stamatios , Stephens Jeffrey W , Abburu Srinivasa Rao , Emelle Chika
Published: November 2017

Anti-leucine-richglioma inactivated protein 1 (LGI1) encephalitis has an autoimmune origin and can be reversed with immunotherapy. It is obvious that identifying and treating this condition early is of paramount importance. We present the case of a 69-year-old man who was admitted to hospital with faciobrachial dystonic seizures and was found to have antibodies to LGI1. His symptoms started approximately 3 months prior admission to the hospital. There had also been some subtle cognitive impairment. He was treated with two courses of intravenous immunoglobulin and commenced on prednisolone 50 mg daily and clonazepam 500 µg at night. Despite these treatments, his seizures were becoming progressively more frequent and severe. He then underwent treatment with a course of plasma exchange followed by an intravenous infusion of methylprednisolone and returned to his previous baseline function.
Parenchymal asbestosis due to primary asbestos exposure among ship-breaking workers: report of the first cases from Bangladesh
Authors: Muralidhar Venkiteswaran , Ahasan Md Faizul , Khan Ahad Mahmud
Published: November 2017

We report for the first time asbestosis among ship-breaking workers of Sitakunda in Bangladesh who were exposed to asbestos during ship-based and beach-based operations for at least 10 years. Asbestosis was present among 35% of workers. Years of work (>20) and forced vital capacity (<80% of predicted) were significantly associated with the disease. Currently, global ship-breaking operations are mainly concentrated in the Indian subcontinent, and Bangladesh has the majority share. Ninety per cent of domestic steel is produced in the ship-breaking operations in Bangladesh and is an important contributor to the economy. It also gives employment to more than 100 000 people. It is imperative to medically check up all the workers for benign and malignant diseases causally related to asbestos among these vulnerable population of workers.
Health extension workers improve tuberculosis case finding and treatment outcome in Ethiopia: a large-scale implementation study
Authors: Datiko Daniel G , Yassin Mohammed A , Theobald Sally J , Blok Lucie , Suvanand Sahu , Creswell Jacob , Cuevas Luis E
Published: November 2017

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major cause of death in Ethiopia. One of the main barriers for TB control is the lack of access to health services.

Methods

We evaluated a diagnostic and treatment service for TB based on the health extension workers (HEW) of the Ethiopian Health Extension Programme in Sidama Zone, with 3.5 million population. We added the services to the HEW routines and evaluated their effect over 4.5 years. 1024 HEWs were trained to identify individuals with symptoms of TB, request sputum samples and prepare smears. Smears were transported to designated laboratories. Individuals with TB were offered treatment at home or the local health post. A second zone (Hadiya) with 1.2 million population was selected as control. We compared TB case notification rates (CNR) and treatment outcomes in the zones 3 years before and 4.5 years after intervention.

Results

HEWs identified 216 165 individuals with symptoms and 27 918 (12%) were diagnosed with TB. Smear-positive TB CNR increased from 64 (95% CI 62.5 to 65.8) to 127 (95% CI 123.8 to 131.2) and all forms of TB increased from 102 (95% CI 99.1 to 105.8) to 177 (95% CI 172.6 to 181.0) per 100 000 population in the first year of intervention. In subsequent years, the smear-positive CNR declined by 9% per year. There was no change in CNR in the control area. Treatment success increased from 76% before the intervention to 95% during the intervention. Patients lost to follow-up decreased from 21% to 3% (p<0.001).

Conclusion

A community-based package significantly increased case finding and improved treatment outcome. Implementing this strategy could help meet the Ethiopian Sustainable Development Goal targets.
Universal or targeted approach to prevent the transmission of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in intensive care units: a cost-effectiveness analysis
Authors: Kardaś-Słoma Lidia , Lucet Jean-Christophe , Perozziello Anne , Pelat Camille , Birgand Gabriel , Ruppé Etienne , Boëlle Pierre-Yves , Andremont Antoine , Yazdanpanah Yazdan
Published: November 2017

Objective

Several control strategies have been used to limit the transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms in hospitals. However, their implementation is expensive and effectiveness of interventions for the control of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-PE) spread is controversial. Here, we aim to assess the cost-effectiveness of hospital-based strategies to prevent ESBL-PE transmission and infections.

Design

Cost-effectiveness analysis based on dynamic, stochastic transmission model over a 1-year time horizon.

Patients and setting

Patients hospitalised in a hypothetical 10-bed intensive care unit (ICU)in a high-income country.

Interventions

Base case scenario compared with (1) universal strategies (eg, improvement of hand hygiene (HH) among healthcare workers, antibiotic stewardship), (2) targeted strategies (eg, screening of patient for ESBL-PE at ICU admission and contact precautions or cohorting of carriers) and (3) mixed strategies (eg, targeted approaches combined with antibiotic stewardship).

Main outcomes and measures

Cases of ESBL-PE transmission, infections, cost of intervention, cost of infections, incremental cost per infection avoided.

Results

In the base case scenario, 15 transmissions and five infections due to ESBL-PE occurred per 100 ICU admissions, representing a mean cost of €94 792. All control strategies improved health outcomes and reduced costs associated with ESBL-PE infections. The overall costs (cost of intervention and infections) were the lowest for HH compliance improvement from 55%/60% before/after contact with a patient to 80%/80%.

Conclusions

Improved compliance with HH was the most cost-saving strategy to prevent the transmission of ESBL-PE. Antibiotic stewardship was not cost-effective. However, adding antibiotic restriction strategy to HH or screening and cohorting strategies slightly improved their effectiveness and may be worthy of consideration by decision-makers.
Association of psychological distress, quality of life and costs with carpal tunnel syndrome severity: a cross-sectional analysis of the PALMS cohort
Authors: Jerosch-Herold Christina , Houghton Julie , Blake Julian , Shaikh Anum , Wilson Edward CF , Shepstone Lee
Published: November 2017

Objectives

The Prediciting factors for response to treatment in carpal tunnel syndrome (PALMS) study is designed to identify prognostic factors for outcome from corticosteroid injection and surgical decompression for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and predictors of cost over 2 years. The aim of this paper is to explore the cross-sectional association of baseline patient-reported and clinical severity with anxiety, depression, health-related quality of life and costs of CTS in patients referred to secondary care.

Methods

Prospective, multicentre cohort study initiated in 2013. We collected baseline data on patient-reported symptom severity (CTS-6), psychological status (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), hand function (Michigan Hand Questionnaire) comorbidities, EQ-5D-3L (3-level version of EuroQol-5 dimension) and sociodemographic variables. Nerve conduction tests classified patients into five severity grades (mild to very severe). Data were analysed using a general linear model.

Results

753 patients with CTS provided complete baseline data. Multivariable linear regression adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, duration of CTS, smoking status, alcohol consumption, employment status, body mass index and comorbidities showed a highly statistically significant relationship between CTS-6 and anxiety, depression and the EQ-5D (p<0.0001 in each case). Likewise, a significant relationship was observed between electrodiagnostic severity and anxiety (p=0.027) but not with depression (p=0.986) or the EQ-5D (p=0.257). National Health Service (NHS) and societal costs in the 3 months prior to enrolment were significantly associated with self-reported severity (p<0.0001) but not with electrodiagnostic severity.

Conclusions

Patient-reported symptom severity in CTS is significantly and positively associated with anxiety, depression, health-related quality of life, and NHS and societal costs even when adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, comorbidities, smoking, drinking and occupational status. In contrast, there is little or no evidence of any relationship with objectively derived CTS severity. Future research is needed to understand the impact of approaches and treatments that address psychosocial stressors as well as biomedical factors on relief of symptoms from carpal tunnel syndrome.
Excess burden of non-communicable disease years of life lost from heat in rural Burkina Faso: a time series analysis of the years 2000–2010
Authors: Bunker Aditi , Sewe Maquins Odhiambo , Sié Ali , Rocklöv Joacim , Sauerborn Rainer
Published: November 2017

Objectives

Investigate the association of heat exposure on years of life lost (YLL) from non-communicable diseases (NCD) in Nouna, Burkina Faso, between 2000 and 2010.

Design

Daily time series regression analysis using distributed lag non-linear models, assuming a quasi-Poisson distribution of YLL.

Setting

Nouna Health and Demographic Surveillance System, Kossi Province, Rural Burkina Faso.

Participants

18 367 NCD-YLL corresponding to 790 NCD deaths recorded in the Nouna Health and Demographic Surveillance Site register over 11 years.

Main outcome measure

Excess mean daily NCD-YLL were generated from the relative risk of maximum daily temperature on NCD-YLL, including effects delayed up to 14 days.

Results

Daily average NCD-YLL were 4.6, 2.4 and 2.1 person-years for all ages, men and women, respectively. Moderate 4-day cumulative rise in maximum temperature from 36.4°C (50th percentile) to 41.4°C (90th percentile) resulted in 4.44 (95% CI 0.24 to 12.28) excess daily NCD-YLL for all ages, rising to 7.39 (95% CI 0.32 to 24.62) at extreme temperature (42.8°C; 99th percentile). The strongest health effects manifested on the day of heat exposure (lag 0), where 0.81 (95% CI 0.13 to 1.59) excess mean NCD-YLL occurred daily at 41.7°C compared with 36.4°C, diminishing in statistical significance after 4 days. At lag 0, daily excess mean NCD-YLL were higher for men, 0.58 (95% CI 0.11 to 1.15) compared with women, 0.15 (95% CI −0.25 to 9.63) at 41.7°C vs 36.4°C.

Conclusion

Premature death from NCD was elevated significantly with moderate and extreme heat exposure. These findings have important implications for developing adaptation and mitigation strategies to reduce ambient heat exposure and preventive measures for limiting NCD in Africa.
‘Just a GP’: a mixed method study of undermining of general practice as a career choice in the UK
Authors: Alberti Hugh , Banner Kimberley , Collingwood Helen , Merritt Kymberlee
Published: November 2017

Objectives

Failure to recruit sufficient applicants to general practice (GP) training has been a problem both nationally and internationally for many years and undermining of GP is one possible contributing factor. The aim of our study was to ascertain what comments, both negative and positive, are being made in UK clinical settings to GP trainees about GP and to further explore these comments and their influence on career choice.

Methodology

We conducted a mixed methods study. We surveyed all foundation doctors and GP trainees within one region of Health Education England regarding any comments they experienced relating to a career in GP. We also conducted six focus groups with early GP trainees to discuss any comments that they experienced and whether these comments had any influence on their or others career choice.

Results

Positive comments reported by trainees centred around the concept that choosing GP is a positive, family-focused choice which facilities a good work–life balance. Workload was the most common negative comment, alongside the notion of being ‘just a GP’; the belief that GP is boring, a waste of training and a second-class career choice. The reasons for and origin of the comments are multifactorial in nature. Thematic analysis of the focus groups identified key factors such as previous exposure to and experience of GP, family members who were GPs, GP role models, demographics of the clinician and referral behaviour. Trainees perceived that negative comments may be discouraging others from choosing GP as a career.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates that negative comments towards GP as a career do exist within clinical settings and are having a potential impact on poor recruitment rates to GP training. We have identified areas in which further negative comments could be prevented by changing perceptions of GP as a career. Additional time spent in GP as undergraduates and postgraduates, and positive GP role models, could particularly benefit recruitment. We recommend that undermining of GP as a career choice be approached with a zero-tolerance policy.
Developing the methods and questionnaire (VOICES-SF) for a national retrospective mortality follow-back survey of palliative and end-of-life care in England
Authors: Hunt Katherine J , Richardson Alison , Darlington Anne-Sophie E , Addington-Hall Julia M
Published: November 2017

The National Survey of Bereaved People was conducted by the Office for National Statistics on behalf of NHS England for the first time in 2011, and repeated annually thereafter. It is thought to be the first time that nationally representative data have been collected annually on the experiences of all people who have died, regardless of cause and setting, and made publicly available informing palliative and end-of-life policy, service provision and development, and practice. This paper describes the development of the questionnaire used in the survey, VOICES-SF, a short-form of the VOICES (Views Of Informal Carers—Evaluation of Services) questionnaire, adapted specifically to address the aims of the national survey. The pilot study to refine methods for the national survey is also described. The paper also reports on the development of the retrospective, after-death or mortality follow-back method in palliative and end-of-life care, and reviews its strengths and weaknesses.
Diagnostic accuracy of emergency CT angiography for presumed tandem internal carotid artery occlusion before acute endovascular therapy
Authors: Rocha Marcelo , Delfyett William T , Agarwal Vikas , Aghaebrahim Amin , Jadhav Ashutosh , Jovin Tudor G
Published: November 2017

Background

Extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion can be overestimated on emergent single phase CT angiography (CTA) of stroke patients with isolated intracranial ICA occlusion. We aimed to measure the ability of identifying the extracranial site of presumed tandem ICA occlusions on pre-procedural CTA relative to catheter angiography during acute endovascular stroke therapy.

Methods

Retrospective study of patients with intracranial ICA occlusion, with or without extracranial ICA occlusion, who underwent single phase CTA before acute endovascular treatment. Two neuroradiologists reviewed CTA images for the presence or absence of extracranial ICA occlusion, blinded to the catheter angiography results. The sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of presumed extracranial ICA occlusions on CTA were calculated in reference to catheter angiography.

Results

91 stroke patients with acute intracranial ICA occlusion met the inclusion criteria for the study. 24% of patients (22/91) had tandem ICA occlusion confirmed on catheter angiography. Single phase CTA had a sensitivity of 95.5% (95% CI 77.2 to 99.9%) and a specificity of 69.6% (95% CI 57.3 to 80.1%) for concomitant extracranial ICA occlusion (false positive rate 30.4%). The positive and negative predictive values of single phase CTA for extracranial ICA occlusion in the presence of a distal ICA occlusion were 50% (95% CI 34.2 to 65.8%) and 98% (95% CI 89.1 to 100%), respectively.

Conclusions

Emergency single phase CTA is highly sensitive but has reduced specificity to identify extracranial ICA occlusion in patients with intracranial ICA occlusion, which may confound planning for acute endovascular stroke therapy and cause over exclusion of patients with isolated ICA terminus occlusion from clinical trials.
Effect of prescription medications on erectile dysfunction
Authors: Razdan Shirin , Greer Aubrey B , Patel Amir , Alameddine Mahmoud , Jue Joshua S , Ramasamy Ranjith
Published: November 2017

Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects about 50% of men in the USA and is primarily attributed to physiological (organic) and psychological causes. However, a substantial portion of men suffer from ED due to iatrogenic causes. Common medications such as antihypertensives, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antacids may cause ED. Physicians should be aware of the various prescription medications that may cause ED to properly screen and counsel patients on an issue that many may feel too uncomfortable to discuss. In this review, we discuss the physiology, data and alternative therapies for the ED caused by medications.
Advance care planning for patients with chronic respiratory diseases: a systematic review of preferences and practices
Authors: Jabbarian Lea J , Zwakman Marieke , van der Heide Agnes , Kars Marijke C , Janssen Daisy J A , van Delden Johannes J , Rietjens Judith A C , Korfage Ida J
Published: November 2017

Background

Advance care planning (ACP) supports patients in identifying and documenting their preferences and timely discussing them with their relatives and healthcare professionals (HCPs). Since the British Thoracic Society encourages ACP in chronic respiratory disease, the objective was to systematically review ACP practice in chronic respiratory disease, attitudes of patients and HCPs and barriers and facilitators related to engagement in ACP.

Methods

We systematically searched 12 electronic databases for empirical studies on ACP in adults with chronic respiratory diseases. Identified studies underwent full review and data extraction.

Results

Of 2509 studies, 21 were eligible: 10 were quantitative studies. Although a majority of patients was interested in engaging in ACP, ACP was rarely carried out. Many HCPs acknowledged the importance of ACP but were hesitant to initiate it. Barriers to engagement in ACP were the complex disease course of patients with chronic respiratory diseases, HCPs’ concern of taking away patients’ hopes and lack of continuity of care. The identification of trigger points and training of HCPs on how to communicate sensitive topics were identified as facilitators to engagement in ACP.

Conclusions

In conclusion, ACP is surprisingly uncommon in chronic respiratory disease, possibly due to the complex disease course of chronic respiratory diseases and ambivalence of both patients and HCPs to engage in ACP. Providing patients with information about their disease can help meeting their needs. Additionally, support of HCPs through identification of trigger points, training and system-related changes can facilitate engagement in ACP.

Systematic review registration number

CRD42016039787.
The study of deep inelastic scattering process of electron nucleus at LHeC region
Authors: Heidari S. , Rezaei B. , Boroun G. R.
Published: November 2017

The nonlinear behavior in electron–nucleus collisions for nuclei with mass number [Formula: see text] and 265 at very small [Formula: see text] regime [Formula: see text] with low and moderate [Formula: see text] is studied. The charm and bottom heavy quarks contributions to the reduced cross-section and ratio of structure functions [Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text] are investigated by using the Kharzeev–Levin–Nardi phenomenological ansatz at LO and NLO analyses.
Hadoop-Based Intelligent Care System (HICS)
Authors: Rathore M. Mazhar , Paul Anand , Ahmad Awais , Anisetti Marco , Jeon Gwanggil
Published: November 2017

The Internet of Things (IoT) is increasingly becoming a worldwide network of interconnected things that are uniquely addressable, via standard communication protocols. The use of IoT for continuous monitoring of public health is being rapidly adopted by various countries while generating a massive volume of heterogeneous, multisource, dynamic, and sparse high-velocity data. Handling such an enormous amount of high-speed medical data while integrating, collecting, processing, analyzing, and extracting knowledge constitutes a challenging task. On the other hand, most of the existing IoT devices do not cooperate with one another by using the same medium of communication. For this reason, it is a challenging task to develop healthcare applications for IoT that fulfill all user needs through real-time monitoring of health parameters. Therefore, to address such issues, this article proposed a Hadoop-based intelligent care system (HICS) that demonstrates IoT-based collaborative contextual Big Data sharing among all of the devices in a healthcare system. In particular, the proposed system involves a network architecture with enhanced processing features for data collection generated by millions of connected devices. In the proposed system, various sensors, such as wearable devices, are attached to the human body and measure health parameters and transmit them to a primary mobile device (PMD). The collected data are then forwarded to intelligent building (IB) using the Internet where the data are thoroughly analyzed to identify abnormal and serious health conditions. Intelligent building consists of (1) a Big Data collection unit (used for data collection, filtration, and load balancing); (2) a Hadoop processing unit (HPU) (composed of Hadoop distributed file system (HDFS) and MapReduce); and (3) an analysis and decision unit. The HPU, analysis, and decision unit are equipped with a medical expert system, which reads the sensor data and performs actions in the case of an emergency situation. To demonstrate the feasibility and efficiency of the proposed system, we use publicly available medical sensory datasets and real-time sensor traffic while identifying the serious health conditions of patients by using thresholds, statistical methods, and machine-learning techniques. The results show that the proposed system is very efficient and able to process high-speed WBAN sensory data in real time.
Managing Change in Graph-Structured Data Using Description Logics
Authors: Ahmetaj Shqiponja , Calvanese Diego , Ortiz Magdalena , Šimkus Mantas
Published: November 2017

In this article, we consider the setting of graph-structured data that evolves as a result of operations carried out by users or applications. We study different reasoning problems, which range from deciding whether a given sequence of actions preserves the satisfaction of a given set of integrity constraints, for every possible initial data instance, to deciding the (non)existence of a sequence of actions that would take the data to an (un)desirable state, starting either from a specific data instance or from an incomplete description of it. For describing states of the data instances and expressing integrity constraints on them, we use description logics (DLs) closely related to the two-variable fragment of first-order logic with counting quantifiers. The updates are defined as
actions
in a simple yet flexible language, as finite sequences of conditional insertions and deletions, which allow one to use complex DL formulas to select the (pairs of) nodes for which (node or arc) labels are added or deleted. We formalize the preceding data management problems as a static verification problem and several planning problems and show that, due to the adequate choice of formalisms for describing actions and states of the data, most of these data management problems can be effectively reduced to the (un)satisfiability of suitable formulas in decidable logical formalisms. Leveraging this, we provide algorithms and tight complexity bounds for the formalized problems, both for expressive DLs and for a variant of the popular DL-Lite, advocated for data management in recent years.
SIGCSE 2018 new educator workshop
Authors: Danyluk Andrea , Dodds Zachary
Published: November 2017

A successful career as a computer science educator involves more than a deep understanding of a research area. Yet many new CS educators experience relatively little educator training - and face more questions than answers, e.g., What different career-path choices do CS educators pursue? How do I choose an institution or career path that is right for me? How can I balance teaching, research, service, and a life beyond all those things? What are the balancing acts involved in working effectively with colleagues and managing the advancement and tenure process? What tips could help me organize a course, deliver engaging lectures, and build lasting relationships with students?

The New Educators Workshop (NEW) is a pre-symposium event at SIGCSE 2018 that, through presentations, discussions, and small-group community building, will tackle all of these questions. NEW is designed to assist aspiring and early-career educators in exploring the non-research facets of an academic career. It will run on February 21, 2018 from 9am to 5pm, and is open to graduate students who are considering teaching-related careers, as well as pre-tenure faculty members seeking guidance and/or networking support. The 2018 NEW is one of several career-focused, SIGCSE-affiliated workshops that have served more than 200 educators over the past decade.
Member spotlight
Authors: Doyle Maureen
Published: November 2017

In this feature of the Bulletin, we highlight members of the SIGCSE community. In this issue, Bulletin co-editor Maureen Doyle interviewed Paul Tymann, Professor in the B. Thomas Golisano Colelge of Computing and Information Sciences at Rochester Institute of Technology and Senior Member of the ACM.
SIGCSE committees
Authors: Sheard Judith
Published: November 2017

Perhaps you have an idea for a project that you would like to work on with a group of fellow SIGCSE members with the aim of producing an outcome that would contribute to the SIGCSE community. If so, you might like to consider forming a SIGCSE Committee.
Exponential Stability of Traveling Waves for a Reaction Advection Diffusion Equation with Nonlinear-Nonlocal Functional Response
Authors: Yan Rui , Liu Guirong
Published: November 2017

The stability of a reaction advection diffusion equation with nonlinear-nonlocal functional response is concerned. By using the technical weighted energy method and the comparison principle, the exponential stability of all noncritical traveling waves of the equation can be obtained. Moreover, we get the rates of convergence. Our results improve the previous ones. At last, we apply the stability result to some real models, such as an epidemic model and a population dynamic model.